Gladean Empire, Emperor’s Palace: 936, August 12th, Sunday, 2:00 PM.
In the now devastated lobby of the palace, where a lively party was once carried by the monarch of the empire. Loki remained motionless on the sharp broken ceramic as he faced the ceiling, hissing steam emanating from his body.
“Is he…?” Claire whispered—keeping a watchful eye on her opponent.
As the sounds of battle reached her ears, she quickly turned towards Gaspard and Eric struggling with the rest of the knights—most of the royal guards lying motionless on the floor. Before she could intervene with their fight however, Maulik’s voice put a quick stop to the lieutenant during her stride.
“Watch out!” the hybrid yelled.
Twisting her upper body to look back at Loki, Claire opened her eyes in shock as she spotted the bright azure sword of the knight approaching rapidly. Petrified during the short few seconds she was able to process the situation, a loud gasp escaped her lips as the sword suddenly vanished inches before making contact—leaving behind a cold breeze that flung Claire’s hair backwards.
“Hah…” she sighed with relief.
Back on his feet—breathing heavily with a wide grin on his face, Loki pressed his teeth together before releasing a rush of hissing steam from his mouth—cooling his body from the lieutenant’s attack. “That would be too easy,” he taunted.
Clenching her jaw with an angry frown, Claire strengthened the grip on her pistols before raising her hands in front. “I guess the data doesn’t lie,” she said to herself. “We need to retreat but…”
“What, don’t feel like fighting anymore?” Loki said with a frown as he noticed the lieutenant’s wary gaze. “Come on, you are finally here. Let me test that gear of yours.”
“Should I…” Claire pondered while desperately looking for a way out of the conflict, her mind wondering back to look for answers.
A week earlier, as Bloodhound sailed the seas among the blue lobster’s vessel. Claire sat on her own inside a small room with a wooden table in front of her, the bluish light of the moon leaked through an open window behind her—offering a fresh breeze with the soothing sounds of the waves outside.
“What if Loki shows up?” Claire asked—looking at one of her pistols laid on the small table—emitting a gentle crimson glow.
“Then you are to retreat and focus solely on the emperor,” Sovereign’s voice came through one of the pistols. “He will definitely want to fight you, maybe you can use that to your advantage. Just make sure to survive.”
“You said there’s a chance other gladean knights may appear.”
“If you can even call them that,” the man muttered. “You’ll receive some support from… outside sources, but they’ll stay mostly out of your way. Loki might become overconfident during the fight, but your gear isn’t ready to face him yet. You might have a better chance with Theo… he doesn’t like fighting humans with his own hands. Regardless, the emperor is your top priority.”
“I understand.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it.”
“Wait!” Claire spoke, a hastier tone than she was aiming for. “Ugh…” she rubbed her forehead. “I just wanted to ask about Lucy… last time I saw her she was drawing on the wall in my room. It’s been quite a while since we left HQ.”
“Hah,” Sovereign chuckled. “She is sleeping on top of my desk, don’t worry. Good luck out there.”
Snapping herself back into the battlefield while taking a deep breath, the lieutenant glared at Loki with her lips pressed together—spinning the guns in her hands. “Let’s fight then, you and I!” she shouted while pointing her pistols at the smirking knight.
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“That’s more like it,” the knight replied while cracking his knuckles. “I’ve been wanting to see those things in action for a long time now.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Maulik retorted—stepping next to Claire. “I’ll fight him while you and your group escape. There’s no way you think you can beat him.”
Glancing at the hybrid, the lieutenant returned her gaze towards the knight to voice her offer. “Tell your knights to retreat and leave the empire,” she told Loki. “Then I will fight you with no interruptions from anyone, those are my conditions.”
“What?” Maulik reacted in shock, keeping his mouth open while glaring at Claire.
“Uh?” Raising an eyebrow, Loki tilted his head slightly to the side. “Hm…” he hummed in contemplation, smirking confidently as he offered his reply. “Alright, I’ll play your game. The emperor is already gone anyway, so I’ll just have my fun for the time being.”
With a sharp whistle and a quick motion of his hand, Loki effortlessly brought Paradise’s knights attention to himself—ordering them to return to the island immediately. The emotionless husks offered no reply, vanishing from view with a bright azure light that beamed them back home. Noticing their opponents sudden retreat, the royal guards of the palace dropped to the floor as fatigue finally set in—swords and firearms clanking as they hit the floor alongside their bearers.
“Guh…” Eric dropped to his knees—panting heavily while sweat rolled down his drenched face. “I’m… going to pass out…”
“Young master!” Gaspard kneeled next to him, placing his hand on the noble’s shoulder. “You fought excellently, not many could keep up during a fight like that.”
“Hm?” Having noticed the butler, Loki squinted his eyes to look at the kneeling man next to Eric. “Is that you, brat?” he called out with a smirk.
“What?” Claire turned to look over her shoulder—following the knight’s eyes.
Taking a quick breath, Gaspard stood on his feet as he moved away from Eric—turning to face Loki with glaring eyes. “It’s been years, gladean knight.”
“Heh,” Loki chuckled. “You were only a kid last I saw you… now you look older than even me.”
“You know him?” Eric trying to force himself to stand up—dropping back to the floor with a groan.
“Your butler was the founder of this empire, kid.” Loki announced—prompting everyone to turn their shocked eyes towards Gaspard. “After the defeat of the specters nine hundred years ago,” he shrugged before finishing his statement. “Someone had to rebuild this place I guess.”
“Wha—but how…” Claire queried with an open mouth.
“You said… you were in your fifties…” Eric breathed while talking to his butler.
Gaspard nodded, keeping a watchful eye on Loki. “I only must look my age, young master. I do not feel over nine hundred years old yet.”
“You are the reason everyone is here, right brat?” Loki claimed. “Theo knew you’d show up if that kid of yours was at risk.”
“Information reached my ears about the threat that endangered my family, and I pleaded Cerberus to aid me.” Gaspard lowered his head with a bow, “I apologize everyone, for making you come here under my personal request.”
“You have nothing to apologize,” Claire offered a nod with a gentle smile. “You’ve helped us a lot back in Hemel, Gaspard. It’s only natural we help you back.”
“Thank you, young miss.” Gaspard replied, turning his gaze towards the knight with scrunched eyebrows. “My nephew has nothing to do with any of this. I demand that you leave this place immediately... Paradise’s conflict with the empire involves me, not my family.”
“Hah, sure… but I’m not leaving here yet. I’m owed a battle with the Cerberus girl,” Loki claimed.
“You are not thinking straight,” Maulik continued to protest against Claire’s decision. “I’m not letting you do that. Stand back, I’m taking care of him.”
“Don’t make me kill everyone in this room, kid.” Loki snarled at the hybrid. “Stand back, or none of you will see the light of day again.”
Claire stepped in front of Maulik, pushing the wounded hybrid back with her arm. “Stand back, I can handle it.” She turned to look at her team from over shoulder. “Eric, Gaspard, get everyone to safety. Make sure Tori is okay,” the lieutenant continued by lifting her gaze towards the second floor—where Scott stood with his now empty rifle. She raised her voice and commanded, “You too, Scott! Call headquarters to report on the mission!”
As he quickly pulled his rifle aside, Scott saluted at the lieutenant before rushing his way down the stairs—joining the rest. “Stay safe, lieutenant!”
“I’ll see you all later,” Claire said under her breath.
“I hope you know what you are doing,” Maulik offered his final warning before rushing towards his companion. He lifted Gal from the floor and carried her out of the battle area, checking on the girl’s pulse and breathing. “I guess you are fine…” Maulik sighed in relief.
“Enough wait,” Loki spoke up—fixing both shoulders with his hands. “Let’s see what you got.”
“I trained for something like this,” Claire talked to herself in an attempt to calm her nerves. “Let’s show him what we are capable off,” she told her gear—which responded with a bright crimson glow in agreement.
END OF CHAPTER