Returning to his home on the sixth floor of the royal palace, Sawyer, the queen's holy knight, went to pick up a bottle of human imported whiskey and poured himself a glass before settling into a chair in the dark, with a blank stare, a pasty mouth and an unspeakable feeling of disgust.
This room was the effigy of the friendship he had forged with his three other friends throughout their short lives, sprinkled with their various memories. This orange armchair, old and decrepit where he had sat, for example, had been stolen by Morvian during their stay in the land of all dangers: Australia. The crimson chandelier made of shells that lit up if you knocked on it that hung from his ceiling was a gift from mermaids crossed in the Pacific when they helped them to shoot down a whale with sharp teeth - he was even entitled to a kiss and an invitation to come to the house of one of them, but well, that was not to the taste of the princess Audisélia, who came close to electrocuting the whole Pacific Ocean. Next to his window, he had stored the skeleton of one of the famous monster that had ambushed them during the too numerous runaways or escapades of Sélia - a turbulent child as one rarely does -, a Hastecalosaurus, a dinosaur with a mouth that divided like a plant.
All these memories made him nostalgic of that time when they were poor and penniless but shouted their freedom wherever they went, they couldn't be thrown into the Nether because they had the Torn's pact and anyway, who could stop the young Audiselia when she was still called "the Bandit Princess", known in all the districts of Sylvania, from the top of the royal palace to the deepest depths of the Underworld.
Glass in hand, he recalled his meeting with Globox and Morvian.
~~~~~
When Torn died, the Vanguard children found themselves alone in the world. Although they were the children of the hero of Sylvania, no one wanted them. The reason: Audisélia, whose real name was Rosalinélia, looked a little too much like the Feline, and Torn's son seemed too weak to be his legitimate child. So they ended up being street kids, working from a young age to find enough to support themselves. Sawyer washed dishes, cleaned houses, looked after children... with whoever would have him, and Audiselia robbed anyone who stood in her way, as dumb as the Hero in those days. This is how they survived.
Communication between the two was more than fair, a good morning in the morning, a good meal at mealtimes, a prayer together to the gods of the pantheon, a good night when Sawyer was working at night and a good night at bedtime when Audiselia was not already asleep. Sometimes Audiselia would prepare a meal for him when he returned to their bramble hideout, sometimes not. This strange cohabitation was not forced as it might seem at first, they needed each other, but this dreary and mute atmosphere came from the fact that Audiselia and Sawyer did not like each other that much, or rather, Sawyer had said so out loud the year after the discovery of the girl and again after Torn's death.
"I hate you since the day we found you! Since that day, nothing but trouble has happened to us, now look! It's because of you that dad died, because of you and your damn..."
Audisélia had never affirmed or denied anything, she remained as silent as a carp, realizing what she had to do and bring bread home with her own means.
Although they understood each other well enough that there was no misunderstanding in their silent discussions, Audiselia always annoyed Sawyer, she did not demand, did not defend herself against his criticism, offered him his meal, and unlike Lelelitio, he had too little of her to come to blows with her, which did not prevent him from getting angry with her at several moments.
Then one day, after a heated argument, Audiselia disappeared without a trace. Sawyer didn't think to go looking for her in the first place. He knew she could defend herself with her magical powers and genetic attribute, and her father had taught her to master the double-blade dance, so who could she fear? However, days went by and Audiselia still hadn't returned. This was beginning to worry Sawyer. Had he forgotten something she had told him? Something important?
Suddenly he remembered. He remembered that if Audiselia didn't take her medicine, she would "slip". He rummaged in his bag and found one last blue magic ball containing gariz and yastsi smoke and an ultra condensed healing potion. If she didn't take it, the worst was to come... And it didn't take long for the worst to come knocking at his door, or rather, at the door of the entire kingdom.
Outside, he heard the crash of lightning falling all over the nation and great cries of pain. Sawyer went out at full speed and did Audisélia above the city, in full view of everyone, losing his mind and throwing lightning on everything that moved, while scratching his skin. Sawyer flew to the city center and tried to reach it to stop it but was stopped by guards who told him that it was far too dangerous to approach this "creature".
- What will you do?
- She is uncontrollable. The queen couldn't seem to find a way to stop her, so we were going to have to kill her.
- Huh? What are you talking about? Let me through! Let me through," he kept repeating.
But the guards pushed him back. He swore that he would never use his space magic, so he used it to fly behind the guards to his sister. The closer he got, the more the electricity in the air became charged, the more violent the discharges were. But he had to get closer to her to calm her down, to reassure her, otherwise...
- Audisélia ! Audiselia! Answer me!
All Sawyer got in return was screaming and more electric shock.
- Rosalie, you're going to answer me, damn it! You have to calm down! You're going to destroy Sylvania!
- Don't call me... by that name!
- So answer me when I call you by my mother's name.
- I... I can't... control myself anymore...
- I know. That's why...
He searched the pockets of his rags and found Audiselia's medicine.
- You have to take it!
- I told you that I can't control myself anymore!
A new burst of lightning spread across the kingdom, striking anyone in Audiselia's path. The power she gave off altered the sky and turned it crimson red. The people down below were crying and panicking, begging for help, this moment reminded them of the attack of the two-headed dragon that took the life of their national hero, but especially of the Feline's tantrum when she had unleashed herself on all of Sylvania with the help of this stranger.
Sawyer saw archers standing by to shoot his friend, he didn't have much time left to stop her or she would end up nailed with arrows.
Sawyer scanned the little fairy to see if there was any way to get closer to her, but the electricity around her made her inaccessible without further injury, and she seemed out of control, she couldn't stop it herself since her limbs were twitching from the electrical tension.
It was up to Sawyer to approach her at the risk of his life. He breathed in and out quickly, hesitating to make the first flap of his wings, but when he heard the arrows detonate, he threw himself on Audisélia to block the projectiles destined for his protégée.
- For... why are you protecting a monster like me?
- Because my father asked me to, he answered her painfully, and I have to accomplish his will, but especially because I need you. You are not a monster, you are the only person able to reassure me during my anxiety attacks, to help me to feel useful when my morale is low. I'm sorry I insulted you on several occasions. Let's go home now.
- But I... can't... stop.
- Don't worry, I'll take care of things.
He compressed the medicine in his mouth, passed it from cheek to cheek and then kissed Audiselia so that she would not spit the medicine out. The more she swallowed, the more the lightning bursts diminished until she no longer emitted electricity. The drool to the lips, Sawyer congratulated her:
- You took your medicine well, little girl.
Before collapsing.
Audisélia barely caught him before he crashed to the ground and they both landed on the finger of a house. Soon they were surrounded by an army of guards, led by a face they will be familiar with in the future: Caemgen.
Winged, with a face not bruised by various battle wounds, no white hair yet and barely a few wrinkles on his face, this is what one of the companions of the prestigious hero of yesteryear, Torn, looked like.
Sélia put herself between them and sat down and formed claws of lightning at the end of her fingers to defend Sawyer, she was like a cat defending its small, the sharp teeth, the members tightened, tended, ready to the attack. Caemgen stretched his sword in the direction of the lightning fairy and made the electricity flow into it, if his handle was conductive, he would have ended up electrified to the point of not being able to move. At a glance, he recognized the son of Torn, riddled with arrows, he then put away his weapon and tried to approach but it was without counting on the distrust of Audisélia which had the air of an enraged beast with its saliva dripping of the edge of the lips.
Seeing that she was still on the defensive, he then put his weapon away and knelt down in front of her:
- Who are you, young demoness, for this boy?
- I am his sister! We share the same last name! Now get out of here! I'll take care of myself.
- Can't you see the state he's in? He is dying!
- I will treat him as he treated me!
Caemgen was disappointed by the stubbornness of the girl, despite her young age, she seemed powerful enough to stand up to him in a fight where his goal would not be to kill her.
Caemgen sighed and asked him:
- How much do you care about this boy?
- To the point of sacrificing myself for him. I will protect him until my last breath because although he hates me, he has never abandoned me to my fate, so if you want to fight, I am ready to freeze your account and beat you to a pulp...
Sawyer grabbed Audiselia's shoulder to help support her and dropped to one knee to face Caemgen.
- That is enough, Sélia, he calmed it, you are in front of the protector of the queen, show a little more decency.
- But they wanted to kill me while you protected me.
Sawyer rebuked her by shaking his hand in front of her and telling her to be quiet.
- Excuse her, sir, she doesn't really know the customs of our kingdom. She's a bit of a wildling.
- We could see that. Are you the son of Torn?
- Yes, Sawyer Travis Vanguard, sir.
- Although the girl is taken to Limbo and the boy to the infirmary of the royal palace and then to the queen.
- Wait!
The guards grabbed Audiselia and carried her off to a dungeon caravan. Sawyer was too weak to do anything, and anyway, did he stand a chance against these over-trained guards? He was not Audiselia, who had the immeasurable power to take on adults. He was the weak son of Torn...
- You will find her later, for now I want you to be invited to the queen.
Helplessly, Sawyer could only agree, and watched as Audiselia rode away in that cart. Although he stared at her, seeing her off into the distance, she did not return his gaze. Eyelids closed, arms flailing, she did not interfere with the decision of the queen's protector and would not bother the son of Torn again, if that is what he wanted. After all, she wasn't supposed to be there at that time.
Don't take it the wrong way, Selia. I'll get you out of here! I swear to you!
Sawyer followed the holy knight Caemgen to the throne room and met the queen. Compared to the period of Audelia's reign, the room was not really different from the present one, except that it was a little more flowery - a passion of the former queen.
The son of Torn faced the queen and knelt down.
The queen Synomïa before she fell ill, was a woman resplendent of beauty
- Raise your head, you are still the son of a being invaluable to our people, you have the right to all the honors, said to him the queen Synomïa, it is a shame that we let you live as an outcast of the Nether or a Grave.
Some of the guards, ministers and ladies of the company laughed at these two words, but the queen did not laugh at all and ordered them to silence their loud voices and their words devoid of kindness.
- I don't think I was trying to be funny, and then come to me Terati.
An old fairy in a white tunic with golden bands came in front of the queen, and without her even saying a word, only waving her hands, she created a gigantic shadow that devoured the rift greedily, the sounds of chewing, of bones breaking, of a non-existent drool dripping... Everything was audible. Then the monstrous shadow swallowed its poor victim before belching and disappearing.
- Now will I get silence?
No one answered.
- This is exactly what I expected from you.
Was this the strength of a descendant of the Fighting Kings? It was simply phenomenal! Only her father had put such pressure on her.
- Tell me my boy, do you personally know the girl who attacked the kingdom?
- Before answering you my queen, this girl did not attack the kingdom, rectified Sawyer, she opens of an unknown evil of which my father treated and I unfortunately forgot to give him the treatment. And in the revision of your words you could understand that I knew her.
- Where does this fairy come from? We have never known one like it here that didn't come from a Royal Bud.
- To tell the truth, my queen...
Sawyer hesitated for a moment. What would they think if he revealed that Audiselia had been asleep - in stasis or hibernation, he didn't know - in brambles. They would conclude something rather... aggravating.
- Speak, son of a hero, you have nothing to fear.
- It's just that... we found her, me and my father, when I was only seven years old too. We didn't know where she came from but my father having lost his lost love and seeing in her, a way to redeem himself, he took her under his wings and educated her until he...
Her hands began to shake as she recalled those fresh memories. Her father had died just two years ago at the hands of the troll king who had invaded Sylvania.
- Take your time, Synomïa said.
- My queen, I would like to intervene, says the great Igniasté counselor.
- Speak, great counselor.
- Well, that's because we've never seen anything in the kingdom with such power among the citizens. Few fairies can boast of hurting so easily and so quickly. This fairy is more than a little strange.
- I'll grant you that, Councilman," Sawyer said with a shaky voice, "but Audiselia is just built differently than the rest of us.
- What do you mean "built"?
Had he just said the wrong thing? No, if Audiselia's nature was revealed...
- It's just that I don't know where she came from, or where she was born, but she's really but really different from the other fairy-fighters that populate this kingdom, Sawyer argued awkwardly, swinging her hands around.
Perceiving the difficulty to speak of the young man Caemgen spoke:
- My Lady, as you can see, this young boy has been through a lot and is responding to you under stress and fatigue. Please, could you let him rest?
- Don't worry Caemgen, I wasn't going to ask him any more questions. He doesn't seem to know much about this fairy. Put him in free quarters so he can stay there, and about the little demoness...
Sawyer ran towards the queen and threw himself at her feet, the guards wanted to catch him but the queen ordered that he be left alone:
- I beg you, I beg you, asking you for mercy for Audiselia. She is the only family I have left, it is my fault if she caused so much damage, if we had quarreled a few days ago because of insignificant trifles, you wouldn't even know she was there...
- But fortunately that we have been informed of your presence, says to him the cheerful queen, otherwise...
- My queen, I beseech you, by all the saints, all the gods, by Avan himself, I beg you not to harm Audiselia.
This look that Synomïa perceived was the same one that Caemgen had been giving her all these years, the look of a man ready to do anything to defend what he holds dearest at the risk of his life. This young boy may have been a coward, as the rumors against him said, but he was currently showing a determination that would make many a lover swoon. She placed her hand on Torn's son and lifted his head.
- I promise you that nothing bad will happen to her, just that you will not be able to see her for a while, she announced to him, I will intercede in your favor with the judge Triface so that you can see her again as soon as possible.
Suddenly, Sawyer's dirty, grimy face lit up and he hugged the queen. It was an unexpected behavior, but it was a way to thank someone, so she put up with the boy's stench for the duration of the hug and even returned it. She could hear him sobbing in her arms and sniffling, but felt his happiness at knowing his sister was safe. This embrace lasted until Caemgen intervened and took him by the collar.
- As Torn's brother in arms, I will take care of his son. Does that suit you my queen?
- I have no objection.
- Then we leave.
Caemgen took his friend's son and left the throne room. Apart from Sawyer's presence, the queen continued the conversation with the other people present.
- I want us to keep an eye on this fair phenomenon. Day and night non-stop, is that clear?
- Yes, they all said in unison before dispersing.
Synomïa slumped on her throne and asked one of her servants to bring her a glass of red wine, which she sipped before swinging the flute behind her.
- If the Feline had not existed, I would have sent researchers to study it, but I had no desire to affiliate myself with this traitor.
Then she was taken by a sudden coughing fit. She wasn't going to catch the flu anytime soon, so maybe it was time for them to move on?
Once in Sawyer's new quarters, Caemgen took him to task.
- The queen may have played ignorant and I defended you because you are the son of my late friend, but don't think you are an excellent liar.
- But I told you the truth.
- I don't deny it, but you're hiding things from us, the holy knight doubted, however, I've seen your determination to protect this fairy, so I'm not going to pry, but swear to me that well kept, she won't be a threat to our nation.
- I swear to you on what I hold most dear.
In the end, the most expensive thing he has is Audiselia. It's funny.
- So I believe you. But know that if you want to protect her, you won't be able to do it with this body and this physique. Nevertheless, you already have the basics, that must come from your father's training.
- You say you know my father and yet I have never seen you in our home.
Caemgen took a step back and turned to the window overlooking the kingdom, which had managed to extinguish its flames, leaving only trails of black smoke.
- After his victory over Marrynélia and the murder of your mother by those madmen, your father was not the same man, he explained, I tried as best I could to contact him, to renew my relationship with him, even to pay my debts for gambling and drinking, but nothing helped. His heart had closed permanently. He had only one thing on his mind, your birth, and yet I was not allowed to witness your birth. I think I only saw you once, but you were very small.
Overcome with emotion, the fairy knight leaned her fist against the window and placed it there.
- You may not have known him in his heyday, but your father was a good man, the most faithful and skillful fairy I have ever known in my life. To think that I am the only fairy left who is over five hundred years old.
- You have not been subject to the age limitation.
- No," he said with a smile, "because you and I and your father were 'different. Well, I'll let you wash up, because you stink.
The knight started towards the door, but stopped short, he had one last thing to say to the young boy.
- Don't expect to see your girlfriend again immediately, but keep in mind that our queen always keeps her word.
Caemgen left, leaving the son of Torn, alone in that large space - larger than their den. He went to the bathtub and passed the water to himself, fully clothed.
Not seeing Audisélia again... How long was he going to have to wait for her?
The answer was very simple: two years.
Two years where Sawyer was trained by Caemgen who took over Torn's martial education, forcing him to build muscles and be more reckless. After a year, he was able to join the military school in Sylvania and become a soldier. He was moved from the royal quarters to a more dilapidated place in the Upper Town, an order from Caemgen, who didn't want him to look like one of those self-important Sanctuary brats who thought they could do anything. While waiting for Audiselia to come out, he prepared everything so that she would feel comfortable in her quarters, making space for her in her drawers and cupboards, cleaning the whole room as quickly and efficiently as possible - he really wanted to do it himself, that's why he didn't ask for the help of any maid or cleaning lady.
Then the two years passed, Sawyer was contacted by a messenger of the queen while he was in the company of Globox who invited him to go and fetch his "sister" from Limbo. Can you imagine the joy and terror that ran through Sawyer's body when he heard this news? It was immeasurable, so much so that he vomited his meal just after the messenger left.
He ran with Globox to the underground under the fountain of the Grand Place and they descended until they reached the double doors leading to the prison of Limbo. A massive double door with engravings of monsters coming out of the bowels of the underworld and repelled by Faiyerases, fairies of the divine plan who welcome the most deserving fairies and condemn the demonic ones, holding the celestial spears and blessed by the gods. What was strange with this fresco was that these fairies did not have wings but capes for some of them and that these monsters or demons came out of a tower while they were always told that they came out of the depths of the earth as in the legend of the first hero and the first fairy of the legend.
However, there was no time to linger as the thirty guards and mages began to open them to let her friend out. The rubbing of the doors on the floor, the dust that came out of the slit that was created, the flickering of the lights of the luxinite torches... all this gave the impression that they were in the process of freeing a demonic being, but it did not change the excitement that lit up the eyes of the son of Torn.
Globox had no expectations of this fairy that his comrade was waiting for so long, he had heard a lot about her when she lost control of her powers and started attacking the whole city, but he wasn't interested in it more than that, even out of curiosity. Especially with those recurring headaches that got worse during her descent into Limbo. Still, the ogre kept his mind enough to be able to tell Sawyer to stop being so agitated, that he was growing up, and that even though he'd missed her, he owed it to himself to maintain some stature, especially in front of a woman he seemed to love outrageously.
- I told you we're brother and sister," Sawyer replied.
- I know, but I also know that you've never thought of her as your sister, especially if it's to kiss her.
- I didn't have the joy!" the young soldier gibbered.
- The 'choice', rather," sneered the chubby green ogre, a slip of the tongue as revealing as holy water on a possessed person.
- What are you babbling about?
- I don't know... Sometimes words come to me.
- Limbo is not good for you.
- Yeah...
Their conversation was interrupted by the stop of the hubbub of the opening of the doors, the two colleagues turned towards the entrance of Limbo where no light escaped from it. The deadly silence that reigned in the room made Sawyer lose all excitement, the atmosphere was terrifying. It was not the first time that he had gone to Limbo, Caemgen had taken him there a few times to question criminals about certain positions of their accomplices or about planned attacks, but he had never felt such an atmosphere. Was it because this time he was going through the main entrance?
A strange purple smoke rose from the prison entrance and small lights appeared in the distance. The guards aimed at the entrance and the mages began to draw magic circles.
- There's no need to be so careful with her, you know...," Sawyer said hesitantly.
- Although you are the son of Torn and the protégé of the head of the holy knights, we have no orders from you," one of the jailers rebuked him, "especially in the face of such danger.
- But...
Globox grabbed her shoulder and suggested she not say anything.
The small lights of the luxinite torches began to spread more and more, until a female figure with long hair could be made out, dragging the dust with her, a pale, almost ghostly figure. The tension climbed with each step of the arrival of this woman, the guards tightened more and more their weapons, Sawyer swallowed strongly at the approach of what seemed to be Audisélia. Then the woman arrived in front of all the troop, without stopping, nor paying attention to those who threatened him, she moved to meet Sawyer.
- Sawyer...
- Sawyer, this woman reminds me of someone..., Sawyer said, are you sure this is your adopted sister?
- Since I'm telling you yes. I already know who she reminds you of.
The boy had no more saliva to swallow, though he knew it was her, why did she have that menacing aura around her? He was close to standing guard, armed with his sword. A guard cautiously approached the girl with the dirty pastel hair and unlocked her cuffs.
- Go now, demoness.
- Hey!
The fairy with dirty and spiky hair all over threw herself on her visitor and slumped on him for a long time.
- I'm hungry, Sawyer, did you bring me food?
The sigh of relief that escaped Sawyer's body was heard throughout the floor. With Sawyer's relief, the guards reassured themselves that this fairy was not dangerous.
- I'm sorry I never came, Selia, but I promise you can hit me as much as you want.
- I just want to eat, Sawyereli...
Yes, wait.
Sawyer asked the jailers for the papers to be signed to make Audisélia truly free, signed them and all three left. Sélia, tired by her stay in prison, asked her protector to carry them, which he accepted without hesitation, too happy to be able to do it as when they were children and she ordered him for everything. And meanwhile, the mages and the guards closed the double iron door, extinguishing at the same time the torches of luxinite of the corridor of exit and entrance in the same brouhaha as during its opening.
- Compared to before, it's easier to carry you, even though you've lost weight.
- Sawyer, did you laugh?" asked Globox.
- Right? No.
- Yet...
- It's nothing, Audisélia said to him, just the tears of a soul in pain.
Back on the surface, Sawyer bought Audiselia a batch of food for her release from prison, and she was so pleased that she, with the help of Globox, filled her belly until she was full, ruining Sawyer's savings in the process.
Audiselia got to know Globox, a person she had no interest in - until now. She learned that her adopted brother's new partner was also an orphan whose parents died during the attack of the troll king, cut in half by his goblin henchmen, and he no longer had any contact with his older sister who had hidden him during the invasion in their cellar. But Globox doesn't care, they had always gotten away with it before, so why should that change now. Although he was not yet the jokester, chatterbox of the current era, Globox knew how to show initiative in a conversation, despite the fact that he was not taking any chances.
- Why would a fairy of royal blood need to save money?" Globox stammered as he gnawed on the bones of a Garse hydra.
- You never know what might happen to you, so it's better to be prepared because
- Because you are of royal blood, you now? cut it Audisélia.
- Uh... yes, but I'll explain later, Audiselia.
- You can call me Rosalie, you know.
- Really? Why the change of heart?
- I had time to think... Wait...
Audiselia and Globox belched at the same time before resuming their craving.
- You guys are disgusting," Sawyer snarled.
- I have a pass, I just got out of prison," Audisélia justified herself.
- I'm perpetuating the stereotype of ogres," Globox justified himself.
- It's not possible," growled the son of Torn.
- And like I said, I don't really need to be so adamant about it, the other one's name is not Rosalie but Rosalyn. So let's leave it at that. Besides, it bothers you that I'm named after your mother.
- Audi... Rosalie, I didn't... I grew up in those two years, two years where I wasn't allowed to see you, so... don't worry about that nonsense. But if you want, I'll call you that.
- Which is not likely to happen, Caemgen intervened.
Out of nowhere, he settled at the table of the three children and took the opportunity to taste the buffet shared by the two other morfals that were Globox and Selia, under the desperate eyes of Sawyer.
- This girl will not wear this name.
- Why?" asked Sawyer.
- Because, like you but from a different family, she is of royal blood. She is of the Grave line," he whispered.
- The fallen lineage? That of King Es...
- Don't say his name, Sawyer.
- That's right, excuse me, uncle. Is that why we shouldn't say his name?
- Yes, that would connect her a little too closely to that lineage, so she will always be your adopted sister.
- And how do you know, General," Globox interjected, "that she is a fairy of royal blood?
- Blood analysis.
He put down a sheet of paper, which Sawyer took to read.
- So you have...
- It's our secret, and yes I used human technology, but it linked him to the Grave family but we don't know who his next of kin is. Also, there are a lot of strange anomalies in his blood, but not really time to dwell on those things. I just think the lab are incompetent. They gave him giant blood, after all," he said.
- If not the subject of your visit, admirable uncle of Sawyereli?
- Sawyereli? asked Caemgen curiously.
- It's a nickname she gave me," Sawyer explained, handing him the sheet.
- Ah. Yes, so the reason for my visit is to tell you, Sawyer, that you are to become his protector, champion and overseer.
- What do you mean?
- Let me rephrase. Audisélia is now officially a princess of Sylvania from the tree of Java-Aleim, so your mission will be to protect her and watch over all her actions so that the incident of two years ago never happens again, otherwise it's a death sentence.
- Okay," Sawyer nodded cheerfully, "I promise to take care of her.
- And to watch her, Caemgen said.
- And to watch her, of course," said the new champion.
- If not, Audisélia, your nervous breakdowns are tenable now, the caretakers were able to solve this problem.
- Yes, someone there told me how to "fix" the problem.
- Very good. By the way, Globox, you'll be watching her too.
- The ogre gasped, but why? That crazy woman has endangered the kingdom and you think I can stop her?
- Oh!" grunted Audisélia.
Caemgen tilted his head from left to right, staring at him.
- I could very well demand it of you as the right hand man and protector of Queen Synomïa, but I know that you are a good element so I propose you instead, since you don't really have a place to sleep, sublime quarters close to the sanctuary and when you rise in rank, you will always have a recommendation from me. Is that ok?
- That's work," he complained.
- I can also have you scrub the stables.
- It's okay, I accept. Really blackmail.
This is how the friendship between Globox, Sawyer and Audiselia was born. However, they had no idea of the trials they would go through during these three years before meeting Morvian. And neither did you, because it's not time to tell you this story yet.
Having Audiselia back in his life, Sawyer had to reorganize his daily life and his schedule, but above all, there was one thing he hadn't thought about, it was that his quarters weren't big enough to accommodate another bed for Audiselia, but not wanting her to live alone, he agreed to concede his bed to her while he found a solution. But that could last only one time, Sawyer began to have pain in the back and in the wings, then noticing that, Audisélia brought back him in his bed so that they sleep there both. What was his surprise when he saw himself in the bed of his protege, he threw himself out of the bed and left at full speed to his daily trainings. And this show was repeated for a month and a half before Sawyer finally agreed since he didn't have enough money to pay a higher rent so that they both had a room.
Sawyer's daily routine was training with the other young soldiers, guard duty, training in various combat techniques, both barehanded and with sword, spear or hammer, the history of Sylvania, perfecting his father's two-bladed dance style, strengthening his muscles, learning offensive magic plus discovering his preferred magic - which is late but at the same time, he used to eat leftover meals thrown out of windows... By the end of the day, I could tell he was totally exhausted, on the verge of implosion.
Meanwhile, Audisélia, who would soon receive her own apartments at the Sanctuary but had not informed anyone, had found herself afflicted with the nickname of "Monstrous Princess" because of her past actions but especially because of her mane which no one was supposed to touch, she would get very angry very quickly when someone dared to bring up just the subject of helping her to wash it, she preferred to do it herself, but cutting it or combing it, it was out of the question. So the maids had to put up with it, and put up with her tantrums. She too had to learn magic, the history of Sylvania, dancing, diplomacy, agility, how to speak well - but that Sawyer had already shown her -, how to walk well, the correct way to fly gracefully, the duties of a princess and a queen, magic, how to converse, how to be wooed, also how to fight, the different military strategies for the most fighting princesses, how to motivate her soldiers and reassure her subjects, how to debate...
She missed the long weeks of exhaustion, not physically, but mentally, the days of running around the streets of Haute-Ville, fighting against thugs and helping children. In truth, she missed fighting in a useful way, showing her superiority to her opponents and establishing her domination over others... It was her passion.
In truth, it wasn't the "drunken" fights that he missed, but mostly the quietness of the little tree house, far from the three quarters where he used to live with Torn and his son. This tranquility, this quietness that was installed in this peaceful place, although Sawyer's father was the quiet type, it was a way of life that he liked. Had she ever expressed it verbally?
Then, for the second time, when Sawyer returned, Audisélia disappeared a second time.
It couldn't be, Sawyer thought, why had she run away? He had done everything to make her feel at home. She was even the one who made her feel uncomfortable, she had no business getting undressed and dressed in front of him as if he didn't exist, they weren't five years old anymore to have to bathe together - they stopped when Audiselia turned ten.
Sawyer left in a hurry to find Globox so that both of them could go after Sylvania.
- But aren't you watching her?" said Globox.
- At the beginning, we had to do it with two people!
- But I don't live with her!
- That's not the most important thing, we have to find her before another disaster happens!
- She did not say her seizures were over.
- Yes, but...
- It's okay, we'll go look for it comrade. Let's ask the guards if they haven't seen it.
They went around the neighborhoods without stopping, searching every corner of the kingdom, looking for the slightest hint that she had been there, looking for the slightest evidence that she had been arrested here and there. But it was at the entrance that they got the most disturbing information.
- Who? The Monster Princess? She went with a group of citizens to visit the city of Madrianapura. Apparently, they would hold a tournament there. But it must be three weeks since they left.
- Really? You didn't notice she was missing for three weeks," Globox whispered angrily.
- We didn't go back home for a week and a half I remind you, I just thought that our schedules didn't match anymore, he retorted as annoyed as he was then turned to the guard, when is the next shuttle to go to Madrianapura?
- Within twelve hours.
- TWELVE HOURS? cried the two kids.
The two of them consulted each other and thought about how to get to this port city.
- We should ask Marlaba for help, Globox suggested, she has a cloak of invisibility and besides, she is quite strong in magic.
- You just want to take her because she caught your eye.
- Well, this adventure will bring us closer...
- Rah!
- Children, I have a proposal to make to you, cut them the guard, you are how old?
- Twenty years for me and eighteen years for my friend the fairy.
- Well, you're old enough to have money, so in exchange for a fair amount of money, I'll take you there and give you an alibi.
- Aren't you paid enough gracefully?" asked Sawyer, "With your gold-spun platinum armor and with Jiken silk, I won't have to break my neck to move up and feed myself.
- Already, a guard should not be able to afford Jiken silk, Globox added perplexed.
- It's okay, I'm basically from the Sanctuary, but my old man sent me as a punishment, because of a party that got a little too drunk.
- But wait! Weren't you the guy who brought prostitutes into the kingdom and showered them with champagne and your father's wines? So your old man sent you there?
- It's not really but what happened..., and anyway, we are not here to talk about my mistakes but about yours, Mr. Vanguard and Mr. Marayn, guardian of the Monstrous Princess.
He grabbed them and wrapped his arms around them, putting his head between the two men.
- Where do you know us from?" asked Globox.
- My father is a big shot in this kingdom, the information he has I have, so don't expect to fool me. So, do you pass me money or do you prefer to stay in the mess.
The two apprentice soldiers looked at each other. They didn't really have a choice, they had a duty to watch Audiselia for any danger she might experience or cause.
- We agree, but I swear if we don't get it back, I'm going to beat you so bad you'll end up in another dimension.
- If it works for you it works for me. And if you want me to give you a guided tour to show you the "nice" places in Madrianapura for young studs like you, add a few crowns and I'm your man.
- Not interested.
Globox seemed hesitant about the crooked guard's offer, but Sawyer's dark look brought him back to reality and he flatly refused.
- By the way, what is your name?
- Me? Mathgen. To serve you, finally, the time of this stay...
They took a caravan and Mathgen made an excuse for them to leave, then set out for the city of Madrianapura.
The kingdom of Sylvania had moved to the Asian continent, on the South Asian seas and found itself in the new country of the Thai, Siamai. A country ruled by a god-king named Nattapong Vajiralyadej, also known as Rama XXXVII, an eagle-man of the Garuda race, one of the most revered races in the country. The country was a rather extravagant racial mix, although other countries were also populated by Faerics and humans, it was one of those rare countries where humans and Faerics coexisted and lived together, not dispatched or ostracized as in other lands. Queen Synomïa was currently in discussion with him to negotiate and exchange resources. The fairies and other inhabitants of Sylvania could go out and visit the country, avoiding the most obscure corners that Mathgen knew.
Speaking of him, the trio had gone in search of Audiselia without even knowing where to look for her, fortunately, Mathgen had informants in the country to communicate all the strange things that were happening. That's how they learned that a new participant in the illegal fights of the Madrianapura Tournament, the Fang Tournament which is located in an underground region of the country, "Rāw bạndị k̄hận theph", which is of the Thai Oli'Ane, also called the railing of the gods. A lawless place where the Garuda cannot rule because of the pervasive crime of Madrianapura. To get there, you have to travel with two horned toads to avoid being caught in the swamps and trapped in the mangroves, flying over increases the risk of being shot at and being caught by Fairy poachers, so you might as well stay on the official route.
After thirty-six hours of travel - yes, they got lost and Mathgen got sick - thirty-six hours of arguments between Mathgen and Globox about politics, racism - Mathgen and his family and part of his family was in favor of expelling the non-fairy races from the Sylvian nation since they were and are part of the legacy of the Feline's politics -, the gastronomy, the importation of video games and human technologies in general, women - it was Mathgen who introduced Globox to this, before he met Mathgen he had an incommensurable disinterest in it -, thirty-six hours of changing means of transport between the subways, the energy-repelling elevators - a vehicle that was not approved but used anyway... They finally arrived on board. Judging by the shouts of the audience, they had not come to the wrong place.
Unlike the fights that take place in the arena of Sylvania, those of the Balustrade of the Gods take place in a huge bottomless hole where the sky would have been unleashed and would have wiped out an entire city three thousand years ago. Since that day, this place is said to be a cursed place where the souls of the dead scream their despair of not being able to find eternal rest. This did not stop the organizers from creating this illegal tournament where money flowed freely, where millionaires from all over the world gathered to watch fights to the death and collect a lot of slaves of all races. The tournament was just an entertainment to see what kind of person they could get in the fights by comparing their performances, but the participants were not left out since they could become the champion of the tournament and live a luxurious life, but beware of those who lose and disappear, delivered to the hands of lustful buyers.
It was to such a bad place that Globox and Sawyer had been brought by Mathgen, who seemed to be pleased to see his Fairy brothers being sold and traded. From where they stood, waiting in a long circular line that led to the stadium standing on bars, they saw the person he was looking for: Audiselia facing a giant toothy crocodile, the beast towering over Audiselia by two meters and must have been five in length.
- Sawyer, I don't want to worry you but your princess is in serious danger!
- You think this is the kind of creature that's going to beat our dear monster princess... You're sticking your hoof in the truffle.
Expressions and Sawyer still make two - yes, it exists but I think it sucks, plus it was more of a dig at Globox than a real use of it - but Sawyer couldn't be proven wrong. Audiselia, despite her seventeen years, was a much more powerful fairy than the average person and it was not a swamp creature that was going to scare her.
Of a simple blow of heel in the living room, she broke the stone tiles of the ground of the platform of fight and threw them on the crocodile with blow of foot, while approaching this one by running towards him, the crocodile made a turn on itself to give him a blow of tail, but she simply dodged by jumping above its big scaly tail and charged him to chain him of punches so powerful that he made burst its scales. His salvo of punches was unstoppable, the reptilian beast was cornered and could not defend itself. Audisélia flew above and was going to finish him with a blow of elbow, but the crocodile, seizing the chance that he had, jumped of all its force during the fall of the fairy and goba it.
The crowd screamed at the failure of the princess Audisélia, Mathgen and Globox were horrified at this atrocious spectacle, they had just witnessed the death of Audisélia, only Sawyer was impassive at what had just happened.
- Oh! Wake up! The princess has been eaten! We have to intervene!
- Audisélia! Get out of there, we don't have all day! Use it!
The shout made everyone turn around in the direction of the soldier-fairy, not understanding what she was saying. The Oli'Ane of here was different than the one commonly spoken by the inhabitants of Francilia, the one of the kingdom of Sylvania was a melting-pot understandable enough for everyone but the fairy-fighters had their own Oli'Ane, an Oli'Ane that was practiced only by the fairies of Upper Town and the Sanctuary, and it was in this Oli'Ane that Sawyer had spoken. He would have liked to say more, but their guide would have heard him.
Detonations came back in the middle of the queen, coming from the crocodile, this one, moved strangely, with each detonation, its mouth shifted towards the right, then of only one blow, it was electrified and simply with the help of its two hands, the fairy opened its mouth. Sawyer guessed that she was furious at being covered in slime, despite her roughness, she was still a woman who liked to be clean. She pushed both sides of the reptile's jaw before jumping out and ripping off its tongue which was girdled by something metallic, grabbing its lower jaw and smashing it completely against the ground before ripping it off completely, throwing the animal into the hole below the stone fighting platform. The cheering crowd screamed the victory of Audiselia, she recovered the belt of the tongue and waved it in front of everyone, letting herself be admired by the public and her own boasting. She made Sawyer and Globox in the distance and beckoned them to come, Sawyer was going to fly to her but Mathgen held him back saying that going like this would mean being a sign of defiance to her so he would meet up, he knew the place where the fighters' boxes were, he would lead them there.
Following Mathgen who pulled some strings to make them reach the boxes of the fighters, they found that of Audisélia, Mathgen left them to their reunion, during this time, he was going to make knowledge with some damsels who were of passage.
Globox and Sawyer entered the dressing room and found Audiselia practicing on a punching bag with gloves on her hands and feet. She was doing moves that were new to the two soldiers, a whole new way of fighting. She had a new haircut - without having cut her long hair -, a ponytail tied with two silver threads and two strands on each corner of her face, she was dressed in clothes totally different from what the Sylvania fairy folk wore: a black and purple red blazer with tags of lightning, flames, and oriental dragons and phoenixes, inside a black croc-top with golden and circular stripes and dark blue cargo pants with big pockets, sapphire and diamond bracelets around her arms and a golden ring on her index finger. On the back of her blazer, it was written in Thai Oli'Ane "Princess Bandit".
The two men were very surprised to see her dressed like this, she had never shown the slightest interest in the human style of dress. And indeed, it gave her a bit of a rebellious look, leader of a gang.
Seeing her two guests, Audisélia stopped and smiled at them.
- How are you guys doing? What took you so long?
Sawyer almost slapped her in the face at her flippancy, but held back. How could she be so carefree?
- Sawyer's angry face means he wants to say it very badly, but since he has trouble saying it, I'll say it for him: you're a pain in the ass! We looked all over this country for three days before one of our informants, a megalomaniac whose presence we had to endure the whole trip and prevent him from being caught by sirens, informed us that you were here. Now you stop your bullshit and come back with us because we don't have anything else to do than to go looking for you.
His gaze turned to Sawyer, who looked away, fist clenched, lips agitated.
- I don't want to.
- Why?
She resumed her training in the punching bag and explained her vision:
- I don't see the fun in being a princess of the kingdom, other than being best friends with the queen, creating factions to have power within the kingdom, waiting for the queen to die, having power through established factions and alliances, taking the queen's place, keeping power, making her reign last as long as possible, and this path begins again. This is not the life I aspire to.
- So what do you aspire to?" shouted Sawyer.
Audisélia was startled by Sawyer's anger, she had seen him angry before but never head-on. His eyes were filled with anger and bitterness.
- I...
- For two years, two fucking years, I blamed myself for letting you rot in a dungeon, telling myself that I had betrayed my word to my father to protect you, and I did everything I could to make you feel good when you got out. Of course, we couldn't see each other all the time, but I did everything I could to make sure you didn't feel uncomfortable, that you felt at home, that any resentment towards me would disappear. But despite my efforts you still walked away, leaving me once again in fear of losing you, leaving me to believe that I had done something wrong...
- But it's not that, Sawyer, it's just that...
- Yes ?
- It's just that I don't feel very useful in Sylvania, besides, the look of the people who observe me because of this resemblance with the Feline makes me crazy. I try to live without thinking about it, but it's hard, Sawyereli!
- And you really think that in this shithole full of junkies, drug addicts, fetishists, pimps and slavers you had an answer?
- I've already found something to do.
- What? Killing giant alligators? That's your plan for the future, Selia? That's ridiculous.
- You see, that's your problem, she spat at him, you think you're too superior to me when I didn't choose to be born different, to have these physical and mental problems. I am fed up with the kingdom of Sylvania, of my statute of princess You speak to me as if I owed all to you, as if it were my fault what it arrives to me and that you are my saviour... I feel suffocated, she admitted, as if I constantly carried this fichu corset that one obliges me to carry.
- No, Selia, it was not me who saved you, it was my father, and I never expressed the slightest desire for gratitude on your part. The only thing I wanted was for you not to abandon me. But if I smother you, then... I'll just walk away.
- Sawyer...
Dejected, he ignored Sawyer's call and left the princess's dressing room, slamming the door. It was easy to understand that the fairy had broken the heart of his protector, she left to sit on a chair, throwing her blood, head down, she twisted her fingers, being angry to have offended Sawyer.
- I don't think the two of us have anything more to say to each other either," said Globox when the Monstrous Princess did not speak.
He too was about to leave but Audisélia held him back.
- Globox...
- Yes ?
- Wait for me. I have one more fight I need to do for someone...
- Okay. But don't keep him waiting. I don't think he would have left without you anyway. You know that.
The three visitors sat in the stands and waited for Audiselia's last fight. Sawyer's mind wandered elsewhere, his eyes unfocused, dejected by Audiselia's words.
- Personally, Sawyer, I don't think she meant any harm.
- I know.
- Rah, my boy! intervened Mathgen, to cross a whole country to make you throw, it is hard. If you need comfort I can provide it, but you'll have to free up your evening.
- But what kind of fairies are you to think only of that? said Globox disgusted.
- What would a non-fairy understand about a fairy from the Sanctuary? Serve your function to serve us and...
- I remind you that we are outside the jurisdiction of the kingdom of Sylvania and there is no one to throw you into the void.
- Dare it. What's a little ogre like you going to do?
- Wait and see!
- Shut up!" said Sawyer, "There's already a lot of noise from the crowd.
The two faeries understood that Sawyer was really not in the mood for their arguments. So they kept quiet and waited for Audiselia's fight to end so he could leave. Sawyer was already thinking about where he could live since he was annoying Audiselia. Maybe living in the barracks like his comrades would be a good idea.
On the court, Audiselia stretched as she waited for the rival she'd made in the ring. They had fought many times inside and outside the ring, and it was he who had introduced Audiselia to taekwendo and other martial arts - although his preferred fighting style was boxing. Audiselia's opponent didn't wait any longer, arriving from the sky and landing in front of the princess, armed with a simple red staff and having golden metallic engravings on each corner of the staff and crowned with a yellow tiara on his forehead, scales on his cheeks and beautiful magenta wings, this is Morvian Son Chen.
She had first met him in the streets of Ayutthaya stealing from a peasant woman who was selling her crops, and by a combination of circumstances that you can well guess, they clashed. Unfortunately, as usual, Audisélia did not take half measures and unleashed her violent anger against the dragon-fairy, but this one was different from all the opponents she had faced before, he was not weak and was able to foresee his blows and deflect them. This almost forced Audisélia to use her electric magic, which she was too afraid to use since she was out of Limbo. Fortunately for her, or unfortunately, they were stopped by the proper authorities before they destroyed the entire neighborhood or more. At the police station, the policemen recognized her as a foreign dignitary from the kingdom of Sylvania, so as not to have any problems with the Rama and Queen Synomïa, they decided to release her, but not Morvian who had to return to fight in the arena, he was wanted because he had escaped from this cursed place. Having no relatives to support him because they had died during their crossing from Xin Tuei to Siamai, he had only his fists and his fighting skills to be able to feed himself properly, but the number of people he had killed in the arena traumatized him and he decided to run away, and he was doing well before crossing Audisélia's path. Knowing this, Audisélia decided to get him out, and at the same time, all the other slave fighters of this place by participating herself in these clandestine fights taking place at the balustrade of the gods.
She would have liked to tell Sawyer, but for some reason she preferred to take it out on him. Sometimes she thought of the fairies of her age, who were only three apples high - precisely - and said to herself that they, unlike her, did not have to think about such things since they were still babies, unlike her, who was from the fairy-fighters of Java-Aleim, and therefore had already reached adulthood like humans, orcs or ogres. This was obviously due to the fact that the warlike races reached adulthood much more quickly than the more peaceful races.
- Trouble upon trouble, she complained, shaking her head.
- What are you complaining about?" whispered Morvian, "This is our last battle and we'll be even. I've already prepared the escape of the others.
- No, it has nothing to do with our plan, just... Well, let's get it over with.
Morvian twirled his gold-rimmed boner and got into a fighting stance against the one who was nicknamed by the crowd as the Bandit Princess who put her guard up to fight him barehanded. The two of them engaged in a beautiful confrontation where technique and agility were the key words in front of power and strength only. While people were excited by this fight where two seasoned opponents were giving their all to each other, Sawyer was insensitive to this confrontation, disinterested in what could happen to his friend, he was just watching it without any emotion, but as the fight went on, observing Audiselia a little more, he felt something, he began to understand what she wanted to tell him, He saw through this fight all the frustration she had in her, seeing her smile in the face of adversity with no burden on her shoulders - except the debt she owed to Morvian but less than carrying the weight of the future of possibly being the head of a kingdom or failing miserably and being a lady-in-waiting, even worse, returning as an outcast. To see her let go, to decompress, to enjoy a simple confrontation without it being a preparation for new wars or the fall of her kingdom. Audiselia, at that moment, had only her own life at stake, and if she lost, she would only lose it. Of course her loved ones would be sad, but no more, they would not die because of her, and perhaps her death would even suit them.
Morvian's dexterity in handling his boner was quite remarkable, his weapon must have weighed a ton, but he carried it as if it were a simple red stick. Audisélia, with each blow she suffered from Morvian, with each impact, felt the full weight of her opponent's weapon. However, she did not remain unmoved and managed to parry and dodge his attacks thanks to the lightness that his wings offered her and entered his defense and inflicted violent blows. Nevertheless, Morvian's techniques were totally new, she had never faced an opponent who was so skilled in stick handling that he could reproduce the blows of a spearman, but it was not enough to hit her, she could see through his attacks and dodge them - having not yet developed her genetic attribute where she was as a queen. Morvian ran up to her, mumbled a few inaudible words, then caught her off guard by using his boner like a pole vaulter to get over her and quickly pointed his staff at her back and declared:
- Ruyi Bang, make it bigger!
The staff expanded and struck the princess's back with lightning speed, and before her target even fell, it turned to strike the princess in the face and sent her crashing to the ground. The dragon-fairy flew up and charged at her to finish her off by thrusting her boner into her skull.
- At this speed she'll end up with her brains splattered on the floor!" commented Mathgen.
- Saw...
No need for words. He knew instinctively better than anyone what would happen to his protégée if he did not act.
Just inches from the fairy's face, Sawyer stopped the dragon-fairy's blow by parrying with two short swords he'd swiped from brigands on his way back into the stands. Audiselia opened her eyes again and saw half of Sawyer's body floating in the air, the other half probably on the other side of the portal floating above her.
- Sawyer, what are you doing? Did you use it?
- Did you really think I was going to let you die? I am your guardian, and you will never die as long as I have my eye on you.
At his words, Audiselia blushed, she never thought Sawyer would forgive her so quickly. Had he really forgiven her? More importantly, he had just ruined the plan that she and Morvian had been working on.
- And the fairy, what do you make, you intervene in our fight there! irritated Morvian.
- Yes, because I must protect you my princess...
- You idiot, it's a set-up," shouted Morvian.
Big mistake for him to have revealed in front of everyone. The consequences were not long in coming, the public booed them and threw their food at them, the part of the spectators who were next to Globox and Mathgen looked at Sawyer's friends with an evil eye and clearly wanted to attack them. On the field, four Grashina guards, huge humanoid beasts with huge bodies and four elephant heads, appeared and went to battle with the fighters, the gamblers had just lost big winnings and did not intend to let this affront go unpunished.
Globox entered the portal but disappeared when Mathgen tried to enter, finding himself surrounded on all sides by enemies who had come to demand reimbursement for something he knew nothing about.
Now our foursome was reunited against four Grashina who wanted to rip their heads off, only Morvian and Sawyer had weapons, and even then, Sawyer used weapons that were not suited to his style of swordplay. Even Audiselia didn't know if she would be able to cope with these monstrous creatures.
- Selia, I give you permission to use what you know in front of everyone," Sawyer told her.
- I already used it, you know," she pointed out to him.
- But not in plain sight.
- I'll make a note of it.
Audiselia raised her hand and with her magnetism drew all the metal weapons around her and drew a suitable weapon for all of them: a reactor hammer for Globox, two long swords for Sawyer, a heavy sword for Audiselia that could use electricity through it and Morvian already had his staff.
- You know that we have little chance to get out of it? declared Morvian, even if we beat them, there are a lot of mages, shamans, soldiers equipped with firearms, laser, plasma, electric and all other weapons that came to burst and shoot us.
- Don't worry, Morvi," Audiselia smiled at him, "let everyone go, it will distract them for a while.
- Morvi?
- Forget it, she likes to give people stupid nicknames, Saywer told her.
- Yet she still hasn't given me any," said Globox.
- It's that you're not there when I use it, Glolard.
- You...
No time to laugh, the Grashina charged at the children and struck where they were in unison and all four dodged their assault, the three fairies flying, the ogre rolling and then going for a big hit on the ankle of one of the guards who fell to one knee.
The Bandit Princess passed between their legs and began to slash at the back of the four-headed pachyderm but was surprised by one of the heads spitting flames at her which she narrowly dodged, the four-headed elephant chased the fairy and threw its mace everywhere which the fairy easily dodged before landing on it and electrocuting its possessor until bubbles of flesh burst on its body, knocking it down and landing at her feet.
- Never again expect to live the life of a princess of the kingdom of Sylvania.
Sawyer teleported away doing the dance of the double blades as he flew all around his target, he moved all of his opponent's attacks onto all of the shooters that wanted to come after them, which would also hit the spectators, but his priority was his princess. He whirled on the arm of the Grashina who was facing him like a spinning top and sliced through all of his trunks before planting his two swords on the top of his head, killing him instantly.
Morvian didn't take the head, as he had done with the fairy, he pushed his opponent back with a lancer assault on his Grishana making his stick grow bigger and bigger until it fell into the void.
Only Globox was left, but he found himself in a bind when his hammer exploded in his hands. A defective weapon from Xin Tuei probably. He was saved by Audisélia who decided to use magic for the first time by creating a lightning arc and strafing Globox's opponent with arrows until he was as stiff as a stick and Globox was left to push into the void.
- Now what do we do?" asked an exhausted Globox.
- I didn't know," said Morvian, "if we fly away, we'll get shot.
Audisélia thought about it. She came up with a plan that seemed crazy, but he couldn't think of a better way.
- Morvian, how far can your weapon extend?
- Indefinitely.
- If you only knew how happy it makes me to hear it. Stand in front of me and shrink him, boys stand beside him.
They obeyed her not knowing what she was up to.
- Six hundred skies, thirteen celestial vaults, a thousand cumulonimbus, gather in my hand and give form to my anger...
A ball of electrical energy was created between her hands and she detached her hands from the ball, creating a lightning arch between her two hands.
- ... May my anger make my attackers pale and free my own: Scarlet lightning ray cannon.
The electricity glowed and the ball of electrical energy shot a powerful beam against the bleachers, piercing the entire hole before reaching the sky.
- What have you done?" cried Morvian and Globox.
Sawyer did not have time to ask the question when Audisélia yelled at Morvian to extend his stick. What he did without further delay, all four clung to the stick and flew away at full speed, hearing the sky shouting its anger. Sawyer created a portal to catch Mathgen, who was overwhelmed by his attackers, and the five of them found themselves beyond the reach of the chimera, which appeared and devastated the hole. They landed near the horned toads and Morvian brought his weapon to him, shrinking it to the size of a needle, then took off on the back of their mounts.
- Do you think they'll make it?" asked Audiselia.
- If they follow my directions and steal the underground trains instead of the criminals who kidnapped them, they have a good chance.
They returned to the city adjacent to the kingdom of Sylvania, once there, it was time for farewells and for the sylvans to return home.
- I think this is where we part ways, Morvian said, anyway, thanks for helping me before you screwed up, Princess Bandit.
- No need to thank me, thanks to you, I have her beautiful clothes and a new friend in the kingdom, she smiled at him.
- That's great for you..., he said, not understanding what she was getting at.
- We'll keep it simple because she likes to take her time saying anything," Sawyer cut her off in a rush, "she wants you to come with us.
- Uh... I don't know.
- I don't think I told you you had a say," she said, grabbing his arm.
- And I don't think I allowed you to run around for days without permission, Princess Audiselia," said Queen Synomia.
They all turned around but only saw a spy in front of them, holding a communication crystal. Then they discovered that they were surrounded by a bunch of spies.
How long have they been there?
- You think you can get out of your obligations like that?" the queen scolded them through the crystal, "we almost went without you, thank goodness we thought to look at the exit reports. And the rest of you," she said, addressing Globox and Sawyer, "there is someone who has a few words to say to you.
A crash was heard through the crystal handset and then Caemgen's voice echoed through the communication crystal.
- You two! Aren't you supposed to be watching your princess? A princess running away in the middle of a diplomatic visit... Can you imagine, for a moment, what kind of trouble it would cause if she was kidnapped, or even worse, killed? And you Mathgen, don't think I don't know what you've done.
- But my uncle..., Mathgen defended himself.
- Shut up!" the Saint of the Queen Synomia reprimanded him, "we'll sort it out later. Go back to the kingdom.
The spies led the little group back into the kingdom, surrounding them with their bodies, and the young adults followed them.
- At least I got my championship belt..., the fairy rejoiced in a low voice.
- Good for you," Sawyer congratulated her without thinking a word.
Audiselia watched him out of the corner of her eye and didn't dare say anything. If they had helped each other inside the arena, it didn't change the fact that they were still at odds with each other, and Audisélia didn't know how to fix things, apart from intertwining her fingers, she wasn't doing anything productive. It had happened many times that he argued but it was always the fault of Sawyer who lost patience with her because she could not take care of herself. Locking herself in, dark thoughts came from her mind: "What's the point?
She felt two elbows hitting her back, she turned around and saw Mathgen and Globox leaning towards her.
- Shouldn't you apologize?
- But I don't know how to do it? And in front of everyone...
- There is nothing embarrassing about it, besides, it will get worse if you don't do it.
They were right. If she didn't do something, maybe they would never speak again in their lives... She then approached Sawyer and apologized humbly to him in a loud voice that shattered the eardrums of those around her.
- You totally didn't have to yell in my ears.
- At least this way you wouldn't have pretended to hear me.
- Don't push it. I wouldn't have done that, well surely," the soldier sneered.
- So we're reconciled?
- Yes, Selia, we are reconciled," Sawyer smiled at her.
- Will you do my hair then?
- Did you apologize for that?
- Partly... Besides, you're the only one I let comb my hair.
- Rah! grumbled the fairy-soldier.
The other observers laughed at this scene of an old couple. Now, reconciled, Audisélia took the opportunity to introduce their new companions in due form.
- Here is our fourth companion: Morvian Son Chen!
- Hi.
It is on this beast presentation that the friendship of the quartet of orphans was born. What adventures, battles and wars awaited them, but the sleep, and thus the dream of Sawyer was interrupted by the impromptu arrival of the queen Audisélia who entered by the window of her apartments.
- Are you doing that again?
- Leave me alone. I came for a little pick-me-up, and I see I'm not the only one who wants one, she noted as she saw the glass of whiskey in the hand of her holy knight.
- I didn't even have time to enjoy it properly....
The queen took the bottle of whiskey from him and took a sip before placing it on the table right next to Sawyer and resting against the wall where the window was located.
- What were you dreaming about?
- To the four of us. How we met.
- You are very emotional. Was I right about our friend Globox?
- I suspected that you were just accusing him because you didn't like him... but it turns out that he is involved with the Marrynelia Adepts.
- You are funny. Morvian and him may not like me but they are still my best friends, what would I want one of them to be a traitor?
- I knew you had a heart for just a certain someone," Sawyer said, taking another sip of his liquor.
Audisélia did not answer immediately. She did not understand if he was reproaching her or if it was a state of affairs for him.
- No matter what you imply, you are wrong. I like them as much as you do, they are my brothers in arms and my fellow travelers! But anyway, the information provided is the opposite of what I would like.
- Did he confess?
- The ploy of our little human protege proved successful. If people listened to what I told them when I told them about the legend of the hero and the fairy, instead of being suspicious, they wouldn't be fooled. I guess we can thank their stupidity," she sighed in annoyance before taking another sip of that orange alcohol.
- How long have we been friends with him, tell me?
- I don't know. Fifty? Sixty? Over there.
- Surely. And how many years has he lied to us? What does he think of us?
- Don't bother with that, Sawyereli. When it comes to this crazy woman, it's best not to look for rationality.
- Still...
Audisélia put the bottle on the table and went to sit on one of the armrests of the armchair of Sawyer. The room plunged in the darkness and the blackness of the night, lit only by the luminescent stones of the shell of the giant turtle, neither of them perceived the sadness of the other. And it was better that way. Audisélia laid her head on Sawyer's, and said nothing. She did not see how to make him happy, no joke, no humor was possible, except to laugh yellow. It is Sawyer who decided to ask him a question.
- When will the raid on the Felony Fanatics base take place?
- The last day of the semi-finals, she revealed to him, according to our informant and Detsin's information, is the best day to catch them all.
- You won't be able to come then since it's Elena's son's fight.
- That's why I want you to assure me that you will do the right thing.
He looked up at her.
- If there is no way to save him, Selia... Remember with my father.
- I know it. Just do what you have to do.
- Does Morvian know about this?
- No, I didn't want to spoil his last evening with his lifelong friend. He'll probably resent me for not telling him.
- He will surely put his stick on you so that you don't get up.
- I'll just have to teleport," Sawyer smiled.
But as expected, this attempt at humor only made the atmosphere even heavier.
- First Elena and now Globox. Who will be next?
- Certainly me, Morvian is too stupid to die and you and your damn invincibility.
- It's in your head that I'm invincible," she patted his head with her fist, "and don't say such terrible things. I don't want to lose you.
- I'm sorry. To make you feel better, would you like me to brush your hair?
- With great pleasure.
She sat down in front of him, and Sawyer pulled out all the candles with simple flame magic to light the room, then went to find the queen's fetish comb. When he returned, he found her curled up with her face pressed against his lap. Sawyer said nothing and sat back in his chair, dipping his hand into the queen's long, smooth hair and slipped his comb in, with each stroke he heard her sniff, but remained silent, keeping the contents of his heart to himself.