"What did you say?"
After finally putting two and two together and realizing what was happening, Myer gave the young girl a questioning look. It seemed that she had somehow managed to set herself free from Arcane's hold and was now in front of him. The young girl stood defiantly between him, his sword, and Daliyah.
"I said…I won't let you kill her."
Agatha did her best to control her trembling voice. The man in front of her was tall and strong. A small and fragile girl like her would not stand a chance. Yet, here she was giving him orders.
"Pfft, you won't let me kill her? And just how are you going to stop me from doing so?"
Myer found this rather funny. He could easily cut her in half if he wanted to.
"This is getting annoying…How in the world did she manage to get away from Arcane?"
Myer looked over to where Arcane was standing. The masked soldier had not moved from his spot, and only observed them.
"That guy…"
Myer turned his attention back to Agatha and pointed his sword at her.
"Move, or I will move you myself."
"What are you doing?"
Nerian grabbed Myer's shoulder to stop him.
"What's the matter Nerian?"
"What do you mean what's the matter? You do know who you are pointing your sword to right?"
"Of course I know, what's your point?"
"You…"
Although the girl in front of them looked like an average person, she was still the chosen vessel. The whole purpose of them being here was to get her and escort her safely back to the capital in time to prepare for the ritual. Things had gotten messy though. Everything was going according to the plan, but none expected Daliyah to do what she did. If there was one thing Arcane and Myer hated was someone or something interfering with their calculations. Nerian knew that though Myer looked calm, he was annoyed and angry because of all the distractions Daliyah had caused. Killing her was the easiest and quickest way to not only bring punishment but also a bit of compensation for obstructing the plan.
Now, the vessel they had come to "quietly and smoothly" escort, was standing before them making things difficult…again.
"My point is, you can't be pointing your sword at her."
"I'm just politely asking her to move. If she does not move, I will cut her."
"Myer, this isn't the time to be joking."
"Who said I was joking?"
Myer moved Nerian's hand from his shoulder and stepped towards Agatha.
"Litle girl, I asked you to move."
Agatha shook her head and opened her arms to cover as much of Daliyah as possible.
"Hey, this guy is not joking, so please step aside."
Nerian nervously tried to calm the fumes.
"I will not move. It is you who should be putting your sword away."
"Okay, she is asking for a death sentence now."
Nerian rubbed his temples in frustration. He saw Arcane standing by the tree and gave him a "Are you not gonna do anything?" look. Arcane did not seem to take interest in what was happening. Or rather, he seemed to be lost in thought. Then again, it was hard to tell with the mask on.
"If you don't move I will give you another cut aside from the one you already have."
Agatha tilted her head in confusion. She then felt a stinging pain in her neck. She touched the front of her neck and felt something wet. She looked at her hand and realized she was bleeding.
"My lady? Are you hurt?"
Agatha said nothing as she stared at what seemed to be her blood.
"Why am I bleeding? When did I get hurt?"
Then it hit her. She remembered that the masked soldier held a blade against her neck to threaten Daliyah. When she saw Myer getting ready to execute her, Agatha felt a rush of adrenaline and without thinking, ran towards them to protect Daliyah.
"I probably cut myself with the sudden movement."
Still, the blade could have caused greater harm since she had run without any type of caution. This could only mean that…
"He moved the blade away before it caused more damage."
"You wouldn't be bleeding if you had just stayed where you were. So show me you learn from your mistakes and move."
Myer gave Agatha an impatient look and placed his sword against her chest.
"Don't you dare!"
Daliyah started to stand up to fight, but Agatha signaled her to stop.
"I am not bleeding because I moved. I'm bleeding because he had a blade against my neck to threaten my servant. If he had not used such a cheap trick, my neck would be without harm."
"Did she just say…cheap trick?"
Nerian's jaw dropped. Never in his life had he heard anyone call Arcane's strategies a "cheap trick."
Agatha was not done talking though.
"The same applies to you, Mr. Warrior. If you were to put your sword away and listen to what I have to say then there would be no need for me to acquire another injury now is there?"
"What kind of logic is that?"
Myer chuckled in disbelief.
"Well, she's not completely wrong there."
Nerian agreed under his breath. Myer gave him a dirty look.
*cough* "I mean, you don't have to hold the sword so close to her."
"That is enough from you both."
A chilling voice made both Myer and Nerian stop their argument. Arcane approached them with an imposing aura. He signaled Myer to put his sword away. Myer immediately obeyed. Arcane stood in front of Agatha and looked at her intensely. Agatha felt her breath getting stuck in her throat for a moment. The man in front of her was powerful indeed. She could see the spiritual energy that surrounded him.
"How is it possible for a simple human to have so much spiritual energy and keep it under control?"
Arcane crossed his arms and bent down a bit to be at Agatha's eye level. Agatha was taken back for a moment and took a step back.
"I'm listening."
"What…?"
Agatha looked at him confused.
"You said you had something to say. I'm listening."
"Yes, but I wasn't talking to you."
Agatha still remembered how he had heartlessly ordered Daliyah to get killed without a second thought. This man was dangerous. She would avoid talking to him if she could but…
"I…I know that Daliyah made a mistake. I know that you see her as a traitor, but you can't kill her."
"Why?"
"Because she was only trying to give me a chance to live a life I know I will never have. She says I had nothing to do with it, but the truth is that I do."
"My lady! What are you saying?"
"It is I who talked to her about my wishes and desires. It was I who talked to her about wanting to see the ocean. It is I who talked to her about dreams that I know will never come true. Since that is the case, it was I who drove her to do what she did."
"My lady, are you insane?!"
"Silence Daliyah! I'm your master, thus I'm the one who needs to be held accountable!"
"No…"
Arcane thought about the young girl's words for a moment.
"Where are you going with this?"
Agatha took a deep breath.
"What I'm trying to say is that since I am also at fault I should also be punished with death."
"So you suggest we kill you knowing we are unable to?"
"That's right. Even though I deserve death, you can't kill me."
"What does that have to do with her? We can kill her and keep you alive?"
"I told you. She is my servant. Not only is she my servant but my closest and dearest friend. If you kill her, I will kill myself even if you don't."
"My lady…"
"Is she serious?"
Daliyah, Myer, and Nerian's eyes widened at Agatha's proclamation.
"You wouldn't dare."
Agatha took a step forward and got close to the soldier's face. She could see his hazel eyes looking at her coldly.
"I would."
"You would risk the lives of hundreds of thousands of people for one person?"
"Yes. This one person is my only reason to live. If she dies, I have nothing to lose. I know none of those hundreds of thousands of people so I could care less what happens to them. They have no problem with using my life for their benefit so don't make it seem like I'm the only selfish one here."
Arcane could not believe what he was hearing. As far as he knew, being the chosen vessel was a blessing to whoever held the title. The woman in front of him, however, was talking about it like it was a curse.
Having nothing more to lose, Agatha crossed her arms and stood her ground.
"Now, if I take my life and you don't go back with me to the capital, it means you have failed at your mission. I believe failing the crown is worse than death to any of you. So, what will it be?"