The sun began to rise but it was partially cast away by the rearing storms in the distance. The pastels and grays set the tone for a ‘calm before the storm’. The shoreline extended its hands to the resting feet of the Fell Knight. He had looked on at the rising sun, reminiscing of the once light he had fought for so diligently, wondering if it still had any interest in him. He knew he had betrayed the light. Intentionally. He was no icon of darkness. He was his own essence. The treachery that was in his heart could not corrupt him. If the light was not enough to inspire him, then what good would its opposition be? Existence was one thing, but we made life out to be a politic. To rob it of any pleasure, fulfillment and longing for hope. That’s all it was good for- longing. The carrot tied to a string.
Upon seeing with his own eyes that the maiden he had held love for in his heart, had never had any interest in him. It was not her specific rejection that saddened him so deeply. It was the constant non-acceptance by any woman at all that plunged him deeper into disappointment and bitterness. A sorrowful confusion to the world around him. Why was everyone else with someone and he could not be? He never wished for war, to be forged into chaos, or to become the monster he had. He had wanted a simple life, filled with memories and moments. Not this. Never was this the vision. He’ll never forget her words to him after he had become everything she had wanted of a man. “ In the end, I have no desire to marry a knight of the kingdom, let alone a vagabond. I wish for a life of freedom, not of servitude. You are just and strong as are others, but I seek someone special. You’re not that. I feel nothing for you. “ Of all the vicious opponents he had faced, none could silence him as her words did. He looked down with shame almost, and walked away. “ I’ll never bother you again. You have my word. I’m sorry. “ Always apologizing for being who he was. For feeling. For taking a chance. “ Persecution will always be at my feet so I best learn to cut it deeply when it arrives, “ He thought to himself that day.
The ebb and flow of the sea was interrupted by the rhythm of footsteps. Metal sinking into sand. His eyebrow raised and peered towards his right. Disrupted by the shock of who it was, he nonchalantly rose to his feet, annoyed. “ I don’t fucking need this right now. “ It was The Valkyrie. The amazonian swordswoman who had nearly bested him in battle that morning at Crimson Canyon. “ Ughhh, she just cannot accept that I have no interest in battling for rank, not anymore at least. “ His Wayside Armour was not equipped. His gauntlets were not even on. Just a pair of linen pants and his fists. “ Well… you’re gonna see what happens when you interrupt my naps. “ He knew just how to weaken her even before exchanging one blow. “ Ready yourself, dark wanderer… this time will be much different. I will hold nothing back! “, The Valkyrie shouted from a distance to The Fell Knight. Stoic, unimpressed and still deeply bothered by her interruption, he did not budge. He stared at her approaching. His countless scars from war were on display. He did not put on his armor or pick up his Bloodlust. The Valkyrie understood his request of hand-to-hand combat. She stopped in the wet sands and began undressing. Her silver-clad breastplate was removed and she grounded her Kiss Me Not blade. She posed in combat and signaled her readiness. Still, he did not budge or motion any change.
“ You need to pose. That’s the vast difference between you and I. Between I and most others. I am the monster that stands before you. I can kill you now. I can be killed at any moment if I slip up. But, I’m still the monster before you, not some masquerading coward hiding behind your skills. Who you think you are, is meaningless not only to me, but for you as well. You don’t know it yet because you’re stuck in the story of who you think you are. It doesn’t matter what you desire. To be ‘better’ than me, or someone else. You never will be. I never will be, even if I was. You and I are just a repeat of every single sand grain that has been crumbled into the beach beneath us. This battle that is unfolding, will fade. You and I will fade. Into the Sea. The waters will hold the memories of this moment and of all moments for eons beyond our demise. Then, even the seven seas will die. They will evaporate into the skies. Then, into the stars. The stars themselves too, will blacken and vanish. Forever. Yet, we will still battle. Forge forward. Blindly. I have no more tears to shed, woman. No more care to be extracted. No more meaning for you to sew your selfish wishes with. I am Nothingness. Indifference….and I will fucking wreck you. “ He violently ran towards her, kicking sand in her eyes. “ I’ll show you viciousness. Dishonor. “ She was not only weakened emotionally by his words, but the dirty tactic genuinely put her at a disadvantage. “ You keep expecting life to be fair with you. “ He continued as he backhanded her with great force, knocking her to the ground. The Fell Knight’s melee combat was impossible to read at times, for his style was chaotic and unpredictable. A rapid fire of shin kicks and knees ensued, taking her breath away from the impact. Grabbing her hair, he slammed her face into the sands, scraping it over and over. “ Are you thirsty? “ Slightly drowning her and repeating the process until he let go. Disappearing in the waters, she had a quick few seconds to recover and gather. She was badly hurt. “ Ughh, I sure asked for this. Fucker. Come on. Pull it together. “ Calming herself down, she absorbed the shock of the pain and tried to catch his next move. He emerged from the ocean and would randomly attack. He was so swift in the water. What would normally slow a fighter’s movement down, worked in his favor. The Fell Knight had trained in aquatic combat and knew how to move with the waves to gain extra momentum for impact. “ Sometimes, you can use what is in place to serve you instead of working against you. “
Uppercut. His jaw was rocked and was dazed almost unconscious. “ You talk too much. “ Enraged, he unleashed a frenzy of combinations and attacks, but The Valkyrie dodged them all this time. She knew how to dance with the waters as well, from all that the Kiss Me Not had absorbed throughout the years. It imbued the owner with abilities and skills that the sword would pass to the person themselves. A true extension of who she is. A volley of strikes were met as blood began streaming from their faces and fists. “ Stop this before I put you six feet under! I didn’t summon your presence nor do I care what you perceive of me or yourself! I AM a vagabond. I AM alone. Utterly alone. So stop smearing the perfection of my art. Stop inserting yourself into a waltz you don’t belong to! Find someone else to leech to, to feel some sense of worth! You’re weak just like everyone else! Leave me be…” The Fell Knight lowered his red hands and began dressing. He sheathed his sword, wiping some tears from his face. He was possessed with emotion after that fight. Quietly and regathered he exclaimed, “ I bid you adieu. “ The Valkyrie, disappointed but intrigued, let her guard down and stopped advancing. She said nothing, but her face spoke a thousand words. Unknowingly, he had wooed her.
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