Aldnoah Zero: Of Bone and Blue.
Unknown prison facility. After the events of Aldnoah Zero and Parthian Shot.
"Slaine Troyard, you have a visitor" The warden said.
Slaine took a moment then turned over on his bed in his dark solitary cell. He rubbed his eyes and sat upright.
It better not be Kaizuka again.
Troyard got up and walked to the visitor room but held his head down. The iron bars lit up the small table and he could see the bright blue sky. He pulled up the chair and sat down.
"I can see to it that the windows are made larger, if you like" a voice said before him.
"I don't deserve such a kindness" Slaine whispered and stared at the table.
"I made you a white knight remember, at Asseylum's birthday" the man said "She appreciated it".
Slaine looked up. He knew who the man was now. He couldn't make out who's voice it was before as it was slightly muffled.
"Statian".
"Troyard".
"I'm no white knight" Slaine said in monotone.
"And yet Asseylum thinks you are, at least I anticipated that she did and I was right".
The 19 year old Duke in bone and crimson uniform stood before him, he had a dark grey respirator covering the bottom half of his face and had a bionic lower left arm. A war hammer was clipped to his belt and on his head was the brass Coronet of the Grand Duke.
"Give me your war hammer" Slaine said staring at it unblinking.
"Why?"
"So I can end it".
"Asseylum wants you alive".
"Kaizuka told me, but I am not worthy of her grace".
"Then I want you to live".
"I betrayed you, I used you. How can you think that?" Slaine said as his anger rose.
"What happens in war stays in war. I said the same to Inaho Kaizuka for what he did to me, I will never forgive either of you but there is a point at which it must end" Statian said.
Slaine looked up from the war hammer.
"Why are you here?" he asked "You've won".
"Asseylum sent me to check up on you" Statian replied.
"I'm fine".
"You don't look fine".
"I'M FINE" Slaine insisted.
Duke Statian took a seat and looked Troyard in the eyes.
"Asseylum saved you and she saved me, she gave me my body back and therefore my life and she has done the same for you. If I had my way I would have killed you myself right here and now with my hammer but that's not going to happen, you don't want my pity but you shall have it. Slaine Troyard you will live if it means you can fulfill Asseylum's last wish to you".
Slaine looked away "Kill me".
"I will not".
"Kill me".
"I will not".
"Kill me".
Statian slammed the table with his hammer right in front of Slaine and it smashed in half. Troyard moved back in panic and fright. Splinters of wood covered the floor as the two halves came apart.
"I'm not convinced you want to die" Statian said gravely after acknowledging Slaine's reaction to a near death experience.
"You will live. I don't know if you will ever get out, the public believes that you are dead but you are not a bad person Slaine, despite what you have done. I would have done the same in your place for Asseylum".
Slaine Troyard stared at the floor.
"Think about that. I do pity you Slaine, I believe your actions brought a quicker end to this war no matter what they were. If Saazbaum was still alive we could still be fighting" Statian said.
"I don't want your pity" Slaine said.
"I don't pity you because I want to" Statian replied "You are a white knight, at least in Asseylum's eyes".
Duke Statian got up to leave.
"It must get pretty boring in here" he said while looking around "If there's anything you need then just ask the warden and he will pass it on to either Inaho, Asseylum or me. Even prisoners are allowed some comforts".
"A new table".
Statian turned to the door but stopped and produced something from his pocket.
"Take this" Statian walked back and handed Slaine an old Terran book which he accepted.
Myths and Legends of the Ancient World.
"My father gave it to me many years ago, it's where I got my fascination with ancient Terra. I think you may find it interesting" Statian said.
"Why are you giving this to me, isn't this a keepsake?" Slaine asked in monotone.
"I've memorized it entirely, it's yours now. Take good care of it".
Slaine turned the cover over and began to read.
"I finally beat Inaho Kaizuka by the way" Statian said as he opened the cell door.
Troyard looked up in slight confusion.
"Chess" Statian said to answer the un-asked question.
"Will either of you be back?" Slaine asked.
"I'm sure I'll come back some day, as for Inaho I reckon you'll be seeing a lot of him".
"Good by Duke" Slaine said "And thank you for protecting Asseylum" He was emotionless but showed curtesy where it was needed.
Grand Duke Statian nodded to him then walked out. He turned to the warden "Sorry about the table but clear up the splinters, we don't want him trying to stab himself. I do however believe that he does want to live but he's just hiding it, I think he may yet have a future".
Statian carried on walking and left the prison behind.
[#]
"Ophir?" Statian called out to his metal steed.
"Yes Milord?" it replied in a rumbling voice and stomped up to greet him.
"Let's go for a walk, do you think Kataphrakts are road legal?"
"It would be wise to take a route along the coast" the giant metal centaur suggested.
"Right you are" Statian said and the Duke and his beloved steed walked down to the coast. The sun was setting now but it was a beautiful day.
"Let's return you to my castle shall we? After all I don't think the authorities will want a 2000 ton Kataphrakt stomping around".
"Very well Milord" the Ophir agreed.
"Then I have an appointment to attend to".
"Where Milord?"
"Lt Marito has invited me out to a bar, the crew of the Deucalion will be there. I'm sure it'll be fun" Statian chuckled.
"I'm glad to hear it Milord" the sentient steed replied.
"I've also considered enrolling at a university" Statian said and looked up at the Ophir "I want to see how Terrans live day by day, besides I was homeschooled and never grew up with people my age".
"Perhaps you can convince her majesty Asseylum to join you, I'm sure she would enjoy the experience" the Ophir suggested.
"She's too young to drink".
"I meant university Milord".
"Oh" Statian said and looked out at the ocean to their left "I suppose she is old enough now".
"I'm sure she will make a lot of friends" the Ophir said.
"Perhaps, perhaps she would like it".