Ayenna merely scoffed, shifting her posture. Her steel armor creaked and groaned with age, each dent and scratch serving as a reminder of the battles she had fought and survived. The gleaming plates that covered her body were a testament to the years of dedicated service she had given to the Royals, and the countless enemies she had vanquished in defense of the kingdom.
With a practiced ease, she brushed her silver hair behind her ear with her plated glove, the metal clanking softly against the strands as she did so. Her hair was long and thick, shimmering in the light of the room, and it was clear that she took great care in maintaining its lustrous appearance.
Despite the weight of her armor and the scars of her battles, Ayenna's expression was calm and observant, her piercing gaze fixed upon the new Royals. She watched them with a keen eye, sizing them up and analyzing their potential as defenders of the kingdom. Her face remained stoic and unreadable, but there was a sense of respect in the way she regarded them, a recognition of the great responsibility they had taken upon themselves by joining the ranks of the Royals.
Ghazal stood upright and adjusted his position, his eyes through his helmet, surveying both Akane and Shu. "As Ayenna mentioned, the Knights serve the Kingdom, which is a critical task, but the Royals' duty is to serve the King personally," he explained, his voice firm and commanding.
Akane furrowed her brows, intrigued. "So, what exactly does serving the King entail?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Ghazal's gaze shifted from Shu to Akane, his expression thoughtful. "To serve the King is to carry out his orders without question, to act as his personal enforcers," he replied, his voice resonating with authority. "The King trusts us to carry out tasks that others cannot, tasks that may require a higher level of power, status, and secrecy that is beyond the capabilities of other divisions."
Shu furrowed his brow, his face showing his disappointment. "So, our only job is to follow the King's orders like his personal slaves?" he asked with a hint of skepticism.
Ghazal's eyes narrowed, his gaze penetrating Shu's very being. "To describe our role in such a way is a disservice to what we do," he replied sternly. "Serving the King is the highest honor that anyone in Setale could aspire to achieve. It is not just about protection, it is about upholding the values and ideals of the Kingdom."
As he spoke, a physical pressure began to build on Shu's shoulders, as if gravity was restricting his movements. "M-my bad Captain..." Shu stated, cupping his hand angrily.
Akane tilted her head slightly and gave a soft chuckle. "Oh Shu, you really don't know how to handle the presence of authority, do you?" she said in a casual tone, though her words carried a hint of condescension. "You might want to work on that if you're going to make it as a Royal." She gave him a sly look, her lips curved upward in a knowing smirk. "But don't fret, I'm sure Captain Ghazal will have no trouble putting you in your place," she said, the glint in her eyes suggesting she was enjoying his discomfort.
Shu's eyes narrowed as he glared at Akane. "You got something to say to me?" he spat, his voice laced with anger. "I don't need some newbie like you telling me how to act around authority. I've been in this game longer than you have." He stated, his eyes turning a hint of red as the tattoo that spread across his chest began to turn a light shade of orange.
"Enough..." Ghazal stated on deaf ears as it was toned out.
Akane's eyes widened in mock surprise as she put a hand to her mouth. "Oh my, did I strike a nerve?" she said in a sweet voice, feigning innocence. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you were so sensitive about your lack of manners." She giggled and batted her eyelashes playfully. "Or maybe it isn't that, maybe you just don't like me talking down to you?" She stated, still smiling, but her eyes glinting with amusement.
Shu grit his teeth, the veins on his face beginning to enlarge as felt his blood beginning to boil.
His fists clenched tightly as he tried to control his temper, but the anger was too intense for him to contain. He glared at Akane, his eyes filled with an intense fury. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his breaths becoming quicker and more ragged. It was as if a storm was raging within him, ready to burst forth at any moment.
His mind was filled with memories of all the times he had belittled others in the past, of all the times he had used his power and position to make others feel small. But now, being on the receiving end of such disrespect, he felt a burning rage within him. The fact that he was a Royal, feared and respected by many, only made it worse. With each passing second, his fury grew stronger, and he felt as if he were about to lose control.
Shu's chest heaved with anger as he glared at Akane. He had never felt so disrespected in his life, and he was ready to take her down a notch. His hand tightened into a fist as it ignited slightly.
But just as he was about to make his move, Lars appeared in front of Akane, brandishing his parrying dagger in a reverse grip. The young man stood tall, his stance strong and his eyes fierce as he protected his Royal.
Shu took a step forward, his eyes locked onto Lars. "Out of my way, you fucking butler," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Why are you even here, you don't even deserve to exist in my presence!"
Lars didn't budge, his grip on his dagger tightening. "I won't let you lay a hand on Miss Nanosaka, I'm her Knight!" he said firmly, his eyes cold and determined.
Akane's lips curved upwards, forming a subtle smile as she watched the scene unfold. She was happy to see that even after only a short amount of time, that Lars was willing to lay down his life for her so quickly.
Shu's eyes narrowed, his body tensing as he prepared to attack both Akane and Lars. Genichiro's hand went to the hilt of his Muramasa, his eyes scanning the room as he assessed the situation.
Lars didn't know why he was doing this. He knew that Shu could very easily kill him, there was no doubt about that. Though fear coursed through his veins, he couldn't ignore the loyalty and devotion that had led him to this moment. He had always been a servant, always lived in the shadows, but now he had a purpose - to protect Akane, to be her shield against any danger that might come her way.
For a moment, everything hung in the balance, the tension in the room almost palpable. Shu's muscles coiled, ready to strike, while Akane's hand flickered with a small field of energy. Genichiro remained calm and collected, his eyes scanning the room as he weighed his options.
"I said, enough." Ghazal stated, his anger evident through his mask. "Neither of you will disgrace us while we sit in these sacred halls," Ghazal stated, a crushing force weighing down on them all, a hint of a purple glow emanating from his helmet.
The sudden appearance of Captain Ghazal's commanding voice cut through the tension in the room, bringing with it an almost palpable aura of authority. The force of his words alone seemed to shake the very foundations of the room, and for a moment, everyone present was reminded of the true power and prestige of the Royals.
The three of them, Genichiro, Shu, and Lars, immediately froze in place at the sound of Ghazal's voice. Shu, who had been on the verge of attacking Akane and Lars, slowly lowered his guard, his muscles relaxing as he stepped back. Genichiro, who had been about to draw his sword, also relaxed, his hand falling away from the hilt of his blade.
Akane, however, remained still, her hand still flickering with energy. Despite the overwhelming pressure emanating from Ghazal, she remained defiant, her eyes locked onto the Captain's helmet. A subtle curve of amusement tugged at the corner of her lips, betraying the calmness in her demeanor.
Lars, on the other hand, was already beginning to feel the full weight of the Captain's wrath. He could feel the crushing force bearing down on him, making it hard to even breathe. Akane turned to Lars, a seemingly worried look on her face.
Akane turned to Ghazal, her Captain, and spoke in a firm yet respectful tone. "Captain, may I request that you cease harming my Knight?" Her eyes began to emit a faint, otherworldly glow, indicating that she was prepared to use her abilities if necessary.
Ghazal remained silent for a moment, his helmeted head turning towards Akane. His piercing gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, there was a tense silence in the air.
"Fine. I believe you two have gained enough understanding of our duty. It's time to move onto our next task." Ghazal stated, stepping around the War Table as Ayenna followed close behind him. "You have two minutes to collect yourselves, we'll be outside." He stated, as they both excited the room by pushing open the massive steel doors.
With a final lingering glance at the War Table, Ghazal turned his back on the room, his footsteps echoing throughout the grand chamber. The sound was crisp and sharp, each step hitting the floor like a strike of a drum. Ayenna followed closely, her metal armor clanging together as she moved in perfect sync with her Captain.
The room was now illuminated with a warm, golden light that seemed to emanate from the very walls themselves. It shone down upon the massive steel doors, casting a brilliant reflection onto them, as they slowly closed behind the two departing Royals. The sound of their footsteps gradually faded, leaving a solemn silence in their wake.
Akane sighed, feeling the tension in the air dissipate. The room seemed emptier now that they had left, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The darkness of the War Table room had given way to a bright, warm glow, but it was still overshadowed by the aura of the Royals.
Shu stood there, his jaw set so tightly that he could feel the muscles in his face twitching, and the intense pressure of his clenched teeth threatened to shatter them at any moment. His breaths were heavy and rapid, as if he had just finished running a marathon.
"I think its time you leave." A calm voice said. Genichiro looked down at Shu, his eyes focused and fierce, making it clear he was not in the mood for games.
Genichiro's gaze bore down on Shu with an intensity that made him feel as though he was being crushed under the weight of it. Shu could feel the pressure building up within him, his breathing becoming more labored as he struggled to control his anger.
"I won't say it again," Genichiro stated, his voice low and dangerous. "You need to leave. Now."
Shu took a step back, feeling a surge of fear and uncertainty grip his chest. This was not the Genichiro he was used to dealing with - the Genichiro that didn't care about anything. A sense of betrayal stung his heart. Was he really choosing this...girl over him?
Swallowing his pride, Shu turned and began to make his way towards the door. As he left, he could feel Genichiro's eyes following him, burning into his back with a ferocity that left him shaken to his core.
As he left, Lars let out a massive sigh of relief, as he heard a high-pitched squeal behind him. He turned and saw Akane with her arms out, as she wrapped her arms around his head and brought him close. "That was incredible! The 'I am her Knight' was so cute!" She stated, her beautiful red eyes piercing into his bright blue ones, as she looked at him the same way you would look at a puppy.
Lars felt a sudden rush of euphoria course through his body as Akane's arms enveloped him in a warm embrace. Her scent, a mixture of jasmine and sandalwood, filled his nostrils, and he found himself lost in the moment, forgetting all about the danger he had just faced. Her words, though patronizing, sent a shiver of pleasure down his spine.
He felt her soft fingers brush against his cheek as she leaned in close to him, her eyes locked onto his in a way that made his heart skip a beat. "You were so brave, Lars," she whispered, her lips brushing against his ear. "That's my Knight."
Lars couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell within him. He had always been one to fly under the radar, never truly standing out or receiving recognition. But now, with Akane's approval, he felt a newfound confidence that he had never experienced before.
Genichiro looked on with shock. His face turned red with anger and frustration, as he watched Akane's attention focus on Lars instead of him. The jealousy he felt was consuming, like a burning fire that refused to be quenched. He clenched his fist with an extreme amount of force, feeling the tension in his muscles and the heat in his veins.
Akane turned to him, brushing a hair behind her ear as she looked at him flirtatiously. "And Thank you for making him leave, Genichiro." She stated, her wink his direction being his reward.
That small bit of attention from Akane made Genichiro's heart nearly jump out of his chest. He stuttered, speaking loudly. "O-Of course, Lady Akane, I swear I'll dispose of anyone the next time someone speaks to you in such a tone!" He screamed loudly, placing his hand on his chest.
Akane leaned in towards Genichiro, her voice low and conspiratorial. "I have no doubt that you will protect me, Genichiro," she said, her tone dripping with confidence. Pulling back slightly, a glint of mischief danced in her eyes as she added, "But let's not keep Ghazal waiting, shall we?" She turned on her heel and began to walk towards the door, her steps confident and purposeful.
Genichiro nodded, his heart still racing from the attention Akane had just given him. Lars fell into step behind them, lost in his own thoughts. As they left the room, the massive steel doors closing behind them, a sense of anticipation hung in the air.
Akane wasn't worried about whatever Ghazal or the rest of this Kingdom threw at her. She knew she would be fine, because her Knights would do anything for her.