"Why the fuck does Vorkath get a free pass from this nonsense when you're threatening to wipe out my entire potential love life if I so much as stumble?" Braxis said angrily, attempting to pick his words carefully to avoid setting off Gravis's short fuse and losing yet another life.
"Well, useless kid, Vorkath's an imbecile. All talk and no substance. I admit, I've got a soft spot for these clowns. You, on the other hand, you're a goddamn wildfire who'd obliterate this planet if I don't keep you in check," Gravis shot back, his unflinching gaze locked onto Braxis's.
"Why would I destroy the world? What could I possibly benefit from such a situation?" Braxis retorted, squirming under the steel grip of the guard.
"Those were my exact fucking thoughts before I got my hands on all this power. Here's the truth: you're more than capable of that kind of shit."If you can't handle the insanity that comes with power, then I've got no choice but to snuff the light out of you. Vorkath? That dumbass gets to breathe because he's weak as a newborn kitten, and I don't just mean physically." Gravis spat out, his glare still unwavering. "Get it? You're in this mess because you couldn't keep a low profile," Gravis clarified, signaling the guard to let go of Braxis. "Now get lost. Your partner's waiting outside the palace. Don't you dare show your face here until you've aced your mission."
With that, Braxis got up and left the room, desperate to evade any further onslaught of Gravis's harsh remarks. 'Two fucking lives down thanks to this unpredictable son of a bitch,' Braxis mused with a sour taste in his mouth, striding beyond the palace gates. 'There's no question that my meddling has added fuel to his blazing madness. In the game's storyline, Gravis is supposed to lose his mind after I finish this alleged assassination task. But what's weird is that he's trying to help me keep my sanity. It's like he knows he's an NPC and is going off-script," Braxis mused aloud, puzzled by the oddity of the situation.
Just as the palace fell into the backdrop, a voice sliced through the stillness. "Get over here."
He turned his gaze towards the source, spotting one of Gravis's guards from the earlier encounter where he had Braxis pinned down. The guard was an imposing figure, his blond hair tucked neatly under a valkyrie-style helmet. He wore armor that was a masterpiece—radiant white with golden accents, etched with intricate designs that spoke of its high worth.
Intrigued more than anything, Braxis moved towards the towering figure.
"What's up?" Braxis queried, genuinely baffled at the guard's attention towards him.
"Abort your mission. If you carry on, I can't guarantee a happy ending for you," the guard said, standing tall and imposing.
"Screw off. If you want me to screw up, you'll have to get through my summon first," Braxis fired back, calling forth his shadow knight in response.
The guard remained nonplussed, ignoring the summoned entity. "I know all about you, the lord's useless progeny. Let me be frank. I'm Vorkath's combat coach. The man has a war to prepare for and he doesn't need your antics. Scrap your mission before it spirals out of your control," he snapped back, anger seeping into his words.
Braxis retorted, "Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine? I'll make this easy for you then," he said, lowering himself and presenting his neck in a mock gesture of execution.
The guard's eyes widened in shock. "This has to be a trick. I won't fall for it, and I certainly won't murder you in broad daylight, not here in front of the palace," he replied, shifting defensively.
"Typical cowardly response. Makes sense why Vorkath is the way he is. Can't finish off a helpless opponent? Pathetic," Braxis jeered, his summoned guardian taking an aggressive stance.
"I won't be baited that easily. You're underestimating me, kid. I've been in this position for decades," the guard retorted, maintaining distance from Braxis.
"Funny. Seems like you're quite fond of Vorkath. I bet he cried on your shoulder about losing his place as successor," Braxis continued taunting aggressively.
The guard gritted his teeth, his gauntlets creaking under pressure. "Disrespect me all you want, but I won't let you tarnish Vorkath's name," he warned, adopting a combative stance.
Braxis grinned, "Well, it would be a shame to crush your 'decades of experience' if you ran away now," he said, turning to his summon who was hiding in his shadow. "Don't kill him, just pin him down. I want to see if I can steal his mana," he said quietly, barely loud enough for the guard to hear. His summoned entity writhed as Braxis's shadow on the ground as a way to affirm.
"Absorb my mana? It appears our conversation has strayed beyond reason," the guard responded, his tone conveying a mix of disbelief and alarm. "You're acting erratically, and in retrospect, confronting you here seems unwise. We'll revisit this topic at a more appropriate juncture," he admitted, attempting to gather his composure as he began a measured withdrawal.
"I KNEW YOU WERE A COWARD! NOW I SEE WHY GRAVIS HIRED YOU!" Braxis couldn't hold back his triumphant shout.
"I must beg your pardon, but I've pressing matters that demand my attention," replied the guard, his voice uneven, as he gestured vaguely behind him.
As he turned to leave, Braxis's shadow knight launched itself, slinking toward the guard like a predator stalking its quarry.
Every so often, the shadow darted and twisted, seeking shelter in darker patches before resuming its pursuit. Until...
Whirling around at the last moment, the guard found a shadowy blade lunging for his throat. He brought up his gauntlet just in time, parrying the surprise attack.
Looming above him was a dark figure, a chilling entity that seemed to have emerged straight from the bowels of hell, its gaze filled with menace.
"Do you truly believe your summon is capable of besting me?" the guard queried, fear threading through his voice.
"Certainly. Shouldn't that be clear by now?" Braxis responded, his strides carrying him closer to the guard, who was grappling with the summon, a forceful blow sending him sprawling onto the ground.
The summon pinned the guard, and Braxis nonchalantly approached the downed figure. "Relax, I don't plan on ending your life. I'm merely observing something," he reassured the guard.
"KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! ASSISTANCE, PLEASE!" the guard implored, his pleas ringing out into the open. Braxis reached out and touched the guard's gauntlets..