[Nightengale]

Sorry for the delay on this one. The next one will be faster...most likely. Okay, Part 14's going to be 2-parter like the Part 13... vestige hasn't played yet, but neither had the battle began, so whatever.

Pre-battle talking chapter.

Spoiler for Part 14.3 : Before End :

~Part XIV Verse 2nd ~ A Pledge to the King ~

~Lost Pages 313: vestige ~

“There is not enough darkness in the entire world to put out the light of even one small candle”.

For what reason do we live?

Why are we born? What is our purpose? No one knows…

Our life is like a vestigial cycle. We walk down our paths, but see not the meaning behind what we strive for.

A human’s life is like a candle in the wind, an instantaneous light that shines and goes like the infinite stars of the sky. So short, so empty…one often do not find why lived they way they were.

I thought I knew. But I didn’t.

But now I know…My life, my everything…was meant for her.

That is why…

~Saga~

My weight flew backwards a little as I felt my jaw shaken, the receiving end of a fist…my lips were bleeding, as Isdera stood before me, his eyes angered, and focused, his fist clenched to hit another…

Not that I’d blame him…

Looking back now…my return from my dreams was a strange thing indeed. Waking up from a broken coffin, with wings as I looked up the ceiling…as sounds of my friends and comrades rushing in, their faces mixed of shock, relief, gratitude… I thought something inside me…

That’s right. The sound of a man, knocking on destiny’s door.

Well, Isdera’s look of relief turned into a one-sided slugfest not long after that, so I’m not sure what to make of it… though Astra, and surprisingly…Shamal were quite taken aback too from what I said.

“I will save her.”

5 days…I was apparently asleep for that long, which meant that a single of my dream was a day of reality. Diabolic End of Tiara’s…was extending to over 80 miles in radius now, a spiritual emission of spread-out mass of energy that slowly consumes the life within. The Wolkenritter bar Shamal are dead, and so is Wira...and the war that was meant to end raged on even worse, with the commands on both sides crippled, as I went into my dreams, as the Wolkenritter along with Tiara…

To be honest, at this point, saving Tiara is close to impossible…but I didn’t care. For once, screw technicalities…. Sometimes, there were just things that couldn’t be bound by logic.

But, I did not expect them to understand, because I was not being myself…I was being illogical, as Isdera gave me another blow…

“There’s no reason for this madness, general…You’ll die.”

“Maybe…but that won't stop me from wanting to try.”

Another hit… and once again, I just accepted it. Shamal and Astra were watching… clearly disapproving what Isdera was doing…but I chose to accept this.

“Even if it’s you, general… I cannot forgive you, if you’re even thinking of throwing away your life like this.”

Throwing away my life…he said? It might seem that way, but I…

“Failing to protect the things that precious to me…is worse than dying.”

Isdera, in anger pulled out his sword as he aimed towards me..

“Isdera!”

Astra shouted out to him, as he almost wanted to bind and restrain him…

“Don’t stop me, Astra… this is something I must deal with the general myself…

It was with the sacrifice of countless comrades…that we were able to make it this far. That we were one step away from ending this madness of a war, that you were able to become the General…

And now, you’re throwing all that away, for the sake of one woman…”

For the sake of one woman…? Isdera brought his sword closer to my neck.

“Answer me, general. What is that woman to you? What drives you to these lengths?”

Why? Is it because I loved her? Is it because she is my wife? Is it because she carries my child? No… it isn’t so complicated.

“I made a promise.”

That’s right…it is because I promised her… Even if she did not love me, even if I didn’t fall in love with her, I would still save her… because…

“I promised that I would live for her happiness.”

“Saga…”

A temporary silence ensued, as the sound of metal dropping to the ground broke it off, as Isdera dropped his sword.

“You’ve got me there… To be honest, I’m surprised we even made it past our first battle alive, having a stubborn idiot of a leader like you.”

“It’s fine, isn’t it? That’s why Saga is the way he is…and that is why we Zerstroritters are even bigger idiots for choosing to follow a guy like him.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

The tense atmosphere loosened as Astra and Isdera were now talking with smiles, recalling the past that bound us together, as the both of them nodded together, and kneeled down in front of me.

“We are the Zerstroritter… we are your knights who had pledged themselves before you… If you command our death, we will accept it. If you order our sacrifice, we would give it… If it’s a promise, we’ll keep it, even with our deaths.”

“You guys…”

“That being said… if you’re rushing off on a suicide mission, it’s better to have one or 2 guys accompanying you, isn’t it, Saga?”

“Astra…don’t be rude. It’s not like we’re guaranteed to die…yet.”

“So says the guy who wasn’t holding back his punches, and had our general at blade point.”

So… these idiots are going to go all the way too… It’s useless to try and stop them. So, now…there’s only one more question…Shamal.

“Shamal…”

“Saga…”

Seeing her arms bounded up by Astra’s chains, I broke them off…freeing her.

“I will not ask you to forgive me… but I promise that I’ll definitely save Tiara. You’re free now.”

“So what are you going to do now…woman? You’re going to miss out on a lot of craziness if you just leave.”

Surprisingly, it was Astra who spoke to Shamal… I thought Astra hated Shamal passionately for what she did to his eye? But now…even though there was a tone of hissings behind Astra’s words, it was typically…him. What happened within this 5 days that I’m not being told of, I wonder?

“I’d never thought I’d say this…but I agree with you for once.”

Unexpectedly…Shamal too, kneeled herself in front of me, as she held my hand, looking up…

“Saga… you and our princess tied an oath of love, and unity…proven by the child that now resides within the princess. Technically, you are now our king…and as both a knight, and a friend…I ask that you allow me to see this through to the end as well… as one of yours.”

Shamal…wait? She knew? I was sure Tiara was keeping it a secret… and I told no one… whatever. Now everyone knows, so it’s not like anything’s changed.

“Wait, general…you were married!?”

“And you knocked up the Princess of the Night Sky? Wow... I never thought you had that in you. Should I call you Your Highness from now on?”

[You mean RORI REIN REALLY is your daughter!!?!? USO DA!!!]

Okay…I’ve changed my mind. This is extremely embarrassing… if we make through this alive, I’m not sure how I’ll make it through their teasing… Shamal too, could only smile at this…

Regardless…now is the time…

“Alright…let’s go, everyone.

To our future.”

I walked on, as Isdera followed behind...

Meanwhile, Shamal and Astra took their time, as Shamal looked at the back of Saga…

“I think I’m starting to see…why the Princess fell in love with him.”

“Fallen for him?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Next part coming soon...Hmm...what to do first, Part 3 of 00Feito, or Part 14.9 of SoS...decisions, decisions...