"Mono/Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
Narration
[Message/communication apparatus]
Date: 31st December 1081
Location: Nyx’s Safehouse, County of Toron, Victoria.
POV: Narrator.
While Nyx is fiddling with the house ID and passwords, she ask the most important thing first towards her father. Traveling from Kazimierz to Victoria is no small task, except that she already has an inkling that her adoptive father is more than just an ordinary old chaplain from Laterano.
“You know Dad, shouldn’t you told me that you’re visiting, with extra people no less? Or are you that type of parents who just love surprising their kids with a mild case of heart attack?”
“I just thought that if I were to inform you beforehand, you would most likely be unable to concentrate on your work. Not to mention that, if we based the past’ possible future on your reaction earlier, you would be in trouble, in more ways than one no less.”
“… Am I that easy to read?” She said after unlocking the first set of security.
“As long as it is outside combat, you’re quite lackluster sis.” Toland chimed in.
“And you two, why are you here anyway?”
“Oh me? I’m just tagging along. Also your dad is cool, he doesn’t care I’m being a Sarkaz.”
“The hell do you think my Dad was, huh?” Nyx reflexively snarled.
“Whoa easy there princess, your unladylike side is showing.”
“Me? Ladylike? You drunk? Hornless bastard…”
“Aha there it is! The Nyx I always know.”
“Then Młynar… it’s good to see you again…”
“Likewise, but I must say you’re… not as what I remembered you to be.”
“…Time works its magic on me… How were they?”
“Yes I can see that, as for them… Well, Kazimierz is in the middle of political storm, like usual.”
“It’s that bad huh?”
“It was indeed, suffice to say you lucked out of getting out from that marsh in timely manner.”
“Lucked out you say…”
The door was finally opened, she wordlessly guide her guests inside her house. The place felt like your typical urban dwellings… if we completely disregard the stacks of weaponry, armor. And refined originium product tucked away in a maze like pattern…
Nyx can already feel her cheeks redden, she side eyed her guests and sure enough they have a varying level of expression. Especially her father’ expression made her gone pale a little…
“Well… when you said this place is messy, I expect miscellaneous items to litter the ground… not spent arts conduits, empty magazines and clips, broken swords, unfinished arrowheads, and even plastic explosive adhesive… You’re getting the lecture of the century young lady…”
The chaplain can only sigh seeing this house that looks more akin to a bootleg illegal weapon manufacturing facility. If she were in Laterano, she would have to file at least 87 infractions and possibly being sent a personal executor to oversee her further conduct.
Immanuel glared at the (not actually) young lady who looks to be visibly wilting under pressure. If her enemies can see how easily she bend under pressure like that, they would have had taken triple-take before guffawing from the sheer absurdity of it.
“Huh, neat… didn’t know you have an arms depot as a house. Like seriously sis, just look at all of these. You have Raythean crossbow, Sargonian Shamsir, Minoan War Axe, Columbian… wait, the fuck? That’s an experimental military grade external power armor piece! Where did you get something like this!? You wanna have the Columbian Army hounding your ass or something?” Toland is shocked at what Nyx had stored inside this seemingly unremarkable house.
Toland had seen his fair share of ludicrous loot, but this one takes the cake. Unless she raided a heavily armed convoy patching through a really sophisticated package, she won’t have this kind of loot. He throw a questioning frown at her, who can only glared back with an expression that would have been a sensational gossiping material if it got leaked.
“You haven’t change, not even a bit, always so messy when it comes to yourself. Still, I must credit you for having these structured and categorized properly, quite tidy too, at the barest minimum…”
Młynar wasn’t fazed upon seeing the state of this place she called a house. He is already used to her antics when she accompanied him and his sworn brothers and sisters back years ago. Although Nyx hadn’t taken the same kind of oath with them, she had, more or less, been accepted as a moonlighting member.
Czcibor would also be beside himself in exasperated puzzlement seeing how much equipment she managed to gather, all by herself. The man might have been rather difficult but Nyx maverick and blunt approach earned her his respect.
“Well… I’m not just storing things you know…”
“Oh wonderful, you’re dabbling in illegal weapons trade too?” Immanuel would have a field day lecturing her.
“I… uh… I sold several through legal channel, honest… Also, I had been returning Sankta’s guardian guns to Laterano every now and then… Well, more like I give them the meeting point and hand it over that way, still haven’t set foot in Laterano.”
That gave the 3 of them a pause, she did that on her spare time?
“Truly? Tell me how the Notarial Hall’ Executors reacted.”
“Ermm… they were really surprised and even accused me for being the one who yanked it off, even got into a brief scuffle with guns and bombs… whoops… but I managed to plead innocence so… I guess we cool? Well, they did paid me for returning it.”
“Dealing with Notarial Hall is not the same as dealing with your local law enforcement institution, dear…” Her dad is both impressed and exasperated, it appears that she might receive a lighter sermon… It is a good thing that she does understand how to tread the line carefully.
“If it were me, I would be getting shot to shit you know… How many pieces had you returned to them?”
“… You do realize th-”
“‘That is the same as asking how many Sarkaz I killed?’” Yeah, I know. But frankly speaking that’s just how life works. Besides… since when did your cared about who you send to the other side anyway? What happened to you?”
“… Life happen as for your first question… 21 pistols, 13 SMGs, 7 ARs, 5 Shotguns, 4 rifles, and a GL…”
“That’s quite the haul you have there, ever thinking of going to Laterano personally?”
“Not in the foreseeable future. Also follow me, I’ll lead you all towards the lounge… careful not to trip on anything…”
Nyx is leading the group further inside her home for a simple reason… It is filled with anti-personnel trap, metal spikes, arrow launchers, and myriads of self-defense mechanism rivaling that of an average Ursus gulag meant for hundreds of people.
On a completely, clearly and definitely, unrelated note, the owner of this dwelling suddenly found it to be extremely fascinating to stare at the floor when not disarming her own booby traps. The very marvel of a flat marble surface deeply fascinate her mind on a philosophical level.
They finally got through the living room, or perhaps illegal weapon’ workshop. Nyx’s intention of leading the group was that it would be much better to head towards the lounge room since most of her drinks and foods are stored there. Courtesy of her lazy days of doing nothing more than sleeping and watching some boring but useful documentaries.
The 3 guests had grown from mild surprise into a nigh-apathetic state of pure indifference and occasional sigh of defeat. Immanuel knew that his daughter has a lot of enemies, but this much defense contraptions is abnormally high regardless. Why did she put a grenade amongst the table’ legs?
Not long after they arrived at the lounge, which looks extremely normal without anything resembling a weapon or its prerequisite in sight. There is a table in the middle of 2 couches facing a television embedded to the wall. There is also a small kitchenette and 2 fridges next to an adjacent small storage room.
There are several magazines and books on the table, mostly about the world history and weapon catalogue. Not far from that, there is also the TV remote, a tray of for cigarettes, and a bottle opener.
The house looks small from the outside, so it was quite a pleasant surprise that aside from the weapon’s factory beforehand, was actually quite spacious. This room also allowed more leeway in relaxation.
“Anything you want dad?”
“Anything is fine, but if I can… do you have a beer?”
“I did have a few of those… What about you two?”
“Alcohol or whatever for me, something that would be nice to for a night as fine as this.”
“You know me.”
“Sure, wait a minute.”
While Nyx is fetching the beverages, the three engage in some small talks. Their topics never strayed too far from how this occasion was formed. For example, Młynar and Toland had just finished their usual rounds of bringing down corrupt nobles, merchants, and enslavers.
Their group is quite famous in the countryside, but scorned and being seen with contempt by the K.G.C.C. so nothing much change there. Immanuel was traveling light and, even though he is old, had been making the planning for his visit for months.
Terra is actually quite lax in terms of mobility, of course it is relative from nation to nation but generally it is not all that hard to get in one. This is due to how fluidly border behaved and how does the primary nucleus, mobile cities, interact with its surrounding.
After some time, longer than expected, Nyx returned with their beverages and some snacks. Victorian cuisines are… quite bizarre thus she refrained from serving it in such a short notice.
“Here it is, sorry for the wait. I never expected to get a visit at all…” Nyx left the tray on the table and immediately scooted to her father’ side.
“So you’re saying that contracts always comes from your PT?” Toland said while cracking a bottle open, he is honestly surprised someone who can’t hold her liquor had alcohol stashed.
“Yeah, I’m not too fond of being known where I currently reside. This is not Kazimierz and Victoria stable climate and land does allowed me to do so…”
“But shouldn’t our visit cause some problem for you? We did potentially leaked your hideout after all.”
“You would have, but I guess my friend had cleared out the usual patrols so we’re fine.”
“That friend you mentioned, was it that Catastrophe Messenger?” Młynar is sipping his coffee, he is not an alcoholic with the same reason why Nyx isn’t one too. But he is still league above her tolerance by comparison.
“Yeah… although… hmm… does that mean he knows you, dad?”
“Yes I do. You see… the current Count and Arkell has a little bit of history with me. Well, when you were traveling the land and keeping tabs here and there you would know a lot of people… too many in fact.”
“I can see where this is going… So you were an Executor? The famous Decimae? Official records said “he” died… also does that mean those travel restrictions and processing has anything to do with it?” Nyx always had an inkling about what her father used to be, but she never pry the same way her father never pry about her true self.
“Well, I just want to have a nice retirement, can’t really have those if you are still registered…”
“So isn’t it detrimental for you to come back alive? I’m starting to feel the headache from the implications… also, you have friends in high places too huh…”
“It is alright, I have a business with him anyway. For your second question, the answer is plain to see.”
“I see, so what kind of business do you have with him?”
“The kind where if you know, politics will be your daily dessert, still interested?”
“… Hell no… thanks… I’m good…”
"But that’s not the primary reason and as for those travel restriction and processing were self-imposed as failsafe when I suddenly kicked the bucket! That way you wou-”
“Don’t fucking joke about it!” Nyx explode in anger all of a sudden, before her expression suddenly morphed into fear. “S-s-sorry! I-I-I just… uh… I just…um!”
Her guests were surprised, and Immanuel can plainly see how hurt his daughter was from his thoughtless joke. Toland, the ever enigmatic room reader, decides to move the topic elsewhere.
“Well, you made all those yourself!? Man, talk about being capable. Say, old man, how about you join us travelling around Kazimierz?”
“A-ahem… I don’t think that’s possible. I have a chapel to take care after all, not to mention that the orphanages still needs more teachers…”
“Nyx, shouldn’t you be worried that your personal relations had finally been leaked?”
“Hah… again, no worries… I trust Arkell the most in Victoria, als-”
Her PT rang and she read the message sent into it. Her face turned into a frown before she sighed dispiritedly…
“What’s wrong, dear?”
“I had an arrangement with Vincent about something, turns out it can’t be fulfilled due to complications again… I swear if it weren’t from how good he is at controlling information flow and helping me, I would have his mansion blown to literal pieces for delaying his ends of the bargain…”
“Well, this is not the topic for a fine night such as this right? How about we talk about your exploits and achievements.”
“… Aside from my usual… brutality… I had been doing several things…”
Nyx starts recounting her mercenary works that are steadily moving away from sending someone to the other side, painfully most of the time. These kinds of work does made Immanuel very glad, his daughter is taking his advice seriously, like finally.
She spoke about the time where she is helping the local villagers in herding their livestock to safety. How the villagers were initially afraid that she would cause more problems, but managed to do her job without too much complications.
She regaled the tale of her with Arkell and his fellows doing terrain surveys and field research. Nyx was more of an observer than a bodyguard, the Catastrophe Messengers aren’t in the slightest minded her reputation, a refreshing take from the usual fear or awe.
Then she talked about how she was a stand-in teacher for a refugee zone 2 months ago. The people are once again apprehensive, but she managed, after painstaking effort, to prove herself capable of teaching basic stuffs for the children.
The three just occasionally chimed in, mostly Toland, during her monologue. Seeing that his daughter is just homesick endear him all the more, for someone so fearsome she is truly soft when you can go past her false barrier.
“I guess it is possible for me to act like a civilized person after all…” Nyx smiled ruefully.
“But seriously, have you ever thought of settling down finally? You have more than enough to stop working as mercenary.” Immanuel then added a joke not long after.
“And most importantly, I wouldn’t mind to finally see my grandkids you know! Hahahahaha!”
“…”
‘What the fuck dad!? Really!? I mean it is not like I object to it but really!? Then again… hmm… if it makes him happy… maybe…’
“Pfft!”
‘This old man is a rare kind of genius, not once but twice did he flopped the convo! Awesome, I need to learn from him.’
“?”
‘A moment please, did I perhaps missed a crucial piece of knowledge?’
“…said so…”
“Huh? What’s that Nyx?” She was startled when Immanuel heard her quiet muttering.
“If dad s-s-s-said so! … ah…” a reflexive answer.
‘… I really want to jump off a cliff…’ one she deeply regret…
The room gone dead silent… Immanuel can’t believe what he heard… the situation turned awkward all of a sudden. Thankfully Nyx recalled another topic, to cover her slip up…
“Umm… also, dad… you haven’t told me your exact reasoning for coming here…”
“Oh yeah, that. To meet you of course!”
“…”
“I’m trekking all this way just to see you, what kind of father who wouldn’t be worried to be separated with his daughter?”
“… heh… I’m not a kid you know…”
“But you did cried more frequently nowadays…”
“…” Nyx scowled, she is a bit annoyed that her father remind her of it.
“You’re so cute like that you know? I wonder how much I can get to just take a little picture of you pouting.”
“… Don’t… ever… think… about it…” Nyx growled, but Immanuel was far from intimidated. But seeing that she still has her spunk, might as well knock it down. Like a good dad.
“Well, it is time for your lecture then!” Immanuel smiled while Nyx’ face paled immediately. She is screwed…
“… Was what I was going to do if not for the fact that I still need to finish my business with the Count.”
“Oh yeah, that. You did technically hired me so I can accompany you. Also it would be funny to see a Sarkaz and Sankta walk side by side.”
“Indeed, and what about you, young man?”
“… I’ll stay here, your daughter clearly needs a company.”
“Very well. So shall we then?”
“Right on your six old man. The trap has been disabled right?”
“Yes, it was unrigged now. Just don’t deliberately damage anything. How would you guys stay in-”
“Incognito? I wasn’t an executor just for show, and young man, I leave my daughter in your care for now.”
“Understood sire.”
“Yep. Enjoy your date my man, hah!”
With that Immanuel and Toland left for the Count’ mansion. Left with just the two of them, they just stared at one another… one practically glaring and the other remained impassive…. Before Nyx sighed and moved to his side… leaning on his shoulder…
"It has truly been a while, Mwi. Never thought you would be the type to take a break. All I know, you would have worked yourself to the bone instead of going all the way here... kinda silly...."
"Well, that's true but do you object to it?"
"I never uttered such objection, did I?"
"Hmm..."
They just sat in silence… enjoying the moment of respite they rarely have. Młynar was always busied with his own fight, to be the beacon of hope and light for the downtrodden. While Nyx had been playing a dangerous game of balancing and compromising with multiple factions. Her more belligerent foes called her conduct as "whoring herself and willfully being passed around."
“Care to work up a sweat a little? I have a basement downstairs…”
“… Lead the way, I’ll need to reassess your skill once more.”
Several minutes later…
Standing merely 2 meters or 6’5 feet away from one another, they both focused their respective attention for the slightest gap. Nyx sports her training dagger in a reverse grip while Młynar use a training long sword with a common stance.
The air is still, the sounds of celebration and joyous revelry fading away. Both by the virtue of how they are underground and the fact that they focus only to what is in front of them.
Nyx made the first move by making a swiping motion, aiming for his leg. He countered taking a step back and swung his sword diagonally, intending to cut her leg’s off. Nyx suddenly pivoted back before the blade touch her leg.
But before she can regain her stance, Młynar pressed on with a flurry of sword strikes, left, left, center, top, right, left in a rapid motion. Nyx was overwhelmed and took another step back, her posture was unfortunately shot and her adversary capitalize on it.
But Nyx used her tail, already gripping another dagger, to shot straight towards his chest. He was forced to abandon his pursuit, else the dagger would connect with his heart, killing him in the process. Nyx is back on the offense and with the conjunction of feints and shallow slashes, starts pushing her adversary back.
But her adversary just calmly deflect and dispersed the force of her strikes. It was all shallow and he found it odd, the Nyx he know would always use a heavy and forceful methods. The fact she is testing the waters and no longer just rely on brute strength made him smiled a bit.
He needs to get serious.
He suddenly abandoned his defensive posture after parrying the dagger on her tail out of her grasp. The knight immediately increased the frequency of his strikes, many times faster than before.
Such a display would have dismayed anyone and unnerved them, but the Pythian lady only grinned with delight. This is the first time she managed to force him to fight seriously and quickly at close range, of which she rarely won and even then just barely.
Nyx discarded everything and strained every single one of her senses. Fending of Młynar’s full-powered barrages of strike took 110% of what she have and then cranked it up to 11 times more for the current overdrive.
The battle had now truly begin in earnest.
A diagonal slash flow into sword sweep, sword sweep into a renewed posture, and renewed posture into a lethal pinpoint thrust to the chest, the heart specifically, and the movement is an ensemble of repeat ad infinitum that flow like a dance from one segment into another.
His body moved purely by instinct, in concert with his sword strikes. A shoulder bash would be recycled into a half-step to avoid her limited counter slashes and thrusts, the half-step would then but turned into the foundation of lethal downward cut that would shatter her posture immediately if it land.
The Wandering Hero never used his arts during all of this however, due to him being a more traditional Kazimierz Knight, which ironically he never wanted to be called a knight, where he would only unleash his arts if his ideal is on the line, which is not for this sparring session.
Curiously, while Nyx is giving her all, her opponent had yet to unveil his full power but there are exceptions…
If he was fast and lethal before, then his current form is no different than a transcendental feat. His offensive pattern are no different to something beyond the most magnificent artwork. Years upon years of fighting had tempered him into a weapon and beacon of his very ideal made manifest.
His brother was lauded as the best Knight ever recorded in their family, something he agreed to as well, but Młynar current display of skills put his brother’s validity into question.
His adversary can’t be underestimated too however. Although barely, she fought with all she has with an extremely deadly opponent and managed to hold her own most admirably. For each of his strike, a deflection by letting his sword glide through her dagger was always ready.
For each and every downward slash, her footing is always ready to glide towards a safer position. She cannot afford to let him rob her of her mobility, the moment that happened he can overpower her like flicking a finger.
For each and every thrust, her hand would move to redirect the power before smashing with her own dagger. She knows that if it connect, even briefly, her posture would be destroyed and she would lost.
Nyx is no slouch herself, a failed parry would be backed up by her stepping away to dodge from what appears to be an inevitable hit. If one dodge didn’t work, then she would prepare 2 in advance, if that also failed, she would keep increasing her pre-planned motion as best as she could.
Młynar can see her improvements most clearly, and he would lie to himself to not acquiesce with it.
For every strike the Wandering Hero delivered, the Grey Serpent had barely managed to parry and disperse its force. She can’t counterattack, thus she changed her tactic to pay the long game.
Młynar’s experience in combat meant that he catch on to her scheme almost instantly, aside from his brother, father, and a limited amount of people, only Nyx can somewhat keep up with him.
Then they suddenly separate, their stance turned lax but not entirely so.
“How was my assessment?”
“Admirable, you have visibly improved.”
“Thanks… so can I finally ask for it?”
“… You would be injured.”
“Please, I would rather fucked up here than on the battlefield. Besides, my ego could use a remedy or two…”
“Hmph, very well. This sword will be broken, but I suppose you had that taken into account the moment our little bout commenced.”
“…”
His sword glow bright, the arts of light that he shown her was gentle, compassionate, warm… and a catastrophically of lethal build. Her nerves are strung to the highest level, she must not miss a single strike.
Then out of nowhere her hand moved to meet a diagonal sword slash, purely by instinct and leaving her comprehension lagging behind. When the blades connect, thankfully the force was somewhat dissipated and yet, she felt like a mountain is crushing her.
She was thrown of her footing before rolling back up and regain her posture. She is shocked seeing he already delivered another upward slash directly at her. Learning from what had happened before, she dodged out of it.
Nyx is for the first time out of breath, but her expression is none other than pure, unmistakable, glee. The number of times she sees him fought like this can be counted in one hand, and those were never directed at her. Now? Her heart is beating loudly from excitement and dismay, from joy and dread and from… a weird feeling that she is too prideful to admit…
Seeing how he finally regards her with his arts, Nyx thrown caution out of the window. All to meet a slash of his with her own, consequences be damned. The next time she was thrown of her footing, Nyx immediately land on all fours and then lunged like an arrowhead then she stopped closed enough to put her entire force for her last move, Młynar smiled for real and he would honor her recklessness with his own.
A single, pin-point with nary a deviation, dagger thrust was met with an upward to downward diagonal sword slash…
Kiiiin!
A sound of metal clashing against metal momentarily overpowered the sounds of revelry… She managed to stop his sword… she smiled… before blanking out immediately…. The pain she received was equal to the one she suffered from her botched arts training if not more and in a compressed form… yet…
‘Why does it feels oddly good?’ A rather problematic line of thinking…
She let go of her shattered dagger while he tossed his broken blade to the side. Her body starts to topple from taking the brunt of his arts strike, which was no joke and equal to that of getting slammed by a freight train, only for such a brief clash.
Before her body crashed against the cold, hard, ground… Młynar caught her by her waist and cradle her. He smirks seeing how much she improved and taken his advice, she only needs to fight against peer adversary with intent of getting away. She has better competency at range, so her performance was astonishingly high… her last reckless shenanigan does lower her final score…
“Hah… hah…hmm~… how was it? Even for a brief moment, I can hold it till the end…”
“Hmph… still lacking, but I admit that you have improved considerably.”
“That’s a win for me… so… can you carry me to the side? Your last stroke made me too winded to stand on my own…”
“Gladly.”
With that he hefted her up in a bridal carry, perhaps due to exhaustion, pain, or whatever addled her mind, she linked her arms around his neck. He then pressed her head onto his chest while he wordlessly carry her towards a much more comfortable place to rest.
Arriving there, a corner with the walls on their backs really, he was about to let her lean against the wall but she doesn’t want to let him go. So he just sit there with her on his lap leaning on his chest, his hands circled around her waist while hers are on top of it. The both of them savored a comforting silence…
No words, no sounds, not even a shiver of movement, only a rare moment of indulgment for the both of them.
Nyx sigh before making her first move…
“How was Kazimierz?”
“At best, the situation didn’t improve and no sign for a positive reprieve. Those vultures are practically unstoppable… I don’t understand what my Father was thinking. Schnitz and Yolanta had also grown even more restless…”
“…How was Margaret, Maria, and Zofia?”
“They are doing fine, Margaret is growing into a remarkable lady of which I have no idea whether she would follow us or not, I would rather she didn’t, not with the current state of Kazimierz. Maria is doing somewhat well, she was ill a few times, which worries me greatly, but she should be fine at the moment. As for Zofia… the girl is hell-bent on proving her worth, even when no one asked or expected her to. She goes as far as begging several Campaign Knights retiree that has amicable relationship to train her.”
“Glad to know… also…” Nyx caress his jawline gently and perhaps longingly, but her face held a melancholic expression.
“… You’re not giving up? I’m starting to… you know…”
“Why would I? Your undertaking is yours to decide, I never have any say on that.”
“… You’re burning yourself into ashes, Mwi…”
“Coming from you? Talk about lacks of self-awareness… I won’t stop, not in the foreseeable future, that’s for sure.”
“At least you’re helping people, stopping corrupt nobles, liberating slaves, and fighting back against corporate overlord… becoming a beacon of hope for a change… Unlike me… A sadist, a torturer, inhumane beast, and inhuman… monster…, a complete freak of nature…”
Nyx smiled forlornly, she had long accepted what she has become. But Młynar only scowled hearing her self-deprecating words. While those are true, they won’t achieve anything other than fooling her onto some sort of self-destructive path for no reason other than to appease some non-existent, self-imposed wastefulness.
“… I won’t be here, not using my time to help more people, without you cutting down 30% of problems if not more back there. You’re also the reason that we can extend our activities range up to the neutral zones… just last month we had managed to lessen the damage a village had suffered from Ursine deserters… we met a young Elafian and a Sarkaz mercenary there. The former was broken but still has some lingering warmth because of our arrival, at least that’s what Toland said.”
Unconsciously, he hugged her a little tighter and continues on.
“The village must be abandoned, so I offer them a better alternative… the survivors are now a part of Wladirosa… While the Elafian girl is burning with vengeance and the Sarkaz continue her mercenary works, at least they avoided the worst…” He look down at her, her face is obscured but he can see a tiny, grateful, smile adorning her face…
“So…you should stop belittling yourself… we are both equally old-fashioned people, we know how ugly the world is.”
“… You really won’t give up, I envy how you can be so resolute amidst everything… I’m too afraid to take a stand… and… never mind…”
Nyx exhaled before looking up, their lips are merely a touch away… but neither made a move, an unspoken barrier.
“So it won’t work huh?”
“It won’t, not with the deteriorating situation on this dishonorable and forsaken world…”
“Honor… Mwi, what is it to you?”
“Devotion and pride, something that is getting harder and harder to justify with how those Vultures are playing their games for Kazimierz.”
“Then… why don’t you pledge it to the people? If Kazimierz is not worth it, then how about them instead? If you’re unsure, then to the downtrodden…”
“…I’ll take that into consideration…”
“Good… I dread the day you lost all hope… You should go ahead, I… need to do something…”
“You sure?”
“Yeah… just need to rest a little and… tidy up the place.” He finally noticed an odd thing, her eyes looks unfocused but he brushed it off.
“… Very well.”
With that he heft her off his lap and starts walking briskly, back to the lounge upstairs and wait for the other 2 to return.
Suddenly, she hug him from the back and murmured loud enough for Młynar to hear.
“If you need me, don’t hesitate to reach out… only for you…”
He nodded and she finally let him to be on his way. Nyx just watch him go with an unreadable expression…
When he reached the door upstairs, he heard an almost inaudible panting sounds, but considering that she said she’s fine, he doesn’t pursue the matter. He also found it surreal that he had agreed to come along with her adoptive father.
Such a thing would have been an impossibility if the countryside are filled with problems. Nyx was the remedy and he’s grateful for it. A fact he didn’t like is that some people still spoke ill of her, despite her having bled for them and taking every resentments in stride.
“What a stubborn and idiotic woman… and I won’t have her any other way.” He just smiled in a defeated manner…
-
-
-
After an inordinate amount of time, that felt oddly long too, Nyx returned upstairs where Młynar take note that she is… shining and look refreshed? More like relieved? Also why is her face look damp?
She noticed his staring and, ever so briefly, flinched before smiling softly and somewhat shyly… the tips of her ears are a tad red but he doesn’t think too much about it. He reasoned that she just finished bathing.
He is honestly, truly, unsure but seeing her usual self back does made him a bit more at ease. Aside from her extremely concerning qualities, the woman is truly a formidable and dependable companion…
[END OF CHAPTER]
Author’s Note:
Hello there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who kinda want to see something.
Yep, I had tread that line and I’m honestly interested how I could develop… her peculiarities. Not by much however because that’s just a side dish…
Also, the arrangement with Vincent was that one about seeing a doctor… If you know, you know…
We are touching 1082 soon… something is about to happen in Kazimierz…
Update as usual, and yes it is getting slower but life happens…
Ciao
"Mono/Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
Narration
[Message/communication apparatus]
Date: 31st December 1081
Location: Nyx’s Safehouse, County of Toron, Victoria.
POV: Narrator.
While Nyx is fiddling with the house ID and passwords, she ask the most important thing first towards her father. Traveling from Kazimierz to Victoria is no small task, except that she already has an inkling that her adoptive father is more than just an ordinary old chaplain from Laterano.
“You know Dad, shouldn’t you told me that you’re visiting, with extra people no less? Or are you that type of parents who just love surprising their kids with a mild case of heart attack?”
“I just thought that if I were to inform you beforehand, you would most likely be unable to concentrate on your work. Not to mention that, if we based the past’ possible future on your reaction earlier, you would be in trouble, in more ways than one no less.”
“… Am I that easy to read?” She said after unlocking the first set of security.
“As long as it is outside combat, you’re quite lackluster sis.” Toland chimed in.
“And you two, why are you here anyway?”
“Oh me? I’m just tagging along. Also your dad is cool, he doesn’t care I’m being a Sarkaz.”
“The hell do you think my Dad was, huh?” Nyx reflexively snarled.
“Whoa easy there princess, your unladylike side is showing.”
“Me? Ladylike? You drunk? Hornless bastard…”
“Aha there it is! The Nyx I always know.”
“Then Młynar… it’s good to see you again…”
“Likewise, but I must say you’re… not as what I remembered you to be.”
“…Time works its magic on me… How were they?”
“Yes I can see that, as for them… Well, Kazimierz is in the middle of political storm, like usual.”
“It’s that bad huh?”
“It was indeed, suffice to say you lucked out of getting out from that marsh in timely manner.”
“Lucked out you say…”
The door was finally opened, she wordlessly guide her guests inside her house. The place felt like your typical urban dwellings… if we completely disregard the stacks of weaponry, armor. And refined originium product tucked away in a maze like pattern…
Nyx can already feel her cheeks redden, she side eyed her guests and sure enough they have a varying level of expression. Especially her father’ expression made her gone pale a little…
“Well… when you said this place is messy, I expect miscellaneous items to litter the ground… not spent arts conduits, empty magazines and clips, broken swords, unfinished arrowheads, and even plastic explosive adhesive… You’re getting the lecture of the century young lady…”
The chaplain can only sigh seeing this house that looks more akin to a bootleg illegal weapon manufacturing facility. If she were in Laterano, she would have to file at least 87 infractions and possibly being sent a personal executor to oversee her further conduct.
Immanuel glared at the (not actually) young lady who looks to be visibly wilting under pressure. If her enemies can see how easily she bend under pressure like that, they would have had taken triple-take before guffawing from the sheer absurdity of it.
“Huh, neat… didn’t know you have an arms depot as a house. Like seriously sis, just look at all of these. You have Raythean crossbow, Sargonian Shamsir, Minoan War Axe, Columbian… wait, the fuck? That’s an experimental military grade external power armor piece! Where did you get something like this!? You wanna have the Columbian Army hounding your ass or something?” Toland is shocked at what Nyx had stored inside this seemingly unremarkable house.
Toland had seen his fair share of ludicrous loot, but this one takes the cake. Unless she raided a heavily armed convoy patching through a really sophisticated package, she won’t have this kind of loot. He throw a questioning frown at her, who can only glared back with an expression that would have been a sensational gossiping material if it got leaked.
“You haven’t change, not even a bit, always so messy when it comes to yourself. Still, I must credit you for having these structured and categorized properly, quite tidy too, at the barest minimum…”
Młynar wasn’t fazed upon seeing the state of this place she called a house. He is already used to her antics when she accompanied him and his sworn brothers and sisters back years ago. Although Nyx hadn’t taken the same kind of oath with them, she had, more or less, been accepted as a moonlighting member.
Czcibor would also be beside himself in exasperated puzzlement seeing how much equipment she managed to gather, all by herself. The man might have been rather difficult but Nyx maverick and blunt approach earned her his respect.
“Well… I’m not just storing things you know…”
“Oh wonderful, you’re dabbling in illegal weapons trade too?” Immanuel would have a field day lecturing her.
“I… uh… I sold several through legal channel, honest… Also, I had been returning Sankta’s guardian guns to Laterano every now and then… Well, more like I give them the meeting point and hand it over that way, still haven’t set foot in Laterano.”
That gave the 3 of them a pause, she did that on her spare time?
“Truly? Tell me how the Notarial Hall’ Executors reacted.”
“Ermm… they were really surprised and even accused me for being the one who yanked it off, even got into a brief scuffle with guns and bombs… whoops… but I managed to plead innocence so… I guess we cool? Well, they did paid me for returning it.”
“Dealing with Notarial Hall is not the same as dealing with your local law enforcement institution, dear…” Her dad is both impressed and exasperated, it appears that she might receive a lighter sermon… It is a good thing that she does understand how to tread the line carefully.
“If it were me, I would be getting shot to shit you know… How many pieces had you returned to them?”
“… You do realize th-”
“‘That is the same as asking how many Sarkaz I killed?’” Yeah, I know. But frankly speaking that’s just how life works. Besides… since when did your cared about who you send to the other side anyway? What happened to you?”
“… Life happen as for your first question… 21 pistols, 13 SMGs, 7 ARs, 5 Shotguns, 4 rifles, and a GL…”
“That’s quite the haul you have there, ever thinking of going to Laterano personally?”
“Not in the foreseeable future. Also follow me, I’ll lead you all towards the lounge… careful not to trip on anything…”
Nyx is leading the group further inside her home for a simple reason… It is filled with anti-personnel trap, metal spikes, arrow launchers, and myriads of self-defense mechanism rivaling that of an average Ursus gulag meant for hundreds of people.
On a completely, clearly and definitely, unrelated note, the owner of this dwelling suddenly found it to be extremely fascinating to stare at the floor when not disarming her own booby traps. The very marvel of a flat marble surface deeply fascinate her mind on a philosophical level.
They finally got through the living room, or perhaps illegal weapon’ workshop. Nyx’s intention of leading the group was that it would be much better to head towards the lounge room since most of her drinks and foods are stored there. Courtesy of her lazy days of doing nothing more than sleeping and watching some boring but useful documentaries.
The 3 guests had grown from mild surprise into a nigh-apathetic state of pure indifference and occasional sigh of defeat. Immanuel knew that his daughter has a lot of enemies, but this much defense contraptions is abnormally high regardless. Why did she put a grenade amongst the table’ legs?
Not long after they arrived at the lounge, which looks extremely normal without anything resembling a weapon or its prerequisite in sight. There is a table in the middle of 2 couches facing a television embedded to the wall. There is also a small kitchenette and 2 fridges next to an adjacent small storage room.
There are several magazines and books on the table, mostly about the world history and weapon catalogue. Not far from that, there is also the TV remote, a tray of for cigarettes, and a bottle opener.
The house looks small from the outside, so it was quite a pleasant surprise that aside from the weapon’s factory beforehand, was actually quite spacious. This room also allowed more leeway in relaxation.
“Anything you want dad?”
“Anything is fine, but if I can… do you have a beer?”
“I did have a few of those… What about you two?”
“Alcohol or whatever for me, something that would be nice to for a night as fine as this.”
“You know me.”
“Sure, wait a minute.”
While Nyx is fetching the beverages, the three engage in some small talks. Their topics never strayed too far from how this occasion was formed. For example, Młynar and Toland had just finished their usual rounds of bringing down corrupt nobles, merchants, and enslavers.
Their group is quite famous in the countryside, but scorned and being seen with contempt by the K.G.C.C. so nothing much change there. Immanuel was traveling light and, even though he is old, had been making the planning for his visit for months.
Terra is actually quite lax in terms of mobility, of course it is relative from nation to nation but generally it is not all that hard to get in one. This is due to how fluidly border behaved and how does the primary nucleus, mobile cities, interact with its surrounding.
After some time, longer than expected, Nyx returned with their beverages and some snacks. Victorian cuisines are… quite bizarre thus she refrained from serving it in such a short notice.
“Here it is, sorry for the wait. I never expected to get a visit at all…” Nyx left the tray on the table and immediately scooted to her father’ side.
“So you’re saying that contracts always comes from your PT?” Toland said while cracking a bottle open, he is honestly surprised someone who can’t hold her liquor had alcohol stashed.
“Yeah, I’m not too fond of being known where I currently reside. This is not Kazimierz and Victoria stable climate and land does allowed me to do so…”
“But shouldn’t our visit cause some problem for you? We did potentially leaked your hideout after all.”
“You would have, but I guess my friend had cleared out the usual patrols so we’re fine.”
“That friend you mentioned, was it that Catastrophe Messenger?” Młynar is sipping his coffee, he is not an alcoholic with the same reason why Nyx isn’t one too. But he is still league above her tolerance by comparison.
“Yeah… although… hmm… does that mean he knows you, dad?”
“Yes I do. You see… the current Count and Arkell has a little bit of history with me. Well, when you were traveling the land and keeping tabs here and there you would know a lot of people… too many in fact.”
“I can see where this is going… So you were an Executor? The famous Decimae? Official records said “he” died… also does that mean those travel restrictions and processing has anything to do with it?” Nyx always had an inkling about what her father used to be, but she never pry the same way her father never pry about her true self.
“Well, I just want to have a nice retirement, can’t really have those if you are still registered…”
“So isn’t it detrimental for you to come back alive? I’m starting to feel the headache from the implications… also, you have friends in high places too huh…”
“It is alright, I have a business with him anyway. For your second question, the answer is plain to see.”
“I see, so what kind of business do you have with him?”
“The kind where if you know, politics will be your daily dessert, still interested?”
“… Hell no… thanks… I’m good…”
"But that’s not the primary reason and as for those travel restriction and processing were self-imposed as failsafe when I suddenly kicked the bucket! That way you wou-”
“Don’t fucking joke about it!” Nyx explode in anger all of a sudden, before her expression suddenly morphed into fear. “S-s-sorry! I-I-I just… uh… I just…um!”
Her guests were surprised, and Immanuel can plainly see how hurt his daughter was from his thoughtless joke. Toland, the ever enigmatic room reader, decides to move the topic elsewhere.
“Well, you made all those yourself!? Man, talk about being capable. Say, old man, how about you join us travelling around Kazimierz?”
“A-ahem… I don’t think that’s possible. I have a chapel to take care after all, not to mention that the orphanages still needs more teachers…”
“Nyx, shouldn’t you be worried that your personal relations had finally been leaked?”
“Hah… again, no worries… I trust Arkell the most in Victoria, als-”
Her PT rang and she read the message sent into it. Her face turned into a frown before she sighed dispiritedly…
“What’s wrong, dear?”
“I had an arrangement with Vincent about something, turns out it can’t be fulfilled due to complications again… I swear if it weren’t from how good he is at controlling information flow and helping me, I would have his mansion blown to literal pieces for delaying his ends of the bargain…”
“Well, this is not the topic for a fine night such as this right? How about we talk about your exploits and achievements.”
“… Aside from my usual… brutality… I had been doing several things…”
Nyx starts recounting her mercenary works that are steadily moving away from sending someone to the other side, painfully most of the time. These kinds of work does made Immanuel very glad, his daughter is taking his advice seriously, like finally.
She spoke about the time where she is helping the local villagers in herding their livestock to safety. How the villagers were initially afraid that she would cause more problems, but managed to do her job without too much complications.
She regaled the tale of her with Arkell and his fellows doing terrain surveys and field research. Nyx was more of an observer than a bodyguard, the Catastrophe Messengers aren’t in the slightest minded her reputation, a refreshing take from the usual fear or awe.
Then she talked about how she was a stand-in teacher for a refugee zone 2 months ago. The people are once again apprehensive, but she managed, after painstaking effort, to prove herself capable of teaching basic stuffs for the children.
The three just occasionally chimed in, mostly Toland, during her monologue. Seeing that his daughter is just homesick endear him all the more, for someone so fearsome she is truly soft when you can go past her false barrier.
“I guess it is possible for me to act like a civilized person after all…” Nyx smiled ruefully.
“But seriously, have you ever thought of settling down finally? You have more than enough to stop working as mercenary.” Immanuel then added a joke not long after.
“And most importantly, I wouldn’t mind to finally see my grandkids you know! Hahahahaha!”
“…”
‘What the fuck dad!? Really!? I mean it is not like I object to it but really!? Then again… hmm… if it makes him happy… maybe…’
“Pfft!”
‘This old man is a rare kind of genius, not once but twice did he flopped the convo! Awesome, I need to learn from him.’
“?”
‘A moment please, did I perhaps missed a crucial piece of knowledge?’
“…said so…”
“Huh? What’s that Nyx?” She was startled when Immanuel heard her quiet muttering.
“If dad s-s-s-said so! … ah…” a reflexive answer.
‘… I really want to jump off a cliff…’ one she deeply regret…
The room gone dead silent… Immanuel can’t believe what he heard… the situation turned awkward all of a sudden. Thankfully Nyx recalled another topic, to cover her slip up…
“Umm… also, dad… you haven’t told me your exact reasoning for coming here…”
“Oh yeah, that. To meet you of course!”
“…”
“I’m trekking all this way just to see you, what kind of father who wouldn’t be worried to be separated with his daughter?”
“… heh… I’m not a kid you know…”
“But you did cried more frequently nowadays…”
“…” Nyx scowled, she is a bit annoyed that her father remind her of it.
“You’re so cute like that you know? I wonder how much I can get to just take a little picture of you pouting.”
“… Don’t… ever… think… about it…” Nyx growled, but Immanuel was far from intimidated. But seeing that she still has her spunk, might as well knock it down. Like a good dad.
“Well, it is time for your lecture then!” Immanuel smiled while Nyx’ face paled immediately. She is screwed…
“… Was what I was going to do if not for the fact that I still need to finish my business with the Count.”
“Oh yeah, that. You did technically hired me so I can accompany you. Also it would be funny to see a Sarkaz and Sankta walk side by side.”
“Indeed, and what about you, young man?”
“… I’ll stay here, your daughter clearly needs a company.”
“Very well. So shall we then?”
“Right on your six old man. The trap has been disabled right?”
“Yes, it was unrigged now. Just don’t deliberately damage anything. How would you guys stay in-”
“Incognito? I wasn’t an executor just for show, and young man, I leave my daughter in your care for now.”
“Understood sire.”
“Yep. Enjoy your date my man, hah!”
With that Immanuel and Toland left for the Count’ mansion. Left with just the two of them, they just stared at one another… one practically glaring and the other remained impassive…. Before Nyx sighed and moved to his side… leaning on his shoulder…
"It has truly been a while, Mwi. Never thought you would be the type to take a break. All I know, you would have worked yourself to the bone instead of going all the way here... kinda silly...."
"Well, that's true but do you object to it?"
"I never uttered such objection, did I?"
"Hmm..."
They just sat in silence… enjoying the moment of respite they rarely have. Młynar was always busied with his own fight, to be the beacon of hope and light for the downtrodden. While Nyx had been playing a dangerous game of balancing and compromising with multiple factions. Her more belligerent foes called her conduct as "whoring herself and willfully being passed around."
“Care to work up a sweat a little? I have a basement downstairs…”
“… Lead the way, I’ll need to reassess your skill once more.”
Several minutes later…
Standing merely 2 meters or 6’5 feet away from one another, they both focused their respective attention for the slightest gap. Nyx sports her training dagger in a reverse grip while Młynar use a training long sword with a common stance.
The air is still, the sounds of celebration and joyous revelry fading away. Both by the virtue of how they are underground and the fact that they focus only to what is in front of them.
Nyx made the first move by making a swiping motion, aiming for his leg. He countered taking a step back and swung his sword diagonally, intending to cut her leg’s off. Nyx suddenly pivoted back before the blade touch her leg.
But before she can regain her stance, Młynar pressed on with a flurry of sword strikes, left, left, center, top, right, left in a rapid motion. Nyx was overwhelmed and took another step back, her posture was unfortunately shot and her adversary capitalize on it.
But Nyx used her tail, already gripping another dagger, to shot straight towards his chest. He was forced to abandon his pursuit, else the dagger would connect with his heart, killing him in the process. Nyx is back on the offense and with the conjunction of feints and shallow slashes, starts pushing her adversary back.
But her adversary just calmly deflect and dispersed the force of her strikes. It was all shallow and he found it odd, the Nyx he know would always use a heavy and forceful methods. The fact she is testing the waters and no longer just rely on brute strength made him smiled a bit.
He needs to get serious.
He suddenly abandoned his defensive posture after parrying the dagger on her tail out of her grasp. The knight immediately increased the frequency of his strikes, many times faster than before.
Such a display would have dismayed anyone and unnerved them, but the Pythian lady only grinned with delight. This is the first time she managed to force him to fight seriously and quickly at close range, of which she rarely won and even then just barely.
Nyx discarded everything and strained every single one of her senses. Fending of Młynar’s full-powered barrages of strike took 110% of what she have and then cranked it up to 11 times more for the current overdrive.
The battle had now truly begin in earnest.
A diagonal slash flow into sword sweep, sword sweep into a renewed posture, and renewed posture into a lethal pinpoint thrust to the chest, the heart specifically, and the movement is an ensemble of repeat ad infinitum that flow like a dance from one segment into another.
His body moved purely by instinct, in concert with his sword strikes. A shoulder bash would be recycled into a half-step to avoid her limited counter slashes and thrusts, the half-step would then but turned into the foundation of lethal downward cut that would shatter her posture immediately if it land.
The Wandering Hero never used his arts during all of this however, due to him being a more traditional Kazimierz Knight, which ironically he never wanted to be called a knight, where he would only unleash his arts if his ideal is on the line, which is not for this sparring session.
Curiously, while Nyx is giving her all, her opponent had yet to unveil his full power but there are exceptions…
If he was fast and lethal before, then his current form is no different than a transcendental feat. His offensive pattern are no different to something beyond the most magnificent artwork. Years upon years of fighting had tempered him into a weapon and beacon of his very ideal made manifest.
His brother was lauded as the best Knight ever recorded in their family, something he agreed to as well, but Młynar current display of skills put his brother’s validity into question.
His adversary can’t be underestimated too however. Although barely, she fought with all she has with an extremely deadly opponent and managed to hold her own most admirably. For each of his strike, a deflection by letting his sword glide through her dagger was always ready.
For each and every downward slash, her footing is always ready to glide towards a safer position. She cannot afford to let him rob her of her mobility, the moment that happened he can overpower her like flicking a finger.
For each and every thrust, her hand would move to redirect the power before smashing with her own dagger. She knows that if it connect, even briefly, her posture would be destroyed and she would lost.
Nyx is no slouch herself, a failed parry would be backed up by her stepping away to dodge from what appears to be an inevitable hit. If one dodge didn’t work, then she would prepare 2 in advance, if that also failed, she would keep increasing her pre-planned motion as best as she could.
Młynar can see her improvements most clearly, and he would lie to himself to not acquiesce with it.
For every strike the Wandering Hero delivered, the Grey Serpent had barely managed to parry and disperse its force. She can’t counterattack, thus she changed her tactic to pay the long game.
Młynar’s experience in combat meant that he catch on to her scheme almost instantly, aside from his brother, father, and a limited amount of people, only Nyx can somewhat keep up with him.
Then they suddenly separate, their stance turned lax but not entirely so.
“How was my assessment?”
“Admirable, you have visibly improved.”
“Thanks… so can I finally ask for it?”
“… You would be injured.”
“Please, I would rather fucked up here than on the battlefield. Besides, my ego could use a remedy or two…”
“Hmph, very well. This sword will be broken, but I suppose you had that taken into account the moment our little bout commenced.”
“…”
His sword glow bright, the arts of light that he shown her was gentle, compassionate, warm… and a catastrophically of lethal build. Her nerves are strung to the highest level, she must not miss a single strike.
Then out of nowhere her hand moved to meet a diagonal sword slash, purely by instinct and leaving her comprehension lagging behind. When the blades connect, thankfully the force was somewhat dissipated and yet, she felt like a mountain is crushing her.
She was thrown of her footing before rolling back up and regain her posture. She is shocked seeing he already delivered another upward slash directly at her. Learning from what had happened before, she dodged out of it.
Nyx is for the first time out of breath, but her expression is none other than pure, unmistakable, glee. The number of times she sees him fought like this can be counted in one hand, and those were never directed at her. Now? Her heart is beating loudly from excitement and dismay, from joy and dread and from… a weird feeling that she is too prideful to admit…
Seeing how he finally regards her with his arts, Nyx thrown caution out of the window. All to meet a slash of his with her own, consequences be damned. The next time she was thrown of her footing, Nyx immediately land on all fours and then lunged like an arrowhead then she stopped closed enough to put her entire force for her last move, Młynar smiled for real and he would honor her recklessness with his own.
A single, pin-point with nary a deviation, dagger thrust was met with an upward to downward diagonal sword slash…
Kiiiin!
A sound of metal clashing against metal momentarily overpowered the sounds of revelry… She managed to stop his sword… she smiled… before blanking out immediately…. The pain she received was equal to the one she suffered from her botched arts training if not more and in a compressed form… yet…
‘Why does it feels oddly good?’ A rather problematic line of thinking…
She let go of her shattered dagger while he tossed his broken blade to the side. Her body starts to topple from taking the brunt of his arts strike, which was no joke and equal to that of getting slammed by a freight train, only for such a brief clash.
Before her body crashed against the cold, hard, ground… Młynar caught her by her waist and cradle her. He smirks seeing how much she improved and taken his advice, she only needs to fight against peer adversary with intent of getting away. She has better competency at range, so her performance was astonishingly high… her last reckless shenanigan does lower her final score…
“Hah… hah…hmm~… how was it? Even for a brief moment, I can hold it till the end…”
“Hmph… still lacking, but I admit that you have improved considerably.”
“That’s a win for me… so… can you carry me to the side? Your last stroke made me too winded to stand on my own…”
“Gladly.”
With that he hefted her up in a bridal carry, perhaps due to exhaustion, pain, or whatever addled her mind, she linked her arms around his neck. He then pressed her head onto his chest while he wordlessly carry her towards a much more comfortable place to rest.
Arriving there, a corner with the walls on their backs really, he was about to let her lean against the wall but she doesn’t want to let him go. So he just sit there with her on his lap leaning on his chest, his hands circled around her waist while hers are on top of it. The both of them savored a comforting silence…
No words, no sounds, not even a shiver of movement, only a rare moment of indulgment for the both of them.
Nyx sigh before making her first move…
“How was Kazimierz?”
“At best, the situation didn’t improve and no sign for a positive reprieve. Those vultures are practically unstoppable… I don’t understand what my Father was thinking. Schnitz and Yolanta had also grown even more restless…”
“…How was Margaret, Maria, and Zofia?”
“They are doing fine, Margaret is growing into a remarkable lady of which I have no idea whether she would follow us or not, I would rather she didn’t, not with the current state of Kazimierz. Maria is doing somewhat well, she was ill a few times, which worries me greatly, but she should be fine at the moment. As for Zofia… the girl is hell-bent on proving her worth, even when no one asked or expected her to. She goes as far as begging several Campaign Knights retiree that has amicable relationship to train her.”
“Glad to know… also…” Nyx caress his jawline gently and perhaps longingly, but her face held a melancholic expression.
“… You’re not giving up? I’m starting to… you know…”
“Why would I? Your undertaking is yours to decide, I never have any say on that.”
“… You’re burning yourself into ashes, Mwi…”
“Coming from you? Talk about lacks of self-awareness… I won’t stop, not in the foreseeable future, that’s for sure.”
“At least you’re helping people, stopping corrupt nobles, liberating slaves, and fighting back against corporate overlord… becoming a beacon of hope for a change… Unlike me… A sadist, a torturer, inhumane beast, and inhuman… monster…, a complete freak of nature…”
Nyx smiled forlornly, she had long accepted what she has become. But Młynar only scowled hearing her self-deprecating words. While those are true, they won’t achieve anything other than fooling her onto some sort of self-destructive path for no reason other than to appease some non-existent, self-imposed wastefulness.
“… I won’t be here, not using my time to help more people, without you cutting down 30% of problems if not more back there. You’re also the reason that we can extend our activities range up to the neutral zones… just last month we had managed to lessen the damage a village had suffered from Ursine deserters… we met a young Elafian and a Sarkaz mercenary there. The former was broken but still has some lingering warmth because of our arrival, at least that’s what Toland said.”
Unconsciously, he hugged her a little tighter and continues on.
“The village must be abandoned, so I offer them a better alternative… the survivors are now a part of Wladirosa… While the Elafian girl is burning with vengeance and the Sarkaz continue her mercenary works, at least they avoided the worst…” He look down at her, her face is obscured but he can see a tiny, grateful, smile adorning her face…
“So…you should stop belittling yourself… we are both equally old-fashioned people, we know how ugly the world is.”
“… You really won’t give up, I envy how you can be so resolute amidst everything… I’m too afraid to take a stand… and… never mind…”
Nyx exhaled before looking up, their lips are merely a touch away… but neither made a move, an unspoken barrier.
“So it won’t work huh?”
“It won’t, not with the deteriorating situation on this dishonorable and forsaken world…”
“Honor… Mwi, what is it to you?”
“Devotion and pride, something that is getting harder and harder to justify with how those Vultures are playing their games for Kazimierz.”
“Then… why don’t you pledge it to the people? If Kazimierz is not worth it, then how about them instead? If you’re unsure, then to the downtrodden…”
“…I’ll take that into consideration…”
“Good… I dread the day you lost all hope… You should go ahead, I… need to do something…”
“You sure?”
“Yeah… just need to rest a little and… tidy up the place.” He finally noticed an odd thing, her eyes looks unfocused but he brushed it off.
“… Very well.”
With that he heft her off his lap and starts walking briskly, back to the lounge upstairs and wait for the other 2 to return.
Suddenly, she hug him from the back and murmured loud enough for Młynar to hear.
“If you need me, don’t hesitate to reach out… only for you…”
He nodded and she finally let him to be on his way. Nyx just watch him go with an unreadable expression…
When he reached the door upstairs, he heard an almost inaudible panting sounds, but considering that she said she’s fine, he doesn’t pursue the matter. He also found it surreal that he had agreed to come along with her adoptive father.
Such a thing would have been an impossibility if the countryside are filled with problems. Nyx was the remedy and he’s grateful for it. A fact he didn’t like is that some people still spoke ill of her, despite her having bled for them and taking every resentments in stride.
“What a stubborn and idiotic woman… and I won’t have her any other way.” He just smiled in a defeated manner…
-
-
-
After an inordinate amount of time, that felt oddly long too, Nyx returned upstairs where Młynar take note that she is… shining and look refreshed? More like relieved? Also why is her face look damp?
She noticed his staring and, ever so briefly, flinched before smiling softly and somewhat shyly… the tips of her ears are a tad red but he doesn’t think too much about it. He reasoned that she just finished bathing.
He is honestly, truly, unsure but seeing her usual self back does made him a bit more at ease. Aside from her extremely concerning qualities, the woman is truly a formidable and dependable companion…
[END OF CHAPTER]
Author’s Note:
Hello there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who kinda want to see something.
Yep, I had tread that line and I’m honestly interested how I could develop… her peculiarities. Not by much however because that’s just a side dish…
Also, the arrangement with Vincent was that one about seeing a doctor… If you know, you know…
We are touching 1082 soon… something is about to happen in Kazimierz…
Update as usual, and yes it is getting slower but life happens…
Ciao
