"I…" Luna tightened her grip around her hips. She was anxious and sad at the words of her old friend. But then she calmed down. Her beautiful figure, with white hair, dressed in a black latex suit, looked at Roland with pain in her eyes. "I want you and Leo back…"
Luna's ruby-red eyes began to water as she turned her gaze downward. Roland felt pity for his old friend, but as he attempted to say something, Ensis emerged from his Tenere. He was fuming, his cheeks and eyes crimson red.
"Roland! You better be lying to me! SHE TRIED TO KILL YOU!" Ensis hissed at Roland and proceeded to bite his ear. Roland tried to pull him off, but then a feminine growl interrupted them.
"Do you think my Awakened is so low as to lie about her true feelings?! Watch your tongue, Kitty Kat!" The figure was a chameleon with jade green skin and bright yellow eyes. She pulled Ensis away from Roland and proceeded to slap him three times.
Ensis turned towards the woman, attempting to hit back, but out of respect for Roland and his title as "knight," he refrained from striking her.
"What's wrong?~ Not much of a talker?~" The chameleon teased Ensis, who inhaled deeply and turned to her calmly.
"Who are you…?" Ensis inquired.
"My name is Rowena, Tenere of the Codex 'The Masquerade.'" Rowena bowed courteously to Ensis, who bowed in return.
"My name is Ensis, Tenere of the Codex 'Black Knight.'" Ensis introduced himself.
"Wow, so you do have manners," Rowena teased.
"Alright, that's enough from you two," Roland interjected, pulling Ensis away before he could throw a temper tantrum. But before returning to his Tenere, Ensis spoke.
"By the way, is it a bad time to show you how much you've grown since the last bloodshed? I mean, the way you killed that Codex user was truly fascinating." Ensis remarked with a grin.
"Bloodthirsty beast…" Rowena muttered under her breath, but Ensis paid her no mind. He knew who he was and saw no point in reacting.
"After I'm done with my discussion. You two came in and ruined the whole moment," Roland said. Before Ensis could object, he was forcefully returned to the crimson wine-colored sword necklace, with Rowena returning to Luna's earrings.
Roland sighed and turned his gaze toward Luna, who continued to look at him with teary eyes. He knew she hadn't had an easy life. The youngest of three children, she had been treated as a disappointment for most of her youth. She had to earn the "Wulf" surname through blood and effort.
"You know, Luna," Roland began, his voice tired, "There will come a time when you will have to make a choice, and depending on that choice, you will have to kill someone close to you, no matter what. It's the life we were born into. I was raised by nuns, and I believe God has infinite mercy for all of us. But now, with people like your father running around, my hand is being forced again."
"What do I do, Roland?" she asked, desperation in her voice. "I cannot betray my family and abandon my friends! I am human, for God's sake!" She jumped from her seat, fists clenched tightly. "Why do I have to do this?! Haven't I wasted enough time pleasing others' expectations of me!?" she screamed, with Roland looking at her with pity and sadness.
Roland managed to get out of his bed and slowly made his way toward his wailing friend. He embraced Luna in a warm, loving hug, whispering softly into her ear.
"I do not wish to force anything upon you. You are my friend, someone I care deeply for. But for now… Think about what you want most, not what your surname demands." Roland broke the hug as two women burst into the room.
"We heard screaming! Everything alri—OH NO, YOU DON'T, BITCH!" The two women pointed their silenced guns at Luna, who ran to the window and jumped from it, landing gracefully on the sidewalk and making her escape into the night.
The two women turned to Roland, whose arm was still bleeding.
"Hey, Roro, are you okay?" one of the women asked, approaching him. But Roland fell into her arms.
"Sorry, liebe. My body is still weak, and my wound has made me lose a bit more blood…" Roland said weakly before losing consciousness again as the two workers tended to him.
After a few more hours, Roland woke up again. This time, his right arm was more heavily bandaged. He looked down to see Ensis sleeping on his chest. Gently, he petted his little friend's head. As Ensis woke up, he yawned.
"So, you're finally awake, huh?" Ensis bitterly said, turning his back to sleep more until he was launched by a flick of Roland's fingers and crashed into a wall.
Crash!
Ensis flew toward Roland in anger. "What the heavens did you do that for!?" Ensis asked before remembering why he came out. "Ah, yes, yes. Quite impatient."
"Are you sure about that, my little friend? Weren't you the one who was almost ready to punch someone like yourself—a woman, on top of that?" Roland teased, only to be bitten by Ensis.
"Do not speak of that disgusting chameleon in front of me again," Ensis pouted, opening the status window.
{Status Window}
Strength (STR): 90
Energy (ENG): 100
Sanity (SNT): 3
Codex (COD): 90
{Current Unlocked Abilities}
B - Unyielding Resolve: The Black Knight is immune to fear, pain, and mental manipulation. Their will is unbreakable, enabling them to continue fighting even in the direst circumstances. However, fatal wounds—such as having their heart ripped out—will result in immediate defeat.
B - Darkened Armor: The Black Knight wears armor imbued with dark magic, making it incredibly resistant to both physical and codex attacks. The armor regenerates over time, making the Black Knight a nearly invincible force on the battlefield. The armor will spend energy and Codex power the more its used.
C - Nightmare Strike: The Black Knight can manifest a brief, terrifying image or illusion that induces fear in weaker foes. This effect causes confusion or hesitation but doesn't fully incapacitate enemies. Determined opponents or those with high mental fortitude can break through the illusion.
D - Cursed Aura: The Black Knight emits an aura that causes mild discomfort and unease to those nearby. While it doesn't cause direct harm, it can wear down weaker enemies over time, reducing their focus and will to fight.
D {?} - Black Sword (Nocturne): The Black Knight can summon forth the harbinger of nightmares, Nocturne—a sword shrouded in mystery. Its origin and true nature remain unknown, save for one cryptic line: "The day light and darkness find the harbinger of change, Nocturne will obey."
{Locked Abilities: 4}
Roland looked at his Sanity stat and immediately began pondering his next move. If he didn't act soon, Kyros would continue his plan unhindered, but if Roland sacrificed himself, he would become essentially useless.
"It's a difficult situation to work around. I told you, we need rest and people to help increase our Sanity stat. You feel it too, right?" Ensis pointed out, referring to how Roland's rash actions had left him almost numb to pain and addicted to bloodshed. And it was true—Roland's hand twitched whenever he wasn't killing something.
"You are right," Roland responded. "That is why we'll take a one-week break to preserve my sanity and continue to fight efficiently. Leo and the girls will provide information, and Leo can cause devastating blows to many criminal families and their supply lines."
Ensis nodded at the plan but wondered how they could execute it given their current conditions. "I agree, it's a good idea. But how do you two plan to fight with so many wounds?"
"There was a nurse with a healing Codex back at the site where I was nearly murdered. The girls will contact her in secrecy so we don't impact her personal life." It was risky, but Roland was willing to take the calculated risk.
"She can be hurt, or worse, her family will be hurt if she's found out," Ensis retorted.
"You're right. But I don't know any other healer except her, and she was amazing. The wounds will leave scars, but what's a warrior without a story and the marks to tell it with?" Roland chuckled.
"Idiot…" Ensis smirked.
Just then, the door of the room burst open. Leo's majestic ocean-blue hair reflected the light of the room as he entered, his arm bound with a piece of cloth.
"You damned bastard! Luna was here, and you didn't even bother to call for help!? SHE COULD'VE KILLED YOU!" Leo screamed at Roland, who blocked his ear to avoid going deaf.
Hibou emerged from his Tenere, a golden cross necklace and flew toward Ensis.
"Hoot, hoot. Your cheeks are red? Have you been slapped?" Hibou asked curiously.
"N-No, shut up, damned owl!"
"SO YOU WERE! HOOT HOOT HOOT! WAS IT THE TENERE OF MISS LUNA!? PLEASE TELL ME IT WAS THEM!"
"I-It was a she… Her name was Rowena…"
"Ooo la la, is this amour my little beak smells in the air?~"
Ensis proceeded to chase Hibou around the entire building for 30 minutes while Leo and Roland continued to discuss their next move.