So We Meet Again

"Am I going crazy?" Hylos asked. "I swear somebody said something..." He said. "Who is there?!" He asked loudly remembering the last time Lancelot's dear big sister popped out of nowhere, maybe that will happen again?

There was a laugh that echoed through the room, this time all three of them could hear it cleaely before the girl in white hood revealed herself. "This never gets boring." She said smirking, her claw shining brightly like fire.

Odette rolled eyes. "Really? You scared me. Was that seriously necessary?" She asked. "Couldn't you just walk in like a normal person, not doing these trick, or whatever are those and hiding?"

Natalia grinned. "I did walk in like any other man would, you just haven't noticed me." She said. "There is just so much you don't understand, so many secrets that will die off without Church of Light, so many dreams ruined..."

"Hm..." Freya was thinking. "I think I've seen that before... Somebody else was able to sneak up to me without getting noticed but honestly it was more because I wasn't on guard. They were still visible despite very good camouflage. This is a new level, becoming invisible, am I right?"

"Very well. Seems you really understand what you're working with." Natalia said smiling devilishly while she was looking at Freya who simply remained calm before speaking: "You popped out of nowhere, twice, and so you disappeared as soon as you jumped in that bush. I just added two plus two."

Natalia nodded. "Great for you. Now... Let's get to important stuff, have you found something interesting? Or am I free to go?" Natalia asked, her cape dancing on the wind caused by opened both window and door.

Hylos gazed at Odette and then Freya before shrugging. "Why are you even doing this?" He asked sounding pretty unamused. "Why can't you just say 'I'll help you' or 'I won't help you' so we get over this. I'm sick of playing your little games." He said crossing his muscular arms.

Odette nodded. "Right. I honestly can't see you as a part of Church of Light... They are all brave straight-forwards men and women, fighters in soul and you're... you. I don't even know why have you joined them." She said. "It wasn't to serve the country, was it?"

Natalia just looked at her picking her words carefully. "I, you see, joined..." She started slowly. "Because--"

"Because you wanted the fame and power, the rank itself. That's your goal, you don't care for men, you just want to be remembered, am I right?" Freya asked. "Well, maybe I can do something about that." She said.

Natalia's eyes widened. That girl read her like an opened book. "R-really? H-how did you-- What??" She was shocked. She knew her for few hours and they spent total of few minutes speaking yet she already found what was making her fight, what was fueling her soul.

"If you're asking me how did I know, it's very easy. In the letter you said your goal was to become protector of the land yet you became no more than an assassin that uses her skills to play with her victims. It was easy to realise being good is not what you want, what you want is admiration but be warned, that can lead you into your doom." Freya said from the perspective of a really famous warrior who knew what was it like when everybody looked up to you.

"..." Natalia had nothing to say, nothing to add. Everybody in the room was simply staring at Freya. That girl sure did understand how minds of different people worked. The valkyre grinned. "What? Everybody suddenly went silent? Did I say something wrong?" She asked.

Natalia just gazed at her, a bit paler ever since her mindset was revealed. She looked like she has seen a ghost. "No... You're correct... How- how did you know??"

Freya grinned. "I had my reasons to suspect that was the case and you just gave me the confirmation for my hypotesis." She chuckled and shot her with a wink. "Actually, you reminded me of a friend I met a long time ago but that's a story for another time."

"Well... Natalia... If that's what you want..." Hylos started gazing at Odette. "Maybe our princess over here would agree to give you some kind of rank if you agreed to help us. Just imagine, you'd return with us to the capital town, side by side after achieving victory and imprisoning the thief who stole the Codex of Apocalypse, just imagine... 'A girl who who gave up on everything she had before for the good of the world'."

***

Argus was sitting at the table with Lancelot. They were talking and having a drink. The orange clear liquid filled bottom halves of their glasses since they have both already drunk.

When the Fallen Angel invited him to talk, the knight thought it was about his reward, the powers or about next task he had for him but he couldn't even imagene he'd be invited to have a drink with a person like him. It was unexpected, but sho could refuse a  free drink?

They were a lot closer to the surface than where the cellar and Argus's quarters are. It was actually close enough so they could see the afternoon blue sky through a small window located on the top of the wall that is facing east.

"And that's how I took her in. Ah, girls... They're all so easy to play with." Argus could be heard saying. Nobody knows how much have they drunk before but he did sound a little drunk saying this. "You know what, you should get yourself one too. They are like good little puppies but better, and can do more stuff for you. Also, they look for hotter than small pups."

Lancelot's long hair was a bit messy but nevertheless shiny in the light that was coming in the room through the window. "Oh, you cannot possibly understand my worries. She was beautiful, she was princess yet I had to choose between her and the book. Oh, how sweet would it be if I just got another chance with her."

The fallen angel grinned. "Do so, my friend." He said and placed an arm around his shoulders. "Head up and go after them. Use imagination, lie, find an excuse, use few tears and give her this." He said tapping his chest. "She won't be able to resist you."

"You know what! You're right! I'll offer her my heart and soul, she'll have to take me back!" Lancelot said grinning as if what he was saying were the only thoughts in his mind. "Oh, she'll make such a great wife, the controllable one yet not a boring type. And she comes with built-in package of titles."

"Yes! That's the spirit! With her in our lines, our goal will be reachable in a swing of my blade." Argus replies standing up a bit clumsily as he drew his sword. He stood for a moment in victorious pose before mumbling for himself: "Yes, yes, yes-- the girl with the swans, the girl is- the girl is the key."

He then turned to Lancelot and looked into his eyes seriously. "Although... By 'this'..." he started. "I had in mind the rose." He said taking the rose off Lancelot's suit and putting it in his hand. "By my sword you will be the carrier of my mission, by this sword I'll give you a part of the powers of mine. Use them well, and bring the love of your life with you on your way back."

With that words, Lancelot felt his body growing with power. Without instructions, he felt what he had to do, he felt powerful, like somebody who could actually achieve something in life, who has achieved something. He achieved the goal he had when he decided to join Argus. Now he had to prove he was worth it and he had really high confidence level. He knew he was worthy.

"I'll be there sooner than you can blink your eye." Lancelot said smirking. He took his glass, drank up all the remaining liquid from it and picked up his rapier. With a quick slash followed by a spell, he blinked to the outside of the room. He stood on the green grass that bowed under his steps. The forest was dancing in front of his eyes, glistering in the sun that was preparing for setting.

Using his new powers, he was jumping around, blinking, flashing, disappearing and reappearing. He swung his blade in different directions. He was simply leaving glowing trails of dark fog and sparkles. He did indeed fall few times, but like a real warrior always got up, rapier in one hand and rose in other.

He was slowly moving towards the capital of the light guessing he'd find them there since he at least thought he saw them going in that direction.

***

"Man... I haven't been in an actual town for quite some time now..." Natalia was mumbling as they were approaching the grand gate of the capital town. The rays of sun were crashing against a yellow topaz on the roof of the Town Hall colouring all the white walls of the town yellow. It gave the town a warm note. "How'd say how much a town can change in just two or three years?"

Hylos nodded. "This is a very fast-growing town but that's why it's beautiful. It isn't boring." The centaur said, carrying Odette on his back. The princess really wasn't used to long walk.

Freya sighed. "Maybe for you but in my opinion, it looked better back in the old times. This modern style isn't really my thing." She said shrugging slightly. "I guess that's how you'd expect an ancient thing to behave, nostalgic to the past and skeptical about the future." She said.

"How old are you exactly?" Natalia asked rising an eyebrow. "Because you sound like you're older than this land." She said staring at the valkyre. She knew she was a famous fighter but didn't exactly know the old legends and stories about her origin.

"Well, you're right. I am." The blue-haired girl grinned. "I'm immortal being. I don't age and in result, you have a beautiful, young-looking living behamond. Oh, and this is my home so I'll just slip off here. See you all tomorrow. I expect you coming here for morning coffee." She said with a warm smile. "Or tea, if you prefer."

With that, Natalia, Hylos and Odette headed to Hylos's place where they would spend the evening.

Odette was a bit tired by this whole traveling here and there, she wasn't used to do so when she was inside of her castle for such a long time. This all was a new experience for her and she did like it but it was very tiring. As soon as they reached the mansion, Hylos told her: "Maybe you'd want to go get some rest? I won't keep you up if you're that tired."

Odette nodded with a smile: "That'd be nice. Thank you, Hylos. For this and everything you've done for me last few days." She said. "Good night." She said and waved as she walked further down the hallway while Natalia and Hylos went in the opposite direction to have something to eat or drink and enjoy the evening. Maybe Hylos could find out more about her and her brother.

Odette was now alone until she saw a familiar face, the one she'd never guess she's see there. Through dim lighting of the room, there was a face of a young man with long blonde wavy hair that had his sword in one hand and a rose in the other. Lancelot. He then sheathed his rapier and approached the girl.

She went pale, as if she was seeing a ghost, some kind of empty illusion but the problem was this one was real. The light was really dancing in those clear blue eyes and the voice was still the same as before. How did he get in is still a mystery just like how did he find her but he was there, facing the girl whose heart he broke and whose trust he betrayed.