“Slow!” Merith yelled in his deep gruff voice as he caught the sword being swung at him with one hand, stopping it, then sending out a brutal kick to the chest of his attacker, sending them tumbling over the ground, coughing up blood from their internal organs that had just been forcefully re-arranged.

Faylen got to all fours, and paused for a moment, taking in deep breaths after the kick had blown all the air out of her lungs. The sound of laughter coming from all around her caused a deep growl to come out of her throat as she got back to her feet.

The two of them were in the courtyard located in the center of the royal castle in Alessandria. The courtyard, usually used by royalty to go on walks so that they could look at trees, flowers, and bushes without the hassle of going outside the walls for a walk and having to mingle with the common folk, was now being used as a mock fighting environment. Knights, royals, emissaries and diplomats were all watching the fight from the edges around the courtyard as well as the walls and towers that surrounded it, and they were letting it be well known how funny they found Faylen getting her ass handed to her was.

Faylen brushed the dirt off of herself as she glared over at Merith. While covered in dirt and mud, with a few minor cuts from rocks or trees she had been flung into, she didn’t have any deep or significant wounds. This was because Merith had yet to have to use his spear even once, fending off her attacks with his hands, legs, or just plain dodging them. “This is ridiculous!” She yelled over to him. “Why do I have to practice with a sword and spear? I use long range weapons, a bow, a staff, I only use my dagger when its last resort.”

“Exactly.” Merith replied. “Last resorts matter. On a battlefield, or in a fight, you never know what’s going to happen. What if you lose your staff or bow, then what? What if you run out of echos, then what? You might have more echos then almost anybody, but it’s not endless. That dragon trained you how to use your echos and power relatively well, but fundamentally you’re lacking. Not surprising, I’m sure fundamentally he’s lacking as well, focusing on blowing people away with massive amounts of power. That might work for the vaunted black devil, but for most of the rest of us, it doesn’t. But even if you have the same amount of echos as he does, if you can master the fundamentals, the techniques, the movements the rest of us learn and mix them with your massive well of power, you could be unstoppable!”

Faylen struggled to stay annoyed at Merith as his genuine excitement at the prospect of his daughter becoming a powerful fighter oozed from his voice. Over the past few weeks since Shade had left without saying a word, she had been training relentlessly. Sometimes with Merith on swords, spears and other hand to hand combat, or with Saria on echos usage, staffs and teaching her new abilities and combinations. During this time, she quickly lost the anger she felt towards them for leaving her at an orphanage. She didn’t forgive them, but now was rather numb to it. After Shade had abandoned her, like they had, and like the orphanages had, she had come to the conclusion that nobody would ever truly care for her. While some people might act like they did, say that they did, and appear like they did, it was all nothing more than a façade. With this mindsight, she had committed to training as hard as possible, so that going forward, she would never have to rely on anyone else but herself. Even then though, the sounds of people laughing infuriated her to no end. Most of them were weak and worthless other than the fact some rich prick gave birth to them.

“Why do we have to train in a place where so many people can watch?” She complained as she walked over to the sword she had dropped while getting kicked across the courtyard, picking it back up. It was a basic steel sword, the kind even the poorest of mercenaries or adventurers could afford.

“You’re a princess.” Merith replied. “You need to get used to people talking about, looking at, and sometimes laughing at you. Hell, it’s something you would have to deal with as a normal person as well. Even if you were just a normal adventurer, do you think people in the guild or bandits or mercenaries wouldn’t talk about and sometimes laugh at you? Some people are stuck up pricks, and learning to deal with and compartmentalize it is important. Training your mind and your ability to stay cool, calm and collected is just as important as any physical or echos training.”

Faylen sighed as that was similar to what Shade had told her. Not that she really wanted to think too much about what that asshole had told her. How could he just leave? Did he really care that little for her? She shook her head; she wasn’t going to fall down that rabbit hole of thoughts again. She had spent days locked away in a guest bedroom at Gaelins mansion, crying and beating herself up for thinking someone might actually care about her, even just a little bit. She gripped the sword tightly and took a fighting stance, pointing it over at Merith. “Fine then, but I won’t ignore their laughs. I’ll remember them, and when one day I win, I’ll let them all know.”

Merith smiled back, and took a defensive stance, spear crossed across his chest. “I look forward to it.”

But just as she was about to launch at him once more, a voice called out her name. “Faylen? Faylen? Oh, there you are, I should have figured you were here training again. You like being watched and laughed at that much? Weird kink, but hey, I don’t judge.”

Faylen turned to the voice and gave a flat stare at Gaelin, who was looking over at a rose bush a few feet behind her, trying to hide his giggles at his own joke. “And what do I owe the pleasure Mr. Commander.”

Gaelin, who was wearing rather relaxed clothes akin to a royal purple onesie pajama, turned to her with a frown. “How many times do I need to tell you, there’s no need to be so formal with me.” Then his frown turned to a devious smile. “Especially for someone of your stature, princess.” He then exaggeratedly bowed at the waist to her. “I am but a humble knight in your service, please don’t feel the need to hold formalities when talking to a lowly member of your core.”

She rolled her eyes then sheathed her sword, specifically so that she could cross her arms. “Oh, fuck you Gaelin. What do you want?”

Gaelin came out of his bow, but the dumb smile was still plastered on his face. “You’re old fling contacted me.” He then paused and put his finger to his chin. “Well, I guess technically it was Aerith who contacted me, but it was apparently on his behalf.”

“Aerith?” Faylen asked intrigued. “What does she want?”

“She’s in Endross, with Shade.” He replied, and at the very mention of Shades name, anger plastered onto Faylens face. “Now, now, no need to get all worked up. He apparently wants to see you. He asked Aerith to contact you, and requested you go to Endross.”

“For what?” She replied, anger still in her voice. But internally, she was much more conflicted. She told herself she wanted nothing to do with that asshole anymore. He left her like it was nothing, and now he ‘requests’ her to come to him? What is she, his pet? Technically she was his slave at one time, but that’s not the point. The point is, how could he think he could just request her to go somewhere and she would? Yet at the same time, something was pulling her to go. Not only did she want to give him a piece of her mind, but if he wanted to see her for some reason, it was probably important. The odds of him inviting her for a cup of tea were rather low.

“I’m not sure.” Gaelin shrugged. “Aerith said she wasn’t entirely sure either.”

“Do you think it has something to do with the base he destroyed?” Faylen asked. The news of the hunter’s base being destroyed a few weeks ago had made its way to the castle, and to Faylen. A quick investigation of the ruins revealed that it was almost certainly Shade who did it, with many of the bodies hollow, looking like a fruit that had been drained of all its juices. The sign a body has had its soul removed. This kicked the bee’s nest, as the hunters wanted Alessandria to do something about the attack. Alessandria reminded the hunters that while they were allowing their presence in the kingdom, they didn’t actually agree with their stance on dragons or their capture and enslavement, and that protecting their bases was their own responsibility, not Alessandria’s. This of course though made Merellien angry, as the hunters were nothing more than a not-so-secret branch of their army. Merellien began pressuring Alessandria to act, while Alessandria waited, and hoped that this attack meant Shade was joining the fight. Yet after a few weeks, nothing else happened. Merellien toned down the pressure as both they and Alessandria came to the conclusion that this was likely nothing more than a one off, much to Alessandria’s disappointment.

“I sure hope so.” Gaelin responded. “Aerith is with him, so he can run all he wants, but once she sets her mind to something and sinks her teeth into it, she’s going to get her way, eventually.”

“You and Shade both seem to think she’s some evil person, but she seemed nice enough to me.” Faylen replied, thinking back to her time with Aerith.

Gaelin let out a loud belly laugh. “Aerith? A nice person? Oh Faylen, that’s a good one. You may know her as a smalltime local herbalist, but she hadn’t always been a loving mother working at an herbery. If you knew some of the things she did, along with Shade, you would be repulsed. In fact, she mentioned that the results of one of her ‘experiments’ had re-appeared and was in Endross with them.”

“One of her experiments? What did she do?”

“I’m sure you’ll find out when you go there. Also, if you don’t mind, I’m going to tag along as well. I heard he had a meetup with an old friend of his while he was attacking the base. I need to ask him what he’s going to do about that.”

“You act like I’m going to go; I still haven’t decided if…”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Gaelin cut her off with a flat look. “Come on, no need to play these games, we both know you’re going to go.”

Merith, having been listening in on the conversation from across the courtyard, stomped up to Gaelin with virtual steam coming off his head. “She’s not going! I don’t want my daughter anywhere near that dragon anymore! How you could seemingly still have an ounce of trust in that vile being is beyond me! He killed the king for god’s sake! I know you think he may have been justified, which is blasphemy in itself, but what about the other atrocities he committed! How can you defend those?”

Gaelin debated how to respond to his subordinate yelling at him like this in front of a crowd of onlookers. He considered reprimanding him, letting his echos go and bringing Merith to heel, but ultimately decided against it. Instead, he casually shrugged. “I don’t. I know what he’s done. And I’m not sure I would say I trust him. It’s more, I trust him to not harm people he likes, which he seems to like Faylen.”

“The man was the purest form of evil!” Merith continued angrily, seemingly barely registering Gaelins response. “Theres a literal fucking statue in honor of his death at the center of the city!”

“Yea.” Gaelin responded nonchalantly. “Honestly, that statue is a point in his favor if you really think about it. He killed the king fighting some supposed corruption. He used to say he wanted to fight the corruption in the world, use his power to help the weak from being abused by the powerful. I always told him he sounded like a cliché hero from shitty fantasy books. But now some merchant faked killing him in order to become king of Merellien and take over the world. That’s about as corrupt as it gets.”

“I don’t care what he says he was fighting against! My daughter will not be….” Merith began to reply, but was cut off by an equally steaming mad Faylen.

“Since when do you speak for me?” She asked pointedly, face flushed red with fury. Gaelin smiled, knowing that she was for sure going now.

Merith on the other hand lost his fury instantly, realizing he had made his daughter mad, his words stumbled out of him. “No…of course I don’t speak for you…I’m not saying I speak for you…. it’s just…. you have to understand dear…. he’s dangerous.” Faylens eyes though made it clear she didn’t accept that answer as rage radiated out of them. Merith put his hands up in surrender and took a few steps back, like he was a human cornered by a ravenous bear. “Honey please…. you have to understand…. I only want what’s best for you…for you to be safe.”

This though only infuriated Faylen even more. “What’s best for me? Keep me safe? Is that what you thought when you left me at an orphanage? Is that what you thought when you had your other children killed? Safe? Fuck off. You choose to believe some priest or pastor or saint or whoever the fuck told you I was cursed, rather than choosing the side of your own child! If it wasn’t for that dangerous dragon, I would be dead now. Dead because of you! Don’t you ever fucking forget that! Come on Gaelin, we’re going.” She stomped through the courtyard and toward the door that led to the front gate.

“Aren’t you going to need some clothes? Maybe your bag and that bow of yours you like so much even though you suck with it!” Gaelin called after her.

Faylen stopped in front of the door, paused for a moment, then angrily turned around. She stomped back across the courtyard, awkwardly passing the two of them as she headed to the door that led towards her quarters, opening it, walking through, and slamming it behind her.

Gaelin put his hand on Meriths shoulder. “I’ve got to tell you, that was an absolute masterclass in what not to say to your daughter that just came home after you left her for dead.”

Merith looked annoyedly over to Gaelin for a moment, but then his face turned sorrowful as he looked towards the ground. “Do you think all of our kids were just cursed?”

Gaelin removed his hand from his shoulder and put away his typical jovial demeanor, switching to a more serious tone himself. “Unfortunately, I do.” Merith winced at the answer, even though he knew it was coming. “I know you’ve been running from it. Hiding behind training Faylen. But while we’re gone, maybe it would be a good time to start looking into it. If somebody is cursing children in the castle, somebody with access to the highest members of the nobility, finding and stopping them is of major priority.”

Merith nodded somberly, then looked up at Gaelin with watery red eyes. “Yes, sir. I will find whoever did this to my children and bring them to justice.” He said, putting his arm to his chest in salute.

“I look forward to your report when I return.” Gaelin replied, saluting back, then turning and heading for his own quarters to change. Though he thought about staying in his pajamas, Shades reaction to seeing them would be hilarious.

Faylen stood outside the Castle gates on the useless drawbridge tapping her feet. She had Lilah wrapped around her shoulder and was back in her overly revealing leather armor. Gaelin emerged from the doorway with his sword sheathed to his belt around his waist, but other than that, wearing rather relaxed gear. A white tunic, brown casual work pants, and for some reason, a red scarf even though it was around a brisk 80 degrees.

“Took you long enough.” Faylen quipped, anxious to get going. Gaelin though began to giggle. “What?” She said with growing annoyance.

“I’m sorry.” He replied wiping away tears of laughter. “I just, I had forgotten that your actual battle attire looks like a sexy outfit I would ask my wife to wear if we were roleplaying. Why are you even wearing it? Are you planning on fighting Shade? That would be a rather poor idea.”

“No, I’m not planning on fighting him!” She replied. “You just never know what you’ll encounter on the roads, we could be attacked at any time!”

Gaelin stared at her befuddled. “Roads? Why would we take the roads? We both have wings, aren’t we just going to fly there?” He watched as her face turned from annoyance to embarrassment. “Wait, were you planning on walking all the way there?”

“Well.” She awkwardly responded. “Me and Shade walked everywhere when we traveled together, so I guess I figured…”

Gaelin shook his head. “He walked everywhere because he’s a fucking lucifer dragon. If people saw him flying overhead, they would freak out. We’re a rainbow winged fairy and a wolf blessed by a god. If people see us flying overhead, they’ll probably think it’s going to be a great harvest.” Then he released his angelic like white wings and spread them wide. “You can walk if you want, but I’m flying.” Then took off into the air.

Faylen mumbled to herself for a few seconds, then released her rainbow wings and took off after him.

After a few hours of flying mostly in silence, they were approaching Endross. Faylen had been flying a bit behind Gaelin, silently contemplating what she was going to say or do when she first saw Shade again. From attacking him, to crying, to asking questions, she couldn’t decide. She then thought about the short argument between Merith and Gaelin from a few hours before. She flew up besides Gaelin and looked over to him. “Can I ask you a question?”

“No, we are not walking the rest of the way.” He responded in jest.

She harrumphed. “That’s not my question, asshole. I wanted to ask you something serious, though I’m not sure if you’re able to answer serious questions. You might be worse than Shade.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He replied, looking over to her. “But I’ll answer as serious as possible.”

“You said Shade killed the king fighting corruption of some sort.” She paused. “Why did he kill the king? Was he really as evil as Merith says?”

“Those are two rather different questions.” He responded. “Is he as evil as Merith says? That’s an opinion-based question. It really depends on how you define evil. Do I think he’s evil? I’m not sure. I definitely don’t think he’s a good person, and he’s done tons of terrible things, but ‘evil’ suggests, at least to me, that he knew they were bad when doing them. I don’t think that’s the case. I think over time his sense of right and wrong got skewed. I think the way he was treated by people caused him to become jaded over the years. I think he had convinced himself that what he was doing was good, even though it wasn’t. I’ll give you an example. You seem to like Aerith, and were wondering about her experiments, so I’ll use them. Being a criminal Shade would often be attacked by knights from various kingdoms. In Shades mind though, he wasn’t a criminal, he was fighting corruption and evil in the world. Which sometimes he was, him and Aerith took down dozens of slave rings, drug rings and loan sharks in the short time they worked together. So, with this in mind, when the knights would attack him, he would convince himself they were evil, that they were in on it, part of the corruption. He had also convinced himself that doing bad things to bad people was ok. So, they would capture these knights and do all sorts of experiments on them. Well, mostly Aerith would do the experiments. This was how she became one of the best curse breakers and herbalists around. She would curse people and see if she could break them. She would invent new curses and test them on their prisoners. She would fill them with various diseases and then see if she could cure them with experimental herbal concoctions. She even dabbled in echos based healing, ripping limbs off, gouging eyes out, stabbing, punching, kicking, seeing how much damage a person could take and then come back from.” He shook his head in disgust. “It was hideous. And the worst part, to our knowledge, the knights weren’t even corrupt, or in on anything. They were just people tracking down wanted criminals, trying to do their jobs, protect their kingdoms. Almost all of them died during the experiments, and the few who made it through the experiments and were released either killed themselves, or were completely mentally broken.”

Faylens eyes went wide as she thought back to the room where her curse was broken, and the comments Shade had made about the room. “I…I didn’t know.” She said with horror in her voice.

“I believe that, as I doubt Shade talks about it much now. From my brief conversation with him after he dropped off you and Vestelle, he seemed to have realized, or at least start to have realized how terrible a lot of the things he had done were. Either way, whether you think he is evil or not is up to you and you alone. Why did he kill the king? Like I said, he has always wanted to do good, fight corruption, evil. When he first became a knight, he shot through the ranks and with it his status shot up as well. Being of higher status he had access to elite circles. While dealing with these circles, he claims he found loads of corruption, and kept bringing it to the attention of the king and his advisors. What happened next depends on who you ask, nobody really knows. What I believe happened was there was corruption, and the ones doing it took Shade into a meeting with the king to pressure him into backing off and stopping his investigations. Whether the king actually knew of, cared about, or approved of the corruption, I don’t know. Either way, Shade refused, the people in the meeting then threatened him with false charges and were going to have him arrested, so he lit the place up and ran from the castle. Of course there’s more nuance to it all then that, and that’s a very detail light rendition of the events, but we’re almost at Endross, and if you really want to know what happened, you should ask the one who did it when you speak with him.”

She nodded, then looked forward again, Endross was now in clear sight. She gulped as nervousness and anger clashed within her as she readied herself to see Shade again. “Do you have any idea why he wanted to see me?”

“No.” Gaelin responded. “All Aerith said was that it was rather important, though she also said to make sure you had the bow with you. Not sure why.”

“The bow?” Faylen mused out loud, wondering what he wanted with the bow. She though quickly realized what, causing her nervousness to disappear into only anger. He didn’t want to see her. He needed Lilah for some reason. She was nothing more than a delivery man right now. She growled as she began flying faster towards Endross, with Gaelin struggling to keep up. She was going to give that motherfucker a piece of her mind.