Rhapsody
Dawn gilded the columns chipped by time, scattered throughout the Sanctuary. It was still early; the pleasant chill of the night hung in the air. The peace and quiet of the morning were broken by the sounds of wood hitting the wood.
"It's the new one," said Mu, handing Shaka a cup decorated with floral motifs. The blond thanked his friend and went to one of the windows of the Palace of the Aries, and all his attitude said that he was trying to interpret the sounds coming to him.
"Two training swords, senseless waving," he murmured, finally turning towards Mu. "At least, she's not destroying the pegs by metal."
"She got up early," the Tibetan picked up his cup and took a sip of the greenish brew. "I think she wants to impress. Judging from the speed of strikes, she is agile and fast."
"Another knight who will hit first and then think," Shaka snorted.
"She's young."
"Only three years younger than us. And this is no argument."
"Eh… Probably you're right. As always."
They said nothing for a long time, listening only to the irregular sounds of the beats. Suddenly it got strangely quiet. At least the Knight of the Ram heard nothing.
"She is no longer alone. They came to the Arena," said the blond, putting the teacup on an openwork table. Although he occupied a richly decorated chair, he might as well be sitting on an ordinary stool or cushion, because, straight as a string, he never uses the back.
"I smell trouble." Mu walked over to the window and although due to the location of his palace he could not see what was happening inside the walls of the Colosseum, now he could hear clearly raised voices of several people. Women's voices.
"Our girls probably don't have good intentions for Liwia," said Mu. "Today is my duty to patrol the Sanctuary, I should go there."
Shaka shrugged and looked sideways, expressing his immense lack of interest in the subject. Apparently, however, Mu sent to Virgo a telepathic message, just for spite, because the blond finally sighed, stood up and muttered:
"Waste of tea."
They were walking along a sandy slope, barely marked by any substitute stairs, badly wiped out by time. Clumps of stubborn plants pulled out a rough and hard leaves in all directions, as if leaning on the cracked earth with all their strength. The light blue sky was hurting eyes.
They arrived at what might at best be considered as entrance to the Arena, which was a chipped stone arch, and stood some distance from a large community. A lot of women in masks. And only one without.
"...do you think? That you are better than us?"
"Because I don't wear a mask? This is ridiculous!" Furious Liwia was waving wooden swords, gesturing widely.
"Ridiculous?" One of the girls stepped forward; there was a the hidden threat in her voice. Mu recognized Shaina, slightly younger than Liwia, but an extremely confident warrior, the informal leader of the other young female knights from Greece. "You won't laugh long!"
She attacked. It was an instant blow, although after verbal notice it could not be deadly fast. Liwia dodged it by half-turn and stood so as to be able to observe the movement of each of the opponents. Two other girls came out of the crowd and moved over to the Pole. The brunette did a feint, avoiding one of them and dived under the fist of the other. Three more came. A short redhead tried the kick, but Liwia caught and held her leg without even dropping the wooden sword from her left hand, then pushed her opponent's limb so that she drove the Greek woman into the sand of the arena.
The second, dark-haired, swung her open hand, wanting to hit Liwia's neck, but the girl covered herself with a training blade; the masked warrior screamed as she felt her finger bone crack in contact with the wood. The third used some cosmo to hit her in the solar plexus. The Polish woman managed to recall her energy and parry the blow, intercepting it and directing it sideways to the sandy ground. Just next to those who want to join the battle with masked warriors.
"Should I stop or will we observe a little longer?" Mu asked, watching everything from the top of the auditorium hall.
"I'm curious when she will attack," Shaka said. It is not known when he opened his eyes, but the Knight of Aries was glad that his friend had control over it and did not blow them into the air.
Meanwhile, Liwia still avoided the blows of the Greek women; she fooled them with half-turns, tumbling and feints. This couldn't last forever, of course; at some point she had to be late during fight alone against ten girls. She got in the ribs so hard that she moaned, one of girls also hit her with the cosmo energy and a trickle of blood flew from the corner of her mouth. Liwia began to get nervous. She wanted to show these stupid girls how a real blow of cosmic energy looks like, how her power looks like; she won the Armor of Fox not by a coincidence. She knew, however, that she should not attack. That she would not present her superiority over the local ones in this way. And that's because from the corner of her eye she saw a flash of gold somewhere on the upper edge of the Arena; it chilled her blood.
"Don't worry, we'll leave you finally," Shaina said, and the rest of her companions giggled.
"I'm not worried at all. I have plenty of time," Liwia said and spat out the bloody sputum.
"Are you from the Red Cross? Attack, stupid!" Shaina waved her claws, but the brunette leaned back, avoiding the blow.
"Will you... finally... go... to hell?!" she screamed and let approaching red-haired opponent stumble; girl fall to the ground. The Polish woman waved the wooden sword, making some space around her, and later she slipped behind Shaina's back. She took the blow of gloved hand on her forearms, jumped to another of the girls and took her from behind under her arms. With such a "hostage" she covered herself against the unpleasant blow of cosmo, which tore breath away from chest of this living shield. Then, after abandoning her, Liwia ran away to the side.
Very tired, she reached out a handful of sand and threw it into the faces of the oncoming opponents.
"It was a shitty idea," she muttered to herself, seeing as the sand fall from the smooth surfaces of the masks.
Shaina screamed, calling for her aggressive cosmo, but the attack did not take place.
"Enough." Mu stepped out of the shadows, and the horns of his golden armor glistened in the full sun. Each of the girls lowered their heads. Each, except Liwia and Shaina.
"Why is she to be treated differently? Why can she mock our tradition?" cried the warrior leader, turning eagerly towards the Knight of the Aries.
"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Liwia rolled her eyes so loudly that they probably heard her in Thessaloniki. "Just because I don't wear a mask doesn't mean I'm offending your customs. Although, in truth, you could finally rebel against this degrading treatment of women."
"See, Golden Saint?" Shaina pointed a finger at the brunette. "I will not stand by and listen to the insults!"
The green-haired girl raised her fist and was about to attack when she saw something that stopped her in half a stride. Another Golden Knight came out of the shadow of the stone arch. The one who is closest to the gods.
One by one, the masked girls walked away quickly without looking back. Shaina was last. She clenched her fists and said quietly to Liwia:
"Tomorrow, after sunset. On the old square. Take the armor."
She turned on her heel and walked after her friends.
Liwia looked up, shielding her eyes from the unbearable sunlight. The Virgo Knight had his eyes closed. The girl was curious whether he had seen her defensive dance.
"Fox Saint, your passivity at provocation is commendable. Now you can go back to your schedule", said Mu.
"Yes sir," she said satisfied, thinking about tomorrow's battle. This time, she'll show these mean girls what she can do.
"Let's go. Maybe the tea hasn't completely cooled down yet," Shaka muttered towards his friend and together they began to climb the ancient stairs.
The next day was endless. After morning training (in which no one interfered this time) Liwia went to the City Hall together with Camus. She flipped some fancy papers from right to left, stamped here and there and even made some wise Latin saying that made Aquarius nod his head with something like approval.
Then there was a dinner, which was brought by a Sanctuary Chef. As a Guest, she had to deliver individual meals to the Houses, if the knight did not come to the common canteen. Just for spite, Aphrodite never stooped to eating with others, so she had to climb to the top; fortunately, she was allowed to use the Shortcut, which she went on the first day with Aldebaran. Later she came to the Aquarius Palace (for Camus it was too hot outside, if there was no need, he didn't leave) and the Sagittarius Temple (because Aiolos usually didn't make it to dinner because of his activities and ate everything a bit later). Mu also consumed alone, but he was kind-hearted enough not to have her run like a waitress and he always brought food himself to the lowest House. Virgo Knight also remained. There was no doubt that the blond man would not want to eat in the surroundings of the rest of the Golden, but fortunately, he was served by his two students: the Silver Knights of Peacock and Lotos. Of course, they did not make a good impression on Liwia.
Before evening she helped clean up a piece of the training ground from debris, by the way she found out where was the "old square" that Shaina was talking about. Before the sun set over the horizon, she returned to her small house, washed herself, tied black hair and put on Fox Armor. She had some concerns: in the end it was forbidden to use the power of cloths for private purposes, and she would prefer not to get expelled from Sanctuary for such a triviality. On the other hand, if she does not appear in the duel, she will dishonor her name and there was no such option. If they catch her, she will begin to confabulate: that she wanted to try the new attack or that today in Poland they are celebrating Knight's Day so she tried to commemorate it. Eh, she will be ok.
The stars shone as intensely as they could shine away from the glow of civilization. Liwia looked for her patron constellation and smiled slightly. "Okay, here goes nothing!". She was already close to the meeting point when she began to feel some indefinite anxiety. Something was wrong. It was definitely too loud. Did this bitch bring the entire garrison of her backers again? She will soon find out.
When she came out from behind the great ruin, which was once an armory, she saw the cause of her anxiety. Around the square were all Golden Knights, several Silver Knights and a group of temple non-knightly forces. "I'm in deep shit," she thought and headed toward the center of the square with no choice.
"It's our challenge one!" Aldebaran boomed and pointed to the empty space in the middle of the concourse. "Welcome, welcome."
Liwia gulped in fear of what they would tell her.
"Don't worry so much, everyone new in the Sanctuary goes through it," Milo laughed. "If you didn't mess with our Shaina, we would organize something anyway, so you would present your skills. Everything's fine," he finished, raising his thumb.
The girl felt relief and gratitude to the Scorpio Knight. "So they won't kick me out," she thought.
Shaina crossed the crowd line and stood in a combat pose. She was wearing a Silver Armor of Ophiuchus, glistening in the torchlight with a dark purple glow. The crowd began to clap rhythmically, the Golden Knights, standing in relative concentration, seemed to be pillars of light in the darkness of the night. Liwia saw that no one but the Gemini, Leo and Libra Saints was missing. Even haughty Shaka came. Despite the closed eyes, she had the impression that the man was looking right through her.
She couldn't afford to fail and she couldn't be like any other knight invited to the Sanctuary. She had to give a good show. And she liked shows.
"Aldebaran!" she suddenly turned to the Bull, stopping Shaina who was ready to attack. "I heard that today you picked up your turntable from repair."
"That's right," answered the Golden Knight, closely watching the girl. "And?"
"Would you be so kind and let me use it? What is fight that takes place in silence?"
Virgo's Knight snorted in contempt.
"What a impudence... I like it!" Aphrodite clapped his hands before anyone could object.
"We do not have time for such games now, get started." Camus leaned against some worn-out pillar; he was looking very bored.
"We have enough time, let us have some fun," Scorpion poked Aquarius with a smile. "I can even run for this turntable, Al."
"Okay, I will bring it, also take the vinyl records, because this is not a hurdy-gurdy." Bull has already taken two steps towards the Palaces, when gramophone and several vinyl discs appeared in front of him.
"There is no need to run," Mu said stoically, lowering the level of his cosmo.
"A farce this is, or a test of skill?" Capricorn asked irritably.
"Farce, apparently," Shaina said, clenching her fists. "It won't help you, foreigner, you'll find out soon!"
"Maybe," Liwia said with a smile. "Or maybe not. Where are those companions of yours? Give them here."
"What?"
"Liwia, don't pretend to be a hero," Aldebaran began to set the turntable on a rock block, and Milo pulled some extension cord from the canteen. "One-on-one duel, that's how it always goes."
"I disagree," the Polish girl, to the consternation of everyone around, began to look at the faces lit by torches. "Where are those who attacked me yesterday? Come out!"
"Are you kidding me? You want to fight with all ten?" Shaina was clearly furious. "Do you think I'm not enough for you?"
"I was insulted by you and I demand satisfaction," said the Polish woman and noise passed over the crowd.
"If it's a matter of honor, so be it," Aiolos said, shrugging.
"Are you crazy? It won't be a fair fight!" Aldebaran puffed up.
"It's all right, trust me," Liwia gave Bull a reassuring smile. She knew her capabilities. What's more: after yesterday's morning battle, she also knew the capabilities of opponents.
Brazilian sighed loudly.
"Well, let it be. Shaina, gather your companions," he gave the order.
The green-haired girl growled, dissatisfied, but waved urgently towards the crowd. Some not very willingly, others quite the opposite: female knights and novices without armor appeared slowly before the Pole.
"Any special wishes?" asked Taurus, pointing to the black vinyl discs.
"Run a Rhapsody, if you have it," Liwia grinned. Aldebaran just nodded in a gesture that could mean "this performance will end badly."
Greek warriors lined up in a semi-circle, waiting for some indefinite signal to attack. Liwia grabbed the handles of the long knives, protruding from the back and then something clicked. Blades left the armor, still stuck in the scabbards.
"I guess something does not work out, stupid," Shaina scoffed, pointing to the secured weapons.
"On the contrary," the Polish girl replied with a smile, and the first bars of Bohemian Rhapsody flew into the ether. "I do not expose my Claws if I don't want to kill."
"Your loss."
The masked girls lunged at her, regardless of the slow tempo of the song's beginning. Liwia, however, deftly parried the blows, some of them even let go sideways. The Greek women turned, expecting immediate counterattack, but found foreign girl calmly swaying to the rhythm of the music.
"Do you even can fight?" Shaina tilted her head in disbelief looking at the Pole who was clearly having fun.
They attacked again, this time one after another. Liwia, however, was faster and raising guard on time. She even made dance moves while leaning back against fists and kicks.
She was wearing her armor. And she knew who was she facing.
"Why is she still defending herself?" Aiolos asked confusedly. The crowd around the square began to hum.
"Fight she can't," Capricorn snorted; he stood stiff as a starched shirt.
"She's probably just playing," Milo said, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. Scorpio hoped that the Polish girl would show off fencing skills, but somehow it did not seem.
"Maybe she thinks we're here for entertainment, instead of taking it as a test," said Camus.
"And that's what I like," Deathmask joined the conversation; he extinguished the cigarette butt on the Corinthian decorations of the ancient pillar. The Knight of Pisces has long gone to the other side, unable to stand the cigarette smoke.
"Maybe I should explain her an outline of a similar duel," Aldebaran worried, and was about to get up when Shaka's cold voice settled him in his seat.
"You look and yet you can't see."
Although he said it just louder enough not to be drowned out by the Oueen's song, all the faces of the Gold turned as once. Some of them heard the blonde probably for the first time in their lives.
"So explain it to us, enlightened one," sneered Taurus, unable to resist. "Tell me, what your closed eyelids saw?"
Shaka didn't show whether he felt offended.
"Nothing special. She mislead opponents: it pretends to be a foolish fun, but she closely observes their fighting styles. She has already worked it out, I suppose, and will immediately knock down each of them. I just don't know what she is waiting for," he winced, as if the spectacle had derogated from his notion of fight.
"But I know," Aldebaran mumbled, waiting for this amazing moment in the song when it transforms from a slow ballad into a theatrical play and then into an epic crack.
And indeed. Scaramouch, scaramouch... resonated in the air and Liwia started jumping like a bullfighter. Greek girls were stunned. The Deathmask laughed and began to pat on the thigh. Shura raised an eyebrow so high that it disappeared under the helmet.
At Galileo, the Polish girl waved her knives until she made more space.
"Now it will begin," Aldebaran said, and the whole audience of this strange performance leaned forward, waiting.
Liwia focused her cosmo. She waved her right hand at the sand, just below the feet of half masked opponents.
Bismillah!
Bam! Flames shot into the air and the girls jumped back with fear. Two began to extinguish smoldering pants in panic.
Bismillah!
A lance of fire also flew from the left hand and the other half of the Greeks was struck by sudden glare and heat.
Bismillah!
Liwia widened the line of the fiery border so that she separated herself and Shaina from the other warriors. The green-haired girl looked back, clenched her fists, then turned and began to run to the Polish girl. Liwia smirked, raised the right knife like a swordsman to the height of her face and a moment later charged to Shaina, who was surprised by her activity.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no – with every no, the masked woman received blows of a deadly fast knife. Only thanks to the sheath they were not deadly sharp either. A blow to the chest, arm, knee, armpit, in thigh, wrist and finally the diaphragm – Shaina folded like a penknife and fell on her knees on the sand.
Liwia, still with a devilish smile, slowly deflected her arms, extinguishing the fires caused earlier; suffocating from the smoke, the friends of the green-haired warrior came closer to the center of the square and when they saw their leader lying on the ground, they ran forward with wild cries.
...for me...
The Pole began to walk to meet them.
...for me...
She made the grinder with the right knife.
For me!
She knocked the first to the side, in a place not covered with armor. The ribs bursted. The second, brown hair, the one whose finger had broken the previous day, struck the bandaged hand with the handle of the weapon and left moaning behind. Liwia put her leg down to the third one – the impetus was enough for the girl to fall on her face. The knife handle fell on her skull and the girl lost consciousness. Liwia dived under the arm of the fourth, just as she did yesterday morning, but this time she grabbed her wrist and threw her opponent over her back; the girl fell on the sand so hard that it took her breath. The amphibian of the blade hit her in the stomach, a scream sounded in the air.
The fifth, the short redhead, tried her kick again; Liwia waved her left hand, and the metal sheath rang in the air and dropped with an unpleasant click on the fibula bone. The sixth girl, with curly hair, came with a cosmic energy attack aimed at the solar plexus. Liwia made a quick half-turn while capturing this power and threw it at the seventh opponent attacking from the flank. She got a blow to the teeth and froze in the arena. Liwia grabbed the offender's curly hair and jerked them mercilessly, hitting the woman's head against the ground. Eight and ninth attacked simultaneously. The Polish girl slid under the cosmo loads, then grabbed the ankle of one and of the other girl. They managed to look down when their shoes started to burn.
It was a rout. All opponents were no longer able to fight: they lay side by side, squeezing the wounded places or wandering the lands of unconsciousness. Only Shaina gathered herself and shouted:
"Thunder Claw!"
Liwia threw a knife in front of her, which took over all the electric charge; the lightning tanned the scabbard so much that it covered by lampblack. The very power of the blow struck Liwia on the shoulder and blood flowed from under her armor. The Polish girl began to laugh and walked slightly at the opponent. The melody slowed again as the girls circled. Finally, seeing green-haired gathering strength for the next attack, Liwia jumped out first:
"Dance of Fire!"
It seemed as if flames formed the shape of a fox with a long fiery tail and rushed to meet the wounded Shaina. Then exploded with accumulated energy and heat. Green-haired girl screamed; blow threw her so hard that she flew straight into Shura's arms. The knight gripped her shoulders and held her so that she would not fall at his feet.
Liwia, exactly in the last bars of the song, turned to the Golden Knights and made a deep, blatant theatrical bow.
Single applause broke the silence. The Polish girl looked straight ahead. The Deathmask grinned and clapped, content from the performance. Shura had an impenetrable expression on his face, as did Mu. The Pisces Saint nodded his head approvingly and whispered something to Camus. Milo whistled and joined with applause, while Aiolos jumped into the arena, patted Liwia on the shoulder and went to see how the defeated girls were holding.
"Something like that," said smiling Aldebaran, while he was removing the disc from the adapter," we won't forget for a long time. Well done, girl."
"That was my goal," Liwia thought with satisfaction, wiping blood from shoulder.
She was confused that she couldn't see the Virgo Knight anywhere.
"He was almost to the end," Bull said when she came over and asked him quietly. "Basically, he was the only one who guessed what you would do. But why do you care?"
"I don't know," she replied quite honestly and returned to the center of the arena.
She came to Shaina, who was helping her friends to gather from the ground and held out her hand.
"You fight well, Shaina. Don't hold the resentment, I'll forget about that grudge too. Fine?"
Maybe there would be fine, but in the movies only.
Green-haired girl rejected her hand with hatred.
"You'll regret meeting us," she hissed.
"I regret it already," Liwia replied and slowly walked away towards her apartment.
The stars shone silvery and beautiful.