Chapter 6 : Green Destiny
Airashii didn't wait for her introduction as she strode out into the arena, drawing Shaiton-Alpha and Omega but not uniting the two halves. She had no need to use the full power of her weapon here; these "warriors" were nothing but self-made heroes in a time of peace. Airashii herself held no delusions of being a hero; she was nothing more than an obsolete government killing machine. The announcer scrambled to announce the uninvited knight first, and then moved on to her opponent.
"And to challenge the Empire's Deadliest Servant, all the way from Mille Seseau – Raaaaaaiiiiidiiiia Ceeeeleeeeste, Archer Extraordinaire!"
Archer. Airashii snorted in disgust as she turned to watch her enemy enter the arena. In her opinion, being an archer was about as deadly a skill as spitting. Still, a fight was a fight.
"Alright, Arrowhead." Airashii taunted as she spun both her katana before assuming a ready position. "Let's see how good you are with your slingshot."
The archer was a young woman with brown hair and blue eyes. She was dressed for Mille Seseau's cold weather, wearing white pants which were tucked into knee high white boots and a white coat which, in the southern heat she had unbutton to reveal a long sleeve white tunic and matching vest. Airashii really got the feeling this girl liked the color white. Maybe it was Mille Seseau thing.
Airashii herself was dressed in the traditional green and brown of Serdio, distaining the red and blue of Tiberoa. She had always liked the old images she had seen of the heroic knight Lavitz Slambert and King Albert the First who was honored as the founder of the Empire. So, she had dressed in brown pants tucked into brown boots, a light brown shirt with a green vest and long flowing green cape. After she had become the Head of the First Knighthood she had ordered a custom breastplate forged for herself, an exact replica of the one worn by Lavitz, including the heart and lightening bolt that was the symbol of House Slambert. Since there had been no heirs to the Slambert House in over 1,000 years she claimed this symbol as her own. In retrospect she now wished that she hadn't, since the symbol was now tainted with her own "Bloody Knight" legacy. Her long brown hair was bound back in a simple ponytail to keep it out of her calm green eyes. It was odd that while it was Lavitz she idolized, it was Albert that she was often told that she resembled.
"What's wrong, Arrowhead?" Airashii demanded of the archer, who had yet to take a ready position.
"You are… Knight Shiden, right?" The archer asked in a voice that betrayed her youth.
"Former Knight Shiden, yes." Airashii relaxed her position, stretching with a feline insolence. Perhaps that was the archer's game, trying to catch her off guard. "You can save the hero worship until after I've won the contest."
The archer frowned and pulled an arrow from the quiver at her side and fitted it to her bowstring. "You're no hero, Shida."
Shaiton-Alpha must have moved of its own accord, because Airashii was too shocked to do anything as complicated as deflect an arrow. How in Mayfil did this child know her old nickname? "Shida" There was only one person who had ever called her that. With an almost inaudible growl of anger, Airashii returned to her ready position. Whoever this girl was, she had just made a mistake. Angering a self-admitted bloody murder was a dangerous thing.
There were two basic ways to defeat an archer. A headlong rush, trapping them against a wall somewhere with no room to maneuver and then they were as helpless as children. Still, that was a risky choice, one lucky arrow and it was all over. The second way is to take advantage of the fundamental weakness of using projectile weapons. One needed projectiles in order to attack. All she needed to do was wait until this archer used up all her arrows and then victory was hers. Airashii, however, had a different plan in mind.
Raidia fired off a second arrow, which Airashii easily side stepped and sliced in half with Shaiton-Omega.
"You're good." Raidia said as she fitted a third arrow to her string. "But you can't dance forever."
Airashii spun her swords and grinned. "I don't have too." In a move which surprised everyone, Airashii sheathed her katana and spread her arms wide. "Take your best shot, little girl. This is your big chance to be a hero."
Raidia seemed caught off guard at this. "But... you are unarmed…"
"Come on!" Airashii lowered her arms and stalked forward, grabbing the arrows out of Raidia's quiver and throwing on the ground behind her. "You've got one arrow left, one shot. Take it!"
"No! I won't-" Raidia lowered her bow, only to have Airashii tear it from her grasp and toss it away as well.
"How do you expect to win if you aren't willing to hurt an unarmed opponent? How naïve you are. Run home little girl, and have your mother sooth your pride. When you are old enough to handle that weapon of your properly return and I'll show you what battle truly is." Disgusted, Airashii left the arena, muttering under her breath.
Raidia and the announcer exchanged glances.
"She left the arena before the battle was over, you can claim victory if you want." The announcer said quietly.
"No…" Raidia shook her head. "I forfeit." Then began recovering her arrows and quickly inspected her bow for any damage before leaving the arena.
The announcer sighed. "And in yet another round of what is proving to be the most boring Hero Competition in centuries, Airashii Shiden proceeds to the next round."
===
Back inside the prep room, Airashii found herself face to face with a sneering Nueve Adar.
"You have absolutely no sense of honor, do you?"
Airashii returned Nueve's sneer with an oddly hollow look, not even trying to defend herself. "My honor died years ago in a prison along with an idealistic young knight and her royal charge. If it is my honor you seek, find an empty grave for a dead heir."
Nueve seemed taken aback by the bitterness in her tone. "You aren't the warrior I remember."
"No. I'm not." Airashii started to turn away when a hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"You can regain your honor. You can find another reason to live. But you have to want it." Dyson Sept's unchanging expression was still in place. There was no pity in his tone. "If you really wanted continue down the path to self destruction, that is your choice."
Airashii looked at the hand on her shoulder, the hollow expression still in place. "What do you want from me?"
"I want the fiery warrior who once was the mighty Head of the First Knighthood. I want the warrior who was one the most feared enemy in all Endiness. I want Knight Shiden to once more carry the weight of the Empire's security on her shoulders. I want you loyalty, I want your strength."
Airashii closed her eyes. "I have done far too much for the Emperor ever trust me again."
"You misunderstand." Sept said, removing his hand from her shoulder. "I don't want you to return to the knighthood."
Airashii opened her eyes and gave Sept a puzzled expression. "Then…?"
"You of all people are aware that our current Emperor has no heir."
Airashii nodded slowly.
"His wife is also dead and he is far too old to remarry and have more children." He glanced Nueve, to ensure that they were alone and when she nodded he continued. "In fact, the royal doctors have diagnosed him with a deadly malady that will take his life in under a year."
Airashii's eyes widened in shock but she remained silent.
"Civil war is coming. It is unavoidable. I, myself, have no aspirations for Emperor but I will not see the Empire fall under the horrible leadership of one who does have such aspirations. I have chosen my side already and soon the time is coming when you must choose yours. Join me!"
Airashii did not answer right away but both the advisor and his guard saw something in the knight's eyes they had not seen before. Hope, purpose.
"You have proven your loyalty to the Empire a hundred times over, Advisor Sept. You have helped guide its fate for decades; I believe you have the Empire's best interest at heart." For the first time in far too long, Airashii held her head high. "I shall join you."
"Excellent." Sept's expression did not changed but it was obvious he was pleased. "As a reward for your loyalty, I give you this." From the depth of his robes he produced a small green gem, which he offered to Airashii.
She regarded it suspiciously. "What is it?"
"A summoning stone. It will allow you to summon a vassal dragon for short periods of time. But use it only in times of greatest need." He cautioned. "It is a powerful artifact and not to be used lightly."
Airashii reached out with one hand t take the stone but when she touched it, it began to shine with a bright light and she jerked her hand away, a feeling of immense power lingering. "This is…the power of the Dragon?"
Sept and Nueve exchanged guarded glances and Sept nodded. "Yes, it is. Your own power resonates with the power of the dragon. You are very lucky indeed. It has recognized you as its new master. For you it shall fight with its greatest strength and obey your commands without hesitation."
A second time Airashii reached out to take it. Again it began glowing but she did not pull away this time. She took the gem from Sept, and gazed at it as it rested in her palm. She could feel the power of the dragon in her palm. It was restless, as if it had been sleeping far too long. It wanted to be released; it wanted to be free, to fly. She could feel her own desires harmonize with it and for one brief moment she felt that, at that moment, she too could fly. She closed her fist around the gem, dimming the light. "Does it have a name?"
"Perhaps once it did, but if so it has been long forgotten." Sept replied, though he seemed slightly puzzled as to why it should matter.
"Then I shall name it Vortex." Airashii replied, placing the stone in her item's pouch, whispering almost to herself. "Serve me well, Vortex, I have a feeling that soon you and I will both have a chance to stretch our wings."
Airashii didn't wait for her introduction as she strode out into the arena, drawing Shaiton-Alpha and Omega but not uniting the two halves. She had no need to use the full power of her weapon here; these "warriors" were nothing but self-made heroes in a time of peace. Airashii herself held no delusions of being a hero; she was nothing more than an obsolete government killing machine. The announcer scrambled to announce the uninvited knight first, and then moved on to her opponent.
"And to challenge the Empire's Deadliest Servant, all the way from Mille Seseau – Raaaaaaiiiiidiiiia Ceeeeleeeeste, Archer Extraordinaire!"
Archer. Airashii snorted in disgust as she turned to watch her enemy enter the arena. In her opinion, being an archer was about as deadly a skill as spitting. Still, a fight was a fight.
"Alright, Arrowhead." Airashii taunted as she spun both her katana before assuming a ready position. "Let's see how good you are with your slingshot."
The archer was a young woman with brown hair and blue eyes. She was dressed for Mille Seseau's cold weather, wearing white pants which were tucked into knee high white boots and a white coat which, in the southern heat she had unbutton to reveal a long sleeve white tunic and matching vest. Airashii really got the feeling this girl liked the color white. Maybe it was Mille Seseau thing.
Airashii herself was dressed in the traditional green and brown of Serdio, distaining the red and blue of Tiberoa. She had always liked the old images she had seen of the heroic knight Lavitz Slambert and King Albert the First who was honored as the founder of the Empire. So, she had dressed in brown pants tucked into brown boots, a light brown shirt with a green vest and long flowing green cape. After she had become the Head of the First Knighthood she had ordered a custom breastplate forged for herself, an exact replica of the one worn by Lavitz, including the heart and lightening bolt that was the symbol of House Slambert. Since there had been no heirs to the Slambert House in over 1,000 years she claimed this symbol as her own. In retrospect she now wished that she hadn't, since the symbol was now tainted with her own "Bloody Knight" legacy. Her long brown hair was bound back in a simple ponytail to keep it out of her calm green eyes. It was odd that while it was Lavitz she idolized, it was Albert that she was often told that she resembled.
"What's wrong, Arrowhead?" Airashii demanded of the archer, who had yet to take a ready position.
"You are… Knight Shiden, right?" The archer asked in a voice that betrayed her youth.
"Former Knight Shiden, yes." Airashii relaxed her position, stretching with a feline insolence. Perhaps that was the archer's game, trying to catch her off guard. "You can save the hero worship until after I've won the contest."
The archer frowned and pulled an arrow from the quiver at her side and fitted it to her bowstring. "You're no hero, Shida."
Shaiton-Alpha must have moved of its own accord, because Airashii was too shocked to do anything as complicated as deflect an arrow. How in Mayfil did this child know her old nickname? "Shida" There was only one person who had ever called her that. With an almost inaudible growl of anger, Airashii returned to her ready position. Whoever this girl was, she had just made a mistake. Angering a self-admitted bloody murder was a dangerous thing.
There were two basic ways to defeat an archer. A headlong rush, trapping them against a wall somewhere with no room to maneuver and then they were as helpless as children. Still, that was a risky choice, one lucky arrow and it was all over. The second way is to take advantage of the fundamental weakness of using projectile weapons. One needed projectiles in order to attack. All she needed to do was wait until this archer used up all her arrows and then victory was hers. Airashii, however, had a different plan in mind.
Raidia fired off a second arrow, which Airashii easily side stepped and sliced in half with Shaiton-Omega.
"You're good." Raidia said as she fitted a third arrow to her string. "But you can't dance forever."
Airashii spun her swords and grinned. "I don't have too." In a move which surprised everyone, Airashii sheathed her katana and spread her arms wide. "Take your best shot, little girl. This is your big chance to be a hero."
Raidia seemed caught off guard at this. "But... you are unarmed…"
"Come on!" Airashii lowered her arms and stalked forward, grabbing the arrows out of Raidia's quiver and throwing on the ground behind her. "You've got one arrow left, one shot. Take it!"
"No! I won't-" Raidia lowered her bow, only to have Airashii tear it from her grasp and toss it away as well.
"How do you expect to win if you aren't willing to hurt an unarmed opponent? How naïve you are. Run home little girl, and have your mother sooth your pride. When you are old enough to handle that weapon of your properly return and I'll show you what battle truly is." Disgusted, Airashii left the arena, muttering under her breath.
Raidia and the announcer exchanged glances.
"She left the arena before the battle was over, you can claim victory if you want." The announcer said quietly.
"No…" Raidia shook her head. "I forfeit." Then began recovering her arrows and quickly inspected her bow for any damage before leaving the arena.
The announcer sighed. "And in yet another round of what is proving to be the most boring Hero Competition in centuries, Airashii Shiden proceeds to the next round."
===
Back inside the prep room, Airashii found herself face to face with a sneering Nueve Adar.
"You have absolutely no sense of honor, do you?"
Airashii returned Nueve's sneer with an oddly hollow look, not even trying to defend herself. "My honor died years ago in a prison along with an idealistic young knight and her royal charge. If it is my honor you seek, find an empty grave for a dead heir."
Nueve seemed taken aback by the bitterness in her tone. "You aren't the warrior I remember."
"No. I'm not." Airashii started to turn away when a hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"You can regain your honor. You can find another reason to live. But you have to want it." Dyson Sept's unchanging expression was still in place. There was no pity in his tone. "If you really wanted continue down the path to self destruction, that is your choice."
Airashii looked at the hand on her shoulder, the hollow expression still in place. "What do you want from me?"
"I want the fiery warrior who once was the mighty Head of the First Knighthood. I want the warrior who was one the most feared enemy in all Endiness. I want Knight Shiden to once more carry the weight of the Empire's security on her shoulders. I want you loyalty, I want your strength."
Airashii closed her eyes. "I have done far too much for the Emperor ever trust me again."
"You misunderstand." Sept said, removing his hand from her shoulder. "I don't want you to return to the knighthood."
Airashii opened her eyes and gave Sept a puzzled expression. "Then…?"
"You of all people are aware that our current Emperor has no heir."
Airashii nodded slowly.
"His wife is also dead and he is far too old to remarry and have more children." He glanced Nueve, to ensure that they were alone and when she nodded he continued. "In fact, the royal doctors have diagnosed him with a deadly malady that will take his life in under a year."
Airashii's eyes widened in shock but she remained silent.
"Civil war is coming. It is unavoidable. I, myself, have no aspirations for Emperor but I will not see the Empire fall under the horrible leadership of one who does have such aspirations. I have chosen my side already and soon the time is coming when you must choose yours. Join me!"
Airashii did not answer right away but both the advisor and his guard saw something in the knight's eyes they had not seen before. Hope, purpose.
"You have proven your loyalty to the Empire a hundred times over, Advisor Sept. You have helped guide its fate for decades; I believe you have the Empire's best interest at heart." For the first time in far too long, Airashii held her head high. "I shall join you."
"Excellent." Sept's expression did not changed but it was obvious he was pleased. "As a reward for your loyalty, I give you this." From the depth of his robes he produced a small green gem, which he offered to Airashii.
She regarded it suspiciously. "What is it?"
"A summoning stone. It will allow you to summon a vassal dragon for short periods of time. But use it only in times of greatest need." He cautioned. "It is a powerful artifact and not to be used lightly."
Airashii reached out with one hand t take the stone but when she touched it, it began to shine with a bright light and she jerked her hand away, a feeling of immense power lingering. "This is…the power of the Dragon?"
Sept and Nueve exchanged guarded glances and Sept nodded. "Yes, it is. Your own power resonates with the power of the dragon. You are very lucky indeed. It has recognized you as its new master. For you it shall fight with its greatest strength and obey your commands without hesitation."
A second time Airashii reached out to take it. Again it began glowing but she did not pull away this time. She took the gem from Sept, and gazed at it as it rested in her palm. She could feel the power of the dragon in her palm. It was restless, as if it had been sleeping far too long. It wanted to be released; it wanted to be free, to fly. She could feel her own desires harmonize with it and for one brief moment she felt that, at that moment, she too could fly. She closed her fist around the gem, dimming the light. "Does it have a name?"
"Perhaps once it did, but if so it has been long forgotten." Sept replied, though he seemed slightly puzzled as to why it should matter.
"Then I shall name it Vortex." Airashii replied, placing the stone in her item's pouch, whispering almost to herself. "Serve me well, Vortex, I have a feeling that soon you and I will both have a chance to stretch our wings."