Chapter 213: A Broken Promise

Gigi ran through the stone hallways, sidestepping past servants and ducking underneath the hands of his history instructor.

“Get back here, boy!” the instructor screamed in frustration.

Gigi stuck his tongue out, “Can’t catch me!”

Gigi giggled to himself, serves you right!

All these instructors his father had hired were too slow, worse, they were all so boring. He missed his master, she was the only teacher who could keep up with him, but she was gone, busy with her work.

Gigi turned the corridor and stumbled to a halt. A man in black robes, wearing a silver necklace with an onyx stone, stood in the middle of the hall. Gigi’s mathematics instructor stood beside him.

“It’s time to stop running, Gigi,” the black mage said in a serious tone.

The boy glared at the servants, “You all couldn’t catch me yourselves, so you called in one of our House’s mages? You must really be desperate.”

“You’ve already wasted away the morning, child. I won’t have you waste another second more. Stop this foolishness at once!” the mathematics instructor admonished. “What would your father say if he saw your insubordinate attitude?”

“How should I know!? Dad is never home!” Gigi yelled.

He glanced behind him, half a dozen servants stood at the other end of the corridor. He was trapped and they knew it.

“I refuse to sit down for one more stupid lecture,” Gigi took a step back.

“Don’t try it,” the black mage raised his hands, shadow tendrils rose around him.

Gigi’s eyes widened, “You wouldn’t actually use magic on a 10-year-old?”

“When they refuse to listen to their elders?” The black mage smiled, “Gladly.”

Gigi sighed and bowed his head in defeat.

“Take him,” the instructor ordered.

The servants nodded and walked over to the boy with manacles at the ready.

Gigi smirked. “As if!” he yelled and dashed at the window.

“Stop, it’s the 3rd floor!” the instructor screamed, panicked.

“I warned you!” the black mage flung the shadow tendrils at the boy.

Gigi drew his practice sword, a dull wooden blade. It didn’t matter, he refused to be stopped here. Lifeforce energy surged through his arm and into the sword, covering the blade in a sharp edge. He shifted his feet and fell into the cascade stance. His blade and body moved simultaneously, flowing around the shadow attacks with fluid motions and slicing the tendrils in a dozen small, quick cuts.

The servants yelled and fell back in surprise. The black mage’s mouth went slack, dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe it, a mere child had destroyed his spell. Gigi didn’t waste a second, he jumped out the window without hesitation.

The wind howled in his ears as the ground rushed to him. Gigi closed his eyes, relaxed his muscles, and let himself fall head-first. The lifeforce energy streamed into his legs and vibrated in undulating waves as the dust stance took hold.

He flipped his body over at the last moment and landed on the ground with a light, silent step.

“Gigi!” the instructor called out from the window.

“Try to keep up!” Gigi laughed and ran off.

“And what do we have here?”

The whimsical voice broke the boy from his revelry. He froze in his steps and slowly turned around. A young woman with startling eyes watched him from underneath a yew tree at the center of the garden.

“Master! You’re back!” Gigi yelled happily and ran up to her. He went down on one knee and presented her with his sword.

She laughed, a beautiful resonant sound, “You don’t have to go that far.”

Gigi tilted his head up, “But isn’t this the formal greeting for-”

“Maybe for the servants, but not for my little brother.”

Gigi felt his cheeks grow warm, he smiled, “Hehe.”

“So, what’s up with all the commotion?” she asked as several servants ran up to them.

An instructor stepped forward and bowed his head deeply, “My Lady, please forgive us. We did not mean to ever show you such an unsightly display.”

Gigi’s sister looked at him with a raised eyebrow, “What’s this all about?”

“Umm…” the boy stared at the ground and shuffled his feet.

“He has refused to attend any of his private lessons and has run around the mansion causing havoc all morning!” the instructor explained.

“It wasn’t like that!” Gigi yelled.

“Oh, what was it like then?” his sister crossed her arms.

“Uh, well,” he scratched the back of his neck. “I went to my morning sword practice…”

“And?” she tapped her foot.

“Well, it was too easy, okay?” Gigi admitted. “My blade instructor couldn’t land a hit on me. I just spent all the time poking him with my sword.”

“You ran away from your other classes because sword practice was too easy?” she asked skeptically.

“It got boring,” Gigi puffed his cheeks. “If you’d been here, maybe things wouldn’t have been so boring…” he muttered.

His sister sighed and shook her head, “The rest of you may go, I need to have a chat with this stubborn child.”

The instructor and servants bowed and left without a word.

Gigi’s sister knelt on one knee and met him face-to-face, “What am I going to do with you, you silly boy?”

He sniffed, “You could take me with you.”

She ruffled his hair and smiled, “I wish, but Dusk Valley is very dangerous right now. A few remnants of the Lunisian armies are prowling the valley as we speak. It is no place for a child.”

“I can handle myself! I’ve gotten a lot better with my sword. I’ve even learned all five nature stances!”

“And I’m so proud of you. Your abilities have developed faster than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“Really?”

“Really,” she smiled. “I don’t think I know any other 10-year-old who can defeat their swordmaster blade instructor.”

Gigi’s eyes widened, “Then you mean?”

“I’m sorry, I still can’t let you come with me to the front lines. Magic is very dangerous, even for the most experienced swordsman.”

“But I can help!” tears welled up in his red eyes.

“I know you can,” she kissed his forehead. “But I won’t risk your life out there, especially after today.”

Gigi rubbed his forehead with a bashful grin. He frowned, “Wait. After today? What happened?”

“That’s… don’t worry about it. How’s your dad?”

He looked away and mumbled, “I don’t know, he’s always busy with his duties as the family leader. You probably see him more than I do.”

“Ah, right,” she grimaced. “So… you’ve mastered all five nature stances, huh? Wanna show me?”

“Mastered might be a l-i-i-i-ittle bit of a stretch.”

“Oh, come on. Where did all that genius-bravado go?”

“I’m still not great with the whirlwind stance,” he mumbled. “Maybe if you train me this afternoon I could master it with your help!”

“I wish I could, bud,” she smiled sadly. “I can’t stay that long, there’s something I need to do.”

“If you don’t help me then I guess I’ll never learn,” he said dramatically.

“Nice try, but I really can’t stay. Besides, you and I both know your swordsmanship will one day surpass everyone, even your father’s sword.” She patted the black pommel of her sheathed blade, “Honestly, I’d like to leave Krikolm to you one day.”

“But I’m not a Veres like you,” Gigi shook his head.

“Yes, but our mother is. That should be enough,” she sighed. “We’ll talk more about it later. I have to get going, I just wanted to stop by and let you know, well… better if I show you.”

“Hm?”

She pulled Gigi close and hugged him tight, “It doesn’t matter if we have different fathers or surnames, I will always be your big sister. I will be there when you need me and even when you do not. I love you, Gian, with all my heart.”

Gigi furrowed his brow, “Stryga, is everything okay?”

She clenched her eyes tight and took a deep breath, “Of course.”

“You’re squeezing too hard,” he gasped.

“Oh! Sorry." Stryga stood up and dusted off her pants,“I should get going and you should go to your history class, your instructor must be furious.”

“Ugh, why does it matter?” Gigi groaned. “It’s not like I’m even going to be the next head of House Gale, my annoying brothers can take all the history lessons for me. I never want to be a stupid family leader, no offense.”

Stryga smiled wryly, “It doesn’t matter who’ll be the next family leader for House Gale or House Veres, history is important either way, you’d do well to remember that.”

“Fine,” he muttered.

Stryga laughed, “I’ll tell you what. You behave well and attend your classes while I’m gone and when I get back, we’ll meet up here at this tree. I’ll take you to that favorite bakery you love so much and we’ll get all the cake we can eat.”

“Promise!?” Gigi’s eyes widened to saucers.

Stryga lifted her pinky finger, “I pinky promise. So do we have a deal?”

“Deal!” Gigi shook her pinky with his own.

“Okay, then. I’ll see you later,” she ruffled his hair and walked away.

“See you later!” Gigi waved at Stryga’s back, her silhouette disappeared beyond the yew tree.

~~~

Three centuries later...

Gale left the warm comforts of her family’s mansion and stepped out into the chilling breeze of the moonlit night. She shivered and wrapped her cloak closely around herself. The warmth of summer was long gone and wisps of winter were beginning to creep in.

Gale made her way to the back of the mansion, to the empty garden. A lone yew tree stood at the center of the garden. Its pine needles had not withered away amidst the cold waning days. She spotted Gian sitting below the tree, as expected. She’d usually find him at the yew tree whenever he was at home. She walked over and noticed he was staring at his pinky finger with a numb expression.

Gale bowed deeply, “Uncle Gian, you wanted to see me?”

Gian slowly raised his head and looked at her, he seemed tired, “...Gale?”

“I’m sorry, did I interrupt your meditation?”

“No, you’re fine. Thank you for coming.”

“My pleasure to be of assistance.”

“...I asked you here because I wanted to talk to you about Stryg.”

Gale bit her lip and tried to conceal her anger, “I heard you're teaching that boy our swordsmanship style.”

Gian smiled, “You disapprove? Were you not the one who began his training?”

“I was doing a favor for Cly and that was before Cly d-...” She took a deep shuddering breath and tempered her anger, “You know what happened.”

Gian stroked his grey goatee, “Gale, you have always been strong. You could always take more blows than the boys and still remain standing. I am so proud of you.”

“To hear you say those words, I am truly honored,” she bowed respectfully. “But you overestimate me.”

“I disagree.” Gian brushed away her blonde hair aside and lifted her chin, “I need you to stand up once more, my brave warrior. I need you to continue as Stryg’s blade instructor.”

“What?” Gale’s eyes widened. “Why!?”

Gian stared at his pinky finger, “I won’t always be here to teach the boy. I have already lived well beyond the ordinary lifespan of a vampire. I don’t have many years left, not nearly enough for what needs to be done. You will have to see it through.”

“Uncle, please don’t talk like that,” Gale shook her head vehemently. “You’re the foundation of this family, you’ve kept House Gale and House Veres safe for centuries! Without you, I don’t know what we’d do.”

Gian smiled, “Your father is a good family leader, but you will be an amazing family leader. I will rest easy knowing that our family is in your hands.”

“Uncle,” Gale bit her trembling lip.

Gian stretched his arms, “Don’t worry, I’m not dying just yet. I’m only trying to pave the path for the future. For that to happen, I need you to return as Stryg’s blade instructor.”

Gale clenched her fists, “Cly is gone because of him.”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Stryg practically led his class into an ambush, the fault seems pretty clear to me.”

“Even if that was the case, Stryg did not kill Cly, the warlord Marek did. You don’t understand. You haven’t seen Stryg since the incident. You haven’t seen how that boy tortures himself over what happened. He loved Cly like a brother and Cly did the same. Stryg is suffering just like us.”

Gale wiped her eyes, “Is that why you want me to teach him?”

“Well, you’re also House Gale’s only sword grandmaster. I think Stryg would be lucky to have such an excellent teacher.”

“Please,” she rolled her eyes. “You taught me everything I know and last I checked, you’re the only Sword Paragon in all the Ebon Realm. He’s better off with you.”

“As I said, I won’t always be here to look after him. Gale, Stryg is important, he needs to be watched over.”

She wrinkled her brow, “Important? How?”

I’m sorry, I can’t tell you until I’m certain where your loyalties truly lie, Gian thought.

“For now, I just need you to trust me,” he said. “One day I will tell you everything.”

Gale hung her head and sighed.

~~~

Stryg swung his practice longsword with quick repetitive bursts at the wooden dummy. The dummy rattled on the pole but stood standing.

Stryg wiped the sweat off his brow and cursed under his breath. It wasn’t the same. He had seen Gian crack the wooden dummy on several points with a dull practice sword. No lifeforce energy, just pure skill.

Stryg didn’t understand how he did it. Physically, he should be much stronger than the elder vampire, but every time Stryg tried to crack the dummy with brute strength, his practice sword would shatter to splinters before the dummy ever would.

Stryg stared at his blistered hands, they stung with pain. It angered him how he couldn’t develop calluses like the rest, his body would heal too quickly, by morning there wouldn’t even be a mark left on his skin. He glanced up at the waning crescent moon. Perhaps it was time to stop? It was late, Feli probably fell asleep waiting for him.

No, he shook his head. He couldn’t stop, not until he learned how to land a sword strike properly. Stryg pulled back the longsword and prepared for another flurry of attacks.

The gate creaked open. Stryg glanced up in curiosity. This was his private courtyard in the academy, few could enter, and no one he knew would stop by at this late hour.

Gale stepped out from behind the gate and met his eyes. They stared at each other, unmoving. She walked over to him quietly. Stryg swallowed, he hadn’t seen her since the funeral, and she hadn’t seen him since before he left Hollow Shade with Clypeus.

What could he say? I’m sorry? As if that could encapsulate the horrible pain he had unwittingly inflicted on her family.

Before he could come up with an adequate response she stepped right in front of him. Stryg opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Gale looked over his body and methodically pushed his stiff limbs in different directions, correcting his stance. She stepped back, crossed her arms, and looked pointedly at the wooden dummy.

Stryg nodded hesitantly and struck the dummy once more.