No, that wouldn’t work either. The young man thought as he made his way towards the estate. Seth had been mulling over his plans to eliminate Jhavik and his sell swords ever since their encounter. Weighing the risks and the rewards, the young man could simply come to a compromise.
Separating from Lucy and the others after the deed would have been the plan a month ago. Now… now it was becoming harder to choose. Everything had been so simple before. Earn capital, provide aid to those in need and spite the family. Simple yet such a rewarding and satisfying life.
All of it descended into chaos for one girl. One blunt, apprehensive, and awfully traumatized yet kind girl. And I’m risking it all for her. The thought could not help but bring a smile to his lips. What a steep price indeed. Seth quietly mused to himself as he continued walking.
For now, let’s start simple. He quietly brood. ‘Lucy, I need to avoid going here for some time because-’ no, that wouldn’t do. Seth shook his head. ‘There is someone looking for you, we need to-’ no, you dolt! You’ll scare her needlessly! The young man sighed.
Why is this so hard? Seth pinched at the bridge of his nose. Just tell her to be careful. Kalva be damn, it’s not that hard Seth! You are trying to avoid dragging her into this, that’s just it. Making up his mind, Seth hastens his pace.
Still, would she even accept it? How would she even accept it if- ah… I’m here? The red hair blinked in confusion as he stood before the door. So consumed by his thoughts that he did not notice it until standing right before it. Well, let’s get this over with. Seth sighed, knocking on the door gently.
You can do this, Seth. It is for her own good, after all. The door opened. There will always be next time to see… her… The words died on his tongue when he saw her. Her sapphire eyes and silver like hair were as brilliant as ever, yet that was not what caught Seth speechless.
It was her clothes. Lucy was not wearing her usual uniform, but rather a simple sleeveless light blue tunic with gray trousers. The changes were so simple, and yet Seth could barely believe his eyes. Though horrible scars marred her arms that he had not seen before, the young man did not notice it.
“H-hey,” a quiet yet almost angelic voice dragged Seth back to reality. His eyes returned to a fidgeting Lucy, who steadily grew redder. “I-is something wrong?” Words finally returned to his lips.
“A-ah! N-no, it’s all right. I just…” Seth met her gaze, swallowing his hesitation. “...you look b-beautiful.” Silenced washed over the two as they avoided each other’s gaze. Their ears felt hot as blood rushed towards their face. Hearts beating in a mix of excitement and nervousness as they tried to come up a response.
“H-hey-”
“D-do you-”
The two stuttered as their eyes widen. ““Ah.”” It was their only response before they quietly fidget once more.
You can do this! Come on, just say it! Be a man!
“S-so…” Seth finally said, meeting her gaze. “...m-may I come in?” And then he smiled.
Lucy blinked before smiling back. “Of course, come in.” And so he did.
֍
I-I did it! She squealed quietly as she prepares the tea. It had been so long since she had prepared one, yet the talent was still there. The young maiden could not help but give a silent prayer of gratitude to her past self as she pours a cup for her and Seth.
“Thank you.” He smiled before taking a sip. Moments later, his eyes widen. “Oh, wow. This… this is superb,” He said before taking another sip. A chuckle escaped from the scarred maiden’s lips.
“Why thank you gobs,” Lucy chuckled as Seth rolled his eyes. “Though it shouldn’t come as a surprise, shouldn’t it?”
“Can’t blame me for it. You don’t like serving it after all.”He replied.
“Well, I like to make exceptions.”
“O-oh…” Seth trailed off before going silent, making the young lady anxious. W-was it too forward? D-do I- “...am I one of the e-exceptions then?” Seth's smirk dashed all of her worries in an instant and replaced them with frustration.
“Yes…” The young man reddens in an instant. A sly smile graces her lips. “...you a-are.” Yet it barely lasted as a second. ...I can’t do this. How can anyone do this?! For all her dreams of making a family that she never had, Lucy had never considered this.
Life had never given her time to consider it. But I only have one shot at this! I cannot miss it! Still, her determination remained firm. I’ve died for this! I cannot let it go to waste! I won’t-
“Is t-that so?” The young maiden blinked back to reality. She looked up to see Seth struggling to keep his smile from escaping. In a way, she found it adorable. “I… thought the same as well.” It was now her turn to control her face.
Unfortunately for her, Lucy could not keep the same measure of control as the smile plastered all over her face. She tried to control her lips, but it simply wouldn’t listen. With the warm rush inside her, it proved even more difficult.
“H-hey stop it.” Lucy blinked out from her daze as Seth avoided her gaze. A tinge of disappointment welled into her heart when Seth continued. “...It’s not fair to keep smiling like that.” Lucy blinked and then blushed.
Y-you’re the one who’s not fair! She mentally protested, feeling warmer by the second. Lucy tried to form up a response when a mischievous plan hatched from her mind… and her heart. “D-did… d-did you like what you see?” Silence. It was bold. Too bold. Lucy was growing anxious by the second, waiting for Seth’s response.
“...V-very…” And when he did, he did not disappoint.
“O-oh… t-thank you…” A grunt was Seth’s only response as Lucy finally took a sip from her cup. The serene silence broken only by her soft drinking was bliss the two dared not disrupt. For a moment, it was enough. The soft sunlight, the cool breeze, the gentle scent of tea, and of course, him… gobs… for Lucy, it was enough.
“S-so, how are you doing?” No, it is enough. “Was everything all right?”
“A few nightmares, but nothing more.” Everything she could ever want was here.
“I see. Give me a moment. I’ll need to write it down.” Friends.
“Why? It’s just a nightmare.” Family.
“I thought so too! But the more I thought about it, the more…” ...home. She finally had a home. A place that she can call hers. Life was finally warm… and it terrifies her.
It had always been cold. Cold and utterly ruthless. What sliver of joy that she manages to grasp on, slips through her fingers in an instant. It was supposed to be cold, merciless and have moments of momentarily warm, not… not like this. Not this long.
Now that she finally had a taste for it, Lucy was terrified to lose it. The mere thought of losing it all in an instant was unbearable. Life should have been cold. Not warm! Cold! She did not want to get used to it! She did not want to crave it! Because if she does, losing it... l-losing it would… w-would… what would it do to her?
The world suddenly felt cold. She finally had it, and yet she found herself wishing she hadn’t. Now that she has it, she did not want to let go. She wanted to keep it. To run away so no one could steal it from her! ...But… what about them?
They were still here. Distant, weak, but still present. The voices of the dead. Her failure. Why was it only her? Why didn’t the others got the same chance as her?
Why was she the only one? What right did she have to be the only one? Didn’t they also deserve another chance?… or was it all a lie? Lucy’s breathing grew frantic, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as the noise slowly faded into nothing. Her gaze wanders randomly when it landed on Seth. ...What if this was a lie? The thought terrified her.
“And so I… is something wrong?” He was getting farther and farther away. He… will be gone. Don’t go... please don't go. “Lucy, do you-” Lucy suddenly holds his right hand. The young maiden blinked, barely understanding what she had done as she took a sharp breath.
“S-sorry,” Lucy weakly said as she retracts her hand. “I didn’t mean to…” she trailed off as Seth grabs her hand before it slipped away. The young lady looked up to see concern dwelling in those emerald eyes. “...Is everything all right?” Seth questioned softly.
Lucy blinked. No... no, it's not. Everything is not fine. The young maiden thought as she quickly smiled back. Why... just why did you all had to make me happy? Now that I am… I can’t lose it… I don’t want to lose it. It was a small wish from a small girl that dwell within her heart. The girl who chased love.
She never gave the thought a voice. She just can’t. Lucy finally replied in a form of a weak smile as she whispers out two words. “I’m fine.” The young man silently stares back for a moment before nodding back slowly.
“If you need help, we are here… I am here, ok?” Lucy nodded back in reply, grateful to Seth’s understanding.
֎
...I can’t tell her… His hands were moving, writing down as they talk, but his thoughts were elsewhere. I must not tell her... I’m sorry Lucy, but let me be selfish for once. The day goes on as several plans sets in motions from within his mind.
...You’ll be safe… kalva be damn, I will make sure of it… so please, forgive me. The young man thought as he steeled himself for the task, slowly coming to terms, that one day, he might never see her again.
֎
Lucy quietly watched on from the balcony as Seth’s figure finally disappear amongst the buildings. A small smile was seemingly carved permanently on her lips as her heart beats faster. Today… it was a good day. “Look’s like someone is happy.” Lucy yelped as she turned to see Rose with a smirk.
“S-sister Rose! H-how… how long have you been there?” Lucy asked as Rose hummed.
“Enough. Long enough to see our youngest finding a fine young man.” A teasing tone infected her voice as Lucy reddens.
“T-that’s- no! You misunderstand! I-”
“Oh? Then what is it between you and that fine young man just then?” The blatant play of ignorance was just too much.
“S-sister Rose!” Her voice tethering into shame and embarrassment as Rose finally could not hold it, and laughed
“F-forgive me sister Lucy, but I simply could not pass it up.” Rose finally calms down as Lucy grumbled. “...Although,” a teasing smile graces her lips as Lucy stood rigid. “… I wouldn’t mind if you two-”
“I-I have to go! I still need to buy new loaves of breads for the children!” Rose’s hearty laugh haunted Lucy’s mind as she ran away from the further embarrassment she would get from the teasing sister.
֍
"Just how many delays do you people need for a single extermination?" Elias pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "This should have been done in three days. We are on our 14th and we barely have anything to show for." The staff shifted uncomfortably, almost as if they were walking on eggshells.
The scent of paper and oil waft across the swamped filled room of scrolls and parchment. Several of the men and women had dark circles around their eyes, though it was nothing compared to Elias, who somehow manages to cling on for so long.
"Sir if I may?" Elias turned his gaze towards the voice. Though he did not need to look, his answer was already determined. The man was a massive 6'2ft old knight with shaven hair and a pair of emerald eyes that has been molded with wisdom and time.
As much as he wanted to wave the man away, Elias still valued the old knight's insight. "You may, sir Dal." Dal nodded in kind as the old man prepared to speak.
"During the time we have spent and will spend to investigate this extermination, I have reasoned to believe that this tide will inevitably force us to garrison until winter."
Several whispers blanketed the room before Elias silenced them. "That is completely unacceptable. We will deal with it by the end of this week at the earliest and the week after the next at the latest. Any longer than that is completely and utterly unacceptable." Elias grunted much to the dismay of his officers.
"But sir, that is impossible." A young knight voiced out his concerns as Elias sharply turned, causing the man to flinch slightly. "F-forgive me for speaking out of line, sir, but we simply don't have the material or the manpower to keep up such rapid deployment. If this goes on, we would be wasting our resources needlessly. I beg you to reconsider."
"I do not have the time." Elias replied as the man stiffened. “We need to finish this before winter sets in. Otherwise, we would be stuck here for months.” Subtle glances passed between the men and women within the room. All knew what to say, but none had the courage to voice it. Save for one.
"...Sir, with all due respect, the lady-"
"Not another word, sir Dal." The temperature dropped despite the warm hearth spreading its warmth across the room.
"I must insist. Sir, we have been searching nonstop for 2 months now."
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"Dal."
"More than a third of our forces had been used, not to mention the royal guards aiding us along the way, and yet we still haven't found her." Dal did not hasten nor slacken his pace. It was calm and measured as the heir’s eyes sharpened.
"Enough." Elias spat out, but Dal continues.
"You are risking the lives of our men and women today. Men and women who have families to take care of. If two months weren’t enough to find her despite our best efforts, then it is safe to assume that this time wouldn't be any different.”
"I said enough."
"The houses are growing restless, sir. There are even rumors saying we are preparing for an invasion, for Kalva sake. We are throwing the realm into chaos the longer we-" An ear-splitting crack bellow across the room as the table breaks into several fragments.
Elias rises to his full height as he stared Dal directly into his eyes. Though he was shorter compared to the old knight, the young heir’s gaze was by no means weak. He did not shy away from the towering giant before him.
Even when panic was spreading across the room, Dal remained neutral as he met the young heir's gaze with calm and focused eyes. The countless years he had spent side by side with the old duke during the sunlight war made Elias's outburst to be tame in comparison.
Raging sapphire and calm emerald met each other’s gaze head on. Neither one backing down as the room grew increasingly colder. Yet, no one dared to make a sound. After a tense silence had come to pass, Dal finally let out a sad sigh.
"...See reason lad. Are you truly going to sacrifice their lives?" Elias frowned, but he silently waited as Dal continued. "We are going to find her, lad. We will, but not at the cost of our people. Not like this.” A firm hand squeezes Elias’s right shoulder.
The young heir glared at the old knight. The raging blizzard that stewed from within threatens to spill over. Passion and reason clashed within the young man as he repeatedly curls and releases his fists. Fortunately, it did not come to that. Elias slowly releases his anger as Dal nodded approvingly.
"Get some rest, young master. It has been a long week. Eat, drink, sleep, anything but work... you really need it, young man." Dal said as Elias sighed.
"Aye. I'll do just that." Elias said before turning to the door.
֍
...This is pointless. Elias thought as he strolls across the town, bustling with life despite the ever-freezing weather. Children races across the road as several young women excitedly gossip on the coming winter festival. Elias heard several rumors of the meals and entertainment that would be served, though nothing garners his interest.
"Good morning, my lord." Elias nodded back in kind as several townsfolk began to take notice of his presence. With his crisp cobalt uniform and sharpened blade by his side, it was hard to miss him. Though the people had politely greeted him with respect, he could still see the hint of fear in their eyes.
It bothered Elias to no end, but he could not blame the people to a fault. With the power to condemn and ruin their lives with a word, it was no wonder he was looked at as such. Though some part of Elias still hoped to be treated fairly rather than with fear and reverence.
Elias continued on, reciprocating his greeting whenever someone does so. He wandered aimlessly across the town with no particular destination in mind until he arrived at the market. Here, the beating heart that kept the town thriving was as loud as it can get.
Goods ranging from common to exotic were bought and sold at an affordable or ludicrous price, depending on the merchant. The shouting of the vendor resounded across the air as they greedily hogged all the customers away from their rivals.
Seeing the prosperous town, Elias could not help but felt a tinge of pride in having such a remote town in his father's realm, but prospered nonetheless. It was as peaceful as it can get, yet a small part of Elias could not help but ponder in silence. ...Was it worth it? He thought in silence as his mind drifted off.
Is this what you wanted, father? The young heir could not help but recall back on those days. Before she disappeared. Everywhere he looked, he could see the people smile. Small families, big families, an old couple, a new couple, it doesn’t matter. The people are content… but why his isn’t?
Why did his father poured his life into his work? Why did his sister disappeared without so much a trace? Why… why did he have to do this alone? Elias turned his gaze to another passing family. A young toddler sleeping blissfully in his mother’s embrace while his father gave a shoulder ride to his older sister.
Their entire wealth could not even measure a fraction of his own personal wealth, let alone his family. Their father was their only source of power while he grasped strength that could reduce entire armies to rubble… and yet they are happy. Elias could still recall the argument between his father and sister.
How wealth and power meant nothing to her. It didn’t make sense at the time. It was power and wealth, the things they needed to protect their realm and their people. Now… now he was just confused. The young man could not help but regret eavesdropping then. If he minded his own business, things would have been so much simpler.
A gurgle sounded from Elias's stomach, snaps him back to focus as a whiff of freshly baked pastries demanded his attention. He looked around, trying to find the source, as he rummages through his pockets for a coin. Elias found the bakery just as he fished out a silver coin.
More than enough to buy a dozen or so of garlic bread. He begins to make his way toward the bakery, eager to purchase a delectable selection of bread and pastries.
As Elias approaches, he could not help but notice the odd figure from a mile away. The figure was small, maybe a year or two younger than Elias, and was wearing a thick cloak and hood. Elias tried to jog his memory for any notable people of the town that needed such cover.
He could not find anything. There were no people of importance that would require such a heavy disguise, and mayor Jhavik was not exactly the kind of person to go out subtly. Either the person was simply odd or was a suspicious individual.
Elias felt the latter to be more plausible, but his exhaustion could simply not offer him any energy to go further than mere suspicion. Strangely enough, the figure suddenly turned and freeze when it saw Elias. Although he did not pay the stranger any attention, his stomach made sure of that.
"Uh o-oh! He-hello good sir! What would you like t-to buy?" Elias raised a brow at the pale complexion of the baker as if she had seen a ghost.
"Ah yes, I would like a dozen of the finest you have, please." Elias said as he handed over the silver coin.
"O-oh certainly! Just give me a second to bag these up." The baker said as she clumsily reaches out for the bag.
Elias could not help but grow ever more suspicious when he noticed the slight trembling in the baker's hands. He might have been used to garner the fearful looks of the masses, but it has never been this bad. The young lord could not help but ask.
"...Is there something bothering you, miss?" Elias said as the baker stuttered clumsily.
"Y-yes??" the baker stuttered.
"No need to hide it, miss. I can see through your plight." The baker frowned ever so slightly at Elias, who seemed barely older than her but quickly answered in a hushed tone.
"...W-well, it is a long story, but... have you seen that girl earlier?" So she was a girl. Elias thought as he now found the identity of the stranger. Curiosity slowly replaces exhaustion as he waited for more.
"Yes, what about her?" Elias inquired.
"Well, she is known by the locals as the quiet nun." Elias's brow arched in incredulity as doubt formed visibly in his eyes.
"I take it that this nun is what startled you, miss..."
"Hannah. Just call me Hannah, my lord, and yes, she does." Elias's brow arched in incredulity as doubt visibly formed in his eyes at the sudden shift of tone, but he continued to listen nonetheless.
"I know this might sound insane my lord, but I swear by the Gods and Goddesses above, she is simply... unsettling my lord." Hannah said with ever more unease. "O-of course she isn't evil by any means! It's just that... something is wrong about her."
"How so? If she isn't causing any problems, then I don't see the need to be wary of her?" Elias replied as Hannah swallowed her saliva loudly.
"W-well that's... I don't mean to be rude but..." Hannah said, waiting for confirmation.
"Go ahead." Elias said as Hannah nodded.
"She is quiet. Too quiet, my lord. I know this comes off as silly, but she is simply too quiet, my lord. We barely even heard her say anything else, but the grunt noises she made. I... I can't even remember if she even speaks anything at all. She would simply point at my sales, or to anyone for that matter, before paying. It is simply eerie, my lord." Hannah said, pausing slightly to catch her breath.
The young man nodded slowly, taking mental note of the strange, but otherwise unimportant, person in his head. "There's also with her eyes... it looks like as if it was dead."
Elias could not help but began to grow wary with each new detail Hannah added in. "Before it was so lifeless. You could simply look her in the eye and could tell something was wrong. It was as if... it was as if she had died. Poor lass, whatever cruelty she might have encountered had been." Elias nodded slowly before adding in his inquiry.
"You said it was before, but now?" Elias said.
"W-well... now it is brighter... yes, much brighter, actually. There is still something wrong about her eyes, but it is better than it used to be. Sir Seth may have a hand in it, though I cannot tell apart rumors these days. Although, I do hope it to be true. Seth can be… strange at times, but he has a good heart." Hannah said with a smile .
"I see. Well, is there anything else? Anything that seemed off with her?" Elias said as Hannah took a moment to ponder before suddenly frowning in great disturbance.
"The scars... Kalva be damn there were those scars..." Hannah shuddered as she spoke.
"I have never seen such hideous scars as hers. One might actually believe she was a runaway slave." Elias frowned at the word. "My father’s realm had forbidden slavery since its creation miss Hannah. Are you certain of it?" Elias said, as Hannah chuckled.
"I suggest you meet her for yourself and then decide, my lord. If anything, I pity her, my lord... but I am not about to let myself drag into a debacle that I barely understand." Hannah said as she finally handed the bag full of bread.
Elias handed the coin in kind as he grabbed the bag. "I'll see what I can do. If she's not causing any trouble, then there is little I can do." Elias said as Hannah nodded.
"If you are going to speak to her, I suggest you talk to sir Seth. That young man seemed to be drawn to her. He is a big merchant around these parts. Find his red hair, it's hard to miss... also I don't think she is a bad person... I think. But she does need help. It would be great if you could do her a favor." Hannah said before Elias nodded and gave his goodbyes and began to devour his purchase with gusto.
֍
Underneath the shade of the dark alleyway, Lucy clutched her chest tightly as she struggled to breathe. Heart beating so loudly that she could hear the rhythmic pulse pumping through her ears. Calm down. Everything will be fine... everything will be fine. Lucy tried to console herself with little to no avail.
Hands clasped tightly against one another as she tried to bury the painful memory from within. Pain, anger, but most damning of them all, terror. If Elias had found her, if he had recognized her right then and there... Lucy did not want to think about it.
She did not want to think of the life she had almost lost... all thanks to a bread. Never again. Lucy swore as she stumbled deeper into the dark. All Lucy wanted to do was run back home. Back towards the orphanage.
"Are you ok, miss?" Lucy heard a voice at the back of her mind, nodding absentmindedly as she continued to walk. "Here, let me help you." A hand suddenly grasped firmly on her shoulder. Lucy suddenly felt a sinking feeling in an instant, instincts roaring to life.
The nun suddenly spun, catching the man in complete surprise as Lucy delivered a vicious elbow on the abdomen. The man barely let out a gasp before Lucy pinned his arms behind, forcing his body to stand up like a meat shield before the 4 other surprised but discipline hooded figures that burst out from the shadows.
Two on both sides... tighten the gap first. Lucy thought as the man groaned.
"Sarding noble!" The man gasped painfully for air as Lucy forcefully dragged him to another alleyway, preventing a pincer trap. "Helpless, he said, that lying pig!" He cursed as Lucy suddenly began to rummage through his waist.
"Hey what do you think you are touching you-" The man fell short as the resounding unsheathing of his dagger cuts through the air. As if in practice, the four immediately unsheathed their own daggers as well as Lucy dangerously pointed the sharp blade mere inches away from his throat.
"H-hey you-"
"Another word from you and it will be your last." Lucy growled as the men reflexively understand the gravitas of the situation. "Who are you people? Why are you following me?" Lucy whispered coldly as the man gulped in nervousness.
"L-let's calm down first before we- ah!"
"Wrong answer." Lucy collectively replied as she applied a small pressure on the blade, drawing blood ever so slightly from the man's spine.
"Gods damn it! The information is wrong! Who said she is a helpless noble in the first place?!" Lucy flinched as the men grimaced at the word of their comrade.
"Shut it, Avk before she-"
"W-where did you get that from?" Lucy tried desperately to control her quivering voice. The men fell silent, confused and wary. "N-noble.... who did you hear it from?" Once cause a suspicion, twice was more than enough to leverage a weakness.
"Noble? I haven't said anything about a noble. What are you talking about?" The man known as Avk feigns ignorance as it gets on Lucy's nerves.
"Don't you dare lie to me!" Lucy snarled as she drove a much stronger pressure to Avk's spine this time.
"Argh! You spoiled wen-"
"Lie to me again and it will be your last. Do not test me!" Lucy's voice began to grow darker, louder... and terrified.
They've found you.
No No No! That is a lie! They can't be! I am-
-hidden? We both knew that was a lie.
Shut up shut up shut up!
The soldier within almost immediately understood what happened, but Lucy simply refuses to believe. Denying what the two knew from the start. "I said who did you hear it from!" Blinded by the creeping terror, Lucy failed to notice the distance between the 4.
A lunge was all that it took. A dash was all they needed... but the men made one fatal mistake. "Who else do you think? Did you really think no one was looking for you, lady Emma?" They just had to gloat.
...Do you believe me now? Lucy felt her heart drop.
"W-wait! There has got to be some mistake!" Lucy wracked her brain relentlessly for a peaceful escape.
"Damn right it is! We deserve more compensation for this job!"
"Avk!" A voice called out with caution, but Lucy could not hear them. Only the maddening beating of her heart.
No no no this can't be happening… not again.
"H-how much did he paid you?" Lucy said.
"What does that have to do with-"
"I'll d-double it! No! I'll triple whatever that he's offering you!" Their eyes widened. "S-so p-please, can you just forget this all happened?" Lucy whispered, begging for a positive answer.
The group paused for a moment, confused. It was as if they took an assassination hit rather than a kidnapping job. As if Lucy was pleading for her life that they all turned down time and time again. "We maybe mercenaries miss, but we still have some pride. We're not just going to back out on our contract for a bigger pay. That will ruin our reputation. Can't get much job with a sunken one now, can we?"
No no no!
"T-ten gold! I'll g-give each one of you ten gold! Just forget all this happened!" The group's eyes widen in shock once more, greed glinting in their eyes. A gold coin was enough to feed a family of 10 for 3 months, even if they eat fresh meat all day. Ten was an astronomical amount that can buy an entire farm.
For a moment, Lucy's eyes brightened with hope before it came crashing down with their reply. "And do you even have that much gold, hmm, miss noble? I know you're desperate, but this is ridiculous." One of the men spat out as Lucy trembled.
"G-give me 3 days! I can-"
"Lady Emma please, just stop. I don't know what's the deal with you nobles, but you can't possibly get 50 gold in 3 days. Just give it up."
No you don't understand! I’m trying to save you!
From who, I wonder?
Be quiet!
"P-please just give me the chance and I can-"
"We've talked enough. Please let go of Avk and we won't be rough with you." Lucy almost seemed to deflate as her lips quivered a whisper.
"I-is there really nothing I c-can do to convince you to forget me?" One more plea. "A-anything?... please?" One last act of pure desperation.
"Sorry lady, there is nothing. So let go of Avk now, please." One last gamble for a peaceful resolution that has been dragged down to the ground.
..But why?... I don't want to fight anyone. I don't want to kill anymore! Just why do you people keep dragging me back here?! Lucy thought as tears escaped from her eyes.
"Oh for Kalva's sake. Lady, we-"
"-I'm sorry." The group titled their heads in confusion for a moment as Avk turned just enough to see Lucy's weeping eyes. It was fearful, painful... and regretful. "I'm so sorry, but you cannot leave. I cannot let you leave." Avk's eyes bulged in terror for a moment as the sharp blade mercilessly punches through his trachea.
He tried to scream, tried to cry out for help at his comrades to no avail. Only a bloody gurgle was all that escaped from his mouth. Blood was beginning to choke up his lungs as he desperately tried to breathe in for air.
Even the smallest gulps would do. There was nothing. There was only blood. Avk's hands trembled violently as it tried to block the wound, but the amount of blood was too much. There was no saving him now. He knew it, they knew it... she knew it as tears sting his eyes.
I can't breathe, oh Kalva please no! I don't want to die! No, not like this! G-guys! H-help me! Anyone! Please help me! I... I cannot... I cannot die now... The last thing Avk thought of was his family, waiting eagerly for him to come home. ...Who would feed them? It was the last of Avk's thoughts before passing into oblivion. Death had come.