Chapter 32: I told you so
Alexia had no idea what was going on anymore. Her sister Iris had just been beaten with a single blow and now Rose had just suddenly shown up out of nowhere. If Poochie had popped up right then and asked her for etiquette lessons she couldn't have been any more amazed.
Seeing Rose, it was Duke Doem who reacted. "That stupid girl finally came to her senses."
Those words had Alexia, Claire, her father, and even Beatrix send glares his way. The man didn't even notice, he had an ear-splitting grin on his face and looked as though he were on top of the world. Strangely, Rose's father the king just sat there and had no reaction at all. His daughter had been missing for two weeks now and the man sat there staring blankly.
Has he been drugged somehow? Alexia wondered seriously. It would explain a lot.
Doem rose to his feet and turned to his king. "Your majesty, we must greet your daughter and welcome Princess Rose back. I'm sure she's anxious to speak with you."
The man stood up. "Yes, I must greet, Rose." It was said with the same excitement one would show ordering toast.
Doem gave some commands to the guards from his country. In short order the detachable stairs were lowered, eight armed men surrounded Rose but kept a respectful distance and didn't draw their swords. King Oriana then went down the steps with Doem at his side. Her own father just sat there and did nothing to interfere. Alexia desperately wanted to run down there ahead of the king and Doem and talk to Rose first. She couldn't. Not with her father here, not with an entire stadium full of people watching.
As all this was going on her sister was still lying there in the sand with Jimina standing nearby, sword still in hand. He looked to be as interested in the proceedings as everyone else.
Rose had a sword already in hand, though lowered. Doem acted like a coward and deliberately stood behind his king. The king came to a halt about five feet from his daughter. The sixty thousand in the stands were watching and as transfixed as Alexia. The stadium was so quiet she had no problem hearing what was being said down below.
Rose was staring longingly at her father but didn't approach him. "Father, I've come to apologize. For everything I have done, and what I am about to do… I've made many mistakes and I'm sure I'll make many more. But as the princess of Oriana, and as your daughter… I will do what I believe to be right."
Rose's voice ached and there were tears in her eyes.
"I forgive you all your sins, my beloved daughter."
For some reason Doem looked a bit startled by those words. Was he really expecting the king to condemn his own child?
"Thank you, father," Rose answered with a lost child's smile.
Then everything happened in a flash.
King Oriana lifted his arms and took a half step forward as if to embrace Rose.
She raised her blade into a lunging stance, forced mana into her legs, and dashed forward.
Alexia could only stand there and watch as her friend drove her blade into her own father's heart! It was savage and she attacked with such force the sword punched clean through the poor man's chest and out his back, wounding Doem in the ribs.
Rose yanked the sword out and leapt back as her father's body collapsed and Doem stumbled away.
Alexia gasped not understanding what had just happened. Why?! Why would Rose do that?! Killing her own father? How did that make any sense at all? Why wouldn't she kill Doem instead?!
"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Doem howled as he clutched at his bleeding chest and hurried back up the stairs.
His men had all taken their swords out and had Rose completely surrounded. There was no escape for her.
"I want her alive!" Doem screamed. "Don't let her get away or I'll gut the lot of you!"
But Rose wasn't making any attempt at escape. Instead, she placed the bloody sword to her own neck. "This is my last duty."
Alexia's eyes widened. "No, Rose, don't."
"No! No! No!" Doem cried.
Was that bastard so eager to have Rose tried and executed instead? Because even to Alexia it was obvious there was no possible excuse for this crime. Rose was guilty of patricide and regicide and there were sixty thousand witnesses to her crime. No matter her reasons, Rose was a murderer now.
Alexia couldn't understand any of this, but Rose had decided that if she couldn't escape death, she'd prefer it to come at her own hands rather than on the gallows.
Alexia braced herself to witness her friend's suicide.
But then, in a flash, her sword and all the swords in the hands of the guards are knocked away.
"Is this your choice then?" A voice rang out.
Alexia and the eyes of everyone else in the stadium turned to Jimina who'd been completely forgotten.
"The time for lies is over."
He reached up and tore off his own face! Beneath a familiar mask appeared. Black liquid suddenly spurted out, the worn chain mail and trousers were replaced by a raven dark long coat and clothing. The nicked sword lengthened and turned an inky black as a jewel appeared on the hilt. Before she realized it Jimina had transformed into…
"Shadow," Rose gasped. "You… you're the stylish bandit slayer?"
Alexia had absolutely no clue what Rose meant by that. But given everything else that was happening Alexia didn't even wonder about it.
Shadow was staring at her, ignoring the chaos and shouts that were coming from all around him.
"Is this your choice then?" Shadow repeated. "Do you choose to yield to despair?"
Rose stared back at him. "I… I want to keep fighting. Like you."
Shadow gave a curt nod and waved his sword. One of the arena gates collapsed as if it had been sliced into a hundred pieces.
"Go!"
Rose stood there stunned for a moment, then picked up her sword and fled.
"Stop her you idiots!" Doem screamed. He'd made it back to the VIP box clutching at his ribs. A couple maids were treating him. Sadly, the wound didn't look serious.
The Oriana guards chased after Rose but were all cut down in an instant. Alexia nodded, knowing that would be the result. Shadow then planted himself in front of the ruined gate.
"No one else goes through."
As this was happening a few of the men of the Knight Order had taken hold of her father and rushed him out. The rest had leapt down and formed a wide perimeter around Shadow. They contained him but made no move to arrest him or chase after Rose. Alexia didn't blame them in the least.
"What are you fools doing?! Kill him and get Rose before she escapes!" Doem yelled from the safety of the VIP section.
"Our knights don't take orders from foreign nobles," Alexia pointed out.
He turned to her glaring. "You tell them to do it then! You're their princess they'll obey you."
"I don't take orders from you either," she told him with savage glee. "I'm not having those brave men just throw their lives away. Shadow beat my sister with one move and killed all your guards with ease. Do you really think those knights can stop him?"
Doem bit back his reply and looked desperate. "Anyone? Can anyone fight him?"
"I will." Beatrix stood and tossed aside her gray robe to reveal rather skimpy armor as well as a sword at her hip.
Without hesitation she leapt down to the arena floor.
XXX
Just half a year ago Alexia had been absolutely certain her sister was the strongest spellsword in the world. She'd spent years sparring with her and watched her continuously grow stronger. She'd witness Iris breeze through the Academy Qualifier and then the God of War Tournaments. It had crushed Alexia's pride and poisoned her love for the blade, but she'd had no doubts at all that her sister was the strongest in the world.
Then she saw Zenon after taking those red pills. After that came Shadow, who was quite simply on a completely different level that no living being could possibly match. Iris could not hope to beat either of them. She'd also seen Aurora at the Goddess Trial who would also have been above Iris if she'd been a living person. But as she was only a summoned memory she was disqualified.
Then there was Delta.
Alexia still had nightmares about that monster sometimes. That girl was absolutely terrifying! But her fighting style was a complete mess. The girl hadn't followed any of the schools that Alexia recognized, nor relied on the basics the way she, Pooch, and Shadow all did. Her moves were all just wild swings that relied on nothing but raw strength and speed. The girl also hadn't used much mana while fighting. Alexia knew she'd have no hope against such savage attacks but was sure Iris's genius and greater mana reserves would let her outsmart and counter the wild beast girl.
So, even after meeting Shadow and facing all the insanity that had started with her kidnapping, her sister had only dropped to third.
She was now fourth.
Beatrix was called the War Goddess for a reason. She had single handedly decided the Second Loresti-Belgatan War, won every sword tournament she'd even entered, and won ten consecutive God of War tournaments before deciding to retire from competition and becoming a recluse. But now she was doing something more amazing than any of that.
She was actually holding her ground in a one-on-one fight with Shadow.
The sky was darkening, and it had started to rain, as Beatrix and Shadow faced off. The men of the Knight Order seemed to realize they were hopelessly out of their depth and moved back to give them plenty of room.
As he stood there, Shadow raised his sword in a salute. Beatrix mirrored the gesture. Then Shadow spoke.
"Show me your fangs, Goddess of War."
Alexia sensed their mana as they both dashed in and began a lethal clash. Their blades were a blur as they moved too fast for the human eye to follow. They separated, crashed back together, separated again, before once more slamming into one another. All in the time it took to draw in a breath and let it out. How many strikes, parries, counters, and counter strikes were there? Alexia couldn't even begin to guess. This was fighting on a level no one had ever seen before; on a level no one had imagined possible.
The stands were silent as you could feel their awe at what they were watching. Even the most naive child among them had to know this was something they would never see again in their lifetime.
Alone, among everyone watching. Alexia knew how this match would end. That no matter how spectacularly Beatrix fought she had no chance of actual victory. If Shadow had wanted to, he could have killed her instantly with his Iamtomik power. Instead, he'd chosen to give her a 'fair' fight. The same way he had Aurora and Zenon at the beginning. That realization was actually scary as it implied Shadow was confident; he could beat even someone like Beatrix without his trump card.
Sure enough, there was a crack and Beatrix was knocked down. She wiped blood from her mouth and scrambled to her feet as Shadow closed in to finish it.
"Wait!" A voice Alexia knew well shouted, and Shadow held up.
Iris, who'd been just lying on the ground forgotten since the end of her match, was awake and up on her feet again. "Let me join the fray."
"Princess Iris," Beatrix began.
"I know," Iris said with a grim look. "I know I'm no match for him. But there's no way I can stand aside. Even ignoring all his other crimes, he has desecrated this tournament that is so dear to my family and my country. I can't let that stand."
Iris glared at Shadow who made no effort to interrupt her.
"I'll create an opening for you, even at the cost of my life. When I do, use that moment to bring him down."
Beatrix hesitated, but finally nodded. "Very well."
"Oh, fucking bloody Hell," Alexia groaned as she drew her sword and poured mana into her legs before jumping down to the arena floor.
As soon as she landed next to her sister Iris turned to scowl at her. "Alexia, what are you doing?"
"That's what I want to ask you."
"I can't stand aside and let this man do as he pleases," Iris told her. "It's my duty to oppose him even at the risk of my life."
"Well, the same applies to me. I can't just watch while you fight Shadow."
"Neither can I," Claire Kagenou landed on the other side of Alexia.
"Hey!" Alexia cried. "You're not a princess, you don't have to get involved."
Claire shook her head. "Even if I'm not yet a knight, I am of the nobility and a Midgar Academy student. It's my duty to oppose evil where I find it no matter the danger!"
"Don't say stuff like that or I might have to start liking you."
"Besides, when Cid hears about this, he'll be proud of his big sister."
"Scratch everything, I just said about possibly liking you," Alexia growled.
Shadow stood his ground eyeing the four of them without concern. When he shifted his focus to her Alexia felt her knees get weak.
"Et tu, Princess Alexia?" Shadow asked.
"Huh? Ate too? Uhm… I had some cookies, but I was actually waiting to have lunch." Why does he care whether or not I ate?
He sent her an exasperated glare for some reason.
"In any case," Iris said. "It's an honor to fight with all of you. I'm sure together the four of us can defeat him!"
Claire nodded her agreement.
Beatrix was silent.
"This is so stupid," Alexia groaned.
Shadow nodded and raised his sword in salute. All four girls returned the gesture.
"Very well, then. Show me your fangs."
All four of them rushed in without any plan.
Iris launched a sword trike which he easily parried. She then let go of her sword and dived at his hips in an effort to tackle him.
"Bravo!" He compliments her as he drove a knee into her jaw.
Claire came in swinging with all her might at his neck. He ducked down letting her blade pass harmlessly over his head. He balled his left hand into a fist and slammed it into her gut.
Claire let out a very ladylike 'gaaahhhhh!' before doubling up and hitting the ground.
Alexia was aiming for his ribs. She damn well knew she'd never hit him, but she had to try.
In a single motion he dodged, reversed the sword in his right hand, and smashed it handle first into the middle of her face. It felt like running into a wall. She heard a crack and immediately tasted blood from her broken nose. She then found herself tasting sand.
Alexia looked up. Beatrix had been slammed into the ground, all four of them were down, though it didn't appear any of them had taken a sword cut.
Having just crushed all four of them with ease, Shadow began to casually walk away towards the same ruined gate Rose had escaped through. None of the knights were making a move to get in his way. That was just as well. It was over.
"Stop right there," Iris picked up her sword and got back up. "I… I can still fight."
"Oh, please don't," Alexia whispered.
Beatrix got up as well, though she swayed a bit.
Claire got up with a grimace on her face.
Alexia couldn't lie there with everyone else standing. Pride could be a really bothersome thing sometimes. She wiped some of the blood from her face and stood with sword in hand.
Shadow halted and looked over his shoulder at them, before continuing towards the gate.
"Stop," Iris called out. "Stop running away."
That brought Shadow to a complete halt. He slooooowwwly turned around. Alexia saw the look in his eyes as he was staring at her sister.
"Oh, shit," Alexia said under her breath.
"Running away?" He asked in a soft voice. He lifted his sword above his head and purple magic began to manifest.
Oh shit! Oh shit! OH SHIT!
The purple magic took the form of a cyclone that began to double with every heartbeat. They could sense the unbelievable amount of magic within that windstorm and it just kept doubling. The cyclone rose up and up past the stadium and into the sky. The rain and even the clouds were being sucked into it. There were screams of terror coming from the stands. People were starting to trample each other in a mad effort to try and run away.
Alexia didn't bother and didn't know why anyone else did. With this much magical power he could obliterate the stadium, maybe the whole city. Nothing on Earth could possibly resist this. It was the power of a god.
An angry god.
Claire looked back at the VIP section. "Cid…"
Alexia was very sure Poochie wasn't there.
Beatrix stood rooted to the spot unflinching.
Her sister lost her grip on her sword and dropped to her knees.
"Why would I need to run away?"
"Why?" Iris wailed. "If you had this much power all along, why didn't you just kill us?"
"I accomplished my goal. I have no interest in taking your lives." Alexia saw his eyes flicker to Claire and then to her before returning to Iris. "We only destroy our true enemies."
The cyclone began to speed up and the magic began pulsing like a beating heart.
"You should always make sure to know who your true enemies are, Princess Iris."
Suddenly the purple cyclones shot into the heavens and exploded like fireworks in a single blinding flash. When Alexia could see again the sky was now clear and there was no sign of Shadow.
Her sister was still down on her knees staring up at the sky. "Who my true enemies are? Shadow, just who are you?"
When Alexia was sure her body still worked, she sauntered over to her sister.
"Hey, Iris?"
"Yes?' Her sister blinked at her.
"Do you remember when you found me after my kidnapping?"
"Huh? Of course."
"And do you remember how I told you that Shadow was the one who destroyed that base completely on his own?"
"I do."
"And do you remember how you told me I was mistaken and that no single person could possibly wield that much magical energy?"
"Yes."
Alexia looked her sister directly in the eye. "I told you so."
Her sister had no reply.