Reynald tried to maintain his composure, his eyes narrowing as the declaration of execution was announced.
"You're all talk."
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, and he impaled his sword into the ground, dragging it as he skidded.
"Damn you, bastard. You want to play rough? Let me show you how rough it is!"
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.
I backed away from them, trying to process what was happening. Where did they come from? 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.
"What the—"
I 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. Impossible — a reality-breaking force causing a subtle shift in the essence of the world.
My 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. I know I'm no match for the Memorians, but I don't intend to end my story here."
He 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!"
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 the woman's mouth. Even power came with a fatal flaw.
Reynald slowly 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 damned woman behind the mask.
"This is something I didn't expect…"
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 neutral for far too long, I gathered the courage to approach them. As I walked, I 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, I knew what was about to happen. I rushed toward him, hoping that the worst wouldn't come.
From a distance, I saw his sword raised high, and with no other choice, I threw myself at him, stopping his arm from delivering the final fatal blow. He looked at me 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? On what ground?" I challenged him, daring him to stop this before it became a bloodbath.
"She tried to kill us, and you ask on what ground?" he responded, trying to shrug my hands off him.
"Then what's the difference between us and her? We should not be like her. So I beg you, let go."
I tried to persuade him to release the woman. I knew I owed him my life, but taking another's did not satisfy bloodlust; it never would, not in the millions and billions of lives living on the forsaken Earth.
He seemed quite unsure, yet I didn't let go. After a moment, he sighed, slowly lowering his sword to his side.
"Fine, consider this woman lucky."
I sighed a breath of relief. With a flick of his finger, the woman was transported elsewhere, leaving both of us standing before the Vortex of Time.
"You're a sympathetic person. A word of advice: always look behind your back. You'll never know who is a friend and who is a foe."
Without saying another word, he leapt into the vortex and disappeared into the air.
At that moment, I had to make a choice: follow him and face what lay ahead of me, or stay and be stranded in nowhere.
The choice was obvious to me. With final determination, I jumped into the vortex to begin this perilous journey.
—Penning a new chapter…