The Door slams shut behind them as they step out into the dark alleyway. The Moon now at its peak in the sky. Its light filling the alleyway. The light was so bright that she could even see the specs of dust floating gently in the air. Rose took a deep breath taking in the cool air of the night readying her self before speaking.

“Prince I will lead the way,” Rose says as she starts to walk Leo following behind her. As They walk Rose explains the basics of the plan to Leo.

“You expect someone as noble as me to go through the sewers,” Leo grumbles.

Rose expected that Leo would object so she asks “Well can you think of a better way?”

Leo looks to the ground and says “No…” before he sighs.

They skirt between shadows staying just off the main roads there cloaks fluttering lightly with each motion. The moon light casts the city in a cool glow. Leo’s eyes can’t help but wonder but Rose does her best to keep Leo focused at lest for now she knows that they can’t afford to make a mistake right now if those knights or who ever they were catch them it will be all over.

After a some time they finely retch the sewer hatch. Its just off the main road behind a what seems to be a small shop. Rose crotches down and grabs the handle of the hatch and pulls it up before setting it down as carefully as she can. A putrid stench come wafting out of the hole that makes Rose almost gags.

“You first prince,” Rose says with a hand wave.

“Why!?” Leo says annoyed.

“The lid is far to heavy for you to close on the way down.” Rose say holding her hand out.

Leo sighs “…Fine,” he says before stepping forward descending down the ladder. As soon as there is room on the ladder Rose follows closing the hatch on her way down.

As Rose takes her first step off the ladder onto the solid ground of the sewer walkways she once more has to fight with the stench of the sewer. Rose notices that Leo is having a hard time he looks like he is about to puke his guts up on the spot. His hand is on a nearby wall as he gags. Shit I should have expected this. Rose thinks.

“I’m fine, let's just get out of here as fast as we can!” Leo says as he turns to face Rose covering his mouth and nose with his cloak.

“Good Come on its this way.” Rose says after looking at the blueprint Leo fallows close behind still covering his face with the cloak.

The sewers are dark but not pitch black due to the magic stones that line the stone walls and the faint blue light they give off. The walls of the sewers have vines growing all over them. It seems that this part of the sewer is not well taken care of. Rose thought. She could hear rats scurrying along and the drip of water. As they approached a bend in the sewer Rose noticed that the sounds of rats had stopped.

Rose held out her arm stopping Leo it was a good thing that he did not try to say anything as when Rose peaked around the corner she saw three of the knights from before standing there each had the same moon symbol on there armor. They seems to be speaking to each other but Rose can’t make out what there saying. She pulls her head back.

“Prince there are three ahead you stay here I will take care of them.” Rose say calmly and before Leo can say any thing she steps around the corner and charges the three knights.

Once she steps around the corner the knight notices her immediately. One of the knights yells “Formation!” as they all draw their swords. Rose moves swiftly drawing her blade. Once she was in the range of the first knight he slammed her foot down before swinging her blade at the last moment the knight managed to parry the blow. But it was too late and he left a straight shoot for a thrust attack into his eye. Rose gripped the blade and thrusted it forward pricing the man’s eye. He screamed and fell to the ground.

The other two knights quickly move to Rose’s sides they both swing their swords at the same time giving Rose almost no room to move. But Rose manages to step back. Rose managed to make enough room between herself and the two knights. Their armor had few gaps and they were guarding them well. So she waited for them to make the first move. The one to move first was the one to her left.

“I will kill you!” The knight screamed.

He charged at her, his sword thrusting motion. The distance between them gave her little time to dodge but Rose managed to sidestep the attack at the last moment. After dodging the attack Rose swung her sword and with one strike she managed to cut off his head. This left only one more knight who panicked giving Rose more than enough time to attack. She moved into range and attacked the last knight with a simple swing. The knight froze it seemed that seeing both of his alias die had gotten to him. But freezing in combat was the last mistake he would ever make. Rose's sword embedded itself into the man's neck ending his life.

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Rose withdrew her blade and the mans body fell to the floor. She let out a sigh she she swung her sword dispersing the blood from the blade. Rose turned back and saw that Leo had come out from hiding dispute Rose’s warning. His face looked to be in a panic.

“Are you ok?” She asked.

“I’m fine,” Leo said his hands shaking.

“Just lead the way out I can’t stand this smell any longer.” Leo said.

“There's not much farther to go.” Rose said as she started to move.

The exit was just ahead which made Rose glad as the smell was starting to get to her. But they were almost out of the sewers and they could see th exit just ahead so she would not have to deal with it much longer.

Out of nowhere an arrow whizzed right by Rose’s face cutting the side of her cheek. She spun around in a panic and saw there was a group of knights. Leo had already started to run. Rose turned back and started to sprint as fast as she could all the while arrows kept piercing through the air. With every step, Rose could feel her heart racing threatening to burst out of her chest. Just as she took the final step out into the moonlite field she froze.

Rose could feel every hair on her body stand on end. She could not see anything but HIM one man. Just standing took everything she had. Every breath was labored. Rose had never felt such fear if she had been told that the thing standing before her was a dragon that took the form of a human she would find that more possible than the vary idea a human could such mana.

The man wore knight armor but no helmet letting his long white hair flow. He turned to look at her lazily.

“You could not even catch these bugs?” The man said only a moment latter Rose felt liquid hit her back. She used what little will she had to look back and saw the knights that had been chasing them there heads were clean cut off there. blood covered everything the ground around them some had hit Rose in the back.

“You dire to look away from me?” The voice rang out Rose turned back to look at him as fast as she could.

“I-I-I’m sorry,” Rose said. She was shaking like a leaf in the wind.

“Draw your blade.” He said.

Rose could tell she would die right here for sure if she didn't do as the man said. But once her hand was on the handle of her sword she could not pull it out fear griped every part of her being. No! No! I can’t die here Rose thought.

Not yet! She thought as she girted her teeth trying once more to pull the blade from its scabbard and this time she managed to pull it out. The man opened his mouth and formed a wide toothy grin.

“Someone as weak as you managed to draw your sword on me! Interesting!” The man said his voice full of excitement.

In the blink of an eye, the man was right in front of Rose swinging his sword at her neck. Moments from her death she managed to turn the sword blocking the hit.

“Shit!” Rose cried out her arms shaking from the power of the man's blow.

The man begins a relentless series of attacks. Each timed just so if Rose used everything she had she could stop it. This guy is toying with me. She thought In the same moment she was struck and it was purposely light only scratching her neck.

“Humm I might be losing my edge.” The man said before continuing his series of rapped attacks.

Rose managed to just barely block each one. She felt everything start to fade to dust all she can focus on is the swords. Left, Right, Up, Left … even her thoughts began to fade. The clash of steel was all that could be heard. Her arms felt sore from the force of the man's blade but even the pain seemed to fade.

Just when Rose’s arms started to give out the man spoke.“Let's see if you can survive this.”

The man jumped back and planted his feet on the earth his sword pointed at Rose. Rose ready herself gripping her sword tight her eyes not leaving the knight’s sword.

Bang!

The sound that the man made just by pushing off the ground was so loud one would think it was an explosive. In less than a second he’s sword was about to price Rose’s heart. As soon as the man had moved Rose had begun to pull her sword down as fast as she could. It slammed into the man’s blade. The swing of Rose’s blade just managed to push his sword off course cutting her side. Rose cried out in pain as the blade cut her side.

“You actually managed to Block that?”The Man said eyes wide.

“Well I can’t let a gem like you die so I will let you go but he has to die” The man pointed his sword at Leo. Leo was still unable to even stand as he man readied his blade Rose’s voice rang out.

“If you kill him I will die!” Rose said.

“Humm Why? You don’t seem like the type to kill yourself..” The Man said.

“I have a magic contact with him if he dies so do I,” Rose said as she pulled the contact out of her pocket letting it unfurl. Rose was betting everything on this. The man stepped over to Rose and snatched the contract out of her hand.

“Seems you were telling the truth.” The man said.

“Whatever I guess I will just let you both go not like anyone can stop me,” The man said turning to walk away.

“ When we next meet I hope you're not so weak,” The man began to walk away before stopping.

“Oh I should tell you my name it’s Siegfried.” He said before he vanished into the sewers.

Rose felt her legs give out as the adrenaline rush faded. Rose could feel the blood draining out of the wound. Thinking fast Rose ripped a part of her cloak and wrapped it around the wound using it as a temporary bandage.

She tries to stand using her sword as a cane but her legs begin to give out once more. As she starts to fall she feels an arm rap under her shoulder helping her stand. She turns her head she sees Leo who had managed to move after Siegfried left.

“I can’t let my only knight die this easily there should be a temple not far from here just hold on a bit longer,” Leo said as they began to walk.

How was that man so strong? Rose thought for the first time in a long time she did not understand how some one had gotten to where they were.

Rose starts to feel sleepy her eyes drifting closed and back open. She was nearing her limit. Only a bit farther. She thought just ahead she could see a small church if she got there they could treat her wounds.

What was it all for if this is how I die? Rose thought feeling her body grow cold all she had ever wanted was to live a life of leisure that was it. She had spent her life fighting for the chance to just live like a human. Rose's thoughts became muddied as she started to pass out.

That had just reached the door of the church. As Rose’s eyes closed she thought she could hear someone yelling.