V
“I suppose this is what they mean when they describe an opportunity falling into your lap,” Amelia said. There was a note of exhilaration in her voice as she took a big step toward Felix. Her blade glowed bright as she swung it at his neck.
She’s quick, Felix thought, leaping back and narrowly avoiding the blow by a hair’s breadth. And that strange glow—I wonder if the blade is enchanted. The light makes it hard to judge the distance... From her position, Amelia gasped.
“I didn’t think you’d be able to dodge my Thin Ice strike at this range,” she remarked. Apparently, she hadn’t expected to miss. “I put close to everything I had into that attack, and that’s no exaggeration. I suppose I should have known better than to underestimate one of the Three Generals.” Despite what she said, she didn’t seem the slightest bit worried. On the contrary, Felix thought he glimpsed something like enjoyment. He knew that opponents who acted like this always had some ace hidden up their sleeves. That would explain why she sounded so relaxed.
“Now, what shall we do next?” Amelia said. She swung her sword around a few times, as if to check her own technique, then brought it level to a ready position once more. In an instant, she dropped low to the ground, then sprang forward to stab at Felix, lightning quick.
That was even faster than the last time... Felix kept his cool, deliberately stepping forward at the last moment. Surprise flashed over Amelia’s face. As the tip of her sword came hurtling straight at his heart, he turned side-on to avoid it. Then, just as Amelia passed him, he struck out with his left fist to hit the pressure point just below her armpit.
“Ngh!” Her face contorted with pain as she stumbled back. Then she collected herself with a chuckle. “So you dodged Ice Fang too. And punching a lady like that... You’re too pretty to be so ruthless. Such are the consequences of war, I suppose.”
Felix frowned at the smirk that pulled at her mouth. “Do you really find battle so entertaining?” he asked.
“Not when it’s just anyone, I assure you. They have to be skilled enough to match me,” she replied. “That goes for battle and for pleasure,” she added as an afterthought. Her mouth stretched in an uncanny smile as she slowly extended her left hand, but the moment Felix saw her move, he pulled out the knife in his belt and hurled it. It whistled through the air, finding its mark to embed itself in her outstretched hand, drawing a little moan from her.
“Ugh...” she muttered. “I should have been more careful. You worked out that I’m a mage, then?” The joy in her expression was gone now. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she ripped the knife from her palm.
“I did,” Felix replied. “We have a mage of our own in the empire, though she’s a bit of an eccentric.” From the emperor’s mage, Felix had learned that all mages had a circle tattooed into the back of their left hand. The mage had explained that the meridians along which mana flowed through the body all terminated at a point called the nidus in the left hand. Thus magecraft would always stem from that point. Before activating a spell, it was also necessary to “charge” it for a length of time, depending on the power of the spell. Just knowing that much made it easy enough for Felix to interrupt a mage before they could use their powers.
“The empire has its own mage...” Amelia murmured. “This is the first I’ve ever heard of one.”
“There is no reason you would have. She grew tired of the wider world and now lives a life of seclusion,” Felix told her. In accordance with the mage’s own wishes, only a select few knew the location of her hideaway. It was also enchanted with a barrier that prevented any ordinary person from reaching it, even if one knew its location. Felix thought he was probably the only one who could reach it.
“I don’t have the slightest interest in imperial mages,” Amelia said dismissively, “but it makes sense now how you were able to predict my attacks. You ought to be helpless before me right now.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Felix said. “Magecraft isn’t as all-powerful as you say.”
“‘Isn’t all-powerful’?” Amelia said with a mocking smile. “That is a bold thing to say when facing a mage. I wield the power of the goddess.” She took out a fresh white rag and wrapped it quickly around her left hand, crimson quickly spreading and staining where it soaked through the cloth.
“You call it the goddess’s power, do you?”
“You take issue with that?” Amelia asked, raising her eyebrows slightly.
“I do acknowledge that magecraft goes beyond human understanding. But that doesn’t mean it has no limits; consider the fact that with every spell comes a corresponding risk to the wielder.”
Amelia peered at him, wary for the first time since their encounter began. “You are very knowledgeable,” she admitted. Felix released the clasp on the hilt of his blade, drawing it smoothly from its scabbard. It was a longsword bequeathed to him by Emperor Ramza himself, one that bore the name God Slayer.
“I know enough,” he said. “Now, if you don’t mind, I think it’s my turn.” Felix squared off against Amelia as she extended her bloodstained hand toward once more. He kicked off the ground to close the distance between them faster than blinking. Amelia flinched as though startled, but hopped away to one side. Felix jumped after her, slashing his sword in an upward diagonal swipe. Amelia swiftly raised her own sword to parry, but was unable to withstand the force of his blow. She went flying, crashing into the ground in a cloud of dirt.
“Wha...What was that?” she gasped, coughing violently. “No one can move like that...” She stood up shakily, roughly wiping away the blood that trickled from the corner of her mouth. “It can’t be that you’re a mage as well?”
Nothing was further from the truth. “I can’t use magecraft at all,” Felix responded matter-of-factly. “That was physical skill, plain and simple.”
“Just physical skill? The speed with which you moved was practically superhuman,” Amelia said, staring at him with disbelief.
Felix nodded. “That’s all it was. Though not just anyone can do it.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter how you did it,” Amelia said at length. “I didn’t factor you turning out to be this strong into my calculations. As much as I hate to admit it, if this fight continues, I doubt I will be able to best you.” She heaved a deep sigh, then went to sheathe her sword once more with such an air of unconcern that Felix felt a pang of unease.
“I trust that means you will come with us quietly,” he said. “There’s much I must ask you.” First, he wanted to know about the traitors who had instigated the attack on the fort. Now that he knew Amelia was a mage, Felix suspected she was somehow responsible for their mutiny as well.
“Did you just say, ‘come with us quietly’?” Amelia asked, cocking her head and blinking her long-lashed eyes several times. It made her look much younger, like a girl yet to come of age.
“Indeed I did.”
She chuckled. “You say the most amusing things. Are the other two generals as funny as you?”
Felix stared at her. “So you don’t intend to come quietly?”
“I don’t know why you’d think I would. I mean, look around us.” She spread her arms dramatically.
Felix’s arrival had somewhat bolstered morale amongst the Crimson Knights, but their enemy still had the advantage. Even without Rosenmarie to lead them, the Crimson Knights were still elite warriors, and yet this unknown army—and who knew where they’d even come from—were making sport of them. It was obvious that if the fighting continued, their losses would only grow.
All the more reason why...
“All the more reason why I must take you prisoner.”
“Oh, I see now.” Amelia nodded. “You’re right, of course. Soldiers without a general are no better than puppets with their strings cut. But I’m afraid we have already achieved what we set out to achieve in coming here. On top of that, thanks to your rare appearance on the battlefield, I’ve obtained valuable information about you. As such, we’ll be taking our leave of you now.”
“You think it’ll be that easy?” Felix raised his sword, while Amelia raised her left hand for the third time. “There’s no point—”
Amelia cackled with delight. “Look who let their guard down this time!” she cried, her smile twisting horribly. She turned her left hand—which she had, up until that moment, pointed at Felix—to where Teresa and Matthew stood with their swords drawn.
“No—!” For a second, Teresa’s body went stiff as though she’d been paralyzed. Then, without warning, she kicked Matthew, sending him flying. Felix knew with absolute certainty that such unnatural brute strength wasn’t hers. Matthew slammed heavily into the fort wall and crumpled, his face a mask of pain. Teresa swapped her sword to her other hand before pulling it up to her own throat. She resisted with all her might what appeared to be the compulsion to stab herself, but that wouldn’t last long.
“Lieutenant Teresa!” Felix cried.
“It doesn’t look like you’ll have time to take me prisoner. Look!” Amelia teased. “Unless you hurry, she’s going to kill herself, you know.” Felix knew that if he prioritized Amelia’s capture, Teresa would undoubtedly cut her own throat. He had few choices here.
“Damn you!” he snarled.
“Yes, that’s it. That’s the face I wanted to see,” Amelia said. “Farewell, then. I hope our paths will cross on another battlefield someday.” She turned, waving to him over her shoulder as she sent out the orders for her troops to retreat.
Felix used Swift Step, leaving a cloud of dust behind him as he flew to Teresa’s side.
“My...my lord...” she stammered.
“I’m here for you,” he said. He reached out to pry the sword from her hands, but it was as though it had become an extension of her body—she wouldn’t, or rather couldn’t, release it, and tearing it from her proved devilishly difficult. Felix was afraid to use any more force lest he break her fingers.
“Forgive me...my lord... I failed...you...” said Teresa, the struggle to force each word out clear on her face. Felix put his arms around her and drew her close to him, softly stroking her shining golden hair.
“I’m so sorry, but I have to knock you out,” he said. “You may reprimand me as much as you like when you wake up.”
“Even now...” Teresa said, laughing weakly. “Don’t...don’t worry...about...” She forced a smile, then shut her eyes. Felix snapped his arm down in a knife-hand strike, knocking her out with a single blow to the pressure point in her neck. He caught her in his arms as she crumpled.
Amelia was already long gone from the battlefield.
“You will pay for this,” Felix said, “Amelia Stolast.”
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login