"Nathaniel Rivertide?!," Allen asked out loud, his eyes widening in complete surprise. Just where did Nathaniel come from? And what did he want?
With only a day passed after dueling against Nathaniel Rivertide in Allen's third duel in the tournament, the last person he expected to see was Nathaniel himself, but yet here he was, in the same infirmary room as Allen, in the back corner of the room near the window.
"Well, are you just going to remain sitting there?," he asked, with a small chuckle. "Or are you going to walk over here so we can have a nice little chat?"
Allen gritted his teeth harder with each word that came out of Nathaniel's mouth. He could not stand him at all, especially how he has treated him, as well as his friends. Just why should he try to talk to him? Wouldn't it be better to ignore him?
"I know you can hear me, this room is relatively small," Nathaniel spoke again. "Would you rather me talk to you from all the way over here?"
Allen clicked his tongue as he realized he didn't have a choice. He was better getting closer to him to find out his intentions, rather than listen to him from a distance. Although he still hesitated a little, he made his way over to where Nathaniel's voice was coming from.
Allen's once enemy lay in an infirmary bed, with bandages all around his body, no doubt caused by Allen's attack from their duel. Nathaniel's focus remained outside the window, in his own thoughts.
Well, at least in not in any shape to attack me even if he wanted to, Allen thought to himself,
Nathaniel waited a moment, before turning his attention over to Allen, who remained standing at a good distance away from him, but just close enough to hear everything he would be about to say.
"Don't worry, I only wish to speak to you, and mean no harm," Nathaniel promised him. "But if it makes you feel better to keep your distance, I do not blame you"
"Enough about that," Allen cut in. "What do you want?"
"Want?," Nathaniel asked, almost confused by the question. "No, there's nothing I want other than a small talk with you. I admit I do not delve into things unless it has any value to me. That being said, this conversation alone is enough to satisfy me, and you might want to listen to what I have to say"
"Why should I listen to anything you have to say?," Allen asked, raising his voice. "After-"
"You'll listen if you want information regarding Ellen Marion," Nathaniel advised him, his face not wavering.
Allen looked like he wanted to say something, but gave up and decided to take a seat instead. Allen's biggest priority was winning his upcoming fourth duel, and the largest issue posing a threat to him is Ellen Marion. If he wanted to know everything he could about Ellen, it was better to listen to what Nathaniel had to say.
"Firstly, I want to congratulate you on your victory against me," Nathaniel spoke, giving him an amused look. "Never before have I been defeated like that, which would make you the first person to take me down on a one on one duel"
Allen gave him an odd look, as if he was beginning to question if he was really speaking to Nathaniel or not. After all, Nathaniel has never been the kind of person to uplift anyone but himself.
"I had earned quite a reputation as you know due to my behaviors and my contant wins against others, earning me my nickname. But in a way, that ended the other day with your victory against me," Nathaniel explained, as he gestured to his bandages. "In the end, I suppose you could say I was the one who was humiliated. Funny, right?"
Allen opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but gritted his teeth. He decided it would be best to remain quiet so he could get the information he needed.
"Anyways," Nathaniel began to speak again, changing the topic. "I promised information regarding Ellen Marion, so I will tell you"
This is it, Allen thought to himself. Proof that Ellen Marion used Nathaniel against me.
"It is true that Ellen Marion did approach me with a deal that I simply could not refuse at the time," Nathaniel admitted. "Follow her orders without question in an attempt to turn the academy into her vision. In return, she promised she would set me up against you in the tournament, and I could do what I want as long as I wasn't directly breaking any rules"
"Of course she-," Allen started to say, raising his voice, but immediately stopped himself and sat back down. He knew Nathaniel had been working with Ellen, now confirmed by him, and could report what he says or does to her directly.
Nathaniel gave him a curious look, which turned into a small grin. "I know what you're thinking, but you don't have to worry about me. In fact, I doubt she cares to what I have to say now"
Allen had a confused look on his face before speaking. "You're not working with her anymore?"
"Correct, Fleming," Nathaniel nodded his head. "I noticed rather quickly after our deal was made that your defeat by my hands would benefit her greatly, meaning she was getting the most out of our arrangement"
"But now with my loss against you, I doubt she sees any more potential in me, and has practically thrown me away with the rest of the people she considers failures. Funny, cause I had it coming," Nathaniel let out a small chuckle.
Allen eyed him for a second, still debating whether to believe him or not. After all, it was almost as if Nathaniel was a different person. Could someone really change that much after a single loss?
"Lastly, I want to promise to you that I will never cause any further problems for you, any of your friends, or practically anyone for that matter," Nathaniel explained as his eyes fell down to the blankets covering the rest of his body. I admit that your victory against me… well affected me. I've… had some time to think while I've been resting in this annoyingly quiet infirmary"
Allen immediately stood up from his seat, instinctively taking a step back from Nathaniel. "You're joking, right? Are you really Nathaniel Rivertide?"
Nathaniel let out a small chuckle. "No, I'm being serious. I understand I have caused you many problems earlier this year, and now once again recently"
Despite the fact that he's admitting it, it's still hard to believe he would keep his promise, Allen thought to himself. What would stop him if he's given another opportunity to cause problems for me, or anyone else?
"I'm not asking or expecting you to believe me, as I can somewhat understand. But in the end, I've made you a promise, and it's truly the first one I intend to keep. Think of it as a strange, newfound respect for the person who has finally managed to defeat me, and my ego with it"
Allen clenched his fists and he processed Nathaniel's words. He almost wanted to believe him, but part of him still couldn't. It was still hard to reconcile with the person who has tried to bring him down the most. Perhaps given time, they might be able to come to a mutual understanding.
"Also," Nathaniel said as he looked up at Allen, "With your victory, I will also give you a small prize with it"
Allen eyed him suspiciously, but chose not to interrupt.
"One," Nathaniel spoke, putting a finger up. "One small favor. You can cash it in at any time, no matter what I might be up to. As long as it's within my capabilities, I will provide you with one favor"
"Wait, you're serious?," Allen asked, as looked between Nathaniel and his one finger pointing up.
"You can choose to do with that information as you will. You can also choose to never cash it in. I will leave that all up to you," Nathaniel explained, with a small grin on his face.
"Alright, assuming you're serious, I will consider it," Allen advised him, as he looked between him and the door. He was already itching to leave the room and take a walk, as there's only so long that he can stand talking to Nathaniel.
Nathaniel grinned, as he crossed his arms. "I can tell what you're thinking, so I won't keep you any longer. That's all I had to say"
"Then I'll be on my way," Allen said, as he immediately used that opportunity to leave.
"But before you leave," Nathaniel stopped him. "I heard about the changes to Cecily's duel. I understand you may not want to hear this, but I truly wish her luck. Rose Marion is no easy opponent, even if I have managed to defeat her in the past"
Allen's body shook a little, as he was in the middle of walking out, as Nathaniel hit a nerve. While Nathaniel may have good intentions, it was still hard to believe. He decided to remain quiet, to prevent any further alterations happening between the two of them.
As Nathaniel saw Allen open the door to the infirmary, there was one last thing he wanted to say before he left. "This may not mean much coming from me but, take care of my brother for me"
With Allen's back facing Nathaniel, he stopped for a moment to consider Nathaniel's out of character words. After taking a moment, he finally left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Nathaniel let out a sigh, as he relaxed his body. He took a moment to think about the relationship he's had with his brother. There was a time they were somewhat close, but that all changed after Nathaniel became arrogant with the power he has.
"Perhaps I should try to reconcile with my brother for once," Nathaniel said to himself, as he looked out the academy window, to the many students enjoying themselves and talking amongst one another.
After listening to Allen's conversion with his friends that were in the room earlier, Nathaniel couldn't help but feel a small sense of regret, as he began to finally wish he had done the right things and had friendships like that.
Nathaniel slapped a hand to his face, as he almost couldn't believe he suddenly began to have thoughts like this for once. Him changing? It was hard to believe.
"Just who is Allen Fleming?," Nathaniel couldn't help but ask out loud, thinking about the one person that managed to change him, as his eyes remained outside the window. "And what will he become?"