The Knightfall

by The Agent of Chaos

Destiny is like a wonderful wide tapestry in which every thread is guided by an unspeakably tender hand, placed beside another thread and held and carried by a hundred others. Sorry about my lacks, I'm an inexperienced beginner n I'm not a native speaker.

95. Right Here In Your Heart

Chapter 95

"To the whole world you might be just one person, but to one person you might just be the whole world"

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

0000

At long last, there is only one opponent left…

Fiorentin, with the help of Olivia, has just finished donning in a Legion Plate Armor she obtained earlier from Gen Ed as a token of good luck. She finished preparing by putting a lance on her back. It's a heavy and padded personal armor made from refined Oridecon, worn in the torso. Fio brought it with her as an anticipation of her fight with Sieger. From her earlier encounter with him at Glast Heim, she knew all too well one hit from either one of his swords could cost her dearly.

"Wouldn't it add more weight on you? Are you sure you can move in your normal speed wearing this?" Olivia didn't hide her concern over her childhood friend, which is reasonable.

"It might slow me down a little, but that's better than being cut into two by Twin Edge" Fio checked everything she needed, making sure the preparation to go to the highest level of the tower is complete, "Thanks for your help, Olivia. I think we're ready to go now"

Yet before the team could proceed, Fenrir threw a wild guess which captured everyone's attention, "But I bet you won't need so many of us"

"You had a good point which I'm about to explain" Since half the news is leaked already, the rune knight goes straight, "Guys, thanks for your help until now. But I don't want all of you to go with me upstairs"

"Why?" Frea ousted the others to ask, although Fenrir & El seemed to know why.

"It's improper, as ridiculous as it may sound, but I don't want so many people covering Lord Sieger and I when we're battling. At least to me, it would give him the indication of I not wanting to accept any result that isn't favorable to me so I outnumbered him. You can call it childish, but that's just how I feel. I want Elraven, Frea, and Olivia to accompany me, the rest can go back to Pegasus. Please, just this once, listen to my request" After Fio's done with her request, the others started looking at each other.

"Oh, well. It can't be helped. A fair fight should be done one on one anyway" Marcus showed maturity (in a rare occasion) as he bids the princess, "Got get him, tiger"

"Tiger? What tiger? She's a lady, dude" True, just like Eremes said it should be 'tigress' not tiger. But, hey, what do you expect from Marcus? "Good luck, princess. And Olivia, watch your back"

"Sure thing" The high priest winked an eye to her boyfriend. Wonder what does that mean?

"Don't get your butt hurt, Freyja" You know this is coming from whom, right? "And, princess Fiorentin, you can defeat him. Just don't ever hesitate, you ever felt one up there you're as good as dead"

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind"

"Vice-captain" This one came from Sasha, "You have to ensure you're all gonna come back in one piece, okay?"

"I'll do my best"

"Good luck with your mission, fellows. We're out of here" Gregory concluded the support and the group sent themselves away from the remaining four.

Fio, El, Olivia, and Frea ran to inside the tower, having to go five more floors to get to the top. While on their way, Olivia threw a question, "Fio, how did you get into the Rune Knight class? I never knew you mastered it in the first place"

"Hm? I think achieved it when I was trying to master The Eye of Providence from The Spell of Odin"

"But, I'm glad for it. At least your chance of winning against Sieger is higher now"

"And you said that because?"

"Isn't he at Lord Knight level? Logically, it shouldn't be too hard for you to defeat him" Olivia talks some sensible things. But Fio had a different idea.

"I beg to differ on that subject" The rune knight seriously explained, "Lord Sieger may very well be the better fighter between he and me. Although I'm on a higher class, he's got more experience and better mastery in the techniques. I think The Eye of Providence might help me fighting him better than I previously did. But an easy win? By all means, no. Although I must admit that sounds great"

"Well, Alexandria, you might want to take a note" El took his turn to speak, "Earlier, we had a short earthquake on the island. And as we knew it, Naght Sieger caused it. So, please be careful. One hit from him, as you've stated it, would cost you with your own life"

"Precisely, and let's not forget what you promised me, okay?" Apparently, the rune knight and the gunslinger shared a promise before making their way to where Beelzebub was originally being battled. Although, neither Olivia nor Frea would ask of it, both know it's something dead serious. And being reminded, El couldn't help but recall it…

Not too long ago, when El & Fio were making their way to where Beelzebub was…

The two were focused on themselves throughout the path. El was thinking of the Lucifer form while Fio was thinking of her preparation. None of them voiced anything at all. But the silence is all but gone when the rune knight spoke, "Elraven?"

"Yes?" The gunslinger's attention was casted on the soft calling, "Is everything okay, Alexandria?"

"Yeah…well, actually, I need your help" The conversation was brought to another level.

"Sure, just name it"

"I think you understand how important it is for me to settle my bout with Lord Sieger fairly"Although El didn't give any response, both sides were on the same page so the swordswoman continued, "And I really believe fairly means I'll have to settle my score with him one on one no matter what happens. So…"

"You want me to not let anyone interferes no matter whom?" El easily read what she had in mind like it was clear from the very beginning, "I'm sorry, Alexandria. I'm in no position to lecture you, but that's reckless. If Naght Sieger is as good as you told me, it would be very dangerous to not let anyone have your back. He's comparable to the likes of Beelzephir, Ifrit, Morroc, Baphomet, or Thanatos. Logically, you can't defeat him alone. I'm not trying to underestimate you, but that's just how I feel"

"I understand your concern, and I appreciate it" When Fio spoke of it, Elraven got this feeling that the rune knight wouldn't take no for an answer this time, "But this is a matter of honor. If I don't settle this by my own, then I can never live without thinking of what could have been"

That moment, Elraven finally understood what she has in mind, completely. Not only she was trying to uphold her sense of honor, she was also trying to keep her pride as a warrior alive. As a warrior, it's only normal for her to wish for seeing her own limit, her own capability, her own power. And as much as it hurts him knowing so, he knew how important those things were for her.

"…alright…" El answered while still making their way, "Just this once, I'll listen to your request…on one condition"

"Speak of it"

"I will only hold back until you can no longer grip your swords with your two hands. Any more than that, you can make sure I'll do everything I could to stop Naght Sieger. Are we agreed?" In a rare occasion, Elraven showed a harsher side of him to the princess.

"We are" Those two words ensure their agreement for the big fight which about to happen.

Return to present time…

"We're here" Frea said upon arriving on a big rusty gate by the end of the stairs, and broke Elraven free of his wandering. The gunslinger took the freedom to slowly pushing it inside, revealing an old large ballroom with a throne on the other corner, The Lord of The Night sitting on it.

"WELCOME, PRINCESS FIORENTIN" The demon stood from his throne to have a better look on his 'guests', "I HAVE BEEN EXPECTING YOU"

"Me too, but I must express I'm deeply disappointed" A rather piercing reply from the younger knight, "I was expecting to meet a gentle and caring man, pious, a beautiful soul filled with love and honor. But what I'm seeing right now is a full-fledged demon, both inside and outside"

"WHAT HARSH WORDS YOU JUST SAID, PRINCESS FIORENTIN. BUT, WHAT GOOD IS LOVE AND HONOR IF IT CAUSES NOTHING BUT DEATH? BUT SUFFERING?" Naght Sieger pulled both his swords to the mid-air, so his opponent and her group could witness it, "I'M TIRED OF IT. NOW, I ONLY WISH FOR IT TO END…FOREVER"

"…disappointing" Fio did the same, showing off her Balmung and Katzbalger, "I might have overestimated you all this time"

"THAT SHOULD BE FOUND OUT BY HAVING A TRY FOR YOURSELF"

In a wink of an eye, both swordfighters met in the middle of the room, clashing their treasured swords. The other three spectators could feel the impact of the clash as the wind around the goes amok, telling them this isn't a trivial matter at all. Back into Pegasus, Gen Ed, Iris, Marcus, Gregory, Eremes, Fenrir, Sasha, and Patricia are watching from the monitor linked to El's glasses they put earlier. After all, who would want to miss this one?

After exchanging words, in a quick step, Sieger appeared in front of the unprepared Fiorentin. With his right hand holding his blue Twin Edge, he slice the blade edge horizontally across before drawing the weapon close to Fiorentin. The shorter swordswoman, however, managed to block the attack in the last second. But she cannot conceal the shock on her face. Fiorentin didn't have the faintest idea how Sieger could suddenly close the distance between them using his teleportation unnoticed just like that. She wouldn't let this happen again. Resuming the fight, Sieger performed a straight chop by swinging his Blue Twin Edge from left to right upwards. Fiorentin was, once again, outmaneuvered despite having the superior speed and forced to block the attack. A reverse chop from Naght Sieger came up next by swinging his sword from the left side to the right side. Fiorentin bowed to dodge the attack but Sieger swung his sword downward from his waist height. The swing was wide and downward, nearly scratching Fiorentin's left shoulder and wounded it. But Fiorentin didn't have the time to worry about that because another attack is coming; another swing gazed downward along the hacking sword. And at the same time Sieger moved into a bow stance. The rune knight managed to avoid the attack by withdrawing for several steps, yet as if he has been anticipating this move all along, Sieger thrusted the sword forward with one hand, sharp blade facing down, fingers of left hand touching the right hand, in a bow stance. The gaze and force of the thrust were directed to the tip of the sword, forming a straight line. The thrust nearly pierce its target's neck hadn't Fiorentin leapt few second before the strike. Contrary to what he's been wishing to happen, Fiorentin's seemed like she's been doing her homework avoiding all those attacks, she couldn't have done that before at Glast Heim. But the same goes for her, none of her attacks scratched Sieger so basically she's on a wholesome problem too.

"Damn, that big guy is good!" Olivia expressed her most honest comment after seeing the opening of the battle, "No mistake at all guarding or attacking…be it guarding or attacking, all of them were planned carefully with perfect timing! I wouldn't last half a minute against him!"

"And he moves real quick for someone who is over ten feet tall" Even Frea is impressed, "Even Ifrit or Beelzephir would have problems following his speed. I can guarantee that much"

Different from the other two, El is rather of calm, "As expected from the earlier generations of Adler, but that doesn't mean Alexandria got no chance of creating an advantage for herself"

"You know that how?" Olivia replied.

"True, Alexandria couldn't land a hit on Sieger or even find an opening. But it is also true Sieger couldn't hit her directly either. The last attack got blocked well, Alexandria was just bested in terms of raw power. Her Eye of Providence served her with deeper insight on his attacks, allowing her to take action before anything bad happens. And Sieger himself, for some reason I couldn't decipher, wasn't able to land a clean hit on Alexandria. That means although all Alexandria's attack resulted on failures, the situation is just almost the same for her opponent. On that matter alone, they're nearly on an equal ground. It's too early to say Alexandria is bested. The decisive part of the battle might just about to begin" El explained like a pro-commentator. Frea & Olivia didn't have anything to ask afterwards.

"YOU HAVE IMPROVED WELL ENOUGH EVER SINCE WE LAST CROSSED SWORDS, PRINCESS FIORENTIN. I SHALL GIVE YOU THAT MUCH" Naght Sieger reopened the conversation by first stating a praise, "BUT ONLY THAT WOULDN'T EVEN BRING ME DOWN TO MY KNEES. LET ALONE COMPLETELY DEFEATING ME"

"True, it could be either I have become better…or you have become weaker" Fiorentin, again, replied with such harsh comment.

"SUCH CONFIDENCE, ALBEIT THE FACT I NEARLY PIERCED THROUGH YOUR FLESH. YOU BETTER HOPE THAT WOULD NOT BE THE VANITY COSTING YOU WITH YOUR OWN LIFE"

"It wouldn't, my Eye of Providence sees through your attacks. Be it magic spells or sword attacks, I could see through it and avoid it. Mark my words, I would land a clean hit on your first before you could land one on me. I guarantee it"

"INTERESTING, MAY I KNOW FROM WHERE DID YOU GAIN SUCH THOUGHT?"

"I don't think, I know. I think you have some fatal flaws when you're attacking"

"I SHALL SEE TO THAT"

Before the fight even resumed, Fiorentin already showed a little smile on her face. Obviously, she has come up with a plan after the last sparring she got with Sieger. Sieger apparently noticed this, so he took a direct action and attacked by sending another wave of Flame Cutters. In retaliation, Fio slashed using Bedivere, creating one giant wind cutter and not only stopped the flame cutters, but also sending a Sonic Wave to attack Sieger. Sieger avoided the wave attack via teleporting himself after the shockwave passed and delivered a double pierce attack which saw Fiorentin evading it. The rune knight pulled out her lance and strike with a bowling bash. Sieger moved his body two steps away from its reach before giving Fio a double slash up close. Fio quickly jumped backward and returned back to her stance with a pleased look on her face. Unknown to Sieger, Fiorentin might now know what would be the key of her victory in this fight. It's a bet, but worth giving a shot. And she started the bet with sending another shockwave. Much like his earlier doing, Sieger teleported right to beside Fiorentin, and strike her with the same giant wind cutter using Bedivere. Whenever it is performed, Bedivere would force the wind to create one giant scythe. But Fiorentin took a different approach this time. Instead of avoiding the attack, she delivered Bedivere also, taking the form of a powerful, invisible blast of wind from her swords which shot right at the cutter and nullified it when they met. Another shot came at Sieger from his front which the said demon stopped easily with one normal slash. Just like the previous pattern, it was only a decoy so Fiorentin could get herself close to Naght Sieger and forced him into close ranged combat. Extending her lance in a spiral fashion, Fiorentin pierced at Sieger with his stomach as her target. The demon blocked the attack using both his swords to defend, not realizing this was also an anticipated attempt. While her lance is still connecting with his swords, the rune knight applied another Spiral Pierce, this time successfully forcing Sieger to move back. And to follow the previous impact, his move is also stunned by the effect. Fio held her lance with her left hand and used her right to draw out Balmung, slamming it hard to the crossed Twin Edge using The Head Crush which forced Sieger to open his defense even more. Fiorentin is gaining the upper hand in here. This is the key she realized earlier. Whenever Sieger is being engaged to a close ranged combat, he would do his best to defend himself rather than attacking first. And that is his weakness she would use for her own gain. Fiorentin pummeled both swords again with The Head Crush, and again after seeing her attempt is bearing a fruit. Sieger wished he wasn't drawn to her trap to engage in a close range combat but it's all too late now. The rune knight applied Spiral Pierce, this time directly to the center of the crossed swords, and finally broke the defense. It seems the grip of Naght Sieger applied to his Twin Edge has weakened along the barrage. Finally having her opponent defenseless, even just for one moment, Fiorentin slammed her Balmung hard into Sieger's flame manteau using The Ignition Break, directly attacking the demon using the force of Balmung and the ferocious explosion combined. Needless to say, the demon is blasted by the explosion. Sieger, having received the attack directly, is sent many steps back until he hit the wall, which he nearly destroyed because of the force impact. As blood is seen starting drip from his lower torso, everyone watching the fight is left with nothing but amazement. Fiorentin has just proven her words.

"She really did it!" Iris was the first to express her amazement, despite watching from Pegasus.

"Hell yeah!" Fenrir came up next.

"That ain't half bad" Eremes also followed.

"Kudos, kudos" Marcus voiced a praise which saw Gregory smiling for it.

Gen Ed glances at Sasha, seeing her somewhat thoughtful smile. "Well, the most difficult part is about to present itself now" Gen Ed told himself that, "Good luck, Princess"

Back in the tower, the viewers are also in awe. "Fio, you really did it!" Olivia clasped her hands in excitement, "As expected from the most talented swordswoman from Prontera!"

"That was good, she actually landed a clean hit on Sieger…" Frea cannot help letting her head shook, "Awesome"

"Told you, guys" And this one is from Elraven, "If Alexandria can be beaten by a man who isn't even half his true self, Valdomir would have won this war a long time ago"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Olivia, again, didn't seem to understand.

"If what I heard from Alexandria was right, this Naght Sieger isn't his real true self. He's just a pathetic attempt of imitating" Olivia didn't seem to dig what El's been talking, but Frea surely did.

"Oh, I see what you're trying to say" The soul linker responded, "If it's so, then Princess Fiorentin would have an easy win"

"True"

"What are you guys talking about? Can't someone please fill me in?" Poor Olivia, it must be a though life being a…you know, troublesome person. And she is hoping for El to answer her…which he does.

"You'll see it, Olivia. Soon enough"

"So? I proved my words, right?" Fiorentin rested Balmung on her shoulder, putting her eyes on her opponent, "One clean hit"

"DON'T BE TOO PROUD OF YOURSELF, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN" Naght Sieger returned back to his normal stance, giving little to no care of his wound.

"Really? I won't be too sure of that, if you know what I mean" Although this isn't respectful, Fiorentin pointed at Sieger using her index finger, "You, the current you, won't be able to defeat me. You're just a lousy attempt of reincarnating him"

"AM I HEARING THINGS? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?" Sieger spoke back with anger, "THERE'S A LIMIT OF BEING PRIDEFUL, PRINCESS FIORENTIN.

"I'm not being prideful, I'm being honest. The Naght Sieger I fought at Glast Heim and came to respect to was far far far stronger than you" The conversation is taken to a whole different level, "If you cannot even realize that then…you're totally hopeless. You're not the person I've been wanting to cross swords with"

"STOP TALKING NONSENSE! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"You're a fake…and a disappointment" Fio returned to her fighting stance, "Need to mark my words again? Fine, remember this. The current you, I can defeat you easily"

"DON'T BE SO CONCEITED!"In anger, Nahght Sieger lost his cool and rushed to Fiorentin with a double pierce. Yet, having lost his calm and cool due to the provoking words from the rune knight, Fio could easily saw through his flaws and outmaneuvered him by moving to his left side, and hammered him using a direct Sonic Wave. Naght Sieger was stunned, both inside and outside, due to the fact Fio just easily hit him.

"What? She could hit him with ease?" Olivia was also shocked by the development.

Not giving Sieger the faintest chance to react, Fiorentin pulled out her lance and, in direct precision, smashed Sieger's whole torso using the Hundred Spear, striking his Flame Manteau more than he can ever count. The attack sent Sieger crashed to his throne, although he could still stand. Two successive attacks and he's not even on his knees. "WHY? HOW COME SHE COULD EASILY ATTACK ME?" The demon, albeit the lack of his facial expression, cannot hide his shock. Even he couldn't understand why Fiorentin easily gained the upper hand in less than a minute. The next thing he knew he feels like he's pulled by an unseen force at Fiorentin. It's the Phantom Thrust, a combined technique between normal spear mastery and magic spell which draws its target closer to its user. Fiorentin thrust Sieger's neck before he could counter, sending him back to his throne. This time, although the attack is still not enough to bring Sieger down, the throne got destroyed because Sieger literally crashed onto it. And his physical stature alone is more than enough to crash anything normal if it gets hit. Showing her merciless side, Fiorentin ran at his direction and landed an Ignition Break at him for the second time, sending him hitting the wall and crashing to the next room. Regardless, Sieger managed to maintain his stature and not taken down yet. But his mind is full of anger, alright. "Unbelievable!" Olivia was shaking her head in total disbelieve seeing the fight progressed. This is way too much for her to handle. Naght Sieger has totally lost his thinking, "THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! HOW COULD YOU HIT ME WITH GREAT EASE? YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT JUST MINUTES AGO!"

"Well, now the table has turned hasn't it?" The rune knight kept her commanding voice when she expressed the obvious, "I told you about this. The current you wouldn't be able to defeat me. Is it that hard to understand? Were my swords not enough to explain it to you?"

No answer, the demon didn't seem to understand.

"Seems they were not" Now, it's Fio who expressed her disappointment with an angered voice, "Not only you are blinded by your hatred, you have also became foolish thanks to it. You couldn't understand what I've been trying to imply? Fine! I'll tell you! You are a fake, a disgrace to your own honorable self and to the people who loved you and respected you! Your hatred clouded your power and made you far weaker than your true self! You have completely become a demon with demon's heart! You are just Naght Sieger! The true Naght Sieger is Gaeris Adler, not a demon who couldn't even realize his own weakness! You're a pathetic excuse of a human being!"

Now, Naght Siegers seems to finally understand what she's been trying to tell him. Ever since accepting himself as full-fledged demon, he became someone other than Gaeris Adler. He became Naght Sieger himself. A demon both in and out. His mistake from the very first place is forgetting who he truly is. Unbeknownst to him, it did nothing other than weakening himself. He is merely a shell of his former self. He didn't know what to do or how to do everything right. He couldn't even cover for his own flaws in battle. He's pathetic.

"Do you understand now?" After a pregnant silence, Fiorentin began to speak again, "I have heard from Isabel what changed you in the first place. You were disappointed, after all the centuries you spent redeeming yourself, your family ended up betraying you because of a cheap talk from Beelzebub. It's understandable, but it doesn't justify you're doing. You cannot give up now, not after you have lived through so much"

"….CAN YOU TELL ME ONE GOOD REASON WHY I CANNOT SURRENDER?" Sieger reacted, it felt like an entire lifetime he wanted to say this, "EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN LIMIT, PRINCESS FIORENTIN. AND I AM NO EXCEPTION. I AM NOT TRYING TO SAY ANYTHING EGOISTICAL, BUT IF WHAT I DID WAS FRUITLESS, EVEN I HAD ENOUGH. IF THE FORGIVENESS I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO EMBRACE IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND, THEN I MIGHT AS WELL…"

"Don't say anything anymore!" The rune knight cut him from speaking any further. She yelled so loud it surprised not only Sieger, but also her three spectators, "I'm so sick of you saying the forgiveness you wanted had never came to you! I'm so sick of you pitying yourself! You are not so low you can overlook and underestimate your soul that much! Do you even know what kind of forgiveness you want to see? Who do you want to forgive you? How does it look like? How does it feel? Do you even know all that? Because if you don't, that means you have truly been blinded by your self-hating! So much that you cannot even realize, that all along, you have been forgiven a long time ago! It was you who could never forgive yourself!"

"…YOU JUST SAID, IT WAS ME WHO COULD NOT FORGIVE MYSELF? I HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN A LONG TIME AGO? BY WHOM?"

"By the people around you, whom you refer to them as your family" The answer just tingled something inside the skull-faced demon. Maybe it was the words he has been waiting for all the time. It was relieving, it was honest, it was beautiful. If only he had a shed of tears left in him he would probably be shedding those by now.

"Lord Sieger!" Everyone's attention is caught by the sudden appearance of Isabel, who was seen standing near the entrance gate. The high priest didn't waste any second running to Sieger's side, attending him, "Oh Goodness! You're bleeding! Here, let me heal you!"

Naght Sieger didn't say a word watching Isabel taking care of his wounds. Fiorentin and the others, too, only watched it with quietness. Fio must have thought it wasn't really fair for her to fight the real Sieger, so she would let him heal. So she can cross sword with the real him. The demon pretty much figured out what's Isabel doing here. No one needs to tell him. The man who once was known as Gaeris Adler didn't let his eyes wander from the high priest he had known since her childhood days. He could see her worry on her face. And then the words Fiorentin told him repeated themselves inside his head. It was he who could never forgive himself. He was blinded by his guilt. His regret outweighed everything he should have been able to see and feel. And Isabel's compassion for him was one of those things. If only he had been wiser, maybe things he didn't want to happen would never happened. Fiorentin was right, him pitying himself for too long is pitiful and pathetic. He wasn't even his real self any longer. Until now, he never really understood how important his family was. All he could think about, despite the love he showed them, was how he would be forgiven of this and that. Now when his family was dilapidated, he tried his hard to find a way out and ended up in the wrong way. If only he would have opened his eyes a bit more, he would have realized the forgiveness he longed for came in the form of a beautiful family he watched over for generations. Their love is what saved his soul and forgave his sin. Before he knew it, he had been forgiven a very very long time ago. And the young woman taking care of him right now is the proof of that.

"…WHAT HAVE I DONE?" Naght Sieger spoke in a slow tune, his voice was full of sadness, allowing everyone to hear him, "OH…HOW FOOLISH I HAVE BEEN TO NOT NOTICE ALL THAT…"

"Lord Sieger…please don't say anything anymore…" Isabel said with a choked voice. She was obviously fighting the urge to cry, "You have regretted everything just about enough for your whole life. Please don't say anything that would only hurt yourself anymore…it's enough"

It's rather relieving words from her. Relieving for both of them. Slowly, but gently, Naght Sieger reached for her right hand and hold it. He could feel her warmth. The owner of this warm hand, it was him who raised her. Isabel, doing it in total consciousness, slowly extended her left arm so she can touch his face, which she did. He has always been so fatherly toward her, but the truth is she never saw him as a father. She regarded him as a man whom she loved. She knew he said it himself her feelings aren't mutual with his, but she didn't care. Knowing he acknowledged that her feelings aren't just an illusion was more than enough for her. And perhaps her feeling is just about the only thing ensuring Naght Sieger he hadn't lived for vain. His life means something, even if it's just for someone. In a way, their feelings are mutual.

"…ISABEL" Naght Sieger gently called for her name, his voice is more familiar to her. This is how he sounds when he was still an honorable man, proving just as much that he's returned "THANK YOU, I AM REALLY GRATEFUL YOU CAME ALL THE WAY HERE"

"I am more grateful to see have you, the real you, back" Isabel responded happily, knowing all too well the honorable man has finally returned, "Welcome home"

"Finally…" Fiorentin said with a slow tune, making sure everyone heard her. In an instant, the entire floor could feel an unimaginable yet invisible force choking them on the neck. The entire floor feels like shaking when Naght Sieger slowly rose back to his stance. Fiorentin could feel a cold sweat falling across her left hand. The pressure is getting to her. This is the pressure she's familiar with, for she also felt it back there at Glast Heim. It cannot be wrong, this presence belongs to the one and only, The Real Naght Sieger. The real challenge just presents itself in front of her, "Now, we're talking"

"Is…this…him?" Olivia cannot stop her body from slightly trembling. All the sudden rise of the tension is too much for her.

"The real him" Elraven smiled, kind of enjoying the moment without the feeling of pressured at all, "Definitely the real him"

"Hm…so then true fight is just about to begin, huh?" Frea slowly spoke after feeling the tension, "Godspeed, princess"

"Godspeed, Lord Sieger" Isabel, too, said the same thing to Naght Sieger which he replied with a nod. Calmly, both knights walk and step in, locking eyes.

"I APOLOGIZE FOR LETTING YOU DOWN AND MAKING YOU WAIT FOR SO LONG, PRINCESS FIORENTIN" Now, that's more like the real Naght Sieger.

"Oh, no worries. It was worth it" Fiorentin moved to a stance, this time seriously, "So, shall we dance?"

"UNQUESTIONABLY" The moment the fight resumes, the older knight made the first move by striking with an incredibly powerful slash which Fiorentin dodged by jumping. Regardless, the slash is powerful enough to hit the entire floor, narrowly hitting the three spectator as well. Fiorentin was dearly surprised with the opening attack, as expected from the real Naght Sieger. Sieger swung his Twin Edge through the air, sending fire cutters at her in an alarming rate. She countered using the Sonic Wave by first clasping his own two swords and creating a wave of invisible energy to erase all the flame cutters. Sieger didn't let her close the distance between them, he pushed her even further using his magic. Sieger summoned both the ice & fire spell and put them into his Twin Edge, fire for the red and ice for the blue. He slashed using both swords, this time delivering ice spikes and flame cutters at the same time. Even Sonic Wave wouldn't be enough to eliminate them. But Fiorentin doesn't want to be counted out just yet. Using her Bedivere like she did earlier, she formed a large blade of wind so that it covers an angle of about 180 degrees around her. The resulting blast is large enough to slice through multiple targets, causing great damage. While more than sufficient to cause crippling, if not fatal, damage, it is incapable of cutting all the way through human flesh. But it sure as hell enough to stop all the spikes and cutters, and finally giving her the needed space as she landed on the floor. But much to her chagrin, Sieger already closed the distance between them. The demon pierced the floor in front of him and summoned Ice Spikes from below, which had Fiorentin roll away to dodge them. It didn't end there, Naght Sieger casted The Aura Blade on his red Twin Edge and created a special aura around the weapon that increases damage before further casting a fire ball. Combining both spells, the demon slammed the red sword to the floor at Fio's direction and expelled a massive orb of roaring flame, engulfing the entire direction of the target and destroyed the wall as well, leaving a big hole to be witnessed on the tower. A he smoke screen also appeared as the result of the explosion.

"Oh goodness! Fio!" Olivia yelled for the rune knight, who is missing after the attack. And the smoke screen doesn't help her searching for her either.

"Don't worry, I can still sense her. She's still alive" A word from Frea calmed the high priest a little, "Still, it's unbelievable! The table has turned the moment Sieger got serious! What amazes me even more is the fact Princess Fiorentin could survive the attack"

"Well, she gathered the previous wind technique around her to decrease the damage. She also jumped to outside the tower, I presume" The only gunslinger in town explained the whole thing with calm, dead calm, "So, if my guess is right, he's probably upstairs. At the roof of this tower"

Naght Sieger, having gained the temporal upper hand, still put a serious caution to not let his guard down. He knew Fio is still alive. And he was right. Without any warning, the ceiling was pierced with at least twelve blasts of wind, similar to bullets, in an insane speed. Naght Sieger quickly summoned an Ice Wall and moved it so it would cover his head before the wind pierced him. But the real thing is about to come. Using Bedivere from above rooftop, Fiorentin released a compressed wind and transformed it into a powerful gale, almost like a projectile weapon. The gale swept the entire floor and rooftop, forcing Naght Sieger to fight it off using the roaring flame orb earlier and as well as forcing Elraven to grab Isabel and took her with other girls to outside the room. Another unfriendly clashing occurred in the top of Endless Tower, this time flattening the whole top floor of it. Now, everyone can see the night sky and the moon from Endless Tower because the tower has lost its rooftop and its entire top floor. Elraven was the first to gather his strength after the massive clashing of attacks and looked above, having been hiding on the stairway, "Couldn't they at least tell us to move away?"

"Not much time perhaps" Frea came second, "Look what they did to the upper floor…amazing…"

Unfortunately for them, Olivia got a different view, "Guys, I can understand all the admiration but can't we get the hell out of here? Any other attack like that and we would get fried. And, no, I'm not talking about you or to you El, you're a freaking monster. We're not"

"I suggest you do as she says" Fiorentin's voice came from above, she herself is looking just fine, "Sorry for not giving the fair warning before, but I was really in a pinch back there"

"I AGREE WITH PRINCESS FIORENTIN" Naght Sieger added and sealed the deal, everyone's out, "AND ALTHOUGH THIS MAYBE BOTHERSOME, PLEASE LOOK AFTER ISABEL AS WELL"

"Fine, you get it" El helped Isabel to stand back, the high priest hasn't said anything since the clash, "Okay, let's go girls. Playtime's over and we're low on VIP seats. Unless you want to die young we better get moving now. Chop, chop"

It didn't take long for El to evacuate the ladies to a safer place, which is outside the tower. They can't really have a pretty good look from down there, but wide space might just be what Fio & Sieger need right now.

"Shall we continue?"

"BE MY GUEST"

The demon resumed the fight by hammering the entire remaining floor down, deliberately caused both himself and Fiorentin to fall a floor below. Fio, however, did know what he was trying to do. He was trying to give both her and himself a wholesome space so the fight can resume fairly. They smoothly landed on another hall, larger and wider than before without a throne. Not wanting to be bested since she knew her real opponent is really dangerous, Fio dashed after firing several Sonic Waves to hinder Sieger's move, but he easily outmaneuvered all of them as he ran toward her like a lightning. Fio deflected a slashing attack and retreated to create some space for herself because she threw a Spiral Pierce attack afterwards. Sieger handled the spear attack with one slash and returned the favor with a Bash. Fio quickly blocked the Bash and managed to send in a thrust which was easily dodged by Sieger. The demon sealed the chance to use another magic spell and expel a stream of fire from the Red Twin Edge. The rune knight leapt above the reach of the attack, advanced by sending a Spiral Pierce from the air. Sieger fought back with a slash attack, clashing his blue twin edge with her lance which sent Fio back to the floor on her feet. Naght Sieger instilled more threats with a series of close range slash attacks. Fiorentin became wiser and chose not to pair with them. Instead, she fought back all the slashing attacks by executing her Spiral Pierce. Their weapons clashed and both fighters were forced to step aback, indicating the power of their attack might have been close to equal.

Feeling one fire to continue the swordfight, Naght Sieger swung his twin blades through the air, sending waves of flame cutters at Fio. The rune knight projected wind cutters, creating a huge pressure using both her swords, and threw all the flame cutters as she jumped and rolled sideways, nimbly dodging another flame cutters from Sieger before sneaking her way through and attacking with a double pierce attack after she closed the distance between them. Sieger easily stopped the attack with one slash from blue twin edge and threw another slash at Fio using the red one. Fio rolled below the reach of the sword and quickly got back to her feet, this time trying a bowling bash to find an opening. Sieger played down the possibility of that by performing the same bowling bash, forcing the smaller fighter to retreat after another clash. The rune knight lowered herself near the floor and unleashed four wind cutters, an attempt silenced by an ice wall casted by the tall demon, creating a boundary between them in the process. Fio seized this chance to perform an Ignition Break, summoning a powerful explosion wave from below the floor which pierced right through the ice wall at Sieger. But she got another surprise when she saw a line of fire wall making their way to her. Before the spell could pulverize her, the rune knight connected another Ignition Break on the floor to cancel the fire wall. Unfortunately for her, that's what Sieger has been waiting for: an opening. Quickly teleporting himself, Sieger appeared right behind Fiorentin and swung both his swords to make cross cut the rune knight. However, he hit only an empty air when he cross-cut his target. In a real quick move, Fio leapt backwards a moment before she got hit, positioning herself right behind Naght Sieger in the mid-air. The younger warrior drew her lance before Sieger could turn his back and attacked the tall demon with Hundred Spear, a special skill that strikes a single target rapidly in quick succession to deal high damage. Again, much to her dismay, Naght Sieger changed location 10 feet from the appointed space using a teleport to avoid the attacks. Apparently, the older warrior saw through the weakness of the attack. It cannot hit anything out of its reach, which is far if the target succeeded on moving as fast and far as he could. Fio landed on the floor, disappointed by her own try and quickly changed her weapon back to her swords. She didn't have much time to do that, though, because Sieger is ready with another attack. Casting Aura Blade to both his Twin Edge, the demon confidently made his way to the rune knight and smashed her with double slash, which she blocked perfectly. Both Adlers parried some more in close range, creating sparks and loud sounds whenever their respective swords met. Sieger, using his height advantage, thrust his blue Twin Edge from above Fiorentin's head, nearly juiced her hadn't she dodged by moving to near the floor. The rune knight countered with a slash from below which the demon easily stopped using his red Twin Edge. Feeling a vicious heat coming from her below, Fiorentin rolled back as another line of firewalls came from the floor. The demon attempted to corner the younger warrior by an array of slashing attacks. Fiorentin stopped one slash from forward before stopping the one from above by blocking it, another from her right side is coming. Realizing this wouldn't be good for her state if it continues, Fiorentin unleashed The Sonic Wave attack, deliberately hitting her sword to one of The Twin Edge.

Sieger now has known all too well about the attack, it sends a powerful shockwave which could hit an enemy even from far away. But a weakness presents itself on that advantage. The farther the enemy, the smaller the damage he receives. Before the shockwave could hit him, Sieger teleported to create the needed distance. Fiorentin assessed the situation and quickly follow Sieger to send three slashes in rapid succession from the front. Sieger parried all slashes and countered with an overhead strike which Fiorentin welcomed with a strong strike from below. The light pink haired girl continued to gain momentum for herself using a powerful diagonal hewing stroke dealt from the opposite side of Twin Edge. It nearly tore Sieger's face off if he wasn't fast enough to block it via strengthening his grab, using the behind of the opposite of the sharp edge to accommodate his defense, stopping Fiorentin's attack mid-air. Nonetheless, Fiorentin was doing something daring with her attempt to force Sieger into a close combat. Now using the same close combat plan, Naght Sieger performed a spin before quickly delivered a thrusting attack in one sidesteps toward Fiorentin's unprotected right side. The rune knight, however, dealt with the attack by holding her sword to her unprotected side with the pommel near the back hip, with the point aiming at the Sieger's face. The taller fighter quickly stepped backward and created some distance between him and his rival swordswoman. Sieger, again, took the initiative to attack before he got attacked by forwarding with a series of vertical slashes from both the right side and the left side. Fiorentin blocked all the slashes and tried to find an opening to counter. Sieger cut vertically only to be blocked and countered with the same vertical attack, which he dodged easily. The tall demon crouched a little to have a better view of his target and stroked with a thrust. Fiorentin withdrew before returning with an overhead slash which saw the demon blocking. The opening Fiorentin's been waiting for reveals itself when Sieger withdrew his sword after another vertical slash. Fiorentin quickly used her better speed and reflexes and sneaked in to below the right side of her adversary, attacking Sieger with a powerful blow from behind. But much to her chagrin, Sieger blocked the last attack, forcing her to withdraw and eventually losing her stance. Making a great use of the mistake, Naght Sieger unleashed a powerful double pierce at the younger Adler. Fiorentin used both her swords to shield the pierce attack, but its power was more than enough to send her flying across the room and directly hitting the wall. Her flinching face showed everyone that it hurts a lot. But it's not over yet. Sieger proceeded to prolong his steps and threw the second consecutive double pierce attack while Fio is still half-attached to the wall. In a quick second however, Fiorentin hit the wall beside her with a Sonic Wave, sending a shockwave which saw Sieger avoiding it by retareating back, finally creating some space between them as Fiorentin gets back to her two feet. For now, both sides are taking some break to rest themselves.

"Praise you Lord…" Olivia was on loss words seeing how the battle went, "That was amazing…"

"Second that" Frea joined, "The real Naght Sieger is far stronger than I imagined…"

"But Princess Fiorentin is as good as I heard her would be. She is strong" Isabel seemed impressed by the rune knight as well, "I've rarely seen someone who could equal Lord Sieger at swordplay"

"That's our Alexandria for you" And El sounded somewhat proud.

"But Naght Sieger hasn't showed his trump card yet" Ow, another important hindsight, "If he shows it, I doubt Princess Fiorentin could actually do something against it"

Sieger apparently done resting right now. He took the initiative to continue the fight by sending flame cutters to find an opening. Fiorentin seized the attempt by hitting Sonic Wave to the floor, unleashing a shockwave which clashed with the cutters mid-air. Sieger has moved several feet to avoid getting hit by the shockwave beforehand. Fiorentin took this chance to erase the distance between her and Sieger and attacked by throwing a Double Bash which Sieger avoided by a simple teleport to her back. The tall demon, aiming for her head, used the Head Crush to attack before Fio could gain a chance to recover her stance. But much to his shock, rather than avoiding the fatal strike, Fiorentin simply moved both her swords around her neck in a quick manner, stopping the Head Crush mid-air. The Eye of Providence left no blind spot for the rune knight, so she could see the attack coming from her behind. As if the surprise wasn't enough, Fiorentin turned around on the exact same spot and quickly attack Naght Sieger with the same Head Crush, freeing her swords from Twin Edge's grasp as she jumped and aimed for Sieger's head. Naght Sieger teleported just in time to avoid being headless, arriving only ten feet beside Fio. Now, he knows for sure the younger Adler isn't just all talk. And she proves this further by sending another Sonic Wave. Naght Sieger called forth the ice wall again to protect himself, obviously still surprised by the development Fiorentin just showed. Apparently, having learned Sieger's pattern of attacking, Fiorentin suddenly showed up in the air, right above the ice walls, and hit her second Head Crush. Sieger is forced to protect himself by a simple block, enough to stutter his large stature and further created an opening. The rune knight quickly pulled out her lance and attack Sieger with a Brandish Spear. Yet using his experience as the older warrior, Sieger countered the move by a Double Pierce using both Twin Edge to thrust at the same time. The spear and two swords collided in the mid-air, forcing both fighters to take steps back and re-preparing themselves to continue the fight. Naght Sieger now knows for sure Fiorentin is an actual threat. Maybe with a little more effort she could actually land a clean hit on him. She has improved more than he could have ever thought. On the other hand, Fiorentin now got full confidence to do her deed. Half the credit of it goes to her training, the other half goes to the Eye of Providence which grants her tremendously accurate vision and the ability to read and predict practically any move her opponent could make as well as the minute details and movements of her general surroundings. And it also works in a good chemistry with her capability in general, because her current condition enables her to keep up with the projected courses of action that her sight ability proposes to her.

The more challenging bout is about to come when Naght Sieger decided to use the best of his magic skills and summoned more than a dozen of ice wolves. "Good grief…" Fio told herself seeing her opponent totally owned her in terms of magic skills as the wolves began to attack her. Thrusting one of the monsters' jaws after easily evading a fang attack, Fio connected another slash to kill an ice beast approaching from her behind. She leapt into above one beast to smoothly slashed its back, and then proceeded to slain another one after slashing its upper head off before she landed on the ground cautiously. Cleansing her sword while she observed the current stand, she spotted at least a dozen beasts are trying to gang up on her. Yet, she didn't show any sign of being afraid at all. Enjoyment is written all over her face; her pleased smile perfectly symbolizes it. Fiorentin rapidly dashed toward the group of the waiting beast to share what she thinks of them, and she started it by detaching yet another unfortunate beast's head. Rolling her sword in her hand, Fiorentin sliced both fangs of the beast beside her and proceeded to pierce the head of one beast behind her before turning her attention back to the fangless beast and sliced his face off. Another beast stupidly attacked her from next to her only to meet its demise after one quick slash to its neck. Four beasts are down, eight more to go. Not giving the smallest of chance for the remaining beasts to attack her, Fio accelerated and moved in a blinding speed, leaving a trail of after images behind her every step. The eight monsters were too slow to catch up with her movements. All they could feel is a cold win touching their neck. And before they realize it, Fiorentin was already standing behind them, her lips escapes a ghost of victorious grin. The beasts quickly turn their back to chase her, but as they do so their head falls off to the cave floor. Bloods sprayed from each and every one of their detached neck as their body crumbled to eternal rest.

"IMPRESSIVE" Sieger praised her work before breaking it down, "BUT I'M AFRAID IT WAS I WHO HAD ALL THE TIME HE NEEDED"

His words were true, he already covered the whole room with a flammable gas by mixing both ice and fire spell somehow. The demon summoned a fire ball and exploded the entire room, taking the attention of those who've been watching from above again.

"Another explosion?" Olivia just couldn't believe this, "I hope Fio's alright…"

Unfortunately, she isn't really okay. Fiorentin leapt from the above story; her wrecked appearance indicated she is suffering some minor injuries because of the explosion earlier. "Ukh!" Fiorentin landed not far from where her group is watching her, outside near the forest, "…That hurt so much…"

Naght Sieger followed her down, easily still standing. Fiorentin took a good look at him. This is what she expected. Naght Sieger isn't someone who could easily be fooled or get caught in distraction. He planned everything with precise accuracy and surgical mind. He is a very skilled swordsman with lifelong experience. She realized when he turned back to his real self, none of her attacks landed on him. Not even a scratch. "YOU FOUGHT WELL" Naght Sieger voiced an obvious mind of his, "AND I SHALL HONOR YOU FOR THAT"

Lifting both his Twin Edge for everyone to behold, the swords were covered in light before gradually becoming one sword, The Violet Fear. A monstrous darkness broad sword created by combining both of Naght Seiger's Twin Blades, able to bypass the defense of its target.

"That's it!" Isabel couldn't hold back from shouting, "It's the Violet Fear! The strongest darkness sword in the whole world! It's Lord Sieger's trump card!"

"Agreed…I can feel an uneasy aura from the sword" Frea vouched for her, "It would be fatal if she gets pierced with that"

"Oh…what a fearsome sword judging by the way it looks" Fiorentin, however, tried to keep her calm albeit the worry.

"SOME HAD SAID VIOLET FEAR IS THE FINEST SWORD A WARRIOR COULD EVER LAY HIS OR HER HAND ON" Naght Sieger responded to the praise, "IT IS MIGHTY, POWERFUL. THIS IS THE PROOF OF MY WILL TO SETTLE THIS FIGHT. AND TO HONOR YOU, AS WELL, AS A WARRIOR"

"I'm honored, Lord Sieger" The rune knight smiled. If I may add, honored and in a big trouble.

At the same time, Olivia noticed the worried gaze from Elraven, "Do you have something in mind, El?"

"Not particularly a good one" El replied, "I have a bad feeling about this"

"Well…" Olivia gulped, "Me too"

"Alexandria…please don't die" Elraven muttered remembering he promised her not to help her to a certain extent. Maybe he shouldn't have promised her that.

The battle continued again; now armed with Violet Fear, Naght Sieger is more dangerous than ever. Fio quickly went defensive as she gathered all of her focus on dodging, avoiding, and blocking Sieger's flurry of attacks. She could feel how powerful each slash just by seeing it passes; one hit from it would be dreadful. She ducked to avoid a slash at the same time Sieger raised his left arm and maul a vicious left punch which got evaded by a roll back from the rune knight. Fiorentin dashed and threw a series of quick slashes, an attempt played down by Sieger's capability of deflecting each and every attack. The demon took his size to his own advantage and started using a piercing attack. The thrust connected to Fio's Katzbalger instead of stomach, thanks to her quick reaction, and literally flung her away, making her landed deeper on the forest. "He didn't directly hit me but managed to send me this far?" Fiorentin told herself how dangerous of a condition she would be in if this continues. Bad news for her, Sieger wants this to continue. The demon lifted his sword over his head, embalming it with flame, and slammed it to the ground, imitating the Ignition Break only with greater explosion on the woods. Fio escaped the explosion by ran deeper into the woods, making everything worse for her. The game is now being played the way he wants it. "If I cannot come up with something good as soon as possible, I'm done" Fiorentin took a chance to stop for a moment and think, "His skills are above mine, so I should be thinking of something else to fight him with. If I can land Ywain on him, he would surely have a great deal of injury and perhaps that is my only chance. But to find an opening is so difficult"

Naght Sieger gazed at the smaller warrior and quickly understood, she must have been thinking of a way to fend him off. And he could use this opportunity, which presents itself, for his own good to end this battle with his victory. Grabbing The Violet Feat tightly with his right hand, Sieger touched a tree nearby by extending his left one and summoned a large amount of ice spikes from the ground. Fiorentin is forced to withdraw even deeper to the woods as the spikes drew closer, it is starting to look like a forest of spikes than normal forest. Fiorentin however, has not been slain by any of the spikes. She dodged perfectly, and when the time came for the spikes to stop growing, she couldn't help but wonder, "What is he intending to with so much ice spikes?"

And Naght Sieger played his plan just fine. In a snap of a finger, the whole area of spikes exploded and literally turned into Colossal Storm Gust, freezing everything on its path. Quickly reacted to the attack, Fiorentin covered herself with Bedivere, using it to create a wind strong enough to lift her to the air, free of the ice spell. Naght Sieger, however, saw this as a part of his plan and teleported to right in front of the rune knight, slamming his Violet Fear at her before she could even express her surprise. Since she was caught defenseless, Fiorentin put all her effort to block the vicious slash attack using both her swords. The attempt was a success, but it still sent her to crash back into near the tower, where her comrades could now visibly see her.

"Fio!" Olivia's jaw nearly dropped seeing her childhood friend was literally being forced to fly across the forest and landed in an unkind manner, "I cannot believe this! I have to help her!"

"No!" Elraven grabbed Olivia's arm before she could run, stopping her and also shocking everyone, "I won't let you do that"

"Are you out of your mind? She is made of flesh and blood! I don't need to be Stephen Hawking to tell she is badly injured!" The high priest retorted back, trying to set her arm free.

"I agree with her, Elraven! Let her go!" Now, even Frea is siding with Olivia by pulling Elraven away from her.

"Can't do that, sorry. I promised Alexandria I would not let anyone interfere on her fight until she cannot grip her swords anymore" Elraven spoke of his promise and let the others learned it, "As harsh as it may sounds, I think she's still alive and will continue this fight"

She is alive, yeah. That can be seen when she came out from the tower. But she is badly injured as well. Her head is bleeding and she is battered all over. Violet Fear's threat wasn't bogus after all. She is also heavily panting for air. Now, the table has been turned over completely. Naght Sieger knew if he erased the chance of her travelling on the land she would be forced to go to the air, and it was damn easy for him to locate her and teleport to her before attacking her. And he also figured out the weakness of her Eye of Providence. It only proposes the sight she can see. For short, it has blind spots. As imposing as ever, Naght Sieger walked out from the forest to near the tower, making his presence known to the other four as well. "Lord Sieger is serious…" Isabel noted the other three, "…he is planning to finish Princess Fiorentin…"

"YOU DON'T LOOK SO WELL ANYMORE" Sieger opened another conversation, this time with worry on his voice. As expected from someone with a gentle soul, "DO YOU STILL WISH TO RESUME THIS FIGHT, PRINCESS FIORENTIM?"

"That goes without saying" Fiorentin didn't let go of her pride and put a stance, albeit unconvincingly, "I will not back down. Ever"

"SUCH HONORABLE SPIRIT" Naght Sieger lifted his sword above his head, "I WILL ALSO NOT HESITATE THEN"

In a second, Naght Sieger appeared on the left of the rune knight and slammed his Violet Fear at her. Fiorentin accumulated her power on Katzbalger, which she held with her left hand, and threw in an Ignition Break at the incoming Violet Fear to retaliate. The two attack clashed followed by an explosion, which witnessed Katzbalger shattered into pieces. The audience widened their eyes seeing the result, but Fiorentin didn't have much time to feel shocked. Naght Sieger is stunned for a moment as well because of the impact of the clash. She quickly stepped toward and spun, delivering a downward slash with Balmung at the much taller demon. The older warrior read her attack and teleported to her left, which is now defenseless since Katzbalger is long gone. In a wink, he went to a stance for pierce attack by focusing his whole power to the tip of the blade. The Violet Fear is held in a vertical or horizontal position when you thrust forward to stab. The right arm and blade are held in one straight line at the end of the stab. Using it, one normally steps forward into a bow or twisted step stance when one thrusts the sword forward to stab. And that was what Sieger precisely did. Before Fiorentin could take a good look at him and use her Eye of Providence, Naght Sieger threw a fierce pierce attack and,

JRASH!

Everyone held their breath. El was speechless, Olivia widened her very eyes, Isabel gasped, and Frea was shocked. The whole Pegasus was also silent. The thrust perfectly connected to its target. Fiorentin felt something awkward and incredibly painful when she looked down to her belly, where Violet Fear is buried inside her; blood started coming out from her wound and her mouth as well as she started to lose her balance. "Ah…ukh…" She could be heard whimpered of the pain, "…this…"

Naght Sieger quickly pulled out his Violet Fear off of her, quietly watching as she fell to her knees before falling to the ground, "THIS IS THE END, PRINCESS FIORENTIN"

Everyone's screaming sound is heard, resounding throughout the forest and the tower. Unknown to them, her right hand still grip Balmung with what's left of her power. It was exactly when Sieger heard it,

"Gaeris…what do you want from life?"

It didn't escape him, when a shadow from the past beginning to softly sing on his ears, firmly knocking on the door of his memory. A question he heard long ago when he was no longer man by form, from the woman he had loved and chosen as his wife. He remembered her asking him, one night when the moon was hiding behind the clouds. When there were just the two of them. It was the last time he had ever seen her and it was her last words to him. It's odd, listening to her lovely voice again on such an extreme occasion. Instead of trying to ignore the urge, his mind wandered somewhere, recalling how he had answered her. If his memory serves him right, it was a very important answer too worthy to be forgotten. He couldn't remember the reason why it's important, but it just is. His answer was buried deep under the sands of his very own self-loathing for ages. But he can't trick his own heart. Somewhere, the answer is slowly crawling back to his mind.

Truly, it all happened so fast, like a thunder clapping in the sky, like a wing fluttering in the wind. Fiorentin felt a hell of a pain after Naght Sieger removed his sword from inside her. Her blood dripped to the ground, the first drip coloring the ground with scarlet red while the latter thickened it. Her legs slowly felt the ground, one hand covering her pierced belly. As her lips began to part, more blood came out of it. She was half-conscious when she finally collapsed. Her knees landed to the dirt first followed with the rest of her. Her mind flew away to the seventh heaven, congruent with the pain she was feeling all over her body. Her mouth gasped time and again, trying to catch as much air for her to breathe as possible. Her eyes widened and stayed like that, literally replacing her throat to voice a scream she couldn't let out. And her right arm slowly moved to where her Balmung dropped beside her, trying to reach and grab it out of despair.

For a moment there, everyone was silent. Both near the tower and on the ship. No one spoke a single word in Pegasus, not even the legendary Gen Ed. Fenrir was staring with his mouth opened. Marcus and Gregory are completely speechless. Eremes gulped, obviously surprised of the development. Sasha, Iris, and Patricia couldn't actually react either. And not to forget the twin Thomson and Thompson. They couldn't say crap seeing the fall of the rune knight. The whole ship was quiet.

"Fio!" The pregnant silence near the tower was shattered when Olivia screamed out of her lungs and quickly ran to attend her friend, deliberately ignoring the fact the mighty Naght Sieger is still around. The demon didn't seem to take Olivia's intention to help too friendly. He launched a powerful slash right at Olivia, forcing the high priest to drew out her Angra Mayu and blocked the sword before it maul her. "Don't interfere!" Bravely, Olivia yelled at the obviously superior fighter. Her determination to help won't fade away right now because of one slash.

Sieger chose not to give Olivia any direct reply whatsoever, throwing his glare at her, "WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WILL LET YOU INTERFERE?"

"You already won! Is there a need to let her lose her life?" That's her rebuttal.

"YOU AREN'T VERY OBSERVANT, I GATHER"

"Stop spouting nonsense!" Olivia began to flail her giant hammer, but a shot at it from Elraven stopped her. The development shocked not only the high priest but also Frea as well. With Lancelot's barrel still smoking, Olivia muttered, "El…what…were you doing?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let you help Alexandria" A cold harsh truth they all have to live with, "Step away before things get violent, Olivia"

"Elraven, are you insane? What are you doing pointing that gun at her?" Frea reacted and grabbed El's arm before something unwanted actually happens. Elraven, unlike his usual calm demeanor towards women, forcefully shook his arm so Frea would let go of it. He happened to see Olivia trying to attack Sieger again and this time, shot at her hammer using his other free arm.

"El, stop joking!" This time, it's Olivia who turned to him, "Do you suddenly become a bad shot? If you want to shoot someone, shoot him not me!"

With the way things went, explanation is the only way to solve the current problem. Not only Olivia and Frea, but everyone watching seems to want to know El's reason 'co-working' with Sieger preventing anyone from helping Fio.

"I'm keeping a promise" Now, doesn't that make sense? "I promised Alexandria to not let anyone interfere on her fight before it's over"

"Before the fight is over? She's down and battered for God's sake! What are you talking about?"

"But she's not dead…and she's still trying" El's answer surprised Frea and Olivia even more than everything already did. Despite all the injuries she suffered, Fiorentin was actually trying to get a grip on her Balmung with her right hand while her left was trying as hard as it could to support her balance and stand back. Her eyes scream pain, her breathing is heavy and probably very painful. Her hair began to cover her face as she motioned to stand back, long may it last.

"No…no…way…" Olivia felt like her consciousness has just turned upside down. She began losing the grip of her Angra Mayu and let it fall to the ground, "Fio…you…with a wound like that…you…"

"See?" Elraven continued after letting the speechless high priest and soul linker witness for themselves, "You understand now, right? Stopping her would be an insult to her"

Olivia was left speechless, unknowing of what words should she utter to change Elraven's mind when she still could. Deep down, she knew for sure she wouldn't be able to change either Fio's mind or El's mind. Weirdly, in a way their mind are alike. While the high priest is still, a soft wind blows and turn the attention back to the wounded swordswoman.

"Ukh…" The said rune knight felt the intense pain on her wound again. Just by moving her body a little feels like being hit by a truck. Her right hand kept shaking when she tried to grab her Balmung, she just missed it for the God only knows how many times. And her wound didn't show any sign of stop pouring out blood either.

"YOUR COMPATRIOTS HAVE BEEN VERY FAITHFUL TO YOU, PRINCESS FIORENTIN" Sieger spoke up after seeing the whole ordeal for a moment, "MAYBE YOU SHOULD HONOR THEM BY NOT LETTING THEM WORRY FOR TOO LONG. YOU EITHER STAND BACK OR STAY DOWN"

Normally, standing up wouldn't be of anyone's best interest were they on the same shoes with Fio. Her eyes were half closed. Purple bruises stood out like beacons on her pale skin. The cut on her stomach has caused her lower abdomen to be reddened. Every injury she had is a jolt to her system. Her breathing is heavy, each time it feels like she was going to throw her intestines up. "Stay….down?" She retorted back slowly when her feet began to rise, never…"

"….AS YOU WISH…" Sieger followed with his stance also. The truth is, even him could not find it in his heart to continue the fight. In a reasonable way, the winner has already been decided. It's not even a fair match any longer. Fiorentin was having a big difficulty to even stand, moreover to move or attacking. Naght Sieger tightened the grip of his Violet Fear, praying to himself he wouldn't regret his choice to resume the fight. With loud sound as his feet raced at Fio, the giant demon found himself grandstanding over her in a blink of an eye. Sieger attacked with a vertical slash from nearly 20 feet height. The Violet Fear collided with Balmung, striking a blast of air around the two swordsmen. In an instant, Fiorentin was thrown out of the clash back to the ground, rolling until she crashed to a tree. It was obvious, her weakened state was no longer suitable for a battle. Even a simple crossing swords has taken a toll on her. Regardless, Sieger respected her spirit and showed no restraint on moving.

Fiorentin quickly focused her eyes back to the towering warrior and stroke with a Sonic Wave to keep them distant. Sieger easily blocked the move by extending his sword, he didn't even need to try. The rune knight forced herself to move and grabbed her spear again, desperately attacking with a Hundred Spear. Naght Sieger only had to teleport right to her left side and threw another slash, stopping her halfway as she splattered more blood from her abdomen and again, crumbled to the ground. She's like a sitting duck now.

Olivia held her breath seeing it; this is more like a torture than a fight. She threw a quick glance at Elraven, who is seen still in serenity. She couldn't believe how much he trusts Fio, Elraven really wasn't doing anything, not even blinking. Well, she isn't as strong as he is mentally so she started to cry, evident by the forming tears on her eyes.

Naght Sieger observed the rune knight, and Olivia for a short moment, before slowly walking towards Fiorentin. Granted, he has no facial gesture but Elraven could tell Naght Sieger is in doubt. Even his Violet Fear doesn't seem to be wanting to strike again. Fiorentin, too, is still not moving. Alive, but motionless. It's as if there's a buzzing aura of death surrounding her. Ready to take her life any time now.

A certain high priest felt her tears forming in her eyes before slowly falling across her cheek. As it touched the end of her shoe, it signaled her body to move the moment her urge to help was reborn, "…this…this is too much!"

It almost bested him, but the purple-glassed gunslinger quickly snapped out of his surprised state and did something. Elraven went for a more typical approach and grab Olivia's arm from behind, "Let me go! Let me go, El!"

"No! I'm telling you, she doesn't want your help!"

"Are you blind, you moron? Take a good look at her and say that again!"

"You're not gonna change anything by calling me names, Olivia! Stop insisting!"

"I don't care about that! She can hate me all she want, but I'm not going to let her die because of her ego!"

"Ego? Ego you said?" Now, even Elraven finally lost his cool, "This is not ego! This is pride! If you help her you will hurt her pride and soul forever!"

"If I don't help her, she will lose both her pride and soul forever!" Olivia glared at El, both compatriots didn't feel like backing down. The atmospheric trading between el and Olivia have caught the attention of Frea and Sieger as well. Both are left speechless seeing the two, "Let go of me!"

"No!"

"Elraven, I swear I'm going to crush your arm if you don't let go of mine! Let me go!" Olivia tried her best to pull her arm out from El's grasp despite her threat.

"Then do it! I'm going to keep my promise to her no matter what!" Elraven locked his eyes with hers. Olivia's face turned mad seeing his insistence.

"Elraven, you are the most stubborn idiot I've ever met!" Olivia stated slowly while shaking her head. Elraven only stayed glaring at her when she raised her voice, "Do you realize keeping your promise to her means you're going to let her die! Take a damn good look at her right now and tell me what you have in mind!"

"You wanna know? Okay! I'll tell you what!" An instant response from the determined gunslinger, "If I help her now, or if I let you or anyone to that matter, help her now, that means I'm belittling her whole life as a knight! I'm going to tread on her wish and her spirit by helping her! Are you asking me if I want to see her dead? No, Olivia! No! You don't know how much I want to help her! You have absolutely no idea! But if I help her now, then what would it be? She would have to live the rest of her live knowing that she couldn't finish the bout she promised by her own! That means I would taint her! I would kill her soul forever! If she can't live with that then I don't see how the hell I can! And that is worse than seeing her lifeless!"

For a moment there, a faint silence clouds the whole place. Olivia's looks tells a better story than anything could. Her glare slowly began to fade, turning into an understanding stare. Elraven was right. Helping Fiorentin now is just the same as killing her. If she lends her her hand now, she would only betray her trust. A cold hard truth, but truth nonetheless.

"How did you come up with all that?" Olivia asked weakly as Elraven started to let go of her arm. And of course, she is pointing to the fact how Elraven could figure all those words despite the uncomfortable truth.

"….because that what she wanted for herself. You know how stubborn she is, right?" That sounds like the most honest reason El could come up with. Simple, but not silly, "Besides, if I don't do as she told me, she'll be sending me to the sky soon"

"That sounds like her…" Olivia faintly smiled. Yet, she wouldn't stop just now, "But….but I still want to do something for her…I can't let her suffer like that while I'm still watching"

"Well…who says we couldn't do jack to help her?" Elraven smirked, much to Olivia's confusion, "The only thing she made me promise won't be doing is interfering her fight. She didn't say anything about verbally supporting her"

"Wait…that means…" A spark of smile began to appear in Olivia's face, signaling her hope isn't totally lost. Elraven, still smirking, quietly walked at Fio & Sieger, the latter stilled as the gunslinger approached. He didn't put a stance, because he knew Elraven wouldn't attack him or such. El's too honest for that.

El's stopping his steps not too far from her was enough to send a small electric zap to Fio's tired brain and made her slightly glanced at him. She was half-conscious. She was in between. Elraven observed back at her, for the umpteenth time meeting his eyes with hers in deliberate manner. He could see a spark in there. Small, but it exists. That little spark was screaming pain, yelling suffering, showing agony. But he could see much more deeper than that. He could also see her undying spirit, the one thing that made him adored her in the first place. It's just the way she is. All the wounds and gashes, but her body refuses to yield. Her soul denies the urge to surrender and face defeat. Something….it is something she holds so dear that it restraints her from raising the white flag. Was it her pride as a warrior? Was it her goal to rebuild her kingdom? No, it was something much more meaningful than all that. He could see her little, but strong, fingers literally crawling to reach her sword back. She wanted to continue the fight, her fight.

"Alexandria" Elraven called for her, "Stand back"

Upon escaping her name, he just realized what made her so resilient. So insisting. So strong, so powerful, and so adoring. It must be her heart.

"You know you can do that. Stand back, Alexandria. Stand back and face him" Clearly, El mentioned Naght Sieger. The said man glared at the much smaller gunslinger, wondering if he truly knew why his opponent wouldn't just surrender. "Rise your sword and fight" Elraven put a deeper tone, cause he knew showing her mercy would be the same as belittling her, "Finish what you started. Finish your fight"

"Stand back, Fio!" Now, Olivia joined in her own way, "You can do it! We'll go back to Prontera together, remember? Don't you dare dying in front of my eyes! How would I face Felicia if you're gone?"

Rolling her eyes, Frea reluctantly supported the princess as well, "Stop crawling in the ground and stand back! How long are you going to dwell like that? That pose doesn't suit your stubbornness at all!"

Well, that didn't go well with Olivia, "Hey, don't say that! How could you mention her stubbornness at a time like this?"

"Well, because she is stubborn! Saying it the other way around would be an understatement!"

Inside Pegasus, the spectators are having little smile on their faces. Seeing their three comrades supporting Fiorentin is somewhat an enlightenment. "Shan't we support her as well?" Gen Ed opened the party, "Princess Fiorentin, you might not be able to hear this but brace yourself…and fight!"

"Yeah! Break a leg, girl!" Fenrir followed.

"Well, my view is the same as Olivia. Go, Princess!" Then, Olivia's boyfriend came up.

"Godspeed, Princess" This one is an expected support from the wise Gregory.

"Give me F! Give me I! Give me O! Goooooo Toros!" And this one is expected from the stupid Marcus, "Wait, I mean….gooooo Patriots!"

"Marcus…" In case you don't know, Gregory was facepalming himself saying this, "How the hell did the word F, I, and O form a Patriots or Toros?"

"Huh? What do F, I, and O form, then? Steelers?" Ok, let's leave them for now. Or else we're gonna see a never ending story.

"She's gonna win big. Right, Thomson?"

"Super right, Thompson"

"Don't lose your spirit, no one wants to see you losing in here" Sasha muttered to herself.

And just like the others, Iris expressed her sincerest feeling as well, "Fioooooooo! I love you! Don't die! Return safely and marry me!"

And that caused everyone in the room to stare at her. "What?" She asked, obviously offended, "Lesbians have right too! Just cause we're dykes doesn't mean we can't get married!"

Deeper in the med room, Hugo was tending to Felicia and Ty who have just woken up, now watching the fight via monitor like the others did in the board room. "Your princess doesn't look so good, Fel" Ty uttered the current situation, "You sure she will make it alive?"

"You can take that to the bank, Tyrael" Felicia showed a confident smile, enough to tickle Ty's curiosity even more.

"How's so?"

"Look, I knew her since she couldn't even cough up a word. Fiorentin is tougher than nail for all I know and believe" A composition of very faithful words, "She's the type that would only be stopped by death, but even then she would have made her life worthwhile. Thus, affecting the people around her so her spirit would always live. So the people around her carry on her goal. If a person like that can be taken down by a single stab, then I'm wasting my time and life fighting for her"

"You have a point…" Ty shortly rebutted, "But I'm still worried. Sieger looks like he's truly unbeatable"

"And Fiorentin never backs down. So, it's a pretty fair fight. I'm still rooting for her, though"

After the whole ship confirmed their sides, the only one left who hasn't been saying anything was Matthew. Silently, he slipped out of Pegasus and headed to The Endless Tower.

Back to near the tower, Elraven stayed serene when the other showed their support for the rune knight. Without even needed to be said, it was his turn next. Closing in so he and Fiorentin are only two inches apart, he kneeled down to one knee before lowering his head, close enough so she could listen to him…and everyone could listen to him. And with a cheerful tone, remembering what have happened, Elraven began, "You know, Alexandria, the first time I met you honestly I thought you were a spoiled brat who hated to lose. What you wanted, you got. I could almost tell that was the motto of your life. You're stubborn, childish sometimes, and most of the times you ignore your own limit. You did what you think was right without any hesitation although it may cost you dearly, but you did just like that without a care in the world. The thing is, what you did…you didn't do it for yourself. You did it for others as well. It showed that your good qualities far outweigh your bad ones. You're brave, caring, pious, and selfless. You're also honest and straightforward. I like those things about you. And it's a shame if I can't see them anymore on a daily basis. You're the only who gave me enough experience seeing the moon up close and the sun from only 20 feet distance. If you're gone, who's gonna send me to the sky again? Emilio? He's too busy betting to do that. Ty? Hell, I wouldn't want him to peek at me! That would be disturbing! Marcus? Thomson & Thompson? I don't even want to think about it. It's creepier than being kissed on the lips by Masuo. So…stand back and show Naght Sieger what you're made of!"

"El….you speak too loud…" Ah, the long awaited respond from Fiorentin, who slightly smiled as she put both her hands ground flat, starting to support her body to slowly rise to her two feet. Her strand of light pinkish hair moved gently like a waterfall when she finally stood back. Her blood stained armor Different from exactly a moment ago, her eyes were filled with life again. Fiorentin only showed a little smile seeing to her comrades. She's lucky she has them on her side. Had they not encouraged her just awhile back, she's been buried six feet under now. Stubborn as El mentioned, Fiorentin tore the cloak on her back apart into two long pieces. The others were just watching when she wrapped her stomach with one of the two pieces, tying it up so it would suppress the blood from further coming out. She could be seen whimpering on the last touch; she was trying her hard to bear her own pain. That settled the problem with her wound. Now only one problem left: her injured left hand. Maybe because the loss of blood or maybe she's still just in shock. Too many maybes with zero solutions, so she gathered. Biting the end of the remaining piece, Fiorentin forcefully grab her Balmung with her right hand before wrapping the torn piece on her right hand and tying it, now keeping her remaining sword tightly as the only thing that will separate her from death. Her eyes are focused again, her breathing is back to normal. Her wound and the pain wouldn't hinder her any longer. A flare is seen inside both of her eyes. An unlimited mass of willingness to never back down. A flame of soul which never fades by fear or terror. The two golden sphere set their sight on the giant knight in front of her. Her courage arose even more when she saw the flashing blade of Twin Edge. The ferocious sword she just felt its ruthlessness. A wind flew and whistled her cloak, singing the true might of her bravery. As Elraven looked at her from the back, he saw the figure of a simmering white angel flowing in the air; the beauty of remembering and witnessing her existence. The gleaming sword in her hand is untainted when she raised it, advancing for her stance. Her heart glories in the pouring of rain, abyss of night, and blood of dutiful battlefield.

Proudly, she came up with thankful words to her dearest, "Thank you, everyone. Couldn't have done it without you all. And all the others in Pegasus too, I'm gonna make sure I repay this favor in full once this is all over"

"Yaaaaaay! She's back! She's back!" A certain high priest turned joyous of the rune knight's return. As expected from her, "Break a leg, Fio! Don't make use worried again!"

"I wasn't worried. I was glad" Frea said something that make Olivia glared at her, "I mean, I was glad she's back"

"We'll worry about that later" Elraven re-shifted the attention of the rune knight to the bigger fish, "Now, finish what you started"

"I will" Confidently, Fio walked at Naght Sieger beyond the busting of night when the moonlight clearly silhouettes both of them, "Lord Sieger, I apologize for the wait"

And gentle as always, the man who was once known as Gaeris Adler said back, "NO NEED FOR AN APOLOGY, PRINCESS FIORENTIN. IT ONLY SHOWED ME THAT YOU AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE ARE BLESSED. YOU HAVE PEOPLE CARING FOR YOU, HOLDING YOU WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO FALL, EXTENDING THEIR ARMS TO PULL YOU OUT OF DARK, VOICING THEIR HEART WHEN YOU WERE BROUGHT DOWN BY PAIN. THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE. YOUR LIFE ARE VERY WELL BLESSED MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE"

"Yours too, Lord Sieger" A classy reply, which is true, "Ever since this battle started, Isabel hasn't taken her eyes off of you. You have someone waiting for you, looking at you from behind without a hint of being tired. Your life is blessed"

Without saying any more words, the two knights who have utmost respect for each other walked out from their mighty gate, aiming at each other. With one swift motion, Fiorentin moved her Balmung from a downward side exactly the same second Naght Sieger slammed his Violet Fear hardly. The two metal shaped weapon clashed mid-air, enacting sparks as well as a strong blowing pressure, nearly tackling the entire four spectators from their standing point, splitting the air around them as well as nearly blasting the trees from their roots.

"Amazing!" Olivia was the first to express her initial shock upon witnessing the beginning of the round two of the swordfight.

No hesitancy, no pull back, no excuses. Removing all obstacles that stand in the way. Both cold hard steel of Violet Fear and Balmung continued pressing on each other, neither wanting to lose what might later prove to be fatal seconds. The enduring clashers soon have their eyes met. For the first time ever, Fiorentin could actually see what's inside the dark hollow of Naght Sieger's skull. His eyes aghast, opening wide, exposing everything there is. In vain it weeps, in vain it prays, his eyes are in vain of freedom, leaving nothing behind. Naght Sieger could feel her eyes trying to go through his. Those very same golden spheres he has seen before, long ago. That very moment, Fiorentin finally saw the soul of the knight battling her. It isn't devoid of anything; it possesses a tremendous amount of honor. The once wretched and detestable soul, the same unmindful affliction dawned upon him and drove him to neglection, had become different. His soul lies on a much gentler bed, only now, after seeing it so many times, Fiorentin could actually feel his warmth. So, this is the man Isabel came to love. This is the man who was entrusted by his father something that might prove pivotal to her. He is holding steadfast to his sword, just like he's holding steadfast to his hope of being forgiven. In the middle of the sparks, the tension, everything, all that is visible in her eyes. And it settled it. Her mind is made up.

After much pressuring one another, Fiorentin and Naght Sieger decided to call it off, stepping back and releasing themselves from the sword-crossing show. Fiorentin silenced herself, re-regarding her extremely grandstanding opponent. 'A battle which cannot be won' first came to her mind upon landing her vision on him. Truth to be told, she wasn't joking around. She found it nearly impossible to even scratch this man, the very man who was once an Adler much like she is now. Every time their sword came to be crossing, she couldn't helped but think of everything he had went through. The sin, the curse, the loneliness, the family, the betrayal, and all. Yet, after all that he stills an aura on invincibility. The aura which sent chills down her spine the first time she had seen him. Even now, she couldn't help but feeling the extreme pressure weighing both her shoulders, nearly crushing her from inside had her heart not made of steel. God knows what his heart is made of, then; for he was able to withstood everything that had befall upon him. Not being able to match up her soul with his would be further insult to him. To defeat him, Fiorentin has to give it her all. And that is what she's going to do.

"…huh? What is this?" Olivia suddenly felt a certain thing was trying to slightly touch her neck. Just a bit, but it was clear, "El…do you feel weird?"

"Because you do?" Elraven actually experienced the same, "I feel the same way too. This feeling…"

"It comes from her" Frea pointed to the rune knight, "She's going to do something"

Before everyone, a chill wind breeze visited their neck when the night grew deeper to the abyss.

"Il sortira, lumière. J'ordonne pour vous"

Naght Sieger, mostly, noticed Fiorentin muttering some words he has never heard before. "French?" Elraven noticed, "She's…summoning something in French?"

"Il sortira, lumière. Je suis dans le besoin de votre pouvoir"

Slowly, glimpses of lights could be seen featuring around Fiorentin, literally playing around her. "Lord Sieger…" The brave rune knight called for the attention of her foe, "Now, I know….what it takes for me to see it…your soul, your heart"

"…WHAT IS?"

"The same heart, but one which refuses to yield" Drawing her Balmung upward, Fiorentin pointed it at Sieger's throat, "The one I'm about to reveal"

"I SEE…" Naght Sieger noted the blade alignment by observing the angle of the cross, the blade is neither vertical nor horzontal but slightly diagonal, in fact, the natural position achieved by cutting upward. In this position note the short (back) edge aims not upward or downward but toward the fighter, while the thumb is under the blade, not on top of it. The hilt is held just in front of beside or the head at temple level, but may be also held just above it. A fine stance, may very well be her best. Then, she began closing both her eyes as if she was anticipating Naght Sieger to open an attack.

"Il sortira, lumière. Je vais utiliser vous comme mon épée"

Following with his right leg leading, Naght Sieger lowered the point of Violet Fear with the hands. The weapon is held point down, baring its fangs to its motionless target.

"Il sortira, lumière. Pour vous êtes celui qui détient mon coeur, maintient mon courage, braves mon âme"

"PREPARE YOURSELF!" Without anymore warning, Naght Sieger ran at Fiorentin in full speed. He moved his sword from the downside, ready to unleash a giant fatal slash. In a wink of an eye, Naght Sieger swung his Violet Fear and…

"Il sortira, Safir!"

As hollowed as his eyes were, Naght Sieger could still see a drip of blood passing his face from the top, just two seconds after he had made a move. Afterwards, more and more blood, like a rain, falling down from his above. It didn't take long before Naght Sieger finally noticed, both shoulders side on his Flame Manteau has been cut open, and blood was spraying from his gigantic torso. He was slashed, "IM…POSSIBLE…HOW?"

When he turned his head to see what was actually going on, he was just as surprised as Elraven, Olivia, Frea, Isabel, and everyone inside Pegasus.

'It was a work of magic' came first to his mind, and El's mind. "I have seen this somewhere before" Said the gunslinger to himself. And he could no more right.

The field near the tower is filled with gleaming lights, real stars of the upper skies. Emulating swords, bright and shiny; hundreds in numbers. The place is full with swords of light. Wave of living sparks, the brilliant kind. Rivaling the very stars, mirroring the luminous fireflies. Their somewhat yellow beams are captured in the air. Tiny miracles luminescence without incandescence. With their soundless popping, each arrhythmic light a trinket. It's enchanting, it's otherworldly, it's astonishing.

Slowly opening her closed eyes, a beautiful line of poetry is heard from the rune knight, "Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be, for my unconquerable the fell clutch of circumstance, I have winced but not cried aloud. Under the bludgeoning of chance, my head is bloodied but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears, looms but the horror of the shade and yet the menace of the years, finds, and shall find me, unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. My fifth Lionheart, the swords of light, Safir!"

"Beautiful…" Holding his breath, just like the others were doing, Elraven muttered a simple yet meaningful praise, "Am…amazing…I cannot believe this if I didn't see it with my own eyes…"

"More or less me…" In a very rare chance, Olivia was also at lost words.

"…THE SWORDS OF LIGHT…SAFIR…" Even the calm Sieger couldn't conceal his surprise, "THE FIFTH LIONHEART…YOU…ALREADY MASTERED IT…"

"Any less would be a suicide and an insult if I were to face you" A gallant aura and an unmatched atmosphere could be felt surrounding the young rune knight. While her right hand is still being wrapped with her Balmung, her left was already wielding one of the many light swords, "This is my strongest technique. I would pay a dear price for using this, but I could care less! Be prepared!"

Before Naght Sieger's eyes could even focus back, he could feel another of his blood spraying from his left ribs. Fiorentin slashed the said area with her light sword, which quickly vanished after one attack. While rolling to regain her stance back, one of the light swords came to her left hand, enabling to her to utilize her right one to hit and strike Naght Sieger up front using Balmung, empowered with Ignition Break. A fierce explosion attacked Naght Sieger, and again, before he even had the chance to administer his mind with concentration, another slash from his right side followed by the second Ignition Break. The two consecutive barraging was more than enough to make the giant demon stuttering from his standing. Fiorentin followed with a point-blank Ywain, giving Naght Sieger a taste of her giant slash. Unfinished, she ran at Sieger while creating another momentum, slicing up her foe with full speed and power; she then quickly put another stance back. Fiorentin followed with swung forth a forward descending slash, continued by a multi-hit running attack which went through the demon completely. Naght Sieger has already lost any brain to think of an idea to stop the rune knight. The barrage of attacks proved too much for him too handle. He couldn't counter nor could he defend. And with Fiorentin kept changing her light swords after each slash, he was basically bested in stance. Fiorentin resumed her series of attack moved both her swords to be horizontally parallel before executing a cross slash on Sieger's upper torso; afterwards, she twisted her swords and maimed Naght Sieger one more time. Completing her moves, Fiorentin strengthen the grab on her Balmung and administered a fierce Ignition Break to the battered Naght Sieger. As he succumbed more wound, he Naght Sieger was blasted to the tower, crashing back into the inside of it. But Fiorentin is far from finished. Waving her left hand to the air, the light swords followed her directions by floating to the sky, filling the dark knight with brimming lights. "Olivia, Isabel, Frea! Take cover! Run! Run!" Elraven, knowing something huge would definitely happen, warn the other four, who quickly followed him, to run for their lives. Without any hesitation, Fiorentin unleashed the whole family of light swords, turning them into countless projectiles, and rained Naght Sieger and the whole tower with it. The attack was so vicious. An unending array of torrents fall from the sky, blasting everything on the tower. The first row of light swords flung out the banners of the sky, placing the swords on earth, gleaming. The second row pierced the whole tower before the third row penetrated through it, literally murdering the whole building when it crumbled, burying Naght Sieger down inside. And the last row finally came from the sky, pummeling the whole field before a huge luminescent explosion occurred and swept the entire forest.

The bright light of explosion momentarily shined the entire area. Even in their hideout, Elraven and co had to cover their eyes so they wouldn't suffer temporary blindness. After a moment, everything just stopped. What's left of the tower is just ruins, steams, and smokes. The forest itself has been wiped off its trees thanks to the magnificent blast of lights. Amidst the clouding environment, Fiorentin was seen emerging. Apparently, she was trying to catch her breath back. "Did I do it?" She questioned herself, wondering if the fierce projectiles were enough to stop Naght Sieger. Like she said before, she would pay dearly for using Safir. Originally, the technique will allow her to use extensive light swords and enhance her physical abilities by ten times. However, her time limit to use Safir lasts only 5 minutes, as it heavily burdened her body so using it even just a quick second longer than that would cause her to collapse.

Meanwhile, as the smokes started to decline, Elraven came out from the forest, battle mode still on, "Is it over? Damn, what a blast it was"

"Couldn't have said it better…" Olivia was the runner up, "Safir…what a technique…"

"Lord Sieger!" Unlike Elraven, Isabel didn't give a damn about the attack. She gave a damn about someone else entirely, "Lord Sieger! Please, don't tell me he's dead!"

"He's not" Frea calmed Isabel down, "He's still alive. I can feel his soul presence. Weaker than before, but he's still around"

And indeed, Naght Sieger slowly emerged from the ruins of The Tower. He wasn't fine anymore, however. His flame manteau is badly torn all over, his body is staind with bloods and wounds, and the most distinguished difference can be seen on his head, his skull head cracked in the part near his left eye. And he wasn't grandstanding anymore, he was limping. The attack didn't kill him, but fatally injured him. Fiorentin did one hell of a job turning the table over. It goes without even being said, that one more slash from Fiorentin would basically finish him off.

"IMPRESSIVE…I EXPECT NO LESS…FROM THE FIFTH LIONHEART…OF THE HEIR TO THE THRONE" Naght Sieger muttered some word of praise, slowly. They were fighting pretty equal before he had stabbed her, but now she was taking the lead, "I GUESS I WAS TOO CARRIED AWAY WITH SUCH A SHORT LEAD, I DIDN'T PREDICT THIS WOULD HAPPEN"

"And after all that, you're still standing. I thought I have sealed the victory" The rune knight expressed her dismay rather honestly, "I can't last much longer after using Safir. Shall we finish this?"

"VERY WELL, SINCE YOU HAVE SHOWED ME THE LAST OF YOUR LIONHEART, I SHALL DO THE SAME. BEHOLD!" Gathering every remaining power he has, Naght Sieger imbued his Violet Fear with a dark matter, enough to cover the whole broad sword. Aiming his sword at the opposite direction of where Fiorentin and the spectators were, he slammed it hard to the already shattered ground. Doing so, Elraven could feel something moving underneath his feet, "Huh? What is this? Is the island moving?"

And he was spot on. After a loud sound flew from inside the earth, the hit caused the seismic wave travelling under the island to suddenly release their energy in the earth's crust. The ground was then leveled several feet to the air, causing some parts of the already cracked land to scarcely storm in the air. The rupture forced Elraven, Isabel, Frea, and Olivia to run again for the second time tonight. Better than being swallowed in the midst of the tremor. "Patricia, hover the ship!" Gen Ed loudly ordered the pilot to float the ship so they wouldn't be consumed by the rampaging island. Waves were seen running amok in the sea surrounding the island thanks to the quake. The surface of the earth shook open, splitting the entire island to half. Ground rupture was visible to eyes as well. The entire island is now officially a mess.

"Good God almighty! Was he trying to crumble the whole island?" A certain high priest let out what may be both her shock and fear, "I'm sure I was about to fall into the fissure!"

"He was just showing off…" Elraven was in lack of better words, "I guess"

"What a heck of showing off it was, then" Frea still looked pale from the impact, "I don't think even Fenrir or Ifrit could pull out a punch like that"

"Lord Sieger…I've never seen this before" Even Isabel wasn't left out of shock, "He's really going for a finish this time"

"No kidding…" Elraven, still in lack of better words, simply complied.

Although she wasn't injured, the shock in Fiorentin's face could not be viewed any better than it was. "Incredible…" She slowly uttered her words, "One hit from your sword was…"

"GALAHAD" Naght Sieger introduced the last of his Lionheart, "IN RETURN OF THE LOSS OF MY ABILITY TO USE ICE AND FIRE MAGIC, I AM ABLE TO ENHANCE THE POWER OF VIOLET FEAR SO FAR, ONE HIT FROM IT EQUALS THE DAMAGE OF A QUAKE"

"Then one hit from it equals my end too"

"INDEED"

"Then, let's get this over with" Fiorentin stepped up, directing herself right at Naght Sieger. In one second, she stopped right on the left side of Naght Sieger. Her long hair lingered the air as she swung her sword. Naght Sieger deliberately acted like he was about to receive the attack, creating a chance for himself to have Fiorentin on one point. Rapidly, the demon smashed his Galahad pure. The much smaller rune knight evaded, just a couple of inches from the danger zone, before witnessing the Violet Fear striking the ground and quaking it one more time. Becoming the wiser, Fiorentin leapt to the air where the seismic waves would not hinder her movement. The Ignition Break was coming right from above; requiring full attention from Naght Sieger to stop it before Balmung hits him for the God only knows how many time tonight. Taking the risk of getting hit, Naght Sieger swirled his sword in the air, creating enough blowback force to swipe Fiorentin off the air, back to earth. Naght Sieger took a quick run at her, again with his sword ready for action. The much younger knight performed an Ignition Break to the ground in front of her, creating a small explosion, giving herself enough time to sneak behind the smokescreen and close her frightening distance with Naght Sieger. This was anticipated, however, with Naght Sieger giving the rune knight another try of his Galahad using an upward slash. Fiorentin, knowing all too well that another leap to the air would just repeat the cycle, decided to slipped her way to behind the demon. The plan didn't work, regardless. Naght Sieger was quick enough to move his sword to the mid-air, only four inches above Fiorentin. The force of the slash was more then necessary to create another giant wind blast, forcing the rune knight to stab the ground with Balmung and closely hold the hilt of her sword to protect her standing. When the wind was done blasting around, Fiorentin quickly retreated, keeping a certain space for both Sieger and herself. It seems obvious the only way for this battle to end is by both knights going for a head-on strike. They are not afraid to do so, they are prepared to do so, and they are going to do just that.

The larger knight lifted his sword above his head while the smaller one holding her sword down. They stopped saying one thing to another. Everything feels like being extinguished. Everyone is hypnotized by the atmosphere. The wind suddenly ceased to blow. The stars suddenly took a rest from showering the dark sky with their brimming light. Not even the tiniest of voice could be heard. The stillness could also be felt inside Pegasus. Everyone became mute; they even held their breathing inside. They didn't even blink. Seemed like time stood still, pausing. Quietness befell and hypnotized all parts of the hemisphere. Silently, a glimpse of a small light of a firefly is visible, flying from below the fissures to the air. Apparently, Safir has planted so many fireflies on the ground and the quakes freed them. Sky yet violet, shadows collecting under the clouds and first stars wan as night birches, the fireflies appeared. In deeper night, their delight ashtray softly caressed everyone standing on the field. They are stars nearer than heavens. The very ground beneath their feet is clothed with a diviner air; white marble paves the silent land, and glimmers in the empty square. The clear sky seemed to glow, with the moon so big and bright, lighting up the hill sides with iridescence light. The beauty within their heavenly ray filled both the fighters and the spectators with a passion of a deep delight. Lakes sparkle from shore to shore, a beauty no one could ever ignore. The dancing fireflies gave enough time for both warriors to foresee what might result of their clashing. There was no sound of battle cry; there was no sound of song, only two sword masters strengthening the grab on their swords as if they were holding to their heart, hoping. And then, the sands of time began to move again. Serenely, gallantly, courageously, enticingly, the two knights charged towards each other under the moonlight, among the fireflies with their eyes glued to their victory, with their heartbeat matched their steps, with their soul equaled their heart, with their courage guiding their spirit, with their dream holding their fate. Balmung moved from downward, showing no signs of retreating from opposing The Violet Fear which came from above. The symphonic rhythm wonderfully played out by the swinging steels. In the very pivotal moment, when both knights' treasured weapon was about to collide, the memory of days of old, like a dream that is too sweet to be casted away, calling in the deepest heart of Gaeris Adler, resounding…

"What I want…is…to be free"

0000

An old once said it takes strength to love, but it takes courage to be loved. It takes strength to be firm, but it takes courage to be gentle. And it takes strength to die, but it takes courage to live.

And so forth, it took courage to do something defining. Including to end something.

The clash was very quick, faster than a trickle of sand inside an hourglass. It didn't result of any kind of sound or voice. When the two were done clashing, all the rest could see was both knights standing on their feet with their swords prepared. Nonetheless, both of them were motionless. None of the spectators were brave enough to gaze their sight elsewhere. All of them shared the same vision: they want to see who goes out with victory.

And the time for it is indeed nigh.

A trickling, single drip of blood, was visibly appearing on Fiorentin's back. What came after was a spray of a moderate amount of blood, cracking through her back armor. The cloth which bound Balmung on her right hand began to undone itself, letting go of the legendary sword. Her fall didn't start with her knees like earlier, no. She just fell right straight to the ground.

"Fio!" Olivia was the first to run straight at her, much like before, followed by Elraven and then Frea. This time, no one's stopping anyone. Since the only promised Elraven made to Fio last only when she could still grab her sword, the deal's done. He kept his end of the deal, and now she's going to do the same by letting him help her. Everyone in Pegasus, minus Gen Ed and Fenrir, gasped much to their dismay. Isabel was still in disbelieve; part of her was glad Naght Sieger came out just fine. The other part didn't have the heart to witness the knight who helped her taken by death. And something unexplained told her everything doesn't look like what it seems.

Frea, in a very rare moment, showed kindness by putting Fiorentin's head on her lap while Olivia did all she could with level 10 healing spell to save her childhood fellow. Elraven could do nothing but praying silently while staring at the three women near him. His calm façade was betrayed by his worried look.

Without even saying a word, Naght Sieger turned his back, looking at the fallen rune knight. Weakly, he started to walk at her, having no intention of letting her past his vision. A grandstanding man, always grandstanding. He stopped very close to the Prontera contingent, "IS SHE ALRIGHT?"

"I'll…live" A short but reassuring reply from the wounded knight, much to the delight of her peers and Naght Sieger himself, "Wasn't it you…who taught me the importance of living?"

"Fio! Oh, my God! You scared the hell out of me! I thought you were really going to die!" Losing the control of herself, like she does most of the times, Olivia hugged Fiorentin so passionately. And don't ask why that didn't kill the latter. I was surprised as well.

Elraven and Frea didn't say anything. They were too happy to form any kind of words.

"…I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT" The demon stretched his hand and showed the heroes contingent a box made of silver, which was accepted by Elraven, "IT IS THE ONE THING KING TRISTAN ENTRUSTED ME WITH. I PROMISED TO GIVE IT TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE PROVEN YOUR SPIRIT TO ME, PRINCESS FIORENTIN. YOU HAVE KEPT YOUR WORD, NOW IT IS MY TURN TO DO SO"

"My gratitude…thank you, Lord Sieger"

With utmost respect, Naght Sieger gently voiced what resides within his brave soul, "IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE BATTLED YOU, PRINCESS FIORENTIN"

She caught something that others didn't. He was implying a very important thing, perhaps his last. There was a mutual understanding between the two. Engaging in a life threatening combat usually do just that to you. Injuries aren't the only thing you can come out with after a battle. You can come out with many things.

In a way, Naght Sieger sounded like he was really sad, but glad at the same time. It's a feeling that cannot be expressed by words, but can be understood by heart. Proudly, Fiorentin responded, "And it is an honor to have battled you as well, Lord Sieger"

As a great man once said, a legacy does fall. Nothing lasts forever. Everyone witnessing, minus Fiorentin, couldn't believe what they witness next.

It first came out within the form of few drips, but later turned out larger in amount. Blood blasted out of Naght Sieger's upper torso, exploded almost, his azure body turned crimson. He didn't even utter a single word. It as if he accepted all of it. He could still feel it when Balmung contacted with his behemoth physique, when it connected. The Violet Fear missed just a couple of inches from Fiorentin's head, slightly scratching the back of her armor. His answer, which he had given to his wife, distracted his mind for a second, more than enough to decide the result of his duel with her. Hollowed caverns and echoed words, his battle cry can no longer be heard. Everything faded in his sight, his eyes dried. Fragmented thoughts drifted across his mind, weakening him. His giant hand began to lose grip and his Violet Fear slipped of it, making a loud sound as it met the ground. The gaping wound deep within his chest assured him of an inescapable fate. Dangling, his legs became weaker and then…the demon fell to one knee…only to feel someone embracing him from in front of him, a warm calming embrace, nearly stopping his heartbeat on spot. Faintly, the man once known as Gaeris Adler opened his eyes, trying his best for one last time to adjust his vision. And there she was, so close to him he could feel her heart beating. Isabel, the very woman who loved him dearly with her heart, was holding him so he would not fall. Her fingers were desperately grasping his being, obviously because of the sheer difference of weight, size, and strength between them. Somehow, all those hindrances meant so little to her. She was there to hold him from falling. She was there to watch his battles. She was there by his side, always. In joy and pain, sorrow and happiness, she was always there for him just like how he was always there for her. Silently, he remembered why he told his beloved he would want to be free. Now, and only now, Naght Sieger finally realized…that he has been long forgiven. His sin had been long gone. The one thing that restrained him from paradise had been long disappeared. And he knew it at last, it disappeared the moment her heart become his. And he was grateful for it. He was grateful for her.

"Stay with me….until the end" He heard the woman holding him plead. She was choking, holding back her tears. One thing she didn't successfully do as the tears were forming on her eyes and then flowing, showing its warmth to the man she was having her last moment with, letting him feel it, telling him it was real, "Hold me firm…and speak to me. Until your eyes no longer see. Until your ears no longer hear. Until your heart no longer feel. I know in time you will agree, it's kindness you do to me. We have sorrow and fear, as well as joy and love. Until the very last moment, I shall live with love in my heart, courage in my soul. I shall live until my spirit fades away. Please, for one last time, let me cherish the life I have with you. Please, let me know that my love does reach you. Let me know that my heart doesn't live in vain; my hope doesn't wander in nothingness. Please…hold me firm…and speak to me"

It was her voice that brought the very small consciousness, his last, back to where it belongs: by her side. Gathering the rest of his strength, he granted her wish. He gently put his right hand on the back of her head, before wrap her back with his left and returned the hug she's been giving him. Slowly, he lowered his head, bracing her hair. And only then, her heart was on his hands just like his was on her hands. "I HEARD YOUR PROSE WHISPERING OVER ME, DEAR. I WERE TO WASTE AWAY, FADING LIKE A ROSE LOSING ITS PETALS. MY TIME IS NIGH. TELL ME ONE LAST THING, THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO ASK BUT NEVER HAD THE HEART TO" Naght Sieger was aware his time is growing neigh. Any moment now could very well be his last. And so, he wouldn't waste it. He's going to speak his heart out to her, so that he and she will have nothing to regret, "DO YOU EVER DESPISE ME…FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO RETURN YOUR FEELINGS, ISABEL?"

It was awe-stroking, the way he asked. She too, never had the heart to admit. But she could care less now. This is his last seconds, she shall delight him as well as delighting herself. And she will do it without holding anything back. "I love you like the sun in the sky…or maybe how a bird is destined to fly. Words can't sum up the way that I feel. But I'll definitely say these feelings are real. And as sent from above, I'm here to give you my undying love" Prose, as Naght Sieger mentioned it. What beautiful words she chose to proclaim her feelings for him. Naght Sieger listened. Fiorentin and her fellows listened. The whole Pegasus listened. And so, Isabel resumed, "Until the last moment, my only wish is that you hold me in your arms. You hum sweet melodies in my ear, casting away my every fear. We slowly start to dance, knowing that this would provide closure to our everlasting romance. Until the last moment, we look into each other's eyes, knowing where true love lies. Until the last moment, each other's hand we hold as, our new beginning starts to unfold. No matter how unlikely it may be, that dream never ceases to exist. There is never a single day where I'm ungrateful for this feeling. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. My life means nothing without you".

Long, long ago, Naght Sieger felt the pain of being left alone by his loved ones. At this very moment, he knew he had to let go of her and she will have to let go of him. The thought of the woman he is beholding suffers is unbearable. And it is even more unbearable, the fact he might not be there to watch her ever again. The last thing he could do for him as a father and as a man she loved, is encouraging her, so she will be able to move on, in time. So he spoke. But without him noticing it…his usually gallant voice became soft. For the very first time in her life, Isabel heard the real voice of Gaeris Adler, right on her ear. "When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see. If the sun should rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn't cry, the way you did today, While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say, I know how much you love me, as much as I love you. And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand. That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand, and said my place was ready in Heaven far above, and that I'd have to leave behind, all those things I dearly love. For all of life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for, so much yet to do, it seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while, I'd say good-bye and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized that that could never be. There's no longing for the past. But you have been so faithful, so trusting and so true"

Isabel couldn't look away from Naght Sieger. The return of his voice symbolizes one thing: the curse has been lifted and its effect is beginning to leave. His voice sounded like just what she always imagined, gentle. It seems rather odd, in his dying moment, she finally heard what he truly feels in his real voice. His human voice, not his demon one. She was finally able to listen to him, to look at him, for what he truly is: a big man with even bigger heart. "So when tomorrow starts without me…don't think we're far apart. We will…never be apart…" Before his soul leaves his body for eternity, he told he the words she will always keep inside her. His parting words. She knew they will meet again someday, in another lifetime. Be it years or centuries, her heart will be waiting. It will never close. Her arms will always open. "We will never be apart…" And so forth, his life finally came to full circle. Gaeris Adler waved his goodbye to this world with a gentle voice just like he always sounds, "Every time…you think of me…I'm right here in your heart, Isabel…always…"

His body no longer moves. His mouth no longer speaks. His ears no longer hear. His eyes no longer see. His heart no longer feel. Like she wanted him, he hold her until the end. Like she asked him, he stayed with her to the end. Like she begged to him, he spoke to her till the end. In his very last moment as a man, Gaeris Adler granted the wish of someone who loved him, and will always love him, for eternity.

The grey began to fade, as the colors filled the sky. The chill began to warm, as the bright star began to rise. As the eastern orb rose high, the dark sky gradually turned to blue, like the color of his gentle eyes.

When the sun finally shone The Endless Tower, the high priest broke down and cried, letting out every bit of sadness she has been holding inside her…

0000

Sagramore claimed the victory without fail. But that morning, you wouldn't see a celebration party. A funeral, in fact, was planned to honor the death of a legend. The Endless Tower is no longer a place to die for, it was split and destroyed. It was the place Gaeris Adler once called home, but the condition wouldn't do justice to him. Not to mention it was also the place he had lost so many family he called children. Matthew hid somewhere in Pegasus like a coward he is, so the decision to where he would be buried was left to Isabel. It's only normal for her to decide, she's the one who loved him after all. It was so easy for either Fio or her friends to join on Gaeris' dying moment, but each of them had the consciousness to let him have his last moment with her.

"Amatsu would be the proper resting place for him" Isabel said, "A place where everyone gathers, where we can see and visit him without having to cross the world or to where he had suffered. He had enough suffering. I want him to be remembered and seen by many people as a great man he was"

So like she requested, his body was taken to Amatsu via Pegasus.

Sagramore and their allies attended the funeral. Contrary to how he looked for the larger part of his life, Gaeris Adler was a very gorgeous man. Blue eyed, golden scruffy haired with a finely shaped face and well-proportioned appearance. Far cry from a demon. He was smiling when he died, and he was smiling when he was buried. So was Isabel, for she knew no matter how far they are apart, they will meet again one day. For she knew, he will always reside inside her heart. Always.

And indeed, like a great man he was, his epitaph says:

"A light from our household is gone, a voice we loved is stilled, a place is vacant in our hearts, which never can be filled. Here lies a father, a friend, a hero, an inspiration, a family. And above all other, a man loved by all"

0000

Yep, that's it folks! That's the end of Naght Sieger and The Endless Tower Arc! Hope u enjoy this action/drama chapter!

I know I'll get flamed for killing Sieger, but to think of it, that way was the best was to honor his character. 'The demon with the heart of a man' an old friend of mine once said.

Before I forgot, I'm proud to announce that The Knightfall is back on business! Sorry for the 3 months hiatus! I hope it will never happen again!

Next chappy, we're going to have a comedy chapter. And to celebrate The Knightfall's 2nd anniversary, there will be a special omake rubric where u can ask anything (yes, anything) about The Knightfall! Anything but a spoiler, okay?

Thank u for reading this chapter, guys ! C u next chappy ^_^.

Below is the list of poems and their authors in this chapter:

La Belle Dame Sans Merci belongs to…uh, whoever wrote it. I thought his name was Keats something. I didn't write it, to be honest. I'm not a poem artist.

Invictus (as usual, with some personal adjustment) belongs to William Henley.

The Brave Knight belongs to Rosalind Richards (again, with some personal adjustment).

The Tale of a Knight belongs to Cody Buller (and…with some personal adjustment for the thousandth time).

Brave Knight Belongs to Rosalinda Flores Martinez.

Until The End of Time (with some adjustment) belongs to Josephine.

Hundreds of Fireflies (with adjustments here and there) belongs to Brad Leithauser.

Moonlight Nights (with adjustments) belongs to Bernard Howe.

Moonlight (good God, with adjustment) by Henry W. Longfellow.

Until The Last Moment belongs to Elia.

The Last Battle (with adjustment) by unknown.

I'm Right Here In Your Heart (with adjustment again) by Chuck.

My Undying Love by Anonymous.

Sun Rise by Ebony J.

Thanks all!