Gladius's Wrath

"They’re sending you to the South?" Gladius asked calmly, looking down at Gerald while casually wiping his rapier after their sparring session.

Gerald was heavily panting, covered in bruises, and lying on the ground with his back against a tree.

"Yeah, His Majesty thinks I could turn the tide in our favor. Ghaa, man, can you hold back a little? I'm not as durable as that witless brute — though I bet he'd end up the same way."

"Do you want me to put in a good word for you? I can ask them to send Andrew instead. I looked at the reports, and the South looks like the most unpredictable one."

"Nah, I’m good. Anyway, it looks like they’ll send that dumbo to the North. I wouldn’t mind swapping with Milana, though — I heard the winds in the West are the best. But either way, I think I’ll manage. You know me — ‘unpredictable’ might as well be my middle name… Maybe this will be my big break. Perhaps bringing victory there will finally earn me the title of Great Hero."

"It's too early for that. You still have time."

"But you and Katerina earned it when you were my age, didn't you? How many of His children did you two kill? Surely, if I kill one, I'll get it."

"Killing them wasn’t easy, Gerald. Most of the time, it was just luck. It was one of the few times death came that close to me. You can’t ever let your guard down around them. Ever. A lot of promising heroes died because they underestimated them. Most couldn't even land a hit..."

"Well, that won’t be me. I won't let them kill me that easily. And anyway, the people there need me. If my presence helps ease their burden or saves even one life, then I’ll be there — no matter what. But just in case... in case something happens, I want to ask you a favor. I know it’s selfish — especially after everything you’ve already done for me — but still, I ask you: please, look after Maya and the little one if I... Not that I’m planning to leave them, but, as you said, it’s unpredictable."

"That goes without saying. But I would prefer it if you took care of them yourself."

“I would prefer that too, man! But you know how it goes. Hopefully, this is all just talk, and two months from now we'll laugh at this dappy conversation."

Gerald suddenly stood and looked at the setting sun.

"If I'd told myself ten years ago that I’d become someone important, a hero with a gorgeous noblewoman as a wife and enough money to buy a mansion — the old me would’ve spat in my face and gone back to cleaning some baron’s toilet. Hehe. I was just a pathetic slave. But you, Gladius… you changed my life. I still can’t properly express how grateful I am. I never did. And even now, it’s hard to say — but I think this is the right moment... I’m thankful, my old friend. I’d even dare say you’re more than a friend. You know I never had a father… and I’ve always looked at you that way. Sorry. I know it’s probably a burden to hear, but I just wanted to say it — at least once."

Gerald smiled wide, scratching his cheek, trying to hide the embarrassment on his face.

Gladius bowed his head and pursed his lips, barely hiding his own shyness.

"There’s no need for gratitude. I didn’t do anything. I just saw the potential. If you didn’t have it, your life would’ve stayed the same. So thank the star that gifted you the talent — not me.”

"Man, when will you learn to take compliments? I was trying to be sincere here. I was having a moment and you just blew it."

"What else do you want me to do? If you want a hug, go to your wife. If you want praise, go to the people. They already adore you. If you want fatherly guidance… I’m glad things are going well for you. And I’d be disappointed if you lost it all to carelessness. So if you’re looking for advice, you won’t hear anything new: don’t let your guard down, think a few moves ahead, and always ask yourself — what would you do if you were in the enemy’s place?"

"I will. I’ll show those fellas who the hell I am and why they shouldn’t have messed with our Empire," Gerald said with a confident smirk.

"That’s what I wanted to hear," Gladius replied, with the faintest smile.

********************************************************************************

Everyone in the ballroom froze. Many couldn’t believe what they’d just heard. The comforting bubble they’d been living in popped. Whispers and panic rippled through the crowd.

The Emperor and Empress stood in disbelief. The Empress’s fury erupted as she stormed toward the messenger, her bloodlust making him shrink beneath her glare.

"You couldn’t find a better place to deliver that message, you insolent, brainless fool?! What made you think this was a good idea?! Such news should be reported privately! You’re not qualified to deliver anything! You belong in the mud with pigs — digging, not talking!"

"But they told me it was urgent and I needed to—"

"You DARE argue with the Empress?! Is your head weighing you down? I can fix that!"

The messenger dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.

Even Andrew and Katerina were stunned. Andrew's carefree expression turned grim.

Katerina looked worriedly at Gladius, reaching for his hand, but he was frozen. Stunned. Breathless.

The person he’d known since childhood. The person he had raised and taught everything he knew. The person that he had hopes and faith in. The person who became to him like a son. This person was just gone. His body buried among other bodies or even trampled by monsters. Irretrievable.

Gladius clenched his fist.

Andrew finally spoke. "Well, it could be worse."

Gladius slowly looked up. His gaze pierced Andrew.

“Admit it. He wasn’t that big of a loss. Killed by a Princess? How pathetic is that? He was overconfident from the start — maybe his arrogance dug his grave. Either that, or he was just too weak. Or maybe he gave up and let her win. The kid was emotional. Gagaga! And that’s how he ended up on the Other Side. I bet he’s dying of shame over there.”

Katerina raised her fist, about to punch the barbarian, but Gladius moved first.

Andrew's eyes widened as a hand appeared in front of his face and seized him then, suddenly, he realized that his feet left the ground.

Gladius smashed Andrew’s face into the ballroom window—the one that had framed the moonlit sky. He scraped him across it, cracking glass and shaking walls. People screamed and fled. The Emperor and Empress watched, stunned.

Then Gladius began slamming Andrew into the wall. Once. Twice. Until it cracked — then shattered. He hurled Andrew out into the trimmed royal garden.

Andrew couldn’t move. His face was a bloody mess.

Gladius leapt from the balcony and landed beside him.

Katerina didn’t stop him. She only watched with sorrow in her eyes.

Andrew raised a trembling hand.

"S-stop... Wait... What did I do... I’m sorry..." He was blinded by the swelling, but the terror in his voice was unmistakable. He had never felt fear like this.

"I can’t hear you," Gladius said without blinking.

And punched him.

Again.

And again.

No emotion crossed Gladius’s face. Only the coldest rage remained in his eyes. Andrew lay nearly dead when Gladius whispered:

"Reverse."

A green light illuminated Andrew. His face began to heal. Teeth rose from the bloodied ground and returned to his mouth. In ten seconds, he looked untouched.

Andrew whimpered, panicking, staring at Gladius.

"Wait, let’s talk about this, Gladius. Everything I said — just forget it. I'm a brute. My wording—"

Another punch silenced him. Gladius didn’t flinch. A wave of crashing punches rained down on Andrew’s face. Gladius’s fists, still stained with blood, moved with terrifying calm.He raised his fist for a final strike—

But Katerina placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He’s had enough, dear. The ball’s over. Why don’t we go home and take a nice bath together, with your favourite lily petals?” she whispered with a soft smile.

Gladius's lips trembled, his brow furrowed and He bowed his head, trying to hide his eyes behind his white curls.

“He wasn’t weak... A man like him would never give up. I’ve never met a greater and more worthy man. You… you'll never even be half of what he was. He was destined for greatness... but unlike you, luck wasn’t on his side.”
Gladius coldly stared at Andrew, who was shaking like a frightened puppy.

Gladius rose.

“Reverse,” he said quietly.

This time, the green glow didn’t just envelop Andrew. It expanded, spreading back toward the ballroom restoring it to its previous state.

The Emperor and Empress, watching from the balcony, stood frozen.

“I apologize for the disturbance, Your Majesties. I lost my composure. I hope it won’t happen again. But some things… are beyond control. Decisions lead to consequences. I hope that next time, the consequences won’t be as disastrous as they were now.” His cold gaze locked on the Emperor one final time before turning away.

“Enjoy the rest of the night, Your Majesties. I hope you sleep well,” Katerina added with a daunting smile, bowing before following Gladius and gently taking his arm.

The Empress and Emperor stood as statues, frozen with lost expressions in the silence Gladius left behind.

The Empress’s face had drained of colour, her lips parted in shock. But the Emperor trembled — panic seized his face, his eyes stretched wide. He gasped and began panting heavily. In the depths of his gaze, something cracked. And in that crack, a flicker of madness sparked to life.