SAO:PoA - Chapter Sixteen

Floor 49, December 23rd, 2023

Lance jumped towards Galant, unleashing a flurry of attacks and rapidly gained ground on Galant, driving him to the edge of the platform. He attempted to rally, working his way around Lance and away from the brink, though the Dragon Samurai easily held off his attacks and kicked him soundly in the chest, sending the leader of the Royal Knights flying, but he managed to recover and land on his feet, though he was again driven back by Lance's vicious frenzy. Galant relied on his staunch defense to hold off Lance’s brutal barrage of attacks and sword skills.

Fighting along the catwalks and corridors within the mining facility, the two combatants entered the small antechamber outside the control room. Here, Galant attempted to take advantage of an opening in Lance's offense, seizing the Dragon King’s left hand and pulling him into an arm-lock before slashing at the back of his neck, but his opponent managed to bring his blade up to defend himself, and quickly wrestled free, renewing his attack. Galant retreated into the control room, attempting to distract him by throwing his kunais, though Lance made short work of them, blocking most of them with Ryuurin. Galant managed to disarm him with a strong hit to his weapon.

However, Lance was unfazed,  Galant’s  right wrist kept hold of Balmung Blade hand with his left while clamping down on his throat, with his other and began bending him back, simultaneously throttling him and forcing Galant’s sword closer to his face. Galant narrowly managed to kick Lance off of him, though Lance’s quickly retaliated in kind, disarming Galant. Lance charged again, though Galant responded by sidestepping and kicking Lance in the chest with Spinnig Air Kick. Lance flipped over and landed heavily on his back, and the Royal Knight reclaimed his sword and moved to finish his prone enemy, though lance managed to take out YokaiOuRyu and defend himself. Lance then kicked Galant and jumped to retrieve his other katana and unsheathing the one of his decreased girlfriend.

The duel progressed back into the control room, where Galant attempted to rally, remaining toe-to-toe with Lance as they engaged in a swift flurry of swordplay. The bout ended with the two engaged in a blade-lock, which only had one way of ending.

“GREY FIST!”

“RYU-KEN!”

Beginning a vicious power-struggle, the energy compressed by the combined strength pushes ruptured and exploded, flinging both duelists against opposite walls. Lance recovered first, leaping across the control room at Galant, who narrowly managed to evade the attack and pin Lance's blade against a console. However, their misdirected weapons accidentally destroyed the power controls for the facility's shields, exposing the exterior of the facility to both the intense heat of lava flows. Because of the shields being deactivated and the facility becoming vulnerable to the heat and flying lava, alarms were also activated both in the interior and exterior of the facility.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Lance renewed his attack, though Galant managed to direct one of his blows into the door controls behind him, kicking Lance back to give himself a moment to regain his composure as he retreated through the open portal. The Dragon King came on again, driving Galant out onto the exterior balcony, loosing a flurry of attacks before kicking his friend hard in the face. As Galant gave ground, he was driven to the end of the balcony, Galant leaped backward onto a steam pipe; retreating along it with the second in command in close pursuit. Attempting to gain the offensive, Galant attacked first, only to be driven back by Lance's relentless assault. Leaping off the pipe onto one of the collection arms below them, Galant again attacked, though Lance easily fended off his blows before knocking Galant aside with a heavy backhand. Lance again seized the offense, viciously driving Galant back along the arm, despite his staunch resistance.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">As the duel continued, a massive spurt of lava erupted onto the unshielded collection arm, and began to melt the metal. Retreating to the relative safety of the structure at the end of the arm, the two watched as the heat and weight of the lava melted the arm's superstructure. As it became clear that the arm was going to break off of the complex, the combatants fled up along its length as the arm plummeted into the river of lava below. As the collection arm was dragged along the river, Lance kept up his onslaught, driving Galant further up the arm. As the river flowed with the collection arm toward a lava fall, Galant leaped onto one of the severed support cables with Lance in pursuit. After a quick bout of swinging attacks, Galant swung out away from the arm to the utmost limit of the cable and let go, landing on a small rectangular repulsorlift platform near the blazing lava.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">As the arm began to topple over the lava fall, Lance swung back onto it and charged along its length before leaping onto other platform near his. Directing the platform toward Galant’s, Lance resumed his attack.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant was cut off from the shore by platform was perched on. Slashing at Lance, Galant began another bout of bladework with the Dragon King before breaking off. Galant tried again to reason.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"I HAVE FAILED YOU, LANCE; I HAVE FAILED YOU."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU WERE PLOTTING TO TAKE OVER!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"LANCE THAT WAS NEVER MY INTENT!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IT ALWAYS WAS!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"WELL, THEN, YOU ARE LOST!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">A BRIEF MOMMET OF SILENCE, WHILE LANCE SERIOUSLY LOOKED HIS FORMER FRIEND.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"This is the end for you, my friend."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Lance leaped above Galant onto the platform, spinning on the air landing awkwardly and almost losing his balance. Galant attempted to take advantage of this and attacked, but Lance managed to recover and countered, beginning another flurry of swordplay. As they once more locked blades, the platform neared the shore, allowing Galant to disengage and leap to the higher ground.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“IT IS OVER LANCE. I HOLD THE HIGHER GROUND.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“YOU ARE UNDERESTIMATING ME AND MY POWER!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“Do not try.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Blinded by arrogance and rage, Lance drew Yokai OuRyu no Katana using Kyukyoku Senjin Ouryuken, and leaped at Galant, blades angled for the kill. However, he left himself open, reluctantly allowing Galant sever Lance left arm with Stardust Slasher, both of his legs with a swift Crescent Stardust Slasher, and ended up stabbing thought the chest with Shimmer Spike. Lance was left without breath for a second, but he then saw Galant, and in a moment of determination while screaming, he stabbed his friend thought the stomach, forcing Galant to take his sword out of Lance. Dropping Ryuurin, Lance rolled to the brink of the lava river. Attempting to scramble up the shore with only his right arm, Lance only slid closer to the lava.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“YOU WERE ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE ARMY! IT WAS SAID THAT YOU WOULD DEFEAT CERDIC AND HIS ARMY WITH ME! NOT THIS! YOU GAVE PLAYERS HOPE AND DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE OF FREEDOM, NOT THIS!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU, GALANT!"

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"You were my brother, Lance; I loved you."

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Lance then approached the fire and began burning bursting into flame. Despite of his former friend obvious pain, Galant refused to kill him. Believing that his ultimate fate would be decided by  luck or it was already written in fate (as Guinevere used to say), and even doing so, put him out of his misery, would only cause the him to start down to a darker path, abandoning his humanity and morality, by becoming a player killer.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">He left Lance alongside his weapons, to whatever end he was destined for as the flames slowly calmed down from the immolation, as he went back walking to the Facility.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">---

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant opened the entrance of the facility which was on the path towards Camlann. His comrades of the guild were much glad that he was there; even though Galant keep on a serious disappointed look upon the floor, he did not even spoke. Soon the inevitable question was asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “Were Lance?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant stepped on his way inside of a second, and tuned to Gawn and spoke.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “we should continue now.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">He continued walking.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “no…Did you…?

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant stopped once more.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “we should continue, before the river of lava becomes solid, and Cedrics army attacks us.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">He got near Guinevere.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“Are you alright?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> “I am… thank you.”·

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“Fine.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant got up on his horse, as the rest of his army did the same, and they continued on their way towards Camlann.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">There was a tense atmosphere. No one actually knew what he had done, if Lance was dead or not. What had actually happened was a mystery for all, and just Galant had the answers, yet, he did not spoke to anyone, just stood riding his horse at the front of the army. He was notably disappointed, enraged, upset, sad, etc… Yet he tried to keep on his presence in front of his army. If not, he was no worthy leader.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Most of his guild comrades were speaking about him, but only Guinevere was left without words looking down to the ground the same as her husband.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Bors: “Do you think he killed him?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “his color cursor is orange, so he at least hurt Lance.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Percival: “if he had not he would not be in here.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “Is he now a Player Killer?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “just he knows.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “and what will we do?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “your meaning?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “will you follow the command of a player killer, even if he is your friend?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “I…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “what of you? Tristan, Percival, Bors?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Tristan: “I do.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “what?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Tristan: “Galant has led us till the point. Whatever he did, he did it becouse he had no choice. Lance was going to kill him.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “YOU WILL STILL DO THIS??”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Tristan: “and what if we do not? Cerdic will win the battle, killing us all. There is no choice, we need him.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Percival: “He brakes true.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “what  you  also?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Percival: “yes.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “Bors, tell me you are against this.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Bors: “I do not know.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “I CAN BELIVE YOU ARE DOING IS HE HAS KILLED SOMEONE! HE…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “IT’S ENOUGH! Guinevere is here.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana noticed she had spoken badly about him, and Guinevere had herded all what she had said about him. The blonde girl was with tears on her eyes, while keeping her look on the dirt.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “I am sorry; I will go with my sister.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana lowered the speed of her horse and got next to his sister who was at the back of the group of the royal knights alone, thinking. She drove her horse at her side, and spoke to her with low voice.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “I spoke more than what I should had.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Diana: “You did.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “Still I think it. Do you think he killed him? Is he even a suitable leader?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Diana: “I am still with him.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “why? you still love him?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Diana: “Today morning, he came at me at day’s beginning. I stood confused for what path we should take, and so we began to speak about it. He told me that I should choose what my heart wants, we got nearer and nearer and…?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “…and? Did you kiss him?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Diana: “No. the Army of Cynric attacked. We were almost going to.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “so he is married and he almost kissed you. He is a dick.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Diana: “He has had some troubles with Guinevere. He even shouted to her on our way to the miner facility.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kana: “I am confused I do not know what to think.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Diana: “I am the same way as you.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “message from Klein.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Percival: “what does it say?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “they are near to the Army, and will be at the gates of Camlann at days end.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Bors: “Shit.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Tristan: “the insult is unnecessary. We shall be arriving at Camlann at 16:00.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “The message also says that he has sent this same message to Galant, but he had no reply.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Percival: “We should speed up. And arrive before Cerdic and his army of monsters.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">---

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">The city of Camlann was surrounded by two walls, with 15 meters height. One covering the city, and the other that covered that wall. There were at least 300 meters of distance between them two.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">The Royal Knights United Player Army arrived at the city by the western gate. Galant commanded his army to camp between the two walls while Gawn, Guinevere, Bors and Himself entered inside it. One the door was opened, Asuna stood right there, waiting for them.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “Asuna.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Asuna: “Glad you could make it here in one piece.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “I a way. We were attacked by a legion of 200 Saxons, commanded by Cynric, we could barely walk out there Alive.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Asuna: “Follow me. Heathcliff would have words.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “Okey.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">The inner part of the city resembled in many ways Starting City, in floor 1. Large buildings, Monuments, Church-like buildings, etc... But those things were not of care for them right now. They were for one of the HQ of The Knights of the Blood Oath. It was a large white building with red flags coming out of it, with a big wooden door. They went up some stairs, and at floor three, they entered a room, with a circular table, which took up most of the rooms place.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Standing next to the winding, the red knight, no one else than The Living Legend, Heathcliff was looking outside.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Heathcliff: “Royal Knights.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “Heathcliff.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Heathcliff: “Sit down.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant and his fellow night sat on the chairs near the entrence, while Heathcliff and Asuna sat on the other side.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Heathcliff: “I am glad you could make it alive.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant looked down and did not make a reply, he remember the recent loose they had suffered. Noticing this Gawn took up the speech.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “I WOULD NOT SAY THAT. Our second in command, Lance, and his wife captain, Elicia died, in a brief battle against Cynric and 200 other Saxons.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Heathcliff: “I  am sorry. I Understand how you must be felling right now, yet, we have to prepare.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “Cerdic is arriving at the night.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Guinevere: “well he attack in the night?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “I doubt that. “Returning to form. “A third of his army was stopped by the river of Lava. He will not attack being outnumbered and outmatched. He will wait until his army overpowers ours.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Heathcliff: “Yes. But, also, I warned the citizens of the upcoming danger. Most of them are departing north, towards the city of Myujen. They have asked me and my guild to accompany them. I cannot refuse. We will depart soon. At tomorrow’s dawn in the worst cases.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant. “I can understand. What if we fall in battle, and he continues towards Myujen? You shall fight him for Aincrad there?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Heathcliff: “I would have no choice.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “I can understand what you are doing, but is not a good idea…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">The door wide opened in the Conference Room.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “you have made it here.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Bors: “Liz!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Asuna: “Liz!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “I was so happy when I heard you had crossed Mederaut. It is said that no one has made that. The mountains are a very dangerous place.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Guinevere: “What happened? Why you did not follow us?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “Come here.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “we are with Heathcliff in a reunion.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Heathcliff: “I have nothing else to say, you can go.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “Come here!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz grabbed the hand of Guinevere and started running, being followed by Galant, Bors, Gawn and even Asuna. Liz was the kind of girl capable of cheering anyone up. This even reflected on her works in metal and fire, that were worthy of the god Hephaestus himself. They rapidly arrived to her Smithy, where she was glad to have them.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “wait a moment!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">She got to the lower part of his shop

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “where do you take us? What do you want to show us.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Bors: “She said it was a surprise.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “Surprise?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Few minutes later, Liz came out of the basement, and placed herself at the cash registrer.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “what is this?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “Look!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">She took out of her items, an orange and black armor, consisting of other shoulder protector, a piar of forearm and leg protectors and.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“It is your’s leader of the Royal Knights.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “Mine?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant took a look at the armor. It read “Aegis Armor”. The forearm protector was a mirror of his own, just made for his left arm. The forearms and leg protectors were styled in orange, with black lines at its limits and an orange circle near the elbow.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “The forearms are incredibly strong, and are capable of braking weapons, of the same durability, or even stronger, if you ain to the right place.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “Aegis?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “The name of Athena’s shield, the goddess of War and Intelligence. Suitable for you.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “thank you.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Unluckily, the inevitable question appeared once again.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “I have made armors for you all. Where are Lance, and Elicia?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant looked down to the ground once again, Guinevere did the same.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “they are dead.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz was shocked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“We faced 200 Saxons in a battle and they died.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Liz: “I am sorry.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Gawn: “it’s okey.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “do you have a bed Asuna? I would rest a bit.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Asuna: “Yes, sure. Get inside the HQ. On floor 4, room 4 is empty. It is a bit small but is the only thing we have.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “It’s alright for me. Thank you.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">---

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant head back to the HQ and rapidly went up the stairs. Finding the room was not a difficult thing, it was near the stairs.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">He got inside the room. It was pretty small, rectangular, nearly space to a bed for one person, a shelf made of wood, and small table were a jar of water was placed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant removed his sword and his boots and laid down on the bed for a moment. But soon, the memories of what he had done came to his mind. Lance and Elicia. The guild, anger, disappointment came into his mind, and was never to leave. He sat and placed his hands on the neck of his hand and started moving them in the hair trying to remove those thoughts from his head. He got up and started walking in the small room. Placing himself where he needed, he could not stop moving. The disappointment in his soul was never to leave. He could not see his own hands, and bended his fingers with strength. He crouch for a little bid in front of the wall and nodded his head, trying to shake out of his head those ideas. He walked once again.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">He keep on doing this for several minutes, when he diced to ding a glass of water and see if that would calm him down. He was about to put the water on the glass, when he suddenly stopped, he yelled in anger and threw the jar against the wall, braking it into polygons. He grabbed the table and threw it upside down, grabbed the shelf brake it, against the wall and grabbed one of the remaining fragment, ramming it against the wall. He grabbed the bed and then it upside down against the other wall, while he continued yelling and scramming in anger.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">He placed himself in front of the wall and charged Grey and Garuru fist, and started fisting the wall with all his strength, creating a small hole in the wall, he stopped once his fist were shattered into polygons and the pain he was suffering, yet it was few, against his inner pain. He felt to his knees with tears in his eyes and a red face, while looking downwards.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">The door opened, Galant looked up for a second while holding his fist in front of his chest. It was Guinevere, looking his husband with pity. Galant nodded to her, Guinevere immediately deduced what he felt. She placed her hand on her head. Then moved to his cheek and lastly to his chin, she lifted it up. Galant once again nodded, as he started to cry. Guinevere also held tears on her eyes, and she hugged Galant from the head as he also hugged her, trying to comfort one another form grievous injury on their hearts.