Reynald tried to maintain his composure, his eyes narrowing as the declaration of execution was announced.
"You talk as if you have already won. But you made a fatal flaw by underestimating a mortal."
He tightened his grip on his sword. Using the might left in him, he leapt and lunged towards the masked figure, aiming for their head.
But the masked figure was faster; they parried his attack with barely any effort. Reynald was thrown back — he impaled his sword into the ground, dragging it as he skidded.
"I guess I was wrong..."
He pulled the sword from the ground and lifted it high in the air; a brilliant light shimmered from the radiating iron as strong winds circled his surroundings.
"Come forth and stand by me, Order of Chivalry!"
As he announced the summon, particles started dancing around him, creating beings into life as they took on human form, clothed in silver armor with a cross symbol on their front, and most of all, the unmistakable helmet — it was them.
The Knights Templar.
Cael backed away from them, trying to process what was happening. How could they just appear out of thin air?
At first glance, they looked like ordinary Templars, but their presence was hollow, as if they were incomplete.
"Hearken, this march of a hundred men! Onward!"
The Templars raised their shields and kept their swords at the ready as they charged forward toward the masked figure. Yet the ground remained still, unbothered by the sounds of incoming doom.
Slowly, they raised their swords high, and energy started channeling through the blades like a vein. Then they spoke:
"Pro matre omnium rerum."
With a reality-breaking force, they smashed their swords to the ground as the earth crumbled open and consumed those who dared stand in its way.
Cael looked in terror as the Templars were consumed one by one by the enormous ravine in the ground. Some were even crushed by the sheer force of the offense.
"This is.. not real... How could a single move be so lethal?" Cael asked himself.
His gaze fell on Reynald, who was standing at the back of the line where the impact hadn't reached. He stood still for a moment before sheathing his sword.
"How unfortunate, not even the crusaders are a match for divine retribution. Regardless... this is not the end of the story."
Reynald lunged once again; this time, he went for the figure's limbs. Their swords met in fiery sparks of metal, exchanging blow after blow.
The sword dance seemed endless, as both of them moved in perfect precision, parrying and counterattacking each other.
Just as the fight continued, Reynald lost his footing; the masked figure's sword swung at him as he tried to parry. However, the impact was too much, sending him backward as he almost fell on his back.
"Enough!" Reynald exclaimed.
He pointed his hand at the figure — in an instant, they fell to their knees, as if some unseen force pressed them down. The mask slowly cracked under the pressure.
However, some veins began to visibly stand out, and a trail of blood left Reynald's mouth. Even power came with a fatal flaw. A flaw of a certain death.
Reynald could feel his limbs being crushed and his heart clenched tightly — but he pushed himself to stand up.
Slowly, he approached the kneeling figure until he was in front of them. The mask began to crumble under his influence; then it broke into pieces, revealing the person behind it — a girl. A woman of pale skin and lifeless eyes.
"How... quaint. I was fighting a woman of faith."
He crouched down, taking her chin forcefully to meet his gaze. The girl showed no signs of anger or sadness; she was devoid of any emotions.
After standing away from danger, Cael gathered the courage to approach them. As he walked, he looked down at the ground.
"Wasn't there a ravine here just now?"
But there didn't seem to be even a slight bulge. Perhaps this space was self-regenerating.
Reynald let go of the woman's chin — unsheathing his sword once again. At that moment, Cael knew what was about to happen. He rushed toward him, hoping that the worst wouldn't come.
From a distance, Cael saw his sword raised high, and with no other choice, he threw myself at him, stopping Reynald's arm from delivering the final fatal blow.
He looked at Cael with confusion as he pressed his sword against me.
"Let go, Cael. She deserves to die," he said with a cold, threatening tone.
"And let you take her life as you please? Never." Cael challenged him, daring him to stop this before it became a bloodbath.
"She tried to kill us! This is a battlefield, and one must die," he responded, trying to shrug Cael's hands off him — pressing his weight until he fell on one knee.
"Then what difference would it make! We should not be like her. So I beg you, let go."
Cael tried to persuade him to release the woman. He knew that Reynald could easily end him alongside the girl, but he must try to change the outcome.
Reynald seemed quite unsure, yet Cael didn't let go. After a moment, he sighed, slowly lowering his sword to his side.
"Fine, perhaps today no blood must be shed."
Cael sighed a breath of relief. The girl looked up to me, her face remained indifferent, but he couldn't get the thought out of his head that she looked awfully familiar...
"Have we... met before?"
But before she could respond, Reynald flicked his finger and transported her elsewhere, leaving both of us standing before the Vortex of Time.
Feeling a bit disappointed, Cael closed his eyes, trying to forget about his conflicting thoughts.
"You're a sympathetic person, Cael. But I guess your sympathy is not without merit."
Without saying another word, he leapt into the vortex and disappeared into the air.
At that moment, Cael had to make a choice: follow Reynald and face what lay ahead of him, or stay and be stranded in nowhere.
The choice was obvious. With final determination, he jumped into the vortex to begin this perilous journey.
—Penning a new chapter…