The Forgotten Light

72. Darksen

There are moments when life flies before one's eyes, and he was just reminded of the smell of his soap. He knew that this smell didn't come from him, and it wasn't anywhere around him, especially since he now reeked of blood, mustiness and sand from the crypt.

"How do you feel about being on that side of the arena?" the King asked loudly.

Darksen smiled and remained silent, which only made Thandor even angrier.

"Your time has come to an end, daughter of Raysun!" the ruler shouted, and his voice could be heard everywhere in San Diego. - The sun has already risen, and according to my promise, the treacherous Prince will pay for what he has done. You should feel guilty, because if it wasn't for you, Darksen would never have turned into someone like this and he wouldn't be just waiting to be decapitated.

Invicta nodded in agreement, some sending him menacing glances, others looking at him with disgust, few with disappointment.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement at the crypt below the auditorium. He was surprised to find that it was human slaves in the presence of a single hooded guard. He didn't think they would be forced to watch his death as well, he thought the King had only ordered them to watch the slaves fight.

"It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest. You should be wiser, Darksen," declared Thandor. "Do you have any last words?"

He looked away from the people and thought for a moment, looking closely at his father. "You are wrong about one thing - she didn't change me at all. All these years I wanted to get away from you, but it wasn't until she opened my eyes and showed me that it was possible."

The King parried with laughter. "At least in your last minutes of life you could stop being ridiculous."

Darksen shrugged. "She will come back, you'll see. She will come back, only not for me, but for you, to end your ridiculous reign."

Thandor pressed his lips into a narrow line and shifted his gaze to the Invicta standing with a sword behind Darksen's back.

He smiled. For the first time during their conversation, it was his words that were said last, apparently meaning more than anything the King would have to say.

If he was going to die that day, he was ready for it.

He lowered his gaze and watched the barely visible shadow of the executioner, who was already raising his sharp sword above him.

He was ready.

The blade began to fall on his neck, he shut his eyes closed and waited.

Someone next to him took a sharp breath.

He waited and waited and...

...and... Nothing.

He heard an amazed shout from the crowd. He opened one eye, then the other. He looked over at Isan, who seconds ago was about to chop his head off, and confusedly realized that the Invicta was missing his sword. He looked at his hands in disbelief. He searched the platform and the ground of the arena.

"You moron, how could you possibly lose your sword at such a moment?!" the white-haired female guard shouted.

"I... I just had it a while ago. I... I don't know," Isan stammered, completely confused.

"The science fair's over!" The King's voice sounded like a thunderclap. "Shoot!"

Before Darksen had time to locate the shooter, the arrow was already flying towards him, and he saw it only a few meters away at the moment when it hit a round shield that pierced the air in the arena like a gliding bird.

There was complete silence around again, and only the ocean waves crashing on the shore could be heard. It seemed that the whole world was staring stunned at the shield with an arrow stuck in the very center, which fell on the boards of the platform and began to roll until it finally spun and stopped right next to Darksen.

Everyone held their breath.

The disappearing sword, the shield appearing out of nowhere...

This meant only one thing.

A crooked smile formed on his lips. "There she is. "