'Thud-Thud!'
The pungent odor of burnt bodies, sweat, dust, and something metallic filled the air.
I swallowed hard; The knight's footsteps filled my ears, drowning out every other noise.
Goosebumps prickled along my arms, as if my body sensed something my brain refused to accept.
Lucy's body was hot, it felt like I was holding molten Lava. Observing her eyes, it was evident she was struggling to remain conscious.
'How could I leave her to save myself?'
I gritted my teeth, gazing at the knight in gleaming armor. His vibrant purple hair created a striking contrast against his deep crimson eyes.
"I doubt you have the luxury to worry about someone else." The knight pointed his double-edged sword at me.
"A slave who dared to run away from his master deserved nothing less than death."
I held Lucy tightly in my arms, the heat of her burning body radiating to me. "We cannot afford to perish here," I said.
The knight stepped back, placing a hand on his forehead. His eyes turned to the bright moon before shifting to me. He began to laugh as though he had been driven to madness.
"Were you unaware of the laws of the land when you attempted to flee?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked. Cold sweat slicked my palms, evaporating upon touching Lucy's body.
"A slave who runs away from his master shall be burnt alive in a pot of gold." The knight replied.
With deliberate care, I laid Lucy's body on the dirt. Despite the tearing pain of my dislocated left arm, I retrieved my shields and rose to my feet, fixing a fierce gaze upon the knight in front of me.
"You will not lay a finger on us," my voice said.
The knight did not smile; his laughter vanished.
"His novelty has a fetish of turning run-away slaves into gold statues, my duty is to guarantee his wish comes true."
My left arm was weak, it trembled as I clutched the smaller buckler, barely able to lift its weight.
However, my right hand was steady as it gripped the drum-sized shield, its surface damaged by battle scars.
I adjusted my footing, spreading my weight evenly. "You don't get to decide whether we live or not, If anyone is going to die, it would be you."
My threat was empty, a mask meant to hide the cowardice inside me.
The right decision was to abandon Lucy and run, however, I could not bring myself to do it.
Even worse, I couldn't tell why I wanted to protect her so much.
"You are forbidden to resist; surrender yourselves," the knight ordered, his footsteps drawing nearer to me.
'I can't win this. Not against him.'
Every instinct screamed at me to run, but I stood my ground, barely able to breathe.
'This was a mistake. A terrible, irreversible mistake.'
"Aaah!"
My body surged toward the knight.
My objective was clear: to channel my remaining mana and unleash my gravity revelation. With luck by my side, I would obliterate his head as I had done to the wolf
'Thud-thud!'
The knight vanished and materialized behind me.
'Smack!'
The knight struck the nape of my neck with the hilt of his sword, rendering me unconscious.
"You are a thousand years too early to challenge me to a duel," he declared.
***
Three days have passed since our confrontation with the wolves. Lord Henry has confined us in his dungeon and arranged a ceremony for our public execution.
"I have heard a rumor about an underground auction for gold statues taking place tonight," the driver said to a guard who sat on a horse beside him.
We were traveling in a carriage on our way to the town square.
Lucy was seated across from me, bound in chains, her temperature finally stabilized after three days.
"Sorry," I murmured while adjusting the chains that bound my wrists.
"I do not need your apology," Lucy said, turning her head away
"You should have fled when I advised you to," she murmured.
"How could I possibly abandon a charming lady like yourself?"
Without hesitation, Lucy's foot struck my crotch, delivering excruciating pain. "Mind your words when addressing a goddess," she hissed.
I leaned forward and grabbed my orbs through the tunic. "Do you intend to end me before we are transformed into gold statues?"
Lucy remained silent, her eyes drifting from me to rest upon the glass window of the carriage.
"I am not pretty; only a foolish human like you would describe me as such."
Her hands pressed against the glass window as she gazed outward. "I find myself trapped between two worlds," she proclaimed.
Adjusting my posture, I reclined against the wooden bench, my back settling onto the soft leather cushion.
"Why would you say that?"
"Cause I am not a demon,"
"But you have red eyes,"
"My father is human, just like you," she said, sighing as though the weight of the entire world had been lifted from her chest.
"A hybrid?" I inquired, leaning against the window.
"It sounds sexy when you phrase it that way, but the demons perceive it differently." Lucy turned pale, her fingers tracing circles on her lap.
The atmosphere grew silent, reminiscent of a graveyard. I had struck a delicate chord with Lucy, revealing the vulnerable underbelly of the dragon who always appears strong.
"Let us make a promise," I said, as my fingers grabbed Lucy's hands.
"If we make it out alive, I am going to make you cum."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Lucy intertwined her fingers with mine and forcefully bent them backward, inflicting pain. "You missed your chance. I was slightly disappointed, but it is nothing for you to concern yourself with."
"So it's a promise?" I inquired.
Lucy smiled and released my fingers, her lips remained closed without answering my question.
"I will take silence as a yes."
***
Blades of Destiny was set in the period spanning between the Middle Ages and the Victorian era.
It was set in a period known as the Velmorian Era, a transitional period between medieval barbarism and industrialization characteristic of the Victorian era.
The carriage we occupied jolted forward, rattling over uneven cobblestones. Through the window, I saw everything: the remnants of a world caught between two ages.
The street was lined with tall multi-story buildings showcasing Victorian architecture, characterized by intricate stonework, large windows, and gas lamps.
Several people were walking on the street, dressed in typical Victorian attire: men in top hats and suits, and women in long dresses and bonnets.
Moments later, as the carriage rolled towards a bridge, I saw two guards in full metal armor, each holding a long spear.
They stood guard by the bridge leading to the town square where our execution was meant to take place.