Heavily breathing, the youngest Aethelmaer son fought hundreds of skilled Aethelmaer soldiers without a break. The fatigue started getting into him, his movements grew less and less smooth.
"Goddammit." The twelve-year-old assassin cursed, hitting a tree with his bare fist, "It's because of their synthetic dark aura that they've became extremely troublesome! Damn you Kirin, you really ruin my life in each and every possible way!"
Normally, Keon can finish these soldiers in a single blow, but the dark aura infused with them, fashioned after Kirin's aura, made them all at least ten times sturdier and more aggressive. Keon wanted to run to Freyja and back her up as soon as possible, but at the moment, the situation hasn't improved at all. He only lost so much aura.
"Lord Keon!" In the middle of collecting his thoughts, the voice of a middle-aged man surprised him.
"R...Rigel!" He exclaimed, with a tint of fear in his eyes. "Wh-what are you doing here!?" Keon was not at all happy to see him.
The middle aged man, Rigel sighed before unsheathing his long sword. "Lord Keon, I have taught you well, haven't I? What could possibly be the reason why you're doing this?"
For the first time, Keon hesitated. Rigel is a general of his father's army, and one of the best ones too. Aside from having synthetic dark aura infused within him, he knows more than anyone that his skills is one of the best of all the clan's soldiers. Keon turned around. Forcing his way into the mansion without fighting became a viable option all of a sudden. However, even before he could take a step forward, Rigel charged at him with lightning speed.
Sensing his attack, Keon defended. He blocked the attack, but was nevertheless pushed back by the force. "Shit, he's stronger than before!"
"I see you're having hesitations." Rigel said, readying himself for another strike, "You know you're still welcome to return to our side." Rigel's offer is music to his ears. But, Freyja's face flashed into his mind. Keon clenched his fists, giving his mentor a murderous glare. "I decline."
Rigel attacked him another time, while Keon blocked as usual. He has never seen Keon with such grit, the curiosity was killing him. The boy started hesitating, and yet, how can he continue while he's smart enough to know he's on the losing end? Rigel had to find out.
The standing soldiers attacked all at once, and Keon, despite being able to shake them off immediately, fell down and rolled to one corner in pain. He was hit by one of the aura-reinforced swords. "Lord Keon, why are you helping the enemy? She is the daughter of Leafen, our sworn enemy."
Keon stood up groggily, trying to maintain his prideful composure. He never dared to give a proper answer. Because he couldn't understand the reason himself. "She's my friend, that's why."
Rigel laughed out loud. "Friend!?" He laughed even harder, "What nonsense are you saying my lord? If your mother is alive, she wouldn't have been happy seeing you like this." Then, his eyes turned dead serious. "Remember what your mother wanted. She wanted YOU to be the head of the Aethelmaer clan."
Keon couldn't help but remember how his mother lived and died. She was a concubine of his father and is of lowly descent. However, she never stopped dreaming of taking over the clan. All her dreams were passed onto Keon, and even at the moment of her death, she forced him to do so. Keon had no one but his mother. He wanted to avenge her at all costs, he wanted to kill Kirin, the biggest hurdle to his path.
And by helping his 'friend.' he just lost his precious chance to seize the throne. For a second, he regretted it.
However, Keon's memories of meeting and befriending Freyja took over. "She's totally different from mother." Keon uttered under his breath, "She may be reckless and clumsy and weird." Rigel's eyes widened upon noticing the unusual smile on Keon's face. Keon ended up remembering how he thought she was a boy, and how they talked about many things in that small village. He remembered how stupid she was for returning to save him and Kirin when she can't even hold a candle to Aneurin. Freyja, Kirin and Alaric, for the first time, he felt he had 'comrades.' And they let him be who he is... who he wants to be.
"But, she's my friend. And I don't want to lose her."
The words of Keon's late mother rang inside Rigel's memory. "Rigel, I leave Keon to you. He is not MY son, he is Aneurin's alone, remember that." The secret that he's been keeping is starting to haunt him upon seeing Keon's resolute expression. Keon's mother hated him that as soon as he was born, she left him in the general's care. The only thing she saw him for, was a tool to get his revenge to Aneurin and the Aethlmaer clan.
~ o 0 o ~
When Rigel was only 23, he came to the Aethelmaer Manor to train as a soldier. He was then a diligent young man, that even at midnight, he'd come to the gardens and practice his swordsmanship. Until one night, he met a woman who'd change his life forever.
Under the moonlight, he saw a lady crying. She was about his age, with pale skin and long, straight black hair. Rigel was so mesmerized by her beauty. He wanted to comfort her, but he can't bring himself to move a step closer. Soon, he discovered that the lady is Aneurin Aethelmaer's second cousin and newest wife.
Despite his loyalty to his master, he met with her night after night after night. For years, he stayed by her side. Until one day, she forcibly became pregnant with Aneurin's son and wanted to die.
Rigel stopped her. He begged her not to. Though the baby was born safely, all her hate were projected onto that child. She swore to make him the head of the clan, and have her revenge.
But then, Aneurin named his second son, Kirin, as his heir. He was treated specially, praised for his prodigious skills. Keon's mother had to act.
One night, she went into Kirin's room and tried to assassinate the boy. But she failed miserably. Enraged Aneurin beheaded his wife, in the presence of then six year old Keon.
Rigel told Keon a beautiful lie. That his mother loved him so much.
~ o 0 o ~
Keon saw that Rigel was spacing out, and thus, took the opportunity to strike him down. Rigel was indeed off guard and was slashed by Keon's sword on his left arm, on his side, on his thigh. He quickly defended, but it was too late. Even before Rigel could retaliate, Keon used almost all of his aura in one last strike. Rigel defended with his sword, however, just this once, Keon was unexpectedly too strong.
In his strike, not only that his dark aura stood out, but also Keon's raging will. This time, Rigel could not fight back. He was defeated. He fell down, blood gushing out of his wounds. He just received the biggest surprise in his life. He never imagined Keon to become this strong in such a short period of time.
"L-lord Keon...." He murmured, his life draining out. "How, surprisingly strong you've become..."
Keon fell down, weakened. He couldn't stand either. His vision spinning and blurry.
Rigel smiled, finally understanding the reason behind Keon's power
"Freyja said mother is watching over me because she loves me." Keon uttered. "Don't take me for an idiot, Rigel. I know she never did."
Rigel's tears fell, with a relieved smile on his face. Slowly he closed his eyes, and passed away.
~ o 0 o ~