The Vow Keeper

"Before I go, promise me three things that you and your heirs will keep." said the eighth, a long time ago before he departed them.

"What is it?" asked the First Wielder of the Assassin Blades.

"We'll keep it, you have our word." assured the First Wielder of the Viking Ax.

"Then these are the three, the first is, you'll fight with the strong to protect the weak. Never hide your best behind those who can't fight and don't leave the weak behind. For the blades I give you, are to represent your empire, bravely is what will make them work. The second is, when called upon for a crisis from another of the seven, you will answer by joining or staying out of the conflict. You shall never swear to the other side, for it means treason to the eight. And finally is the two combined, be honorable and loyal to the countries you'll rule. Never start a reason to fight by sacrificing your people or tell them false information. They look up to you to lead them to be there even after they disown you." stated the eighth.

"And will there be someone to check us to make sure we won't fail?" asked the First Wielder of the Medieval Sword.

"There will be," confirmed the eighth.

"Then make sure he also checks our people, promises work both ways." stated the First Wielder of the Ninja Sword.

"I shall keep that in mind." promised the eighth, he turned to the boat they prepared for him and he sailed off to where they came from.

"Hundreds of years pass by since that date, the wielders pass their weapons off and ensure their successor will keep the promise they made. Conflicts within empires arose and the wielders of the seven kept their promise by joining the caller. Their empires grew as well and they began fighting for more land. Mr. Zhōng!" shouted the teacher.

"Yes ma'am," stated Zhōng, opening his eyes and quickly sitting up straight.

"I understand you've learned this from your uncle, but if you're going to sleep, please do it on your own time." demanded the teacher.

"Yes ma'am," replied Zhōng. The teacher went back to the lesson on migration from Poselenie as Zhōng rubbed his eyes. He was tired and looked awful, having the princess look concerned.

"You alright, brother?" asked Xing at lunch as he sat down with her and her friends.

"Tired, nothing new," stated Zhōng as he took a sip from his tea.

"You sure, we heard you doze off again." stated Cortana.

"She's boring anyway, although I wish this vow keeper can come sooner," began Zhōng. "Cause then I can stop falling asleep suddenly." he said, as he fell face-first on the table.

"Well he definitely needs sleep." stated Kotori.

"He's perhaps overdone it." stated Xing although she was worried about her brother.

"Attention everyone," announced Principal Jiào, entering the cafeteria. "It has come to my attention that someone is still overworking." She looked at the table where they sat.

Xing elbowed her brother hard to have him wake up. "D," stated Zhōng, sitting back up.

"Thank you for proving my point." sighed Principal Jiào, she shook her head in disapproval. "With that in mind, I propose a new system. He'll carry a flag for you to try and get. Whoever catches my nephew, will have him to help you for a week. If no one does, he's free for a week." she said, giving the flag to Zhōng, the girls went crazy from the news.

"And this is how you're going to get me to stay up. When do I start?" asked Zhōng.

"Now and it'll end when you get caught or survive till three," said Principal Jiào, girls catching the order jump to catch Zhōng. Zhōng however, was slow to realize at first but was able to evade the swarm at their table. He took off out of the cafeteria with packs of girls behind him.

"Well, this could be interesting." stated Pina, the group decided to stay as well as a few other girls.

"Not as interesting as his problem though," said Silica. Princess Zhen overheard the conversation they had before Zhōng had to run, it confirmed her suspicions of him.

Zhōng rounded a corner of the dorm rooms as ten girls were still after him. He ducked into a room as they filed in to discover it was empty. "Where did he go?" asked one of the girls. Suddenly the door the girls entered closed and was locked and jammed shut. Zhōng snickered as he fastened the rope he tied to the knob on one end and a pole on the other.

"There he is," cried another girl, spotting him and he was again on the run and it hadn't been thirty minutes.

Lord Tyron was tweaking the functions of a mech he was working on, he was in the school grounds shop when the princess came in. "Lord Tyron," she called out.

"Your majesty, I believe I told you I'm no longer a lord." said Lord Tyron politely.

"And yet you let us girls call you Mr. Fields even though we know your true name." stated Princess Zhen.

"Very true, what can I do for you, your majesty?" asked Lord Tyron.

"It's about your nephew."

"I never expected you to compete."

"He mentioned something called a vow keeper." stated Princess Zhen. Lord Tyron paused and looked at her with a pale face.

"How do you know about this?"

"They were talking about it over lunch."

"So it was him and his sister with her friends." sighed Lord Tyron. "Perhaps I should clear the room so no wandering ears hear this." he stated, taking a pole and shoving it through a small hole. A body fell into the bushes outside of the window, it stood up and looked around before darting away. "I don't want him to worry more than he thinks has to."

"Why? Is it that serious?" asked Princess Zhen.

"I told him I saw something a long time ago," began Lord Tyron. "During the war, a leader of a village promised to fight with us but when the time came, he changed sides. A week after we heard of this, I was walking through the halls when I saw him on his knees in front of someone."

"What happened?"

"Even I don't know, he looked hypnotized then suddenly woke up as the blade came down." stated Lord Tyron. "I didn't believe that the Vow Keeper existed. After seeing that was perhaps what caused me to be so cautious, a move that might have led my brother to expel me."

"And Zhōng thinks it's after him." concluded Princess Zhen.

"Zhōng thinks what he did was bad, what I see is it contradicts everything he stood for. Besides what I saw was perhaps my imagination. The Vow Keeper was a story told to ensure people hold their promises seriously." stated Lord Tyron.

"Then why isn't he getting enough sleep?"

Lord Tyron pondered before answering, "Maybe he wasn't ready when I told him the story. Maybe he thinks the Vow Keeper isn't a myth or a legend like he once was, it could be that legends are true since he discovered some others in the past. It could be the reason why he isn't getting enough sleep, is he's just overworking too much and too often."

Princess Zhen pondered on the words said to her, she went to the library to find books about the Vow Keeper. "Where is he?" whispered one of the girls who was still chasing Zhōng.

"Do we know he's in the library?" asked another.

"This could be the only place for him to hide for such a long time." stated a third.

"Have you guys found him?" asked Xing as she and her group approached them. After Zhōng took off, they discussed what was promised at lunch and decided to chase after Zhōng and have him do the minimum while he gets some sleep.

"No, we thought he'll be in the library but not much luck." replied the first.

"Well he was known as the Dual Bladed Ninja, deadly and silent, he can disappear in the shadows in front of your very eyes." claimed Kotori.

"If you guys want to check, I think I saw him near the blacksmith shop." stated Princess Zhen.

"Really?"

"Thank you, your majesty." said Xing bowing down to her before she and the girls took off out of the library.

Princess Zhen wandered over to the myths and legends section of the library. "You can come out, I know you're there." she said as she searched the shelves.

Zhōng rolled off the top of a shelf and landed quietly. "I take it you must have had a feeling," he assumed.

"I took your quiet spot away, so the next place for quiet would have been here." replied Princess Zhen.

"But I could have left the grounds to find somewhere quieter." defended Zhōng.

"That would have made you break the rules of staying on the school grounds. And I don't think you trust yourself." said Princess Zhen.

Zhōng shot his fearful glare and said, "If I can't trust myself, then I have a problem."

"Which you do," stated Princess Zhen, shooting a glare equal to his back at him.

"That's what you want to talk about with my uncle." concluded Zhōng.

"And you're angry that I'm curious?"

"Where curiosity got me was pain, then I put restrictions and measured the risk before I went in."

"Is that what happened to her?" asked Princess Zhen as Zhōng tried to walk past her.

Zhōng paused and clenched his fist tighter. "I don't want to talk about it, princess." he growled.

"Is curiosity the reason she left." pushed Princess Zhen.

"Gullible is what had her being taken away." stated Zhōng as he pushed the princess to the wall of books. "She was sold to slavery and I was a pawn that had her taken away."

Princess Zhen felt the cold but not because of his glare, it was cold for the pain of his loss. "If you help me for a week, I will not push it." she bargained.

Zhōng said nothing as he pondered for a while. He had five minutes left but he was exhausted and didn't want to be asked questions about his personal life. "You win," he said defeatedly.

"You start tomorrow then." stated Princess Zhen, she wasn't expecting him to accept but rather to squirm his way out.

"If I survive," muttered Zhōng. Later that night, he locked his door and window. He then blocked both with his bookcase in front of his window and his bed in front of his door. He tied himself to a chair and stared at a fire as he began to fall asleep. Later in the night as guards patrol past his door, they heard furniture sliding and banging as if someone was trying to get out. It terrified them more as a loud knock from the room inside of the door and an audible groan followed. It scared them and they quickly hurried away.

Zhōng woke up realizing he fell asleep, he looked around his room and saw it was a mess. The bookshelf had its book all over the ground and was missing its shelves as a hole from clawing was in the middle of the back. The chair he was tied to was nothing more than splinters as the rope was tangled up in it. The door to his window and his door were still locked although it was clear he was bashing his door.

Princess Zhen noticed that Zhōng wasn't in class as his seat was empty. She became worried as the bell rang and he wasn't there, he was never late and won't be doing a mission before school. She later was walking with Xing and her friends when they passed guards taking away damaged furniture. "Wonder what was the cause of that." stated Silica. They then saw it was being removed from Zhōng's room.

"Does your brother party with friends?" asked Kotori.

"Not at home," replied Xing.

"And I don't party," said a voice behind them. They turned around to see Zhōng who had two guards by him.

"Brother, what happened?"

"What I hope wouldn't happen," said Lord Tyron behind them.

"I'm glad I left my weapons with you Xing." commented Zhōng.

"So what's going to happen to you?" asked Princess Zhen.

"Well first he needs some sleep and to make sure he can't get out, we're moving him to a cell." said Lord Tyron.

"What?" said all the girls.

"I'm touched," joked Zhōng.

"Will he come to school and attend classes?" asked Pina.

"It depends on how much sleep he gets, we'll make sure he's comfy." replied Lord Tyron.

"In your dreams," groaned Zhōng.

Zhōng's prison cell was a little nicer than others. They gave him a comfy bed and allowed him to shower somewhere nice where they still can keep an eye on him. He was not allowed to have his swords inside the cell but he can carry them while walking to and from places.

"Is this the only option?" asked Princess Zhen to Captain Howin as they watched him stroll through the gardens. She read Zhōng's schedule of where he'll be for the day.

"I'm afraid so," replied Captain Howin.

"He's being treated poorly, you're sure he can't stay in his room?"

"If we let him back into his room, he might explode again. The fact is, he has his primary key and we don't know where or who has his spare."

"If we have it, could we let him back in?"

Captain Howin sighed, shaking his head. "Even with it, he could be trapped inside as we tried to get in. And once we do, how do we stop him escaping or snap him out." he said.

"I guess he can't escape a cell, even after my mother pardoned him."

"Believe me, your majesty, I don't want to see him like this either." said Captain Howin, he turned away to take Zhōng back to his cell. Princess Zhen reached down and touched her mark, the reminder she had to serve Zhōng. A memory flooded her head and tears began to fall from her face regretting it.

Zhōng was sitting in a cell, his mind was blank as he leaned on the wall. He looked over to see his weapons leaning on a wall on the outside of his cell, more specifically the Ninja Sword. His past has haunted him since he took the sword, a weapon he knew was unrivaled. "You alright?" asked a guard.

"Yes, almost ready to go to bed." replied Zhōng.

"Wondering if he'll come to get you again?" asked the guard.

"Legend tells that after two days, they wake up and realize where they're at and the Vow Keeper won't go after them." answered Zhōng.

"What do you think he is?" asked the guard.

"I don't know, he might be a spirit. It won't be the first myth I discover that is true."

The guard looked over to where the weapons that Zhōng was looking at. "Why do you carry a Valtryek?"

"Identity, better to have two than one, and because there's a history behind it."

"Would you mind telling me?"

"During the war, I requested a sword to be made for me. I figure my father will be using the Ninja Sword if the battle arrives at the capital. Having a sword would be helpful to protect me. Although my father didn't like it, considering I was the heir to his blade, he allowed it for that reason."

"Have you wondered why he chose you?"

"There's a reason, my father chose me because I was more favorable than my brother. He knew my brother wasn't well-liked, so having someone everyone likes could save the throne. But that's what I was told not by him but by others. It does make me curious if that's the only reason."

"Would you like to find out for sure?" asked the guard as an evil grin appeared on his face.

Princess Zhen was in the tub alone, she was thinking back on what Lord Tyron and Captain Howin said to her. "There has to be a better way, what did he do that could be so bad?" she thought. She remembers how Zhōng saved her life time and time again whenever their paths crossed, now he was the one that needed to be saved. She touched her mark, she still could feel the hot rod that branded her to become the servant of Zhōng. Feeling it made her shed some tears as she remembered something else as terrible. After minutes of thinking, she got out of the tub and finished taking a bath before changing into fresh clothes to go see Zhōng.

"Excuse us, your majesty." said a guard as he rushed past her heading in the same direction as she was. A couple more went after him as they hurried down the halls.

"Guard," she called out as she pulled one to the side. "What's going on?"

"It's the Fallen Prince, he somehow got out and is on a rampage." reported the guard as he took off to the prison. Princess Zhen's face went pale, she knew something terrible was wrong.

With his eyes closed, Zhōng sensed where all the guards were standing as one by one they tried to take him down. In his right hand was his Valtryek and in his left was the Ninja Sword. Anyone who dared to charge at him was met by his blades even from behind as they tried to take him down. They fired knockout darts which he evaded then went after the ones who shot them. It was a struggle, twenty against one and the minor was winning when Princess Zhen arrived.

Captain Howin then challenged him using his spear as they interlock. "Hey, remember me? I know you're still in there, wake up." pleaded Captain Howin. Zhōng didn't listen as they began to duel each other with real weapons.

"I'm not letting you win this," he stated. The captain was trained with sequential movement, everywhere he struck was where he meant it to be as the next came crashing down. His opponent however wasn't, Zhōng was trained to prepare for any surprise attack and deliver one. While the captain can give combo strikes, Zhōng was able to deflect them and give his own as they battle.

Zhōng soon won by knocking the spear out of Captain Howin's hands but before he could claim victory, five guards charged at him hoping to tackle him. But a sweep from his blades told them to back off although he didn't sense Captain Howin drawing his sword and with the blunt end, he hit Zhōng in the back of the neck. He stumbled from the impact and opened his eyes although they weren't blue. His entire eyes were black like a black hole, his skin began to look pale and his rage and fury were targeting one person. "Come on, wake up!" cried Captain Howin.

Zhōng leaped at Captain Howin with a killing blow from his Valtryek. "No, Zhōng." cried Princess Zhen jumping in front of Captain Howin. Realizing what he was doing, Zhōng used all his reflexes to point the blade somewhere else as he crashed on her and Captain Howin.

"What happened?" groaned Zhōng as he tried to remember how he got there.

"That's what we want to know," said a guard.

"I remember being in my cell then I'm suddenly here." replied Zhōng.

"Was there someone with you?" asked Captain Howin as Zhōng got off of them.

"A guard, he smiled and…" began Zhōng as he started to remember. A whimper from the princess had everyone silent. Zhōng looked down and saw a cut on her thigh, he then looked at his Valtryek and saw blood. "Princess, I'm… I'm,"

"It's alright, it wasn't your fault." forgive Princess Zhen, she looked at the cut and judged it was minor before Captain Howin helped her up.

"No he told me I'm the monster, he was right." stated Zhōng. He looked around at the shocked and confused looks from the guards looking at him, then he decided to run out of the prison.

"Zhōng! Wait!" cried Princess Zhen, running and limping after him. She left the guards confused and wondering what happened. But Captain Howin knew, Zhōng was called and so was Princess Zhen.

Zhōng went faster and faster in the Ninja Mech, hoping that he'll lose Princess Zhen as they flew through the night. Princess Zhen was getting tired, the mech side of the sword wasn't meant to go as far as they were in one go. Once their stamina runs out, in a battle, the soldier would have to fight with his blade as the mech reorganizes and resets before being reactivated. Princess Zhen knew this and didn't want to give up, knowing she needed to stop Zhōng. But her mech couldn't handle it as she crashed land into ruined buildings. She groaned before looking around and realizing where she was, the Old Capital Palace.

Princess Zhen carefully crept through the palace. The last time she was here, she was kicking and screaming as she was dragged deeper into the shadows. The place however felt empty as she went further. Someone in the shadows rushed in front of her, she hurried after it to where she saw him run off. "Zhōng?" she called out as she went the way the shadow did. A little further down, she heard voices.

"You came," said an unfamiliar voice.

"That surprises you?" asked Zhōng. Princess Zhen hid behind a doorway post, on the other side was Zhōng and a person. He was on his knees in front of it, his head was bowed and accepting.

"Well, you broke my trance."

"And that'll stop you from coming after me?"

The person laughed for a while, it sent shivers down Princess Zhen's body. "Well you are very smart and you tried to come alone, how unfortunate someone followed. Though I called her through you as well." said the voice.

Zhōng turned around and saw Princess Zhen appear from the doorway. "Princess, what are you doing?" he asked in shock.

"Perhaps do the thing she swore not to do," said the person. "Shall we take a look?" asked the Vow Keeper as the mist came to swallow them.

"Go! Get out of here!" cried Zhōng as the mist took him. But his cries were too late as Princess Zhen was taken as well. As the mist disappeared, neither of them was there anymore.