"You wanted to know the truth, didn't you? Well here you have it"
42
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⚠️ murder, blood, violence, near death experiences, death, weapons, dangerous activities ⚠️
"Get away from me!"
Fei feels her arms raise up to the sky. She tries to shield herself from the upcoming pain and death. The sword is swinging through the air. Rain falls down from the sky at a rapid pace, filling up the air and soaking the ground. Thunder rumbles in the distance. Andother round of lightning breaks through the sky, lighting up everything around them. Fei sees the man's face, handsome and stoic and emotionless. Another trained warrior. She falls to the ground, closing her eyes and pressing herself against a tree.
Why is he here? She thinks in the moment.
Why is a trained warrior here, with her, trying to kill her? Why is he not out there on the battlefield, killing soldiers that are actually threatening his side. A defenseless noble lady, without a weapon and without any means of defense should not be his priority. But he doesn't seem to be in a rush. His look is precise, like he knows exactly what he is doing. No mercy, no hesitation. This is what he has been told to do.
This... this is what he has been told to do. This man is here to kill her. She is being targeted.
Fei gasps for air. The second before his sword hits feels like an hour. She experiences every emotion that can be experienced in that short time. Whatever he has been told to do, she won't be alive to stop it after this. She will watch it from the skies. She will mourn it for the rest of her life. She will never get to live like she wished, never get to experience things and love things and just... be. Exist. She will always be some heavenly being up in the sky, no real connection to anything, no real life beyond her existence up there. Fei regrets every moment of her life in that very moment, even if she could not control it whatsoever.
And then, because of course, another sword meets his. It happens at the last possible millisecond. The sound of metal hitting metal shoots through the air. The two blades drag against each other with much force, causing sparks to burst up into the dark sky. Both swords are hit so harshly, two dents are left in each weapon. The one going downwards is pushed up, because the woman came in with all that she has. With all of her strength. Fei gasps out, panic spreading through her body before disappearing into thin air.
The male soldier is pushed backwards, stumbling over his feet. But not even then does his expression seem to change. He was raised for this, born for this job. He's no different from Thyra. Fei watches them from the ground. She sees the shape of Thyra in the darkness and the rain, standing threateningly against the man that just tried to kill Fei. The bodyguard moves forwards, a tight grip around her sword. Fei can hear the steps of her feet against the mud and puddles of water. She can hear the others heavy breathing. But she can't see much, everything is dark and foggy.
Eventually two swords meet once more. Thunder breaks out in the sky, after a bolt of lightning has hit somewhere nearby. Flashes of light appear throughout the forest, giving Fei a sense of how the fight is going. She knows that if Thyra doesn't win, she'll die. But the thought of her dying is less scary than the thought of Thyra dying. Both because it would make it her fault, and because she... loves her.
Fei would never be able to forgive herself if Thyra died here today. Minerva is the one who didn't leave the earth when she was supposed to. She's the one who kept on living, and eventually ended up on this mission. She's the one who dragged herself into this forest, only to be followed and threatened by an assassin. All these opportunities to die have passed her, all these people that wish to kill her. And yet she has stopped them every time, selfishly so. Eventually leading to the death of another. Minerva shakes her head. She can't live with that regret for the rest of her near immortal life. She just can't. Thyra has to win.
The sound of the two warriors fighting each other echoes through the forest, overpowering the fighting from the road and fields. Overpowering the heavy rain and thunder. Flashes of light from the lightning illuminates their movements. Fei presses herself against the tree behind her, breathing heavily and trying to observe the fight. Even if it hurts her eyes. Even if it makes her stomach churn with fear and regret. Eventually the fighting stops. Once the lightning strikes again, it only shows one figure left standing. Fei can't tell which one it is.
The figure comes closer. Sword in one hand, swaying a bit from side to side. Fei closes her eyes for a moment and whispers a short prayer to her favorite goddess Luonto. Even if she could not help with anything, even if she is just the goddess of nature, even if Minerva is actually the goddess that could help, she prays anyway. It just feels right in the moment. And whether or not her prayers were answered, that's something she will never know. But at least, stumbling through the darkness comes a figure equally as dangerous, but much less threatening than she had feared.
"What's different this time?"
"What?"
Fei looks up at Thyra. The assassin tilts her head, examining the girl laying with her back against the tree trunk. Blood runs down the taller's hands, probably from the previous fight. Her eyes shine in the darkness of the night. Water runs down her clothes and body from the constant rain. But as it seems, the sky is slowly letting go of the bad weather. The clouds start to move. All other sounds fade out. Fei stays still, staring at Thyra who is staring at her.
"What is different this time, Fei? Why didn't you fight back like you used to?"
It's an accusing question. Like how she used to ask questions, how she used to be. Suspicious, thinking. Always trying to figure out what was wrong with Minerva, why she is the way that she is. Those questions that lead to Thyra eventually not caring once she ran away. Those constant questions that plagued the assassins mind. Why is she strong? Why can she fight back? Is she manipulating me, is she manipulating the empress? Why can't I understand her like I understand everyone else? Fei finds it all so predictable, but scary at the same time.
She remembers what those suspicions lead to. Their fights, and the fact that she left without the bodyguard following her. To be completely honest, Fei doesn't want that happening again. She is sick and tired of living like this. Walking on eggshells.
"I'm a goddess"
"What"
The rain seems to let go. It still pours down from the sky, but it's much lighter than before. Fei sighs. She stares down at her traditional gown. The blue fabric is drenched in water and mud. Her hands have bleeding scars on them. Scars that she can surely heal by herself in a matter of hours, once she gets the full extent of her powers back after the storm has settled. Bruises which healing she will not be able to explain to Thyra.
"You wanted to know the truth, didn't you? I met Andra first but I told you the truth first. There you have it"
Thyra shakes her head.
"What truth? The answer to all of my questions? Why you are so skilled even though you look weak like every other noble lady?"
Fei chuckles, slightly offended but willing to let it slide. She stands up from the ground, wiping the mud off her hands and her dress. It doesn't work very well. She's going to have to change her clothes in order to look presentable. Thyra stands still, sword still hanging from her left hand, drenched in blood. She looks so lost, yet so intrigued. Her eyes are open wide. Fei hasn't seen her like this in a really long while.
"Yes Thyra, the answer to your questions-"
Fei walks up to Thyra, taking her free hand into hers. She leads the hand up to point at the sky.
"From the heavens and the skies Thyra, that's where I've lived. But I come from a human, just like you"
Fei looks pointedly at Thyra, emphasizing the last words. Thyra has never talked about her family before, or her past. Not really. All that she and Andra know is that she used to be an assassin. That she used to live in a different clan and kill for money, kill to survive. Fei knows that she was employed by the previous emperor to kill Andra, but what else is there to know? She doesn't know where Thyra is from, who her parents are, if she has any siblings... Even with her being a goddess, Thyra now knows more about her than she knows about Thyra. She knows about Fei's ancestral home, old human name and old noble linage. Now she even knows about her secret.
"And your powers?"
Thyra asks, still not moving her hand away from the others grip.
"I told you what there is to know. If you want more, you have to share yourself"
And their conversation ends there, rain falling down from the sky.
"Belvedere?"
So it's been awhile, who cares.
His father came home a week ago and he's not been allowed to visit Yugo during that time. His parents have been a bit too upset about everything that went down during their time at the ancestral home. It's only been like six or seven months since they left the capital for their own grounds further south, and their son has been involved with the palace one too many times during that timeframe.
First, with the emperor as his concubine. Like what was that all about? He became the emperors lover mere weeks after his parents left for the countryside. Weeks! Obviously they freaked out over that. Belvedere knew they would but he still had to tell them. The truth would've come out one way or another anyway, which is why he thinks it's better that they hear it from him and not some random noble lady they are having tea with.
Secondly, he ran away from the emperor and was outlawed until his death, eventually also being captured by the new empress upon his return. That's probably the craziest part. Belvedere has lived a pretty calm life up until this year. Sure, he is famous and rich and has had many different flings and scandals but overall, a pretty normal life for a guy like him. Becoming a concubine is shocking, but on the same time it was kind of expected from him. Belvedere is the most beautiful man around, after all. But running away from an emperor? Getting captured and thrown to the dungeons by an empress? His parents were ready to ground him for life.
Until he told them what happened afterwards. The empress let him go after finding out the truth, and now he is pretty close to Andra and of course Fei and now maybe even Thyra. He is close to the empress, and has thereby gained a lot of status, so they couldn't stay mad at him for too long. It's almost like he can take care of himself now. Shocker, right?
Well anyway he has managed to sneak out for once, and is now standing outside of what he thinks is Yugo's house. To be honest he wasn't exactly sure about that until he saw the taller man walk out of the front door. It only takes a few seconds for Yugo to spot him by the gate, looking as radiant as always in an emerald green gown.
"Is everything okay! Why are you here?"
Yugo is worried immediately, running up to him. Belvedere feels his heart skip a beat. He laughs and nods. Of course he is okay.
"Does there have to be something wrong for me to visit you? I wanted to see your handsome face, that's all"
Belvedere flirts like it's his second nature. Yugo laughs, blushing at the straightforwardness.
"Of course not, I'm happy you're here"
Belvedere smiles.
"Marry me"
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Hi I know this is short and it's been awhile but the next chapter will be longer/ have more substance. I just had to rush this out today haha