"Ooh, over there!" Veliona exclaimed, pointing towards the tenth shop stall that hour before dragging Larian along. "Don't these look amazing?"
She picked up a necklace from the stall and held it up to her neck. The gemstones embedded in it glinted in the afternoon sun.
Larian folded his arms, studying it. "It is. Even more so because you are the one wearing it."
Veliona whipped around immediately, placing the necklace back. She was always caught off guard by how easily words like that came out of his mouth. She wondered if he was intentionally trying to make her embarrassed.
"I have matching sets of rings, if you and your partner would be interested in that." The owner of the stall offered. The old woman smiled kindly at her.
Veliona waved her hands in front of her rapidly. "Oh no no, we're not-..."
She looked to Larian for help but he was looking in the other direction. Something seemed to have caught his attention.
The old woman stared at her, waiting for her answer.
She sighed. "I'd like to see them. And I'll take that necklace too."
While the princess was dealing with the shop owner, Larian surveyed their surroundings. Searching for any sign of the purple haired man, Akh-Null.
It had already been a day and a half since their meeting. Whatever he was planning would happen soon. Most likely when the harvest moon phase began that night. Which was also when the Moonglaive would bloom.
He didn't really care what happened to the rest of the townsfolk but if the man came between the princess and the flower he would have to end him.
Larian let out a soft groan. He kind of wished he hadn't made the princess a direct promise now. Otherwise he would have been fine with leaving.
But a knight's word was his oath. Even one not exactly aligned with good like himself. He wasn't particularly enthused to find out what would happen if he broke it.
The princess pressed a ring she had just bought into his palm. He stared at it, confused, for a second.
Veliona pointed a finger at her other hand, on her index finger she had a matching one.
Larian decided to indulge her and slid his on. "Does this mean we're betrothed now?"
The princess' face slowly turned red, only now realising the implication. Larian didn't feel emotions the way a regular human did but it was... mildly entertaining watching her get all flustered.
"The nice old lady said they were special rings. And that if either of us were ever in trouble, it would help. She didn't say exactly how though so I probably won't count on it."
Veliona cleared her throat. "So, anyway. I've been pulling you along these past two days. Is there anything you would want to do before tonight?"
Larian thought about it. He had no desire to sightsee, but getting the lay of the land on a potential battlefield could prove useful later.
"Where the Moonglaive resides. I want to take a look around."
x
For a place where an ancient mystical flower resided it was not as heavily secured as he would have thought it. The small grove was a vibrant shade of green wherever you looked.
Larian looked around at the overarching trees as they walked. "Are they not afraid someone will attempt to steal the flower for themselves?"
Veliona shook her head. "According to what I've heard, the bloom only reveals itself to souls it deems worthy. Whatever that means. So people are free to come and go as they please."
Worthy, Larian repeated in his head. He doubted one touched by the Morningstar would count. And what about the harbinger, Larian doubted he was pure in any way. So what exactly was his plan.
The path opened up into a clearing where a single flower stood in its centre. Or atleast Veliona saw it. Unsurprisingly Larian found himself staring at empty space.
"You really can't see it?" Veliona asked.
Larian clenched his fist, drawing on his power. Maybe he could make it reveal itself to him. Due to the legacy of the de la Rossa bloodline they mostly only used rose based aspects of their virtues. But in actuality he had control over all plant life.
Usually, anyway. It seemed like this flower was the exception. He began to walk towards the spot the princess had been looking at. But no matter how hard he concentrated he felt no response.
Maybe if he released his limit, he gauged. But was this really a situation to resort to such measures.
Then he saw it. A flash of resplendent white for a split second. And then it was gone.
So he did hold some power over it. He wondered if he could seize its power for himself. Prevent whatever the harbinger was planning. He shut his eyes and began to dig deeper.
"Uhh, are you doing something to it?" Veliona asked, catching up to him. "Whatever it is, maybe you should stop."
Larian was far too engrossed to hear her words. He could feel the Moonglaive's presence, stronger now. He reached out to it with his mind and yanked.
But the flower pulled back. And it was way stronger than he had anticipated. He found himself falling. In the background he could hear Veliona's muted voice.
And then everything turned white.
×
Larian opened his eyes to bright white surroundings. There was nothing as far as the eye could see. Was this... a hallucination?
Walking forward didn't seem to get him anywhere. It was like he was moving in place. Then he spotted something. It was faint but he could definitely make something out. And he actually seemed to be getting closer to it as he walked.
It was... some kind of door. A handle materialized right before his eyes. Wherever it led couldn't be much worse than here. He gripped it and after taking a deep breath, pulled it open.
It opened up into a familiar scene. A dark cellar back in the Galicia kingdom. His first time stepping foot in the material plane.
Lucyfer had specifically picked him out of the plethora of souls he owned. Deposting him in this abandoned cellar with nothing but a set of orders to carry out.
Across the cellar he spotted another out of place door. This one led to the royal castle in Yves. When he had first arrived.
Altering their perception of him so that they would accept him was easy enough. Sir Alastair's virtue was not nearly as advanced as his, so they had no clue of what he was capable of.
Ofcourse the stronger the person, the less he was able to influence them. He was honestly surprised the King didn't see through him immediately. Lucyfer had told him to be careful around him. Even He did not know the full extent of the King's virtue.
Larian grew tired of reliving old memories. Was this supposed to be some sort of introspection? A proof of his worthiness?
The next door led back into the endless white. But this time he wasn't alone.
"Hello again Sir Larian." Akh-Null greeted, arms under his cloak.
Larian was surprised for a second by his abrupt appearance. How had he followed him in here.
Null lifted an arm from under the cloak, gesturing towards the door Larian had just walked through. "What's going on in there?"
Without waiting for his answer, he walked past him and peeked inside.
"Oh wow," he said after watching for a few minutes. "Your deviousness is commendable. And that's coming from me."
Larian pulled him out from the door by his shoulder and shut it. "What are you up to?"
Null grinned. "You mean what was I up to."
Larian raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.
"Yes, you've been in here for quite a while. So I came in to check on you." Null explained. "I'm afraid you missed the whole show."
He paused for a second to look Larian right in the eye. "Everyone is dead now. And the 'end' is about to begin."
Larian's mind immediately shot to the princess. Where was she. If he had touched a single hair on her head...
Null extended an arm towards him, palm open. "Want to come watch it with me?"