Well... now....

I do suppose that it is finally time...

... that we do indeed see the end to this saga...

Yes....

For...

Dear reader....

For now... there were but a few seconds left...

Dare I say... an only 5 or so seconds left...

Yes....

One may say...

Twas time for Thorton to release the death blow...

Truly....

One would say....

However... twas not all that was occurring....

For... the man by the name of Dwight Fettersquare...

Yes...

He was.....

For lack of a better word...

Simply... silent...

Yes...

As though his tears had suddenly halted...

However.... one could also say...

That his soul had hardened as steel...

Yes....

For even in the very air...

Yes...

One could sense it...

Cold steel...

For his heart was hardening...

And his lips silent...

Hmmm?

How so?

Why... I suppose I shall explain that later...

As for Thorton...

He simply looked upon his opponent...

Yes...

For... for all that he had done...

Yes...

His opponent had simply failed to falter....

Truly.... did Thorton wish upon himself more time to do something else....

He cursed under his breath....

For... truly....

Had he more time...

Mayhaps he would play more with his opponent...

Hmmm...

Yes....

Well...

I do suppose that that is simply humanity...

Hmmm?

Not all humans are like that?

Why.... of course...

For humans are a truly mysterious race...

One so perplexing that....

Why....

One could say the difference between two humans may be as that of night and day...

Yes

Truly.... humans are truly intriguing creatures...

Truly fascinating...

Why...

Well...

I do suppose I may as well get on with the story...

For what happened next...

Is a true example of humanity...

Yes....

True humanity...

For all humans are different....

Now then...

As there remained only a few seconds left...

The man by the name of Thorton Hessenger did indeed start...

Thorton: Well then... it would seem that our time to play has met its end. Shame... truly....

The man continued to brandish his knife upon one hand....

Thorton: I would have liked to know your person more.... Sir...

And of that, his eyes continued to inspect his adversary's wounds...

Yes...

For he had left quite a number of these upon him...

Cuts, stabs... indeed dear reader...

For Sir Wallace Darlington was losing a lot of blood...

As for Jason...

He sighed in relief...

For the battle was nearly over...

Nay...

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

For he needn't worry about this situation much longer...

As for his quarry...

He did indeed find it strange...

Strange that Dwight had not laid even so much as a tear...

Nay...

Even so much as a sound...

Truly...

Strange he found it...

Strange enough that his grip did indeed find itself becoming harder...

Yes...

For at the slightest budge...

Even the slightest... I say...

He would remove his head from his person...

For any man of war knows resolve...

Yes...

Any man of battle knows the look of... resolve...

As for Wallace... why...

He was in terrible pain...

Truly...

Bleeding out of every orifice...

Why...

He even found it hard to stay upright...

For he felt so much pain...

And his body did indeed feel faint...

But... nay...

Even then...

He would not falter...

For... nay...

He would never dishonor his family... his very daughter...

By doing as this man wished...

As for Thorton....

Thorton: Truly... tis a shame.... had we known each other in another time... I... perhaps...

And it was then that... indeed.... the grin on his face returned...

Thorton: ... well... surely... we would be allies... no?

And then, he did indeed laugh...

Hmmm?

The 5 seconds have already passed?

Oh... of course.. dear reader...

Of course...

For this man.... was simply.... having fun...

Yes....

Hmm?

Why... the desire to have fun has enchanted many a man... yes...

Truly, I say unto you dear reader... truly...

For a man will do much...

Yes, much I say...

In order to fully enjoy himself...

Yes, indeed...

Moving along...

As the eyes of Jason Hessenger did narrow in anger...

... did the man by the name of Thorton Hessenger indeed laugh once more...

Yes...

And without warning... mind you

Truly, a laugh that spoke to the very elation of the man...

For then...

Even then...

He did truly enjoy what was occurring at the moment....

Yes...

A laugh that truly... annoyed Wallace...

A laugh that truly annoyed a tired Jason...

Albeit for a different reason... yes

However... upon Dwight's deaf ears did it lie...

For ... Dwight did hear it...

However... at the same time...

He did not...

Almost as though his mind was fully taken...

For he was there...

And he was not...

As for Thorton... he did continue...

Thorton: Ah.... nay..... (sighing) Nay indeed. We would not be friends.... For... I simply despise those who do act such as you...

Twas then that Thorton finally decided to end things...

Maypas because even he had come to the conclusion...

That his 60 seconds were over and done...

Perhaps because of his Lieutenant's orders...

Perhaps... because he was...

well... perhaps scared of Jason's response to his lollygagging....

Yes... Mayhaps...

Thorton: Yes... (sighs) Knights... Truly....

He brandished his blade... One last time...

Thorton: And please... do.... say hello to your daughter for me. She was quite fetching... Why...

Truly...

Even upon hearing those words... did Wallace indeed grit his teeth once more...

Yes...

For this..

Dear reader...

This...

Was pure fury...

Thorton: Had I more time with her.... Well... I do suppose she was quite the unreserved woman... So... mayhaps...

Yes, dear reader... twas true anger...

Thorton: Twas for the best. Why... one less harlot does us good... would you not say...?

Yes... the truest of anger..

As for Thorton... why...

he did enjoy seeing him squirm....

Thorton: (sighing) Well... I do suppose I have had my fill... (to Jason) Brother... what say you?

As for Jason... his ally's eventual release from his ecstasy, was truly a sight for sore eyes...

Jason: We shall keep his ally as... assurance... for now...

Thorton: Well and agreed

And... with a smile did he continue...

Thorton: Behold kind sir, you may smile yet...

And of that, he meant Wallace...

Thorton: Oh... be not rude, dear sir. For in spite of all your trouble... your friend may yet live... yes...

However... Wallace did not smile...

Thorton: Oh.. do be a sport. We doeth thou a kindness in spite of your rudeness... and... not even a thank you... Why...

However...

Twas at that point that a cough was heard...

Yes...

A mere cough...

And the culprit was none other than Jason Hessenger...

Yes...

For he was long tired of this game...

As for Thorton... he merely sighed...

Thorton: Well... I do suppose I have had my share...

Truly, he was upset that it had to end so soon...

Thorton: So then...

As he prepared his blade... holding it up...

all in preparation to cut of him...

Thorton: I shall...

However... twas.... at that very moment...

Yes... dear reader....

That Dwight Fettersquare did indeed speak up...

Dwight: Sir Wallace Darlington...

His voice took all their attention away...

For there was a steel to it...

Yes...

A cold hard steel...

One that cut through the very thoughts of those who heard it...

Yes...

For it was not his words...

But... yes...

The words behind his very words...

The resolve...

For truly...

Even as a man would think...

.. so he would be...

As for Dwight...

... well...

... dear reader, I do have much to say...

So, of this I ask you...

Do you know what it takes for a man to end himself...

For a man to lay claim to his own end...

Yes...

For a man.. to finish himself....

To be the one who ends it all...

Yes...

As for Dwight...

Dwight: Do tell.....

For a mere moment did he remain quiet...

Yes...

True silence...

Dwight: ... my dear wife... that... I always loved her... dearly... I... would have wanted yet another child... truly...

Yes....

Shocking were his words...

For they were his last...

Dwight: As a knight... I... bid you farewell...

Yes... truly...

For... this man did indeed...

Lay his neck upon Jason's blade...

And die....

As for Jason....

Truly...

He was far too shocked to even move....

Yes...

For the man's very words were shocking indeed....

However...

Twas the motif behind the words that truly touched him...

Truly...

For even then...

Yes...

Even then...

Did his hand not move an inch...

Yes...

Even for Thorton...

For he himself moved not a muscle...

Nay...

For his very person remained...

... transfixed upon that spot...

Never moving... even for a second...

Hmmm?

Ah yes...

I suppose I shall have to make sense of all this...

Well.. dear reader....

I suppose it is time I further.... elucidate the life of a knight...

... and that of a shinobi...

For... while knights follow the path of honor...

Shinobi... simply and typically do not...

Yes...

Knights believe in honor...

Valor...

Following it as their code...

Their life pattern.. if you will.

Yes...

This code does indeed find itself written in the hearts of every one knight...

Why...

It finds itself even in the hearts of those who simply live by the knights...

Truly...

A code of honor...

And of that...

Yes...

Twas this man Dwight Fettersquare full of...

For... in spite of all that had happened...

Indeed...

Even he...

Even he as a person...

Did indeed feel that feeling...

Did indeed... perhaps even knowingly...

Know what needed to be done...

Yes....

For, even at times... honor may demand something far above what a normal man may be willing to give...

Yes...

Tis the truth about honor....

For... tis because of honor...

And... mayhaps even....

Because of friendship...

Becauseof loyalty as well...

Even because of sympathy for the plight of his brother...

Perhaps because of his own... ah yes, as you said before... patriotism...

Tis a good word... really...

Perhaps for all this... did Dwight Fettersquare... find it within himself to...

... end himself...

Truly... I say unto you....

Hmmm?

How so?

Why...

I suppose it could be said...

That in order for a man to die for something...

He must first...

... live for something...

Yes...

Live...

For he would not die by this man...

Nay...

He would not die a normal death...

Nay.

For even a man such as himself...

Perhaps not the greatest of knights...

Well... who is to say...

Perhaps... this sacrifice...

Did indeed make him a better knight than many...

For... what is to be said of a man...

Willing to die...

So another man...

Nay...

Not even a blood relative...

May get his revenge...

Truly, I say unto you, dear reader...

Truly...

What manner of man?

For... at times honor asks great things of men...

And painfully, do we know what it requires of men...

But... do die?

Truly, I say unto you dear reader...

Truly...

Dwight Fettersquare...

... he was a great man...

A great man indeed

As for the shinobi...

Such an act of sacrifice...

Was such as that they had never before seen...

Nay....

Such as one many a shinobi had never seen...

Nay...

Even for the knights themselves...

Such an act...

Truly...

Well... perhaps a part of the reason was his being captured...

But...

Hmmm?

You think he made a big sacrifice as well?

Well.. of course... dear reader...

For once you die...

You die...

Except in specific circumstances..

There is no going back...

So... once you do leave..

Do remember...

To pay your dues...

Yes...

For the human world...

Is one of many a complication...

And of humans...

Yes...

There are many kinds....

Well... I do suppose I should stop right here...

Tis becoming quite lengthy really...

Till next time, dear reader...