《The Fate of a villain (But not really)》[Rewritten] Chapter 2.2 - Beginnings
Advertisement
After breakfast, Francis followed his father. Outside, into the green gardens. With the passing of the seasons, summer began its departure. Orange and brown took over the leaves. There, the contingent of knights stood. Hands behind their backs, awaiting orders. Each of them still, and unperturbed.
“Well then. I would recommend the people in front. They are masters with the sword, and proficient in a myriad of other weapons.”
The first row saluted in response. They were aged, though it would take time for such mastery to develop. Experienced, but lacking the youthful strength. The majority of the masters were well within their forties.
“Of course, all of them are trained in Aura, as well.”
“I see.”
He stared at them. If nothing else, the knights had style. All of them wore tailored clothes that by nature, fit them well. Francis began to cull the numbers until all that was left were 4 men and women. One thing in common was their ages, with all of them probably in their 20s.
“Left to right then,” Francis said.
“Milord.” The first man bowed his head. He had a strong build, with wide shoulders. But in his averted gaze, he lacked the willpower that Francis sought.
“I greet you,” the first woman gave a brief introduction. Born and raised on the Rayleigh estate, her life goals were to defeat his family in combat.
“You won’t be a good fit.” And thus, she was rejected.
The third was a woman of few words. With only a curt nod, she stared him in the eye. Brown hair, and matching eyes. She was a head or one and a half taller than him. Instead of the usual zweihander that the others used, she wielded a rapier by her hip. Her eyes stayed locked with his, a rare occasion. She was far older than himself, maybe in her late teens or young adulthood.
Advertisement
“What’s your name?”
“Katalina.”
“No surname?”
She just stayed silent. There was something about her that he couldn’t put a finger on. A certain familiarity, and determination.
“Well, good enough. Father, I’ll take her.”
“Hrm. I hope you didn’t choose her for her looks.” He scratched his head. “But only one?”
“Only one. Just a single knight makes for quicker mobilisation. I’m prioritising swiftness over power.”
“Alright. Then come with me, Fran. I’ll give you a briefing.”
He was led to the back of the barracks. Wooden training swords hung atop shelves, with spare sets of gear and armour laying everywhere. The stone brick building only let light in through the open door and a small window in the side. Charles leaned against the wall, and crossed his arms.
“You’ve changed.”
“10 days of fever tends to do that to you.”
His hands fidgeted. Without an idea of what to do, he picked up a wooden sword and played with it. Charles sighed, and rubbed his forehead.
“Almost as if you’re a completely different person. You’ve never matched up to your sister or mother in intellect.”
“What are you implying?”
He gulped. He was careless. What would he be labelled as? A witch? An imposter? A bead of cold sweat formed at the back of his head, and dripped onto his back.
“I only have one question. Are you one of those people blessed by the gods?”
“What? How did you come to that conclusion?”
“There are stories from the priests that someone on the verge of death can meet a god.”
“And you’re thinking that I met one?”
“That’s what the priest said too.”
“Is it not more likely that they said it to calm your nerves? Either way, I may have changed, but I am still your child.”
Advertisement
Charles closed his eyes. Leaning his head against the stone bricks, and muttered to himself. But his mouth opened again.
“I’m trying to have a father-son talk. How’s your little pet project going on? Were the craftsmen that I recommended useful?”
“It's going well enough. And what about your training? Any tough enemies you couldn’t beat?”
“There’s nothing that can’t be beaten with enough practice and training.” He pinched the area between his eyebrows. “Look. Your sisters are concerned. Elise thinks you’re accepting Her Highness’ proposal because you want to help the family. Estelle thinks you’re walking straight into a trap.”
“And what do you think, then? Am I making a mistake here?”
“It doesn’t matter-”
“Of course it doesn’t mean anything to you. Because you’ve always had yourself to rely on. But I can’t even rely on myself when it counts. I’m always- Urg!” Francis swung the wooden sword at his father. Even then, it wasn’t much of a threat. The monster of a man just stopped it with a finger. Or maybe it was his own physical weakness. A combination of both.
“I’ve always protected you. Remember how you cried because you wanted to attend Lady Ohera’s 12th birthday banquet? I had to cover you with Aura to hide your halfblood nature. And your mother had to cast protection magic on you as a preventative.”
Francis swallowed the lump in his throat. There was just something that he had to do. To get it out.
“Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” He shook his head. “Daddy issues?”
“Is that a need-to-know?”
“It's okay.” Charles patted his son’s head. He lowered his body to meet him at eye level. “You can always talk to someone, alright? Just walk right into my office. I can always make time for you.”
“No. And as he said, I’m here if you need to talk.” Francis nodded. “Thank you, father.”
“You know Fran, if you don’t feel comfortable with me, you can go to your mother. Or your sisters for that matter. You’re still young. Its no good to be bottling everything up.”
His eyes were sincere. With a firm hand running through his hair, and the soft warmth of his father’s body, something just came over him. A stream of tears flowed down his cheek, and he hugged Charles. The larger man wrapped his arms around his son.
“If you ever feel ready to talk about Emilia, I’m always ready.”
“And that is?”
“My first love.”
“What happened to her?”
“She disappeared. Along with her father. It was thought that my father had killed him.”
“I’m sorry what?”
“Cedric, Emilia’s father, was my uncle. And my father claims that he killed his own brother.”
“You fell in love with your cousin.”
Advertisement
To The Land of Nyx
When Hyde ends up inside a carriage with his sister and a butler, he knows that his carefree days as a young nobleman are becoming out of reach. Tasked to journey to a kingdom far from home, he finds himself looking for ways to make their trip less unbearable and even enjoyable. Accompanied by soldiers he considers as friends—there's hope for them! But things are not as they seem to be. A slice of life fantasy fiction that updates sporadically!
8 195Chiaroscuro
Light. Dark. The Twin Goddesses who reign over Halorath command the forces of night and day. Both have gained power of the domains of fallen gods, and they grant access to these magicks to their followers. It has been ages since the Godswar, and the divine realms remain at peace as the sisters rule. But strange happenings foretell a coming calamity. Adventurers in the Vynte Marches uncover lost artifacts and foreboding prophecies. A lone survivor of a massacre hunts the thing that killed her people-- a thing that has not been seen on Halorath since the Godswar. Tensions between nations rise, and ill omens stand for all to see. And at the center of it is a pair of children who hold the fate of the world in their hands...
8 102Ishbula-na' (I've joined the family of the lord of the 7th ring of the Abyss, help!)
While staying overnight at his best friend's place, he unknowingly entered Ishbula-na's residence at the seventh ring of the abyss. Now this big fat floating eye is calling him his son and his best friend is teaching him how to hunt many strange lifeforms in this strange void, while he tries to maintain his regular life at the same time. AN (Posted Nov. 4th): on about 3 weeks from now I have two exams which will define where I am in a year after, so updates will come at a slower pace until the 26th. I will still try to get things out, but there won't be as many chapters/week as there have been so far.
8 190Dreamworld: The First Age
For six years Katie, the archangel, has been a part of heaven's military, fighting a losing war with the endless void known as the black empire. She and her comrades fight for the lives of every person in the universe. Planets destroyed, galaxies swallowed, and dimensions obliterated. Madness slowly consumes her as she loses her allies to this conflict. In this madness, she slowly discovers her true purpose in life.
8 131My Unending Agony
Dillon Mathews is a Dimensional Being. The only downside of being a Dimensional Being is the fact that you cant truly die. Long before he became the most powerful being, he was just a regular kid... to an extent. Thousands if not millions of years ago Dillon was born and grew up in the Realm of the Gods, but he was very mischievous, and didn't want to follow what his father always done. The Creator Casted him down to Earth in Dimension-126 with now memory and a reset as a baby and a family. On his Twelfth year on Earth, Everything Changed...The Lesson needed to be sped up. Something was coming to destroy every Dimension.
8 134Awakening
This story was previously known as "The Awakening".~*~"One... two... three... one... two... three... a million... is that number right?" A figure less voice echoed."Hello? Who's there?" Caliope asked, focusing on that voice."One... two... who? A million... a billion... no, it's more... a legion..."Silence. She had seen too many horror movies and heard too many stories about that single word to overpass its meaning. The voice went quiet, yet she was still unable to see where it came from. She rubbed her eyes and all she could see around her was a thick path in a jungle-like scene. She didn't remember how she got there, but she knew it was for something important. Her eyes focused on the far end of the path and all she could see were more trees. She turned to the opposite side and found just the same."One... two... billions... but always back at one..." the voice resumed it's counting."Where are you? Who are you?"~*~-Her name is Caliope, and when she was a young girl, she never believed in happy endings. For her, there was nothing more than what you see in front of you. All she needed was her best friend Vanessa.Her background is very simple; a foster child with foster parents that were everything but warm and caring. Regardless of that, she became a smart and responsible young woman, ready for whatever came her way. At least that is what she thought.Her new job interview changed her life. It changed everything she ever believed in, and what she thought it was real. Her new boss is an amazing woman who has a son, something different from what he is made out to be.As she discovers the hidden truth about her boss and her son, she has to prepare herself for a whole new world that will unfold to her.~*~Intro collaboration with my loyal reader @GabrielleCardenOriginal Picture from the cover made by Marcus J. Ranum~*~This story has erotic scenes, religious perspectives, and judgment. Be warned and read at your own risk.
8 188