CHAPTER XVI: PALADIN

The sword in my grip darkens, Shalltear's left hand on the hilt of the sword. We both blink our eyes once as we reorient ourselves with our surroundings, the Arena around us still sporting the structural damage from our battle. During the vision we shared, no time had passed in the waking world, my exhaustion from combat kicking in like a veil of weakness. My hands unclench painfully to release the sword's hilt, my voice pained as I groan to Shalltear, "What...just happened?...was any of that...real?..."

Shalltear uses her left hand to place a finger over my lips, shushing me as my mouth closes reflexively. My eyes catch her looking at the sword with curiosity, her right-hand pulling the blade out of the sandy ground with minimal effort. A dark light infuses the metal, the material humming with magic as a strong voice emanates from within the weapon.

MERGER COMPLETED. CALIBRATING SYSTEMS.

The dark light expands across the entire blade, consuming its form to create a black mass in her hands. Shalltear starts smiling menacingly as she moves her right hand onto the hilt of the weapon, both of her hands raising the blackening object above her head. I hear something vibrating against the ground nearby and look to my right for the source, her lance surging towards the darkness at her command. The mass swallows the lance tip first and with the weapon consumed utterly, the darkness quickly takes on a new shape and structure. The hilt extends to accommodate a two-handed grip, a ribbon of teal flowing from the end of the handle. A crossguard of cobalt forms, the edges spreading into four separate ends aiming upwards and downwards. Above the crossguard, pulses of purple light crack the solidifying black surface, the cracks slowly zigzagging towards each other with each moment.

I throw my arms in front of me as the black mass explodes, dark shards spraying everywhere but missing us somehow. When I move my arms away, Shalltear slowly lowers the gigantic greatsword in her hands, the blade almost twice her size yet moving mesmerizingly smoothly through the air. She places the tip against the sandy ground with an evil smile, her hands gently pushing the edge down at an angle so it embeds in place. I can't help myself and move closer to the embedded greatsword, my right hand running across its structure gently in a stupor of childlike wonder.

The blade is magnificent, its edges and body of polished cobalt reflecting the surroundings with a mirror sheen. Inscribed runes of glowing purple swim across its metal surface, a multitude of languages and meanings coming and going. I recognize the mechanism built into the blade but I never understood the function of the device even in the previous weapon. A display appears near my hand as I rub the greatsword, the language showing me a swath of information that I read through in a reverent tone. "Uenodaiken...the Greatsword of Hunger...a divine class armament...created by us...but I didn't do anything-"

"Stay still," Shalltear whispers as she gestures towards the sword, the greatsword gently rising of its own will from the ground so she can wield it with both hands. When she's sure I'm paying attention, she tells me to kneel and bow my head, a command that I'm so used to hearing that I'm already moving into the position before she finishes speaking. I can hear the greatsword humming through the air as she moves the blade point towards me, the flat of the sword's tip touching my right shoulder. I can feel the insatiable hunger of the greatsword as it touches my scales, a thirst for destruction and blood as obvious as its overwhelming presence. Shalltear intones proudly, "I, Shalltear Bloodfallen, hereby knight you into the House of Adipocere. You will be my most loyal servant from now until the end of your days."

She moves the flat of the sword's tip to my other shoulder, tapping it then tapping my right shoulder again. She then orders me to stand, my body rising slowly while my mind finds the entire event confusing. Shalltear casually touches the centre of my chest intimately, a wave of dark power pushing into me violently. I fall to my knees in surprise and shock, my eyes wide as she tosses the greatsword aside without ceremony. Her hands hold my shoulders as she states, "Your badge of office is unique and something very personal to me, a fragment of my magic. I'm not sure what will happen to you but there's only one way to find out."

I slowly rise to my feet, a smile on my face as her hands leave my shoulders awkwardly. I close my eyes as I let the intrusive magic do what it needs to, her dark magic mingling with the power already within me. I'm expecting a harsh clash of opposing magics but am presently surprised when a balance is achieved between the two magics, the combined force coursing from my heart outwards into the rest of my frame. My sense of smell becomes far too precise, my nose picking out every solid, liquid, and gas with vivid detail in a wide radius. The new flood of information threatens to overwhelm my brain so I force the sensations to stop, my thoughts clearing of the unnecessary distraction. I feel my third lung fill with magic but keep my mouth open to dissipate the flow, the wasted energy crackling between my teeth in a constant torrent. The teeth themselves sharpen into fine points and I smile enthusiastically, feeling the new teeth slide along each other in a comfortable gesture.

My eyes open slowly, the world painted in hues of grey. At first, I think it's my brain interpreting tremors again but when I look down slightly, I see Shalltear as a blob of different shades of colour. I blink a few times to rid myself of the second distraction, Shalltear smiling widely enough at me to expose her teeth. She reaches forward and brushes my chest with her right hand, my right hand moving over her hand as she touches my scales tenderly. Her head tilts as if she's looking for something until she says in curiosity, "Your scales...and your magic...all of it feels...off somehow...unfocused..."

Before now, all I could do was eject any unspent magic into the air or the ground in an unfocused wave of destruction. I close my eyes and let the power gently flow around me, my senses picking out the noises and feelings nearby to create a coherent picture. Black mist rises from the magical markings on my scales, the mist hissing around me and becoming solid black masses. My weight increases slowly as each piece of black armour coats my body like a second skin, the curved plating clicking together as they form. Dark fabric connects the pieces and coats my exposed joints, the material humming with magic. There's no helmet to speak of, the black mist circling my neck and flowing down my back to form a cape that extends to my waist. Emblazoned on the cape in fine threading is the symbol of House Adipocere, a crimson orb that bleeds into a pool of grey wax. I fall to one knee, my armour clicking as I lower my head and let the dark power she gifted me surge through my muscles, the feeling intoxicating and exciting to experience. I intone to her in a clear voice, "What is your command, milady?"

"Rise and follow me. There is so much to do," Shalltear says playfully, my body quickly rising and following her waltz into a nearby gate.

We arrive at the main entryway of her manor but my body freezes when I see the place abandoned. Instead of the usual lines of servants to greet us, Aura and Mare are waiting for us in the centre of the carpeted path, both of them smiling at us in their ways. The armour coating my body clicks as I stop moving, my shock becoming an audible cue for everyone to hear. The twins approach us as Aura says casually, "Well look at you. You look like a fool...more than usual. I get what you're going for with that look but it looks ridiculous."

I don't know what to say to them so I act instead. I fall to my knees and bow my head slightly, Aura tilting her head at the show of obedience. I let my mind wander and am surprised that I can say what's on my mind in a sombre voice. "I'm sorry, Aura...Mare...for all the things I've put you two through with every bad decision I've made...I can understand if you're angry with me...I can understand if you hate me...just know that...I'm sorry...for what little those words are worth..."

"A nice sentiment but wasted on us. We know you're getting married already. Who do you think allowed it?" Aura replies knowingly, my head rising to meet her amused gaze. They both stand a step away from me, Aura crossing her arms and smiling widely as she explains, "While you were taking a nap again, Shalltear came to us with a very specific proposition. We argued back and forth, nearly coming to blows before coming to an understanding. She can have you now-"

"But we get your firstborn child," Mare interrupts calmly, Aura nodding to him while keeping her smile. I glance over at Shalltear who replies by shrugging to herself, her words as calm and collected as always when talking about harsh topics. "It's a small gift. At least this way, everyone gets something out of this and no one feels cheated. Everyone wins."

"I had a feeling something was happening behind the scenes. I need to stop spending my time in comas," I state jokingly, everyone sharing a brief laugh from the gallows humour. I start to rise to my feet but Aura's hands land on my shoulders and hold me in a fearsome grip. I look into her eyes to see sternness rise to her face, her voice hard as she states to me without humour, "If you ruin what so many are sacrificing for you to have, you'll wish you were dead because I'll make sure you feel our disappointment."

"I'll help," Mare adds in with similar sternness but I smile despite their serious expressions and nod my head. Aura snorts to herself and rubs my hair playfully, Mare reaching forward and hugging me too tightly. Aura grudgingly comments, "It's good to have you back...seeing you in that tree wasn't fun...for anyone..."

I reach into my inventory with my right hand, my hand glowing with a dark hue of green as I pull components out of the blue box. Aura and Mare step back as a string of items float near my hand, each item glowing with dark green light before condensing into balls of abnormal energy. Everyone watches me work for a few seconds before Mare blurts out while pointing at me accusingly, "That's alchemy! Flash forging! That type of magical power is forbidden!"

"My mother used the Emerald Tablet to make me. I can...change items into the prima material, the first matter, and mould that matter into other forms...she recalibrated that power when I died recently," I reply somberly, Shalltear turning to me with understandable fury. There is a good chance she knows what I mean but she doesn't stop me from performing the ritual. I'm not disappointed when shouts at me angrily, "The Emerald Tablet!? That item was reported stolen from the 8th floor even before Yggdrasil fell! It's theft caused the schism between the supreme beings that cut the ranks of Ainz Ooal Gown in half! Are you saying your mother did steal it!?"

"Yes...and Lord Ainz believed her lie that she didn't steal it," I reply as I move my fingers through the orb of matter. Everything in my inventory condenses into a blob of prima matter and I combine the matter into a single shape with my fingers. Even my armour dissipates, the newly forged black plating liquefying and flowing into the steadily growing orb. Each poke and swipe of my fingers form the raw material into a coherent shape but my fingers start to sting from the sheer power flowing through me. My right hand and arm start to shake from the slow movements required but eventually, I reach the end of the ritual and gasp in exhaustion from the release of duty. The blob of energy condenses into a solid object, the glowing ball taking on its final form.

Shalltear reaches forward to snatch the Emerald Tablet out of the air before it hits the ground, her face incredulous and shocked at holding such a singular artefact. The tablet has the dimensions of a small book and the sheer power it resonates with is palpable in a large radius. The stone shifts and dances with symbols of emerald light, the tablet in a constant state of flux to prevent its store of power from destabilizing. I groan as I try to stay upright, my voice laboured as I explain, "But Lord Ainz...he knew deep down...my mother banished herself from Nazarick...and no one else knew the truth...but if we return what she stole...maybe she can come back..."

"Why would you want her back in Nazarick!? She ruins everything she touches! What can she possibly do for us that would require such a sacrifice!?" Shalltear yells at me, her hands holding the tablet firmly but moving it downwards so she can express the full extent of her ire. I recognize the hatred she feels, the hatred for betrayers, but plead to her with a growing sense of sadness, "Our ceremony is here in Nazarick...I want her to be there when we get married...I want to make things right...please...grant me this...if nothing else..."

"Take this to Lord Ainz immediately," Shalltear snaps to Aura and Mare, Mare rushing over and snatching the tablet from her hands while Aura opens a gate for them to travel through. They both move quickly and don't look back, the gate shutting behind them as Shalltear puts a hand to her face and exhales deeply from her nose. I fall forward onto my hands, my breathing laboured from so much magic usage. I hear Shalltear slowly walk in front of me as she states in frustration, "You have a good heart but I fear that sometimes, you forget that people reap what they sow. What kind of example are you setting if you keep sacrificing for someone else's mistake?"

I try to move back to my knees but I can't manage it, my body flopping forward onto my front. Hands flip me over so that I'm staring upwards, Shalltear slowly sitting down near my head with a look of serenity and calm. She roughly pulls my shoulders so that my head is resting in her lap, a smile on her face as she waits for me to answer her question. I close my eyes from exhaustion and whisper slowly, "Everyone deserves a second chance...just as I was given one...even my mother deserves at least that...I can't just let things happen anymore..."

"Careful with that line of thinking. That can lead to places that Lord Ainz decrees not to go to," she replies as she starts to brush my hair gently with her hand, a sense of peace filling me from her attention. I try not to fall asleep as I whisper in reply, "Yeah...we don't change the world...but we have to fix what's broken...even if we didn't break it..."

"Their sins aren't yours. Stop acting like you're carrying the weight of your whole family on your shoulders," Shalltear chastens lightly as she strokes one of my long ears, my body shaking from the slow strokes she makes me endure. I have to stop her hand when it becomes too uncomfortable to bear, a groan escaping me at moving strained muscles. She chuckles to herself but doesn't relent, her hand moving under mine as I reply with a sigh, "I'm the next in line, Shalltear...I'm the last Lowarm and last Miaxsys...how are my families' burdens not on my shoulders?"

"You won't be the last of your family just as I won't be the last of mine. I don't need to explain to you how we'll accomplish that. It's rather obvious," she replies, my head lowering slightly from the embarrassment of the subject matter. I open my mouth to say something but close it, not sure how to respond to her words at first. Curiosity wins in the end and I ask her in confusion, "How would that even work? ...I mean...physically, the path is obvious but...won't there be complications? Are we even in a position to-"

"Stop talking," Shalltear states in sudden embarrassment, my face smiling as I exhale lightly. We share a moment of silence as she places her hands on my shoulders, my hands reaching up and holding them. Her skin is cold as always but I don't mind it, the small detail just one of many that I can overlook. She quickly becomes sad as she says to me, "Why do you always risk everything to do the right thing? Don't you care about the people you'll leave behind if you perish?"

"I'm reckless...but I'm trying not to be..." I reply, her hands squeezing mine slightly. Tears start to roll down her face, the droplets falling on my head as she replies manically, "Stop being reckless. I forbid such behaviour. Next time you feel like doing the right thing, stop and think about what it'll cost."

She looks up from me, wiping the tears away with a exhale of irritation. Her left-hand leaves mine as she taps me on the forehead in frustration, her tone sad but irritated. "I hate how you make me feel. I knew connecting with someone was going to be painful but... but you make it feel so much worse. I already know you're going to disobey me and be reckless anyways. Aura's lived with that before but you didn't listen to her so why would you listen to me?"

I grunt in discomfort as I slide myself upwards and into her arms, her arms going over my shoulders so her hands can connect on my chest. I try to find an efficient way to return the gesture but find the return difficult, my hands trying several angles but finding nothing comfortable for me. She groans in annoyance at my attempts, her arms moving under my armpits so I have an easier time returning her gesture. As I lay my arms against hers and hold her hands, I whisper to her, "You're absolutely right...I'm predictable and hard-headed...just like my father... and I keep asking myself why...what do I have to prove?...that I'm not a monster?...that I'm worth something?... that I'm worthy of the love and compassion I receive?... I don't know anymore..."

I snort to myself and tighten my grip on her hands, her hands mirroring my actions as I say with conviction, "But that's just it, isn't it? The questions have already been answered and I just fail to accept the answers. So from now on...no more doubts...where you go, I'll follow...I promise..."

I'm unsure if I believe myself or if Shalltear believes me but at that moment, it doesn't matter.