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15.44% Of Shadows and Roses / Chapter 19: Tensions rise

章 19: Tensions rise

My mouth was agape. "How come you didn't tell me?"

Ras threw a nonchalant shoulder in the air. "It was clear that you've drawn the line on that, so I figured it was not my place to ask."

I heard a scoff from behind me, it was Lira's. "But you've figured that you could stick around and find out."

The captain's lips tightened into a straight line in guilt. "Well, yeah… that's part of it, just a little."

I shook my head at him. "I can't believe you were lying the whole time."

"Hey, there's a difference between lying and not invading your desire for privacy," he said, making me rethink what I'd said. "And I did not lie when I told you that I would protect you throughout this travel. I am not someone who goes back on his promises, Rosie."

I bit the inside of my cheek, regret filling me up. What was wrong with me? If anything else, between the two of us I was the one who had tricked him.

I met his eyes. "Forgive me—"

I could not finish what I wanted to say. Galen cut me off and grabbed hold of my wrist, pulling me toward him. He stepped in front of me, and I could see nothing but his back. "Then I suppose the promise has been fulfilled, Captain of the Ravens. Though I appreciate that you've ensured the princess' safety, I will now be taking her back with me."

I attempted to break free, but Galen's grip was resolute. "I said nothing about agreeing to return with you, Galen, so let me go."

"Your Highness, for the sake of Orion and its people, you shall do as I say," he said, his voice low and cold as ice.

Once more, I attempted to release myself from his grasp, nearly thrashing as I did. However, the more I tried it, the more Galen's fingers tightened around my wrist.

I winced. "You're hurting me!"

"Galen, that is enough, please," Lira begged, "it doesn't have to be this way. Let Rosie go and we'll sit down to talk about this, reach and agreement of some kind."

"That was what I'd been going for earlier, Lirajane," Galen replied harshly. "But Her Highness had made it clear that she will leave me no choice but to force her."

A yelp escaped from my lips due to the pain. "G-galen… it hurts."

Before I knew it, I heard the sharp sound of metal sliding against metal. I took a peak from Galen's back and saw the tip of Ras' blade, glinting directly at the point between Galen's unflinching gaze.

Shadows swirled in Ras' eyes, making them darker than black. He was clearly angry, but I was yet to guess what had set him off this way. And if I could, I'd wager that he had grown to care for me that he would be this mad for my sake. Or maybe he was only doing this because it was part of his job, like he'd said.

Either way, I would not deny that even I was scared of the expression that he was making at the moment.

His voice sent chills up my spine as he said, "Release her, Grand General, if you know what's best for you."

I could imagine the calculated smirk on Galen's face when he replied with, "I've no business taking orders from a mere mercenary from Cygnus."

Ras tilted his head, looking mildly impassive. "This mere mercenary seems to know that this is not how a noble knight is supposed to treat a woman."

"You don't know anything," Galen retorted. "We've been friends since we were children."

Ras twisted his blade, the sharp edge almost grazing Galen's chin. "You think that gives you the right to cause her pain? That is a messed up privilege, my lord."

"Sounding like a smart ass, aren't you?" Galen's tone was laced with venom. "Don't preach your righteousness on me, Captain, like you're any better than me. When in fact, you are much worse. Ah, how long has it been since 'that' incident? Three years, I presume."

The last part had clearly set off Ras' rage further, for flames lit up in those dark pools. "Shut your mouth."

"No, you shut your mouth," Galen said, "I am warning you, do not meddle in things that do not concern you."

A deep chuckle rumbled in Ras' throat. "I'm afraid I already have."

It happened too quick. There was a loud explosion, dust blowing into our faces. There was nothing left of the door and its pitiful diamond shaped glass decorations.

Lira and I were coughing, both of us too shocked to register what had happened. However, when I looked around, I saw that Ras and Galen had disappeared from where they had been standing.

And then the situation finally sinked in, my eyes going wide. "Oh no. No, no, no, no!"

"Ah," Lira's shoulders dropped as she sighed heavily, "They're going to kill each other, aren't they? We should probably just let them."

"Lira!'

"What?" She threw her hands in the air. "The captain's brought some time for us, let's make a run for it."

I stared at her, aghast that such a thought even crossed her mind.

She sighed again, in surrender, seeing my horrified expression. "Fine, let's stop them. But if it proves impossible, then we'll make a run for it. A chance has presented itself—"

"I am going to stop you right there," I told her, "will you help me or not?"

"Ah yes, the two of us, stopping two experienced warriors from gutting each other," Lira was grinning sarcastically, her eyes wide in a manic way, "we can definitely do it."

"Lira—"

"Whatever, it's not like I didn't say this was a stupid idea," she said, stepping aside and stretching her arm outward. "We'll be lucky if we don't die."

I ignored her remarks and proceeded to go outside. And the scene that met me was that of chaos and destruction.

I gasped, all hope seeping away. "Goddess end me."


next chapter

章 20: Caught in the crosssfire

I took in the surroundings. A few carts and crates were upturned on the street side, some of the goods scattered all over the ground. The wall of the building opposite us had large chips and cracks on its surface, probably from when one of them had been thrown outside earlier. I could hear the fading screams and shouts of people who had fled the scene, along with that of mine coming from inside me.

A strong gust of wind knocked me back, and I nearly fell to the ground if it weren't for Lira pinning my shoulders down. The sudden force was due to the impact that was caused by Galen's sword hitting Ras' own sword. Their faces were very close to each other, both taut with challenge and focus. Sparks flew from the place upon which their blades met, and it was already obvious that neither of them had any plans of losing this fight.

"I've always wanted to wipe that smug look off your face, Captain," Galen snarled, teeth bared.

"Why, I'm honored that you even think of me, my lord." Ras' smirk was there, his arms barely trembling from Galen's sheer strength.

The two of them pulled apart, and not a moment too soon they were onto one another again. My eyes could barely keep up as Galen and Ras exchanged blow after blow, each of them seemingly more powerful than the previous ones.

It was like watching two dancers performing something out of a choreographed dance—for every strike there was a parry and for every feint there was a quick block. I was knowledgeable enough about fighting to realize that none of the two were wasting any moves, every attack calculated and precise. None of them made any mistakes.

And then Galen started to use his magic.

Fire ignited from his blade, streaks of flames curling from the hilt up to the very tip. It cast a golden glow on his tan skin, complementing his eyes of glimmering gold—wait, I should not be commenting on appearances. That is not the main focus here.

Amusement bloomed on Ras' face when he saw that Galen had begun to use his magic. "That's interesting. They say the Grand General of Orion only summons his flames when faced with a great threat."

"Don't push your luck, Cygnusian. I merely want this little squabble to end quickly, you are not worth my time." Galen spat on the ground. It was red. A bruise was forming on his cheek. Since when? I had not even seen Ras land a punch on him. As much as I hated how much of an asshole Galen was being right now, I could not help but feel a pang on my chest upon seeing him get hurt.

But there was a kind of concern I was feeling for Ras as well, and it was different from what I felt for Galen.

This emotion stemmed more from worry of how he was feeling. Of what he was thinking as of the moment. Galen had mentioned something about an incident from three years ago, and that must have affected him badly. I wasn't sure what it was, but I was worried for him. Right, I was beginning to care for my savior that I've also started to care for what he was thinking and feeling. And for what I could do to ease his pain.

The battle continued. Galen charged at Ras with his fire-licked sword, and his movements had become sharper and faster. Ras did well in evading the attacks, but I could tell that he was lagging behind. The fire singed his sleeves, and I caught the slight twitch of his eye. He got burnt.

Lira fell into place beside me. "You still have plans to stop them?"

"Yes," I answered, but even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.

"Good luck on doing that without being caught in the crossfire," Lira said, sounding exhausted. I heard the shifting of rubble, and I didn't have to guess that she'd finally decided to sit on the ground. Not giving a damn care was her specialty, unlike me who perhaps cared too much.

Ras grunted, making me turn to them once more. It didn't take me long to realize that he was losing. There were burn marks on his arms, angry lines of red that peaked from the torn wraps of bandages. A gash lined his cheek in a clean cut, blood dripping down his jaw. Galen kept swinging and swinging his blade at him, and Ras was losing his foothold. All he could do was move backward as he blocked Galen's every attack.

A memory from earlier entered my mind. Shadows forming in his hands, his face distorted in agony. My hand immediately flew to my mouth as I snapped back to the present with the realization. Whatever power Ras had used earlier, it had cost him greatly. And I might have healed him, which basically meant that all I did was make his disrupted energy flow return to normal. But he had not fully recovered yet.

He was hiding his weakness with that stubborn clenching of his jaw.

What was I going to do? Was I really this helpless that I had to stand here for nearly twenty minutes trying to think of a way to stop these two from cutting each other's throats?

I yelp escaped my lips as I saw Galen cornering Ras against a wall, the flames on the Grand General's sword kissing the Captain's neck.

"At last, I get to make you shut up," Galen hissed, his fires flaring brighter.

Ras chuckled. "What, do you expect me to congratulate you?"

"Pathetic," Galen tilted his head, "those are your last words? Very well."

Galen's flames roared, growing ten times bigger as he raised his sword.

At the very last minute, amidst the panic and chaos in my mind, Lira's words echoed repeatedly.

"Good luck on doing that without being caught in the crossfire."

"Good luck on doing that without being caught in the crossfire."

"Good luck on doing that without being caught in the crossfire."

A dazed laugh climbed up my throat. "I am going to do the exact opposite of that."

"The exact opposite of what?" Lira blurted out.

But I was already gone, running toward my savior and hoping I could save him too.


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