Remove ads

The Steep Path Ahead [Familiar of Zero AU]

Reader mode
Huh the last part sort of saved this for me. It was pretty tiring reading Saito being a complete and utter doormat. At least now he can be upgaded to a whiny little bitch.
 
Hmm... Lousie and co are spied on by a bird having no business being anywhere near where it was, then later a attack complete with poppycock story followed by the attacker getting conveniently killed and dragged off before he could kill or seriously harm either of the void mages...
 
MinorGryph said:
How does one opportunistic thief equal every merc in the country? Ulfric was primarily after money, not justice. He didn't go out of his way to set up a trap for traitors, he took advantage of the situation to make a huge profit for himself. Saito and Louise are attempting to amass a large sum of money, thieves will be after them regardless of identity.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Did you even read the update? He went after them because the mercs from before talked about them violating merc code on this matter, and as per his own words that means pretty much every merc is now going to be after them. Why would you automatically assume he's lying when nothing about the text suggests so? If you're going to make the claim, you should have something backing it up. And no, appealing to Ulfric's untrustworthiness doesn't work considering he has little to no reason to lie to Tiffania at that point in time, nor is there any support for it.

And if this supposed mercenary honor system really did exist, these tactics are the exact opposite of what a merc on board with that would use as they would then find themselves with a reputation of being untrustworthy backstabbers.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I see. So you are basically dismissing the guy's words out of hand. You know that's not how things work, right? Even disregarding how arguments work, only a complete fool would dismiss someone's words outright when to do so could lead to utter ruin, while accepting them merely means they can be cautious about the matter. Especially when they have no reason to believe otherwise.

Also, leaving aside how 'Ulfric is merely using it as an opportunity for quick cash' is so far a complete assumption on your part, rather than him choosing to strike when Saito was weakened and relatively undefended, as per the code he states, Saito and Louise are basically outlaws. 'Scum', he calls them. And in medieval times, scum don't get those kinds of rights, or are afforded that kind of honor.

I mean look - if the whole premise of your argument is 'the things that were said in the update we're arguing about is untrue!', then there's no actual argument to be had. You're not debating fact, you're debating headcanon. And I've got no interest bashing my head against that wall. If it turns out to be untrue (because right now we have no reason to believe so beyond 'I don't like Ulfric' or 'Ulfric's a villain'), then you can actually start arguing on the matter, and on that point people will argue with you on the basis of that new fact. Right now though, it's just silly.

Also, about those equating a surrender situation to rape, talking about 'unarmed people' and 'noncombatants'? Both Louise and Saito are combatants. Very good ones, too, as this should have proven. And with armed combatants, there is a code to follow, or you get on everyone's shit list. Ever heard of war crimes? Well, false surrender is a war crime. Even today. Oathbreakers, in fact, are near universally reviled in almost every culture and have been for a long, long time. And it is so for a very good reason, as stated. The first time Louise just outright committed what would be a war crime (you know, were she in a military unit and it was today, but it works even with mercs considering the conflicts they take part in and their value therein) - she faked surrender, then cast a spell and took them down when their guard was down. The second time Saito agreed to a surrender, and Louise broke it. Note that surrender works for both parties - when you surrender, you're saying that 'as long as you don't kill me or torture/rape/something else heinous, I will stop fighting'. It works for both parties, because in such a situation, death is the only alternative for those surrendering. Were their actions understandable? Yes. Should they not have consequences because of it? No. So, people? Stop bitching about surrender and how it's all stupid, because you clearly don't know the first thing about deescalation if you think so.

Man, I am so done with this argument. Later.
 
Last edited:
Dimensionist said:
Did you even read the update? He went after them because the mercs from before talked about them violating merc code on this matter, and as per his own words that means pretty much every merc is now going to be after them. Why would you automatically assume he's lying when nothing about the text suggests so? If you're going to make the claim, you should have something backing it up. And no, appealing to Ulfric's untrustworthiness doesn't work considering he has little to no reason to lie to Tiffania at that point in time, nor is there any support for it.



I see. So you are basically dismissing the guy's words out of hand. You know that's not how things work, right? Even disregarding how arguments work, only a complete fool would dismiss someone's words outright when to do so could lead to utter ruin, while accepting them merely means they can be cautious about the matter. Especially when they have no reason to believe otherwise.

Also, leaving aside how 'Ulfric is merely using it as an opportunity for quick cash' is so far a complete assumption on your part, rather than him choosing to strike when Saito was weakened and relatively undefended, as per the code he states, Saito and Louise are basically outlaws. 'Scum', he calls them. And in medieval times, scum don't get those kinds of rights, or are afforded that kind of honor.

I mean look - if the whole premise of your argument is 'the things that were said in the update we're arguing about is untrue!', then there's no actual argument to be had. You're not debating fact, you're debating headcanon. And I've got no interest bashing my head against that wall. If it turns out to be untrue (because right now we have no reason to believe so beyond 'I don't like Ulfric' or 'Ulfric's a villain'), then you can actually start arguing on the matter, and on that point people will argue with you on the basis of that new fact. Right now though, it's just silly.

Also, about those equating a surrender situation to rape, talking about 'unarmed people' and 'noncombatants'? Both Louise and Saito are combatants. Very good ones, too, as this should have proven. And with armed combatants, there is a code to follow, or you get on everyone's shit list. Ever heard of war crimes? Well, false surrender is a war crime. Even today. And it is so for a very good reason, as stated. The first time Louise just outright committed what would be a war crime (you know, were she in a military unit and it was today, but it works even with mercs considering the conflicts they take part in and their value therein) - she faked surrender, then cast a spell and took them down when their guard was down. The second time Saito agreed to a surrender, and Louise broke it. Note that surrender works for both parties - when you surrender, you're saying that 'as long as you don't kill me or torture/rape/something else heinous, I will stop fighting'. It works for both parties, because in such a situation, death is the only alternative for those surrendering. Were their actions understandable? Yes. Should they not have consequences because of it? No. So, people? Stop bitching about surrender and how it's all stupid, because you clearly don't know the first thing about deescalation if you think so.

Man, I am so done with this argument. Later.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

The noncombatant they abused - by tying up so that she'd hang if a horse startled - and threatened with death I referred to is Siesta!

If that's your example of prisoners being treated well - and not an atrocity or war crime, then good riddance on the argument!

I prefer to side with the ones who'll do whatever it takes to stop or kill animals that would threaten the life of a kidnapped victim to make her rescuers surrender. If the vermin want to be pissy about it afterwards then they wont be treated as nicely as Louise did!
 
Last edited:
Matou Sutegobana said:
The noncombatant they abused - by tying up so that she'd hang if a horse startled - and threatened with death I referred to is Siesta!

If that's your example of prisoners being treated well - and not an atrocity or war crime, then good riddance on the argument!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

... So threats to hostages contingent on the agreement/disagreement of the other party count as an atrocity or war crime now, rather than the very point of taking hostages?

You're right. Good riddance on the argument. You're so divorced from reality an argument would be useless.

Also, she didn't surrender. Nor is she a combatant where the ideal of surrender holds pragmatic value, and the surrender is always up to the people it's being made to anyways, though it's considered immoral and bad form to refuse one. They don't owe her any kind of obligation when no such agreement has been made. They kinda kill people for a living, you know? Be hard to do that if they were bound by those rules even when an agreement hadn't been made. Their obligation was to their employer in this case, which was to being Siesta to him unharmed - but as the snippet stated, the merc leader was so fed up with the job he was willing to fail it if it came to it. This would have been a black mark on their rep, yes, but nowhere near bad enough to make him think twice.

EDIT:
Matou Sutegobana said:
I prefer to side with the ones who'll do whatever it takes to stop or kill animals that would threaten the life of a kidnapped victim to make her rescuers surrender. If the vermin want to be pissy about it afterwards then they want be treated as nicely[\] as Louise did!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Your post is so dripping with pointless outrage that it's hard to take seriously.

One - dehumanizing as a form of argument is stupid. Doing it just means you can't control your bias and hence your words lack weight and objectivity.

Two - nobody's talking about how we're 'siding with the mercs'. Louise and Saito are the protagonists, and I mentioned that their actions were understandable. However, actions have consequences - they don't get to break the rules and walk away willy-nilly.

Three - dear god, control your vitriol. I've seen most people regard Adolf Hitler with more objectivity than you're regarding these mercs. It's disturbing to see, more than anything.

EDIT: Ah crap, I said I'd stay out of the argument. Sorry, moving on.
 
Last edited:
Yes they embarrassed them by rescuing their captive twice, escaping from captivity twice, the second time after they made clear they were planning to do things to them and then had the gall to leave them alive and unharmed.

Setting that aside a number of points have been raised on why Ulfric's behavior is odd and the suspicious nature of the events including how conveniently he got killed before he could carry out his intentions towards either of the void mages.
 
Dimensionist said:
... So threats to hostages contingent on the agreement/disagreement of the other party count as an atrocity or war crime now, rather than the very point of taking hostages?

You're right. Good riddance on the argument. You're so divorced from reality an argument would be useless.

Also, she didn't surrender. They don't owe her any kind of obligation when no such agreement has been made. They kinda kill people for a living, you know? Be hard to do that if they were bound by those rules even when an agreement hadn't been made. Their obligation was to their employer in this case, which was to being Siesta to him unharmed - but as the snippet stated, the merc leader was so fed up with the job he was willing to fail it if it came to it. This would have been a black mark on their rep, yes, but nowhere near bad enough to make him think twice.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

And yet here you are still arguing in favor of some punishment for Louise and Saito!

First of all Louise didn't surrender the first time they met the mercenaries!

They didn't want her they wanted Siesta. She broke a promise to hand Siesta over to them that is all.

For the second encounter - you are completely wrong about how surrender works.

One person surrendering has never meant the whole unit surrenders! And that person is not held responsible if some other member of their team defeats the enemy. Especially when the surrender hadn't even been accepted!

And for the third they surrendered, were taken captive, and then promised a brutal beating before they escaped captivity, so the 'terms of surrender' for the only time they actually surrendered was broken not by them but by the mercenaries!

And if its a war crime to break promises made to people threatening hostages, the police commit war crimes on a regular basis!

I do indeed view men who would tie a person in a hanging trap so that she can't escape before taking her their Rapist employer as not deserving to be called men!

I view beasts that would threaten to kill a kidnapped victim in order to make her rescuers surrender as vermin to be exterminated with extreme prejudice!

And I view associates that swear mob vengeance on the girl's rescuers as a societal sickness that needs to be exposed for the crap it is, and made an example of, so that people of good moral fiber like Louis can rest easy knowing that righteous prevails and civilization has her back!
 
Last edited:
Matou Sutegobana said:
And yet here you are still arguing in favor of some punishment for Louise and Saito!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yep. You have no idea what my argument is.

Rather than outrage and vitriol, try bringing some reading comprehension and understanding to your arguments next time.

That's all I'm going to say, really. I said I'd stay out of the argument, and nothing you've said has remotely suggested otherwise.
 
Dimensionist said:
Yep. You have no idea what my argument is.

Rather than outrage and vitriol, try bringing some reading comprehension and understanding to your arguments next time.

That's all I'm going to say, really. I said I'd stay out of the argument, and nothing you've said has remotely suggested otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

And yet here you are personally attacking me for defending Louis! After having said several posts ago that you were done with this argument!

Why would I need to bother with reading comprehension, when you will not hold to your word any more than those bandits did!
 
Your both arguing pass each other so instead continuing a argument that's clearly going nowhere let the discussion instead go to the various points that deal directly with the strangeness of Ulfric's behavior and the events before and during have been raised by various people.

I am leaning towards him being a disposable pawn my self and I am expecting the pope's familiar to show up soon. Its too convenient that they were one being spied on and then their attacker conveniently got eaten, especially given the powers of the right hand.
 
Can we stop with the personal insults on both sides?

My personal view is a combination of your arguments, which I don't think are as opposed as you think; from a moral standpoint, Louise and Saito are absolutely in the right. They saved an innocent woman from a terrible fate, and if it meant tricking a group of mercenaries hired to bring her to said fate, so be it. From a professional standpoint, what Louise and Saito did was very dangerous and pretty unacceptable. If mercenaries/adventurers were allowed to fake surrenders with no repercussions, soon there wouldn't be any surrenders at all because people would attack those who tried. And that would be bad.

Moral vs Professional.
 
Matou Sutegobana said:
And yet here you are personally attacking me for defending Louis!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Oh? Do be sure to point me to where I was 'personally attacking you for defending <character>'. Because I haven't done that once - that's just you reinterpreting things to fit your sense of persecution.

Pro-tip: Calling someone an idiot for not understanding the point of surrender, for equating it with rape and what-not, has nothing to do with 'personally attacking someone for defending Louis'. And exclamation marks don't make your point better.

If you don't even understand what the other person is getting at, but then insist on interpreting the posts uncharitably and aimed towards 'personally attacking' you? Might want to check that persecution complex you have. Also bring a little bit of calmness and rationality to your argument, because damn you're WAY too high-strung.

Matou Sutegobana said:
After having said several posts ago that you were done with this argument!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

And I am. I'm not discussing the argument, am I? The last post was me just noting you don't even understand what I'm talking about but are arguing with me anyway, and advice on that matter. This post is a response to your accusations and misinterpretations, in a bid to clarify it.

But hey, even this seems to be going nowhere, so I might as well stop with even that.

Matou Sutegobana said:
Why would I need to bother with reading comprehension,
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Then never argue or discuss anything online with anyone again.

when you will not hold to your word any more than those bandits did!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

"Why should I do <positive thing necessary for actually engaging in discussion or arguments> when you do <negative thing unrelated to this entirely and linking me to villainy>?!" -> you right now. Also completely false, but hey - your reading comprehension sucks, so I don't expect much more.

But fine, for your peace of mind - I also choose not to bother giving you advice or even attempting to clarify my posts with you again, in this particular matter. Bask in your ignorance. Happy?

Impstar said:
Can we stop with the personal insults on both sides?

My personal view is a combination of your arguments, which I don't think are as opposed as you think; from a moral standpoint, Louise and Saito are absolutely in the right. They saved an innocent woman from a terrible fate, and if it meant tricking a group of mercenaries hired to bring her to said fate, so be it. From a professional standpoint, what Louise and Saito did was very dangerous and pretty unacceptable. If mercenaries/adventurers were allowed to fake surrenders with no repercussions, soon there wouldn't be any surrenders at all because people would attack those who tried. And that would be bad.

Moral vs Professional.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Mostly in-line with my views. Though my separation of moral and professional wouldn't be so distinct, since the consequences on one matter can be morally dangerous on another.

Moral complexity is a thing, after all.
 
Last edited:
Dimensionist said:
Oh? Do be sure to point me to where I was 'personally attacking you for defending <character>'. Because I haven't done that once - that's just you reinterpreting things to fit your sense of persecution.

Pro-tip: Calling someone an idiot for not understanding the point of surrender, for equating it with rape and what-not, has nothing to do with 'personally attacking someone for defending Louis'. And exclamation marks don't make your point better.

If you don't even understand what the other person is getting at, but then insist on interpreting the posts uncharitably and aimed towards 'personally attacking' you? Might want to check that persecution complex you have. Also bring a little bit of calmness and rationality to your argument, because damn you're WAY too high-strung.



And I am. I'm not discussing the argument, am I? The last post was me just noting you don't even understand what I'm talking about but are arguing with me anyway, and advice on that matter. This post is a response to your accusations and misinterpretations, in a bid to clarify it.

But hey, even this seems to be going nowhere, so I might as well stop with even that.



Then never argue or discuss anything online with anyone again.



"Why should I do <positive thing necessary for actually engaging in discussion or arguments> when you do <negative thing unrelated to this entirely and linking me to villainy>?!" -> you right now. Also completely false, but hey - your reading comprehension sucks, so I don't expect much more.

But fine, for your peace of mind - I also choose not to bother giving you advice or even attempting to clarify my posts with you again, in this particular matter. Bask in your ignorance. Happy?



Mostly in-line with my views. Though my separation of moral and professional wouldn't be so distinct, since the consequences on one matter can be morally dangerous on another.

Moral complexity is a thing, after all.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...


Yes you calling me an idiot is indeed a personal attack. Implying that I lack reading comprehension for some unspecified point and not bothering to try and explain where I failed in my comprehension and frame it in a way that I would better understand is also nasty behavior!

Gloating that you will not bother to do such a thing is also nasty!

And since the reason you are doing it is to malign my character because of my defense of Louise's actions you are indeed continuing to argue the point that you claimed you were done with! Just in a very underhanded manner.

You claimed that we were to dismissive of the mercenaries reasoning, when you've been nothing but dismissive of arguments that you didn't agree with!

You summed up several pages of Oaths under duress with one zinger of "equating the mercenaries action with rapists" totally ignoring that the argument was supported with examples.

And in the same post expressed your unwillingness to actually hold a discussion about it!

However attacking the people who made the arguments, you are very much willing to do, in order to make our arguments look weak.
 
Last edited:
Stop. Now. Not another peep. Breathe. Calm down. And let it gooooooooo. Both of you, I understand your views, but chill, less the eye of
Mordor fall upon us.
 
Remove ads
Chapter Eighty-Seven
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Eighty-Seven

    Louise whimpered softly, and then bit down on her knuckles. "Saito-" she received, of course, no reply. Saito simply looked at her, and then at Tiffania, his expression unfaltering.

    In the boy's mind, he was acting like a true Nippon, a Samurai that does not bend, no matter how cute the person in front of him is. His spine was made of true katana steel, folded over a thousand times. He would not bend! No matter how much Louise seemed to be lacking sleep, or how pale she was turning out to be, he had no intention of letting her continue like this.

    "Mister Saito," Tiffania said softly, "I-I don't think you should keep doing this. Miss Louise is clearly hurt by your silence," the girl fidgeted with her fingers, "I don't want to be the cause of any grief between two lovers-I understand and-"

    "Tiffania," Saito said, locking eyes with her. "You're a good girl. And I can't stand people saying mean thing to good girls, no matter who they are," he smiled then, "I'm sure Louise will come around."

    "Don't speak as if I'm not here," Louise said bitterly, clutching her knees right by Saito's side. Saito, in turn, simply remained quiet. "I said-"

    She turned towards Tiffania, "You! If you really don't want to bring grief between us, then tell him I'm not going to apologize for what I know is the word of the Gods and the Founder!"

    Tiffania hesitated, and then looked towards Saito. "Miss Louise says she has...she has nothing to apologize for."

    "Tiffania," Saito said softly, "Who is this 'Miss Louise' you are speaking of? My Louise's a kind girl who would help anyone in need and certainly wouldn't say something as silly as believing in a book over what she sees with her own eyes."

    "The Holy Founder's Book is the basis of our religion! Of my religion! Of your religion-" she stammered, her eyes wide. "Wait-Wait a moment, if you're not from this world-then...oh no," she mumbled to herself for a brief instant, "You're a non-believer, aren't you?"

    Saito didn't answer, but simply scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I fell in love with a heretic," Louise continued in disbelief, shaking her head. "Really-the devil's temptations-Father Christoff would be so ashamed of me. Damn it, Saito-stop ignoring me!" she snapped angrily next. "Come on!" she grabbed his arm, "You can't really think this isn't a big deal! Enough with the silent treatment!"

    Saito still didn't answer, crossing his arms in front of his chest and looking out of the carriage's window. He wasn't afraid of Louise's swordwand, or of the strength of her fingers pinching at his arm.

    "Why you!" Louise snapped, her shoulders trembling as she began to sniffle.

    "Ah-please-please don't cry-" Tiffania said, "I'm sorry-"

    "N-No," Louise sniffled, "I'm sorry-I'm sorry-" as the girl finally apologized, Tiffania extended her arms like she did with the orphans she took care of, and Louise actually jumped in those arms sniffling and crying.

    Saito couldn't help but feel his face flush, and brought a hand to his nose as the spectacle in front of him was quite 'interesting' to say the least. He wiped the blood away with Charlotte's handkerchief, putting it back in his pocket shortly after.

    Once the tears were spent, and the apologies ran dry, Louise turned to look at Saito with an angry glare. "Now-Now you'll talk to me, right?"

    "Yes," Saito nodded. "See? Isn't forgiveness a part of Brimir's faith anyway?"

    Saito winced and then paled as he didn't even see the foot that flickered from where Louise stood on the carriage right an inch before his family jewels, leaving behind the steam formed due to just how fast it had moved.

    "Now let's move to something more important," she snapped curtly.

    "We already had the discussion about me not following your religion!" Saito exclaimed.

    "I know," Louise nodded. "I just realized you haven't converted yet. We can't have that be known, so-"

    "Wait. What?" Saito furrowed his brows. "I'm not converting."

    "B-But you have to!" Louise snapped. "How do you plan on marrying me otherwise?!"

    "Well-We can still go to the church-"

    "But if you haven't even been baptized, then the marriage's worthless!" her hands gripped tightly at Saito's by the scruff of the neck, "You will not marry me with sin still clutching your soul, Saito! That is not how our marriage is going to work! Like King Jean said: Lutece is well worth a bath!"

    "Not a chance!" Saito exclaimed, shaking his head.

    "Then I won't talk to you until you apologize to the Founder and the Gods and baptize yourself! Let's see how this ends!" and with those words said, it was Louise's turn to cross her arms in front of her chest and look away, huffing.

    "Louise!" Saito yelled hotly, "You can't be this hardheaded! Come on-I was ignoring you first!"

    The smile of victory on Louise's lips did not leave the young woman all the way through the remaining days of the trip back into Tristain, even as the field of battle had shifted, and so too had the contestants.

    Tiffania was the first one to descend, hesitant at first, but then resolute as they reached the Tristain Magic Academy's courtyard. As the trio descended from the coach, and the coachman took a sigh of relief and then moved the coach to the side standing in wait, Tiffania bowed primly to the two of them.

    "Thank you for escorting me here safely," she said with a small warm smile. "I hope you will make peace with one another," she added softly.

    "If she stopped being such a hardheaded woman," Saito sighed, passing a hand through his hair in disbelief.

    "If he stopped being such a heretic," Louise answered in turn, huffing and pushing her hair behind her shoulder. They locked eyes next and narrowed them at one another.

    "Tiffania? Tiffania!" from the top of the academy's tallest tower, a green-haired woman descended with the clear use of magic, landing softly on the ground and then rushing towards her. "Oh! I was so worried!" she brought both hands to the girl's cheeks as Tiffania fidgeted under the embarrassing 'spotlight' her older sister was putting her through.

    "B-Big sister Ma-" her big sister hugged her tightly, taking her breath away.

    "There's a lot we need to speak of, but not here-" she added, "And I must thank these kind people for carrying you all the way here," she turned towards the two of them, a smile plastered on her face. She bowed with grace, "I thank you for carrying my sister all the way here-"

    "It wasn't a problem at all," Saito said with a wave of the hand, while Louise simply nodded with a small smile.

    Tiffania's big sister turned to walk back inside the academy with her sister in tow, the half-elf carrying her small backpack tightly from sheer nervousness.

    The moment she was out of their sight, Saito sighed. "She's such a good girl. I hope she gets all the luck from now on-"

    "Yeah," Louise nodded. "She's not that bad, for-wait a moment, I'm ignoring you! Ignoring y-"

    Still, the moment of anger was broken, and on the way back, the two reconciled.

    Anger was replaced by sheer terror upon the realization that Louise's father would personally test Saito's worth since he had all the intentions of 'staying' together with his daughter.

    Louise had thought her mother to be the scary one, but her father wearing an armor and standing atop a manticore himself?

    He was quite scary too.

    "Now then, for my youngest's hand," he brought up his rapier. "I will fight you!"

    Saito nervously looked at the man with a puzzled expression. A supersonic whip of water that broke the sound barrier and cut off a few inches of Saito's hair however soon changed his opinion on the man.

    The man's eyes narrowed. "The name I went by while in the Knights was Centurion! I was a captain of the Knights loyal to His Majesty, and if you think me old and fat, then think again, boy!"

    "S-Saito! Don't die!" Louise yelled from the nearby balcony, her mother standing by the girl's side with a hand against her face, shaking her head. Even she, no matter how 'powerful' she was, could not stop a father's righteous desire to 'test' the boy his daughter fancied. Perhaps it was a mercy, and Pierre was doing the boy a favor.

    After all, if he hadn't done this, she would have.

    Something told her that Louise wouldn't forgive her that easily though, so...

    It was Pierre's turn to appear as the 'tyrant' in the couple. His sacrifice would be remembered, especially because her daughter was holding on to her arm tightly, which, to her motherly heart, was pretty much a heaven-sent.

    Her daughter couldn't be this cute, but she was.

    And she was all hers -theirs, she quickly corrected her mind, of Pierre too, of course- so...

    "Pierre! Do your best dear!" she shouted from the balcony overlooking the garden.

    "OH!" Pierre's frame suddenly ignited with invisible flames, making Saito wince at the pressure. "If my lovely wife says so, then there's no way I can lose now!"

    Saito clenched the handle of his sword -it had been taken as a loan from the armory, but wasn't a cheap or fake imitation. It was a solid piece of steel, and was also quite sharp in its own right.

    Thus there they stood.

    Two men facing one another with their beloved ones watching them fight.

    Just like knights out of a fairy tale.

    Only, one of the two knights had magic and wasn't afraid of using it.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • I half expect the next chapter to be a scene cut, right into a 'hospital' scene where either one of them, or both of them, lay down on their beds covered in bandages.
     
    So, I wonder if this will be the long over due introduction to Gandaflr's ability to scale with your emotions? Love and hate are the strongest, if I recall, so if he takes this as a serious battle for his relationship then he's golden.
     
    GiftOfLove said:
    So, I wonder if this will be the long over due introduction to Gandaflr's ability to scale with your emotions? Love and hate are the strongest, if I recall, so if he takes this as a serious battle for his relationship then he's golden.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Based on the motivation each fighter recieved, I think Pierre takes this one pretty easily.

    shadenight123 said:
    "S-Saito! Don't die!"
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Vs
    shadenight123 said:
    "Pierre! Do your best dear!"
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top