Chapter 4: Banished Knight

I laid against a wall with a prayerbook and a golden sword in hand. The exicted voices of the crowd just some steps away from me as the gladiators fought was ringing in my ears. A pair of gladiators against some captured knights from Stormveil, it certainly wasn't a fair match.

While I was worrying about what incantations should I use, someone put their hand on my shoulder, which was covered in golden armor, just like the rest of my body. When I looked up I saw my father, Godfrey, with a smile on his face.

He was notoriously different from the one I remember from the game. His beard was not there and his hair was considerably shorter, there were no wrinkles in his skin and only a small amount of scars. Serosh was not currently on his back for some reason, but he still had his axe, not yet broken in half.

"No need to be tense my chid, you are strong"

He didn't say much more before turning around and walking out. The fight in the arena came to a conclusion once I could no longer see him, the knights that serve the stormking stand triumphant over the defeated gladiators, not yet dead.

The Colosseum fights are rituals, made to honor the erdtree and the outer god who reigns over it. Those captured knights who won their fight would be released and given back to Stormveil castle as reward for their might. Although offered to serve the order, as banished knights usually serve almost anyone, these knights had already swore loyalty to the stormking.

"Now, the moment all of thou has been waiting!"

The announcer voice reached my ears, prompting me to prepare. Mother bestowed me some gear for this fight. A golden armor whic covered my torso, forearms and legs. A golden sword which barely resembled the golden epitaph, a sword made to commemorate my death which I hope is never created in this reality of mine, and my prayerbook.

In the game, the only function these books have is learning the incantations, but apparently using them to cast them would strengthen the incantation. Normally this is not done as most people need a sacred seal to cast an incantation abd I would e to cumbersome to use both of them at the same time, but I don't need a sacred seal, I can cast incantations without one.

"The first-born of our queen, the golden child Godwyn!"

I stepped into the arena as my name was announced. The ovation of the citizens of Leyndell echoed through the Colosseum, which only became stronger when I made my hair into a ponytail so it wouldn't be bothersome. The voice of the maidens was particularly loud.

Right at the highest point of the Colosseum, there was a large room with the best view ti the arena, were both of my parents were seated and looking at me.

"His opponent, a banished knight from the outskirts of leyndell, a knight who has lost its territory as punishment for it's own failure, Sir Glave!"

The knight stepped into the arena with a complete lack of ovation. I don't know what kind of failure caused his disgrace but the part of the public seems displeased with his presence. Some of them are probably hoping that I kill him.

He bowed to me while hitting his chest before adopting a fighting stance, his sword was longer than those the banished knights use in the game. Meanwhile I secured my prayerbook to my hip thanks to the leather belt adjusted to it, I'm not planning on using if not needed after all.

"May the greater will and the erdtree bless thy souls. Begin!"

At the words of the announcer Sir Glave jumped towards me covered in raging wind. I reacted quickly enough and casted three flash dagger at him, however he easily changed directions and avoided the first two, before destroying the last one with a swing of his sword.

I casted a ring of light rowards him while using the ash of war ingrained in my sword, covering itself on golden light. Sir Glave easily jumped over the ring, but didn't realized that the ring quickly came back, cutting through the left shoulder armor and doing some damage to sir Glave. Instead of retreating he dashed towards me with his sword engulfed by wind

He was fast, and it didn't take long before he slashed down on me. Golden light and raging wind clashed as I blocked his attack with my sword. Despite my obviously weaker physique, my strength was actually higher than his because of my demigod status. He seemed suprised by this as he probably expected to overpower me.

Taking advantage of the situation, I casted the incantation Flash Slasher on my left hand and swung it at his stomach, cutting through armor and flesh. I trier casting another incantation but he was quick to retreat, he is faster than me after all. Still I wouldn't allow him to escape that easily.

I dropped the sword and immediately started throwing flash daggers at him. Every movement of my hands would sent six daggers at him, and with the speed I was throwing them, it was like firing a sub machine gun. He was able to dodge and destroy many of them, but it was simply too much, many daggers were embedded in his armor and skin.

As he became sluggish, I grabbed the sword once again and dashed towards him. He apparently saw it as a challenge and dashed towards me too, but he was much slower than before. As he tried to slashed down at me, I was able to quickly sidestep his move and swung my sword at his neck, cutting through the armor and stopping just a mere inch before his neck.

"Declare your surrender"

I saw him flinch as he heard my word, but he obliged. His sword fell from his hands as it lost the wind surrounding it, my sword too lost its light as I put it away from his neck.

"I...surrender"

The crowd burst in ovation at his words, but I couldn't really enjoy it. This knight, who lost on the Colosseum, would lose his life now that's lost the battle, even if I don't kill him here. He knew it, I could see it in his composure, but it was like he didn't care much.

Making a decision in my mind, I picked up my sword and golden light enveloped it, he probably thought I would behead him. I turned at my parents, who just saw me probably already knowing what I was intending to do, but didn't do anything to stop me.

Instead of cutting his head off, the sword found it's way to his shoulder without cutting him, he looked at me in disbelief when he realized what I was doing.

"Banished knight Glave, serve me if you value your honor"

The crowd fell silent at my words, and he flinched at my gaze. His hand went up to his helmet, removing it slowly and letting it fall to the ground, allowing me to see his face for the first time. His long brown hair and almost black blue eyes made quite the nice combination, his face had a huge scar going from his right eyebrow to his lips, but instead of making him look ugly it actually enhanced his nice features.

He grabbed his sword once again and stabbed it in the ground, lowering his head until I could no longer see his face, but I could see him trembling...maybe swearing loyalty is more important than I thought for him? I'm afraid he might refuse.

"I...glady pledge my allegiance to thou, my lord"

I could hear whispers coming from the crowd, but I couldn't care less about it. I offered my hand to sir Glave who grabbed it with some hesitation before standing up. If I'm being honest, I really enjoyed my fight with him and found a certain liking to him.

"And I entrust my life to you"

Thia certainly turned out more interesting than I thought.