by Neesah
Disclaimer: Still not mine. Nor would it ever be.
Another AU fic. I'm taking a break from In Blood so I started writing this. It's a medieval/sci-fi mix, with a dash of mythology. Hope you like it.
Chapter 1: A blood feud's pay
Some called it the Maze of the Lost, for many had been heard of entering it but were never seen again. Others called it the Valkyries' Garden, for it was believed that only these fierce yet mysterious warrior women of Valhalla had the ability (and the privilege, it might be added) to come in and out there at will, without getting lost. But to many, it was referred to as the Dark Forest, simply because it was always dark there, even during daytime. And though the mysticism around the Dark Forest somewhat dimmed throughout the past years when Duke Dermail of the Duchy of Romefeller spread the news of his soldiers storming in and massacring all the Valkyries during one of their festivals there, many people would still think twice before entering the said forest or, at the very least, wouldn't let themselves be caught inside it after dark. For it was still common belief that both Aspects of the Goddess Mother, meaning her gentle and harsh sides, were fully manifested there. Being that sacred, the Dark Forest was held in high regard and great fear, and no amount of rumor, however convincing it sounded, could change that. Especially if it was also rumored that the said group of soldiers who despoiled the Goddess' Sacred Hearth were never seen again when they attempted to enter the Dark Forest for the 2nd time after the massacre. Some said that the Goddess Mother, putting on her Warrior Aspect, punished them, while others were certain that it was the Valhallans and not the Goddess who took their revenge on the murderers of their kin. Still, there were a few who believed that these men, in all their ignorance and arrogance, simply got lost inside, having been too sure that they already knew all the pathways of the forest, which many thought of as a labyrinth albeit a special and deadly one at that.
With all these said, it would surely come as a surprise to anyone to see a lone figure silently and carefully making his way towards the deeper recesses of the Dark Forest during this time of night. What was more surprising was that it seemed like he knew exactly where he was going, his eyes seeing through the dark.
The figure came face to face with what seemed to be a dead end. Undaunted, the figure squeezed through the heavy and thick wall of vines and thorns, his golden armor protecting his whole body from scrapes and scratches these plants had to offer. After wading through the endless sea of vines, he finally reached a clearing where one could see the moonlight seeping through the trees from above.
He stopped, his senses alert. He started walking again when all of a sudden, he whirled around just in time to block another sword. The moonlight illuminated another armor-clad figure in crimson red with black undertones, and judging from the designs of their armors, it was obvious that these warriors were of different nationalities. But it could be duly noted that not only was the newcomer's armor different from his current opponent's armor, or any other armors of any kingdom on the planet for that matter, it was also far from ordinary. It had a multi-segmented, heat-radiating whip (which eerily looked like a tail) that was attached to its shield and a round green object adorned its chest. The head gear was definitely a far cry from any other ordinary head gear of their time. It covered the whole head (though there were subtle holes for the nose, ears and lips, and bigger holes for the eyes) thereby giving off the impression of a face of a mechanical being. It would seem heavy, but it wasn't, having been made from Gundamium, the strongest and lightest metal in the whole planet. And just seeing an armor like this would be enough to strike fear to anyone, because anyone who wears such an armor would undoubtedly be a Valhallan, the mysterious yet feared race of strong and fierce warriors. For only in the land of Valhalla could one find Gundamium, and only the Valhallans had the knowledge to harness it.
The two continued to clash swords but were equally matched, neither one getting the upper hand. Finally, both of them managed to point the tip of their swords at each other's throats, signaling a draw. A heartbeat passed before the one in red remarked, "The rumors of your illness are false then. You're still as fit and as quick as I remember, Ishtar."
Ishtar removed his helmet, revealing short platinum blonde hair and ice blue eyes. "You're not bad yourself. I see that you're still holding your title as the strongest man in all Valhalla, Epyon."
The man he called Epyon shook his head before removing his head gear. Wild black hair framed a stern, handsome face, but was arresting about him was his eyes --- it was a different shade of blue --- Prussian. "Not for long. And you know better than call me Epyon," he answered, glaring at Ishtar.
Ishtar smiled. "I'm just checking if I still have the privilege to call you by your real name, Odin." Ishtar knew that aside from the fact that Valhallans didn't like revealing their faces to people they didn't trust, they also didn't like being referred to by their real names. That was why Valhallans had use-names. Trust and Honor were held highest among this proud race of warriors and only if one got both would he be granted the privilege of seeing a Valhallan's face and knowing his name. "It's been too long, old friend."
This time, Odin couldn't help smiling back. "I know. The last time we met like this was like what? 12 years ago?" He suddenly frowned. "It was nice to see you again, Ishtar but you shouldn't have arranged this meeting. You know that it's dangerous for you to meet me like this. Are you sure you weren't followed this time?"
Ishtar's grin widened, remembering. "Don't worry. I wasn't followed…" His grin then turned into a grimace, his voice trailing off as he staggered, both his hands gripping his head before dropping to his knees. Odin saw this and was about to go to his aid but Ishtar stopped him. A moment passed before Ishtar whispered, "I sure am getting old. It took me a long time to arrive here," a shadowed smile showing on his lips.
Odin heard rumors of Ishtar being sick for quite a while now but he thought that it was just that --- rumors. "You shouldn't be stressing yourself. You might be able to fool your whole court but you couldn't fool me," Odin told him in an even tone, though one look at his eyes would betray his concern. He knew that though Ishtar was a pure blooded Sanctian, he was as Valhallan in his pride as Odin was. "Is it serious?"
Looking directly at his friend's eyes, Ishtar replied, "I only have at most 5 months to live."
Odin nodded grimly, studying him carefully before stating, "I'm guessing you haven't told anyone yet."
Ishtar smiled sheepishly, almost resembling his 15 yr old self. "Just you. Well, my doctor and his daughter knew, but I trust them not to tell anyone. They all think that it's just because of stress and old age." His eyes then reverted to looking like his present self --- the 50 yr old man who had too many responsibilities on his shoulders. "That's why I have to talk to you. There isn't enough time. The war has gone long enough, Odin. You and I are the only ones who could end this and end this we must." He paused for a moment, before continuing. "If I die and this isn't resolved, I swear, it would never be resolved. We must end this as soon as we can."
"I know how you feel. I want to end this stupid blood feud too as much as you do. But how? Even with who we are, we still couldn't stop them. Vengeance is a never-ending cycle of bloodshed. You kill one of us, we'll kill one of yours. It'll only stop if both sides are annihilated. Or if both would be willing to exchange blood with each other, thereby sealing the feud and uniting the two sides, causing only one blood to run true…" Understanding dawned on him as he saw the expression on Ishtar's face. "You mean…"
"A blood feud starts with blood spilt and continues as long as blood is shed between the feuding parties. For it to stop it would call for a blood dowry. That's what I'm willing to give. Are you willing to give a blood dowry to match my own?" Ishtar asked. He never raised his voice yet it seemed that his question rang out throughout the forest.
Odin's eyes were intense as he gazed at Ishtar. They were both tired of this war, tired of fighting, of killing, of mourning. And they knew everyone was as tired as they were. "If blood is what is needed to stop this senseless war and attain peace, then I'm willing to match your blood dowry," he answered, offering his hand.
Ishtar nodded, accepting the other man's hand in a firm grasp. And so, Ishtar Peacecraft, King of the Sanc Kingdom and Odin Yuy, Grand Aescir of Valhalla shook hands, both best friends and enemies to each other. The will for the blood exchange was expressed, true, but it still needed to be sealed. Nonetheless, the idea of dawn coming to dispel the darkness finally had the chance to become a reality.
It was already late when they arrived. All was dark and quiet and the only thing that could be heard were the servants scurrying around to pass on the news of their arrival. But he knew from the moment they entered the gates that something was wrong. When the carriage came to a halt, a tall, handsome man with long platinum blonde hair immediately jumped out, his icy blue eyes flashing. "Pagan, where's everybody?" he asked when he saw his most trusted friend and butler ran down the steps to meet them.
Pagan knew exactly what the young man meant by his question. "They all rode out, your Highness. They all rode out to attack Valhalla when they discovered that the King was missing," he told the 24-yr old Crowned Prince of Sanc in a worried tone.
A gasp from inside the carriage was heard. Milliardo was a bit surprised too. "Father was missing? Since when?"
"Just a few hours ago. He told me that he was just going out for a walk so I shouldn't bother calling for a guard to go with him so I didn't. Then an hour later, Misha came wanting to talk to his Highness. I told him what the King told me and he immediately sent someone to look for him, saying that it's dangerous to take a walk alone this time of night. But they didn't find him. They found his horse instead, grazing just outside the Dark Forest. The whole army then rode out, led by Misha, to get him back from the Valhallans."
Milliardo's face was grim. He didn't have anything against Misha, he always had been an efficient and loyal Captain of the Guards. But sometimes, he could be so hot-headed. And his hot-headedness would one day lead him and their whole army to their untimely and wasteful deaths. He glanced back at the carriage for a moment then said, "Pagan, tell Eric to ready my horse and my armor. I'm going to follow them."
Pagan nodded and before Milliardo followed him, he heard a whisper from inside the carriage. "Be careful, brother."
In this world, in this place and time, three powerful kingdoms could be said to hold the balance of power amongst themselves: Romefeller, Sanc and Valhalla. But it wasn't always the case. Many years ago, Romefeller managed to conquer the majority of the kingdoms in the planet, making it the one and only ruling power, with the prime exception of Valhalla of course. But that didn't matter much to the Romefellans, for how could humans stand against a race of mysterious and unexplainable beings? It was believed that the Valhallans were the first race to have existed, existing way before man ever did. But nobody knew how these beings really look like, what they do or how they live. To many, the Valhallans were some sort of a monster who had special powers --- like the ability to change their shape at will and sprout wings. They were also said to be fond of human sacrifices, and they accomplish this by either kidnapping humans or marrying them. And though the little they knew only sprang forth from wild speculations and rumors, nobody could dispute the fact that whatever these folk were, they could fight. They were the only ones who, not only withstood Romefeller's attack and drove them out but also managed to destroy half of its army! With this in mind, the son of the then deposed King of Sanc went to Valhalla to ask the Grand Aescir's aid in order to free his people. And this particular action had caused a series of events to take place that molded History as it was known today.
The Sanctian Army and the Valhallans were already engaged in a battle when Milliardo found them. He couldn't blame any of them though. It was a common reaction to attack the enemy whom they knew had motive and it was also a common reaction to retaliate and defend their own. He was still far off but he could see that though outnumbered, the Valhallans were holding their own. Actually, the Valhallans were slaughtering the Sanctians. Milliardo rode faster. It didn't matter whether they did kidnap his father or not. He had to save his people.
Upon arriving at the battlefield, he ceased to be Milliardo and became Zechs Merquise, the Lightning Prince. He yelled a battlecry, and started slashing one Valhallan after the other, his long hair flying behind him but held in place by his silver mask. The feel of his sword, the adrenalin rushing throughout his body, the risk, the uncertainty, the continuous clashing of steel and wills --- they were all familiar to him. He had led the Sanctians to battle many times before, as it was his privilege and responsibility being the Crowned Prince and the next King. And yet, each battle still felt different. It would always be different, for the deaths would be different, and the outcome might be different too.
Seeing their Prince join them, the Sanctians rejoiced and rallied, though the Valhallans didn't seem to have been affected by it at all. Zechs just killed the warrior in front of him when he suddenly saw something white from the corner of his eye coming straight at him. He barely managed to dodge the attacker's sword. The white rider and its white horse whirled around to have another try on him. This time, he was prepared. Their swords clashed. As they fought and parley, Zechs knew that he was fighting with no ordinary warrior. And that was saying a lot coz everyone knew that the Valhallans were fierce warriors. He's good, he thought. He used a technique that usually would have finished off any lesser soldier but his opponent just blocked it off. Really good, he added to himself, satisfied. It had been a while since he had a worthy opponent. And though his opponent's face was completely hidden by an unusual headgear, a white pointed helmet with a translucent faceplate, he instinctively knew that the Valhallan was feeling the same thing. With this thought in mind, Zechs started attacking with renewed vigor.
At the end, Zechs's will and sword prevailed, causing the Valhallan's sword to be thrown away. But the Prince's victory was short-lived. Weaponless, the Valhallan did a spectacular jump and tackled him to the ground. They tossed, they wrestled, they rolled on the dirt. And while the two warriors desperately fought, something nagged on Zechs' head. There's something different about this warrior, he said to himself. Something on the ground glittered, catching his eye. He immediately snatched it and without wasting time, stabbed his opponent on the shoulder. Having been weakened, he finally managed to pin the Valhallan to the ground, pointing the knife at his enemy's throat. But he then realized that amidst the confusion, his opponent's headgear came off. He was now staring at a delicate face with bright blue eyes and inviting lips, framed with tousled short blue hair.
Zechs was stunned. He dropped the knife and immediately jumped away. "A woman!" he exclaimed, his disbelief evident. It was said that all Valhallan women could fight. But there was this group of warrior women who undergo special training to infiltrate and fight. "Then you're a ---"
"Valkyrie," she finished for him. She grabbed her headgear, put it back on then stood up. She staggered a bit, her one hand holding her right shoulder, which is bleeding.
"But how? I thought the Valkyries were killed years ago."
"The truth is, it's impossible to annihilate all the Valkyries," she said in a hard tone. "I think you heard of the stories, Prince. Of what happens when one sees a Valkyrie's face during a battle. Or when one learns of a Vakyrie's name. Her real name."
He knew alright. "You hunt them 'til you kill them."
"Right. There's another option but hunting them to death is more fun." She saw a discarded sword and picked it up. "What are you waiting for, Sanctian? Our fight is not over yet. I'm giving you a second chance to kill me. Or else I wouldn't have a choice but to follow you even to the ends of this world to kill you in order to regain the pride that I lost when you defeated me."
Zechs smiled. He knew he should be scared. A Valkyrie's curse shouldn't be taken lightly. According to stories, nobody had managed to escape a Valkyrie once she decided to hunt him down. But seeing her beautiful face, he couldn't feel fear… yet there was something else. "As you said, I've already defeated you. We don't have to fight anymore. And I don't fight a wounded man. Much more a woman."
"Don't patronize me!" she yelled as she lunged at him. Being wounded, Zechs easily outmaneuvered her. He knocked of the sword from her hands and twisted her arms around her so he could hold her close.
"What are you waiting for? Kill me! Kill me now!" she said.
He leaned nearer so he could whisper into her ear. His breath was soft when he said, "No. Like what I told you earlier, I don't fight a wounded opponent nor a woman --- even if she's a trained warrior and almost succeeded in killing me." He smiled. "Besides, if I kill you, then you wouldn't have to hunt me down. And honestly, I'm looking forward to it."
Taking it as an insult, the Valkyrie used all her remaining strength to get free of his hold. She did get free, also knocking him down in the process. But with her strength spent, she only managed to take a few steps away before she fell on her knees.
"Here, let me help you," Zechs said, stepping closer to her.
She didn't answer. She slowly and discretely reached for the knife she hid in her armor --- her last defense. Come on, just a little bit closer, Prince, she whispered. He was almost within her reach and she was about to strike him when suddenly a voice said, "That's enough, Taurus."
Both Valkyrie and Sanctian looked up. They saw a warrior in white, with blue, red and yellow astride another white horse, a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. The round, green orb at his chest gleamed, the moonlight bouncing off it. His face was fully covered, as was the custom of the Valhallans and their armors.
"Zero," the Valkyrie whispered.
"You've done what you could. It's enough. Now go," Zero told her.
"But---"
"Go," he said again, but this time in a voice that required immediate obedience.
The Valkyrie hastily stood up then said, "Yes, Zero-sama." And was off.
If Zero knew how to cringe, he would have cringed when he heard her tone of voice. She was definitely furious. But he would have to worry about Taurus later. There was still some immediate business he had to attend to.
Amidst the din of the fighting, the two warriors silently regarded each other. Both being the heirs to their kingdoms, they had led their people to battle numerous times before, earning for themselves fame and glory in the battlefield. But for some twist of fate, this was the first time their paths actually crossed, getting the chance to finally meet each other face-to-face, though they had always wanted to test one's strength against the other, having heard of what the other could do. For one was known as the Lightning Prince, the Sanctian Warrior who strikes down his enemies in one clean swipe, delivering death as quickly as lightning. While the other was referred to as the Perfect Soldier, he who could easily annihilate a whole horde of men single-handedly, in a quick and efficient manner at that, without muttering even a single word! And now, Fate had finally saw it fir for these two great warriors to meet and do battle.
"So, aren't you going to attack me?" Zechs asked.
As a response, Zero dismounted and gesturing with his head, he indicated Zechs' fallen sword a few feet away. "I don't fight an unarmed opponent."
Hearing this, Zechs smiled. A warrior according to my heart, he thought while retrieving his sword. They eyed each other for a moment before Zechs let out a yell, attacking Zero.
If any of the warriors in the battlefield weren't thinking of one thing and one thing only --- their own survival, it would have been worth it to watch the fight between Zechs and Zero. For one thing, no one could exactly predict who would come on top, both having an equal number of near misses and narrow escapes from the other's sword. Both had never met such opponent before, and they were glad that they had now.
Zechs was getting tired but he couldn't tell if his opponent was getting tired as well. He knew that many of the remaining Sanctian soldiers were getting tired too. He knew that one way or the other this battle had to finish. He had to end it now, but before he did, he had to know something first. He attacked fiercely and Zero blocked it, their swords clashing.
"Where's my father?!" Zechs asked as the two of them held to their clashing swords, trying to overpower the other.
"Why ask me? I'm not his son nor his keeper," Zero answered in a monotone.
Zechs glared at him. "He's missing and my men think that you Valhallans had taken him."
"So you have a reason for attacking us for a change, though I couldn't really call it a reason since it's based on wild speculation and biased judgment," the Valhallan said coldly. "Unfortunately, I don't know where your King is. It's not our custom to kidnap people. And it's a great insult to any Valhallan to be accused of using underhanded and dirty tricks during a battle." With strength Zechs didn't know whence it came, Zero managed to overpower him, causing the Sanctian's sword to split into two. Pointing his sword at his opponent's throat, Zero said, "Maybe you know where my father is. He's missing as well."
Zechs mind started reeling. The Grand Aescir was missing too? Was it just a coincidence, or did it mean something? But more importantly, was he truly defeated? Was he finally going to die? He looked at his hand. He was still holding the hilt of his broken sword. Sure, if he could move fast enough, he could still use it to stab his enemy since there were still a few inches of blade left that he could use. He almost smiled wryly. How ironic it was! Now he knew how that Valkyrie had felt earlier.
Suddenly, a sound echoed in the battlefield. It was the Sanctian Army's call for retreat. And since the Prince wasn't the one who called for it, there was only one other person who could--- the King. Zechs was relieved that his Father was alright and that the remaining Sanctian soldiers could go home but not him. There was no consolation for him. It doesn't really matter to me now, Zechs thought, preparing himself to lunge at Zero with his broken sword. It was either him or Zero dead now, though it was obvious that the odds were against him.
But before Zechs could do anything, Zero lowered his sword. Surprised, Zechs asked, "What? Aren't you going to kill me?"
"I don't think you're going to let me kill you this easily," Zero said, somewhat amused. "I couldn't see your face, true, but I know that you already thought of a counterattack." Then in a solemn voice he added, "A life for a life. You spared her life and that's more than enough reason for me to spare yours."
Somehow, Zechs felt an unfamiliar pang in his heart. He stared at Zero, trying to penetrate into the headgear that was hiding his face. "Is she that important to you?"
"She is," was Zero's simple reply. "But next time, there wouldn't be any hindrances. It'll just be between you and me."
Zechs smiled. "I'll look forward to it." He put his fingers in his mouth, whistling. Hearing the call, his horse came galloping to him. After mounting it, Zechs looked straight at Zero. "And next time, you wouldn't be so lucky." With that, he rode off.
*****************************
Inside the hospital, the whole staff, headed by Dr. Andre Po with the help of his daughter, Sally, had been working round the clock since the wounded soldiers where brought in from last night's battle. And amongst them, a golden haired lady had been working just as hard as everyone else even if it really wasn't her duty to do so. She was no doctor, she didn't know anything about medicine. Nor was she a nurse. But she still helped in her own way, she always did. She helped in calming the patients, singing and talking to them, also in feeding and cleaning them. And though she thought that what she was doing was insignificant compared to what the others were doing, Sally and the others knew better. Little things they might be, but what she was doing contribute a lot to the patients' recovery. Her very presence was a source of inspiration. Well, the Crowned Princess of Sanc had always been an inspiration to her people. The Princess had this unexplainable way of making people at ease with just a smile, a touch, a kind word or just by being there, seeing her beautiful long, blonde hair or her fathomless sky blue eyes. So just imagine what it meant to the soldiers to find the Princess feeding them or singing to them. The doctors might have healed their bodies, but she, for her part, healed their souls. Everyone was really grateful that she was there, with them.
"Relena," Sally called, approaching the young woman who just stood up, having finished feeding a patient. "I know you're tired. It's been a long night. Go rest, Princess. We can handle it from here."
"I'm alright, Sally. You're the one who should rest. You've been doing all the work."
Sally smiled. "You've been doing a lot more than you think. But you need to take a break. You might end up in one of the hospital beds if you don't watch out."
"I'll be fine, don't worry about me. Besides, you're under-staffed and ---"
"Doctor's orders, Princess. Do you want me to drug you?" Sally threatened.
"Ok, ok. But I'll be back after dinner," Relena replied, raising one hand in surrender. She put down the tray on one of the tables then started walking towards the door. She was about to go out when she glanced back and said to her friend, "Take your own advice, Sally. Get some rest too." With a wink and wave, she was gone.
Sally smiled, though she was a little troubled. She and Relena had been friends since they were kids, Sally's father being the King's Royal Physician and one of his most trusted adviser and friend. That was why she was certain that behind the smile, Relena was troubled about something. What's bothering you, Relena? she silently asked. With a sigh, she returned to her work.
Disobeying Sally's orders for rest, Relena didn't go inside the Palace towards her room. Instead, she went straight towards the back garden. It was smaller than the front garden and there weren't as much flowers but the flowers there were at bloom and at the very center of it was a fountain where an angel stood, holding a bucket over her head. It was her favorite place. She sat on the bench and stared at the sunset, the oranges and the reds being reflected on the cascading water.
Her heart was heavy, she couldn't deny it. She was given a choice, not a command, but did she really have any say in it? Could she really do anything than say yes? If she wouldn't think of her people and only think of herself, she could say no. But she couldn't. Being a Princess not only meant riches and pageantry but duty and sacrifice as well. It would be better if it would be just me and not them. Only one life --- one life in exchange for thousands.
"I thought I might find you here," a voice pierced through her thoughts. She turned her head and saw her older brother by the entrance. She smiled at him, gesturing for him to sit with her. He walked towards her and sat down, also watching the sunset. They sat in companionable silence for a while, enjoying the sound of the fountain. But even how hard they try to hide it, it was evident that a cloud was hovering over them. Finally, Milliardo broke the silence. "Relena, I…" he trailed off. There was a lot that he wanted to say, and he didn't know where to start. "I… I'm sorry, Relena. I failed to protect you."
'What do you mean?" she said as she looked at him.
Milliardo remained looking at the fountain. "I'm supposed to be the one who should be burdened, not you. I should be the one making the tough decisions, and making the sacrifices for my people. I'm Father's heir afterall. But as I've discovered recently, I'm pretty helpless in a lot of things." He paused briefly, staring at his hands. He then looked at her. "I know how hard this is for you, being torn between your duty to your people and your duty to yourself. If only I could spare you this! If only I could trade places with you! I don't care about myself as long as you and the whole Kingdom are happy!"
"But you can't," Relena said, holding her brother's hand. "You can't spare me this. You can't trade places with me. Only I could do this. It's all up to me now."
Millairdo sighed. "You don't have to decide immediately. You have a whole week to think it over. Nobody's in a rush. And don't forget that Father and I wouldn't think less of you if you refuse."
Relena's eyes were blazing when she replied, "What else is there to think about? And what do you mean that nobody's in a rush? People are dying, brother. Do you think that I'll just stand here and mull things over while our people continue to have this stupid blood feud that has been going on for years when I have it in my power to finally end it? And do you honestly think that I will refuse? I thought you know me better, brother. I thought you knew better. One life is a small price to pay for peace. And like you, I don't care what happens to me as long as you and the whole Kingdom gain peace."
His smile was both sad and proud when he told her, "Of course I knew that you wouldn't say no. The Prince in me wants you to accept it while that part of me that is your brother hopes that you'll refuse. But knowing you, the moment Father asked you, I knew that you already made up your mind." He took both her hands and kissed them. "You really are strong, Relena. Stronger even than me." He held her gaze. "But are you really sure about this? Do you really know what you're getting yourself into?"
'I don't understand why they keep on fighting! When I grow up, I'll do anything to make them stop,' she heard a voice say in her head. It felt like a distant memory, a fleeting dream which she couldn't grasp and yet it felt like this simple but heartfelt statement was rooted deep inside of her, strengthening her resolve. "Yes, I'm sure. I willingly take it into myself to pay Sanc Kindom's blood dowry and end this blood feud once and for all. And to do that, I'll marry the next Grand Aescir of Valhalla, Zero."