The silence of the mausoleum was permeated by the screech of heavy metal armor against the stone floor. The dust parted as the Knight Commander was thrown backwards. The sweat dripped off of Teppun's chin, he had just subjugated a Dungeon Lord and now there were new attackers. His danger senses were firing off, he watched as the massive form was still recovering. It seems as he didn't expect to be pushed back. A chill ran up his spine as something seemed out of place. This only led way to another to attempt a flanking maneuver.
Teppun's attention caught a new figure, a speedy flank from the side. Arms outstretched, whoever this was trying to grab Emily. Sheathing his blade and circling around her Teppun anticipated the outstretched hand of the attacker and grabbed it. He pivoted his body lifting them of the ground and threw them over Emily, the attacker rolled fifteen feet before getting up clearly confused.
"Stop!" Yelled a low voice from the dust.
Teppun relaxed his shoulders as the Knight Captain stepped into view. His hands visible, the blade re-sheathed. Teppun followed suit as Emily ran at her father embracing him.
"Father! You came!" Emily yelled hugging her father.
"I-indeed, of course when we realized you were gone we feared the worst. Thank the Goddess you are alive." Emily's father praised looking between her and the unknown individual.
The Knight Captain's eyes rose further an paused an unholy sight. On the other side of the room he saw the remains of what could only be the Dungeons Lord. It lay there the main skull split in half the rest of the bones torn to pieces. He wasn't sure if he himself would have been able to handle that monster, he knew Emily couldn't have either.
"By the Goddess is that dead!?!" Instructor Gwen gasped.
She stood gaping at the massive demon's remains. Her eyes were transfixed between the remains and the man before them all.
"D-did you kill t-that?" She stammered.
The man didn't answer, instead he began walking towards the door silently. The Knight Captain stood stepping into his way. His hands were open palms out as he wanted to ask a few questions. His eyes paused on the blacksmith's blade. An ornate silver longsword, he recognized its design. His gaze was stern, he didn't want to let up any ground lest this man get away without him knowing what happened. Yet he knew that this man had to have been the guardian the seer spoke of, he didn't want to admit it but if he could defeat a Dungeon Lord single handedly he was beyond his own limits.
"You saved my daughter, is that correct?" He asked in a determined tone.
"I owed her, she saved me as well. It was a fair exchange." Teppun responded, which wasn't a lie.
"Can I ask your name? You have done something here that deserves praise. The king would handsomely reward your for your effort." Eggard asked pushing further, he was taken aback by the look of displeasure on his face.
"I would rather not. With all due respect, I enjoy my humble living." Teppun responded with a slight bow.
Emily stepped in front of her father she had a look of indignation. The pieces were starting to come together for her father. He chuckled loudly.
"Alright then, would you at least give me the name of my daughter's savior? Allow me the pleasure to invite you to my home for dinner at least? The Knight Captain offered.
As he had hoped his daughter turned to look at him, maybe him alone wouldn't be enough but them both of them. Emily stepped toward Teppun, her arms fell behind her hips looking at him desperately for an answer. Teppun sighed rubbing his neck, this was painful for him but he didn't see much of an alternative.
"Alright then, if you insist. After I've completed Emily's Shield... I can spare some time." Teppun agreed hesitantly.
Emily bobbed on her heels looking between him and her father. She watched them shake hands, Emily noticed she wasn't the only one fascinated by Teppun. Turning she watched as her instructor eyed him with interest, her gaze flicking between him and the pile of bones. This made her face feel hot, she wasn't sure why.
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Emily was angry that Teppun didn't want to return to the surface with them. He had claimed he was still mining for resources. At first this puzzled them all, there was no way he would find mithril in this dungeon. They all were going to protest until he produced a shining chunk of ore the size of Emily's head from his bag. They all looked in awe as the mythical ore glowed of its own volition in the darkness of the mausoleum. Putting it away he explained.
"Dungeons have this sort of Magical pressure around them, it allows the Dungeon Lord to be aware of what happens at all times. After centuries that magic lingers around with nowhere to go and soaks itself into the ore and changes it overtime becoming Mithril. The bottom layers of dungeons are normally packed with Mithril. Here its been sitting dormant for a long time so it wont be nearly as much but its more than enough for a shield." He explained.
The Knight Captain and Instructor Gwen had never heard of this before. Mostly because the dungeons that stood now days were without Dungeon Lords. Most of humanity assumed that Mithril was the most common in magically soaked regions like in the northern regions that belonged to the elves. The elves were shrewd and didn't trade such a valuable resource with humans often. They all trekked back through the dungeon floors, now much quieter and empty.
Emily walked between them, her mind drifted between what she had seen today. The abilities of the holy sword that didn't appear in the scriptures. The light produced by her prayers to the Goddess. The words spoken by the Dungeon Lord. The glowing shield tattooed on the back of his hand, hung the longest. Something occurred to her then, when they were tracking through the alleys they weren't using his name, they were using a different word. "Aegis." She remembered as Tabitha's grimoire had turned its pointer behind them as he had snuck behind them at some point. It had led them exactly where she wanted.
The words came out before she could realize it.
"Father, the original texts describing the Aegis. Where would one find that?" Emily asked.
"Hrm... I would suppose the royal archive would have that. Alas it is restricted to the king and the upper nobility." He answered, semi glad she was fawning over shields again.
Emily thought about this, why would there be secrecy around the archives. Of course they wouldn't let anyone through to see them but still. A thought occurred to her, if she completed her knight training. She would then move up to working as a knight in the kings army. She could try and find a way into there eventually...
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Teppun knelt down beside the massive bones of the Dungeon Lord. Picking up a smaller shard it crumbled in his fingers. Delta chuckled, he forgot what it felt like to be serious in a fight. Even more he was grateful to be needed again. Despite how he felt, he wasn't going to rush into it quite yet.
"So, wasn't this guy supposed to be dead already?" He spoke to the ghostly figure beside him.
"If I recall correctly, this was one of the first dungeons the Hero had attempted. This was not long after my mother bestowed me upon him." Marianne was referring to her mother the Goddess. "He couldn't defeat this Lord and decided to leave his men behind for the good of humanity and sealed it in here while he escaped." She replied solemnly.
Teppun crushed another bone, allowing the dust to fall into a pouch in his other hand. "Sounds like a charmer, one could only imagine what drove you to leave him." He droned sarcastically.
"This wasn't the first time he had done this, nor was it the last. He sacrificed so many lives to uphold his image." She shivered just thinking about it.
Teppun paused, his brow furrowing. "Your saying this could happen again? A dungeon could be revived and more people possibly hurt?" He did his best to try not to sound concerned but she saw through him.
Marianne wrapped her ghostly arms around his neck, enjoying his warmth. "I would go anywhere with you, as long as you hold me in your hands I don't care where we go."
"Lets save all that silent heroism stuff after our beach vacation huh?" He said, his eyes catching onto a faint violet glow.
"Really? I think that would be fun, just you and me traveling the world again." She giggled caressing his chin, her eyes falling on the violet orb he pulled from the bones.
It was smaller than it had been on the Dungeon Lord's staff, shrunk by at least ten times the glowing pear was about the size of a grapefruit. Teppun polished the surface looking into its cloudy depths.
"What is that?" Marianne asked looking at it with puzzled disgust.
"I think, its a amplifier. Either way its far to dangerous to leave here." He said dropping it into a leather bag and tightening it before placing it into his bag.
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The following day Emily returned to school to the classes amazement and applause. She felt uncomfortable having everyone's attention on her so suddenly. Tabitha sobbed when she saw her again, apologizing that she didn't do more. Even the instructor was happy to see her, staying close and asking her if she was alright to resume training and if she had seen the blacksmith. Her father and Gwen received the credit for defeating the dungeon and saving the class. At first they tried to deny any reward but they were denied that choice and rewarded by the King handsomely.
The days past quickly as the excitement died down. Emily fell into her usual routine, she had already told Tabitha what had happened to her after she stopped apologizing. They both sat in the institutions garden, the suns rays beat down on them lightly only helped by a calm breeze that flowed from the east. The both drank tea while Emily retold the story. Tabitha listened intently waiting in-between sections to ask questions, Emily could tell she was half interested as a magical connoisseur and the other half as a fan of romance stories. Her expression took wild strides as the story became closer to its end.
Tabitha sipped at her tea in quiet thoughtfulness. Placing down her cup she looked at Emily.
"I wish I could've seen it, myself. Something like that hasn't happened since the time of the Hero." She sipped at her tea and chewed on a tart. "Why do you suppose the dungeon was still active in the first place? Didn't the Hero clear them all out in the scriptures?"
Emily nodded thoughtfully. "Everything I've seen so far leads me to believe there is something untrue about the stories we were read as kids. I can't put my finger on what."
"Where do you think he came across the Holy Sword? As well if the nobility made intentional changes to its design you could reason that whatever they have isnt the true Holy Sword." Tabitha pondered, between chews.
The wind blew by bringing the sound of nearby commotion. Turning to see they saw a group of students clamoring around something excitedly. Emily felt a drop in her stomach. She knew this wasn't any good. Both women walked up to the crowd, they were surrounding a student who was showing off a shining golden blade. Emily recognized the student, one of the King's children. Emily never talked to him as his attitude toward non-royalty was typically sour, when he actually showed up to classes.
He stood tall with straight black hair and grey eyes. His clothes were regal and rarely ever anything else. His voice oozed narcissism as he swung the golden blade.
"My father the King gave this to me for my nineteenth birthday, there was a three day celebration you see. That is why I couldn't make it to class." He sneered.
The crowd of students all glowed over the blade, there were a lot of those who desperately wanted to be on the prince's good side. Beside him stood his sister the princess. She had the same black hair, grey eyes and regal clothes, she often followed her brother around. Emily only knew her as she had an obsession with her ancestor the Hero, and the stories around him. She was more approachable, but they barely ever spoke.
Emily's eyes fell on the blade and her heart sunk. It was the Holy blade, yet it was the newer design put out a few years ago. Her brow furrowed, there was no way it was the real deal. Scoffing she turned to leave with Tabitha. She froze when she was called out.
"What's your problem commoner? Not impressed by the Holy Blade of legend? I doubt you even know what is it." The Crown Prince Ayer jabbed at her.
Emily spun on her heel her face felt hot. She desperately wanted to shove him in his place. Yet she knew if she picked a fight there may be repercussions, there was always consequences when dealing with the nobility.
"Of course I don't recognize that blade, Its a nice replica. I'm sure the king felt pretty proud giving you a fake. I'm sure he figured you wouldn't notice the difference." Emily retorted laughing.
The crowd murmured around him, he had a replica? How could she tell?
"If that is the sword of the legend then it wouldn't have any issues slicing through my shield." She said producing her own mithril shield.
The crowd murmured louder, indeed the Holy Blade was depicted to pierce the most dense metals. The prince separated himself from the crowd standing before her. His voice spat venom.
"I am going to make you eat those words commoner. I will have your tongue cut out after I slice your shield clean." He growled getting into a sloppy combat stance.
Emily readied herself, no blade just her shield. Watching him lunge after her it was apparent he had half the training she did, she would thank her father later. She could see he had no intention to strike her shield, he was aiming for a sweep of her unguarded right side. His blade came down in a diagonal arc that she intercepted easily, she expected the blade to bounce harmlessly off her shield. Everyone's eyes widened in shock when the blade shattered immediately. The shards fell to the ground, the blade broke close to the hilt the longer half of the blade stuck into the ground. For a moment the crown prince stood there dumbfounded. Emily thought it was over, she relaxed her shoulders unaware of the follow up attack. The prince yelled loudly before he threw a punch at her.
It would have connected if a strong gloved hand didn't catch his wrist mid air and pulled downward causing the prince to lose balance. Instructor Gwen stood there gripping his wrist, with a look of disgust that caused the whole crowd to back away a step.
"So, your skip your classes and the start picking fights. Worst of all you show the most unknightly behavior." Instructor Gwen growled.
"She's a COMMONER! She insulted me!" The prince winced as her grip tightened.
"I don't give a damn where the hell your were born from. If you are in my class you are all supposed to act as knights." She let go of his wrist letting him fall on his rear still clutching the broken hilt.
"My father will hear..." The prince started to spit, he was cut off immediately by Gwen's look of utter disgust.
"Hear what? The crown prince got the snot beat out of him by a girl younger than him, and resorted to underhanded tactics?" She growled inches from his face. "Go ahead and tell him, I dare you!"
The prince scrambled away running toward the castle. The murmuring continued as the crowd dispersed. Emily couldn't remove the smile from her face, Tabitha on the other hand was horrified. She let out a squeak when Instructor Gwen called for them.
"Rosethorn, Tymeer come here."
Both girls straightened walking toward their instructor, both ready to receive a lecture. They both saw her mischievous grin and paled.
"How did you know that was a fake?" She asked bending over pulling them both into a huddle.
Emily seized up, looking past her instructors head she looked for assistance from Tabitha. Unfortunately she looked as if she was on the edge of fainting. Emily stammered her face getting hot.
"I-I made a lucky guess?" She made it sounds more like a question than an answer.
"No, I don't think so... I think you knew it was a fake, because you've seen the real thing!" Gwen's grip on them tightened as her grin turned into something evil.
"N-NO we would never..." Emily was cut off by Tabitha's fearful babbling.
"W-we don't even know if its the real thing, its just like a regular old talking sword right? Those are perfectly common...Ow!" Tabitha rambled fearfully stopping when Emily kicked her shin.
Emily reached out for Tabitha's collar. She was going to strangle her if anything else got out. Their instructor held them apart.
"Relax ladies I already figured it out a while ago, so did your father Emily." Gwen admitted with a dark chuckle.
Emily's arms went limp, she turned her head to look at her instructor. Her face went pale. Her blue eyes holding back unshed tears.
"You knew? How?"
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The light of the moon shone through the windows of the King's study. His once black hair had grown grey to match his eyes. He sat in his favorite lounge chair listening to a small box that plucked a metallic melody. It was his wife's favorite song, this had been a gift for her on their wedding. He lost apart of his soul when she died. He sat in quiet self reflection alone in his study, the beautiful music punctured by the furious footsteps on stone coming closer. The king closed the music box ending its tune as the doors to his study slammed open.
"Father! The sword you gave me was a FAKE!!"
The king stood and turned to his son, a look if irritation on his face. He layed the box down on his desk.
"And what of it? Do you think your behavior has been becoming of the Hero's blade?" He said with irritation.
The crown prince stomped up to his desk and slammed his hands on his father desk. The music box falling onto to the floor below.
"You knew it was a fake! Yet you still presented to me as a gift. Your wretched fath..."
The prince spat before feeling the air leave his lungs.
Around them both the room became darker, the light of the moon seemed to be choked out as the crown prince could see nothing but his fathers shadow against the window behind him. His blood ran ice cold as he gagged for air, his fathers voice now a dark inhuman growl.
"You will not speak to me this way, Your wretched tongue has cost me much. If I could've had your mother over your poor excuse for an existence I would trade it immediately."
He watches as his father caressed the ring on his left hand. It glowed with an eerie violet glow. As he let go of the ring air seemed to flow through his throat. He sucked in with a horrible gasp falling to his knees gripping his throat. His father knelt down and picked up the small golden box. Sitting down again he gave his son one last icy order.
"Leave me, do not make a mockery of our name or I'll see it myself I outlive you."
The prince struggled to his feet, careful not to make any noise he walked out of his father's study closing the door behind him. After running down several hallways he stopped punching the stone wall until his knuckles were crimson with blood. He would pay, he would kill his father and take the throne. Then he would make every commoner pay, especially that girl.
Wiping his tears away he turned intentionally down towards the where he knew the stairs to the royal vault. Walking down the stairs he stopped before a large door guarded by two armor-clad soldiers. They both sat in chairs sleeping, so he would help himself. He opened the door silently and slipped into the vault unaware his sister was watching him from the stairs.
Hundreds of ancient displays. He trounced through them all not sure what he was looking for. He wasn't sure he would find the Holy Sword down here, its was possible that it was held in a different location. He passed a display of a blade with an ivory and gold hilt. It caught his attention briefly, shrugging he turned away before hearing a voice.
The crown prince stiffened, looking around in the darkness he didn't see who spoke.
"You must be the Hero, look at you. Such a divine stature..."
He turned to the source back at the display of the ivory blade, yet this time its handle was no longer Ivory. It shone a familiar gold hilt with eagle wings. It looked exactly like the sword he thought to be real Holy Sword. His hands touched the glass display in awe.
"You can hear me, well that makes sense you must be the Hero of this era. I've been waiting for you Hero..." A melodic male voice praised him.
"You, Your the Holy Sword of Legend?" He stammered transfixed in the blades features.
"Well of course, I exist for you my hero. I live to serve you slay your enemies." The blade responded.
He didn't remember shattering the display case, but when he opened his eyes again he found the golden sword in his hands. He swung it effortlessly, it seemed lighter than any other blade he'd held before. While he admired its beauty his sister Tamaria watched him silently as he held an ivory blade.
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Emily was already done with the festivities and the party hadn't even started. Her father was fawning over her and enjoying making a fuss for her along with Tabitha who would tease her over everything.
"You keep staring at the door like that your going to bore a hole through it." Tabitha's squeak like giggled from her mousey features. Instead of wearing the usual school uniform she was wearing a frilly black dress her father got her for the party.
Emily had been taking glances at the main hall door, waiting for him to show up. She wouldn't admit it though. Emily wore a modest white dress with white rose floral patterns, she gripped the hem of her dress thoughtfully. Neither her blessing ceremony nor her birthday hung so deeply in her heart, seeing his face as if something deep inside her something much older was reaching out through her. Instructor Gwen approached her dressed in full ceremonial royal armor, she wrapped an arm around her half drunk already.
"So Emmy, what blessing are you hopeful for? If you don't get it I can break the priest's fingers until he calls it out." She giggles, Emily hoped she was just kidding.
"I want to be a shield maiden like my mother, I want to make her proud." She blushed.
"I've no doubt in you that's what you'll get, isn't that right Tabby?" Gwen pulled Tabitha into their huddle.
"Y-yeah. Emily your gonna be a shield maiden. Its literally your life's goal." Tabitha assured her.
Emily thought about it briefly before she saw her father dressed in an expensive suit walk toward the main entrance door. He opened the door himself welcoming the new comers in. She saw there was brief moment where he paused and spoke before laughing loudly. He turned to look at Emily standing on the mezzanine overlooking the festivities waving her over. As she stepped around the door her heart fluttered seeing Teppun's warm smile. His voice washed over her like warm wave on the beach.
"Happy Birthday Emily." He smiled, in his hand was a sizable rectangle package.
"Happy Birthday Emily!" A higher toned squeal erupted beside him wrapping arms around her neck.
Emily was surprised to see the glint of silver hair so close to her, she was being hugged by the sword spirit Marianne. She looked at her shocked. Marianne wasn't wearing her usual priestess garb, now she wore a silver and gold dress with frills. She wore silver colored roses in her hair. Teppun was dressed in a white suit that suited his dark skin as well.
"Sw-Marianne? Your here?" Emily stammered. She took a glance at her father who seemed to be seeing her just fine himself as well. She watched him accept a bottle of wine from Teppun.
"Thank you for having us, Marianne my partner was so happy to hear about this party." He said smiling at the tangled women.
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Two days prior:
Teppun sat back on his wooden chair, looking over the new shield he finished. He could see his face reflected in the metal that radiated magical energy. He layed it in the table over a silken cloth folding it into the cloth. It would be soon that he would visit her, he was equal parts happy and anxious. How many questions could he answer without compromising himself? He didn't want to go alone.
"Marianne?" He called to the blade that hung on the wall.
There was no response, he sat back into his chair leaning his head back. His eyes met with her ghostly form looking back at him. He gave her an exasperated look and sighed.
"Were you just going to hover there silently?" He jabbed.
"Only for a little bit, besides I like watching you work. Its calming." She said amused.
"I have a question for you? Why is it that sometime you appear physically?" He asked.
"Well whenever you integrate with the blade itself, my eternal being has to leave the blade to allow for you to connect. I guess my mother thought of it just incase the blade broke somehow." She crossed her arms and pouted, she didn't have a very good relationship with her mother.
"And your perfectly fine? No problems? So that means you could be physical for a while right?" He asked a spark of hope.
"I guess theoretically that would work." Her expression grew into a mischievous look. "What horrible things are you planning to do to me, to a poor maiden with a frail heart." She made a fainting pose looking at him expectantly with the same grin.
"Your coming to this party with me." he declared stepping over to sword hanging on the wall.
Teppun laid his hand on the hilt, his eyes closed seeking something out of the blade. Instantly the blade shimmered turning into a silver bangle on his right arm. Just as suddenly he was toppled over by Marianne she appeared above him falling down on his chest. With a thunk Teppun lay splayed on the forge's dusty floor with the daughter of the Goddess kneeling on his chest. Her white robes shimmered in the daylight, her silver hair fell down beyond her. She watched him sigh looking unamused, she giggled caressing his face for the first time in years.
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The party continued on, the other guests petered in. The last one was the holy priest, he came with a few nuns and the crystal ball that would identify her blessing to everyone. When Teppun saw this he knew it was time. He excused himself and walked to a table with several knights laughing and cheering loudly. He saw the knight captain, he stood beside him raising a hand shoulder height to catch his attention. Eggard excused himself from his fellow knights and met with him, Gwen's eyes caught them walking off to a private room and followed them with a mischievous grin.
Emily's father led them to a room where she made herself known, she was drunk and wouldn't be denied this juicy situation. They sat down, Gwen closed the door. Emily's father started the conversation.
"I am going to need time before I can give my approval. Please forgive me as I still see her as my little girl." The knight captain said firmly.
Teppun's brow furrowed, raising his palms. "That's not at all I wanted to talk to you about." He smiled embarrassedly.
Teppun watched the knight captain and Gwen's face fall immediately, they both looked disappointed at this turn in the converstation.
"Sir, I have reason to believe Emily will become the next priestess..." Teppun explained to them both all his knowledge. She can produce Holy magic with prayer and she can hear and see spirit of the holy sword.
"So its true, you are the current wielder of the holy sword. I wasn't sure, where is it?" The captain asked eyeing his person.
Teppun held out his right hand showing the bangle, without a word it vanished and was replaced with the same sword he held that day. Teppun offered the handle to him, the knight captain and Gwen's eyes widened with awe. Eggard reached out and took the handle, as Teppun let go it shot to the floor from the weight. The short table between them shattered as the blade's weight caused him to fall forward unable to lift it.
"Gah, it weights more than anything I've ever held in my life!" Emily's father yelled barely keeping it from crushing his fingers.
Teppun took the blade from him releasing him from the weight. Eggard watched him lift it as if were lighter than paper. Gwen's eyes glowed at less the blade and more at Teppun. With a flick of the wrist the sword went back as a bangle and he caught it deftly.
"S-so what of the sword spirit?" The night captain breathed hard from the strain.
As he said that the sounds of footsteps at the door and it was slammed open as Marianne blew it open with a fist. He eyes bore holes into Teppun. "How dare you let anyone else hold me!" she shrieked lunging at him and grabbing his collar.
Both of the knights stared at her connecting the dots, they looked upon her in awe and maybe a little fear and she strangled Teppun. After he apologized she sat down with them still her eyebrows twitching with irritation. "I see this is where you ran off too. You've told them right?"
By both of their faces looked as if they believed him. Now a look of worry on Emily's fathers face. "If she is the priestess reincarnation, that means she will die within a year. Is there anyway to stop this?" The captain's voice became desperate. He referred to the legend of the Goddess's sickness. The story goes that when the priestess is reborn she has a few months to bring about her blessings before the power becomes to great and she dies. This is the story passed down and certified by the nobility.
Marianne guffawed. "My mother would never do such a thing, she loves the priestess just as much as she loves me." She watched with satisfaction as they looked at her, just now realizing they are in the presence of a descendant of the Goddess herself.
"What do you mean?" Gwen interupted. "The priestess has always died shortly after her blessing, people still around can attest to that."
The knight captain leaned in, a spark of hope in his eyes. Teppun held a straight face as he explained. "We believe that the nobility for centuries had been killing off the priestess reincarnate in secret. We aren't fully sure why, I believe that they want to suppress her memories reaching the public."
The knight captain was silent. He knew that the last few priestesses were taken to the castle immediately and then kept on a tight watch for the months following her announcement. The public never saw her die, they were only told of when it happened. He looked at Teppun and couldn't help but believe him.
"Then we must hold the ceremony in private, the fewer the better. Word cannot leave this mansion." As knight captain spoke a loud commotion erupted outside, a massive amount of hands clapping in unison.
They all ran out to the main hall looking over the mezzanine, they were too late as the ceremony had begun earlier than expected. They all watched in horror as Emily's giddy hand was placed on a sacred orb on a marble pedestal by a giggling Tabitha. The room erupted in golden light soaring around the room, crowds of guests "oohed" and "ahhhed" at the colorful light show. Emily's fathers face paled.
The priest looked deeply into the orb, his eyes reading something that no one else could see. For a brief moment a gasp and then he regained his composure. His voice rung out loudly silencing the crowd.
"Shield Maiden! Emily Rosethorn has received the blessing from the Goddess herself of the shield maiden!" The priest announced.
The crowd exploded with applause and cheering. The color returned to Eggard's face as he looked at Teppun, they shared a relived look together. Emily was surrounded by the crowd, thoroughly relieved herself. She spotted her father and Teppun watching her with smiles. Where had they been? She wondered.
The party continued now she was being presented her gifts. Emily did her best to be thankful for everything she received. A severe amount of jewelry she would never wear, many fine dresses and robes. Tabitha even got her a beginners grimoire full of handwritten spells, along with a bottle of golden tinged ink to activate then when she wanted. Emily hugged her thankful for such a useful gift. Lastly the one she waited the longest for, she had to hold herself down as Teppun presented her with the rectangular box.
"Please accept this custom made shield. May it serve and protect you for years to come." Teppun said confidently handing her the box.
The box was lighter than she expected, she opened the package and removed the light blue silken cover. In her hands she held a shining blue heater shield. A beautiful mithril recreation of the "Aegis", yet instead of an eagle design embossed on the shield's face it was a custom design of a rose. She slipped it onto her arm, it was perfectly balanced, the handle was custom fitted to her am size and the grip was made from ivory. She beamed even letting loose a few tears. She ran at Teppun and hugged him tightly, thanking him dearly. There were several voices in awe of her gift, even more were commenting about her embrace.
"Thank you! Its so perfect, you made it just for me." Emily looked up into his eyes, realizing she was incredibly close to his face.
Her face flushed as she needed to let go, and yet her body held him. She felt his warm breath on her lips. She was enraptured with his features. Teppun looked at her with a warm smile. Emily didn't realize how long she was staring at him until Tabitha cleared her throat loudly. She let go of him clutching her gift her face still severely reddened.
She could see him smile at her innocently, behind him Marianne didn't hide her look of distaste. She watched her helping herself to some chocolate, staring daggers right back at her.
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The party continued for a while before the guests bade their farewells and begun leaving. Teppun chuckled as Marianne helped herself to the treats calming down from something that must've set her off before. He walked over as she was talking with Tabitha, the mousey looking girl looking at her with awe.
"So you spent a lot of time with the Hero? What was he like?" Tabitha asked writing everything she said down on a notepad.
"Him? He was an incompetent piece of garbage. The day I was bestowed upon him was the most miserable day of my life. I much prefer Teppun who can really handle me." She declared haughtily.
Teppun watched as her eyes snapped onto him. She pulled him over to table of sweets.
"Teppun they have marshmallows, chocolates and sweet biscuits here! Do that thing I absolutely adore!" She squealed loudly.
Teppun rolled his eyes and took the thin sweet biscuit and put a chocolate cube over it. Tabitha watched as he speared a marshmallow with a fork and held it over his finger. Her eyes widened as from his finger ignited a blue flame that begun roasting the marshmallow to a golden brown. Once it was beginning to droop he sandwiched it between the chocolate biscuit and another sweet biscuit. The marshmallow begun melting the chocolate as he gave it to the silver haired woman. She took it gratefully and bit into it with a long moan. Tabitha was more concerned with his hand.
"You didn't use a rune or an incantation to produce a spellflame! How?" Tabitha asked her mousey features now stuck fast to him.
Teppun chuckled. "I've never had to use runes or incantations for magic. I just picture the spell I want in my mind and it comes forward." He shows his hand again, this time small blue sparks of electricity danced between his fingertips.
Teppun was unaware that this just turned her whole world upside down. Never has anyone conjured magic without a rune scroll or an incantation. She grabbed his arm her voice filled with newfound desperation. "Please teach me this! I beg of you!"
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Eventually Teppun promised to try and teach Tabitha how to cast spells without tools. He excused himself as he was going to be leaving soon and wanted to wish Emily a farewell. Teppun was glad to have Tabitha's attention taken back up again by Marianne. He looked around the main hall for her but couldn't see here. Stepping up the stairs to the mezzanine he used the height to look for her. His heart sunk when he heard her voice beside him.
"Aegis..."
Teppun turned to Emily who was holding the new grimoire she received as a gift. Its light blue runes lit up and casted a beam that touched his chest. His eyes met hers, she looked at him with a smile. He met her face with a look of deep sadness.
She was caught off guard with his expression, she wasn't sure what he would look like when she confronted him. She never thought it would be a pained look. The next words that came out her mouth seemed to cause him pain. "Who are you?"
Teppun leaned on the guard rail, his normally warm and cheerful demeanor gone now replaced with a detached look.
"I told you the Aegis was a myth, they are long gone now..."
Emily's heart sunk, her mind caught on a word she didn't expect. "They."
"I don't understand... The Aegis it was a shield, a holy magical shield that protected the hero." She pushed further, she could see each time she said the name it was like a stake was being put through her heart.
"No... That's just a story. They were made to defend the hero by fighting his battles and dying in his place." Teppun replied in a detached tone not looking at her. "Just tools used as cannon fodder to fight off the demons to let the hero by, millions dead at his order."
Emily couldn't believe it, and yet here the book pointed at him. He was "The Aegis". She watched as tears fell from his eyes, she felt a deep sense of pain seeing him like this. She watched as the sword spirit stepped up the stairs and ran to him, her eyes wet with tears as well. Emily realized that their bond let her feel his feelings, Emily wanted to hug him but she watched as Marianne held him in her arms. She looked like a mother tending to her child.
"It can't be true. Mari..." Emily was cut off by the look she gave him, Emily felt like Marianne would rip her heart out if she was asked to.
"Its the truth girl... We were tools used and cast aside by the Hero, I was gifted to him by my mother out of love for the humans and all the races she had. He was born of man made materials and sentenced to an existence of suicide by war all so the Hero never got dirt under his nails." She cried holding Teppun.
Emily's hole world spun on her head, her childhood dream was over. What was even worse to her that she hurt Teppun. All she could do was apologize. "I'm so so..."
There was an explosion of the front door. The mansion front wall collapse as a forceful shock sent the remainder of the party guests into a panic. A chunk of the wall flew out and knocked the side wall of the mezzanine causing the whole platform to fall. Emily fell off the side unable to grab anything and expected to fall and get covered in rubble. She felt strong hands grab her and roll mid air. When she reoriented herself she saw Teppun carrying her sliding on his knees away from the rubble. Marianne was nowhere to be seen, Emily saw the glint of the silver sword now affixed to his hip.
Her emotions hitched her breath. Despite the things she did to him he still caught her and made sure she was safe. She wanted to thank him but his eyes were not on her. She followed his gaze to the figure in the newly broken doorway. She recognized his grey eyes and black hair, it was the crown prince. She watched at he walked into the main hall staring at her. He lifted an ivory handled steel blade and pointed it at her.
"Commoner, I've come to kill you for your impudence." He said in a sickly two toned voice.
Emily noticed his skin was a sickly pale color underneath his raggedy princes robes.
"He looks possessed by something... A demon?" Emily asked.
Her heart sunk when it was not Teppun who answered but the sword spirit. The answer sent an icy chill up her spine.
"No, not a demon. An angel..." Marianne responded...
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