NO ONE'S POV
To say that Leon's stunt had caused quite a ruckus is an understatement. The entirety of the academy is in an uproar. Not just that, many noble families and even a tiny part of the Temple are acting like a disturbed hornet's nest.
However one can't blame them. One of the most promising people in the entire kingdom had performed the Noble Bound dance, perfectly in the eyes of the onlookers, with a stranger that no one knew.
Not only that but they had agreed to hold a friendly spar in two days, not just any kind of spar but an Armor spar.
They all had different reactions to this and most of them are composed of those who are trying to court the young Lafan and they aren't exactly celebrating. They were fuming.
They may be blinded by their love for the Maiden of Scarlet Thorns but they weren't blind when they saw how much she smiled and enjoyed dancing with Gilded. She has taken a liking to this stranger and they were glowing green with jealousy.
'How dare this bastard try to take away my princess?!'
This was the foremost thought that occurred in all their heads and such, a manhunt had begun for the man wearing the gilded mask. Discreetly of course. Marie's influence on them may have made them go 'gaga' for her but not to the point that they stopped using their intellect (unfortunately). Led by the five capture targets, they organized their fellows to find Gilded through subtle means to not alert their target.
So while they were hunting, the rest didn't react as drastically as the boys, they were simply impressed and intrigued. To them, the Noble Bound event had proven Marie's great potential and the spar would serve as a chance for the entire kingdom to see her skills in piloting an Armor. Of course, with her popularity, this friendly spar had become a hot topic amongst everyone inside and outside the academy.
So in short, all were looking forward to two days from now.
Especially Marie Fou Lafan.
"Mmm~ I wonder what collar would suit him better? Gold or Black? How about both? Yes, and I'll also need a leash...and maybe a whip in case he does something naughty.", Marie hummed in thought while inside the comforts of her room sitting on her bed.
"Have you listed those items down?", She glances to her right where the personal servant Julius had given her stood.
"Yes, Mistress.", Came the emotionless response of an elf boy named Kyle. He stood diligently, straight, and motionless, "I shall fetch them right away."
"Good boy.", Marie patted his blonde hair before he walked out of the room with clouded eyes, just as he always has ever since he became employed under her.
Marie continued to stare for a bit longer, reminiscing the memory of her first meeting Kyle. Despite his bright and proper attitude, she could sense his distaste straight away but when he saw her, that all vanished and was replaced by a much kinder personality.
It was kind of nice for a while. The young elf would do everything he was told and even did things he wasn't told to just to please the girl who ensnared him with her looks.
But then he had walked in on her feeding her new...children...a few weeks ago. She could have fed him to them honestly or just killed him, but she was a merciful master, and she resorted to brainwashing him instead.
Now he's the perfect errand boy. He always follows her orders, he does so with complete perfection, and most important of all, he is ultimately obedient to her, just like how she'll make 'Gilded' obedient after she gets her hands on him.
Gosh, she was already drooling at all the things she would do to him. That and she was salivating at the thought of tasting the massive amount of magical energy he has.
During the entirety of the dance, she had been draining him continuously but he had kept on dancing without breaking a sweat. It had made her realize his large abundance of it and the taste, OH~ the taste.
It was simply the most delicious thing she had ever tasted, and she wanted MORE.
Marie looked out her window towards the clear blue sky, her bright red eyes glittering as she thought fondly of 'Gilded', "One day left, and then, you'll belong to only me."
~Meanwhile with Leon~
ACHOO!
"Are you alright Leon?"
"I...yeah I'm okay Luxion, just a sneeze.", Leon replied, waving away Luxion's concern before focusing, "So, have you finished analyzing the border?"
"Negative. Its energy waves don't match anything in the database. Its molecular structure is unclear. Our technology isn't advanced enough to give a proper analysis. What we do know is that it is translucent, almost invisible to the naked eye but acts as an impenetrable barrier that prevents anything from entering or leaving the stratosphere. Any attempts of bypassing it have been unsuccessful."
Leon rubbed his temple, "The moment we discovered something new, our questions grew more in number."
Leon could remember it clearly. It was the very reason why he was so late to the party.
When LUXION informed him about dispatching a force into space to expand further, Leon watched the broadcast while he was changing.
He thought it would be quick, but he was proven wrong when his Hook persona's flagship, The Dutchman, tried to warp jump to this planet's moon. Imagine his surprise and horror when an explosion sounded a second after it went into hyperspace, a few miles away from the expedition fleet.
That was when Leon learned about the Border. An invisible force field of some kind that is impossible to pass through, not even a Battlecruiser's mini warp jump could pass, and Leon still grumbles about losing two Minotaur class Battlecruisers from that little experiment.
Though they were denied exit from the planet, they had managed to acquire something valuable.
"Since we won't make any progress on that for now. What about Zeratul's Honor?", He chatted with his AI companion as they both walked down a metallic corridor.
The Phantom unit inhabited by Luxion then replied, "It is going well. The base frame of the mech has already been completed and only requires the necessary attachments for combat. On that note, we have successfully assimilated the Protoss vessel. Although we weren't able to gather much since most of its systems and mechanisms are damaged, we were still able to extract important data."
Leon sighed, "If only it wasn't so damaged, we could have gotten a boost in technology...thought it's as expected since it was only one half of a vessel. What can you tell me of it?"
"From whatever remnants of data we were able to salvage, the vessel was originally used for research purposes, however, it has been outfitted for combat. It seems it's been done in haste, much of it has been left incomplete, and with its engines being the most developed component, it's as if they were trying to create an escape vessel."
"Escape? Hmmm...", Now that made Leon worry. Normally if they wanted to escape they could have just warped away. To resort to this...just what happened back then?
"What other important observations did you make?"
"Data shows that this vessel was used to research the *Floating Islands* phenomenon. They have several notes on this planet's strange gravitational force and they have even managed to replicate it, to some degree."
Leon rubbed his chin, "That will be useful. How soon can you refine the research and implement it into our forces?"
"Approximately 24 hours."
"That's good. Also, speaking of which, how goes the progress on our forces?"
"All is going well so far."
The two paused for a bit as they walked through a door that automatically opened and closed behind them, They entered a gigantic hangar filled with various vehicles of war being built, customized, and repaired.
"Our production facilities have grown by 30 percent due to us occupying 5 more nearby floating islands near our main base. With this, our numbers will grow more so than before."
"At the moment we have over 67,000 combat androids, all of them are capable of range and close-quarter combat. We have also recently constructed 50 Phantom Units, bringing their number up to 300 with 30 of them being Sigmas. Our land vehicles number 56,000 in total, including the combat walkers. As for our Air Force, there are about 120,000 of them. A decent amount of them is even patrolling our territories right now. Of our Raiders, 11,570 are active and combat ready while 13,569 of them are put on standby."
"Right. Best not to waste any materials or fuel on things we don't need yet but to make sure they are ready to be deployed at a moment's notice. What of Project Bastion? We'll be running out of room soon and we still have to stay as covert as possible."
"There has been some progress with the operation, however, there has also been heavy resistance. Although we were able to successfully create a perimeter, the hordes of monsters are unrelenting, some of the more ancient ones could even compare to the Savage Scarlet's threat level. Most of our forces are deployed to that location to hold the line while our SCVs continue with the construction."
"Well, that's to be expected. It has been their territory for a very long time. Not even the kingdoms dare venture there with how strong and how many monsters there are. Which makes it the best place to build our aces in the sleeve.", Leon then stopped and rubbed his temple, "I just received a message from Silver Cat, which said that Angelica, Olivia, and the others are looking for me. I'm heading back so they won't get suspicious. The last thing I need is for them to figure out that I'm Gilded."
Before the young baron could receive an answer, his entire vision was covered by a bright blue light. He kept calm during the process and once he regained his sight, he now found himself in his room.
"Ah~ The wonders of instant teleportation."
An object clattered to the ground behind him, making him turn around. Staring at him with wide shocked eyes is a maid he never saw before, who sat atop the blanket-covered android on his bed. The maid was in the middle of taking off her shirt. She was only two buttons away from undressing her top.
"Umm...surprise?", The girl spoke nervously, not knowing what do to.
Unfortunately for her Leon does.
"Sleep."
Waving his hand, his psionics flared. It reached out to the maid like an unseen arm and before she could do anything, Leon flicked her switch and she fell asleep, falling flat atop his occupied bed.
The young man contacted his AI companion, "Luxion."
"Already on it commander."
Leon sighed, "And that should be the 70th attempt. Sheesh! And I thought the guys were supposed to be the horny dogs."
"Commander."
"Yeah?"
"This feline demihuman is male. He is simply dressed up as a maid."
"..."
Leon stared in silence at the android, who had risen from his bed, and looked up at the trap's skirt.
"...continue with the procedures but when you find the bastards who sent him, make sure their punishment is double."
With those words Leon opened his door and exited his room, sighing with a frown, "Can this day get any more annoying?"
~A Few Minutes Later~
Luckily for Leon, things didn't get more annoying. Unfortunately, he still tempted fate and she lashed out with something that made Leon's day miserable.
THUD
"Why?"
THUD
"Why?!"
THUD
"WHY?!"
THUD
"WWWWWHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYY?!"
"It's okay Leon, please cheer up! It's not all that bad.", A concerned Olivia stated.
"Your right Olivia, it's worse.", Leon slammed his forehead down onto the table one more time. It had been the only thing he had been doing since 5 minutes ago.
THUD
"Sir Bartfort! Get a hold of yourself!", Angelica said with a shout out of anger and concern. She was getting fed up with his overreaction and was also worried that he'd receive a concussion if he continued. She grabbed him by the shoulder and made him sit up, revealing his gloomy and depressed face. Even his eyes had dulled.
"How can I Angelica? How can I when all of the hard work me and the others made in making the party was forgotten? Eclipsed by the display Gilded and Lafan made. All everyone remembers now is how amazing and beautiful the dance was or 'I can't wait for the practice battle.' I put my heart and soul into the preparation but it was still outclassed.", Leon vented with a dead tired tone in his voice, "Even Master hasn't commented anything about it. When I tried to get his attention, he was too busy making notes about the Noble Bound! I can understand that it's a rare thing, but to not show up to class at all or refuse to spend just a little bit of time for his favorite student?"
Leon deflated and slouched on his chair, "How can I possibly get a hold of myself?"
Creak
The door to the room opened and an excited-looking Jenna entered. Her smile was wide, her face lit up with joy, and she looked eager to speak with her younger brother...right up until she saw him.
"Brother Leon! I've got news for...oh, what happened to you?", Jenna asked, surprised at his depression.
Leon lazily shifted his gaze toward her. He didn't move his head, his eyes simply switched from the ceiling to his older sister.
"Long story.", He deadpanned, "What about you? What's got you all happy this morning?"
Jenna paused for a moment. Her eyes shifted from her brother to her friends Olivia and Angelica, both of whom motioned for her to continue. Perhaps what she'll say next will distract Leon from his sadness.
"Oh, that...well.", Jenna blushed a bit but it disappeared when she cleared her throat and fixed her composure. She dug into her pockets to pull out a small white letter, "Before that, you have a letter. It was given to me by a staff member and when they couldn't find you, they gave it to me instead so I can give it to you later. It's from the royal palace."
Olivia and Angelica were surprised at this but Leon was more curious. He hasn't been in contact with either the king or queen often. The only times he did this was to give reports about the heirs of the five founding noble houses. Though they had been silent for a while after the funeral weeks ago. Leon wondered what they wanted from him now since if they were the ones sending a letter then it was bound to be either an order or a request.
"From the palace?", Leon reached his hand out and Jenna gave him the letter. He opened it and then began to read the contents silently. His eyes scanned the piece of paper, skipping over filler words to get to the point so he could continue his wallowing, yet as he read one line after the other his eyes slowly started to widen until it was threatening to bulge out of their eye sockets.
"Jenna...are you sure that this came from the palace?", Leon asked with a serious tone in his voice.
"Well, yes. It even has the royal seal on it.", Jenna pointed out.
At this point, Angelica and Olivia were very curious about the letter. They stood beside Leon, trying to look over his shoulder and Angelica had managed to get a glimpse.
She couldn't see much but she had recognized the penmanship on the letter, "I recognize its style of writing. It is definitely from the palace and by the signature, it's from...the King?"
Now Angelica is even more curious, "What exactly is in that letter, Leon?"
"In summary?", His hair covering his eyes, Leon carefully stood up from his chair and raised the letter above his head...then proceeded to shout.
"MY TALENT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED!", Leon shouted in absolute glee, tears of joy flowing cartoonishly from his eyes, "From this day forward, by command of the crown, I am now Head Director of the newly established Royal Event Designers! Every wedding, ball, and any other event of importance is now going to be prepared by me! HAHAHA! I GOT MY FIRE BACK!"
His tears disappeared and were replaced by the blazing fire of determination in his eyes, "The Perfect Party is now one step closer to being a reality!"
Leon then stopped, suddenly able to recognize the surprised and wary stares his sister and Angelica were giving him. Olivia on the other hand clapped her hands. Thank you, Olivia, at least you understand Leon's joy. He brought down his arms, coughing into his hands as he waited for the awkwardness to fade. While he waited, he took another glance at the letter and noticed something.
"Oh, would you look at that! I already have my first assignment." " he said out loud to distract everyone from his embarrassing overreaction, "Says here that...", Leon's smile dropped, "I have to prepare the arena for the match tomorrow...before sunrise."
He became silent. Olivia grew concerned instantly and went over to his side, one hand placed on his shoulder, "I-It's okay Leon. You don't have to be worried. I can help and so can the others, that way-"
"Nah, it's okay Olivia. It's not the deadline.", Leon turned around, lifting her hand off his shoulder and holding it with his own, "I'm not even upset. I feel excited!"
Leon showed a toothy grin to ease her worries, "This is my chance to out those two. This time, I will make sure my designs will not be overshadowed by them again!"
Eager to start right away, Leon darted off, rushing out of the room while shouting, "I'll see you all later! I got a job to do!", as he left. Not noticing Jenna's small smile at seeing her brother get back up on his feet, Angelica's tired but amused smirk at his antics, and Olivia's stunning look...that soon softened into a smile while she blushed lightly at the memory of that determined look he had unknowingly given her.
'Leon looks better when he's smiling, ' Olivia thought in her mind as her closet friend rushed off to fulfill his hobby-influenced dream.
~Time Skip - The Day of the Match~
The time has finally come. The day everyone has been looking forward to. The match between the famous Maiden of Scarlet Thorns and the Mysterious Stranger, Gilded. Many had arrived at the arena. From the vast student body to a batch of high-ranking nobles, even a representative of the church had come to witness this event.
Imagine their shock when they walked into the area and saw that it had changed. Gone was the plain and classic coliseum. Instead, it had been replaced by a battlefield worthy of the mightiest of heroes. Old stone became polished quartz, its walls reinforced by shining silver steel rods and gleaming gilded bolts. The stand on which the audience would sit has all been replaced by luxurious chairs that could only be found in the royal palace. A mass of butlers wonders about the stadium, offering mouthwatering food and drinks to everyone.
Yet the one thing that caught their eyes was the ground where the fight would commence. What used to be packed brown dirt had been replaced by a floor composed of white marble, silver steel, and some traces of black adamantium. Steel pillars tipped with diamonds made a boundary between the audience and the battlegrounds, each engraved with magic that erected a translucent barrier to ensure the safety of the crowd.
Many jaws dropped and hundreds of eyes were dazzled by what they were welcomed with. Further ensuring them all that the fight to come would be outstanding. Undisclosed to them, what they shall witness would not simply be outstanding, it would be a battle that would go down in history.
This won't simply be a battle against two promising nobles, it shall be a rematch between two powerful forces, both having the capability to destroy the entire kingdom.
Steel and Science against Blood and Magic.
Now all that's remaining is for the stranger to arrive.
Marie had long since entered the coliseum. She is the hanger preparing her Armor for the fight to come. She was getting anxious. She could not wait to have the man who had caught her interest gripped tightly in her grasp, but she needed to be patient. The official start of the match was still minutes away so she passed the time by indulging herself with a snack.
"Good luck with the match, mi lady."
"I am sure you will do great out there!"
"You'll be able to crush that guy, so don't worry!"
"Please do stay safe Miss Lafan."
"You will win this match, I know this for sure."
Meaning she's subtly sucking the 5 romance targets of their energy and magic, along with some of their life force to feed the ever-gnawing hunger within her, all with a charming facade that showed she was grateful for their support.
"Thank you all. I am touched by all your words of encouragement.", Marie smiled so sweetly that it made the heirs of the founding noble houses weak in the knees.
"O-of course!", Julius spoke after taking a while to recover, "We are your friends after all!"
He and his friends smiled with lovesick eyes at Marie, still not noticing the magic affecting their minds that made her irresistible in their eyes.
"I am grateful.", The object of their fabricated affection curtsied, "Thou as much as I hate to cut our time together, I still need to prepare a few things and the match is about to start. You all should go find your seats. Don't worry though, we'll catch up with each other after the match." " she said with a bright smile.
"R-right. We'll be off now.", Jilk spoke up, a clear blush on his cheeks, "Remember, you have our support throughout the battle."
After the others said similar words of parting, the group of spoiled pretty boys walked away. Marie kept up her mask as they left and once they were out of view, she let herself frown in disappointment.
"Still not enough. Even when I drain more than usual, they can never give me enough. If they weren't so important, I would have left them as husks long ago." " she spoke before she smiled as she thought about Gilded, "But soon, I won't have to rely on tiny morsels anymore. Then once I have enough-"
Marie's eyes glowed red, filled with rage and blood lust, "We can begin with the next step."
The glow then dimmed and Marie turned around, her gaze set on something behind her, "For now, I'll be enjoying myself. Ready to show them the new you, my pet?"
A deep-toned growl came from the thing before her, "Yeesssss Misssstressss."
Marie grinned at the answer, "Excellent."
"Ladies and gentlemen! Nobles of all ages!"
The loud voice of the announcer boomed. Marie looked to the exit for a moment before looking back.
"Oh, would you look at that? It's time. Let's go my pet."
"Yesssss."
Outside, among the mass of eager audience are Angelica and Olivia, sitting together with an empty chair to Olivia's right.
"Where is he?", Angelica looked around, "I thought he said he wouldn't miss the match."
"Maybe Leon is exhausted and is resting. He did do all of this.", Olivia voiced, her eyes wondering about the many changes Leon had done to the place.
Angelica sighs, "Well I suppose your right. He did do an astounding job. He deserves the rest. It's still a shame though."
Angelica began to think about the young man whom she considered a friend. She was worried for him. To change the entire arena in less than a day. Although she knows how capable she is, she is worried he has overworked himself.
However, her musings were interrupted by the voice of the announcer.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Nobles of all ages!"
Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and directed their attention to the ordinary referee-piloted Armor in the middle.
"The time of the match is now."
The Armor raised an arm and pointed to the gate on the right, "Introducing the conquer of the Bloody Gardens, slayer of the Death Thorn Drake, the Famous Maiden of Scarlet Thorns, Marie Fou Lafan!"
The crowd burst into applause for the young noble lady as the steps of her Armor were heard. Then, once Marie piloted her armor outside of the gate, the audience was left in awe. How could they not when the young noble lady arrives within the chassis of an angel?
Covered in scarlet metal plates decorated with shining red rubies, Marie's mech held the image of an imposing knight. Unlike regular Armor, its frame is far slimmer with a more feminine outline yet is taller by three heads. However, what caught the audience's attention the most wasn't its build, but its wings.
Angelic in appearance but dyed in the colors of the brightest rubies. However, despite their appearance, the more keen-eyed audience in the stands noticed that each feather of the wings had very sharp edges. Giving them an idea that those wings are more than just for show.
Strapped to the hips of the mech are two sheathed swords but by their appearance, they are thinner than a regular sword used by Armor. Those more familiar with swords immediately recognized that those swords were similar to the katana, a weapon that is famous to the floating lands in the east.
The center of the Armor then opened like a blooming flower, all those metal plating making way to reveal Marie sitting comfortably in her cockpit. She put on a dazzling smile as she waved to the crowd.
Cheers erupted from a part of the arena where all of Marie's followers and admirers are.
Angelica gritted her teeth, not because she was jealous of Marie's popularity but because of the sight of Julius chanting the short midget's name.
"I hope you lose miserably.", Angelica hissed at Marie under her breath, her anger boiling as she tried to not let it show.
To her side, Olivia tried her best to calm down her friend. Her words didn't reach Angelica's ears but her gently rubbing her back did ease some of her anger.
At least to the point where she manages to tear her eyes away from the most hated person in her life and look to the opposite side of the arena.
"-and her opponent. A man shrouded in mystery and secrets, coming from parts unknown. The man who rattled the kingdom with his sudden appearance. Introducing, the one who wears a mask of gold, Gilded!"
.
.
.
"...Gilded!"
.
.
.
"...um...Sir Gilded? That's your cue to arrive."
The audience stared in awkward silence at the west gate. They waited for the mysterious man to arrive. They had at least expected to hear the loud footsteps of an Armor, yet they heard nothing.
Two minutes have passed and they still haven't seen Gilded or his Armor enter.
"Where is he?", Angelica questioned, her anger momentarily extinguished by curiosity and a tiny bit of worry.
"Maybe he's running late?", Olivia guessed but three more minutes passed and there was still no sign of him.
By this point, the crowd was getting restless.
"What's happening?"
"What's taking so long?"
"Where is this Gilded?'
"You don't suppose he lied and fled?"
"Ugh! Did I waste my time coming here?"
"I suppose it's too good to be true."
"Ha! I knew it! That guy was just all bite and no bark."
"Coward must have fled when he saw our Marie's Armor."
"Or he simply lied and didn't even intend to come in the first place!"
"HMPH! Such a disgrace!"
"I knew he was too good to be true!"
Similar words popped up from the crowd. They were all getting upset and impatient. They were even close to going into an uproar when the referee spoke once more.
"Well, it seems that Sir Gilded hasn't arrived yet. By the laws, it has passed the time limit. With this, I declare that Sir Gilded is-"
"There will be no need for that.", Marie spoke, silencing the referee and the noise from the crowd.
"B-but my lady, Sir Gilded hasn't yet arrived."
"Why must he arrive when he is already here?", Marie turns her gaze to the space in front of her, smiling, "Isn't that right? Sir Gilded~?"
.
.
.
"Hehe, you are correct, Miss Lafan and I must say I am impressed that you managed to see through my trick."
The voice of a young man, amplified to a louder volume, is heard throughout the arena. This caused made to be frightened and shocked, and some even spat out their drinks.
"I can already tell that this 'spar' of ours shall be an astounding sight to see."
Then from out of thin air, metallic parts began to appear. First that appeared were its stabilizers, the mech's legs then the waist, followed by its torso, its arms, the shoulder, and finally the head.
The audience's minds were blown when an Armor they had never seen before appeared physically nowhere, yet the shock would last much longer when they stopped and stared at the Armor's appearance.
Zeratul's Honor
It is a one-of-a-kind gem in Leon's vast arsenal. The first mechanized battlesuit integrated with technology from two highly advanced civilizations, in Holfort's perspective.
In memory of the Dark Prelate, Leon made sure the mech mirrored as much of Zeratul's features. The base of its frame is grey and the armor surrounding it is painted in the colors of the Dark Templars, green. Not just any green, But Neon Green.
The same color as its optics, which had spooked the crowd since it was the first thing they saw appear.
However Leon wasn't building a statue, he had already done that far earlier in honor of his favorite Protoss, he was building a mech. So instead of Zeratul's traditional armor, he went with something far more futuristic.
Leon liked the looks of the Purifier faction in the Daelam so he based it on that.
This is why Zeratul's Honor, a mech that stands at the same height as Marie's Armor, looked like him if he was with the Purifiers. Though not as bulky as the Sentinels, it also isn't as thin as Marie's. A perfect balance between strength, flexibility, and speed.
And for the final touch, Leon gave him a weapon that befits his selfless sacrifice for all of creation's salvation. A weapon that the Neravim would see as the most honorable gift to be given to a Dark Protoss Warrior. The same one Matriarch Vorazun wielded during the war with the fallen Xelnaga.
A Shadow Scythe.
A warp blade created by the Nerazim for their greatest hunters. A long polearm that stood the same height as its wielder, with two warp blades extended from both ends, each on opposite sides of the blade, but for the sake of secrecy, its blades were made from constantly vibrating green-colored neo steel. Though not as effective as a warp blade, it can still cut through regular Armor like a scissor cutting paper.
Then the center of the mech's chest parted open in a complex manner, revealing Gilded wearing a white colored pilot suit with gold trims. He bowed politely, earning him a round of applause from the audience, yet not as strong during Marie's entrance. There are even boos coming from the stands, all of them coming from jealous and Marie-obsessed young men.
"Quiet a mech you have there, Sir Gilded.", Marie said with a soft smile, "I have never seen such an Armor before, is it a lost item?"
"Thank you for the compliment and yes, indeed he is. I'll guess that yours is too?", Gilded replied, playing along with the blonde manipulator's game.
Marie shook her head, giggling, "Oh no. My Rubyrie is an Armor I have made myself. The first of a new generation that I am planning to share with the kingdom, once I have perfected it of course. This spar of ours is simply perfect to test out its capabilities."
Though she wore an innocent smile, dark thoughts lingered behind it, a sinister plan in motion that could bring about mass death and destruction.
Unfortunately Gilded saw straight through her, yet he didn't let it show. He didn't need to read her thoughts, he could already guess what she was planning, which made his objective far more crucial.
All the while Marie smiled eagerly, to battle and to claim.
"A relic from an ancient era against the product of a new age. Sounds poetic, does it not?"
"Indeed.", Leon replied, trying to hold his laughter. It will be a battle against old and new, with his being millions of years ahead of whatever Marie has.
Yet he learned that just because something is not advanced, doesn't mean it should be underestimated. The Savage Scarlet was a clear example.
"Tho our chat is pleasant, I believe we should save this for a later date. For now, how about we move on to what we came here for?"
"As you say, I will be looking forward to continuing our chat later. Perhaps after our spar?"
"We shall see."
Both smiled, both a facade to hide their true intentions. They both know. They are as eager as the crowd that came to witness their clash.
Seeing that both have agreed, the referee proceeded with his job.
"You both know the rules. No hitting the pilot chamber. No fatal blows. The spar will end when one side is either defeated, conceded, or when both parties agree to an end. Now please move ten steps back from each other and we may begin."
At his announcement, Marie and Leon went back to their respective cockpits, and their mechs sealed their pilots off from the outside world.
Both machines took 10 steady steps backward until there was a fairly large gap between them. The referee in his Armor then took off to the north side gate, so that it wouldn't get in the two combatants' way.
The two machines entered their battle stances. The Rubyrie posed arrogantly standing straight with its hands inches away from its katanas. In contrast, Zeratul's Honor positioned itself to launch at any possible angle with the blades of his weapon humming with energy, ready to slice.
With its speaker set to the loudest volume, the announcer in his Armor shouted out the one word that commenced the clash.
"BEGIN!"
VROOM!
SHING!
CLASH!
And clash they did. In the blink of an eye, both mechs had closed the distance and steel met steel in the middle. Zeratul's Honor had his blade stopped by the sharp red glowing edge of one of the Rubyrie's katana while the shaft of the shadow scythe was held in place by the opponent's free hand. Both Armors stared at each other's optics, glaring before Gilded raised his mech's leg to kick.
He struck at air but it had managed to make the Rubyrie back off, giving Zeratul's Honor the gap it needed to attack once again. The mech broke down into a fast-moving mass of black mist that flew at the Rubyrie like a bullet. Marie's mech stood at the ready and with inhuman reaction time, parried the slash aimed at her arms with her katana. Yet it didn't end there.
Gilded continued to strike nonstop, each attack much faster than the last, and the Rubyrie remained unscathed as it parried every single one. It accelerated to the point that the red-colored Armor had been covered completely by a swirling dome of black mist. The sounds of clashing steel became a constant ringing as it seemed that Gilded had the upper hand in the eyes of the audience.
"Impressive, but this is getting old.", Bright red orbs pierced through the black mist.
With a single powerful swing of its katana, Rubyrie blasted away the mist with the sheer force behind its swing and struck Zeratul's Honor away from it.
Leon's mech was blocking and it had thankful not received any damage or injury, yet it did force the Armor back into its visible form.
"I see you can do well on the offensive, but what about defense?"
Marie's voice spoke through her Armor's speakers as Rubyrie'a katana began to take on the color of blood. Leon braced himself for Marie's Assault. He had expected her to dash in and get in close but what she did next took him off guard.
The red mech readies its katana and swung it, yet not in the manner of a swordsman but that of an artist stroking its brush upon a canvas. The blade then extended, stretching out with the fluid motion of water and creating a visible horizontal slash that shot toward Zeratul's Honor like a whip.
The mech ducked under the attack but with a simple flick of the Rubyrie's wrist, the extended blade swung down. Gilded reacted just in time to dodge it by dashing to the right but the blood-colored blade merely changed direction and headed for him again.
His Armor would dodge it yet the assault continued, leaving Gilded with no room to breathe.
The crowd was left in awe. This battle had just started and they already had their jaws dropped from shock. Gilded's earlier display was unlike anything anyone has ever seen and the crowd became impressed when Marie seemingly parried his extremely fast attacks like it was nothing. There wasn't even a scratch on her Armor.
Now with the positions switched, they became bewildered by the unknown magic Marie was using in forcing Gilded's mech to dodge with such speed, flexibility, and reaction time that would give even the best Armor pilots of the kingdom look like recruits.
"I-incredible...", A random noble spoke, "I have never seen Armors move that fast before."
"I-indeed. Their skills are unbelievable.", Another one added.
"Woo! Go, Marie! Show that guy his place!", Greg shouted out from his seat like the battle and strength-obsessed knucklehead he is.
"She has him right where she wants him.", Brad spoke with a smug smile.
"You can do it Gilded! Don't give up!", A random student shouted out, followed by several others. All of them being those who had placed their bets on the gold mask-wearing stranger.
Tho similar cheers and yells echo from the stands, the two fighters are entirely focused on each other.
Marie enjoyed watching Gilded's Armor following the moves she made him do with her blade. Such wonderful entertainment. Her joy increased when she realized just how strong the Armor she was fighting was and how capable of a pilot Gilded proved to be.
'Yes, dance, dance! Show me just what you can do!', Marie thought in her head while her lips formed a grin.
Unfortunately for her, she is getting what she wanted, for as a wise man once said, 'Be careful of what you wish for.'
Just as Marie increased the difficulty for Gilded, the young man behind the mask finally decided that enough was enough.
"Analysis complete. Transferring data now."
LUXION's voice spoke in his head before a set of information was uploaded into his brain. The process took only 10 milliseconds before Gilded understood what he needed to do.
During the unending assault, Gilded was forced into the air by the attacks and the mech was only able to avoid being damaged thanks to its gravity manipulator keeping it afloat and the bursts of wind it created from well-hidden thrusters to helping it weave through the air like a bug trying not to get swatted.
Then the eyes of Zeratul'a Honor flashed a bright green before it began its counterattack. It started with the glow of his blades intensifying and its feet being coated in the same neon-green plasma.
It ducked under Rubyrie's blade then hooked one end of its scythe onto the stretched plasma-covered katana and with the aid of the pilot's psionics and a small burst of air from a hidden compartment of the armor, Zeratul's Honor used the momentum it created to swing up and land on the stretched blade.
It was very annoying for Gilded that Marie could somehow change the length and the width of her weapon to whatever she desired. Too bad for her though because Gilded had taken this problem and turned it into an advantage. Now he was going to do something crazy and unbelievable.
VROOM!
SCREEEEEE!
"Oh...my...ancestors.", Greg stared in disbelief.
"How is that-", Chris added, his glasses nearly falling off.
"That's impossible.", Julius spoke, his eyes wide with shock.
From the very first moment they met and up until now, Gilded had done nothing but surprise Angelica, and this very moment is no exception.
Angelica spoke, her mind not being able to comprehend how what she was witnessing was happening, "He's...ridding the blade!"
SCREEEEEEE!
The constant grinding of plasma-coated metal made sparks fly as Zeratul's Honor skated down the stretched length of the katana like a teenage kid riding a skateboard, with its scythe and its telekinetic capabilities stabilizing itself.
Even Marie was stunned at Gilded's daredevil stun, giving him the opportune moment to use its hidden thrusters to increase his speed and close the distance.
However, Marie recovered and tried to swing him away, yet it was already too late. Gilded's mech was in range to attack. It jumped off the blade and let itself fall, its scythe raised above its head, ready to slice.
"CHECK MATE!"
"...no."
With that one defying word Rubyrie drew her second katana and blocked the blade inches away from its head but Marie didn't stop there. She cut off the magic that empowered her first katana, causing its extension to break down like dry leaves, and reverted it to its original form.
Then she swung her weapon slightly above the waist of her opponent and without giving Gilded the time to react, effectively cut the advanced mech in two.
"..."
"Checkmates only work on kings. I'm a queen.", Marie playfully bantered with a smug smile at the upper half of Zeratul's Honor that held onto its weapon and dangled in the air. He was at her complete mercy and Marie licked her lips like the sadist she is.
"...oh, sorry. Then let me correct myself.", The head of the bisected mech raised to stare into the optics of its opponent.
Marie was confused. Is her new pet so persistent that he'd continue to fight even with his Armor cut in two?
The answer to that question of hers...came in the form of the bottom half of Zerstul's Honor suddenly rearing up its right leg and launching a full-force kick in between Rubyrie's legs. The sound it made echoed throughout the entire arena.
PAAAAANG!
PAAAANG!
PAAANG!
Paang!
pang!
...
The Rubyrie groaned. It faltered. It buckled and almost fell to its knees like it was a living organism that had its male reproductive organ pulverized.
In its moment of weakness, the upper half of Zeratul's Honor let go of its weapon, hovered in thin air, and spun around before delivering a devastating punch. The force and momentum behind the strike sent Marie and her Armor crashing directly into the west wall of the battleground.
"Knight takes Queen."
"...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Voices roared from the crowd, some in awe and some in despair yet both in shock, after his words. Gilded let himself bask in it as the upper half of his mech landed on its separate part and Zeratul's Honor had once again become one, after a brief flash of silver.
"That was amazing!", Jenna shouted out from her seat.
To her left stood her servant/unofficial boyfriend, Miauler and he nodded his head in approval, "Indeed. This Gilded Person is full of surprises."
"Yeah. I bet Leon would love watching this.", She then blinked and looked around, "By the way, have you seen him?"
"No, but I'm sure he's getting a front-row seat of the show.", He said with a normal-looking smile.
"Maybe you are right.", Jenna shrugged her shoulders, and before she could further develop the talk between them, it, along with everyone other conversation in the area, was cut off when the dust cloud previously obscuring the Rubyrie had dispersed.
"Well played."
The red eyes of Marie's mech brightened and the pilot inside was burning with strong emotion, yet it didn't anger fueling her flame, no, it was something else. A need for more, a burning desire that craves the man within the mech standing in front of her.
Lust.
Lust for battle. Lust for her prize, Lust...for blood.
"I see that you are a man who will do anything to win. Hehehe, what a coincidence that you and I share the same trait~"
The Rubyrie stood up, its shoulders raised and the wings behind it unfurling and presenting itself in all its glory. It opened its palms and its katanas that were scattered on the ground were coated in a red aura before they fled back into its hands.
"Such resilience. Such fortitude. You wouldn't mind if we start to play, rough~, right?"
All she got as a reply was the neon-green and silver mech grabbing its shadow scythe from the floor and reactivating its blades.
This only made Marie's grin widen with glee.
"Then let the real fun-"
The Rubyrie raised one of its katanas to the sky.
"-begin~"
It then brought it down with its tip pointing towards Zeratul's Honor. Then, at her command, all of its feathers shot out from her wings and flew off toward Gilded's mech, revealing all of them to be rectangular-shaped drones. The drones flew in and moved like a swarm, all of them sharp and numerous enough to tear regular Armor into scrap metal. If that wasn't enough, they all began to fire red beams at Zeratul's Honor in rapid succession.
Yet Zeratul's Honor did not falter. It stood defiant, it did not falter at the sight of the enemy. It reared up its shadow scythe as the outline of its frame began to be coated in the black mist just like before. Then it launched itself forward at the swarm of drones at full speeds. The beams of unknown energy flew straight threw the shrouded mech, leaving it unharmed, before they commenced to slice apart the drones, one at a time, with such speed that it looked like the mech was teleporting from one place to another three times in the blink of an eye, each time leaving a broken drone to fall to the floor, cut in half with clean precision.
If he continues to do this at his current pace, all of the drones will become nothing more than mere scrap metal.
However-
SHING!
CLASH!
-Marie wouldn't stand idly by. The Rubyrie dashed forth and blocked his scythe, locking it in place for a second with both her katanas that glowed bright red.
A pulse of crimson energy surged from the blades. It traveled down Zeratul's Honor's weapon and then washed over the rest of the mech.
This strange energy dispelled the mist protecting Gilded's Armor. With it gone, the drones' attacks are now able to hit the mech.
Unfortunately for Marie, just because its mist coat is gone, doesn't mean it's completely vulnerable.
Like all of the units in the Protoss faction, Zeratul'a Honor has its energy shield, and thanks to what remnants of tech LUXION salvaged from the Protoss escape vessel, it protected the mech from the onslaught of Marie's drones.
But not forever. Zeratul's Honor has a large energy supply but it isn't infinite. It needed to move before its shields drained its power or before Marie began to think up more ways to take the situation to her advantage.
The mech's chest shifted. Panels moved, and compartments underneath the plates disconnected and reconnected until a shallow barrel had formed.
Its chamber shined with bright silver light before it fired a blast of energy that blew away the Rubyrie. This gave Gilded the time he needed to calibrate his mech to deal with the drones.
It took to the sky with the thrusters under its feet and shoulder guards, leaving the ground until Gilded felt he was high enough.
"Aww~ Are you starting to get uncomfortable around little old me, Gilded?"
The Rubyrie recovered and blasted off into the with its back thrusters towards Gilded, her katanas at her side, primed to strike.
"Apologies, but I dislike being pinned."
The frame of Zeratul's Armor suddenly began to be filled with holes, but not from the plasma fire of her drones. No, these...are barrels, gun barrels yet instead of firing regular material bullets.
It fires lasers.
Lots and lots of layers. Each one was precise, each one hitting a drone and causing large amounts of damage. Taking down a single done with each shot. But that's not all. Zeratul's Honor did not need to be stationary to continue taking out the swarm. It could move as freely as it wanted to.
VROOM!
CLASH!
And it didn't waste time re-engaging Rubyrie in close combat.
The blades of the shadow scythe and the edges of the katanas clashed against each other over and over. Sparks flew in the air as the two mechs danced in the sky like birds of prey in a mortal battle to death. Both not slowing down, both eyeing the other for an opening, and both not giving their opponent a chance to get the upper hand.
As their fight in the sky continued, more and more of Marie's drones kept falling out of the air, shot down by Gilded's impossibly accurate laser fire.
To the bystanders, Gilded seems to be gaining the advantage by eliminating Marie's robotic swarm of drones. Those on the masked gentleman's side cheered in support while Marie's followers cursed silently and booed.
Yet once again, their noise meant nothing to the two combatants.
Five minutes passed but the two mechs were still going at each other strong. Flying through the air, ducking, dodging, slashing, diving, and clashing. Both showed no signs of fatigue, which came as a shock to the crowd with how complex their maneuvers have been and how fast their speed is.
But there has been one major thing that changed. The air within the arena is now only occupied by Rubyrie and Zeratul's Honor. The drones have all been wiped out. Reduced to scraps of red-colored metal in the ground. Along with this, all of the barrels all over Gilded's Armor had disappeared, returning its surface to its pristine and smooth appearance.
The two mechs clashed once more and in the brief moment of them being so close, Marie's voice spoke through her Armor'a speakers in a whisper only Gilded could hear.
"I. Want. You."
Oh, how he wished he didn't. The boy was caught in surprise by how needy Marie sounded, causing him to flinch...a mistake that cost him their fair stalemate.
The Rubyrie let go of its katanas and hugged Gilded's Mech with a tight grip that refused to budge. The Rubyrie, with its prey in its grasp, activated its thrusters, and the two mechs dived down toward the ground.
Zeratul's Honor tried everything it could to break free or even slow down their descent, but it was already too late.
CRAASH!
The two Armors had crash-landed, with Zeratul's Honor impacting the ground first on its head. The crash resulted in the rise of a dust cloud to obscured the center of the arena, where the two crashed.
Yet only a few seconds later, Rubyrie is seen being thrown out of the dust cloud. Miraculously, it had twisted in the air and landed on its feet, perfectly, without a scratch on its frame.
Following its landed, Zerarul's Honor blew away the dust cloud with a wave of its right arm to reveal its dusty form. It glared at the Rubyrie, its eyes flashing green with an emotion close to annoyance. Yet instead of being intimidated, Marie's Armor brought a finger to where a mouth should be, acting all innocent and sweet.
Gilded wasn't buying it.
"Really? Was that the best you could think of to take me off guard?"
"Well, it worked it worked didn't it?"
"Perhaps but don't expect that to happen again."
Steam puffed out from Zeratul's exhaust vents. Not wanting to waste any more time, it powered up its legs and boosters to close the distance. He would have done the shadow strike but whatever Marie did had disabled his mech to do so.
One second. In one second, Gilded piloted his mech forward to attack and made it halfway-
TING!
Until something latched itself on his mech's right leg. On instinct, he reared up his scythe to cut it off-
TING!
Before something similar wrapped around the hand holding the top half of the scythe and pulled it back.
TING!
TING!
TING!
TING!
TING!
Gilded kept hearing that noise as more restraints kept latching onto Zeratul's Honor and tried to pull it down. It struggled with its restraints, the gears in its mechanical limbs groaning at the effort, but despite it all, it could barely keep itself up.
Then the Rubyrie walks up to Gilded's mech, strutting forward at a slow pace, right up until it's face to face with Zeratul's Honor. It raised one finger, brought it close to the head of the restrained Armor, and pushed with minimal effort.
That one action was all it took to tip the balance. Despite its groans of protest, Zebra Tula's Honor could not stop itself from falling onto the floor, it couldn't break free from the mysterious red thick chains coming out of the ground, and it couldn't do anything as the Rubyrie stepped on its chest with a force that securely pinned it to the ground.
"What was that you said? About not expecting it to happen again?"
"...well played."
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"WOOHOO!"
"GO MARIE!"
"I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT!"
"WAY TO GO PUTTING THAT GUY IN HIS PLACE!"
"MARIE! MARIE! MARIE!"
"You're so amazing!"
The Maiden of Scarlet Thorns relished in the cheers and the adoration sent her way by her adoring admirers. She basked in the spotlight cast down upon her finally catching her prey. Who would have known that all it took was a simple flirt and a failed experiment with potential? At first, she was trying to make replicas of her deceased Blood Spawn, but all she got was a blob-like creature. She was going to get rid of it, but imagine her surprise when the failed experiment suddenly took on a metallic appearance once it had fed on a scrap of iron, separated itself into smaller versions, combined at will, and changed its shape into anything she desired. It was...intriguing. Then when she fed it an old Armor model, well, the result would be the wonderful weapon she is controlling. Every single part of her supposed mech is secretly composed of her now valuable offspring, even the wings. So as she watched Gilded remain oblivious when her shattered drones burrowed under the ground and combined to form the very chains that now bind him, she felt satisfied with her creation...but...
Marie licked her lips, 'Not as satisfying as to what I'm going to do to you later, my ravishing new pet~ But first I need a name to put on your new collar."
"Well, Sir Gilded, it seems that you clearly can't continue with our spar. By the way, you do still remember your words at the ball, right?"
Marie took out the collar she chose for Gilded and a pen, looking very eager to write down a name upon its leather strap.
"Indeed."
Gilded replied with an exhausted sigh, "I would tell you my name during our spar, most preferable at the end...but I don't recall myself yielding as of yet."
"You still wish to fight? Does your pride not allow you to accept defeat? To continue fighting?", Marie playfully asked him.
"Oh, you misunderstand, Fair Maiden. It is not pride that makes me defiant. No, it is excitement, the thrill."
The eyes and the green lines of Zeratul's Honor started to shine with a growing light. It started from the center of its chest and spread out from there to every part of its body. It made no move but its entire frame began to hum with power.
"I have never faced an opponent such as you. My heart hasn't raced this much for a long time and, I wish to enjoy every single moment of it until our epic conclusion. So please forgive me as I refuse to let this battle end this way."
The glow intensified into a great flash, blinding all, including Marie. When they all could finally see, Gilded's mech was no longer bound to the floor, and the chains that restrained it had disintegrated to dust. The Rubyrie's head spins around to search for its opponent, only to see that it now stands in the exact spot it was at before the battle began, and right across from Marie is Gilded mech, dusting itself off from the ashes of her chains.
Marie did not know what just happened...but she grew tired of this charade. It's now time for her to stop playing with her food and claim her meal. The optics of the Rubyrie narrowed, its hands grabbing the handles of its katanas and unsheathing them. Yet Gilded hasn't yet moved, he merely stared at Marie through his screen, feeling amused.
However, before Marie could command her living weapon to charge, she stopped herself when Zeratul's Honor raised its hand.
"I can see your desire to end this spar and we both know we won't yield to the other so easily. So, how about we come to a compromise? One to ensure that this will be the last clash of our blades."
Marie is silent, and so is the rest of the people in the stands. The nobles spectating the event are confused and don't know what Gilded is implying, yet Marie does.
"I am listening."
Gilded grew a smirk inside his mech, "The Vow. We vow that we shall put all of our energy, all of our power, into one single attack, that we shall launch at each other. The one to remain standing shall be the winner and if you win, I shall tell you my name. What do you say?"
The audience gasps out in surprise. A vow? In the middle of a battle? It's unheard of...for the newer generations, but those of the old are very familiar with this tactic. After all, this is the very same technique that had allowed the Black Knight of the Principality of Fanoss to win the last conflict against the kingdom.
"A vow?", Olivia had only read about this ancient yet powerful spell in a book and once during a magic lesson. Yet, she is also confused, because from what she has learned, performing a vow drains a large amount of the users' magic reserves. Why would they-
"I accept."
!
Upon her words, the two commenced with the spell. Olivia sat in her seat, bearing witness alongside hundreds of nobles as the mechs placed one hand upon their chest. That part then glowed with a bright light before that light concentrated and became magic circles, showing to all that the Vow is instead being cast.
"By fearless blood and enduring spirit..."
"By courageous heart and unyielding souls..."
"I stake thy name upon our words that may we never forsake our promises!"
"From now on and onto death, ancestors bear witness to our honor!"
"Until our last breath!/Until our last breath!"
As the major portion of her magic was offered as a price for the vow, Marie Fou Lafan flared the rest of her energy, creating an aura of beauty and danger. Red as the blood that courses through her veins is its color, and it grew as her magic manifested in the real world. The aura swelled and shifted until it began taking shape. A Beast. Majestic yet disastrous. A living catastrophe that is both feared and awed. A Beast...with no name, for it changes with the currents of the world, growing...Evolving.
Yet something stands in its way.
An aura of silver bursts forth from Zeratuul's Honor. It was sudden, it was bright and illuminated the space above Gilded Mech. Then from that light, a form emerges. A Warrior. One whose soul has transcended to reach the stars. One whose will has been tempered to endure even the most impossible trials of life. A warrior, who had survived, now strives to thrive. To pass the boundaries beyond the impossible and reach for the stars.
These manifestations of the two combatants' magic...descended, upon their weapons, imbuing them with the power to finish the battle. The katanas became the fangs of the beast and the determination of the warrior manifested within the blades of the scythe.
Both warriors readied their stance and their empowered weapons.
The tension in the air was thick, thick enough that it could be cut with a knife...or at least, it would have been, but Zeratul's Honor and the Rubyrie did not waste any time. The second they got into their stances, they rushed at each other, and in a single second, they had closed the distance and their weapons clashed.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
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Marie's eyes flutter open and sees an unfamiliar ceiling. White marble with simple flower designs. She felt confused, and two questions floated in her mind. Where is she and what happened? The girl tries to move her body. She had to sit up and properly see her surroundings, but her limbs felt weak. Marie closed her eyes, breathed in deadly, and tried again, yet nothing changed. She is still stuck lying on what she manages to guess is a bed due to how soft it is. However, despite how comfortable it was, her confusion slowly started to turn into panic.
Creek
The sound of a door opening reached her ear, followed by a gentle feminine voice.
"Okay Miss Lafan, it's time for", The voice stopped mid-sentence and from the corner of her eyes, Marie saw a glimpse of a shocked nurse, "Miss Lafan! You're awake!"
"She's awake?!"
"Marie has woken up?!"
"Marie!"
Several voices were heard and the door opened. Dozens of footsteps came her way and familiar faces entered her view.
"Marie! You are awake!", Brad spoke, a smile on his face.
"Oh thank the saintess.", Chris added with a sigh.
"You almost had us worried there.", Greg said with a smirk that was ruined by the sheer relief he was feeling.
"Do you need anything? Anything at all?", Jilk asked her, looking ready to run out of the room to buy her whatever she needed or wanted.
Marie remembered immediately who they were, especially the last one holding her hand with both of his.
"Marie.", Julius uttered only her name, yet the look on his face was enough to tell how happy he was to see her.
Marie didn't reply. She only looks at each of their faces. She waited for an emotion to stir in her eyes glancing at each of them. At their looks, at their expressions...staring at them...made something inside her...burn.
The five heirs to the founding houses of the kingdom looked on with worry at her silence. Greg and Chris had even started to think that something wrong was happening to her while Jilk and Brand thought it was something they said. Most worried of all would be Julius, "Marie? Are you okay?"
"I...I...", Marie's words are weak and uncertain...
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Then her lips curled into a soft smile, her cheeks turning pink in a blush, "...I'm glad to see you all too."
The hearts of the five boys each skipped a beat. Their faces each grew a blush of their own at the sight of innocence and beauty. Yet they did not step back, nor did they lean forward, they are content with where they are. Giving the girl They are interested in the company and care she deserves while they admire her adorable smile, her ocean-blue eyes, and her silky golden hair.
"Us too."
~Meanwhile~
"Commander. Miss Lafan has woken up from her coma.", LUXION's voice spoke through the Phantom unit standing behind Leon.
"Does she still have any trace of it?", Leon replied as he stared right out the window of his room before taking a sip of his tea.
"Negative. Her system is clean. Although her magic capacity and potential remain the same."
"Well, that's one less thing to worry about.", He took a sip of his calming green leaf tea mixed with honey and a secret ingredient that made the tea gain a dull red color, before he set it down tea cup on the table to his right, "Now we can move on to more-"
Leon turned to face his trusted partner, "Important matters.", His voice took on a more serious tone as his eyes stared directly into the optics of the Phantom unit, a single red visor staring into a pair of crimson-colored orbs.
DONE! HAHA! Finally! Gosh, it took me like, Last Year's October to 2023's January, to finish this one. A lot of things could have happened here. There are many ways this chapter could have ended but somehow, I had finally chosen one and this is what I chose. First off, yes, you now all have a lot of questions but you have also been given more information about the world Leon is living in and a few clues about the past. I've laid out a few hints here and there within this chapter, but it's your choice in what to do with them. I'm just glad I'm done with chapter 11...and now I have to deal with chapter 12. UUUGGGGHHHHHHH! WELP! Even if I end up brain dead or lose all of my brain cells, I will continue this story and give it what many fanfics haven't received for years, an ending, a proper ending. So I hope you all are patient until the next time we meet.
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By the way, did you all hear about the announcement of how "Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs" is getting a season two? OH, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT! Oh, I can't wait to hear more of Leon's motivational roasts and burns. AHAHAHAHAHAHA!