Valtuare landed a blow, cutting down along Isolde's arm. The woman retaliated by grabbing the other's sword and leaning forward to headbutt him.
Isolde released her grip as Valt stumbled back, making him fall. "...You will overcome this challenge, Valtuare, you always did before... There's no way that will stop now." She knew the outcome, and yet she kept saying encouraging words to him.
This all felt so surreal to her. Even the searing pain and the drip, drip, drip as her blood hit the ground... It was as if a fog had been put in her mind. She could see, feel, understand, and react accordingly... But it still felt like a dream to her. Like it just couldn't be real.
How could any of this be true?
---
"Wh-wh-what's a hus... Husband?" Valtuare tugged at Isolde's sleeve hesitantly.
"Hm? Oh, it's... Why are you asking?" Isolde shot back, smirking. "...I heawd you talking about it eawliew... Y-you... You b-b-bettew tell m-me what it is, lest I th-think it's something bad!" Valt 'threatened'.
"Hmm... It's... A rival. Yes, that's what it is." Isolde resisted a smile, looking forward seriously. "A-a wival...? W-w-well, in that c-case... W-would I be one o-of youw husbands?" Valtuare asked, his wide, innocent eyes looking up at her. Isolde covered her laugh up with a cough, "ahem... Unfortunately, you can only have one. And in your case, you would be my 'wife' and I would be the husband."
"What's a wife?" Valt sat down in the grass next to Isolde. "...A husband, but cuter. You would be the 'wife' because you're cuter than me!" Isolde's lip curled up slightly in amusement. "C-c-cute?!" Valt blushed furiously, squirming and looking away from Isolde. "Do you want to be my wife?" Isolde scooched closer with the intent of scaring him away.
"I do!" Valt nodded eagerly. "Then say it." Isolde couldn't help herself even if she tried. "I want to be your wife!" Valt announced. "Louder!" Isolde cheered, laughing. "I WANT TO BE YOUR WIFEEE!!" Valt stood up, hands on his hips as if he had just done a great thing.
From across the garden, Valt's big brother Shannon looked at him like he was crazy.
"I'll tell you what. If you achieve your dream of being a knight, I'll be your husband." Isolde winked, pulling Valt back down onto the ground. "Really?! O-okay! I'll become a knight and be your wife! Then, I'll fight you and win!"
Isolde laughed, pulling the other in close.
---
"I don't know what to do, Valt."
Isolde's soft voice cut through Valtuare like a knife, even through the sounds of their fighting and clanging blades.
"I can't help you, and I certainly can't save myself. There's no way for me to win here... Unless I stall you long enough for Mark to wake up... But that won't be for hours. I suppose that the only thing I can do is stall you until I die." Isolde smiled, crossing blades with Valtuare once again and knocking his sword out of his hand. The, she quickly swept Valt's leg again and sent him tumbling. She jumped away so that the other wouldn't pull the same trick as last time, still trying to think of a way that she could possibly solve this.
The only things Isolde could really do with magic are enchant things, heal things other than herself, or cast attack spells that were bound to kill someone like Valt- who has little or no magic.
So magic wasn't an option, killing wasn't an option, and running was certainly out of the picture. What a lovely turn of events.
---
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I'm So Sorry
FanfictionDark has many secrets about his past. But when things go south, and he's coerced into something unexpected- his past comes back to haunt him, as it always does. Can Dark save everyone from the ghosts of his past? Can he even save himself? It seems e...
