Finale: Our Sacrifice

“Sir Reinhardt, we don’t have to do this…”

The paladin pointed his longsword at Rionara. Priscilla stood in front of her glaring at Reinhardt with a death stare.

“Even if my goddess has tossed me aside—I won’t stand for this, I cannot!”

Rionara narrowed her eyes as she gently brushed past Priscilla, standing in front of the knight.

“Then come.” She positioned herself sideways and raised her flint and steel tool at him. “I won’t let anyone stand in my path.”

“What the hell are you two doing?!” Rhys’ voice boomed across the training grounds. Every single person aside from the three readying themselves for battle turned to him. “I don’t remember sanctioning a duel between recruits!”

Rionara didn’t take her eyes off Reinhardt as she spoke.

“Rhys. You are fully aware that this man won’t stop even if you command him, right?”

“And you?!” Rhys shouted. “Lower your weapon, now!”

“I can’t!” Her hand trembled, but her gaze was steel itself. “If he won’t yield, neither will I!”

Rhys prepared to draw his saber and put an end to that spectacle, but a voice rang behind him and a terrible chill went down his spine.

“Why don’t you let them, hm?” The Baron stood behind him with Lydia perched at his side like an armrest. “That seems interesting. A knight against a mage.”

Rhys looked at Reinhardt with widened eyes and yelled.

“Stand down, now!”

Despite his command, Reinhardt rushed to cut Rionara down. She clapped the tool and a spark flew out. A split second later a large blast of fire engulfed the paladin—or at least, Rionara thought so.

A hand grabbed her clothing. She got yanked back just as a blade whistled dangerously close to her face. Reinhardt had managed to evade the blast by a hair’s breadth and was right on top of her.

He followed up by taking another step in and bringing down the sword into an overhead strike. The blade sunk into flesh, but not Rionara’s. Priscilla had yanked her back just in time and caught the paladin’s strike with her bare palm. The metal dug deep into her flesh that started to drip a pitch black ichor.

“Wha-!”

He tried to retrieve his blade but Priscilla’s grip was simply too strong and the moment he tried to create some space—it was already too late. The royal knight stepped in with her left foot and drove the whole weight of her body into a wide haymaker to his face.

He let go of the sword handle just in time to block her fist, but she put so much force in that strike that not only audibly cracked the bones in his forearm, but it also sent him sliding through the dirt.

“Argh!”

After hitting his head on the ground, he lost consciousness.

“Pris!” Rionara stood up and rushed to her side. Desperation started to grow in her chest as she noticed the tar-like substance dripping from her hand. “You’re wounded…!”

Priscilla’s menacing glare softened for a brief moment when she turned to Rionara. She then turned back to stare at Reinhardt and her expression suddenly darkened with anger. The high elf could see her undead knight’s clenched teeth through her lips.

Priscilla tossed the sword aside and started to stomp her way towards the fallen paladin.

Suddenly Rionara felt a violent tug inside her chest.

‘She’s going to kill him…!’

“Stop! Priscilla!” Despite her pleas, the royal knight kept going, her hands slowly closing into tight fists. “Priscilla!”

Every single guard around them was afraid, despite having weapons in their hands, nobody could muster enough courage to move. Even Rhys, who had trained extensively to be able to move in such situations—was now motionless.

Each step the undead knight took was one less step Reinhardt had to live. Rionara could feel it, she was ready to end it.

‘All your suffering will be in vain if you do this!’

“Listen to me! Priscilla!” Rionara shouted from atop her lungs. Her plea was bordering on begging. “You are not like this! Please! I don’t want people to remember you for this!”

The undead knight suddenly stopped as if her body snagged into something. Everyone held their breaths.

A brief moment later, Priscilla looked once again to Rionara, who was clinging to her left arm. The undead’s crimson eyes stared at her and her expression gradually softened until her hands slowly opened as well.

At that moment Rhys exhaled as his shoulders dropped.

‘She… she could have killed him…’ His gaze turned to Rionara, who was now holding Priscilla's face between her hands while touching their forehead together. ‘Did… did you do this, Rionara…?’

“Well that was certainly interesting.” The Baron’s voice carried a contempt as he approached Rhys and tapped him on his shoulder. “Tell your guard prodigy to come with you to meet me after your shift is over.”

The captain closed his hands into fists as he replied.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good, I’ll see you later then.”

Hector left the training grounds, heading towards the center of the city. Rhys turned to the aftermath of the duel and let out an exasperated sigh.

“Men!” He shouted. “Bring a chirurgeon from the guild for Reinhardt! Jeanne! To my office, now!”

Rionara turned to him and silently nodded. Priscilla stood behind her with a serious glare aimed at Rhys. The high elf tugged her jacket and in turn, the undead knight followed her with firm steps.

Walking to the office also left Rhys uneasy. Most guards that came across Priscilla either tried to leave in a hurry or avoid locking eyes with her crimson gaze.

Once inside the room, Rhys pulled an extra chair and placed it beside the one usually in front of his desk.

“Sit down.”

He ordered as he rummaged through a bag in the corner of the room. Rionara stood in front of the extra chair in order to help Priscilla, but the undead knight—although a bit stiff, didn’t have any problems sitting down. The high elf did the same and waited.

Rhys came back with a roll of bandages and grabbed Priscilla’s left hand. The undead held a serious glare at him. The black ichor from her palm was bubbling.

“Does she feel pain?” The captain asked.

Rionara shook her head.

“Good.”

Rhys didn’t waste any time and wrapped her wound with the bandages. The bubbling ichor stained the bandage but at least it stopped oozing from the wound.

Priscilla’s gaze remained on the bandage for a while before she eventually turned to Rionara—who smiled quietly at her.

“Rionara.” He sat down across the table from her and spoke with a tone that felt unusual to her. “Why did you fight him?”

“It was for self defense.”

“You could have ran.”

“I could. But I wouldn’t leave Priscilla by herself.”

Rhys’ gaze remained on her for a while before he eventually lowered his head and sighed.

“Rionara, in this line of work, the less attention you draw to yourself, the better.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“The Baron saw your power.” He then pointed at Priscilla. “He saw her.”

“The Baron?”

“Yes, a lowlife scum that runs this city from the shadows. He wants to meet you.”

There was a brief moment of hesitation before she spoke.

“So? I’m not unfamiliar with those sorts of people.”

“Don’t try to make yourself sound brave. He is the last person you’d want to meet in this city.”

“Hmph. Let me guess, it’s another one that sees Priscilla as a ‘thing’, isn’t it?”

Rhys stopped for a second before answering her question.

“He will stop at nothing to get what he wants.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

“Leave this city. I’ll assign you two a patrol post outside the walls-”

She let out a short chuckle before her eyes narrowed. Her deep blue irises had a glint of rage in them.

“No. We won’t run. Not until I kill whatever thing took Priscilla away from me.”

He couldn’t even believe his own eyes.

“You…”

Her steel resolve was nothing short of inspiring. For a moment, Rhys thought she was looking at Priscilla. He closed his eyes and brought his hands close to his own face.

‘You haven’t given up, have you?’ He thought. Bitterness was taking a hold of his chest. ‘Unlike me, you still fight for your ideals, don’t you?’

“I’ve… I made an oath to myself.” Rionara spoke with her gaze lowering to the table in front of her. Her brows were still furrowed as if she was in pain. “I can’t undo all the tragedy I’ve caused. But I can choose how Priscilla and I are remembered. We’ll stay in this city until I’ve repaid all my debts.” She then looked up at Rhys. Her eyes burned with determination. “So help me, Rhys. Help me finish this.”

Outside, Reinhardt was regaining consciousness to a chirurgeon casting healing magic on him. The sickly green glow made his left arm itch.

“Ugh…” He groaned.

“You don’t want to move while he’s healing you.” A familiar female voice came from his right.

“Lucina…?”

“Reinhardt, who did this to you?”

That question made him remember what happened during the fight. His right hand clenched into a tight fist.

“Priscilla… she… she was-”

“I saw it happen with my own eyes.” She interrupted him. “But, this is hardly the place to talk about this.”

“Ugh…” Reinhardt raised his left arm and tested his grip. He felt an itch coming from within his arm but at least it wasn’t painful. He glanced at the chirurgeon and said. “Thank you.”

He sat up. The guards around him kept training as if nothing had happened. Lucina, on the other hand, extended a helping hand to him.

“It’s fine…” He stood up and patted the dirt off his clothes.

“I got permission from captain Rhys in order to talk to you.” Lucina walked past him, towards the back of the training grounds. “Come.”

Reinhardt looked over his shoulder at the spot where he was knocked down and the image of Priscilla flashed in his mind. A confident and skilled knight, the grace of her movements and the meaning of her title. It was all gone in his mind.

He turned around and followed Lucina. Each step of the way felt like dragging weights around his shoulder that weren’t there.

‘I thought… I thought witnessing both of them die was bad enough…’ No matter how many times he tried to erase that image from his mind. Priscilla’s monstrous sight was still vivid in his eyes. ‘But this… this is too much…’

“Sir Reinhardt.”

He looked up at her with vacant eyes.

“Yes?”

“The guild has a job for you.”

“A job?”

The receptionist nodded with a dark expression on her face.

“You are to maintain a close eye on Rionara and her… undead.”

He blinked a few times, his eyes narrowing.

“What…?”

“The guild is aware of your powers as a paladin.” She spoke as if she had rehearsed everything she was saying. “Thanks to captain Rhys’ interference and the Baron’s influence, there is nothing the guild can do but to watch closely. You are to determine whether Rionara is someone that can be trusted.”

He looked at his own trembling hands. He had failed Elaine once, Priscilla twice and now they were trying to place yet another life on his hands.

“I… I can’t-”

“Reinhardt.” Lucina spoke with a serious tone in her voice. “Not as a guild receptionist but as a long time friend, do not leave things done half-heartedly. I can’t begin to imagine the pain you’re going through, but please… please consider this as a personal request. Do not let Rionara walk down that path alone.”

‘You’re asking a paladin to overlook this corruption?’

But haven’t you already?

‘This city… it’s not like I can fight every evil.’

You choose not to.

‘What other choice did I have?’

Everyone has the power to choose.

‘No… no…! This would mean-’

Their deaths, they are all on you.

“REINHARDT!” Lucina’s voice snapped him out of it. He looked at her with widened eyes. “Please, even if you can’t stand for her. At least watch her, witness her actions and then you can return to the guild. Please, you’re the only one who I can trust her safety with.”

“I… I tried to cut her down…”

“I know.” She tightened her hands into fists, anger flashed in her eyes—not at him, but herself. “I know… but this is not like you, is it? Deep down you know why she did that to Priscilla, don’t you?”

He looked at the ground and closed his eyes.

“If… if I had her power… I would’ve done the same to Elaine…” He then brought both of his hands near his face and took a slow, deep breath. “I knew.” He spoke while lowering his hands. His eyes were tinged with sadness and regret. “I knew, yet I lifted the sword at her.”

Lucina smiled softly at him.

“If you understand, go and apologize to her. Rionara is a good girl, I’m sure she won’t hold a grudge against you.”

He frowned his brows, looking at the ground in front of his feet.

“Yeah… it’s the right thing to do.”

Footsteps approached behind him. As he turned around, he saw Rhys being flanked by four veteran guards, they all held halberds at the ready.

“Reinhardt.” The captain spoke with a serious expression on his face. “You are to remain in the barracks’ prison until further notice.”

“What…?”

Lucina was about to open her mouth to say something but Rhys simply raised his open palm, prompting her to stay quiet.

“From what Jeanne told me during interrogation, you were the one starting the fight and some of the guards attested to it.”

“Yes… I attacked first.”

With a motion of Rhys’ hand, the guards flanking him marched forward, circling the knight with their halberds ready.

“Be grateful I’m not executing you for attacking a fellow guard member.”

Reinhardt lifted both his hands up and turned to Lucina with a dry smile.

“I’ll take a while, but I’ll fulfill my duty.”

“Take him to the prison.”

“Yes, Sir!”

The guards slowly began to escort Reinhardt away. As they moved, Rhys spoke without looking at Lucina.

“Did the guild reach the same conclusion?”

“Yes. She’ll be under surveillance.”

“And they decided it would be best to put a fellow Arcadian knight to do so?”

Lucina’s expression became bitter with guilt.

“...Yes. Once they realized who Priscilla used to be, nobody dared to name anyone else for the job.”

“Understandably so.”

“What about the Baron? Did he say anything to you?”

Those words made Rhys lower his gaze—he rubbed his fingers against each other.

“He… he saw Rionara’s potential. He wants to meet her.”

“Goddess…”

“I don’t intend to let him use her. If he gets his hands on Priscilla as well, there is no telling what he’ll do.”

“The guild can’t do much against him either…”

“I won’t let him.” Rionara’s made both of them turn at her. The high elf wore a serious expression on her face that mirrored Priscilla’s as the knight stood tall behind her. “I won’t let anybody treat Priscilla as a mere tool.”

“Things are not that simple, Jeanne.” The captain spoke with a somber tone. “His strength lies in cunning, he won’t rest until he has what he wants.”

“Does that mean you’ll just accept his words then?” Rionara brandished her arm out in disbelief.

“That’s not what I said. I’m telling you to be extra careful, a foe that hides in plain sight is worse than the arch-enemy that plans your downfall from afar.”

Amidst the conversation, Lucina walked up to Priscilla. The knight noticed her approach and at first just followed her movement with her eyes.

Once the receptionist was close enough to her, she raised her hand to Priscilla’s face and gently rubbed her cheek with her thumb. Her skin felt cold, dead. But when touched, the knight turned her head towards her and reached for the receptionist's hand before gently pushing it away.

Lucina was a bit surprised at first, but then she eventually smiled with her eyes closed.

‘I hope, deep down—you’re still there, somewhere, Priscilla.’

She took half a step back and bowed to Rionara.

“Please, take care of her.”

It took a moment but Rionara eventually answered with a determined gaze.

“I will, Miss Lucina.”