Desperate Effort

“I’m sorry, princess Freydis.” Runa said as she helped Freydis prepare for her announcement.

As promised, Freydis will announce her marriage and which family she will join. The occasion has brought Solgrad to a halt, even people of other realms have made their way for the decision. It will be the start of a new era, but Freydis is only saddened by the fact.

“I don’t want you to apologize, Runa. The decision is mine. Of course, those fools have already sent threats should I not choose their family, but I will deal with them in time. Runa, will you stay by my side? I will need your help. I want to support Eiric, Vilgur, and Sigrun, but I must make sure the new king does not abuse his power.”

“I will always be at your side. Even if I can no longer fight, you can always rely on me.”

Freydis hugs Runa. “Thank you. Now then, it is time.”

“I have had enough of your meddling.” Tyran lands in front of Eiric as Solgrad appears over the hills; the earth shattering landing is their first warning, “You three are misled, ignorant. But our queen to be wishes to support your chase for a cure, so be it. Do not disrespect her decision, you are fortunate to not be imprisoned and executed on the spot. Leave!”

“Do you believe forcing her to make this decision is fair?” Vilgur said.

“It is her responsibility. I understand her wishes against it, but such is the sacrifice we must make for Mithold! For everyone! Even for you! We will bring order and safety. I will support her decision to help you three, but the moment she realizes we have no other choice, I will be the blade she can rely on.”

“She will never trust you.”

“How can you say that?”

“You don’t understand her. She would never make such a violent decision, she will exhaust every other option before doing so, even at the cost of her life. It’s what she is doing now, and I won’t let her do it alone!”

“Fool. She has made her decision.”

“I want her to say it. I want her to say she is ok with this.”

“I won’t let you near her.”

Eiric pushes Vilgur aside, matching Tyran’s speed and parrying the giant axe.

“You’ve improved.” Tyran said.

“My mother is a lot scarier than you.”

“For once we agree.”

Eiric leads the charge with Vilgur at his side. The young warriors keep Tyran in place as Sigrun showers him with spells from afar. Each attempt to burst past them is met with a counterattack, or a shield stronger than Tyran ever expected.

At best, however, the three can only keep Tyran at bay. And, it is clear that Tyran has no intentions of using full strength out of respect for Freydis. His plan is only to keep them at bay until Freydis has announced her decision to make it final.

Thank you all, your words of endearment mean the world to me.

Freydis’s speech begins, her voice heard around the kingdom and its grounds by magic.

As you know, the time for me to take the throne has arrived. I have neglected this responsibility, for that I apologize. But I will no longer do so. With this, I can say with confidence that I will be able to create new relations with our sister realms, and I have hope that the blessed will soon be cured as well.

“Ahhh!”

Tyran’s plan should work. He outmatches his three opponents with ease, their skill far improved but not enough to match that of a captain of Solgrad. Yet, with each strike, his opponents become stronger, faster, they push him back with each desperate strike.

“Dangerous.” Tyran dents Vilgur’s shield with a punch before grabbing Eiric and tossing him away, “You. you are the one Freydis looks to most. I only need to eliminate you.”

Tyran punches Vilgur’s shield until the demon boy is forced to toss it aside. He begins a close quarter exchange with the captain. Only their fist in use, each unwilling to give an inch until Sigrun interferes.

“Fjorir Cannon!” A cannon of ice fires at Tyran, each strike strong enough to send him flying back.

Vilgur rushes forward, making sure to keep an endless onslaught on Tyran and prevent him from regaining ground.

“If you truly supported her, you would let her do what she really wants!” Vilgur’s punch is caught by Tyran, his armor falling and body growing wider with excess magic.

“No. If you loved her, you would do everything you could to make this decision easier for her.” Tyran punches Vilgur into the ground, “You think you will succeed?! What happens when you fail?! What will she do then?! She has placed all her hope in you and you are nothing but a weakling!” Tyran’s raises his leg and aims to crush Vilgur’s head; however, just before he lowers his leg, his body reacts and jumps away.

So far in the fight, none of the three younglings have emitted bloodlust. Of the three, only Eiric has killed, but even he is unable to emit bloodlust as Sigrun does at the moment.

“What a monster. Such bloodlust should be impossible. What are you?”

Sigrun raises her hand, her eyes emotionless as her mind focuses on only one thing: killing Tyran. Not only does he stand in their way, he attempted to killed Vilgur. For such a slight, she feels no need to hold back her greatest power.

“Shadow magic, claws of the de-”

“I think I can take it from here.” Eiric pulls Sigrun into his chest.

“E-Eiric. I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok. Vilgur! We need a change of plan; we stand no chance against Tyran.”

Vilgur returns to their side, “You seem in a good mood for someone saying that we have no chance.”

“No chance at beating him, but we’ll use his own honor to our advantage. Love, I have an idea, though you two may call me crazy.” Eiric gives a quick explanation of his idea before grabbing his sword.

“He called me love; you never use baby names.” Sigrun said as she skipped around.

“This is a crazy idea; how can you be sure that he won’t kill you?! Sigrun?!”

Eiric points his sword at Tyran. “Because, he wants nothing more than to protect Mithold. And if a chance exists within me to help to that end, he won’t kill me. Isn’t that right, Tyran?”

“What are you up to?”

“Like I thought. I can buy two minutes, can you do it sweetie?”

“Kyaah! Of course! Come here you!” Sigrun pulls Vilgur by the ear.

“Agh! Eiric! Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it, and good luck.”

Eiric approaches Tyran.

“You won’t get past me.”

“I don’t need to. You’re right, Tyran, I am weak. But I am going to get stronger, and I will cure the blessed.”

“If only I could trust you.”

“Two minutes.”

“Two?”

“For two minutes I will fight with everything I have. I will show how strong my will is. If you hold back you could die, but when that time is over, Vilgur will be past you, and I will still be standing.”

“So, I must get past you to stop them. That will be simple, knocking you out is easy enough.”

“Well, you’re welcome to try.”

Their exchange begins; Tyran’s axe swings are heavy but manageable in comparison to Astrid. Eiric keeps his ground, his swordsmanship on par with Tyran thanks to Astrid and his rampant memories that flooded his mind in the two weeks since leaving Solgrad.

Eiric kicks Tyran away before reappearing in front of the captain with his sword high. Tyran counter swings with all his might to stop the sword of light speed,

“Solgrad’s judgement!”

“Ō no Yaiba!”

An explosion engulfs the area as their swords clash. The explosion is heard in Solgrad, Freydis stopping her speech but approached by a soldier to reassure her that the danger is nowhere near the kingdom.

“You fought well.” Tyran said, deciding his victory before the dust clears.

Inside the cloud of dust, Eiric remains standing. Blood drips from his head, his stance is unstable, but he has not lost the challenge.

“I’m far from done!” Eiric dashes forward, the strength of his sword even stronger than before.

“How? Why?! That attack should have sent you to sleep! You’re a monster just like your parents!”

“Good! I need to be. Tyran, I want this more than you.”

“You only want to protect yourself!”

“You’re wrong! My body has long since passed its limits. I should be unconscious. But I refuse. I refuse to lose here, I refuse to leave a friend alone, and I refuse to lose myself before saving everyone!”

Tyran pushes Eiric away. “What magnificent will. But you cannot get past me.”

“Heh, that’s two minutes. Sigrun!”

“Aw! Use a baby name! Ready Vilgur?”

“I. I’m not sure about this.”

Sigrun stands proud as she has successfully created what Eiric envisioned. Her shadow magic, ever growing from one’s grief, is often believed to only be useful to harm and destroy. But Eiric’s words convinced Sigrun otherwise, he believes that under her the magic would be used to protect and help.

“It’s all because you’re so kind he says.” Sigrun smiles, behind her is a giant slingshot made of her shadow magic with Vilgur loaded inside, “Vilgur! I’m proud to be called your little sister!”

“Absolutely, just watch your older brother!”

With that, Vilgur is launched for Solgrad. Past Tyran, and over the walls of Solgrad.