"I think I'm starting to understand why Klaus and you got along so well. You're both crazy!" August said breathlessly.
"Do you still have the energy to chat? Come on, I have a bad feeling about this! Why didn't you do this sooner? Wouldn't it have been easier to take the capital?"
"Yes, that's true, how come we didn't think of that before," the captain said skeptically. "Are you an idiot? There's a barrier around the capital, my earth magic didn't go past the wall!"
"Then how did Pritik manage to open a portal? If we follow the logic, then if you couldn't dig a tunnel under the capital, being outside of it, then Pritik shouldn't have created a portal either."
"I don't know exactly why. Maybe because portals, although they are related to air magic, are something else in essence. As you know, not everyone can create portals, that's why we use inventions."
"Yes, it's all complicated. I don't really understand my power. How much longer do we have?"
"Don't rush me. There's a battle going on above us now. One wrong move and we'll be covered from above. I'm already making maximum effort. We should have taken more people with us. It will be difficult to get into the castle."
"If we had taken someone else, you would have had to dig a bigger tunnel. We don't have much time as it is. You've been to the castle, right? Can you make an exit in some secluded place?"
"I doubt there will be any of those there now. We're almost there. Turn on camouflage. You don't know how to fight, and I won't be able to protect you and myself at the same time."
"I'm not stupid, I know that."
"Really? And it seems to me that a smart person wouldn't go into the enemy's lair, dooming himself to failure in advance."
"I don't care what you think. Klaus was supposed to come back, but he didn't. If his body wasn't put on display for everyone to see, it means he's still alive, but for some reason he can't use the portal."
"Yes, I'm afraid he did meet his father. I hope he didn't lose control, otherwise everything we've achieved..."
"Don't say that! He promised! You know how stubborn and strong he is, he won't give in to provocations."
"That's the thing, I know him much better than you do," August sighed.
***
His eyes were bloodshot, and Klaus saw his father's first attempt to strike as if through a red prism. Anger was bursting out, and it was hard for him to contain it. He must not give in. Inhale. Exhale. Muscles were tense from another clash of the sword with the electric barrier.
"This, this is what happens when you let your weakness get the better of you!" His father's voice was heard as if through a thick layer of water. The blood was pounding in his head so hard that he could barely make out the words.
"Shut up," the prince squeezed out.
Klaus tried to move from his place, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The red veil was getting stronger, clouding his vision. Anger was taking over. "No. The shield will withstand a few more blows. I need to pull myself together."
Klaus began to replay in his head those many conversations with Egor. His smile and faith in the prince's victory. The enthusiasm of the soldiers. The hopes of the lowborn. "No, none of this matters now. It doesn't help. Then what does it matter? What am I fighting for?"
"Come on, don't waste my time. You're already dead. Be a good boy, remove the barrier and let's end this here and now."
"Freedom. I'm fighting for freedom. If I give in to anger now, I'll lose. If I lose, everyone will die." Inhale. The lungs finally felt the influx of oxygen. The ringing in the ears faded into the background. Vision cleared. Exhale. Hands clenched the katana. Bent knees straightened. The prince took an uncertain step to the side, avoiding his father's sword.
"Who said I was going to die today?"
"Ha, are you struggling? You won't change anything anyway."
"Let's check it out."
"Feck, my strength is running out. This pressure... Father is really strong."
All Klaus could do now was shorten his stride. He was feverishly thinking about what to do? How to win? First, he needed to survive, and that was getting harder with each passing minute. The electric barrier was running out of power. If it disappeared, he would be crushed into a pancake.
"Klaus, catch it!"
The prince turned his head and saw a tall, thin figure covered in blood. Merid was barely standing on his feet, but he was still standing. He was wearing a cloak. An anti-magic cloak. And he threw the same one to the prince.
"You're just my hero!" the prince exclaimed, throwing the artifact over his shoulders.
"The rest is up to you," the man said and fell heavily to the ground.
As soon as the cloak touched his hands, the electric barrier fell. The prince barely had time to throw it over his shoulder before the bones turned to dust from the king's power.
"What kind of masquerade is this?"
"This is the future of our country. Well, now shall we fight for real?" Klaus exclaimed and rushed to the attack.
The king was not as young as his son, but his combat experience and strength were still at their best. Even now, when Klaus was not pressed to the ground, he had a hard time coping with Ichiro.
The king strengthened his blows with magic, smashing everything around him with his sword like a hammer. Klaus really had no more strength left, but he could not give up. The king had already wounded his son several times. He cut his forearm, grazed his side and almost cut off his leg. Klaus did not hit his father even once.
"This is bad," flashed through his mind when the dust from the recently demolished part of the wall blocked his view, and the prince did not have time to react. The sword was aimed at his chest. He would not have time to dodge.
"Klaus!"
A wall of earth appeared in front of the prince. This slowed the movement of the sword, and Klaus managed to jump back.
"August? What the fuck are you doing here..."
Through the dust, he saw his brother, who had fallen to his knees, and Egor, holding him by the shoulder. The prince realized that Egor had helped August in this way. The couple of moments that the captain had to magic on the wall led to the fact that his leg was broken from the pressure of the king and blood was flowing from his eyes and nose. Egor managed to grab him before the situation became irreversible.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
"We thought you might be lonely here, August tried to joke."
"Get out of here and take Merid. He's been dealt a bad hand."
"Brother, I couldn't leave even if I wanted to."
"Here comes the boy. How well everything is going. He came into my arms himself."
"Don't you dare touch him. I'm your opponent!"
"Of course, of course. But do you think a beaten git or a broken mongrel can stop me now?"
The king moved towards the uninvited guests. Klaus rushed at him, planning to stab him in the back. The king reacted lightning fast, parrying the attack. The prince lost his balance and fell to the floor.
Egor watched everything as if in slow motion. The king was so close, but the boy wasn't sure that August would be able to withstand the pressure if he let go now. He saw the king turn to Klaus and knew that the next blow would be the prince's last.
"Forgive me," he quietly said to August and, letting go of him, rushed forward.
Egor jumped on the king's back and wrapped his arms around his neck. The effect of gravity ceased. August took a ragged breath. Klaus tore off his cloak. Ichiro grabbed the boy and threw him into the wall like a rag doll. A powerful bolt of lightning pierced his chest.
Egor slid down the wall. The last thing he saw was the shocked face of the prince. "This is the first time I've seen such an expression on your face." The boy lost consciousness. The king fell to his knees, looking at the hole in his chest with confusion. He raised his eyes full of bewilderment to his son and collapsed.
Klaus rose with difficulty and approached his father. He turned the body over with effort and looked into the open, but already lifeless eyes.
"This is not how I wanted it to end."
"Hey, are you okay?" he turned to August.
"I will live."
Klaus no longer had the strength to rise, so he crawled on all fours to Egor. He touched the bloody wound on his beloved's head, felt his pulse.
"Alive," he exhaled with relief, hugged Egor and fell unconscious.
"Hey, Klaus! Klaus, are you alive?" the captain shouted anxiously.