So, umm…Iceborne apparently revealed the real names of the Ace Cadet and Ace Commander…

Aiden and Julius are Ace Cadet and the Ace Commander respectively…Welp looks like I have to edit all the other chapters on my computer with their new proper names. Thanks, Capcom…

This chapter will focus on advancing the relationships of the characters as we draw closer to the final confrontation.

…

Chapter 19

Edmond was the first to wake up. He looked out the window and noticed that the sky had slightly darkened. He let out a brief yawn and raised his arms for a stretch, only to notice a weight on his right arm. He looked to his right and tensed up momentarily, taking in the sight of Catherine snuggled against him.

How in the world did she…? A memory of what happened before came into his mind. He sighed in relief, remembering that they merely slept next to each other and didn't do anything other than that. Slowly, he attempted to free his arm from her. Unfortunately for him, his movements caused the woman to stir awake. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up, stretching.

"Hey," Edmond said, sitting by the edge of the bed.

"Hey to you," Catherine replied, getting off the bed. She glanced upwards at the clock above her bed, noticing that it was nearly time for the meeting with the Guild higher ups. "We should prepare."

After some time, the two finished donning their armors. They stood by the foyer of the house while making their last bits of preparation. Edmond glanced at his lover, thinking about what to say.

"Hey Cat? Are you…still mad at me?"

The aforementioned woman was busy cleaning her sword. "Somewhat," she answered, sheathing her sword. "You were being incredibly pathetic. I couldn't stand to see you act that way. I was this close to punching you."

"…Apologies."

She sighed. "It's fine now. Just don't act that way again. I hate to see someone like you turn this way."

Edmond stood there; eyes closed in thought. After a few moments of contemplation, Edmond straightened his back and surged forward. Screw it.

Catherine yelped when she felt Edmond push her towards the wall. "What are you-"

He seized her by the shoulders and firmly pressed his lips to hers, silencing the woman. She promptly froze in response as Edmond further deepened the kiss, inserting his tongue into the mix. E-Edmond… Unable to resist any longer, she shut her eyes and kissed back just as hard, raising her hands and resting them on his nape. Edmond parted moments later, breathing heavily and pressing his forehead against hers.

"The hell was…that for?" Catherine asked quietly, attempting to calm her rapidly beating heart.

Edmond gave her a cheeky smile. "I just felt like it."

She glared at him, but the redness on her cheeks never left. "But don't think that kiss makes you completely off the hook. I'm still- Mmmph!" He interrupted her with his lips again. The former Guild Knight took great pride in himself in being able to reduce the tough Commander to a whimpering woman. She pushed him off the moment she felt him softly bite her lower lip.

"D-Dammit Ed, what has gotten into you?"

"What? Am I not allowed to kiss my lover? I thought you'd appreciate it if I were more affectionate no?" He moved his head down and began to trail butterfly kisses up her neck and cheek before landing on her lips again. The woman squirmed, finding herself trapped between his arms as he pressed her against the wall.

"T-That's…" she gasped. Oh, gods Edmond…I…I. Despite her protests, Catherine found herself enjoying this side of him and she very much appreciated his forwardness. A part of her desired to pounce on him right now but the other part of her, her sense of duty knew better. Letting out a sigh into his mouth, she cupped his face and forced them apart. She gave him a stern look before laughing softly.

"Alright, alright. I forgive you. Now get off. We don't want to be late."

Satisfied, Edmond released her and opened the door before her. "After you."

Catherine rolled her eyes at his actions, smiling brightly, and stepped out the door, with Edmond following shortly after.

Kokoto…

Where is he?

The fully armored Eris looked around the area, frowning when Siegfried is nowhere to be seen. Just minutes ago, he had told her that he would be heading somewhere but he left before she could ask him where.

How could someone as tall as him just disappear like that? They couldn't afford to be late to Dundorma. She began to ask the passing villagers if they've seen him. Unfortunately, they would answer the same thing. Frustrated, the huntress cursed under her breath when spotted Doris by the reception desk. Sensing hope, she approached her. "Hey, have you seen that idiot anywhere?"
Doris tilted her head in confusion. "That idiot? Oh, are you referring to your husband?"

The huntress slammed a fist onto her table… "He's not my-"

Doris raised her arms in defeat, laughing. "Kidding, kidding! It's just the two of you act so much like a newly married couple that frankly, it's rather adorable."

Eris groaned. "Look, just tell me where he is…"

"Hehe, but to answer your question. No. I have not seen him. Apologies…"

Eris cursed under her breath. "Damn it." She turned around and balled her fists. I swear if he actually decided to do things on his own again, I'll bloody-

"I know where he is."

To Eris's surprise, it was Becky who approached her this time. Eris narrowed her eyes at the woman, remembering how dangerous she really was. "You…"
The red-haired woman shook her head. "This is not a trick. I do know where he is."

Eris glanced at Doris, who simply gave her that same fake smile and she sighed. "Fine. Lead the way."

Some minutes later…

Eris did not expect to be led to a seemingly enclosed part of the village that she had no idea existed.

"This is the original village," Becky explained as they arrived in front of a large metallic gate. "The one you're staying in is the one we rebuilt after…what happened many years ago."

"What happened?" Eris asked. Becky tensed up at her words. She knew it must have been a sensitive subject, yet she had to know.

Becky trembled, clenching her fists in anger. "It was them. Those people you've encountered. They attacked the village, killing, kidnapping…even rape. Doris, the Chief, myself, and a few others just barely managed to escape as we watched our only home burn down to the ground." The woman grabbed Eris by the collar. "And you know what's the worst thing about it? He was with them that night. He attacked us Eris."

Eris did not know what to say, opting to express her sympathy with a solemn look.

Becky released her. "Now you know why I can't ever forgive him. Neither can the Chief and Doris. We three are the only original villagers who stayed. The rest had fled, and it is our duty to protect our new home."

"…I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it was never your fault." Becky unlocked the gate and slowly pushed it open. "Be careful. Ever since we abandoned this place, monsters have recently begun to infest it. Keep your weapon with you at all times."

Eris nodded and stepped through the gate as Becky hurriedly locked it once more. "He should be there somewhere, but the most possible place would be his old home. It's a small cottage in a large field. You'll know it by the workshop situated right next to it. I'll be waiting here."

Quietly, Eris made her way through the area that was once Kokoto Village. She noted the numerous empty structures and buildings littered across the area, buried under greenery. Despite that, it was surprisingly empty and there didn't appear to be any monsters around.

Just then, Eris heard it. A low-pitched series of snorts. She reached behind her and held the pommel of her katana in wait. She glanced around the area, trying to figure out the source of the noise…until she saw it. Appearing from behind a building was a medium-sized four-legged creature with a snout and tusks.

A Bullfango.

Eris rolled her eyes in annoyance. Ughh, these annoying bastards… To her chagrin, the creature spotted her out of the corner of its eye. It let out a low-pitched growl and dragged its hooves on the ground in preparation for a charge. Despite her speed, she could not outrun a Bullfango so the huntress simply opted to wait for the beast to come to her.

Sure enough, it charged at her. Eris remained stationary, hand on her katana as the boar-like creature got closer and closer…until it was at perfect striking distance. She swiftly swerved to the side, unsheathed, and slashed her blade across the creature's side, causing it to tumble onto the ground mid-charge. A splash of blood and a single slash was all it took. The creature squealed loudly, twitching before going silent.

Eris huffed and sheathed her blade. With that out of the way now I can- There was a sudden rumble. The ground shook slightly, and Eris had no idea what's happening. The shaking got louder and louder until she heard a loud familiar squeal.

Turning around, the huntress's eyes widened for a fraction of a second as she jumped out of the way, the creature's tusk narrowly missing her and grazing her torso slightly. With barely any time to recover, the beast turned around and charged at her again, forcing the huntress to perform a dive of safety. Eris cursed loudly, unsheathing her weapon just as it turned around for the third time. With a quick hop to the side, she slashed at its body as its charge missed her by mere inches. The beast squealed and ran off into the distance, allowing the huntress to catch her breath as it attempted to recover.

"Damn it…First Bullfango and now a Bulldrome? What the heck is a Bulldrome doing here?!" She snapped her visor over her face and poised herself for combat once more.

The Bulldrome, having recovered from Eris's attack growled and prepared to charge again.

"Curses!" Fighting a Bulldrome in the open was definitely not ideal. Eris looked around frantically for any sort of platform. Sure enough, the only sources of height were the ruined houses. Without warning, the Bulldrome charged, torpedoing towards the huntress at lightning-fast speeds. Eris sheathed her weapon and quickly leaped onto the roof.

"Aaargh!" she cried out as she pulled herself upwards and onto the roof…just as the Bulldrome crashed into the spot she had just stood before. The structure shook from the impact of the crash, but it remained standing as the Bulldrome reeled back, dazed from the impact of the collision. Eris seized the opportunity, leaping off the roof and bringing her blade down onto the incapacitated Bulldrome's back.

SPLITCH!

The beast let out a pained yelp as Eris's katana dug into its spine. It began to thrash around, charging recklessly everywhere as the huntress held on. She pushed her blade deeper into the creature, piercing through flesh and muscle alike. However, the mortally injured creature proved to be too unpredictable as it suddenly picked up speed and began to charge...directly towards one of the houses.

"Shit!" The huntress leaped off the beast just in time as it violently smashed into the house, completely shattering the structure. In the wake of it all, there was only silence. Cautiously she made her way to the crash site. The scent of blood was strong. When she got closer, she saw the familiar shape of the Bulldrome, lying on its side and whimpering.

"What a waste of time…" she muttered coldly as she stepped towards the side of the dying beast. She noted how its tusks were shattered and its face riddled with bits of wood stuck to the flesh. Placing her foot on its back, she mercilessly pulled her katana out of its back, eliciting a pained cry from the beast. It tried to move, but it was unable to, its body paralyzed from head to toe from its broken spine.

Not keen on attracting any more unwanted attention, Eris lifted her katana above her head and swiftly brought it down onto the dying creature, slicing clean through its head and promptly ending its suffering. The huntress wiped the blood off her blade and with a satisfied huff, Eris continued on her way.

…

She found the house near the edge of the village. Just as Becky had told her, it was a small cottage with a workshop like structure situated next to it. A field long-abandoned could be seen just beside the two structures. But what really reaffirmed her belief that this was the right place, were the severed bodies of Velociprey scattered around the area.

Guess I didn't need that description after all…

She walked towards the front and slowly entered through the open space that was once the door. Dragging her gloved hands across the worn-down walls, she gazed at the empty home before her. She then spotted something in the middle of the home. A bunch of flowers neatly placed on the floor. Flowers?

"Eris?"

Startled, the huntress abruptly turned around, hand around her the handle of her katana as she looked at the person before her. She frowned, recognizing that armor anywhere. "Oh, it's just you. What are you doing here?"

Siegfried moved towards her. "How did you find this place?" he asked her, ignoring her question.

"Becky told me. And the very obvious number of Velociprey corpses scattered outside was just the icing on the cake."

His mouth formed an 'o' under his helmet. "Is that so…Did she tell you about what happened?"

Eris backed away slightly, and that was all it took for Siegfried to know her answer. He let out a bitter laugh. "Ah, so she did tell you. Of course, she fucking did. That woman hates me after all." Shrugging the hunter let out a pained laugh.

"Well, aren't you going to say something? Berate me? Chastise me for my sinful actions? Hell, perhaps you're gonna kill me?"

"…No."

"Piss weak." He sighed and stood in the middle of the room. "I killed them, you know…my parents. I was there when it happened. I still remember it very vividly…their anguished screams of pain, laced with betrayal as they watched their own son standing with their attackers…" Siegfried took off his helmet and dropped it onto the floor in front of Eris. "It was just one year. Took one damn year and I became a monster. Sullied my hands with the blood of innocents till they're no longer recognizable. I'm a goddamn disappointment – a failure of a human being… Look if you wanna call off this whole partnership then by all means-"

He flinched when he felt a hand against his back. "I told you, didn't I? Whatever problem you have, talk to me. We can try to solve it together, alright?"

Siegfried clicked his tongue. "How can you solve something that's already happened? Bloody hell Eris I'm a fucking murderer! Nothing in this world can bring back those who I've killed…" His normally stoic demeanor cracked. "I'm just so…tired. I can't do this anymore. I failed my friends; I failed my village and most of all I failed my parents. What sort of happiness do I possibly deserve after all I've done? I deserve to be alone…"

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"You do not."

"I do."

"Stop blaming yourself for god's sake! The past is the past. What matters now is the present and the future."

"What does it matter when I have no future to look forward to?!"

Eris couldn't stand seeing him like this.

"Hey, hey! Look at me Siegfried Montague," Eris firmly told him, cupping his face and forcing him to look at her. Siegfried noted that it was the first time she had referred to him by his full name. "You are not alone. Remember that. Know why? Cause I will be here for you, every step of the way. I am your partner and as partners, we must stick together at all times. Now I want you to repeat after me. I am not alone."

"I…am not…alone."

"Again."

He tried to look away, but Eris kept a firm grip on his face, forcing him again to look at her. He relented, staring into her ocean blue eyes which had captivated him the first time they met. "I…am not alone."

"Again."

"…I am not alone."

"One more time."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I am not alone." A pregnant silence enveloped them both as Siegfried's breathing began to calm and his mind free of negative thoughts. Somehow, her words and voice soothed his soul, if only for this moment. He opened his eyes, seeing Eris still standing in front of him, a tender smile on her face. By the gods she's beautiful…

"Now, does that feel better?"

I could get used to this. "Maybe…" His hand reached upwards to grasp her hand on his cheek. Though they wore gloves, the feel of their hands against each other was enough to send a brief shiver up their spines. Yet, it wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling.

Somewhere during this exchange, Siegfried's other hand had somehow ended up on her waist. The hunter feared that she would be repulsed by his touch, but she made no move to resist. He audibly gulped when he saw Eris briefly lick her own lips. And somewhere during this exchange, their faces began to impulsively lean towards each other. Whether it was the fact that they had stared into each other's eyes for too long or some inner instinct, they couldn't help it.

Both closed their eyes and-

"Ow!" Siegfried grunted, his forehead bumping against the top of Eris's helmet, her mouth stopping a few centimeters away from his. With the moment completely ruined, the two hunters then only realized the rather…intimate position they were in. They abruptly jerked away from each other, faces aflame.

Flustered but still the first to regain her composure, Eris huffed and leaned down to pick up Siegfried's helmet. She handed him his helmet; her face turned to the other side. "A-Anyway, we can't be late to Dundorma, otherwise Catherine will have your head." Without another word, the huntress scurried off.

"They'll have my head no matter what I do anyway…" Siegfried grumbled quietly, placing the helmet over his head. He took one last look behind him before hurriedly running outside.

Forgive me…

Dundorma…

Catherine was not pleased. "You're late, both of you are."

The two offenders scratched the back of their necks sheepishly. "Oops," Romero said, shrugging nonchalantly. Rowan simply sighed.

The woman dragged her palm down her face, groaning. "Well, whatever. The important thing is that we are all here now." She turned towards Siegfried, frowning. "And as for you."

Siegfried rolled his eyes. Oh, bother… "Yeah yeah, I'll behave myself…Happy? Sheesh."

Catherine leered at him before directing her gaze at Eris. "Make sure to keep your…boy toy in check alright?"

Eris gasped in a display of offense. "B-Boy toy?! The nerve!" Siegfried had to hold her back from lashing out at the older woman.

"Let's go." Ignoring Eris's protests, the hunters made their way up the flight of stairs leading to the main Dundorma Hall.

…

"Bring him forward."

"Wait what?"

Suddenly, the armed Elite Guards that had been standing nearby grabbed Siegfried by his arms in front of his wide-eyed allies. Naturally, the hunter resisted. "Hey, why are you- Oof!"

"Siegfried!" Amber cried out as she attempted to help her former comrade, but found her path blocked by the Guild guards.

The aforementioned hunter dropped to his knees, gagging from the hard punch delivered to his stomach – directly on his freshly healed wound. They then dragged him towards the large Wyverian man and pushed him onto the ground in front of His Immenseness.

As Siegfried took a moment to recover, he looked around and found a number of the Elite Guild Guards surrounding him in a circle with their hands on their rapiers. I should have expected this…

"What is the meaning of this?!" Eris demanded, reaching for her katana. She stopped short upon feeling the edge of a blade centimeters away from her throat. "Tch."

"Do not interrupt Ms. Havencroft," Catherine warned the huntress. "The Guild will handle this."

"They'll kill him!" Eris whispered furiously.

Catherine ignored her as they watched the scene unfold before them.

"Siegfried Montague. I assume you know why you're here?" said His Immenseness.

The hunter bowed his head down. "I'm aware…of the crimes I've committed in the past."

"Then you know how important it is for you to cooperate."

"I do, and I'm…willing to accept any punishment bestowed onto me. Be it prison or death, I will accept it with all my honor as both a man and as a hunter."

"Very well then." His Immenseness tapped the handle of his sword against the ground and as he did that, the guards from before walked forward and escorted the hunter away.

"Where are they taking him?" Rowan asked Catherine.

"Interrogation. We'll need all the information we can get," the woman answered the hunter, her expression remaining neutral and indecipherable.

Edmond flinched in reaction to her words, which thankfully went unnoticed by the rest of the hunters. Discretely, he spared a concerned glance to the hunter as he watched him disappear behind the doors leading to the dungeon. Oh god… The former Guild Knight knew what lay in store for the hunter. He himself had been a witness to the way the Guild interrogated their criminals and the man shuddered slightly at the thought of what they may do. A brief memory of the time he watched those guards torture that spy whose only sin was to relay the message sent by his leader flashed into his mind. Unable to handle it, it had been him who had secretly snuffed out the spy's life as he strangled the dying man against the cell bars.

"Hey Cat? I don't you should-"

"Quiet," she commanded, quickly silencing Edmond. Not wanting to incite Catherine's anger, the former Guild Knight promptly shut his mouth.

Moments later one of the guards approached the group. "The rest of you, follow us."

…

The results of the interrogation and the discussion between the Guild council members were unanimous. After much debate, they had all agreed that Siegfried Montague is to be imprisoned for his past crimes and kept confined until further notice. Due to his heroic efforts in the massacre as stated by his allies as well his cooperation in providing information about the enemy, his license won't be revoked, and visitations would be allowed.

The Guild had also taken measures to inform the families of the dead nobles, making extra sure that they wouldn't disclose this information to anyone else for fear of causing mass panic amongst the people. How they did this was anyone's guess.

However, Siegfried wasn't the only subject of debate…

Dressed in nothing but a plain brown shirt and pants, Siegfried closed his eyes in contemplation as he sat on the edge of his prison bed. The cell was empty, save for the bed, a mirror and a small dining table made for one. Red, dirty bricks lined the cell walls alongside the single candle pathetically illuminating the already small space that is his prison cell. The quiet rattling sounds of the special chains attached to his wrists and legs filled the room. Siegfried knew not to struggle, for these chains were built specifically for hunters and would tighten the more he struggled.

Letting out a sigh, he was just about to lay down and sleep when he heard knocking on his cell door. Getting up from his bed, he walked towards the door and looked through the hole.

"Yes, what do you- Oh, it's you guys." Standing outside his cell, a group of familiar faces greeted him.

"How are you?" Rowan asked him, much to his confusion. Didn't he hate me?

"I am fine, thanks for asking…That aside, why are you all here?"

"We came to see you obviously," Jason answered. "I mean, I heard they beat you up pretty badly during the interrogation…"

"Which is completely unjustified and cruel!" Amber exclaimed, gritting her teeth. "Even though you're a criminal, I don't believe someone like you deserves this much."

Siegfried's shoulder's drooped. "So, I'm still a criminal to you guys huh…"

"You are without a doubt," Rowan said, crossing his arms. But then he adopted a soft expression. "Still, I appreciate it you know, for attempting to help us even when we turned our backs against you. That, I cannot overlook." Rowan nudged his brother, who grumbled and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah, I-I…heard that you risked your life to try to free me and the other hostages. I still can't really trust you, but you're definitely not a monster…"

Somewhat grateful, Siegfried smiled half-heartedly. "Thanks, I guess." He turned to look at the final person standing there. "I suppose you have something to say too, Eris?"

She shook her head. "I do. But I believe they would like to have a word with you first," Eris said, pointing back with her thumb at Amber and Jason.

After Eris and the others left, Siegfried was left with his former comrades. An awkward atmosphere enveloped them, as neither side said a word. They fidgeted around briefly before Amber sighed and took the initiative. "So…how have you been?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm locked in here alone." He stopped upon seeing Amber's glare. Clearly, she did not appreciate his sarcasm. He coughed. "That aside, I've been doing well on my own thank you very much. How about you two?"

"We're doing fine as well. Jason and I managed to raise our ranks, from G1 to G2 a few weeks ago."

Jason shuddered. "Don't remind us. The Barroth we were told to hunt to raise our ranks nearly killed us! It was incredibly aggressive, even by Barroth standards. Must have been pissed off by something…"

Siegfried openly laughed. "You guys nearly lost to a Barroth?! What's next? A Kut-Ku?"

Jason scowled. "You shut it!"

Siegfried chuckled before growing quiet. Softly, he spoke. "…How's our old teacher doing?"

"He's dead. Passed away in his sleep about a month ago," Amber answered bluntly, not missing a beat.

Siegfried could only blink twice. "Oh." A pang of regret formed within the hunter's art. No tears flowed, and he merely adopted a stony expression. "I see."

"You also owe us an explanation," Jason added, glancing at his sister for confirmation "One that is long overdue."

Siegfried sighed. "I suppose I can't run away forever huh?"

And so, the hunter had told them everything. He told them how he used to be a member of the Revenants and how many people he killed during his one-year membership. He told them how much he regretted his past actions. He told them about meeting their teacher, who gave him the chance he never gotten and enrolled him in the Academy, where he hoped to become a hunter so he could save lives. It was also where he met Jason, who would become his best friend. Amber enrolled a year later, and an immediate attraction formed between the two.

"I cared for you Amber. I really did. I would be lying if those four years together weren't some of the best years of my life."

"Then why did you leave?!"

"Because I didn't want any of you to get hurt."

He explained to them how he discovered that the Revenants haven't been entirely wiped out by the Guild.

"Do you remember when the three of us got attacked by those men in cloaks? They knew me. They remembered my name. And they threatened us. At that point, I knew that staying together would only get you two hurt or worse, get others hurt. Who knows how many of those guys are still out there? I couldn't let that happen."
Jason banged a fist to the wooden door. "Then why did you not call for help? Why fight this battle alone when you have us?"

Siegfried grabbed the bars of his cell door. "No! I know what these people are like. You don't know them as well as I do. This was my fight, my mistake, my sins! I do not want others to get involved!"

"But Siegfried-"

"Look, I'm sorry that I disappeared after our graduation even after we promised to stick together. I can understand if you hate me after this. Believe me, I deserve it. But after this, I beg of you, do not pursue those people. For now, let the Guild handle it."

Jason's body trembled, his hands balling into fists. "…You bastard. Do you think you can just apologize like that after what you did? After what you did to Amber?!"

"Brother-"

"Amber is the only family I have left, and it hurts to see her in such a state after you left. I can't believe you would toy with a maiden's heart like that!"

"Brother, that's enough! I'm already over it! You see-"

"No! I can see it in your eyes sister. You still love him, don't you? But he won't accept you, because he already has someone else." The blonde-haired man turned around and stomped away. "I'm done here."

Amber glanced back briefly at Siegfried, smiling sadly before quickly catching up to her brother as they disappeared around the corner.

A few minutes later, Siegfried once again heard the knocks on his door. Walking towards the door, he spots an all too familiar figure standing outside with her hands on her hips.

"Took you long enough," Siegfried remarked.

Eris shrugged. "Well, I did have to wait for those two to leave."

"Figures…"

Eris leaned against the wall and crossed her arms under her chest. "You know, I never took you as the protective type."

Well fuck. She did hear everything. "What can I say? I'm a man of surprises."

The huntress rolled her eyes. "Surprising indeed. That aside, it would seem that you have forgotten what I said to you back at your old home."

Siegfried grumbled quietly. "Leave me alone…"
"No. It doesn't sit right with me to see a man of your caliber wallowing in your own self-pity like this. It's embarrassing, to be honest."

"Oh yeah? And what are you going to do about it?" Siegfried challenged her, tightening his grip on the prison bars. He waited for the inevitable retort…but it never came.

Eris shook her head as if disappointed. "I'm not going to waste my time getting into some needless argument with you. I just want to talk to you."

Siegfried scoffed. "What is there to talk about?"

"Remember our agreement back then on not keeping secrets?"

"What's the purpose of this?"

"If we're going to be partners, then we should start by getting to know each other. Properly. I already know what kind of person you are Siegfried."

"Really? Then tell me. Be honest."

The huntress raised a finger in thought. "Well for starters, you are incredibly stubborn, rude, and uncouth. Virtually anything to come out of that mouth of yours is an insult, sarcasm, or a mix of both. Sometimes, I wonder if you're just a big masochist. Also, your attempts at pushing people away due to your past only come out as forced. I suggest you ask the nobles for advice on keeping up a façade. You frequently try to handle things on your own and refuse help from others. Finally, you talk big frequently, but I know you don't mean many of the things you say."

With every accurate jab being thrown at him, the hunter groaned against the bars. "Oh gee, thanks…" Suddenly, he felt a pair of hands against his cheeks, lifting his face up to meet her eyes. She gave him that same tender look back in his old home.

"Aside from that, I know that despite your rude and blunt attitude, you're not a bad person. You push people away because you don't want them to get hurt, cementing yourself as a selfless person. Though you don't show it, you prefer to show that you care through your actions, which I think is very sweet."

Siegfried nearly sputtered out in embarrassment, face turning as red as his hair. Eris simply laughed. "I-I…I'm not…" He hated how she was the only one capable of making him act this way.

"It's great knowing that only I am capable of reducing the supposedly great Fire King into a flustered mess."

"Shaddup…" Siegfried muttered, averting his gaze away. "Well, then how about you? What's your story?"

The huntress froze in her spot. She let go of his face and took a stepped back. "I have no choice then." She walked over to her spot by the wall.

"…You don't have to force yourself to tell me Eris. If it's too uncomfortable for you-"

"No, if I'm going to earn your trust even further, I have to do this." She closed her eyes, biting her lip before speaking. Here goes nothing. "Do you recall when I briefly mentioned my father back at the ball?"

"Yeah. Did…something happen to him?"

"Yes." Siegfried looked at her in a mixture of confusion and concern. "My father was a noble while my mother was a huntress. I admired my mother and so I followed in her footsteps to become a hunter. She was my hero." The huntress trembled as she recalled the painful memory. Siegfried quietly listened as Eris told him her story, telling him how she had witnessed her mother's brutal demise in the hands of a rampaging Gore Magala, how she had been too scared to make a move, and how her father was devastated over his wife's death, resulting in an accident that nearly cost him his life. She then told him how in the aftermath of the event, she devoted the rest of her life to training, vowing to grow stronger so nobody else will get hurt, even if it meant neglecting the help of others.

"It must have been difficult…carrying that grief around with you for the longest time," Siegfried said, leaning against the door.

"Not as much as you are shouldering your guilt ever since you were young. But yes, it was difficult. I blamed myself constantly, blaming on how weak and cowardly I was back then. I often had nightmares too, and I would wake up sweating and red."

Siegfried knew all too well what Eris had been experiencing. "Does it still happen frequently?"

She shook her head. "Thankfully, it hasn't happened for quite some time now."

The hunter smiled. "That's a relief…"

Eris reciprocated the smile in earnest. "Anyway, thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. Honestly? It feels great to get it off my chest." You're the only one I'm comfortable sharing this with. Not like I'll outright tell him that. "I can't stay here for long. I do hope the Guild makes their decision soon because I'd hate to reap all the glory for myself." Just as Eris turned to leave-

"Don't leave yet."

She looked back at him. "Hm?"

"I just…I uhh…Eris I-" No more hesitation. No more running away. Only honesty. He took a deep breath and spoke from the bottom of his heart. "-I want to thank you, for sticking with me even knowing what I did. Words cannot express how grateful I am to you for not giving up on me like everyone else did…for your willingness to help a sinful person such as I. That's why, once I get out of here, I want to repay your kindness however way I can."

Eris felt her heart thumping loudly. She gripped her chest and turned away from him. She spoke softly, "…I just want you to promise me one thing. Just…don't do things on your again alright? If we're going to be partners, then we have to stick together." And I can't lose you too either.

Siegfried chuckled. "I'll try." For you Eris, I'll do whatever it takes.

Back in the hall…

Catherine was fuming. She couldn't believe it.

Those Guild bastards!

She angrily made her way towards the one place she knew he would be at. Sure enough, the moment she opened the door, he was standing there, freshly dressed in a new Guild Knight outfit.

Edmond jumped, startled by her sudden entrance to his former office. "Catherine?!"

"We need to talk." Before Edmond could even answer, she already grabbed his wrist and dragged him away. The man was powerless to resist Catherine's iron grip.

Paying no heed to the curious onlookers, Catherine continued to drag her lover past the confused staff members and down the stairs leading to the town market.

"I can't believe them!"

"Cat?"

"Why won't they let me join you? I'm capable of fighting. I'm no hunter, but that doesn't mean I'm not strong!"

"Well yes, but you're not a Guild official. You're the Border Watch Commander, whose only job is to protect this city from outside threats."

They stopped on the landing, midway between the base of the stairs and the top. "But don't they see how dangerous this mission is?! A monster, capable of piloting a massive robotic mechanism with the power to destroy fortresses. Surely sending the Ace Hunters and a handful of Knights to dispatch the threat is not enough?"

The former Guild Knight rested a hand on her shoulder. "You know they can't risk leaving the city unguarded. You're the next person in authority after the Guild Knights here."

"I-I know that! But it's you I'm talking about!" Her mind flashed towards the most recent memory.

"So, you have finally revealed yourself…Edmond Curtis."

Bowing before the large Wyverian, Edmond spoke in a solemn voice. "Yes, it is me."

"Hmmm, do you realize what sort of punishment would befall onto you in the wake of this revelation?"

"I…I assume either imprisonment or execution Your Immenseness…And if that's the case, I will gladly accept it with honor." Behind him, Catherine struggled to keep a straight face. She wanted to protest but knew that it was forbidden to interrupt His Immenseness during discussions like this.

"Yes. Immediate imprisonment would have been given to you for all the offenses you've committed as a Guild Knight. If I can recall…unsolicited public displays of violence, entering and engaging in activities within a brothel, accessing the Guild archives without permission, and worst of all, evading capture for the longest time. You have disappointed me, Guild Knight."

"I…I understand. Please, if there is anything, I can do to redeem myself then I shall take it. If not, I shall accept my imminent punishment without hesitation."

His Immenseness stroked his beard in thought. His eyes then lit up for a second. "…Actually, there might be a way. Normally, I wouldn't accept things like this, but as of right now this situation is of the utmost urgency." The Wyverian tapped his sword onto the ground and a Guild official moved next to him and unfolded a scroll.

"Attention all Guild members! This is the General of the South Minegarde Fortress! We are under attack by a monster piloting a draconic machine! I repeat, a monster piloting a draconic machine! We have lost nearly all our men and our fortress is crumbling as I-. Requesting immediate assistance and termination of this creature! Evacuate all nearby towns and-"

"The letter ends there, presumably because the writer was in a hurry. But based on what the general has told us, there is a new undiscovered threat out there, a monster who can control a machine. If we let this thing loose, towns will perish, and thousands of lives would be lost. We cannot let this threat to humanity live! That is why Sir Edmond Curtis, in order to redeem yourself I want you to assist the Knights in dispatching this threat. Is that clear?"

Edmond took a moment to process his answer before he nodded. "Yes. I accept."

"Excellent. We leave by tomorrow. Get some rest, restore your energy, and prepare yourself for the upcoming battle. You are all dismissed."

Catherine stepped forward. "Your Immenseness, if I may-"

He raised his hand. "Stop. I know what you're going to ask Commander, and my answer is no. I will not be allowing you and your troops to assist the Knights. Your job is to protect the city and that's it."

"But-"

"Dismissed!"

Catherine could not shake away these feelings within her. She knew that the moment Edmond accepted this mission, there was a high chance he wouldn't come back alive. The mere idea of it sent unbridled fear into her heart. She couldn't bear to lose him, not after waiting for so long.

Just then, a thought came to her head. If Edmond was not going to make it back alive, then she needed something to remember him by. Or rather…someone.

Confidently and with purpose, Catherine grabbed Edmond's hand.

"Catherine?"

"…If you're going to die, then you leave me no choice." Taking a deep breath, she looked him straight in the eye despite her reddening face. Edmond stared at her in confusion, wondering what was on her mind. Is she alright? Why is her face red? Does she have a fever or-

"I want you to impregnate me."

A/N: Edmond is a lucky bastard

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