The Golden Blade

An almost palpable tension filled the air as the two warriors approached each other. Caelus faced his foe with a hearty smirk while Heldran carried a stoic face.

"So you're the one called Golden Blade, right?" Caelus inquired "I would've expected you to look a lot more flashy."

"And I expected a more chivalrous individual, but the world doesn't conform to one man's views, Star Child." Heldran replied, bitterness dripping from his voice

Caelus' knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. He lunged forward, swinging at the knight's jaw with raw, unrestrained force, but his gold-adorned sword flashed, redirecting the blow with a swift parry. A dull clang rang out in the dim morning light.

Heldran didn't budge an inch.

Caelus gritted his teeth, throwing another punch, this time feinting low before going for an uppercut. Yet again, Goldmarke twisted at the perfect angle, knocking his fist aside with ease.

"You know, you're quite something," Heldran noted, stepping back smoothly, utterly unbothered, "Look at all you've done and yet I do not sense a drop of mana from you." he stretched his hand out across his unconscious Order members

"So?"

"Why won't you use it? Your magic? Any knight that wants to be worth anything in this world must be able to use it, especially one as celebrated as you, Star Child." he continued, his brow furrowing as he spoke

"Didn't feel like it." Caelus replied, wagging a finger

Heldran narrowed his eyes.

Caelus smirked. "You and your friends aren't strong enough for me to resort to my magic. The River Souls aren't worth the effort."

The weight of those words sank into the morning air. For a moment, Heldran stood still, a shadow falling over his face. Then, in an instant, his aura surged through the square.

"Arrogant bastard!" he growled

A bright glow emanated from his body, his blade gleaming like the sun. The morning haze seemed to part, as if the air itself feared his presence. The light wrapped around him in spiralling arcs, tracing his armour like divine markings.

"If you will not take me seriously, then I will force you to."

He stepped forward, his sword flashing. A thin crescent of golden light burst from its edge, slicing through the air toward Caelus. Caelus barely moved out the way, feeling the light's heat graze his side before it carved into the cobblestone behind him.

"Light magic, huh? That's pretty rare. So you're actually trying now?" Caelus muttered

Heldran raised his free hand. More arcs of light spun around his palm, condensing into a swirling orb of light. He pushed it off into the sky.

"Lichtregen!"

The orb fragmented into a collection of radiant projectiles and began raining down, each one detonating on impact. Caelus wove between them, but Heldran was already ahead of him. In a blur, the knight appeared at his side, swinging Goldmarke in a heavy arc. Caelus raised his arm to block, with the force behind the swing almost breaking his forearm.

His feet skidded across the square.

"You said you didn't use magic because we were too weak." Heldran's black eyes burned with anger. "How about now?!"

Caelus rolled his shoulders, feeling the pain progress into his body. "Alright!" he sighed, "You wanna make me take you seriously? Then gimme something serious!"

"Flowing Light! Speer!"

A shining spear materialised next to Heldran, then it flew straight at Caelus. He quickly stepped to the side, avoiding the attack.

"Unterlauf!" Heldran called out

The knight quickly stepped into Caelus' guard, directing a light-fuelled kick at his head. Caelus quickly ducked, only to be met by a glowing Goldmarke incoming from his right.

"Strom!" Heldran continued

Caelus swiftly jumped back and quickly regained his footing. He immediately put his focus onto getting back on the offensive. Upon raising his eyes, he witnessed the moment that Heldran's aura spiked. What he saw was a blinding surge condensed around the knight's fist. The intensity of mana bent the air around his arm, forming a sphere of raw, compressed light. In one motion, he drove it forward.

"Licht Kaiser!!"

Oh shit! That's gonna hurt! Caelus immediately thought

His instincts screamed at him instantly—block.

He braced, crossing his arms over his face as the attack collided. The impact sent a shockwave ripping through the square. His body was hurled backward like a meteor, crashing through walls, windows, wooden beams and stone.

He groaned as he landed, blinking up at an unfamiliar ceiling. The scent of lavender and spices filled his nose.

"Ugh...."

A sharp gasp caught his attention.

He turned his head.

A girl stared at him, her rose hair a cascading mess, her violet eyes wide with shock. She sat at the edge of a grand canopy bed, wrapped in silk sheets that barely covered her form. Caelus' memory quickly remembered that she was Princess Kiria, heir to the throne of Eldralis.

Her face slowly turned red.

Caelus blinked.

"...Uh, hey." Caelus cheesily uttered

"Wh-what are you doing in my room?!" Kiria squeaked

"I was, uh, blasted here." Caelus replied, pushing himself up

The princess quickly pulled the sheets closer to herself, her flustered expression darting between Caelus and the gaping hole in her wall. She took a deep breath, her noble composure struggling to piece itself back together.

"Y-you—" she started before pausing, "What... happened?"

"Nothing much, just fighting your 'strongest knight', y'know, that Heldran guy. Didn't expect him to punch that hard," Caelus muttered. He stretched his arms, his body still buzzing from Heldran's Licht Kaiser. "But, uh, since I'm here—might as well make this productive. Who sent the River Souls after me?"

Kiria frowned. "...No such order was given."

"What?" Caelus narrowed his eyes

"There was no such order given. Not from me, my father or the grand general. The River Souls are only mobilised for the most vital needs." she replied, looking at him with a quiet intensity

"So I wasted my time fighting them?" Caelus groaned

"Do you know why they came after you, Sir Star Child?"

"They wanted me to take up your dad's—I mean the king's offer. To join Eldralis' army."

"Oh..."

"Oh, well! I should be leaving soon!" Caelus stepped to the hole in the wall

"W-wait!" Kiria hesitated, before meeting his turning gaze. "Before you leave... I want you to do something for me..."

"Hm?" Caelus raised a brow

"Please... cooperate with my father. Not as a knight. Not as a weapon. But as a friend. An ally." She spoke, her voice steadying, "I believe that any issues will be resolved faster if you work with us rather than against us."

"Lemme get this straight. I keep my freedom?"

"Yes."

"...No working for your dad?"

"Yes." she chuckled

"Alright then! I guess I can play nice." Caelus breathed out in relief, crossing his legs as he sat at the foot of the bed

Similarly, a breath of relief passed through Kiria's lips, her hands still trembling from the shock of this absurd situation.

Then, the doors slammed open.

An attendant stumbled into the room, their eyes widening in horror at the sight of Caelus sitting at the princess' bed, her sheets in disarray and the massive hole in her wall letting in the morning light. Not long after, Heldran stepped in through the hole, his armour glowing with traces of lingering light. Kiria quickly turned away from her visitors, covering her face in pink embarrassment.

The silence was deafening.

"Yo!" Caelus waved casually

Heldran's eye twitched.

"Just what were you doing with our princess?" the knight asked, barely repressing his anger

"Nothing!" Caelus swiftly replied

The princess squealed loudly in her sheepishness.

"You will explain yourself now!" Heldran demanded