Beneath the chilling glow of the moon, a gentle breeze stirred the quiet night. It was the hour when the world rested, hushed and still in anticipation of the coming dawn. Yet, two figures remained awake, driven by a shared purpose and an insatiable curiosity.
Machias and Roxanne, each motivated by their own desire for answers, found themselves within the cavern, its walls adorned with the mesmerizing glitter of black diamonds. As Machias traced his fingers along the smooth surfaces of the precious stones, he found himself entranced by their beauty. "What is this place?" he asked, his gaze still fixed upon the treasure that surrounded them.
The enigmatic stranger, Fredericko, studied Machias with a disdainful expression, his impatience evident in his voice. "What is it you want?"
"Answers," Machias replied firmly, tearing his gaze away from the glittering wall to face Fredericko. "That's what we seek."
Fredericko's piercing eyes assessed Machias as he considered the request. "Very well. What answers do you seek?"
With an unwavering gaze, Machias voiced the question that had plagued him since their fateful encounter on the battlefield. "Who are you?"
Fredericko's eyes widened in surprise as he regarded Machias and Roxanne. "First, your baby sister here-"
"Heeey!" Roxanne interjected, her irritation palpable.
Fredericko continued, his tone betraying his exasperation. "First, your baby sister here came seeking the secret to my victory against the giants, even attempting to recruit me to join your foolish battle against those behemoths. And now, you seek my identity?"
"It's a valid question, and it deserves an answer," Machias persisted.
"Alright," Fredericko relented with a sigh. "I am Fredericko. Does that satisfy you?"
"No," Roxanne protested. "What of my question? And my offer?"
Fredericko's gaze hardened. "Forget it."
"Why?" Roxanne demanded.
"Women have no place on the battlefield," Fredericko replied, his tone dismissive.
Roxanne's face contorted with anger, her irritation visibly growing in response to Fredericko's words. "What?"
Undeterred by Roxanne's outrage, Fredericko focused his attention on collecting fragments of the black diamonds scattered throughout the cavern, the precious stones glittering in the dim light.
"What did you say?" Roxanne demanded, her voice laced with disbelief.
"I believe your hearing is intact, Miss Roxanne," Fredericko replied, a hint of sarcasm coloring his words.
"You're an insufferable cad!" Roxanne snapped, her anger mounting with each passing moment.
As Fredericko continued gathering the precious gems, Machias broke the tense silence. "Fredericko," he called, his voice betraying a sense of urgency.
"What is it now?" Fredericko asked, his tone reflecting his irritation. "I've answered your question, have I not?"
"How did you manage to defeat the giant earlier?" Machias pressed on. "You mentioned our lack of preparation. Help us understand where we went wrong."
"Precisely," Roxanne agreed, her eyes fixed on Fredericko, imploring him for answers.
Fredericko regarded them with a piercing gaze. "That's something you'll need to figure out on your own," he said, hoisting a bag of black diamonds onto his shoulder as he made his way toward the cavern's exit.
"Wait!" Machias exclaimed, his desperation evident. "Our people are dying, Fredericko. You're human, too, aren't you? Don't you care that our race teeters on the brink of extinction?"
Fredericko paused for a moment before delivering his cold response. "That's right. I don't care." He continued his ascent to the surface, leaving Machias and Roxanne to trail after him, their minds swirling with a potent mix of frustration and determination.
As the trio emerged onto the surface, Roxanne and Machias persisted in their efforts to coax Fredericko into revealing the secret behind his victory over the giant.
"Fredericko!" Roxanne called out, her voice tinged with urgency. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as Fredericko continued on his path, seemingly oblivious to her entreaties.
"Fredericko!" she cried out once more, desperation coloring her tone. Yet, Fredericko remained silent, prompting Roxanne to quicken her pace and grip his shoulders, forcing him to halt. "I've been calling you," she snapped, frustration evident in her voice. "Are you deaf?"
Fredericko regarded her quietly, his face an unreadable mask. Machias watched the exchange with a mixture of curiosity and concern, uncertain of how to proceed.
"Fred?" A new voice called out, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the group. The trio turned to see a woman approaching, her features soft and welcoming.
"Who is she?" Roxanne asked Fredericko, her tone laced with confusion.
"Mother?" Fredericko replied, his voice tinged with surprise as he moved to her side. "What are you doing here? I told you to wait for me at home."
"I was worried," Fredericko's mother explained, her concern evident. "You've been gone for so long, so I came searching."
"You should have considered the consequences first, Mother," Fredericko chastised gently. "What if the giants had attacked again?"
"But they didn't," Fredericko's mother countered. "And I'm fine. I'm just glad you're alright, Fred. Did you bring the stones?"
Machias and Roxanne offered a polite greeting, hoping to diffuse the tension that still hung in the air.
"Welcome, my children," Fredericko's mother replied, her smile warm and inviting. "Are you perhaps Fred's friends?"
"Y-yes, ma'am," Roxanne stammered, a smile spreading across her face in response to the woman's kindness.
"Oh?" Fredericko's mother turned to Fredericko, a surprised smile playing at her lips. Fredericko, however, kept his face turned away, his expression unreadable. "You're welcome, my children. Please, address me as Miss Elsa."
"Thank you, Miss Elsa," Roxanne and Machias said in unison, their voices filled with gratitude and respect.
"You're most welcome, my children," Elsa replied warmly. "Please, come with us."
Together, the group made their way to Elsa and Fredericko's home, where they were offered seats hewn from the very stone that surrounded them. With Elsa's guidance, Fredericko began to work on the black diamonds, his movements practiced and precise.
As they watched Elsa and Fredericko toil tirelessly, Roxanne and Machias were compelled to lend a hand, the four of them working in harmony for what felt like days. Meanwhile, Machias's people had begun to grow concerned over his absence, their worry palpable even from afar.
"Shouldn't you return home?" Fredericko asked, glancing at Machias. "Aren't your people worried?"
"They're your people too," Machias replied, his voice firm. "You should help us by sharing how you defeated the giant, and fight alongside us against them."
Roxanne nodded in agreement. "We need you, Fredericko."
"I'm sorry, but my answer remains the same," Fredericko said, his resolve unshaken.
"How can you be so stubborn?" Roxanne asked, her frustration mounting.
Despite the tension that lingered between them, the days they spent working together brought Fredericko closer to Machias and Roxanne. Roxanne, in particular, found herself drawn to him, the time they shared forging a deep connection between them.
As their work drew to a close, the fruit of their labor was revealed: a magnificent black sword. Fredericko presented the blade to his mother, a sense of reverence in his movements.
The moment Elsa's fingers brushed against the sword, the sky darkened, and a surge of powerful energy crackled through the air. Roxanne and Machias exchanged a worried glance as they watched Elsa recite mysterious incantations, the aura of magic surrounding her sending chills down their spines.
"Behold, the Oathkeeper's Shadow," Elsa proclaimed, her voice resonating with authority. "A black blade capable of cutting through anything and everything. Not even the giants' tough skin can withstand its might."
With a solemn expression, Elsa placed the sword in Fredericko's hands, her words carrying the weight of a warning. "Do not forget, son, in the wrong hands, this sword can bring about great ruin."