4
The battle, which was to be Theresa's debut, ended in a great defeat for the royal forces. The figure of the Sword Saint was too important for the morale of the army, so they pulled the wool over the warriors' eyes and tried to prevent the truth from seeing the light of day.
Theresia broke down completely. Because of her impotence, her brothers fought instead of her. The gentle Thames, who had always listened to her carefully, was killed in that first battle. When she talked foolishness, he made such a troubled face...
In the second battle, Carlan, the second most senior, fell. He could be unkind, but he was always the first to apologize.
The third battle took Casilles, the youngest of the siblings. The adorable crybaby who was afraid of everything and always followed her everywhere.
Also killed was her uncle, the previous Sword Saint. A man who had been admired for many years as a great commander, whom the soldiers trusted implicitly.
She should resent him. He was the one who had revealed that the blessing had passed to her. And yet it could have remained their little secret. Perhaps things would have turned out differently then. Perhaps no one would have died.
She should resent him, but she couldn't. After all, he was the one who had to know better than anyone what a burden that title was. That was probably why he expected a lot from her. He did it for the good of the country, knowing he had no choice but to be cruel to his little niece.
- This happened to you because of me. I'm sorry, Theresia... - whispered just before he died. After that, she couldn't hate him anymore,
Then who should I blame? Just myself? Yes. The weak, cowardly self, the Girl who inherited the title of Sword Saint, and all she can do is cry.
"Take the sword, Theresia."
The uncle she'd first heard those words from had died, but the voice in her head kept telling her that.
------------------------
It had been five years since the Demihuman War had broken out. Theresia was now nineteen years old. One day, the voice spoke again. Fleeing from it, she wandered the streets of the capital. Long years of unrest in the kingdom had left them deserted. There was a gloomy atmosphere.
In the end, she decided to go to her corner, to the most remote part of the city. There was some undeveloped space and unfinished buildings. Work had been halted by the war, and after five years the walls had begun to deteriorate, but she still felt surprisingly comfortable there. Walking between the crumbling walls she sensed a connection to these buildings that never served the purpose they were designed for. Just as she had never begun to do what the Holy Swordsmen had been created to do.
Finally, she entered the small square and sat down on a wall. Time passed, the morning came, the air was crisp. Before her stretched a field of yellow flowers that she had planted herself, just as she had once done by her father's estate.
- You're growing even though I'm not watering you. You're amazing.
The plants are strong. They open their buds to the sun and bloom beautifully while I sit and despair over my weakness.
She felt like crying. Then she sensed someone approaching. A man was coming from the direction of the city, emanating a strong aura. She held back her tears, aware that no one should see her cry.
- Oh, dear, I'm sorry!
She turned to the intruder and was stunned. She saw a young man with a handsome face. He had brown hair tied up in a ponytail and a well-trained body. From his aura, one could easily tell that he was a swordsman.
She had never thought that there could be a man who looked so much like a sword that had been exposed. When she looked at him, she saw flame-hardened steel. She saw a look as sharp as a blade. It was this that made her heart beat faster. She was immediately ashamed of her own agitation.
- How come you want to come here so early in the morning! - she said in a friendly manner, trying to hide her feelings under a mask of talkativeness.
I welcomed him nicely, no question!
The young man didn't reply, but drew his sword towards her. Apparently he was going to have a duel with her. Theresia lost interest. She wanted nothing to do with fighting, and this challenge did not impress her. She decided to pretend that she didn't understand, that she didn't see the warrior in him.
- Why are you making such a threatening face?
He looked disappointed. Apparently he had let himself be convinced that the girl was not a swordsman. It wasn't far from the truth, after all, she had no experience in real combat. Besides, she was comfortable in her role as a grey goose.
- What about you? Could you explain what you're doing here at this hour? - he replied irritably.
His voice was somber, but pleasant to the ear. Theresia felt her heart speed up a little again.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login