Artorias lay awake all night, a smile etched on his face.
He felt an unusual giddiness.
Simple pleasures had always satisfied him, such as savoring food.
He reminisced about Huaiyan's creations, chiding himself as the old man dubbed them failures.
He recalled witnessing with glee at Jing Yuan being impaled by Dan Feng's spear.
Baiheng had often brought him gifts from her diplomatic journeys to other planets.
He remembered when he had reassigned Ying Xing from his usual smithing duties to try his hand at sewing.
These were just a few of the moments he cherished in his life, yet none compared to the recent events.
He had never imagined he would reunite with his childhood friend and finally reveal his deepest feelings to her.
He gazed at Jingliu, peacefully asleep under his cape, her face serene as she breathed softly.
Gently, he removed his shadow gauntlets and caressed her cheek.
She had fallen asleep shortly after his confession, likely exhausted by the recent upheavals.
He whispered softly, "Everything is fine... I am here for you. Nothing will come between us."
She seemed different to him now. Her once pale blue hair had faded to white, as if the blue had been scattered into the stars. Her soul had transformed, too, retaining its essence while undergoing change, unlike his own complete sacrifice.
Her aura reminded him of the Tree, which seemed to tug persistently at his consciousness.
He decided to wait for her to explain, suspecting she had endured a trial similar to his.
However, she had the support of friends during her ordeal, a comfort he lacked.
He sighed, a trace of bitterness in his voice, "Life really has been harsh to me... It's as if someone is playing a cruel joke on me."
Friends...
As Artorias pondered—Igris, Sandra, and Alphen—he struggled to classify them definitively as friends. They were once beings of sentience, created by the Great Ones, or as he now realized, corrupted by Beauty.
Yet, he couldn't deny the rich and unique experiences their companionship had afforded him, though thoughts of Sandra's fate brought a pang of sorrow.
'Was she just an illusion crafted by Beauty, or does she truly exist somewhere? Considering the lives of the Aeons, she could be part of a larger scheme... but whose?'
He looked up, his expression turning forlorn.
'Sandra... you showed me kindness in a strange land, and for that, I am grateful. Without you, I would probably still be wandering, alone and aimless...'
He closed his eyes, expressing silent gratitude to the princess. But soon, he felt a gentle movement on his lap.
Opening his eyes, he saw Jingliu slowly rising from his lap, her yawn endearing and at odds with her usual stern demeanor.
She rubbed her eyes gently and looked out at the river where fish leaped, creating ripples that caught the sunlight, transforming the water into a shimmering spectacle.
Artorias chose not to disturb her tranquility, allowing her to awaken at her own pace.
Jingliu then turned to look at him, and he offered her a soft smile.
Seizing the moment, he greeted her, "Good morning, Jingliu."
She returned the smile. "Good morning... Y/N. Ah, I should be calling you Artorias now..."
YOU ARE READING
Bonds of Darkness: Swordmen's Redemption
Dobrodružné(Season 1 Completed) Y/N, a once valiant warrior, is losing himself to a malevolent curse, and Jingliu is unwavering in her determination to save him. As they grapple with inner struggles and confront formidable trials, their universe's fate teeters...
