Blow after blow, block after block. Victor did his best to parry attacks, but with the wound and fatigue from his previous battle, it became much harder with each second. His lungs felt like they will explode, his heart beat as loudly as the Laxorian bells and the wound didn't even hurt anymore. Which is a bad thing, since it meant that he was starting to fall unconscious. What made the situation worse was that due to him slowing down, his attacks were either met with nothing but air, or her body, that was like a mist. She always hardened it before striking him, but Victor could see no opening. He was being driven into a corner.
He pushed Supesu away and jumped further away to catch his breath. Supesu, feeling like she had already won, let him take a breather.
"Why…why do you fight so vigorously?" asked Victor between breaths.
"I could ask you the same thing. Why do you fight with such tenacity? You have literally nothing to gain from this battle. Even if you win, what are you going to do? Vlad is a criminal, but he doesn't have a dead-or-alive title on him, unlike dear old Snow here. Killing him, or maiming him in this case, is a crime too."
Victor looked more irritated than unimpressed. Her cocky nature was getting on his nerves, but he still hid his frustration behind his smile. "You still didn't answer me." He said.
"Ugh fine." She said with a very irritated tone. "If you need to know so badly, I'll tell you. Is there a woman who needs a reason to protect her little sister? Tell me, wouldn't you do the same?"
"I don't know, I never had a younger sibling." He joked.
"Very funny." The annoyance in her voice was obvious. "You hide your emotions under your smile huh? It is starting to really piss me off. Why do you do that? Why don't you show your true self, why don't you let yourself go?"
Victor paused for a brief moment, why didn't he let himself go? Why is he holding back? He could end it right here, right now. It's then when he realized that Supesu had no opening whatsoever. Every attack was a miss, or it went through her like a mist.
"You think I'm evil, right?"
This question shocked Victor a little bit. "Well, I definitely don't think you are a saint, but if you insist, I can call you that."
"Why? What did we do wrong? What did I do, Snow do, even Vlad, what did we all do, that was so bad, that we deserve to die?" there was something in her voice. Something hidden deep inside. Victor knew it all too well. It was pain. She was in pain.
"You have no idea how it feels. She didn't ask to be born with those powers, she doesn't even control them, and instead of helping her, they all betrayed her. Even Vlad did. Only I stood besides her. I gave her hope, I gave her some sense of comfort, but they took even me away from her. And now they want to take her life?! What kind of justice is this?!" she spoke with such pain in her voice, that it made Victor realized something. This voice, this pain, Luna spoke with the same voice. She knew. She knows they are innocent, but she cannot set them free. The guards obey Solara, and until Snow is either dead or inprisoned they will not rest peacefully. She isn't doing it for herself, she is doing it for her people.
Victor stared down for a moment and then took a deep breath and then spoke. "You asked me, why do I hide my emotions. You are right. I do. And do you know why? Because one day, someone once told me this: 'Smile more. Smile. Your smile is so pretty. It is like a oasis of hope in a desert of despair.' That someone is dead now, all because of me."
He cracked his neck and closed his eyes. He inhaled deeply and when he opened them, they met with Supesu's. Those weren't normal pupils. They were like gears and clockwork. The breeze suddenly stopped, and so did all the sound. The entire world around them became black. Suddenly, a huge gear appeared in what once was sky. Then another, and another. Suddenly, a whole dome was created out of them, and they surrounded Victor and Supesu. Under him, a huge clock appeared and the hands were stopped. But she could still hear the gears moving. They were slowing down however. And Supesu then realized something that horrified here. She was not moving. She couldn't. Every muscle in her body just wouldn't move. Not even her eyes could move. And then, another horrifying realization came. She wasn't breathing. Not that she couldn't, but she didn't need to. Her lungs just didn't, yet she still had a complete understanding of her surroundings. Victor started to walk towards her very slowly. With every step, a new gear appeared on the ground. He walked right past her, and she could see a group of golden strings flash before her eyes. They were like a web. The sound of the clock was starting to come to normal. Supesu could feel her muscles responding again and the dome around them disappeared. She jumped further away from Victor with a horrified look on her face. He looked at her back and seemed a little bit said. His eyes said one thing: "I am so sorry."
Supesu looked down and as she slowly lowered her hear, she felt weak. So weak in fact, that she had to kneel. Those things before, they weren't webs, they were the afterimages of a blade. A dozen wounds that were done with chirurgical precision suddenly appeared on her chest. "You said that you are a vessel of Space. Well…if we call you that…then we could call me a vessel of Time." And with those words, her voice became black. She fell to the ground. And just as a storm, she was gone.
Victor turned to the unconscious bodies of Vlad and Snow. He still felt the wound, so it healed a bit, but now it hurt a lot more. He went to the village and asked for a horse. The villagers, when they saw his state, gave him a horse without question.
He rode for a day and when he arrived before the gates of the castle the guards opened them. They were expecting him. With a little help he then stood in the throne room. Guards, two queens, two unconscious bodies and him. Snow was still very much asleep, it had to be a really hard blow and Vlad regenerated his lower torso. He is a vampire after all.
The queens seemed surprised that he returned successfully. It was quiet for quite a while when Solara spoke: "Leave us."
After the guards were gone from the room, the queens went towards Victor.
"I-we didn't think you would succeed." Said Solara.
"Well, life is full of surprises." He said with a smile.
"How did you beat him, Vlad is the most skilled swordsman of Radia?" asked Luna curiously.
"Well I didn't go unscratched." And he showed his wound. Even while bandaged, it was still bleeding.
"Well. We have held our part of the bargain, so I guess you will hold yours." Said Solara.
"I expect you to be part of my royal guards, you will be statione-"
"I believe you don't quite understand, my dear." Interrupted Victor. Solara seemed quite surprised. No one has ever interrupted her before. And her face? That's something that Victor will treasure for years.
"What?"
"I did say that I will become a servant of a royal, remember?"
"Well, yes. And you will."
"I didn't specify of which. And that right is still mine." And he looked at Luna.
"huh?" Luna said with a surprised face.
"These people, they are innocent. If we give them a chance, we can save both of them. I could have killed them. But I spared them. They don't deserve to die. What you were trying to kill, Supesu, I have beaten."
When Solara and Luna heard that name, and that he had beaten her, they were very surprised.
"You…have defeated her?"
"Correct. And I realized something, Solara." He said with a little bit of an angry tone. "You sentenced an innocent girl to die, because you couldn't bear the danger that came with teaching her. Did it ever occur to you, that Vlad could have taken her to his realm and teach her there? Luna realized that. She knew they were innocent."
"How did you know?" asked Luna with a voice of an angel.
"Your voice. It was filled with pain. The pain of guilt. Something I know all too well." He looked down.
"That being said. I will never become a servant of someone, who willingly sentenced an innocent child to death, while claiming it as "Justice." No." and he turned to Luna and kneeled.
"What?" she looked even more surprised.
"My lady. As part of our bargain, I will become your servant. You don't have many, I know that much. But those that you do have, are more than an honor to your name. I have met some while going around the castle. If you will allow me, I will be your sword, your shield, your servant. My heart, soul, body, mind and sword, they are all yours to command." He then unsheathed his sword and held it before her, as an offering.
Luna seemed very surprised. She looked at Solara, that looked even more surprised, but also angry that someone like him dared to speak to her like that.
She placed her hand around the hilt of the sword and pointed the blade towards Victor. "Do you swear, by this oath, that you will serve me, Luna, The moon queen of Radia." Her voice resonated around the throne room. It was majestic and filled with determination.
"I do." Without hesitation he answered.
"And do thou swear, to protect the people of Radia, even at the cost of your own life?"
"I do."
"And do thou swear to bring honor to thy name, the name of thy ancestors, and to thy master?"
"I do."
"And do thou, Victor Velaestraz, swear unbound loyalty, to me?"
He looked her in the eyes. His eyes were filled with something, that could only be explained as true loyalty. Loyalty between two people. Something, he thought he would never feel again. "I do." He said. This time, with a genuine smile.
Luna smiled back. She raised Victors sword and stabbed the floor that was before Victor. "Then I, Luna of Radia, accept thee, as my servant, Victor Velaestraz. Rise."
And so he did. He pulled out his sword and put it back in its sheath.
"Well. Now that that's over with. Time to put some clothes on you. Can't have my servant wearing these dirty rags."
They were indeed dirty. A white shirt that was torn and stained with his blood and pants that were stained by mud. Only his scarf was in perfect condition.
Luna begged him to follow her into another room. When he looked back at Solara, she was still in shock at what just happened. This moment is something, that Victor will never ever forget.
They arrived at some form of a dressing room. It was filled with countless beautiful dresses. Long coats, leather armor, even traditional Radian silk robes.
"Pick anything that you want. Since you said those things, and made my sister a fool I'll let you pick what you want. Once your done step outside and I'll show you to your room then."
"Very well, my master." He said as he bowed. It felt a bit unnatural, but he'll get used to it.
After a few minutes he stepped out. He found a very nice long golden coat with a moon crest embroidered on the back and the sides. He but the sheath on the belt that came with it and had the scarf go around his neck and down. Honestly it was quite the look. Luna was quiet for a while as she stared at him.
She cleared her throat. "Ehm. Time to show you to your room."
Victor noticed that she was blushing a bit. It was quite an adorable sight.
They went up he tower and when they arrived at the top, there was a giant empty global room. The ceiling was filled with unfinished clockworks and gears.
"This room once belonged to an architect Benedictus. He died though. He was an amazing watchmaker and a tinker. I hope you'll find this room useful.
Victor looked at the ceiling and showed a big toothy smile. "Oh this will be just fine, my lady." He then turned towards her and kneeled again. "May I ask you then, what is my first task?"
Luna smiled. It was a genuine smile. "For today? Nothing, just make yourself at home, Victor."
"Very well."
As she was leaving the room she stopped at the door. "May I ask you one thing though?" said Luna politely. "Of course, my lady."
"Why did you choose me? My sister is more of a leading type than me. I'm sure you'd be happy to serve her."
"Well, as I said earlier. I intended to serve somebody I can call my master. And to be honest, to serve someone as majestic and beautiful as you, is a dream of every servant." He said with a little bit of blush on his cheeks.
Luna giggled and closed the door.
Victor shook his head and looked around the room. There was a bed and a bookcase. Perhaps one day it will be filled, but for now, it is empty. As he sat on his bed a curious raven landed on the sill. It had white feathers that resembled eyebrows and a white line that went down to its tail.
Victor smiled. "What, you expect me to send you a message when I get a job?" he asked the raven. It tilted its head. "I think this is a start of a really good time, don't you think so?" and the raven cleaned its wings with its beak. They were black as the dark shadow on the sunniest day. "Send my regards to our brother, if you'll see him that is." And he laid back on the bed. He looked at the ceiling and thought to himself. "What will happen to them."
In the throne room, Vlad was already awake, and the two sisters were looking at him. Not a word was spoken.
"Vlad. Tell us honestly. Is there a way for you to go back to your realm and take Snow with you?" asked Luna with concerned tone.
"Yes. I can do that."
"Do you promise that once you take her, you'll teach her to control her powers?"
"Of course, even there, she will still be dangerous."
"Fine then. Sister, your call."
Solara was silent. She was resolute about all of her decisions, and she never apologized for any of them. But this time, she could at least admit to being a bit too reckless. "Ugh fine. Vlad, I may have acted a bit impulsive when I sentenced her and you to death. I hereby take back that verdict. You may go and teach her in your own realm."
Vlad seemed a bit surprised to hear that, but he also seemed happy. He looked at Snow who was starting to wake up. "Very well." He stood up and one of the guards took of his shackles. Vlad then picked Snow up and she woke up in his arms. "Vlad?" she said with an innocent look in her eyes as she gazed at her beloved. "We are going home, my love." And with that, they both disappeared in a big pillar of shadowy particles.
"Who would have though that the best swordsman this kingdom will ever know is actually the King of Nothing."
Luna stayed quiet for a while. "Oh he was the best swordsman. But we have someone better, sister." She smiled.