Chapter Nine: Sworn Protector
"The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one."
– Honore de Balzac
The morning was a very strange one. And Kaleb, tugging on the finishing touches to his travel wear, watched quietly out his window. It was sunrise, with the sun gently striding higher into the sky. The light was dappled between the boughs of the trees that surrounded his homestead. A picturesque scene that he would otherwise fully enjoy, but was now marred, somehow, by just howstrangeeverything had become.
The night prior was a sleepless one. After helping Esmeralda get situated, she peppered him with questions, and he spilledeverything. About the dreams he had been having. The seed. About Anli. About the voice, the dream of the Goddess and the Tree and the strange parcel full of magical baubles he had found. When all was said and done, Esmeralda had taken things in stride, though was deep in thought. Furthermore, they were exhausted, and turned in for bed.
When Kaleb had roused himself out of bed, he had found Esmeralda already dressed and ready for the day, wandering about outside in his garden and orchard. Interestingly, the young woman was most energetically taking notes in a small journal. She rummaged through her own rucksack, taking out a small vial to scoop up dirt. Was she taking dirt samples? Every so often, she traced magical ley lines in the ground with her staff, watching as sigils and runes glimmered with magic, taking more notes. At one point, she had obtained a smudge on her nose as she thumbed through the pages, her hands increasingly ink stained.
The sight of her with a smudge on her pointed nose brought a laugh out of him, much to Kaleb's surprise. Esmeralda really was something. And beautiful. She carried herself proudly, trim shoulders held back and squared. She had that boundlessly curious, kinetic energy that Anli possessed, sunny in her disposition, yet…
She took charge. She was bold and already took command of the situation, refusing "no" as an answer. Anli was more so reticent when her doubts took hold, simply due to the judgements from Domina's townsfolk. Such shackles clouded over his friend, binding her within doubt. So much so, that she shut herself down. As bold and curious as Anli was, she held herself back. Esmeralda did not.
And she was a Jumi. A Jumi of Emerald.
Elazul and Pearl would've keeled over if they knew.
Kaleb wasn't sure what to make of his new guest, of whom had literally crash-landed into his garden and into his lap. Of whom had taken charge, telling him all about the lights that she had seen inGeo, and had, within an hour's time,teleportedherself though the use of incredibly powerful magic right into his life.
Of course, someone in Geo would've seen the lights. Of course, they'd come running, in one way or another. And of course, they'd be right here in his home, ready to grab the metaphorical bull by the horns.
Of course.
Yet, he felt compelled to trust her. The girl carried herself with confidence and was clearly the smartest person in the room. A sorceress true, and, well… He had been looking for a magical scholar to help him with the problem of the golden seed. Now, here was the exact sort of person, more or less, that he was seeking out.
Of course, I had pictured someone older, male, and probably more learned. Like that Gale fellow who came by town a few months back.
The musing aside, there was another problem he had to contend with.
He worried for Anli. She had to have been right in the center of everything. And he was eager to get going.
Kaleb turned, seeking out his spear and satchel. Carefully, he took the time to pack up supplies and things he'd need for the road, as well as some medicine. Anli's condition was unknown. And while she had Bud and Lisa with her, she'd likely need more help than what a pair of children could offer. Concern for his friend took hold, and spurred him on to pack up faster, to sling his spear over his shoulder and into place upon his back. And then–
Wham!His door opened right as he was about to reach it. Esmeralda blinked, regarding him.
"Oh!"
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I was just outside looking around and testing for any magical after traces you see. All powerful magic leaves a little bit of itself behind."
She smiled, green eyes twinkling with mirth and mischief. Kaleb blinked again, before finding his voice.
"I am going to my friend's homestead. I believe she was in the epicenter of last night's events."
The Jumi's demeanor shifted within an instant, and she was serious again. She nodded, stepping aside so he could make his way out the door. Waiting patiently as he locked up, Esmeralda placed her hand on his shoulder, catching his attention.
"I know you're worried. I'm sure your friend might be fine, but just in case, she's got you, and she's got me now." Esmeralda had grinned, confident in her words, as well as reassuring. Kaleb found himself lost in those bright, bright spring leaf eyes. For a moment, he simply looked to her, and she to him. Then, a heat rose to his face, and he stammered.
"I… Thank you." Kaleb hesitated for another moment, and spoke again. "I mean it. You didn't have to come running, let alone do anything to check out the source of the lights. But you did. And I… Thank you, Esmeralda."
The Jumi girl smiled, her hand falling down from his shoulder to take his. She squeezed it in a reassuring gesture. He squeezed it back.
"Of course. I… Well, it's as I said. There's someone out there in the middle of this that needs help. And if I wish to call myself a Magic Knight, then I should act like one, yeah?"
Kaleb chuckled, and they slowly started down the path out of his homestead and to the main road towards Domina. They walked hand in hand; neither made a move to break away, and neither really seemed to mind. The boy wasn't sure as towhyhe was so willing to take this girl by the hand. And he wasn't sure as to why she wasn't protesting or moving away. Clearly, Esmeralda was the type to establish what it is she wanted. Unless flirtingwaswhat she wanted. Either way, Kaleb was certainly not going to resist being flirted with. And if it was just comfort, then he'd gladly accept it.
"A Magic Knight? Aren't you a Sorceress from the Academy?"
"I am. But my main goal is become a Magic Knight. You see… When Etansel fell, some one hundred and fifty years ago, my family was wiped out. My sisters. My parents. The whole city itself, gone within a day after a constant siege. I was still a very little girl at the time, but I… Well, I remember my family. My home. My people."
Kaleb remained quiet. He had to remind himself that Jumi could live for a very, very long time. And while Esmeralda might be young for a Jumi – effectively his own age – she was still old by human standards.
"I am sorry." He had offered. Esmeralda smiled, and shook her head.
"It's alright. I don't remember them that well, but I do remember their love. And I did have another family. Mr. Rubens. He was the Knight of the Lucidia, and the one who basically became my father. He brought me to Geo some twenty years ago, and I've been there ever since."
"Rubens…?"
"The Jumi of Ruby. The 'Flame of Hope', he was once called. An all-powerful mage, and one of the strongest in his generation. He should be in Gato. I…" She sighed. They had come to the main road, and were slowly walking along. "I promised I'd see him again when I became a Sorceress."
"Maybe once we're done with Anli and checking on her, we can see Mr. Rubens. I'm sure he'd be very happy to see you."
Esmeralda grinned.
"I'm sure he would. And I think he'd be proud, too. Of me. Coming to help someone. He often did things like that, too. Just rush in to help because it's what knights do."
Kaleb chuckled, shaking his head.
"Awful lot of knights coming around these parts. A Holy Knight. A Jumi Knight of Lapis Lazuli. Now a Magic Knight from Geo."
Esmeralda looked over, quirking an eyebrow, and grinned.
"Sweet talker. Ever flirt with girls this much?"
"You're actually the first I've tried flirting with."
"Well, aren't I lucky?" She beamed, amused. "But first, we go check on your friend. If there's good rhyme and reason to this world, she'll have a knight of her own."
Escad pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off the blooming of a very unwanted headache. The events of this very long, very strange morning had left him reeling. As such, the reason why a headache was threatening to plague him. He let out a soft, humming sigh, finally drawing his hand away as his focus went back to Anli. Then the twins, and then to Daena. Then finally, the sword itself.
The Holy Sword. This had to be some kind of joke. Because it was a damned funny one. But the more he thought of it, the less funny it got, and it became more so overwhelming.
They had all, at one point or another, withdrew into her study. Amidst all of the books and tomes, journals, and sketches upon scrolls, she had relayed everything. For Anli, the words came tumbling out in an exhausted, confused jumble. There were several times when either he or Daena interrupted for clarification, or to ask a question. Sometimes the twins commented about something that only made sense in retrospect, such as Anli's apparent habit of late-night wandering.
The Holy Knight had watched, as the girl grew more and more agitated, pacing back and forth in front of her desk in the study. Anli's hands gesticulated this way and that as she tried to explain the impossible. Every relevant detail wasn't left out, and she even shared some of her notes. Yet, he had noted how scared she was. Anli hid it well enough, slipping in jokes and smiles, but it was clear. Writ in her face, etching itself into her eyes, creeping into her body. She was scared. And for some reason, it clawed his heart in two.
"So, let me get this straight…" Daena had finally said, when the explanations were said and done. Anli had taken a seat on the desk's edge, with the twins coming around close to her. They were quite protective of her, with Lisa leaning in and taking the young woman's hand into her own. Bud did the same. Anli squeezed both of twins' hands, more for her benefit than anything, but it was comforting all the same.
"…You found the sword in your smithy, and when checking it out while doing your chores, it made you feel sick and overwhelmed. Hence your smithy explosion. And then after going to Domina, you carried the sword around this whole time, during the incident regarding that Jumi couple and the twins, yes?"
"Yes, that's right. At the end of the day, I had entirely forgotten all about it."
She forgot about the Holy Sword. The whole thing would've been completely absurd if it hadn't made sense. Daena continued, pacing back and forth in the study. "And after that, you've spent the past few weeks investigating the sword when you had some time to do so. And apparently last night you had some sort of out-of-body experience?"
Anli nodded, shrugging. "It was either that, or some kind of dream. But moving onto the point… I was in some old place, with plants and fields, and then I saw the Tree itself. I was… I wasn't even looking for this thing, and there it was! Tree. Then, I saw Kaleb. It was like… It was like he was right there, plain as day. Just like you are here in the room right now. He looked as confused as I was."
Escad lofted an eyebrow, before looking over to Daena. The cat-woman looked back to him, her velvet-tufted ears flicking forward. Anli reached up to rub her neck, gesturing as she did.
"All I knew is that it just… just… It felt real. We went through the fields and plants, up the tree and went to see the Goddess. More like… More like she was calling us, and… We made it to the inner sanctum, and she was…" She stopped, words trailing off.
"All of this sounds crazy. I mean, who in their right mind would even believe this? Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought during my smithy explosion. I mean…" The girl then faltered from her grumbling, shaking as she did. "I…"
She fell into silence.
"Are you alright?" A quiet voice spoke. Anli looked up, meeting Escad's gaze. He spoke again.
"I ask again. Are you alright?"
She blinked, a blush coming to her cheeks under his scrutinizing gaze. It was strangely soft, full of concern, a subtle cant of his head, arms crossed.
"I… I'm not sure. I think so. I mean, as good enough as I can be right now." Anli hesitated for a moment, before offering a light smile. "Thanks."
"Fair enough." He stated. Then carried forward, getting things back on track. "You found the sword, carried it around to look into it further – of which you did…Then last night, you had a dream where you and Kaleb were at the Tree. What happened next?"
"We met the Goddess, she gave us this magic, and then sent us away. We watched as the Tree burned down, and the world fell apart. When the ground opened up underneath me, Kaleb tried to catch me, we fell… And then I woke up." It was the simpler, easier explanation. Anli rifled through the stacks on her desk, before producing an empty journal tucked under a pile of books. She flipped through the pages, and started jotting down notes of exactly what had happened.
"Okay, so you woke up." Escad continued from there. "What was this magic she gave you?"
"And what happened after you woke up?" Daena gently inquired, taking the journal once Anli had made her notes. She then took over the task of note taking, writing in a neat, flowing cursive script. The Monk nodded her head.
"Some sort of light. It… The magic shot out of her, and it hurt when it pierced us. I'm not sure what that means, but it was done as soon as it was over."
"Okay, leading up to the lights, what happened then?" Escad, arms still crossed, gestured a hand to prompt her to continue.
Anli thought for a moment, a finger tapping to her lips. She drew in a deep sigh, and then a gasp of realization.
"…The parcel! When I came to, I was in my study here, and I had fallen asleep at my desk. That's when I noticed the parcel." The girl tore through her desk, bringing up the brown wrapping. "Here! It just appeared last night on my desk when I woke up."
Daena had plucked the wrapping from out her hands, looking it over. She couldn't see, feel, or sense anything off about the wrapping in particular. Just parchment for the use of parcels. Escad dutifully puzzled over it for a moment himself, before looking to Anli.
"The parcel had these little trinkets and objects inside. At first, I thought it was another prank by Bud and Lisa, but then it didn't make sense the more I looked. And these little trinkets, well, when I looked at them, they started glowing with magic. So, I took them outside to the main road. Didn't want to wake Bud and Lisa with magic experiments, you see. No exploding things in the house."
Daena gave a trilling chuckle, low and amused. Escad shrugged after glancing over to the twins. Bud and Lisa gave cheeky grins. Considering the children's penchant for pranks involving magic – magical attack pumpkins included – it was a sensible ruling.
"And when I… I guess I could say, used the items… They all burst into magic and light and color. And then… Well, you saw what the Sword did."
"Hey! What about that old rusty wheel?!" Bud piped up. "It's gone!"
"What wheel?" Daena had to ask.
"During a trip to the Luon Highway, Anli brought back an old rusty wheel after looting a bandit's hideout, Insisted it was hers now." Lisa added in, explaining.
"Humoring Bud here for a moment…" Daena trilled, setting the parcel wrapping down on the desk. "What happened to that old wheel you found if it's gone?"
"It… Exploded into magic. The same way the other trinkets did. Then, the sword started glowing, and you know the rest."
Both Monk and Holy Knight looked to one another. If it weren't for their own eyes, their own experiences, and everything that was going on so far… It would be crazy. But it wasn't. This was the here and the now. The reality of the strange situation at hand.
They watched then as Anli had slumped her shoulders, leaning back against the desk itself and looking as overwhelmed as everyone else had felt.
Anli was in a whirl of conflicting thoughts and feelings, each one bundling up in their turn, each wanting to burst outward. From idle curiosity with regards to some old sword she had found, to now feeling a torrent of fear and confusion and heartache. To say that she was entirely exhausted by the morning's events would be an understatement at the very least.
The Holy Sword. How many times did she go over it this morning alone? The one thing she didn't think to guess or anticipate. The Holy Sword. The fabled blade of legend, the very same thing that vanished some nine centuries ago, and was now right on her doorstep. It was a myth, a fairy tale. Something by which to give inspiration to all of the tales of old heroics with knights and maidens and champions of the Goddess true. Not be some old, rusted piece of scrap metal that glowed and exploded into magic, landing into her lap and into her life.
She got up from the chair, turning to face the sword itself. Carefully, she reached the old sword. One hand on the hilt, grasping it firmly. The other, gently lifting the blade. The Sword appeared to shine gently, a soft thrum of magic and light, glowing softly. Daena and the twins drew in gasps, while Escad seemed to flinch, if ever-so-subtly. Anli was trembling, as the Sword gently thrummed and pulsed, the silver-white of the blade glowing brighter, warmer, steadier. The tarnish on the golds faded, and the white pommel-stone seemed to radiate a new brilliance that feltalive.
The Sword was alive. Somehow. And it was responding to her. And as she held it, Anli only had the one prevailing thought: what now? She stared at the blade as it pulsed and thrummed, akin to a beating heart, full of life and energy. This is what a Holy Sword – the Holy Sword was really like. Warm and alive, and thrumming in the hands like a beating heart. It was the physical manifestation of Mana itself, of life itself.
And it scared her. Beyond any reason or rational thought. It scared her. It scared her, it scared her, it scared her.
"…Why? What now? What… What now…?" All she could do was ask the one question that plagued her, in a small and scared, broken voice. The sword's own inner light seemed to shine still, ever-pulsing with that strange, alien heartbeat. The more she stared it down, the more it seemed like less of a heartbeat, and more akin to a clock ticking down her own doom. She knew the old stories. All of the legends and tall tales from history. Those who were tied to the Holy Sword often die, sacrificed to some vague greater good. Tragedy follows in the wake of those chosen by the Goddess' decree, and she was realizing more and more that she was chosen.
The clock won't stop, ticking down relentlessly. Down to some finality that she couldn't even see, and all the world faded away, for just that moment. And she wanted to live. She had a family, after being alone for so long. She had the hope of a future, with dreams still of adventure across the world she had yet to see. Faces yet to meet and places yet to be experienced. Anli looked up, seeing Bud and Lisa, of whom had quieted down and were now clearly worried. She saw Daena, a kind-hearted stranger of whom was still willing to listen and help. And then Escad, the man she crushed on with his mask of careful neutrality slipping away. There was a collective worry, reflected in each of their eyes, and Anli wilted.
The voice once more rang in her mind, a plaintive cry.
Remember me… Need me… I can provide you with everything…
"I…" Anli faltered, her voice quiet and soft. She felt a heat and wetness come to her eyes as her vision blurred, emotions finally crashing down in a tidal wave. "This is… I… I can't…"
Setting the Sword back onto her desk, she hid her face with her hands, shoulders hunched up. Nearby, Daena hummed softly, her ears dropping down, and flattening. Escad closed his eyes, taking a breath. The twins shuffled, fidgeting with uncertainty. The girl herself was shaking, hot tears clouding her eyes, and everything started to hurt. Hurt and fear crashing out as she cried. Not just a few short weeks before, this was merely a curiosity that appeared in her smithy.
"I can't…"
I am love…
The girl flinched as her hands were gently pulled away, enveloped in large, calloused ones. Warm, strong, safe. A soft, warm, fur-covered hand reached out, touching her shoulder, squeezing it gently.
Find me, and walk beside me…
Anli blinked her eyes open, finding Escad holding her hands. He said nothing, did nothing, save for hold her hands and tug them away. Daena was right at her side, those kind, sad eyes so gentle and full of compassion, a tawny paw steadying her shoulder. For a moment, she stared down at the Holy Knight's hands. How large his seemed to be in comparison. Hard and rough, with so many tiny, pale scars, almost battered from a lifetime's worth of training and battle. Daena's, warm and velvety and gentle, yet strong and rock-like in their steadiness, a life of comforting others that became second nature. Hers, small and slim and soft, even with the subtle scars from her own smithy work. She was shaking still, and squeezed her eyes shut to hold back stubborn tears that continued to fall.
Escad brushed a hand against her cheek, wiping away one such errant tear. Daena ran that paw of hers up and down Anli's back and shoulders, gently rubbing like a parent would soothe a child. Such a thing did little to actually dissuade her crush on the Knight, of whom was offering what comfort he could. They both were, in truth. They came running to help. To listen. To give comfort and safety.
Slowly, Anli backed away, turning to pick up the blade once again. She took only a moment to think. Then, she swiftly turned to face the Holy Knight. Anli breathed in, breathed out, then presented the blade. Escad blinked, eyes wide with surprise. Daena looked just as shocked, with Bud and Lisa coming closer to watch. Gently, she nudged the Sword into his hands; the Holy Knight appeared entirely uncertain how to respond. More so as she pressed his hands around the hilt of the ancient blade, her own small ones holding them.
"You should have it." Anli blurted out. He raised an eyebrow, lips parted. Daena looked back and forth between them. "I'm serious! I mean, you're the knight and everything. Holy swords don't go to blacksmiths with broken smithies, and of whom talk too much. They go to knights who can actually… I don't know. Do something. You'd… You'd have a better chance of making proper use of this than I ever could."
Escad simply looked at her. Then he looked down at the blade now being held in his hands. It glowed a soft, pulsing light, thrumming gently in that strange, otherworldly hum, like the charge of lightning before a storm. It was so tempting. She was offering. It would make everything so much the easier, having the power of the Holy Sword. Taking his justice, saving those he loved. Daena looked to him expectantly, as if there was some secret agenda of her own clouding over in her eyes. It would be so much easier to achieve his Justice. For Daena to achieve what it is she needed to do. The faery attacks. Matilda… Irwin… Justice and vengeance and closure… Everything would be so much the easier. And he could, possibly, use it.
It would all be so easy…
Yet…
He was not the one chosen.
She was.
Escad closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. It killed him on some level, to be given something like the Holy Sword, and to have to give it back. But it was the right thing to do. He had his own battles to fight, his own troubles, and he needed to rely on his own strength. The Holy Sword was not the answer. This was not what he had trained himself to do in the last stolen decade of his life. He was not the sort of knights of eld that could even wield the blade proper. He had long since turned away from the old Code of Chivalry. He wasn't anything like the ancient knights of Forcena or Rolante or any other such place of yore and yesteryear.
He was Vengeance-sworn. He wasn't sure if there was a prior champion given the sword of whom was like him. Maybe, somewhere in the dusty annals of history and lore. But certainly not him. Vengeance-sworn. He had a demon to slay, a woman to save, and his own life, soul and purity was forfeit in the sake of that mission. He was simply not the one to be chosen for the Sword, let alone be the one to wield it. What else could he actually evendowith the blade once his own mission was done? What could he even fight for? Even if he were successful, he wouldn't know the first thing about using the thing, what to do with it, or even why it appeared.
He wasn't chosen.
Anli was the one chosen for this. And here she was, rightly scared beyond any sense like any reasonable person should be. Yet, the sword was her duty. Her responsibility. Her burden… In all that it entails. And it crushed him to condemn her to this task.
"I can't do that, Anli." Gently, he gave the sword back to her. One hand on the hilt, the other supporting the blade. The girl winced under those words, and looked up at him. But she didn't try to resist. Anli just held it, crestfallen. He hated seeing that. "This is… This is not my burden to carry. I cannot take this from you."
"But I…" Anli squeaked in protest; face flushed as she started breaking. It hurt.
"I'm sorry." It was all he even could say, and it destroyed him.
At that, Anli broke into tears, shaking as she did. She backed away, bumping into the desk. And then, she turned and ran out of the study. Bud and Lisa reached out in vain, calling her name.
The Sword had clattered to the floor.
The Sproutling watched as the girl burst out of the house, staggering, and stumbling down the path in a blind run. She tripped when she barreled into the poor little thing, landing down into the dirt with a loud cry. The Sproutling squeaked in shocked dismay, warm crimson eyes blinking away dust and sunlight. It approached the girl, trundling up to her in a relaxed pace. Why such distress? The Sproutling never did understand the emotions of the human that it called its neighbor for so very long.
A tiny leaf-like hand placed itself on her shoulder as the girl punched the ground, and cried. She shrugged it away. The Sproutling made a little sound, canting its head.
"Oh. How sad." It had said. It looked over her shoulder, back towards the house. "But look. Safe." It ambled away after its statement.
"Go away." Anli had, curling up into herself. She hugged her legs to her chest, face buried in her knees as she cried.
Escad did not go away. Instead, he took in a deep breath, approaching. In his hands, he carried the Sword, now sheathed and dormant in a plain, tawny leather sheath with brass rivets. Anli could sense him circling around to her, standing in front of her and looking down. How pathetic she must look. She could hear the footsteps and Daena and the twins coming outside as well, and could only perceive the movement of shadows. The girl simply held her legs closer to her chest, as much as she could, hiding her face.
"I said go away."
The Holy Knight did no such thing, standing in front of her. It had bothered him that Anli was so subdued and confused and lost this morning. A part of him dearly, desperately, painfully wanted to see her regain her cheerful spirits. Excited and curious, confoundingly sweet. She should be flirting and playing around. She should be living, fixing that blasted apart smithy, so she and Bud and Lisa could enjoy their new family life. And a thousand and one other things, now stolen from her. She should be dreaming of going to Jadd and Altena. Of seeing Lumina's clocktower…
I just might fall for you.
A part of him burned, at the words from earlier that morning, said in such a quiet whisper, he had thought he simply imagined it. He was getting soft. But Anli herself was much softer. And she needed someone, anyone, to answer that call for help. She was alone. She had been alone.
No one should have to be alone.
He had been alone as well.
"Please, just go away…" Anli had uncurled herself by then, slumped in defeat. "I can't do this… I can't… Not right now…"
Escad tentatively reached for her, kneeling down, the Sword set aside, and calloused hands reaching for hers. Gently, he helped her to her feet, lifting her up on his solid strength alone. Anli squeaked, trying to pull herself away, but he refused the motion. He then, on impulse, on some sort of call to act, or perhaps he wanted to… He drew her close. Close into his arms for a hug, close for that contact, and what comfort he maybe could young woman didn't move or protest, being pulled into his arms for a hug. She was so small and lithe against him. She only came to his chest and shoulders, and he had to lean forward to better meet her level. One hand on her shoulders, the other around the small of her back, halfway lifting her up into the hug and squeezing her tight. The girl was trembling, all barriers gone. Realizing what he was doing, Anli reached up her arms, clinging to the back of his shirt, her forehead pressed into his chest. As if that alone would make the fear go away. Any further protest she might have had melted away, as she shook and clung onto him for dear life.
Daena was approaching, holding Bud and Lisa's hands. The three of them watched as he just held the shaking girl. The Monk hummed softly, her tufted felinid ears dropped, flat against her head in empathy. Escad glanced at her, a subtle warning to keep their distance – to give space. Daena nodded in understanding. She squeezed the children's hands.
"It'll be alright." She had promised. The elfin twins could understand at least that much.
Finally, he let her go. She was still shaking, still clinging. But it was clear that the crushingfearhad been soothed. Escad quietly pulled away, hands coming up to rest on her shoulders. Anli, emotionally exhausted, wiped her tears.
"Ugh, I am such a mess. I'm sorry…" Her face was red from her crying, as well as a blush. The girl stepped away, looking conflicted and small, hugging herself. It was clear that Anli wasn't used to being held. Being comforted or cared for in this way. Being reassured. She was used to being dismissed. Eccentric. Crazy. Not worth the time.
And yet… She was safe. She made her feel safe. Truly, very safe for the first time in such a very long time. In ten years, since her aunt had died. She was safe. Safe because he was here in a very real, tangible way. Safe in his presence. Safe in his arms… Why.
"Anli," he finally said. "Come with me."
"What?"
The Holy Knight took her hand, and started leading her up the path. "Come."
Anli stumbled, before following. Daena and the children followed.
Kaleb and Esmeralda had reached Anli's homestead, only to find her being led away by Escad down a path. Nearby, Bud and Lisa, accompanied by an unfamiliar cat-woman, followed. Kaleb blinked at the sight, looking over to his companion. Esmeralda met his gaze in kind. There was a nod, and they followed.
The Sproutling ambled over to the Sword, still in its sheath, forgotten.
Anli found themselves standing in front of her smithy and the workshops that were attached to it. While the smithy itself was finely intact, the workshops' main entry way had been exploded in on itself, and subsequently cleared away. She, Bud, and Lisa had been busy with the project of cleaning it up, and Anli for her part, was busy in fixing it when time allowed.
"Escad, why did you–"
"Hail!" A voice called out. The group turned to see Kaleb and a green-haired girl clad in greens, golds and browns jogging up the path. "Hello, Anli! Sir Escad, you're here! Thank goodness for that…" The boy offered a warm smile, approaching.
"I was so worried about you, considering what happened last night. So I came to check on you." Kaleb looked up to Escad, then over to Daena. Curiosity and questions were in his eyes. But he put his focus back on Anli. "But it seems you're okay, and you have someone here."
"Tell me about it." Anli had gently broken herself free of the Holy Knight's grasp when the two came up, though Kaleb had caught that gesture. "You're okay too. And you have a friend."
The green-haired girl took this as her cue. She strode right up to them, dipping into a flourishing bow. One hand holding her mage's staff, another elegantly poised in a courtly bow.
"Esmeralda of Geo, at your service. I am a Sorceress, with particular skill in the schools of Abjuration and Conjury. I am the Apprentice of one Professor Nunuzac, Master of Conjury, and well… I saw the strange lights and the crack in the sky from all the way out in Geo. So I whipped up a little teleportation spell and came here. Fortunately, Kaleb here is a fine host. And has been in the middle of things himself."
She had a mirthful twinkle in her eyes.
"As well as being adorably handsome." Kaleb blushed at that, coughing. Daena laughed, before taking the opportunity.
"Nice to meet you both. I am Daena Ashetier, the Warrior-Monk of Gato Grottoes, and an old friend of Escad here. A pleasure." The cat-woman had extended a paw-like hand for the both of them. The pair took it. The Holy Knight simply nodded, preferring to keep a little way back. The children's eyes went wide as recognition dawned on them.
"Wait, Esmeralda?! You were our tutor back at the Academy!"
"Bud?! Lisa?! Oh Spirits be good! You two are okay!" The Jumi dropped her staff, drawing the kids into a warm embrace. "I was so worried about you guys when you disappeared! You made it out all the way to Domina?"
"We did. Anli here took us in. We have a home now with her." Lisa said, hugging the older girl.
"Yeah! She's a blacksmith and is really good at magic and other stuff! We love it here. We love her, too."
Anli looked down, and smiled. Esmeralda met the other's gaze, beaming brightly.
"Thanks for taking them in. I was so worried. We all were so worried about them back at the Academy, and spent weeks trying to find them after their parents died in that awful accident."
"I'm lucky to have them." Anli shrugged. She then appeared crest-fallen, shrinking back into some cloud of doubt. Or some sort of fear. Almost instinctively, she backed away, bumping into Escad standing behind her. Esmeralda blinked, standing, and her core chimed in response to the fear.
The Sproutling was trundling up the path, carrying the Sword in the sheath. It also carried with it a small, delicate medallion made of silver filigree, crafted in the shape of a regal lion's head. Anli had recognized it as one of the trinkets from the night before, of which had been dropped. She shrank back even further, only scarcely aware of the Holy Knight placing his hands on her shoulders. The girl squeaked out her fear.
"Please don't…" It was a barely audible whisper.
The Sproutling continued, unphased. When it came up to her, it first gave Escad the silver medallion, a little leafy hand reaching up. The Holy Knight made no movements, staring down at the demure little being, a subtle tightening in his jaw. Calloused hands squeezed her shoulders. The Sproutling, undeterred, ambled closer, and tapped the medallion to his hip. Reluctantly, he took it.
The Sproutling then stepped back, had held the Sword aloft. Anli bit her lip, arms crossing over her chest in an effort to refuse and soothe herself.
"People with pure hearts can go to a whole new world. Sword is key. Seed is key. All is reborn through imagination."
There was no response from any of those assembled. Not from Anli or Escad. Not from Kaleb or Esmeralda. Not from Daena, Bud, or Lisa. The twins instinctively went to Anli's side. Bud stood in front, Lisa to the side, holding Anli's hand. The young woman reached out to hold them close.
"Plants respond to love. We need love to thrive and grow. People are like plants too." The Sproutling offered. It held the Sword aloft, a gentle nudge for Anli to take it. "People need love. People who are loved, grow."
It offered one more time.
"Grow."
Anli took in a breath, and gently took the Sword.
The Sproutling nodded and smiled, as if pleased with itself.
"I am a Sproutling." It finally said. The absurdity of the statement prompted a jolt of laughter from Kaleb, and then he fell into apologies. Not-at-all paying any sort of attention, the Sproutling turned and ambled down the path. The group simply watched it go, and eventually reach a particularly nice spot on the grassy hill by which to flop down and begin sunning itself.
"You know…" Esmeralda added, in an effort to break the silence. "I once met a Sproutling who told me that 'the cow isn't anymore; it's inside my mind'. I wasn't sure what it meant by that." Daena and Kaleb simply looked at her. The Jumi girl's core flashed as she shrugged. "What? You never know with Sproutlings."
All eyes fell to Anli. She stared down at the Sword, sheathed in her hands. The girl shuddered, taking a breath. Then, she drew the blade. Even without saying a word, Kaleb and Esmeralda recognized it within an instant, the way the Sword glowed and thrummed, pulsing with life and magic. They knew what it meant, and what the implications were. Kaleb swore under his breath, with Esmeralda taking in a sharp gasp.
And then, something happened. Anli gasped as the Sword started to glow brighter and brighter, levitating out of her grasp. Escad behind her jolted as the silver medallion in his hand started floating upward. Instinctively, Kaleb drew out the Seed from his pouch, and watched as ittoobegan to glow and pulse. Esmeralda gasped, opening her rucksack as the sand rose she had swiped flew upward, encircling them.
"Back! Get back!" Daena called out, yanking the children close to her, much to their protests. Bud was struggling against her grip, trying to get to Anli. Lisa clung to the cat-woman, her hair whipping around.
Anli and Kaleb found themselves levitating in response to their respective tokens, and a look of recognition and awe shared between the two explained everything of what they knew to be true. A pair of hands reached up, pulling Anli down, as magic and Mana bucked and thrashed. A hand reached up, pulling Kaleb back down as well. Magic and light, color and Mana encircled and blasted. The silver medallion seemed to explode into a medley of plants, entrapping Anli in twisting vines. The young woman cried out, before…
Escad yanked her down to the ground, falling backward and clutching her close. Anli landed hard with a cry, tucking herself up against him as he rolled over her. The enchanted plants shot upward, bursting into color and light. The sand rose also exploded, as sand and light and fire burst out in a storm of dust, threatening to blow Kaleb away. A sigil of light enveloped him. Esmeralda had planted her staff into the ground with one hand, and pulling him down with all of her strength with the other. A magic sigil rose akin to a shield, bubbling Kaleb into safety. The dust and fire faded into light and color. The Sword and the Seed glowed and pulsed, and then…
They fell to the ground, landing hard on the path.
Daena was the first to recover, rushing over to Escad's side. The Holy Knight was still shielding the young woman in his arms, and once again pulled Anli up with him as Daena helped them. Kaleb slowly got to his feet, staggering once, taking a shaky step forward, then collapsing to his knees. Esmeralda was at his side in an instant, setting her staff down as the magical shield went way and was touching her hand to his shoulders. Anli was trembling, her hands clutching the knight's biceps, and shrinking into him as close as she could. The kids came rushing up, being halted by Daena to allow the younger woman some space.
"I can't… I can't… Anli breathed, eyes wide in her shock and panic.
"Anli…" Escad's voice sounded through the haze.
"I can't do this… I… No… I…"
"Anli, no. Here." The man moved, hands firmly on her shoulders, then moving up to cup her face gently. Her own hands reached up to touch his, squeezing tight. It forced her to look up at him for a moment before he let go. His eyes were so intensely blue.
"Do you know where you are?"
"I… In front of my smithy. Why?"
"Good. What do blacksmiths do with swords?"
"I… Make them. Fix them. Temper them into…" Anli halted, realizing what he was doing. "Oh."
She was breathing heavily, lips parted, and cheeks flushed. The young woman looked over at her smithy, gazing intently at it.
"So I… I fix the Holy Sword…"
"Maybe. We'll figure it out later."
"Look, I can't…"
"Remember what I said this morning?" He said.
"A lot was said this morning."
"Then let me remind you. I don't walk away. And I've already given you my word on that." It was something he could give when he didn't have answers. The Sword. The Seed. Those strange trinkets, artifacts… Whatever. Just the understanding that he couldn't take that burden away from needed someone.
"Look, I can't… There is no way I can have you drop everything you're doing just for my sake. That's not fair to you. You have those rogue faeries to go after, and you have to go home to Gato. And… And…" Anli faltered, pulling away from him and unsure of how to convince him. She was not used to being cared for in this way. Being held. Being reassured. Being taken seriously. Others had dismissed her as crazy, eccentric, and not worth the time.
Escad then paused, deep in thought a for a moment, as if considering something. Daena looked to him, watching carefully. Kaleb and Esmeralda had approached her at one side, with Bud and Lisa on the other. Anli absent-mindedly reached for the twins, drawing them closer. One broad, calloused hand went to the hilt of his sword, a finger taping on it as he considered something.
Then, he drew the sword. One hand on the hilt, the other holding the blade itself. The Jumi girl next to Kaleb drew in a sharp breath, apparently recognizing what the Holy Knight was doing. Kaleb glanced back to her with a question in his eyes, while Daena blinked. Anli spoke up, stammering before finding her voice.
"Escad? What… What are you doing?"
The Holy Knight said nothing, Something hurt inside of his chest. It was strange to be this confused. Was it the Holy Sword? Or was it something else? He was getting soft. He had a mission, an Oath to fulfill. His most sworn enemy had to die. Even his own life and soul was forfeit to that cause.
Yet… He could protect her.
Before he could deliberate any further, Escad placed his sword into the girl's hands. One hand on the hilt, the other supporting the blade. The Jumi girl nearby drew in a breath, akin to a gasp of understanding. He didn't pay attention to the sorceress nudging at Kaleb. Or Kaleb looking around confused, before recognition drew into his eyes. He didn't pay attention to the befuddled stares of the elfin twins, or the soft humming of Daena as the implications set in. Anli blinked, looking up. Escad paused, trying to remember the words that came next. It had been so long, so very long since he even thought of the old Code of Chilvary, as established by Ricrot the IVth. It felt silly, somehow. Yet… He breathed, closing his eyes, and then opened them again. One hand on the hilt with hers. The other, touching fingers to hers on the blade.
"Allow this to convince you, then…" He drew in a breath once, and spoke. "On my name, Escad Liotte, Holy Knight of Gato Grottoes… This sword is your blade to command. My own body is now your shield to defend you. Should you need it, I shall give counsel or comfort. Know that no harm shall come to you, nor shall you suffer any harm in turn. I speak these words with the understanding that my life is now sworn to this promise. And should I fail in my duty, you have every right to dismiss me unless I am forgiven."
His eyes met hers – pierced through her own gaze, steady and stern. There was an icy-cold chill to them, and yet… A gentleness, as well. The young woman drew in a breath.
"You are now under my Sworn Protection, Anli Bolnivard of Domina." He paused, then his tone changed into a more sardonic, dry sort of wit. "I told you that I don't walk away. And that you have my word."
Esmeralda drew in a breath, immediately jumping in as was custom. She tapped her staff once on the ground, a subtle flare of magic danced upward.
"I, Esmeralda, Jumi of Emerald, and Sorceress of Geo, stand as witness to this promise. Guard her well."
Kaleb blinked, stammering for a moment. His eyes were wide with a sense of awe, looking around, before clearing his throat.
"I, uh… I too, Kaleb M'avyare of Domina, stand as witness to this promise. Guard her well."
Daena gasped; blinking eyes wide. She stammered.
"I… I uh… I, Daena Ashetier, Warrior-Monk of Gato Grottoes, stand as witness… To uh, this promise. Guard her well."
With that, Anli blinked. A blush came to her cheeks, hot and heavy. She looked down at the sword in her hands – their hands – and stammered.
"I… Uh… I…"
"Just accept, sweetie." The Jumi girl helpfully coached with a whisper. Anli nodded.
"I… I accept this… This uh, promise of… um, protection." With that, Escad took the sword back, and sheathed it. He stood back, once more carefully neutral and watching her closely. If there was any sort of emotion about what he just did, it was hard to tell. Though the subtle softness in his eyes, and the tightening of his jaw told almost everything.
Anli's eyes went wide in awe, as well a stunned sort of affection. Next to her, Daena looked to her, then to Escad, and then back, tufted ears perking upward. The twins simply watched, whispering amongst themselves. Kaleb and Esmeralda watched her, before looking back to the Holy Knight. Kaleb's gaze, in particular, seemed to have a knowing understanding. She took a moment. She needed it, really, judging by how hot her face felt. The girl paced about the workshop and the smithy a bit, gesturing with her hands in a rather animated fashion. She paused to gape at him for a moment. Then, she stopped, letting out a breath, eyes closed in thought. When she opened them again, Anli's eyes were clear.
She walked over to the Holy Sword, sticking out of the ground, and lifted it up. Anli studied it, blue eyes watching and scanning the thing as she normally would've. Not as a scared young woman overwhelmed by recent strange events, but as the blacksmith and curious mind she really was. Taking another moment, she felt the weight of the Sword itself, testing it. It felt light in her hands, shockingly so, and the metal, as old and tarnished as it appeared, seemed to sing when Anli did a few cursory drills and swings. With a sigh, she stared it down. The literal and metaphorical Sword of Damocles hanging above her head.
"All of this fuss because this thing showed up in my smithy. Though, without it, I don't think I would've blown up a part of it when I bumped into bottled Dragon's Flame. Great magical agent, that stuff. But volatile." She cracked a smile, turning as she did. With that, she sheathed the Holy Sword into its humble sheath. It fit perfectly, and its glowing and thrumming stopped. Somehow, it reverted back to a dormant state without a trace of magic. Just an old, antique sword that sparked a blacksmith's curiosity.
She took in a breath, moving into the smithy for a moment. When she returned, she had attached the Sword to a spare sword belt. The belt itself buckled into place on her hips.
"…Thanks. I'll… I'll hold you to that promise, Escad. I mean it." Anli declared, her voice becoming bolder once more. "So don't do anything stupid and let me down."
There was a subtle quirk of the man's lips, and Escad offered a very rare smile.
"It is I have said. You're interesting."
Anli blushed a bit. His face was made for smiling, as handsome as he was. But she regained herself, smiling buoyantly in turn. Once more, that sense of fear washed away, replaced by a feeling of safety… As well as something else… Something that ached and bloomed, that reached and pulled into her. It held, gentle and warm, soothing, and cool, touching a nerve deep within her heart. The young woman held his gaze for a moment longer, before Daena's paw came to rest on her shoulder. Anli blinked, turning to face Daena. The moment lost; Escad regained his mask of careful neutrality.
"Well, if he can promise to help you, then so can I. I'll admit, there's much I don't know right now. And I'll also have my own battles to fight. That being said, do not ever let us pressure you into using the Sword on our behalf."
"Agreed." Escad added, waving a hand. "You're likely the only one who can use the Holy Sword anyway. Let's keep it that way. And keep it for whatever its purpose might be."
Lisa looked between them all.
"But Escad, it glowed when you touched it. What do you think it means?" The Holy Knight could only shrug in response, shaking his head.
"Maybe the Holy Sword has a crush on him, like Anli does." Bud piped in, oh-so-very-helpful. Anli immediately started making all sorts of highly amusing noises, a bright red hue on her face and ears. Her and Lisa's voices fell as one.
"Bud!"
"Oh come on! It's obvious!" The boy retorted, whiny. Daena quirked her lips, and looked to the Holy Knight in question.
"…Okay, do Holy Swords get crushes?"
"No idea. It's a first for me." A bemused shrug followed his words, and he left it at that. Kaleb looked to Esmeralda, of whom placed her hands behind her back, lips quirked.
"Good a theory as any. I'd like to see if that Seed of yours does anything special, Kaleb."
"Do you think magical seeds get crushes too? Or just holy swords?"
"Hard to say! This is a first in maybe about, oh, nine hundred years. Give or take a century. Though not to be outdone by a tall and handsome Holy Knight…" The Jumi trailed off, and placed a hand on his shoulder. Kaleb blinked.
"I am no Knight, just a Sorceress with big ideas and big ambitions. But I'd be shitty daughter to a Jumi Knight if I didn't promise you my protection as well. I am Guardian, but I can't cry. I am a student of magic, and not yet a Magic Knight. But you have my word, on the honor of my Core itself, and the honor of Fallen Etansel. You will be safe with me, Kaleb. I will do all in my power to help you, and then some. That's a promise."
Kaleb chuckled. He placed a hand on her shoulder in turn.
"Well, maybe not as chivalric, but I accept your sworn protection, Esmeralda. Thanks for, well, dropping in."
"Literally!" Esmeralda laughed, eyes twinkling. The boy simply smiled, a blush staining his cheeks as well.
Not heeding them, Anli and Lisa were still fussing at Bud, of whom was having a most wonderful time taunting. A happy sort of chaos. The Holy Knight observed the antics, noting that the trio were less akin to a guardian and her charges, but siblings that found each other. Kaleb seemed amused, and used to the scene, while Esmeralda laughed and laughed. Eventually, Daena started laughing at the scene, allowing herself to join in on the fun. As for Escad, he simply watched. It was rather cute to see, watching them squabble, tease, and play. And when Anli started losing herself to the children's silliness, giggling alongside the twins, something settled over him. It felt right. Anli was going to be alright. She was getting back to that whatever part of her that was so confoundingly sweet.
And he had just taken her under his sworn protection.
Just what the hell was he thinking?
END CHAPTER