Another slash comes my way, I avoid it like the other attacks. This tedium is beginning to weigh on me as that's all I've been doing since the fight began. I’m growing tired of just dodging these attacks and waiting for an opening. I need to make my own. As soon as I’m able to gain a bit of space I press my foot to the ground and wait for Cade to come closer. He came to me with no idea what I was about to do. As he readies a slash attack I kick upward, sending the dust below my feet into his eye.

"Damn it!"

There! I hit him with a quick mixup then took the time to disarm him. I throw his knives off to the side.

"No weapons, just fists!"

Cade clears up his eyes, immediately going for a punch soon after. His form is mediocre at best. If anything, this is an advantage. I easily avert the attack, landing one of my own shortly after. I follow through with a low kick to the side of his knee. He buckles from the attack, my left fist zooms toward his face, I feel my knuckles press against his jaw. My next attack will finish this. Cade picks up a lance from behind himself. I back upright as he swings it.

"Looking tired Proxy," Cade points out.

"Not even close, but you don't look all that hot yourself," I quip back at him.

"Well, you know me," he trails off as he pulls out some more knives from his belt. ". . .Gotta keep on pushing."

At least he still has his good spirits, but I could tell that it was forced. He really is ready to kill me without any remorse if I give him the chance. His knives are what makes him dangerous, so if I want to win I'm gonna have to disarm him then strike as fast and as hard as I can. Aside from that, I need to locate where Marie is.

"Is Marie in this village," I asked Cade, who strolls closer to me.

"She is."

"You do realize I'm gonna get her, one way or the other, right?"

"I still don't feel like telling you where."

"You know you wanna."

"Sorry but she's not going anywhere."

"All right, I get it, you don't wanna give her to me. I just wasted time trying to talk this out, so why don't we go back to fighting."

Speeding off towards my enemy, I grab a rusted sword off the ground. Making the first attack, I go for his head but he saw it coming and ducks under it. He then sweeps my legs while bringing down his knife toward my side. To counter, I firmly plant one hand on the ground to support myself so I can kick the arm that's holding the knife. I repel the attack and gain some distance but we engage back into combat shortly after. Each move was made to keep chaining more and attacks. Little by little, I’m controlling the flow of this fight. A dagger went past my cheek, cutting it open. The pain barely registers to me as I keep going for a decisive shot. Then, as if luck was on my side, Cade goes at my neck with both daggers. My body instinctively crouches to avoid the attack; Cade is left open for an attack. Not wanting to waste it, my leg shoots up like a cannonball. The kick successfully connects with his chin. I promptly back up in preparation for my next attack. As I hop into the air I spin forward to build momentum for a kick that lands against Cade’s face, resulting in his body being smacked to the ground. Landing back on the ground, my right leg slides against the ground. Cade is taking a dirt nap while I caught my breath.

"I didn't want to fight you Cade but you gave me no choice.”

Now that he's down it's time for me to find Marie. As I’m about to begin my search, a sudden, sharp, cold, and painful feeling formed in my leg. I bite down the urge to scream my lungs out. An object is stuck in my leg, one of Cade's daggers. He rises soon after.

"That was a pretty good attack you made Proxy. But I think I should be frank: we should end this dance now."

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! This pain is so unbelievable, it's unlike anything I've felt before! I've been hit with bats, cut with knives, but this, this was so goddamn unbearable!

"I was serious by what I said, I'm out for blood, you shouldn't have gone soft on me."

Soft? I was trying my best to beat him, I held nothing back!

"Sorry, but now you'll have to resign to your fate," Cade tells me, his cold expression intimidated me to my core. I never knew I could be scared like this, why am I scared, why does he scare me?

"Not. . .a huge fan of that fate thing."

I didn't have an idea as to how to get out of this situation. There's got to be a way, come on, figure it out!

"That's enough."

Just as I was looking around, I saw someone behind Cade. He notices them as well. The black hair, tall body, it was Marie!

"Marie!"

"You want me dead, right? So just kill me, leave him out of it, okay?"

"Seriously, why are you giving up so easily!?"

"Cause, this was a long time coming. I knew someday that someone would come and kill me for what I did. Truth be told, I wanted someone to kill me for it, maybe a victim of my actions? Either way, this was something I wanted to happen, so please, don't get killed over me, Proxy; it’ll be pointless. . .But you know, I am glad you made an effort."

Like that, Marie is ready to accept her punishment by Cade's hand. I sure as shit ain't going to let that happen.

“WAIT A GODDAMN MINUTE!” I got everyone’s attention. As I try to get back up on my feet, the dagger slightly moves, causing even more pain to surge through my leg. It hurt far more than Hollywood said that it would, that's for goddamn sure!

". . .I didn't only come here for you, I came here cause I promised Alex I would bring you back!" I could hear a gasp escape her mouth.

"But why would he?"

"You think he would let you die? He would've come here himself if he didn't need to take care of the mess that Cade and his friends left behind at the camp."

"What do you mean?"

"They went and burned the campgrounds, probably after you were taken."

"What!?"

She jumps at the mention of the incident.

"That's why I'm here, to save you because I want to, and so I can avenge our group. I might've left, but I won't let anyone mess with the anti-bandit army and get away with it. So don’t you give up, damn it! No matter what you feel or say, even if you hate yourself, either way, you're coming back with me."

My declaration is heard but Cade gave a light scoff in response. Marie however is crying. She attempted to hide it but it was no use; she was bad at doing so.

“. . .You guys are so. . .Even as I destroyed villages, killed innocent people, you guys still want to save me!?”

“That doesn’t matter now, you’re our ally!”

Marie continued to let her tears flow but she was getting a grip on herself. My mind focuses back on Cade, who didn't utter a word, he just went off with a dagger in hand at Marie. This was bad, I can't catch up in time with this knife in my leg. Taking it out wouldn't solve a thing, it would only worsen it.

"Marie, run for it!"

She staggers as she steps back. Not good, I need to get up before she's killed. The knife was the thing inhibiting my movement, taking it out would make more blood leak out, but I could throw it at him! Steeling myself, I jerk out the dagger from my leg. I howled as the pain intensified, my eyesight went red. Pain screamed throughout my mind. Despite the incredible pain, I quickly lined up my sight of Cade and threw the blade at him. It went flying at his back. I was sure the blade was going to hit him, but he turned his whole body and slashed at the thing mid-air. Both my eyebrows rose in shock. There was nothing else I could do, I had nothing on me to use. My heart beats like a drum, my leg beating as well. She needs to run, fight, do something, anything!

"Marie, move!"

My echo spreads out throughout the village. As if my pleas for her to run were answered, a sword went flying like a fighter jet into the ground in front of Cade. He backs up from the blade. From the right, Nunnalé and Richard slowly walked as Richard held Puck.

"You bastards, what did you do to her," Cade shouts, let emotion reign over his previous cold demeanor.

"She's still alive but we can kill her if you attempt to hurt our allies."

Cade froze up, his body shaking with rage. Nunnalé's threat looms over him, restricting him from fighting.

"You should also know that she has a severe wound on her chest that should be treated immediately. I suggest you retreat."

Nunnalé has all the cards in her hands. Cade's gaze was nothing short of disgust, anger, and frustration. He could go either way at this point. He lowers his weapons, holstering them.

"Let Puck go," he says with a defeated tone. ". . .I'll leave if you put her down."

Richard gently put Puck to the ground. Nunnalé has her eye on Cade. He approaches Puck, who is in front of Nunnalé and Richard. He picks up Puck, carefully lifting her while shooting his gaze at Marie. He turned his attention to me, his stare sent shivers down my spine. It was as if he was going to kill me with his eyes alone. However, he simply walks off into the dead trees, slowly leaving my sight. My body drops to the ground, all my strength is slowly being sapped away from my body as blood flows out. Richard breaks into a dash towards me.

"Proxy, your leg!"

"Yeah, hurts like hell.”

"We have to get it treated! Don't move too much or else it'll get worse."

In a panic, Richard begins to heal me while scolding me about pulling the knife out of my body without a way to patch it afterward. Of course, I didn't listen since I had a good reason to. Nunnalé looks worse for wear as well. Marie for the duration of my healing session was standing a good way away from us. I didn't think much of it since I was focused on Richard healing my wound, slowly closing the wound. By the time he was done, it was the afternoon. On the way home, we were quiet as to what transpired in the run-down village. Marie sat in the passenger car with Nunnalé. The drive back home was quite the awkward one, for me and Marie. When I remember that place, Cade's furious face came to mind. I don't think I'll ever get it out of my head for as long as I live.

Anti-bandit army camp, morning

Returning to the camp, the burned tents are being disposed of, as well as anything that was burned in the fire. Everyone was lined up left and right in a single file line. Alex was quietly sitting over at the stone slab, his sword in hand. Yikes, I think he might be ready to slay or something! But, I did say he could cast judgment on me, so if he wants me dead I can't do anything about that. Though, I won't go quietly.

"Looks like I got the royal treatment," I say to break the tension.

"What's going on," Marie inquires.

"Don't worry, this is about me and Alex."

I walk up to him by myself, my nerves aren't as stressed as they were before, I had no reason for them to be, I brought this on myself. Approaching Alex, I’m starting to feel a bit relaxed for some unknown reason; guess he just has that effect.

"You asleep?"

It took a few seconds for him to explain as he kind of bobbed his head up.

"No, I was quietly waiting for your arrival."

"Come on, I heard you snoring."

"R-really?"

"So you were asleep?"

I was just joking but holy crap, that kind of killed this serious mood. Alex's face soon turned serious, changing the topic back into the main one at hand.

"Proxy, about what you said earlier this morning?"

"Yeah, I remember. I need to make this up to you, everything that happened so far is my fault."

"You want me to judge you?"

"Some people might think I have no sense of responsibility in me but that's not true. This is bigger than a prank or a goof, I could've gotten someone killed; hell, Marie almost bit the bullet because of me."

"So you admit that these incidents are your fault?"

"Yeah."

Alex stood up from the stone made seat.

"Okay then, Proxy, I'll judge you."

"Wait, brother!"

Marie interjects as she runs up to us.

"It's okay, Marie, I'm okay with whatever Alex comes up with as punishment."

"But what happened here isn't your fault, it's mine as well. So if anyone's going to be judged, let it be me."

"This is only about-"

"Fine - you can be judged too."

"What?"

My bewilderment goes unnoticed as Marie steps up beside me. Alex takes his gaze at both of us.

"Are you two ready," he asks us.

"Yeah," Marie solemnly answered.

"You, Proxy?"

He cast his gaze upon me. Honestly, I'm not okay with Marie getting punished after all the trouble I went through to save her, but these two are pretty stubborn, so bringing that up would do no good.

"Sure," I sigh to myself as I get over the bit of frustration I have.

"If both parties have agreed, then. . ."

This was it, he was going to dish out some hurt. I made two promises, one that he would judge me, and the other to get Richard home. I’m not planning on breaking either, so the moment he tries to swing his sword down on me or Marie, I'll. . .

"Huh?"

Without warning, Alex grabs Marie and me by the head and brings us close to his chest. Huh, huh? What the heck?

"I'm so glad you both are okay."

He’s hugging us with all his might, nearly squeezing our heads. The pain is barely registering to me since I’m too dumbfounded about what was happening. Marie is just as confused as I am.

"Why are you hugging us?"

"Cause I was worried about you two, why else?"

Such a plain answer, but that plain answer is unexpected. I was ready to fight my way out of here with Richard and Nunnalé, but this. . .

"Why were you worried about me," I ask him, frustrated by the result.

"Do I need a reason?"

That answer annoyed me. How could he be?

"After everything I did, why would you care about me, even I wouldn't care for what would happen to me!"

"But I don't feel that way. As far as I see it, none of it was your fault. How would you be able to know that Cade would do any of this?"

"Because I knew that he wanted to kill her, and I almost helped him. So I should be responsible for it!"

"Be that as it may, you didn't do it, so how can I judge you for it? If anything, it speaks of not only about your sense of judgment, but your morality, as well as a testament to our friendship. So as they say, "no harm, no foul."

I’m left speechless, how can he just write it off like that. It's so nonsensical. Honestly, I can not believe this guy; I know about being easy-going but this is just ridiculous. But looking at Alex's smile, I can't argue against it. I just slump my shoulders.

"You're...you're right, I guess I can't blame myself, there's no way I could've known Cade would take it this far. I wanted to believe that he wouldn’t, but I didn’t know how far he was willing to go, there was no way for me to know."

It felt as if a weight was lifted from me when I said that.

"So, are we good Proxy," he asks with a big goofy grin.

"Yeah, we're good."

"Good, that being said, I need to punish you two still."

"With what?"

"Easy. You two will help dispose of all the destroyed goods, including tents, food, and weapons burned in the fire. You will also cook everyone the finest food, pick up materials so new clothes can be made, as well as wash dirty clothes." So that's our punishment? ". . .But I also have more conditions for you, Proxy. Your punishment is that you have to join back with us!" So that's my special punishment? ". . .and you'll need to do some mandatory swordplay sessions with me! This is your punishment."

With a charming smile, he sums up my punishments as he puts out his hand. "What do you say?" This is just too much, so much that I couldn't control myself. I couldn't help but laugh. Loud and uncontrollable, I keep on laughing, clutching my stomach all the while. Eventually, I calmed myself down.

"God, Alex, you're something else. I can't believe it. All right, I'll serve out my punishment; I'll clean until this place is spotless, and I'll cook until you're all full, and I'll make sure you don’t regret recruiting me!"

"I know I won't."

I shake his hand with pride. His grip was strong but mine isn’t lacking in strength either. I mean it, I won’t make him regret having me!