Falling from the sky was never this scary for her. To the depth of the abyss, she falls without her wings. Her consciousness was nearly gone. She had defeated Leventhan, the dragon from the prophecies, and she hoped whoever the crownless lords are will be happy, or what she did will be useless.
Once, she said she doesn't fear death, as it was inevitable. Until now, she still thinks that way, but leaving the world she just saved, and leaving her husband, or master, that's what scares her now. Her eyes were closed, and she tightens her grip on her bejeweled spear.
"Gwendolyn! Where are you?" that voice…Griselda? She looked worried and younger than she remembered. Is this Netherworld? But it looked so much like Eltrit Forest…
"What's wrong, Griselda? I still want to practice!" that voice was belonged to10 years old version of her, holding a spear. She once heard if someone nearly dead, they see something they hoped so much. Is this what she hoped to see so much, she hallucinating?
"It's okay for you to practice, just don't force yourself…"
"Don't worry! I know my limit." It was happen 10 years ago, on the vacation palace, where she would go there for hunting frogs or goblins.
Or if she lucky, Manticore.
--
"Haah…haah" blood flowing from her wounds. Today is her lucky day, she got the chance to fight Manticore, but she fought too many goblins before, so she almost has no energy to fight Manticore. But, it won't hear anything she said.
"Gri… no… I need to fight it alone… or father will…"
Because she thought she was alone, she let out all her feelings, not knowing a dark figure hiding behind a tree. From his armor, everyone could tell he was from the fairy kingdom, although he was human, and just few years older than Gwendolyn.
"I… won't lose against… rat like you…"
"Cih… "Hearing that, half impressed, the boy took his blood colored sword, ready to attack the Manticore, if it's necessary.
"Die!" if only the monster was really who die, maybe she wont meet that boy, but in reality, the Manticore was able to dodge her attack and used his tail to knock her out.
--
"Oi… are you alive?" a blood covered boy woke her up.
"Yes… did I… pass out?" it's shameful for a Valkyrie to pass out in a battle, even if she was not a full pledged one. If someone finds out, she will never be a Valkyrie.
"Th-thank you for saving me…" tears flowing from her eyes. Now she would never be Valkyrie. What will her father say?
"…" what was he thinking, she never know. He didn't show his expression, but as a soldier that was the key to winning, so he must be good.
"Why are you crying?"
"Eh? What… it came out of its own… it won't stop…"
"… you know, you pretty good, defeating Manticore by yourself."
"What? But I thought…" he must be the one who defeated the Manticore, it couldn't be her… the blood all over his body wasn't hers. She knows because he got wounds all over his body too, even if hers looked worst.
"I'm a paladin…" a human from fairy kingdom? It can't be…
"When we meet again, we will be enemies. Get ready for it." So that's why… she remembered the first time she met her husband. Since that day, she trained harder to beat him, her first and only love, even if she forgets all about their first meeting. This feeling was not because of her father magic.
"I finally realize… that this is no magic, but being with you is the magic itself…"
That was what all she wished for in her entire life, to love and be loved by someone, from her heart, not by magic.
Now that she realizes her wish has already came true, she gladly leaving the world to the hands of the crownless lords.
--
"Gwendolyn, are you alive?"
"Yes… did I pass out?" smiled, she slowly opened he eyes. It still the same blood covered face, but with a really worried expression. For some reason, she liked it better this way.
"Thank you for saving me again…"
--