If you ever find yourself walking through the ashes of your childhood home, the smoke stinging your eyes, and the memories of your family’s laughter replaced by the haunting remnants of regret, you’ll understand what it means to face true darkness.
In the haze of smoke and chaos, it felt like I was trekking along a path leading to the bowels of hell. A world gone mad. Every step bounced off the corridors of the mansion, now a mere shadow of its past glory. Each creak and groan of the wooden steps seemed to mock my miserable plight.
The grand mansion, once the proud heart of the Stormbourne estate, was now nothing more than a shell of ruin. It was the result of the violent ambition of our so-called ally. The Lysanders had dared to break our trust and bring fire and destruction to our home. My father would unleash hurricanes and fury to erase them from the face of this land. I just hope I live long enough to see that day. The annihilation of those murderous and cowardly new enemies of our house would be met with tenfold retribution. Innocent or guilty. Not a single Lysander would be left regretting their bold deed. Of this, I’m certain. No, I stake my life on it. Though, in another few minutes or so, I might not have one. Anyway, the bottom line is that none of those Lysander dogs would be spared. They would face the consequences of not having the guts to confront us on an open battlefield.
I moved through the remnants of the grand hall. Memories reeled back to the times we had celebrations here. Rich banquets, music, and hearty laughter. All seemed now to have gone far into the past, drowned in the grim actuality that surrounded me. The walls that whispered of more joyous times, now marred by filth and blood.
There, the stairway leading to the roof came into sight. There was no mistaking the sounds of battle from above. The clashing swords, grunts of exertion, and magic sizzling to life filled the air. Aiden was up there, fighting for our family’s honor. I wasn’t sure what had become of him. I just hoped I reached him before it was too late, unlike what happened with Aeryn and Alistair. I needed to help him fight against that Lance guy. Oh, that bitch was probably up there too. I had to tread lightly; she might lay a trap with that sweet fake smile of hers for anyone intending to interrupt the battle.
I took a deep breath and started my ascent. Just wait for me, Aiden. I tried to steel myself, but climbing the stairs felt like walking on nails. Every step mirrored my desperation.
Halfway up the stairs, I had to stop and lean against the wall. The smoke was thicker here, making it hard to see and even harder to breathe. I covered my mouth with my sleeve, trying to filter out some of the choking air. A sudden noise made me turn around, sword at the ready. It was just a loose piece of debris tumbling down the stairs with a clatter. Paranoia was taking hold, turning every creak or shadow into a potential threat.
My climb came to a stop at the top of the stairs. I paused, trying to steady my breath. The door to the roof was ajar, the wood splintered from a recent impact. I pushed it open with my shoulder and stepped out into the cool night air. The scene that greeted me looked like something from a fierce battle.
Aiden was there, his sword locked in combat with a figure I recognized immediately. Lance White. Sparks flew as their blades clashed, each strike illuminating their grim faces. Aiden was fighting with everything he had, but it was clear he was exhausted. His movements were slower than usual.
Lance, on the other hand, was relentless. He moved like a predator. His strikes premeditated. His expression one of cold focus. He was toying with Aiden, wearing him down bit by bit. I couldn’t just stand there and watch. I had to do something.
I glanced at the ground near Aiden. Three Silverlions soldiers lay dead, their bodies strewn across the rooftop. That cowardly Lysander dog! No wonder Aiden looked more fatigued than him. Those three Silverlions were probably used to tire Aiden out before the main showdown began. That’s expected from someone working for the Lysanders. Talk about a fair fight. This was nothing of the sort.
Grinwald had mentioned that one method for a magic swordsman to level up involved constantly battling opponents of higher levels than theirs. I didn’t ask how many times they needed to do it. I was still stuck at the Novice stage myself. There wasn’t a shred of chance I could defeat a magic swordsman when I couldn’t even cast a basic spell. So how could I help Aiden win this battle?
“Aiden!” I called out, but my voice was swallowed by the clash of steel and spells. He didn’t hear me, too focused on his opponent.
I had to help him. But how? Charging in blindly would only get me killed. No, there had to be a better way, a smart way to do this. A plan to tip the scale in Aiden’s favor. Grinwald’s words ran through my head. “Use your surroundings. Think, Alex. Think.”
I looked for anything that could be of use. A few piles of loose shingles and some debris caught my attention. An idea formed. It was risky, but it was all I had. Before I could carry out the plan, a voice stopped me abruptly.
“Oi, Stormbourne Jester. What do you think you’re doing?”
I turned sideways. There stood Catherine Lysander, the antagonist of this entire ordeal. Her long, silver hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. Instead of the elegant dress from the lunch reception, she was now dressed in an outfit one might expect a female swordsman to wear in a fashion contest.
A short pause.
Well, what can I say? Her attire was something I would want my future girlfriend to wear on our first date. A tight, black leather corset hugged her torso, highlighting her hourglass figure. The corset was sewn with silver patterns that shined in the firelight. She wore matching leather pants that clung to her legs, heightening every curve, and knee-high boots with silver buckles that completed the look of one hell of a sexy bitch.
“You like what you see, Jester?” a smirk playing on her crimson lips as she held a rapier, its blade glinting intimidatingly.
“Arghhh!” Darn it! Got ambushed by that bitchy smile of hers.
My girlish scream made Aiden and Lance pause their battle. “Alex, you’re still alive?” Aiden shouted, his voice strained with effort. “What are you doing here? You need to run!”
Now that’s three times people thought I wouldn’t survive this mess. Is there some visible mark on my forehead telling the Lysanders to target me first?
“I came to help,” I replied, glancing between him and Catherine.
Lance chuckled. “Two against one? I prefer those odds.” And lifted his sword again, ready to be back into the fight.
“It’s okay, Lance,” Catherine chimed in. “I can take care of him. He’s just a novice and can’t even wield magic.” She giggled. The way she did it made my blood boil like the hot tomato soup Mathilda had made the other day.
“As you say, milady,” Lance nodded, then went back to battling Aiden.
I turned to Catherine. “How did you know I was a novice? You’ve never seen me duel before.”
“Aiden told me,” she replied, dimples formed in her cheeks.
Darn it! Why do people close to me like to reveal my weaknesses to others behind my back?
“What are you waiting for, Jester?” Catherine twirled the rapier in her hand. “Let’s dance.”
Darn it again! I was supposed to say that line. It’s some sort of good luck charm, giving me the edge in a fight.
“Wait.” I raised my hand. “I’d love to tear you apart, but I’m not the kind of guy who hits a lady, no matter how bitchy she is. So drop your sword and surrender. Or else—” I paused for effect. “I’ll spank you so hard you won’t be able to sit down and crap for weeks.”
“Surrender?”
Catherine let out a villainous laugh. “That’s considerate of you, Jester.” Her
expression then turned deadly serious, the kind that would make anyone think
twice about asking her out. “Do I look weak to you?” She shifted her gaze to a
small tree in the rooftop’s tiny garden and lifted her rapier toward it. Three
ice shafts formed at its tip in an instant. With a swipe of her rapier, the
shafts shot forward and struck the tree, boring small holes into the bark.
“Y—You’re a magic swordsman?” I stammered.
“That’s right. An Adept level. And don’t bother surrendering because I take no prisoners. Unless you kiss my feet, then I might consider showing a little mercy.”
Crap. I need a plan fast. “Wait, milady,” my tone turning polite. “Isn’t it a bit overkill to fight with magic?”
She smiled, a chilling, confident smile. “I see. So what do you suggest?”
“Let’s just duel without the use of magic, okay?” I proposed.
“Hmm...” She narrowed her eyes at me and tapped her lips with a finger. I gritted my teeth. Those eyes of hers. I just wanted to gouge them out of their sockets and send them back to her father in a doggy bag.
“Well?” seeking an answer.
“I agree,” she nodded. “It’s not that I pity you or anything like that. It’s because you’re the most handsome Stormbourne I’ve ever met.” She burst into that annoying laugh again.
“You swear on your Duke father’s head that you will not use magic?”
“Yes, I swear on your Marquis father’s head that I won’t use magic.” Catherine replied with a smirk.
“Okay then,” I said with a relieved smile before retorting angrily, “Hey, you’re supposed to swear on your own father’s head!”
“Yeah, yeah, it’s the same thing,” she nodded dismissively. “So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dance, Jester.”
Darn it! I missed my cue again! Without giving her the chance to strike first, I lunged toward the nearest pile of debris, kicking it with all my might. The loose shingles and rubble flew out, creating a cloud of dust. Catherine cursed, momentarily blinded by the debris. I darted toward her, aiming to disarm her. But she was quick, too quick. She swung her rapier, and I barely managed to dodge. The blade sliced through the air, missing me by inches. That was close. I retreated a few steps back.
“You’ll have to do better than that, Jester,” she hissed.
This wasn’t going to be easy. I needed to win without killing her, to turn her into a hostage and make Lance surrender to Aiden.
But even without magic, Catherine was clearly superior. Her skill with the rapier far outmatched my own. Each move she made was precise and controlled, while I struggled to keep up. My novice status was glaringly obvious. Sweat dripped down my brow as I tried to keep up, my sword feeling heavier with each parry. The fight dragged on. I was at a disadvantage. How the hell do I gain the upper hand in this fight?
Oh! There is that thing I can use.
When Catherine burst forward to close the distance between us, I pointed a finger over her shoulder and yelled, “Look, a cat!”
She skidded to a halt and spun around. “Where?”
I stepped forward and kicked her between the legs. Catherine screamed, bending over in pain. “Take that, you bitch!” I spat out, booting her rapier away as it dropped from her hand.
Catherine held her hand forward. “Wait!”
“What?” I asked.
She tilted her head to look at me, a smirk forming on her lips. “You forgot that I don’t have nuts, you idiot.” She lunged forward and punched me square in the groin with her fist. Pain exploded through my body as I doubled over, my sword slipping from my grasp. She kicked my sword away, and I grimaced, struggling to stay on my feet. We both glanced at our weapons lying on the ground before locking eyes again. Despite the pain, we moved toward our swords, but my movements were hindered, making me hobble awkwardly.
Then, out of nowhere, a sharp pain pierced my chest. I looked down in shock to see Catherine’s rapier sticking out from my rear.
I gasped for breath. My vision blurred, and everything began to grow dark. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear Aiden shouting my name.
Sorry, dude. My breaths became shallower. You’re on your own now.
Regrets flashed through my mind. Dreams unfulfilled, places I’d never see. As I let out my last breath, a single thought lingered. “I wish I were strong enough to stop this nightmare from ever happening.” And then there was only darkness.
So here I am, telling you my last moments. Funny, isn’t it? How quickly things can change. One minute you’re fighting for your life, the next you’re reminiscing about all the things you’ll never do. I never thought it would end like this. Guess that’s what everyone thinks until it happens. Life has a way of surprising you, right up until the end.
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