The Crystalline Palace, 4th May 892 AE
The princess sits on the balcony of her room, waiting for the servants to place her cup of tea on a nearby tool. She’s grown tired of the guests who have come endlessly. Undoubtedly, this day is an important event for the city and for the entire house as the king’s favorite daughter has returned from their wild hunt tradition. That daughter is not her however, a door click banishes her thoughts right away.
Standing at the door, a familiar face gives her a weak smile. “Your father won’t appreciate this behavior, my dear Starla,” a woman wearing a red dress begins.
“My father can celebrate as much for all I care, mother,” Princess Starla responds.
Her mother walks slowly before dragging a big chair, placing it beside her daughter, “I can’t stop you both from quarreling, can’t I?”
“Do I look like a person who wants to be like her? My sister can drape her body with all the snakes skin she’s gathered for all I care,” Princess Starla murmurs while staring at the open field right below the balcony.
“Starla, your sister is compelled. She wishes to be a person who she thinks fit. I’m not sure what life you would like to lead since you’re still young, but I hope you can find it soon,”
“Why can’t Father treat me like you? I want to be my own person, not a shadow of my sister!” Starla is infuriated with the pressure her father, the king, has been putting upon her the day her sister has been thriving in glory of the wild hunt. She complains, “And why the hell should a princess hunt like savages?”
“Mind your language, my lady. You are still my daughter,” her mother warns her. She holds Starla’s hands, tucking it above her thighs and gently relieving some pressure off of them.
Starla closes her eyes for a while before a loud bang is heard. She laughs a little before whispering, “What a party.” Chuckles soon depart from her and her mother. “Did you have this tradition too, mother?”
“Me? Back in Lakea? No, my dear. I didn’t have this weird tradition. However, this house’s marriage tradition was definitely a surprise for me as I was reckless enough to love without learning. Don’t let your father catch me saying that, though,” Her mother answers, trading laughs between both of them.
Starla’s life has always been like this. She believes most of the time that she was born under the wrong roof, the wrong house. The tradition of this house doesn’t intrigue her at all, just similar to her mother. But she’s oblivious to the fact that her mother has learned to be accepting towards the tradition of the house. The wild hunt is a tradition brought up by the peasants in the early formation of the House of Saintguard. The old fosters often narrate that the tradition was brought up as a symbol of nobility. No one is noble enough until they get to win some wild hunts. It’s a hunt really, but they have to atone the hunts for the entire year in where each month they have to bring home hunts that’s enough to feed the entire house. So far, Starla’s older sister has been successful in her campaign to declare herself a legit noble. Starla, however, isn’t very keen on this tradition. She doesn’t want to be her father or her sister. She doesn’t want to be like her brother or those nobles from the house. She just wants to be herself. She doesn’t want to be someone else.
Another knock from the door turns her and her mother’s heads slowly. Anticipated to see who’s behind the door, they stand up. A face surprises them, saying, “May I?”
“Goodness, Father. You could’ve entered my room in a less dramatic fashion,” Starla lets go of her breathe she’s been holding since the anticipation earlier.
The king steps in, still in his fancy golden robe with white outfit underneath it. He looks like a dove. The king approaches his daughter and his wife with hands open wide, “So, what are my two loves conspiring against their king?” He jokes around with a wide smile on his face enough to hide his eyes.
His wife, amused by his appearance, chuckles and steps forward to greet him with a hug. “Finding a way to bring our king to his chamber without getting drunk. Unlikely, however,” She digs at him.
“Aw, that’s not so nice. I can be sober!”
“Dear husband, let’s not let our daughter eavesdrop on your incompetence.”
“Can I speak with my daughter?” the king requests.
His wife and Starla are confused by his strange request, even Starla raises her shoulders implying that no one’s restricting him to do so. But then, the king stares at his wife to make her realize that the king needs to talk to Starla alone. The queen nods before leaving them alone. Now, the king kneels before his daughter and kisses both of her hands.
“Why aren’t you by the garden, my dear Starla?” says the king still gazing at her hands, probably not ready to seek her daughter’s wrath.
“Why should I?” Starla asks in return.
Trampled by confusion, the king stands up and shakes her hands while talking, “Greet your sister after her hunt. She’s brought you food.” The king is calm when explaining to her.
“I’ve been there for her for ten feasts! Why should I also be there in her eleventh? It changes nothing, Father. I won’t be swayed into wild hunt. I’m a princess!” she revolts.
“Yes, you are! But you are also a princess of House Saintguard! This, a tradition you shall follow as a noble member.” The king tries to explain and sway her daughter.
“I do not wish to be a noble savage,” she says with confidence.
The king is annoyed at her remarks, especially undermining the tradition by calling it savage. He clenches his fists before calming himself. “What would you have me do, my daughter?” he asks.
“I have an idea. How about making me a noble through another house?" she quickly gives an idea.
Her wit however, isn’t a solution in the king’s eyes. He’s unsure, “You want me to betroth you to another house?”
Starla nods before saying, “It’s all I’ve ever wanted, yet you would not heed my request. It’s the only thing that makes me, me. Not the wild hunt, not your name.”
Her remark at the end seems to reawaken the demon inside the king once again. This time, he doesn’t hold back. A quick swing of an open palm has him running out of breath. When he realizes what he’s done, slapping her daughter, he feels regret hugging him.
The king tries to console her, but Starla pushes him away. She jumps to her bed, landing on her face and tries to hide her tears from her father. She hears her father saying something in the direction of the door. It’s not long after yanking the pillow in that direction, she finds out that she’s finally alone in her room. She turns her body facing the ceiling and cries herself to sleep before murmuring something with a funny voice imitating her father, “You are the noble daughter of King Richard from House of Saintguard, yes, yes, shut up.” She yawns before venturing into the darkness of her sleep.
King Richard steps into the meeting chambers with some advisors. He finds three of his advisors have been there this whole time. They stern their bodies upon hearing the giant door being opened wide, bowing their heads as they greet the king.
“My King,”
“My Lord,”
“My Lord,”
“What is the meaning of this? This is my daughter’s feast day, yet you’re squabbling over business?” The king questions them. The king doesn’t get any answers. The advisors however, stare at each other as if they’re confused on how to break a news to their king. “What is it?” the king walks across and reach their place to realize that the brown-robed advisor is holding a wrinkled letter in his left hand. “What is it you hold, Advisor Cantellan?” The king waves his fingers requesting the letter to be seized to him.
Advisor Cantellan pauses a moment before giving the letter to the hand of the king. As the king reads the letter, Advisor Cantellan says, “I’m sorry, my Lord.”
“What in the name of—What is the meaning of this?” The king gazes at his advisors in anger.
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Kravenhouse, City of Tannerport, Planet Acrona, at the evening of the same day.
Since his homecoming, Dixon hasn’t seen Arthur as often as he had used to. He can finger count the amount of times they’ve met since that day. The weather gets worse too, knowing the glacier is advancing its walls towards the city. Day by day, it gets colder. Blizzard happens in higher frequency and the town’s struggling to get water. Dixon has been doing spottings himself as the need to slay some Northern beasts has increased alongside the passing of the storms. He’s glad at least that he’s done jobs, though only twice, that required him to use his’ tactical weapons. It’d been a long time since he used it. By the time he had to use it, the poor thing was full of dust and the trigger wouldn’t even work that he had to fix it by himself. No techies around this city that could help him. His relationship remains the same with the Masters. They, at least Master Janus, still beat him occasionally and scold him most of the times. After being free for 4 years, Dixon easily forgets how it felt like to be free. And to be home. Home is a word he hasn’t felt the meaning for almost his entire brain couldn’t remember much of it. Planet Orion, his childhood friends, and his childhood games. He’s anguished by the memories. He remembers vividly the day when the man who he considered father betrayed him and sold him to Master Kraven. Up until this day, he still can’t believe that Master Kraven robbed him of his life. He brought nothing, but suffering. Trained him as if there was something that could come out of it. Mercenary is a mercy job for a dishonored child, he thinks. Dixon remembers crying throughout the entire flight from Orion to Acrona on a half-broken spaceship as if he was a carried slave and he remembered that he was treated like slave every time he’d try to find comfort even in the smallest corner of the ship’s cabin. He only has one person to blame left in that upbringing of his.
“Mourn as much as you want after you return from your job,” Master Kraven’s voice calls out after him.
Dixon can’t really see The Master, but he can definitely see his shadow casted upon the floor in front of the door of his chamber. The shadow reveals a man sitting on a wheelchair. Master Kraven’s health has been declining as of lately, perhaps the cold has finally gotten to him. “I’m to start at the middle of the night, Master Kraven?” Dixon asks the master of his.
Master Kraven doesn’t reply but his shadow dwindles, he’s leaving Dixon’s chamber.
Dixon pursues Master Kraven and tries to help him with his wheelchair. He hears the Master coughing and trying to steal breaths judging from the noise of his nose.
“Does the hour of the wolf scare you?” he asks enigmatically.
“It does not, Master Kraven. Though, I doubt spotting at this time of the day would be fruitful,” he replies before stopping his steps.
Master Kraven lunges his wheelchair forward to turn around and look at him.
“Unless, you wish me to—”
Master Kraven nods at the realization.
Dixon gulps upon the notion of his Master. Dixon runs back to his chamber to prepare himself. When he returns to the backyard, Master Kraven has entered the main building it seems. So, he scurries himself to follow the path. Inside, he finds both Master Kraven and Master Janus sitting by a long table where they usually eat dinner together. Master Janus is holding down a stick of bread before he takes a bite while staring at him. Dixon moves forward and sits on one of the empty chairs across Master Janus, pitting Master Kraven between them both.
“You are to clear down the bear's hideout. I’ve seen them west of the city’s gate,” Master Janus briefly explains while munching down the bread he holds in his hand.
Master Kraven then gives Dixon the contract details on the table. He says while placing it down, “You are to meet the city’s major after. He’d like to offer gratitude to the mercenary who has been slaining the beasts.”
Dixon pauses before grabbing the contract and reads the notice thoroughly. He puts the scroll inside his bag and Dixon rises his body to depart. As usual, the masters don’t have anything to say to his leave. No goodbyes, no warnings, no nothing. He steps onto his kyblade, a hover bike he got from one of his previous spottings. Some men who were unfortunate enough to be smothered by beasts he would tame later on left their kyblades in the open so he claimed one. After passing the city’s gate, he turns to the direction he has been given by Master Janus, west from there. He receives a message from his mobile giving the known location of the bear's hideout. The GPS leads him near the glaciers and on to a plateau. The city is quite far in the distance, probably around 30 minutes of riding his kyblade at 50 km/h. He climbs the plateau and sees a single white tree leafless and around the tree are a bunch of bears, probably around six in total, lying down. The numbers don’t match up to the witness details written in the contract page. He plans to shoot them while they’re sleeping with his laser pistol. He aims at the one in front and shoots. The herd is alerted so he takes care of the others quickly. One almost reaches his torso, but he easily evades it and shoots the bear from behind.
After clearing with an ease, Dixon decides to cut one of the bears’ head as proof before he realizes the ground is shaking violently. It feels like he’s brought calamity after killing these bears that roam mother nature. He hears echoes of thunder from the single tree on top of the plateau. He walks to it and realizes an opening under the tree. A cave.
Suddenly, a group of bears spurt out of the cave’s entrance, kicking Dixon down the slope only to land on one of the dead bears he has killed before. There are way too many bears that came out of the cave. Dixon counts briefly only to reach 9 before one the bear swings its arm at him. Dixon luckily dodges it and shoots at the bear twice before killing it. The others rush down the slope after Dixon and he has no choice, but to run. He tumbles his way down with adrenaline sky high. He boards his kyblade and the engine is dead due to the temperature getting worse. He leaves the bike behind as he runs to the direction of the glaciers. He runs along the wall of glaciers while shooting at the bear army trailing on his back. But due to cold fingers and the sways of his hips while running, his aim breaks and can’t properly shoot without having to turn around his body, but he can’t afford slowing himself down in the process. He keeps running, hoping to make enough gaps between the army of bears and himself so that he could pause to properly aim and shoot them. Suddenly, he realizes a bear flanking from his right side really fast. The bear swings its arm quite high at him and Dixon quickly ducks down to avoid it. The bear hits the glacier wall instead. The bears stop upon hearing cracking noises. Dixon doesn’t hear it but he notices the bears have stopped their chase. This is his chance to shoot at the bears piling up behind him. Some are taken down, but Dixon hears the cracking noise spread to his right side. This time, his right side is the glacier wall. He notices the crack spreading fast and that can’t be good news. He runs away from it now, towards the direction of the city. The bears also notice Dixon's sudden movements and chase after him. This time however, the glacier wall crushes down upon some of the bears that stood still. One of the bears that is still chasing apparently has Dixon’s kyblade in its hand for god knows what it is intending to do with it. Dixon keeps his focus to run towards the city. He’s realized that the glaciers that broke now have turned to water which means he's bringing a tide of water to the city. That can’t be good, he thinks, but he doesn’t care as there’s no other way to run. The bear that has his bike suddenly sprints behind him and throws the bike at him with the strength of its arm. The bike lands behind him, but the explosion catapults him forward, face kissing the ground. With ears roaring, he grasps for breath, the bears behind stop at the big explosion, but they turn around to see their impending doom as the flood takes them down. Feeling his knees weak, Dixon stands up, prepared to face death at this point. When the flood extinguishes the flames in front of him, he closes his eyes, ready to die.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Suddenly, a swarm of vertibirds arrive shooting some sort of a weapon at the flood in front of him. The flood is instantly frozen but some water that doesn't get frozen hits Dixon, carrying him away for a couple of meters before the vertibirds shoot at the water and Dixon is saved, though weak. He opens his eyes and sees the vertibirds land nearby. Soldiers wearing high technology armor, all black, surround him and all Dixon could do is raise his hands. One man who doesn’t wear a helmet stares at the frozen ocean they’ve just created before turning his attention to Dixon.
“Heck were you doing with those bears?” the man asks in a rough voice.
Dixon is speechless and before he can utter a voice, the soldiers' attention turns into a band of people riding kyblades approaching them from the city.
When the kyblades stop, one man in green navy armor steps down and relieves the helmet from his head. He shouts, “Why is there a freaking ocean outside of my city walls?”.
The man leading the black-armored soldiers stands in front of the kyblade rider and greets him, “Major Ayren.”
The kyblade driver turns out to be the city major. The major spits at the man’s feet before uttering, “Did you cause this?”
The army leader points his finger at Dixon and all eyes follow. “You could ask that kid over there,” he says.
With a grunt, the major orders the black-armored soldiers, “Take him to my mansion.” He heads to his kyblade and before wearing his helmet, the major tells the army leader, “We’ll talk there.”
Dixon lets himself get entangled with the aftermath of this event. He doesn’t even fight back, not after running an entire marathon away from a tsunami while fighting an army of giant killer bears. What an awful day, he thinks as he passes out.
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Erving Residence, Neropolis City, Planet Vinhagr, the next day
A tall lady wearing white dress stands proud with her hands crossed, staring at the giant window overlooking the city of Neropolis. The city is colorful, metals everywhere, and clanging sounds can be faintly heard even in her soundproof chamber. She slides her hand on to the table behind her to grab a cup of coffee that has been left far too long that it’s cold. She places the tip of her finger that causes a ripple to form on the surface of the coffee. “It’s cold,” she whispers. Stepping forward towards the window, she places her free hand upon the window pane and stares at the city view once more. As she closes her eyes, she thinks of the history of the city she has heard thousands of times when the Old Fosters in her childhood would tell her everything about her ancestors. How the city was built from a giant crater that contained minerals, enough to turn once a dead circle in the middle of a desert into the richest city in the entire Indus Ring. Then, she slides her memory to one that reminds her of the great leaders of her house. She aims to be another great leader, a woman at it too, but she knows that the world is unforgiving towards her kind. She’s not a Fire Bearer, nor a savage. She’s an honored woman from the House of Erving. The last swipe in her mind reminds her of her family and whoever exists one stage above the pedigree. She’s reminded of the loss she had to endure in order to become a leader. She lost her parents, her siblings, her friends, and her cousins all in order to make her leader. Of course, she blames it fully on her greedy cousins who considered themselves stronger thanks to their genitals, but she was the rightful heir to the house. She greets every morning with the memories of their rebellion, and the bloody war at it too that killed her father and mother. Now, she’s a lone survivor of her house. She won’t let another hurdle bring her down too. She must survive. She must endure. She must continue the lineage. She’s heard of the ‘white’ blood rumors that belong to a certain house. That’s why she did what she wished for, an offer for her to marry her and continue the name of her house. To produce a lawful heir. She wishes nothing more. She doesn’t need to be loved, she just wants a child, but she dreams for a strong one. It doesn’t matter what their sex will be, as long as they’re strong. The white blood, entwined with the plutocracy of her blood. A strong heir and a strong ruler. Her mailman returns however, bearing news of her mission. Across her table, the man kneels and places her letter.
She complains while opening the seal of the letter, “Gods, we’re living in this era and these people prefer letters. Unbelievable.” She reads the content as her breath rapidly exchanges faster in every word. She’s infuriated by the letter, but she’s learned not to express it. Her body remains stiff and a smile is formed. She contacts someone from her ertell and a voice breaks out from the speaker.
“Yes, Lady Trianna.”
“Come over and bring Zoil along,” she commands.
“As you wish, Lady Trianna.”
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At Tannerport, Acrona.
The city major sits on his throne, having an audience with some members of his family and at the opposing end, his black-armored guests with their leader standing proud. The army leader’s hair is white as silver and he’s quite tall and slender, though not a Jackal.
The leader says, “That throne wasn’t here the last time we were here.” Though there is no response from the city major, only whispers of the family members. The leader then composes himself and lands his right arm along his gut before introducing himself, “I am Captain Rene, Major Ayren.” He pauses before gesturing his hand, introducing the band of soldiers behind him. “This is alpha squad, 937th— ”
“I know your forsaken number. I thought you were gone for good,” Major Ayren complains.
“We were. Under the leadership of the previous captain that is. You might be familiar with Captain James couple of years ago, and I’m here to introduce you his successor, me. We are here to pledge to protect your planet. Beta and Charlie are stationed on your moons,” the captain explains.
“What do we gain? Last time your kind was here, my people were butchered for no damn reasons,” Major Ayren digs at him.
“Captain James. A tyrant and an asshole, those he was, those I concur. I’m not my predecessor, I assure you, Major Ayren. Regardless, we have brought supplies, weapons, and resources. All fresh from Watchpoint. Consider our leave as a momentary depart to resupply,” Captain Rene convinces him.
Major Ayren nods and orders his guard, “Fetch me that kid.” The guard hastily marches toward a small room where they tie Dixon to a pipe.
The room is dark, and no light is shed. Dixon grunts as he is woken to the sight of two guards dragging him, his knees hit the floor in every drag. He wants to ask his whereabouts, but he remembers the details before he faints. Take him to my mansion, he remembers the kyblade rider decision of his fate. He reaches the massive throne room where two parties sit on opposing ends. Major Ayren with his family behind the throne, and Captain Rene on the opposite end. Dixon is slammed on to the ground, at the middle of the room, being presented to the city major whom he has no idea of.
“Who are you supposed to be?” Major Ayren asks.
“My name is Ralf Xerlayne Dixon,” Dixon answers.
“Is that a name I should know or fear? House of Dixon? What’s that?”
“It’s not a house. Just a surname,” Dixon explains.
One of the guards behind Dixon knocks his head with the back end of a rifle. “You are to address him as your major or lord!” he shouts.
“Do you know who I am, boy?” Major Ayren asks again.
“I’ll be damned. I didn’t know you were the city major. I have not the knowledge of your name, Major.”
“What are you? A spy?” the Major interrogates.
The question however is found to be amusing by Captain Rene as he’s laughing out loud.
Major Ayren switches his gaze to Captain Rene and says, “I’ve dismissed you to leave this room. This is my business and the boy!”
Captain Rene doesn’t leave however as he seals his mouth upon being ordered. “I am the protector of your planet. He almost drowned the entirety of your city, severely threatening your safety. I will not leave. Not until justice is brought to this potential criminal. And shall I remind you, Major Ayren, without our conclazers, your city would’ve sunk to the ground,” he protests.
Dixon shakes his head and talks when Major Ayren stares at him, waiting for an explanation. “Contract. I’m here for your contract. It’s in my bag, if you’re willing,” Dixon says while turning his head at the bag behind his back. A guard opens the zipper and brings the contract details to the Major.
“So, you’re a mercenary,” Major Ayren says while taking the letter. He reads it slowly and afterwards he asks, “You were to exterminate giant polar bears the winter brought upon us, not the city whose ruler has paid you to. Did the bears offer you higher rewards?”
“I did what you’ve asked for. I delivered the first blow, Major. The flood took care of the rest.” Dixon can’t speak further. He’s thirsty for a drink.
Major Ayren looks at Captain Rene with questioning eyes. Captain Rene pauses before saying, “There are indicators of dead bears in the frozen water.”
“How did you do it?” Major Ayren asks Dixon once again.
“They were camped west of the city’s gate, thirty minutes drive with a rusty kyblade, on a plateau. I killed some, but there were too many of them barging out of their cave. I ran along the walls because I didn’t want to bring the bears to your city. One of them suddenly struck the glacier. Water came out of it. Walls tumbled. I had nowhere to go, but the city’s direction. Like I said, the flood subdued the bears. The rest is as you saw,” Dixon explains in detail.
There is a long moment of waiting as the major discusses with his advisor. They’re in deep talk when a voice interrupts them. The commotion continues.
“I say, we take him to your prison. Or, we can put him on a trial at Watchpoint,” Captain Rene breaks out.
“Silence!'' Now the room is silent once again. “As if your grand juries would waste their sweet time with small folks like us,” the major pauses briefly before continuing, “You’re not free of blame either! If your kind were kind enough not to leave us years ago while those damned glaciers creeping closer to our backyard, all of this could’ve been avoided!” The major now turns his attention to Dixon and says, “You’ve done your job, but you created another that you couldn’t resolve. I thank you for your work, but I strip you of promise of your rewards. Now, dismiss!”
Though unsatisfied, Dixon is relieved that he gets to be pardoned. He is cut free by the guards and walks to the exit. He sees Captain Rene smiling at him before their paths depart.
Walking through the backyard of Kravenhouse, Dixon sees Arthur with a blunt mace, probably training. They haven’t talked since their falling out after Dixon found out that Miranda’s dead. Dixon can’t help but feel they’re being drifted apart. The occasional disappearance of Arthur also doesn’t help them heal. It only makes them distant. Arthur shies away from Dixon’s gaze however, probably not wanting to look at Dixon. Dixon smiles a little and lets him be. When he enters the main building, he is ambushed by Master Janus. His head is slammed to the door behind him and Master Janus’ hands roam his body, looking for something.
“Undress him,” Master Kraven orders with a frail voice.
“No! I beg you, no!” Dixon tries to fight back.
Master Janus hits Dixon everytime he tries to resist, but it’s proven challenging and he fears it’ll only be worse. So, he remains silent.
Now bare naked, Dixon cowers in a corner of the living room. Master Janus shakes his clothing, trying to look for something. With eyes as red as drip of blood, Dixon stares at Master Kraven handing an item to Master Janus. It’s like a weapon, but the front end is two needles that could wrap an entire head. Master Janus approaches Dixon slowly as he is uttering, “No!” repeatedly. With rejections falling to deaf ears and stone heart, he prepares the worst.
Janus yanks Dixon’s head and positions the two needles of his weapon at Dixon’s temples.
With a gradually louder scream, Dixon shouts in pain as the needles push through his skin and it feels like electricity razes his brain.
The screams are heard even by Arthur who’s rubbing the mace he’s holding outside in the backyard.
Master Janus looks at the small screen of the weapon and says to Master Kraven, “Mint!” Then, he raises Dixon by wrapping his neck and loudly asks, “Did you compromise us?”
“I did not!”
“Speak the truth!”
“I did not! Fuck!” Dixon screams stressfully before breaking a dam.
“That’s enough, Master Janus. Lower him down,” Master Kraven orders.
Dixon takes his clothing and wears it slowly. As he is about to leave, he is stopped by Master Janus.
“Your contract rewards,” Master Kraven requests at Dixon.
“This broken person,” Dixon answers, glancing at his body. He means the words. The Major’s reward is his life in exchange for the flood he almost brought to the city. This broken body and enslaved mind of his is the only reward. Though, it’s probably not the best of rewards the Masters could ask for. At least, not what they were expecting.
Master Kraven nods at Master Janus and he nods back. Master Janus throws him outside to the backyard.
Dixon is riddled upon being thrown. Arthur is there caressing his mace when Master Janus is slowly approaching him. Dixon raises thousands of questions when seeing Master Janus throws a purse of coin at Arthur, even more raised when Arthur nods. “What is the meaning of this?” Dixon asks in panic.
“The best of his friends, yet you know nothing of him. Not anymore,” Master Janus calls Dixon out.
He sees Arthur shakes his head a little with teary eyes before he swings the mace at him. Dixon barely escapes from the attack. He stands up, legs hurt upon moving. He makes a stance when realizing that Arthur is fighting him. The mace is being swung again at face value and Dixon avoids it simply by dodging his upper body to the left. He punches weakly at Arthur’s gut, only to realize that he’s wearing armor under the cloak. Arthur undercuts him and Dixon is launched backwards. His back lands first, making him struggle to breathe. He sees Arthur pinning him and Arthur pummels at him. He takes the beating from Arthur until one point where he sees Arthur charges his stamina. When Arthur is about to land another punch, Dixon sways his head right, making Arthur’s fist hit the ground. Arthur screams in pain and Dixon, with all his might, lunges his upper body upwards, hitting Arthur’s face with his head. Arthur is taken aback, releasing Dixon from his clutches. This time, Dixon bends his leg and strikes Arthur’s face with his right knee while holding the top of Arthur’s head. Arthur falls down and Dixon feels like this is the right time. Time to escape from this forsaken planet. He runs with legs hurt toward his cabin by the pine tree. He enters while Arthur’s still lying on the ground. Inside, he opens his lockers to find something.
“Key? Key? Where is it?” he whispers in frustration. A loud thump from the door grabs his attention. Suddenly, the door is holed by a mace. Arthur’s risen from the ground and now he’s using his mace again. Arthur destroys the door with a hole enough to fit his body inside. Arthur enters the small cabin through the hole in the door while Dixon thinks of a way to escape. Arthur now swings his mace again, but Dixon dodges left as he jumps to his bed. Upon landing, he notices Arthur is swinging again at him. Again, Dixon lurches to the left, falling from his bed while Arthur’s mace is stuck between the bed’s frame. Dixon, now on the floor, looks underneath the bed and sees a knife that he hid this whole time under the bed frame. He picks it up when Arthur finally frees his mace from the grip of the bed’s frame. As Arthur yet begins another swing, Dixon manages to stab Arthur’s left leg in the nick of time. It didn’t cut deep due to the armor, but Arthur tumbles and seems to be unconscious. With stamina burned out and not able to wield the mace, Dixon heads to the door but he trips over upon leaving through the hole. He crawls to the backyard where Master Janus remains still on the same spot where he gave a purse of coin to Arthur earlier. Looking to his right, Dixon sees Master Kraven entering the backyard with a mischievous grin as the master raises his hand hanging an item on his fingers. It is Dixon’s spaceship key. The key he was looking for back in the cabin. Tired and undoubtedly defeated by the game of his masters, he stays lying on the ground and passes out.