Respite

Death and Conversation I

Credits to Otakuverse04 and nima20207 for suggesting the idea for this chapter!
(Warning for graphic depictions of violence.)

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"I only ask for what I've earned. To challenge Scythe Cadell of Central Dominion."

A collective gasp resounded in the stands. 

Throughout history, never before was there a fighter capable of defeating a Scythe so effortlessly, let alone act audacious, or foolish enough, to directly challenge another right after a duel. 

It didn't seem possible. Not until now, that is...

The spectators were on the edge of their seats. No one dared look away.

It was completely unheard of—unprecedented—for an individual to even request such an outrageous assertion. The gravity of such an event was comparable to the constitution of their Vritrian sovereignty; the ramifications of which were equally vast in effect.

An eerie stillness covered the coliseum like a veil. Everyone held their breaths. Waiting. Anticipating.

No one knew it then, but the battle that took place that day would turn out to be one of the most crucial and pivotal confrontations since the conflict between Vechor and Sehz-Clar; one that would alter the entire continent and change Alacrya in ways no one could have ever predicted.

And at the center of that altercation was a single man, responsible not only for the repercussive waves that would ensue but for an outright revolution—a nationwide revolt.

It was a call to arms; a declaration of war.

There was movement in the high box. Soon thereafter, the slayer of dragons floated toward the arena with his hands behind his back, a stern expression of annoyance and contempt visible on his face.

"There are no dragons around to save you this time, boy."

Arthur glared at the Scythe, his neutral features marred by the frowning of his lips. "I wasn't counting on it. Your life ends today, demon."

Black fire surrounded Cadell's body which clung to him like a second skin. "For all the misguided expectations placed upon you by the asuras, you've proven to be quite a disappointment. It makes me wonder what she saw in such a pathetic excuse of a lesser like you." 

Arthur narrowed his eyes, fists clenched, as he spoke through gritted teeth. "I'll make you pay for what you did to her."

"You will try. And you will fail." Cadell crossed his arms and lifted his chin. "Your delusions remain the same despite having a new body. Allow me to enlighten you."

A cyclone of Soulfire erupted from the Scythe, billowing outward, scorching and obliterating the arena floor.

Arthur vanished with a flash of purple lightning, his form reappearing on the wasted remains of blackened earth after the spell had passed.

"The only enlightenment I need is your corpse. These delusions will soon become your nightmare, Scythe."

A blade of purple energy manifested in his palm. The bright, transparent sword gleamed against the dark, desolate battlefield. 

Cadell conjured a sword in each hand. One of black iron, the other of void black. 

Golden eyes met crimson red. A second later, their blades sang.

Arthur's face was a furious snarl. Cadell wore a derisive smirk.

Sparks flew from the impact. 

"It is only expected for your bond to meet the same fate as her predecessor. Like mother, like daughter, after all."

Arthur pushed the Scythe back and slashed at his face. His swing was wild, his movements stiff.

"Shut up."

Cadell deflected the flurry of strikes without issue, treating the fight as little more than a sparring session.

For all the speed and skill he possessed, it hardly mattered when your attacks were evidently telegraphed. 

During the brief exchange, Arthur incurred dozens of shallow cuts and lacerations while Cadell remained comparatively untouched.

"It's a shame that we couldn't retrieve her body. The High Sovereign would have been pleased to be reunited."

Arthur ignored the provocation as he focused solely on decapitating the vile opponent in front of him, wanting nothing more than to wipe the grin off his face.

"Lady Sylvia would have appreciated the sentiment. Those Sovereigns are always looking for more specimens to add to their collection. We could have placed them in the same cell together."

He paused at the mention of her name. "What did you say?"

Arthur froze in the middle of his step and broke out in a cold sweat. His heart started to beat faster. And his physical exertion had nothing to do with it.

"Had your bond not blindly sacrificed herself, then I would have personally taken her back to the walls of Taegrin Caelum myself. Had she still been alive, well... she wouldn't have lasted long in their dwelling. Neither did Lady Sylvia."

Her name echoed and repeated like a chant in his head.

The fading memory of her final moments surfaced. Her final moments before she pushed him through the portal.

She had shown him her true form, her pearl-white dragon physique covered in the same runes from which he inherited her beastwill. He remembered her lavender eyes which looked at him with fondness and affection. Those eyes which had seen so much of him. The same ones that cried for him right before her passing.

Then came the image of his bond. Sylvie. In an all too similar position. Meeting an all too familiar fate.

An overwhelming sense of guilt assaulted him as he recalled two of the most precious people he's ever met since coming to this world. The grief nearly broke him right then and there.

But then, he saw something else.  

This time, it wasn't a memory. But rather, a vision.

He saw her body in a cold room, still, unmoving, as her lifeless eyes stared out into the void. The hole in her chest opened up to reveal a cavity. Empty and hollow. And by her side was Sylvie, with her mouth ajar, ever so slightly open. The two of them side by side. So close, yet so far apart.

His hands curled into a fist, the armor cracking and straining against his own grip. 

Every muscle in his body slowly tensed. The pounding of his heart drowned out the sounds of the world.

Something bubbled and brewed inside of him, threatening to overflow and spill out.

There was only so much a vessel could hold. Even his aether core, for all the amount it can store, was not without capacity or limit.

Yet, for some reason, the rage he felt at that moment seemed endless. Deeper than the depths of hell. And hotter than the flames within it...

Nothing else came close.

He faintly heard Regis calling out to him. He ignored the warning entirely. 

The sword disappeared in his grasp. Dispelled with a flick of his wrist.

He looked up with an unnatural calm belying his inner turmoil. His face betrayed no emotion, but his eyes said it all.

Arthur stared at Cadell. 

His eyes saw red.