Chivalry of a Dark Knight [Batman x Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry]

CH14: Accept Fate (prt 5)

After the ring was cleared up, Stella and Bruce stood facing each other from the opposite ends of the square platform. Both Branwen and Laevateinn were already summoned in their hands.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Stella asked.

"I am." Bruce nodded.

"But I still don't understand why."

Bruce took a moment to think about his next words, unsure if she'd understand. Hell, he wasn't sure if he understood it either.

"There's two reasons. One of them is that you were completely right about me."

Stella blinked in surprise.

"I...was?"

"You said that there was something holding me back from having total control. That something...is me."

The red-haired girl's jaw fell in shock as Bruce continued to explain.

"Look, I can't tell you my reasons but the fact of the matter is that I never wanted to be a Blazer."

More accurately, Bruce was holding out hope to eventually find a way to reverse his 'condition'. Perhaps these feelings came about from soldiering on and setting aside his fears of Gotham being left unprotected but deep inside he wished he had never touched that damn sword.

And it was more than just being whisked away in this alternate universe. How many times before had he felt himself teetering over the edge? Every night when he puts the suit on and witnesses the horrors and evils in his city, he often wondered how long would it take before he loses himself to his own darkness and be consumed by his own rage.

And with magical powers added to mix...he knew it could be disastrous.

"Trying to control my magic was just a means to an end for me, that included being part of the Sword Art Festival. I know I'm being vague here but I realize now that I need to accept this part of me, for better or for worse."

It wasn't that Bruce thought of Blazers as anything less but he valued his humanity. He felt if he took this one step, he would be changed forever and there was no coming back from that. He had seen what a sense of power could do to a person, he had seen it in Bane. Could he go beyond the point of no return?

That premonition of the Joker he had pretty much answered that for him.

"Wh...what's the other reason? You said there were two." Stella asked him nervously.

There was a moment of pause before Bruce answered.

"It's a hunch, I can't say more than that."

Stella sighed and lightly ran her fingers through the front bangs of her hair.

"You're not making much sense, Bruce."

But she then looked at him seriously.

"I'm not like Saijou-senpai or Saikyou-sensei. I can't promise you that I'll hold back."

Bruce gave her a knowing smirk.

"And I don't want you to, promise or otherwise. Besides, we might actually face each other in the Selection Battles so don't expect me to hold back either."

Seeing her conflicted expression, Bruce dropped the levity and gave it to her straight.

"It's the only way this will work."

"And you won't tell me how." she stated rather than asked.

"You're going to have to trust me on this. Will you?"