Narrator's POV:
Margarette lowers her head and somehow felt what Eurydice said.
*Margarette gone quiet for a moment upon hearing the words said by Eurydice*
At that time, she remembered her son Alucard, who's all alone within the Light's Order.
*Margarette's expression is saddened*
She couldn't help herself but saddened after hearing Eurydice's words.
*Margarette's saddened*
Meanwhile....
*armor clanging at their destination*
*pat!*
*Margarette flinched*
Zemislav appeared right beside her.
"Sweetheart, it's time to go."
- Zemislav said.
*Margarette remains silent*
*Zemislav faces Eurydice in a cheerful manner*
"Mrs. Eurydice, thank you for lending us shelter and food. Because of you, we are nursed back to health and regained our stamina. Thank you so much for everything."
- Zemislav expressed his gratitude.
*Eurydice listened and surprised*
"Oh! There's no need for excessive gratitude Mr. Zemislav."
- Eurydice panicked, childishly while waving in a form of misundersanding.
*Zemislav started to wonder*
*Sealing the abyssal demon and capturing my Dark Elven heretics are pretty much of a favor. My mere actions could not match of what that you've done to me."
- Eurydice said.
*Zemislav and Margarette exchange looks*
. . .
"Well, it's not of a big deal Mrs. Eurydice! Our purpose is to annihilate demons whose swarming in the surface."
- Zemislav reassures Eurydice.
"And besides, since I'm too much of a j*ck*ss myself, I failed to annihilate the demon. But anyway, since my wife here sealed it, well, I'm more of an *ssh*l* who keeps on trashtalking, so yeah."
- Zemislav said.
*Margarette started to look on her husband in a childish way of stare*
. . .
*Zemislav scratches his head*
"I'm a complete, useless b*****"
- Zemislav rants.
*Margarette pats her husband*
*pat!*
*Zemislav flinched*
"Sweety, stop using that sacred word! You see, I prefer you use 'b*tch' than that word."
- Margarette madly said.
"Or it's a relief and a miracle if don't use swearing all the time."
- Margarette said childishly in an angry style.
*Margarette lets out an awkward smile*
. . .
*Zemislav gone serious which made Margarette surprised*
"You said you detested me for acting like a goodie-two shoes? Then, don't try to control me, you imbecile!"
- Zemislav said in a serious tone, comically.
"Eh?? It's not like that though."
- Margarette said comically.
. . .
- - - Meanwhile - - -
The second regiment is about to depart but Zemislav and Margarette halted and faces Eurydice.
"So, Mrs. Eurydice, we'll be taking our leave now."
- Zemislav bids farewell.
*Eurydice looked at them afar*
"Please take care and also your babies!"
- Margarette bids farewell too.
They turn their back and started walking.
*armor clanging while walking*
*Eurydice waving her hand*
"You too! Take care on your journey!"
- Eurydice bids farewell.
. . .
The second regiment started to cover distance from Eurydice and their marching sounds fades in the midst of withered woods.
When the regiment left the Shadow Swamp premises, Eurydice lowers her hand and kept on staring at where the regiment went.
*Eurydice still looking at the woods where the second regiment left*
*Eurydice started to remember the flashback of yesterday's event*
- - - Flashback - - -
"Dark elf maiden, please stay here."
- Margarette said in a calm tone.
*Margarette puts the the young version of Eurydice on the ground gently*
*Margarette's about to leave but I talked to her*
"Why? Why are you doing this?"
- I said in a terrified tone, pretentiously.
*silence*
"You... *shiver*... You all are going to die because of your.... interference of the *shiver*.... the ritual."
- I said in a terrified tone, pretentiously.
"What have you all-?"
- I said in scared tone, pretentiously.
*a moment of silence*
Margarette gone quiet and I continue to pretend like some of a scared brat.
I don't know what took her so long to respond to my question but suddenly....
*Margarette gently smiles*
*pat!*
She just smiled and pat my head gently.
*Margarette let's out a hearth-warming smile towards Eurydice*
"O young maiden, we fight not for ourselves but for the sake of Justice towards the injustice, whose trampled upon."
- Margarette said.
. . .
"Justice must be conveyed, to the ones who ceaselessly seek justice."
- Margarette smiles as she said.
At first, I thought they just barge here but...
*Margarette answered the Young Dark Elf's question with a peaceful and heart-warming way*
I guess I was wrong about my assumptions.
*Margarette left the young Dark elf and rushes towards her husband's aid*
- - - Flashback Ends - - -
*a moment of silence*
"Justice, eh?"
- Eurydice said as she continuously touch her tummy.
*Eurydice smiles*
"Deliver Justice to the ones who seeks justice."
- Eurydice said.
*Eurydice looks up to the dark skies and then she smiles*
. . .
*cricket sounds*
At the forest, the second regiment continues to walk ahead of their path. All of them didn't bother to speak at all which leaves the entire party as quiet as the ears can hear.
*armor clanging while walking*
. . .
In the midst of deafening silence, Zemislav looked behind him and start looking for Efrain.
*armor clanging decreases*
Zemislav slowed down until he successfully near to him.
"Sir Efrain, can I have a moment with you?"
- Zemislav whispers.
"Sure? Why not Captain?"
- Efrain replied.
*Zemislav draws his sword*
"Can you tell me if my sword is still sturdy and durable? You see, I haven't been able to take a chance to visit a blacksmith due to exceedingly number of missions assigned on me. Can you-"
- Zemislav ask.
"Oh you silly boy! There's no need to act cutely infront of me ya know?"
- Efrain said.
"This decrepit man knows a lot than you think lad!"
- Efrain said.
*Zemislav started to feel glad*
"Ooh?? Thank you very much Sir Efrain!"
- Zemislav cheerfully said.
*Zemislav grabbed his sword and draw it*
*shiiiing!*
*he then give it to Efrain*
*Efrain inspects the sword carefully*
*a moment of silence*
"So, what's can you say Sir Efrain? Is my sword becoming more rusty and weaker?"
- Zemislav curiously ask.
"Hmm... I don't see any signs that this sword structure's weakening. It's the opposite."
- Efrain said while continue checking the sword.
*Efrain looks at Zemislav*
"Tell me Captain, what were you been slaying using this sword lately?"
- Efrain ask.
"Well, since demons are getting rampant nowadays, I kept being dispatched to every missions involving demon slaying and hunting. My sword keeps getting in contact with demon blood and such."
- Zemislav answered.
*Efrain remains quiet*
*Zemislav scratch his head in confusion*
"You see, I cannot avoid to expose my sword to any sort of blood. I feared that my sword's gonna rust after all the blood exposure it gets that'll affects the quality of the blade."
- Zemislav said.
*Efrain takes a better look towards the sword and examines it intensely*
"That's why, last two days, I planned that it'll be a schedule for my sword's check-up towards a blacksmith for maintainance. But it turns out that those days where-"
- Zemislav said.
"I... I can't believe this."
- Efrain shockedly said.
*Zemislav started to wonder*
"This sword of yours... kinda alive."
- Efrain said in a scared tone.
"Wha.... What in the f*ck*ng world are you talking?"
- Zemislav ask in a childish manner.
"Your sword... I could feel it... it... thirst for more blood.."
- Efrain said in awe.
"This... is my first time seeing a sword whose greed is unparalleled..."
- Efrain said.
*Zemislav gone quiet yet still confused*
"Your sword's greed... will continuously made it's blade sharp and sturdy... If this sword keeps being bathe by blood of its wielder's prey, it'll continue to get stronger and become unbreakable."
- Efrain said.
*Zemislav listens*
"This gray-like sword of yours, it'll transform into something which will greatly help its wielder in his/her purpose."
- Efrain said.
*Efrain looked at Zemislav*
"Captain Zemislav, or let's just say young Zemislav.... This sword, whoever its wielder in the future, will surely, without a doubt, will provide its full potential to its wielder."
- Efrain said with ease.
*Zemislav listens while they keep moving*
"Judging by this sword's unique ability, it acts as an amplifier which is unique by the way. For now, you cannot unlock its potential Captain. This sword is only a mere ordinary sword. It just started to gain slight consciousness. I could clearly hear it."
- Efrain said.
*Efrain touching the heavy sword of Zemislav*
"This sword.... is not ordinary. Its greed... makes it unique.... And the wielder, who has the capability to unlock its true hidden power will surely make this sword sturdier. Keep it up."
- Efrain said.
*Zemislav's quiet*
*Zemislav take a moment to recollect all his thoughts*
"How... How come a sword possess something like that? I've... I've never heard anything like that in my entire life."
- Zemislav ask confusedly.
"Even my ancestors of my kin, they never heard such a thing."
- Zemislav said.
*Efrain gone silent*
. . .
"Captain, can I ask who's the blacksmith responsible of forging this unique sword?"
- Efrain ask.
"Hmm... The one who forge my sword is... He is known to be the greatest blacksmith in Moniyan Empire who uses an incredible ways of sword's smith."
- Zemislav said.
*upon hearing Zemislav's words, Efrain gone surprised*
"Well, I used all my savings for that so, I can have a durable sword in my life... You see.. I hate my weapon breaks all the time, and well... Another money to spend again."
- Zemislav funnily said.
*Efrain comically wondered*
"Well... Heheheheh! I'm still short with money at that time, and I have lots of plans especially for my parents. So yeah, gotta save money and plan out how to spend it."
- Zemislav said in confidence, comically.
*crow of awkwardness*
"But anyway, I'm quite of surprised by that legendary blacksmith. He never ask me any penny at all... Which is... A great relief of my life."
- Zemislav said in a soothed tone, comically.
*Efrain gasp*
"He just want to forge me a sword. He said it's a last thing he can do in his life, so he's gonna give it his all. After that, I thank him so, so, so, sooooo much! I'm so relief that he forge me a sword for free!"
- Zemislav cheerfully said.
*Zemislav childishly pats Efrain's shoulder*
"He told me he's not worthy to receive my gratitude since well... I dunno? He said he just want to help me and repay all the deeds I did to him."
- Zemislav said.
*Efrain's quiet, at the same time, surprised*
"I'm... Quite of surprised to hear that thou-"
- Zemislav said.
*pats!*
*Zemislav gasp*
"Indeed, you are a righteous man."
- Efrain said in relief.
*Zemislav wonder, comically*
"People repay you without asking, therefore, you are righteous."
- Efrain said with ease.
*Zemislav's confused*
"I'm pretty sure, your sword knows it all that's why its potentials has been unlocked in a steady process, in order to help its wielder."
- Efrain said in a hearth-warming way.
*Zemislav is clueless of what's going on*
"Continue what you are, my friend. Do not listen on what others want you to become. Remember, we are unique in different ways."
- Efrain said.
*Zemislav's quiet*
*smiles*
"Haha! No need to tell me that, 'I am what I am' anyway."
- Zemislav said while he wink.
*Efrain give back his sword*
*Zemislav grabbed his sword and put it back to his back*
"Sir Efrain... I don't think I'll be able to unlock its full potential."
- Zemislav said frankly.
*Efrain wondered*
"I cannot promise that my life will last long... I fight to survive.. if there were times fate can't be fight back with my resistance, that's when I meet my end."
- Zemislav said.
"My life... is already uncertain. If I grow old with my wife, and seeing my son grow up into a fine and decent man, that's a great miracle that I can ever wished."
- Zemislav said.
*Efrain's still listening*
"But if fate is against it, I don't have any reason to argue about it. If fate wants me disappear, resistance is futile as fate will always find its way to make everything happened in a different way."
- Zemislav said.
*Efrain's listening*
"So, if something happens to me, I'll entrust this sword to my boy, who's waiting for me at the Capitol. I'm pretty sure he'll be the one to fully harness it's full potential and it will surely aid him whatever kind of journey that awaits him."
- Zemislav said calmly.
*Efrain's listening*
"So, whatever fate has inflicted to me, I won't cower and surrender instead I'll fight till the end of my life."
- Zemislav said.
"Because...."
- Zemislav said.
*Efrain gasp when he sees Zemislav's expression which he could not see in his life*
*drip*
*drop*
. . .
"Fear... and Surrender... Are not in my vocabulary... even if... that's fate, I won't... back down."
- Zemislav said as he smiles and shed some tears that rolled down in his stern eyes.
. . .
Upon seeing Zemislav shed tears for the first time, Efrain couldn't believe his eyes. Seeing a role figure of every aspiring knights, and known for it's courageous feats, shed tears for the first time.
Zemislav wiped his tears and quickly moved ahead to lead the regiment. Efrain, on the other hand, was still in shock of the happenings that quickly happened in his eyes.
. . .
"Zemislav..."
- Efrain wondered as he looked at him behind.
"You're prepared whatever happens to your life but..."
- Efrain wondered.
*Efrain closely look his back as they walk*
"You cannot hide that fear in you..."
- Efrain said as he watches Zemislav from behind.
They continue to march towards woods.
. . .