騎士の犠牲義務 - Sacrificial Duty of a Knight

Entries 7 - 9

Entry #7

It has been about two weeks since Hayato settled here. He was brought in to palace with Gou and being baby sit with the remaining Matsuoka family. I offered to babysit when I am off shift but Gou didn't want to add more stress on me.

Kazuki and his crew (with Takuya, Toru, and Shouta) were tasked to go investigate at the Easton and Weaston Islands due to some shortage of supplies. Momo, Nitori and a few other trainees were left behind with me to keep an eye on the kingdom. However, the two were training the new members while I resumed my guard post towards the entrance.

To be honest, it's nice when nothing is happening but it can be a bit loneliness. I just want to close my eyes and sleep (or make a wish rather) until Rin returns with everyone safely.

Haruka…I remember how we first shared our conversation. It was after the purification rite and before everyone began their swim lessons on the daily basis. The first day was a pre-test that had a variety of levels (those who swam before and I know Haru did practice floating and what not unlike the others) from beginners to masters.

"Are you alright?" I asked while I looked at Haruka with a bit of worry. It was during a first pre-test of the Magic Six swimming. Haru (naturally) was one of the first students to have swam a full lap. The others were only being tested on how long they could float above the water (Rei had much difficulty, Rin was doing perfect pretty much but pitched in to help the others)

"I'm fine, I just prefer to swim free," he answered.

"Well if you want, I can help you enhance it," I offered.

"Are you saying that my skill is lacking?"

"It's not the skill, it's the timing," I replied.

"I don't care for times," he answered.

"Well neither do I but, it's something we have to consider once in a while," I said, "Besides, we both know Rin."

"You do?" he asked.

"My family has been personal guards to them long before our birth," I explained, "Both of our mothers are friends too actually thanks to Rin's mother."

Haruka gave me a slightly cold look but he shrugged and answered, "Fine. I'll do this once."

Ah…Haruka, he was such a character but at least he is more silent and subtle unlike Rin. I guess if that's the only thing I appreciate of him, the silence will do justice.

Oh my, look at the time. I must head out to Awlida's baby birthday party and meet with the others beforehand. I'll write more later after the party is done.

Entry #8

We were enjoying ourselves at the party until I felt that shoulder pain again. I wondered if the damage was finally taking toll. When I turned myself around, to reach something, it was that moment when I felt the pain. I grunted loudly and held my had onto the pain.

"Sousuke! Are you okay!?" asked Shirahama.

"Something happened to your shoulder?" asked Matsuura.

"It's fine," I replied, "I just need to get checked by the infirmary

I guess I can't hide the truth for much longer can I? I simply told them that the hardworking is causing my shoulder to feel a bit exhausted. I did not tell anyone at the party about my injury nor the story behind it. (Though Momo and Nitori knew about this since they were the ones who found out after the incident) But now, I will write it down just for the sake of things.

It was a handful of years ago (probably around 14 and 15 years old) when Haruka was still faster than Rin on the freestyle. At first, Rin was inspired by Haruka's swimming and the two bonded more closely through the years. However by that range of age that I mentioned, Rin grew a bit darker slowly while trying to keep his relationship together.

But it took on an ugly turn. Rin one night decided to go outside swimming across the shoreline for practice. When the family discovered that Rin vanished, all of us (the Knights were tasked out to find him) went out while he remaining Magic Six stayed behind. However, Haruka somehow knew what was going on with Rin.

However, the weather began to turn stormy and the Magic Six haven't had mastered the magic quite yet on a larger scale (such as controlling storms and raging typhoons; they could do moderate to light attacks as well as making shields and barriers). The parents tried to break the storm apart but for some strange reason, it wasn't made out of rain…

…but rather darkness.

Realizing that this was the same darkness from before, I raged out and rushed through the meadows and getting to the shoreline where I saw Haruka swimming after to reach Rin. I stood there horrified for a few moments but then I too rushed out towards the sea but I lost my footage when I got to the rocky slope and fell, injuring my shoulder in the process and falling black out.

When I woke up, I was in my sleeping cot with Momo and Nitori all horrified. They told me that Rin and Haruka brought me safely to the medic. The nurse told me that I was bleeding from my shoulder but it was wrapped up in bandage and I also had a slight slip on my right shoulder joint but a simple dislocation was taken care of.

"Are you alright?!" asked Momo.

I remember looking at them with a smile while burying my worries of Rin (and Haruka) to the side.

"I'm fine but how about Rin?" I asked.

"He's fine aside from some injuries and some punishment for a week of some sort," shrugged Nitori.

I got up and the two protested me to stay in the cot but I replied, "I'm the one that needs to talk to Rin."

"Please return back when you are done," the nurse told me.

I got to the palace and after asking King Toraichi for permission, he allowed me to talk to Rin for a half hour.

"I'm sorry for worrying all of you," said Rin, looking at his piece of paper, "I'm writing a thank you letter to everyone including you."

"I see," I answered, touching his hand, "I'm sorry…for being all too worked up about you. I just wish we could spend more time together."

He smiled, "None of this is your fault. Just promise me one thing and get your shoulder healed and we'll swim together."

I realized that I forgot to hide my shoulder with a cloak or something but my eyes glittered a little with life and I too smiled back, "I promise."

I was about to say something else to Rin but I realized that I shouldn't waste any more time. I got up and left and was brought out from the fortress.

"I'm sorry to have pushed a time limit on your visit," said the king.

"No worries," I answered, "Just seeing him those few minutes was all I need."

"Anytime," smiled King Toraichi, "I know Rin is a great boy, he's just a bit lost right now with his motives."

I nodded and thanked him before I returned back home to rest up some more.

After I returned home from the birthday party, I wondered if that nightmare I had was something to do about not keeping Rin's promise. I have to stop writing for the night as I feel my shoulder acting up again.

Entry #9

Makoto visited me one day at my hut (a few years after the shoulder incident) with a bit of a worried expression. Something was definitely not right with him. Nanase once told me that he was always busy doing some sort of research but I never understood how he could swim and study so much as well as practicing his magic.

"Sousuke, I know this is a concern of my own and Alexa, but I need to tell you this. In case if I fail to protect him," he said, "But I need you to keep this a secret from anyone, including Alexa."

"Protect him?" I asked.

Makoto closed his eyes for a moment and said, "Alexa was born with the potential for great darkness."

"But if he's the Savoir of this world," I answered, "His magic is as light as it gets. How is this possible?"

"It's because I failed to protect him…during the purification," he revealed, "I found a vial that contained our memories of that horrific day. After I drank it, I understand why I kept seeing strange things about Alexa."

"I don't understand," I said, "What happened to him?"

"…because of me, Alexa is set for death on the sunset of his 21st Birthday," he revealed, "He is cursed from The Dark One by receiving the Mark of Death."

I remained silent as he continued, "Since then I've been researching in the libraries, hoping to find some clues or answers but there's not much stuff about Dark Magic."

"I'm very sorry," I replied, "Maybe my father might know some stuff. He once told me about 'The Dark One' and some of its crimes it has done to other people from other realms."

"Really?" asked Makoto, getting interested.

"Yeah he won't be back till dusk but I'm sure he can give some help," I nodded.

Makoto thanked me and left. However, I later found out that Rin knew about this too. But I kept silent about that.

However, how long will it take before this secret is found out? How will the others react to this?

I guess this is something I cannot be concerned about; I have a duty to protect this kingdom. All I can say is to wish them the best of luck.

During my night shift, I was posted at the main wall and I kept seeing something dancing in the dark. I chased after it and it was that 'other me' with that bizarre claw and the chains. For a moment, I thought it was real but it was some sort of a hallucination after Momo shook my senses back.

"Are you alright?" asked Nitori.

"I…I don't know," I answered, "I feel like it's just…not me."

"You've been working too hard," said Momo, "You deserve a week off!"

"Yeah and watch and see something happening," I sighed, "No. I have to say on…"

Before I could finish, I collapsed again. Momo and Nitori got Kazuki and the other guys to bring me back to my hut. When I woke up, I see my father for the first time in a few weeks.

"Son," he said, "Don't push yourself if you're going to continue your duty."

I stared at him silently before asking, "…what happened to mother? Did she too died because of The Dark One?"

He gasped a little before taking a sigh and answered, "She was cursed during the time she was pregnant. The Dark One said that after your birth, the Mark of Death was to take her life…and she did."

"You know of Dark Magic better than us," I replied, "Did Makoto…?"

"Yes he visited me," he said, "Quite a sad yet not so surprising story…The Dark One planning to kill our savior. But what I don't understand is…Alexa's mark is different than the one your mother was scarred with."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"…I don't think he's got the Mark of Death, if the description of what Makoto said didn't match with your mother's…I think it's something else," he replied, "But that's enough for tonight. We'll settle this on another day."

I closed my eyes again to sleep, hoping to not have any nightmares.