Disclaimer: Characters depicted in the story aren't mine. They belong to
Konami.
Fire and Water (2ndChapter)
"I see the way you look at him."
Was I that obvious? She thought and blushed. And if Percival noticed it then-
"No one else noticed it, I'm sure. Worry not." Chris realized that she voiced her concerns when Percival answered her. The handsome knight fell into silence as he pondered over Chris' revelation.
"I-I know he's just a boy but-"
"A boy?" Percival sounded surprised. "Sadie's Teeth, is that what you think of Hugo? If so, I cannot believe you've been having dreams about him."
"No, Percival." Chris answered after a long silence. She flushed. "He's no boy." She remembered all those times she watched Hugo fight off the monsters attacking them on their quests. The way his muscles flexed as he swung his blade several times to defeat the enemy. The way his long legs moved with incredible speed. And the way his fingers clasped her hand while bidding their farewells. How she wished she wasn't wearing her armor that time he wrapped his arms around her. She wanted to feel his warmth. She wanted to feel him.
"Shall we rest the horses for a while?" Percival interrupted her reverie. He dismounted from his steed and tied the reins in a nearby tree. "And then you can tell me more about these dreams of yours."
"Must I?" Chris sounded worried as she dismounted as well.
"You must." Percival smiled and winked. "I wouldn't pass up the chance to see the Silver Maiden softening up."
"I knew I shouldn't have told you this." Chris said irritated.
"Hey, now," Percival said in a cajoling voice, "I was only teasing." He stood beside her and smiled. He placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her face up. Her eyes met his dark ones. "Now, about these dreams. Do tell."
A sound of hoof beats nearing them interrupted their little talk. Percival released Chris' chin and smoothly stepped back from her. Both looked up when the subject of their conversation galloped toward them.
"Lady Chris, Sir Percival." Hugo called with a smile. He quickly dismounted from his steed. "Nice seeing both of you again. I was just taking a little break from the reconstruction of the village and decided to ride for a while." The light breeze on the plains ruffled his blond hair as he made his way toward them. His strides spoke of confidence and power, yet they were somehow predatory. She loved that catlike grace of his. And his eyes, yes, that's what attracted her the most.
"His eyes sparkle every time he smiles like that." Chris thought as Hugo exchanged pleasantries and tales with Percival. "Oh, Hugo, why does it have to be you? I know that you still hate me for what I did to your friend but." She suddenly noticed that both men were looking at her. She mentally shook herself and cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry. My mind was somewhere else." Her authoritative air returned. With a brisk and impersonal tone, she asked. "You were saying something, Hugo?"
"Er, no, I wasn't." Hugo answered, confusion apparent in his eyes.
"Hugo was just telling me how difficult it is to become a village chief." Percival smoothly cut in with a smile. "I was just saying that you share his thoughts."
"Oh." Chris flushed. "W-Why, yes, I do."
Hugo smiled again. "Despite my responsibilities, I was just hoping to catch the Silver Maiden alone." He nodded toward Chris.
"Oh? Why is that?" Percival asked with a knowing smile..
"For the duel and no other reason." Hugo answered with a blush. He got what Percival was implying. What? The Swordsman of Gale can read minds now?
Hugo cleared his throat and looked at Chris. What she saw isn't anger or bitterness. It was something new, something different. Something she has never seen before in his expressive eyes. Again, the familiar emotion lurched inside her. "I did plan on dueling for Lulu. But when I think longer and harder about it, the more unreasonable and childish it becomes." Hugo sighed and tore his gaze off Chris. "I made that vow in anger. That was a mistake. I hold no grudge against you any longer but for Lulu's memory and for my vow, I have to fight you."
"Hugo..." Chris really didn't have a choice but to face him. She understood how he felt. The need to fulfill his promise to his friend is so much like following orders from the Zexen Council. They are tied to them by honor and pride. They didn't have a choice but to comply. "We are so much alike, Hugo." Chris thought. "You and I."
"Please, Lady Chris, do the honorable thing and accept my challenge."
"All right, Hugo." Chris said after a long silence. "I accept. State the time and place of the duel. I will be there. Alone."
"But, milady-" Percival started to protest but Chris raised a hand to silence him.
"These are my orders, Percival." The Silver Maiden said, her face void of any emotion. "I expect you to follow them."
"As you wish." Percival reluctantly complied.
Fire and Water (2ndChapter)
"I see the way you look at him."
Was I that obvious? She thought and blushed. And if Percival noticed it then-
"No one else noticed it, I'm sure. Worry not." Chris realized that she voiced her concerns when Percival answered her. The handsome knight fell into silence as he pondered over Chris' revelation.
"I-I know he's just a boy but-"
"A boy?" Percival sounded surprised. "Sadie's Teeth, is that what you think of Hugo? If so, I cannot believe you've been having dreams about him."
"No, Percival." Chris answered after a long silence. She flushed. "He's no boy." She remembered all those times she watched Hugo fight off the monsters attacking them on their quests. The way his muscles flexed as he swung his blade several times to defeat the enemy. The way his long legs moved with incredible speed. And the way his fingers clasped her hand while bidding their farewells. How she wished she wasn't wearing her armor that time he wrapped his arms around her. She wanted to feel his warmth. She wanted to feel him.
"Shall we rest the horses for a while?" Percival interrupted her reverie. He dismounted from his steed and tied the reins in a nearby tree. "And then you can tell me more about these dreams of yours."
"Must I?" Chris sounded worried as she dismounted as well.
"You must." Percival smiled and winked. "I wouldn't pass up the chance to see the Silver Maiden softening up."
"I knew I shouldn't have told you this." Chris said irritated.
"Hey, now," Percival said in a cajoling voice, "I was only teasing." He stood beside her and smiled. He placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her face up. Her eyes met his dark ones. "Now, about these dreams. Do tell."
A sound of hoof beats nearing them interrupted their little talk. Percival released Chris' chin and smoothly stepped back from her. Both looked up when the subject of their conversation galloped toward them.
"Lady Chris, Sir Percival." Hugo called with a smile. He quickly dismounted from his steed. "Nice seeing both of you again. I was just taking a little break from the reconstruction of the village and decided to ride for a while." The light breeze on the plains ruffled his blond hair as he made his way toward them. His strides spoke of confidence and power, yet they were somehow predatory. She loved that catlike grace of his. And his eyes, yes, that's what attracted her the most.
"His eyes sparkle every time he smiles like that." Chris thought as Hugo exchanged pleasantries and tales with Percival. "Oh, Hugo, why does it have to be you? I know that you still hate me for what I did to your friend but." She suddenly noticed that both men were looking at her. She mentally shook herself and cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry. My mind was somewhere else." Her authoritative air returned. With a brisk and impersonal tone, she asked. "You were saying something, Hugo?"
"Er, no, I wasn't." Hugo answered, confusion apparent in his eyes.
"Hugo was just telling me how difficult it is to become a village chief." Percival smoothly cut in with a smile. "I was just saying that you share his thoughts."
"Oh." Chris flushed. "W-Why, yes, I do."
Hugo smiled again. "Despite my responsibilities, I was just hoping to catch the Silver Maiden alone." He nodded toward Chris.
"Oh? Why is that?" Percival asked with a knowing smile..
"For the duel and no other reason." Hugo answered with a blush. He got what Percival was implying. What? The Swordsman of Gale can read minds now?
Hugo cleared his throat and looked at Chris. What she saw isn't anger or bitterness. It was something new, something different. Something she has never seen before in his expressive eyes. Again, the familiar emotion lurched inside her. "I did plan on dueling for Lulu. But when I think longer and harder about it, the more unreasonable and childish it becomes." Hugo sighed and tore his gaze off Chris. "I made that vow in anger. That was a mistake. I hold no grudge against you any longer but for Lulu's memory and for my vow, I have to fight you."
"Hugo..." Chris really didn't have a choice but to face him. She understood how he felt. The need to fulfill his promise to his friend is so much like following orders from the Zexen Council. They are tied to them by honor and pride. They didn't have a choice but to comply. "We are so much alike, Hugo." Chris thought. "You and I."
"Please, Lady Chris, do the honorable thing and accept my challenge."
"All right, Hugo." Chris said after a long silence. "I accept. State the time and place of the duel. I will be there. Alone."
"But, milady-" Percival started to protest but Chris raised a hand to silence him.
"These are my orders, Percival." The Silver Maiden said, her face void of any emotion. "I expect you to follow them."
"As you wish." Percival reluctantly complied.