All I want for Christmas is You
Albel pushed open the huge doors and crossed the stone floor. Once on the other side he climbed the wall, until he was at the highest point of this- The Kirlsa Training facility. The Pride of Airyglyph….in Aquaria territory
Still, Albel cared not. He liked it here. Though eerily empty after today's disgrace, it was still where his heart was. Finally atop the wall, he gazed out over the Aire Hills. Even Bandit activity seemed low. It was truly a peaceful night
Albel could feel the cold night air on his skin, and he liked it. The wind was blowing powerfully, but did little to jolt his mood.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the halls, behind him. Crouching low, he ducked behind a fallen pillar on the up most ledge, and watched silently through a gap in the stone. Through the great doors strode Nel Zelphyr, the greatest and most beutiful warrior of Aquios. She walked in without a care, clearly certain of her loneliness.
Albel smiled and folded his arms, watching her walk elegantly across the arena floor, totally oblivious to the Lords presence. Albel smiled to himself and stood, to his fall height
"Lady Nel, I presume" he greeted her, cheerily, when she was but a metre from his ledge
The redhead went straight for her two daggers, drawing them with incredible speed and holding them ready to parry anything closing in on her. She wasn't taking chances. Even in this dark, Albel could pick out her furious gaze, barely masking her fear.
"Come now, my lady" Albel mocked, his hands folded behind his back as he leapt from the ledge onto the ground in front of her "There is surely no need to resort to hostilities?"
Nel didn't answer, just tensed and gripped her blades in place, waiting for the Black Brigades captain to strike.
Albel stopped only inches from the women and smiled, warmly at her
"You didn't flee" Albel noted with confusion, motioning to the exit "Yet you did earlier, when you were in larger numbers. May I have an explanation of this, my lady?"
"Earlier" Nel said fiercely, holding her daggers to the man threateningly "I had to protect the engineers. Now, I'm free to kill you"
"Come now" Albel chuckled "We both know that won't happen" Albel turned tail and strolled back to the edge, listening to Nels breathing grow steadily heavier "Though please, you are welcome to try"
Albel took hold of the ledge and pulled himself up, before turning back to flip his legs over the arenas side. He folded his arms and sighed impatiently
"My lady? Must I sheathe those daggers FOR you?"
Cautiously, Nel came closer, putting one dagger away but keeping a tight grip on the other. Albels gaze drifted downwards from the warrior's face to her legs.
"Then maybe you can explain something to ME, Sir Albel" she spoke, her voice bringing him back to earth "Why let us live? Why let ME live?"
"Didn't I Tell milady?" Albel replied
"Yes, but I don't buy it, MY LORD" she emphasised the last word to mock the swordsman "It is told of your devotion to your honour, and that suffered quite the blow earlier when you let us leave alive"
Albel smiled "Those engineers of yours…they are from Greeton, correct?"
Nel hesitated
"Please my lady!" he cried, throwing up his arms in disbelief "I ask only what we already know, seeking only confirmation"
"Then yes" Nel nodded "Which is why you Airyglyph scum aren't getting your hands on them"
It struck the commander that Nel was becoming steadily braver, cockier. The realisation she would live must have been the influence
"As we thought" Albel nodded "Though they fight well for Engineers"
"I know…." Nel agreed
The two looked at each other, and then the floor as the awkward silence set in. It was clear what Nel was thinking, probably the same as he
We are Soldiers of different nations. By all rights one of us shouldn't leave here
But Albel didn't care
"Tell me Miss Nel" Albel broke the silence "Did you know that on the continent of Greeton right now it is Christmas? The snow falls now"
Nel shook her head, her eyes still on the floor
"You came here tonight to collect your thoughts, I assume" her eyes flickered up as he spoke "To truly understand this pivotal time of your life, and the war"
Nel didn't reply, but sheathed her second dagger, listening intently
"But all you got here was to answer one of my questions" Albel told her, clearing his throat "What do you want for Christmas"
Nel opened her mouth to speak, and hesitated, before trying again
"I Want victory for Aquaria"
Albel nodded "You may have it yet, my dear" he stood and stretched, leaping off the ledge for the second time and causing the feisty warrior to jump backwards, hands reaching for the daggers again. Though they remained sheathed.
Laughing silently, Albel made his way to the facility's inside, to start his journey home
"What do you want for Christmas, Albel?" Nel called after him, obviously still confuised at the way this had all gone
Albel didn't reply
"Victory? Power? Love?"
All I want for Christmas is You
Albel left, leaving Nels question unanswered, and her mind scattered and broken