Chapter 28 Pure Animosity

❄️Snow❄️

As they were walking through the noble’s residential district they stuck to the empty streets, which were as a result the more downtrodden ones. This particular street had puddles of murky water.

“Ugh, I thought this was the noble’s district not the ascended peasantry district, as if my clothes couldn’t get any dirtier today.” Lussuria complained as if the few patches of dirt was the complete undoing of her outfit.

“We are being pursued by mountaineer guards and still you care about the state of your clothes...

“Standards my dear sister, no matter what situation I find myself in I will uphold them.”

“These standards are going to get us captured.”

“I can step in a pool of dirty water to evade capture. I am not so dense, see!” She hopped into a puddle splashing snow.

“Hey what gives!”

Lussuria laughed. “I am already dirty, might as well have some fun right… hm?” Lussuria looked down in a confused expression.

The last thing Snow saw was Lussuria’s surprised face before an Explosion rang out right in front of her.

Snow’s ears were still ringing, and she could barely see. Her vision had splotches of red. Underneath the puddle was a runic mine. Snow could barely feel her body, she had to check if she was fully intact. She looked towards Lussuria who was on the other side of the street. Lussuria was burned and looked really hurt but appeared to still be in one piece. Lussuria’s frostblood was active as her painful moans were heard.

“Luss…uria!” Snow called out to her.

A net flew off the top of a rooftop on top of Lussuria.

Snow’s eyes veered upwards, and she saw the eyepatch mercenary who attacked her in Regalia. He was watching them from above. The mercenary slid off the rooftop and dropped into the street right in front of Lussuria.

Lussuria moaned in pain as she woke up, struggling to move away. She was tangled in the net could barely move.

“I might have overdone it, but when Frederick told me you could cast runes with a single word, I couldn’t take that chance.”

Lussuria only mumbled a word in pain and the net gave a burning glow in response.

“I wouldn’t bother, you are grounded under that net.”

He started pulling the net and dragging Lussuria through the grimy water like some animal. Snow fought past the pain of all her internal organs feeling like they were just punched and stumbled to her feet with a strong wheeze she yelled.

“You better… let her go!” She said as blood dripped down from her ears. It was hard to hear even her own voice past the ringing.

He stopped and looked her up and down.

“Immune to lightning and can stand after taking a runic blast? I’ll look forward to the day I am paid for your capture. I’ll be sure to charge Frederick double.” As he resumed walking off dragging Lussuria along with him.

Snow tried to pursue him but after two steps the world started to spin as she lost her balance and fell to the ground. “damnit! No! Come back! Lussuria!” She tried to reach out before she fully collapsed to the dirt filled ground.

Lussuria got dragged out of sight.

She was left alone for the moment, but only for a moment. The quick marching of soldiers from just around the residential district could be heard..

Snow dug her fingers into the dirt and rock and crawled into the nearby alleyway propping herself up against a building. She had no clue what to do. She slumped her head, she didn’t know why but she found it hard to breathe, every breath followed a sharp pain as she began to fade out of consciousness. As her eyes started to drift into slumber the noise of the approaching guard woke her up.

Her vision was blurred as she saw 3 pairs of plated legs in front of her.

“Is she alive?”

“yeah.”

“Good, the High Councilor wants to make a public display.”

Snow tried to turn to get away but she only slid to the ground falling on her shoulder.

“Look, she's trying to get away.” followed by the laughter of two men.

“Pick her up and take her to jail.” The knight in the middle said, his voice was familiar but she didn’t have the energy to look up.

“I'll be damned if I’ll have to carry some Royal Lotus runt!” The first guard looked down at her followed by a tone of mockery. “Get up ‘princess’ we aren’t your servants here.”

Snow felt something slam into her stomach slamming, sending her up against the wall. One of the men just kicked her. “Funny enough you look just like that Bitch, a spitting image in fact. Get up or I'll really make you unable to walk!”

“woah, I’m afraid what you mean by that.” the furthest guard said .

“I don’t know what you’re getting at, but I’m not a sicko like you” the man who just kicked her had gotten offended.

“Me sicko?” replied the knight in question.

“Yeah I know every time you go to the whorehouse the water girl disappears, not for very long but you know, it is what it is. Early quester, early finisher. Disgusting.”

Snow tried to gather her strength while they started to insult each other. But she got kicked into the wall again.

“I said up, not crawl!”

“She clearly can't, open your eyes. I’ll pick her up.” The man with the familiar voice said.

“No Omeric, Let this royal brat walk on her own two feet for once!”

Snow could barely understand but she heard the name Omeric and slowly looked back up at their faces. Sir Omeric was standing just behind the two with a face she could only describe as disturbed. He was wearing mountaineer armor instead of the regalian armor she was used to. This was the man who was captain of her royal detachment. Before being expelled by her mother after the Attack her and Gravis suffered.

“See now that we have her attention.” The first man leaned in closer. “Get up, ‘your highness’.”

Snow tried to get up but she couldn’t, the pain was too much from the previous explosion, the longer time went on the more she could feel it.

“What's that? can’t get up? I thought you frost blooded could take any amount of injury and be unaffected. I guess that was just a lie?”

“She’s just a kid. That’s enough.” Omeric said in an attempt to diffuse the hostility.

“No, I’m from Reyna, I will never forget what they did, looking at that face just pisses me off. In fact, you know what. If you don’t get up. He unsheathed his sword.

“I'll force you to walk with holes in your legs.” He pressed his blade against her shin and blood began to slowly drip.

Pure Hostility against her for something she had nothing to do with. She had grown tired of this. Snow gathered her remaining strength and slowly rose to her feet.

The man with the open blade smiled.

“See? Was that difficult? Now walk!” He demanded.

Snow didn’t move; she only stared at him. With a judgmental gaze that told him all he needed to know.

“Are you deaf or something?” He said before raising the sword up to her chest.

“You don’t issue commands to me.”

There was an intense silence as she gave the man a deathly stare. The silence lasted until the other knight started an outburst of laughing. “Get a load of this kid! I guess she really is a royalty huh!”

The first knight was silent. As if his pride was struck, his mind clearly wallowing in anger as he tried concocting a response to her display of unyielding defiance.

“Say, I know some abandoned houses by warehouse row not too far from here. How about making a detour? I think a lesson in humility is called for.”

“I thought you weren’t an early quester.” The first knight stepped closer.

“I guess you can call it a vengeance quest.”

They both echoed a dark laugh, before Omeric broke his silence.

“Where is your pride as a knight? That’s grotesque, just take her to the jail and have your fill on someone willing to accept payment for it.”

He looked back at Omeric

“Why are you sympathizing with her? I never took you for a white knight Omeric. ‘Oh, princess, no!’ .. ‘I won’t allow my Princess to be defiled!’ he said mockingly. While Omeric gritted his teeth. “You know they are going to do much worse to her in the jail anyways. If you don’t like it, you can run off and tell the Councilor. I’m sure he has an abundance of care for her well-being. I’ll tell you what, if it’s too grotesque for you feel free to wait outside.”

The aggressive knight looked back down at her. “Would you like me to rephrase my order so I won’t hurt your pride princess? Ok, I strongly suggest you move your legs. In said direction.”

Snow responded by spitting blood in his face.

“You pathetic sort.”

The knight's eyes opened with surprise as her blood and spit ran down his forehead and cheek. He wiped it off as a slow growl formed under his quivering lips.

“You know what? Since I am a kind man, I won’t make you walk all the way over there. I’ll just teach you right here! He grabbed her by the neck pinning her against the wall before Omeric had grabbed his arm. He swung his head to Omeric in a fit of rage.

“OMERIC THIS YOUR FINAL WARNING-“

Omeric cut him off with a loud bang as he head butted him to the ground followed by the clacking sound of several teeth bouncing across the stone road.

“Omeric what are you?!-” the second knight tried unsheathing his sword but Omeric grabbed him, pushing him up against the wall leading to a tussle. During the tussle, the first knight recovered and got up, grabbing Omeric from behind and holding him while the other started beating into him. Omeric was resilient though and took a few hits before roaring and flipping the first man over, slamming him against the ground before jumping at the second knight, hitting him with a back fist before tackling him to the ground and repaying the blows onto his face. Over and Over again, Omeric smashed his fist into the knight's face without stopping as blood exploded from the man's nose with each devastating blow until Omeric released him, unmoving. A yell was heard as Omeric turned back to the first knight and was mid swing at his head. Omeric ducked under the swing while drawing his own weapon, spinning it in his hands and extending its point in defense.

"Why Omeric, the republic will have your head for this transgression!”

“It’s not even because of your wicked actions, nor because I dislike you.”

Omeric charged at him. They clashed twice before Omeric spun the blade out of the first knight’s hands, flinging it against the wall before Omeric grabbed him by his chest plate and held the sword against his throat.

“I yield!” the knight cried.

“You will just follow.” The blade inched closer to his neck.

“I-I won't, I swear!” Looks like when put to the point even the toughest acting people can turn into babies. The fear eventually led to tears.

Omeric slowly lowered the blade as If contemplating what to do.

“Very well.” He made his decision as the knight started screaming out in pain as the sound of opening flesh was heard. Omeric was slowly driving his blade through the man’s leg plate before pushing him to the ground. The knight cradled onto his leg like a baby.

Omeric took a step back and took a look at what he had just done. He looked back and forth as the noises of more knights in the distance drew near. He sheathed his blade and quickly stepped up to Snow.

“We need to move.” Omeric gently picked her up off her feet and began carrying her down the residential district.

“Thanks… Sir Omeric.” She said to him,

“Don’t thank me yet. There’s an entire detachment here looking for you.”

“I’m really tired.” She told him.

“Try to stay awake.”

Snow was starting to doze off, when she reopened her eyes she could feel the stone off the floor. The noise of steel hitting steel continuously rang out. Omeric was surrounded by multiple knights just in front of her. His sword was drawn and there was blood all over it.

“He’s one knight! Subdue him!” The knights were yelling at him to surrender. Before they charged him from all sides.

She dozed off again and in the next moment she was being carried at a much slower pace. She felt his grip on her weakening like she was going to be dropped with each step. Her clothes were stained with blood all over, she didn’t know whose. She looked up to Omeric and there was blood and sweat on his face.

"Omeric, why are you doing this? My family released you from your oath. You no longer need to concern yourself with me.”

“I abandoned you once before, I will not do so again.”

They traveled another street before it was clear that Omeric was about to go down. Omeric brought them to a dead end, where a well stood. He turned around and saw a band of knights had blocked them in.

“Omeric, you betray Vulcas, and the mountaineer kingdom. Surrender, NOW!” The captain of the knight detachment ordered.

Omeric took one step back bumping into the ledge of the well, where the rushing of water could be heard below.

“Can you swim?” He whispered.

“Omeric, I know what you're thinking. Don't do it. Just… there's got to be another way.``

“They will do terrible things. I will not give you up to them.”

The knight captain took one step forward alone.

“Give her up Omeric, save what scraps of honor you have left as a knight and yield her to us!”

“I think I finally learned what it means to be a knight.” Omeric gave a strained smirk. “I hope one day you can forgive my actions, your majesty.”

“Don’t you dare Omeric!” The knights began approaching with their weapons drawn.

“Omeric… I… of course I do.” Omeric was re-knighted by Vulcas before going against them, in her name. He was trapped between doing the right thing and choosing a side, something Snow knew well. Seems Omeric and her were more similar than she realized.

“My name may be tarnished, but at least I can die with a clean conscience. Live on, your majesty. Make a difference.”

“Omeric, this is your last warning!”

“If I can die protecting someone in need, then I have done my job. Fate agrees with us, there is a high tide in the cisterns, that should break your fall.”

Once the captain heard that. He yelled.

“Kill them both!” The knights charged at them.

Omeric spun around and dropped Snow into the well. Snow was speechless, time slowed as she descended down into the dark abyss. She locked eyes with Omeric. They gave each other a silent goodbye.

“For Regalia.”

Snow heard those words echo from the top of the well just before she crashed into the rushing waters of the cistern.