Eris' Resolution

“...Well, that sure is one helluva way to become her knight, even if only temporarily.” Medrauta remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Although Eris’ story certainly sounded more than a little embellished, the silver-haired knight was sure that its core components were true at the very least. Thinking back on it, Eris did seem like the impulsive type to Medrauta, particularly when she had suddenly issued a challenge after learning of Medrauta’s status as Avalyne Academy’s strongest knight.

“It sure was.” Eris nodded in agreement, a nostalgic smile on her face as she stared off into the night sky. “I can still remember how I felt at that moment. Jubilant. Triumphant. Joyous. I wanted to do nothing more than celebrate the fact that I had been recognized by Lady Scarlet not as the most illustrious noblewoman in the empire, but as the noblewoman I longed to serve.”

“And then that one victory went to your head?” Medrauta asked, speaking in a deliberately conversational tone to reinforce the casual mood despite the heavy topic they were about to delve into.

Eris nodded again, pressing her lips into a thin line as she recalled the expression she had seen reflected in Medrauta’s sword. “Yes... I suspect this began ever since then. Why Lady Scarlet still kept me by her side or continues to do so despite that is beyond me. In truth, I’ve had my own doubts even before I left the Imperial Academy to follow her into battle, but I always pushed them aside, unwilling to face such an ugly part of me. It was only after I saw myself in the steel of your blade that I had no choice but to accept these twisted feelings in my heart.”

“You couldn’t have known your opponent would be Kail though,” Medrauta shrugged.

“No,” Eris admitted. “But Lady Scarlet probably did. Perhaps that was the only reason why she allowed me to fight in Sir Lucas’ stead. As a test. How I managed to pass is beyond me, but ever since then, I’d only fought for my own victory.”

Kail was the name of a knight who had been a part of Eris’ order when she had still been serving as a squire. A boy of impressive stature and build, Kail had regularly taken part in bullying Eris or simply mocking her presence in the order. Although rude, his comments hadn’t exactly been inaccurate either as Eris was mostly deadweight when it came to sparring, physical training, or anything having to do with brute strength.

When Eris stepped into the arena and found that she would be testing her newfound skills against one of her old tormentors, she had forgotten the very reason why she had taken up her weapons, wielding them for the sole purpose of revenge. Although she had managed to win that match, her reputation as a knight had suffered due to her status as a knight-errant and she had failed to secure a lord or lady after Lucas’ recovery. Not only that, but Eris’ use of daggers and hidden weapons didn’t do her any favors either.

“Isn’t that what a knight should fight for? Victory?” Medrauta asked. In the end, victory was all that mattered when it came to the arena. Despite the chivalric codes that knights touted around, the arena was a violent affair designed to decide a victor in order to settle disputes.

“...Yes, but the victory that I sought was not the type that a knight should seek. When you swing your blade, you hope to carve a path for Lady Viviane, isn’t that right?”

“Of course.” Medrauta nodded.

“And when I swing my blades, it is Lady Scarlet that I must carve a path for. Not myself. That was my dearest wish, and the desire I held in my heart when I first volunteered to become Lady Scarlet’s knight, albeit temporarily. But... After that day, I’d lost that wish. I’d lost it to the whispers around me, and I began fighting merely for my own sake. I’d worked so hard only to be ridiculed again, so I fought desperately, not for Lady Scarlet’s glory, but to prove to everyone that I was strong. And that they were wrong.”

To that, Medrauta had no response. Aside from not having witnessed Eris’ journey at the Imperial Academy, she had never felt the need to prove that she was strong. She knew she was strong, and everyone around her knew it too. It had always been that way even during her squirehood. Although the imperial knights had looked down on Medrauta due to her orphan upbringing, she quickly earned their respect during training and sparring drills. There was never a need for her to explicitly prove her strength because it had always been expressed naturally in all that she did.

Medrauta knew she couldn’t possibly understand what Eris had gone through, and in the face of Eris’ confession, the silver-haired knight could do nothing but remain silent.

As Medrauta struggled to find a way to help Eris overcome her undesired feelings that stemmed from her deep-seated sense of inferiority, the familiar sound of grass rustling in the wake of footsteps reached her ears, prompting her to whirl around quickly.

“Was that the burden you were so desperately hiding from me, Eris?” Scarlet spoke before Medrauta could so much as utter a greeting, her violet eyes completely ignoring the silver-haired knight’s presence as they zeroed in on Eris’ panicked face.

“W-What!? M-My lady, when did you get here!?” Eris floundered, somehow managing to fall over from a sitting position. She scrambled to her feet, eyes darting around wildly as if she were going to run off like a spooked doe at any second.

“I assume she’s been here since you started talking.” Medrauta said with a casual shrug.

Although Eris had been adamant about keeping Scarlet out of this issue, the silver-haired knight certainly didn’t see the point in doing so. Perhaps it was because she had learned to rely on Viviane so much, but Medrauta found that sharing things with the person she loved and admired—even if those things were a part of yourself that you hated—deepened the bond between them. As far as she knew, it’d be the same for Eris.

She took the moment to glance behind Scarlet, her keen vision piercing through the dark as she searched for anyone who might’ve accompanied the noblewoman. She found no one.

“S-Since I’ve started talking!? Y-You! You knew she was there, didn’t you!?” Eris directed her frustration and embarrassment to Medrauta, knowing full-well how shameful it was to do so before Scarlet. All she wanted to do right now was delay the inevitable as long as possible.

“The hell are you on about?” Medrauta squinted, brushing stray blades of grass from her bottom as she stood up. “Of course I didn’t. More importantly, where’s Viviane? Did she not come with you, Lady Scarlet?”

Scarlet shook her head. “Lady Viviane stayed behind to coordinate tomorrow’s battle plans with the garrison commander. Since the battle lines have advanced, we’ll have to adjust our tactics as we push to the second shield tower. Hopefully Lady Rosaline and Lady Estelle will have captured their objective before we arrive at our destination.”

Medrauta nodded. “I guess I’ll go join her while the two of you sort yourselves out.”

Much to the knight’s surprise, Scarlet stepped in front of her, barring Medrauta’s way. The noblewoman shook her head in an elegant and precise motion, almost like a perfectly crafted clockwork figurine.

“I would prefer that you stay, Dame Medrauta. For the beginning, at least.”

“Why?”

“For the simple reason that I am not a knight. There are things I have yet to understand, but wish to. I intend to address Eris’ concerns completely, but as a noblewoman, I will never be able to see things as she does. That is why I wish to consult you on matters that confound me.”

“Look,” Medrauta began. “I’m Viviane’s knight. I don’t hate you or anything, but we aren’t friends either. We tolerate each other and that’s good and all, but it’s late into the night and I’ve got better things to do. Now if you’ll excuse me—”

“I will owe you a favor.” Scarlet said simply, making no move to step out of Medrauta’s way.

“...Huh?”

“I, Scarlet Elyon di Avimorne, shall owe you a favor.” Scarlet replied in a restrained voice that was almost whispered. “Whether that be to distance myself from Lady Viviane hereafter or to grant you a noble title after the war, I shall do everything in my power to fulfill it. You have my solemn word, Dame Medrauta.”

Medrauta sighed, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. It was clear that Scarlet was more than willing to give up her pride just for her assistance, so to refuse would simply be rude on multiple levels.

“There’s no need to go that far, Lady Scarlet. I’m just going to be standing around ‘til you ask me a question, anyway. Hardly deserving of a favor.” Medrauta said, waving her hand dismissively. “And for the record, I’d never ask you to stay away from Viviane as much as I hate it when the two of you are alone together. You’re one of the few people she can call a friend.”

Lady Scarlet raised an eyebrow, displaying her surprise in the least obvious way she could. “...Is that so? Well, I appreciate your aid, Dame Medrauta.”

Medrauta simply shrugged, watching as Scarlet turned to the still-trembling Eris. Already, she could tell that this was going to be a long, long night.