The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 36: Rescue? (Part 2)

Vanter:

Vanter watched with wide eyes as Ardent gripped the crack in space. It happened suddenly but the moment it did Callus reacted quicker than he could. The immense man lunged, arm grabbing onto Ardent and pulled him away with all his might. As he did so, the world around him began to shimmer, fracturing and repairing within milliseconds. Ardent was thrown away, crashing heavily on the ground. Vanter charged towards him but after a single step his entire core shook with uncertainty and then a moment later the large hall around him twisted away.

"What-," Vanter could only let out one word as suddenly he felt his body hurtling through the Rift between worlds. The seal on his body had been triggered and he was being sent from the dimensional pocket. Whatever Ardent had done, it had split them apart. Even in the brief time Vanter knew why he did it. If he was sent away, Ana would be as well. It wasn't just Ana, he was a hostage as well. The fact only frustrated him further as his best friend was now alone. It was with that feeling that Vanter felt the world come back around him and suddenly he was hurtling through the skies, falling down towards a cityscape lit up by lights.

"Really!?" he let out annoyed and quickly scanned the area around him. Ana was falling only metres away. Vanter clicked his tongue and propelled himself through the air using his Aura, grabbing hold of the unconscious knight. He then threw everything he had in slowing their descent, aiming towards a shadowed part of the city and hopefully away from others.

The impact, though lessened, was still great as Vanter skidded across the earth, bouncing off the dirt as he tried to land, all the while, cradling Ana. He tripped and tumbled, finally landing in a rough pile against a thick bush. A straight line in front of him spelled out their landing.

"Well..., not the worst landing ever," Vanter groaned to a stand, hoisting Ana onto his back, her head leaning against his shoulder. He looked around. They were in a park he couldn't recognise but from the feel of the air, he wasn't far from home. For a brief moment he paused, laughing internally at thinking of that apartment as home. He had barely spent a few months there and yet the space felt far more comfortable than the Elven palace ever had. It was also one of the reasons why Vanter had to go back for Ardent. There was no telling what they'd do to him now he was alone. He no longer had a reason to say yes.... Ardent would have to be tortured before any inclination to agree with the Violet Oath.

As Vanter began to move, he felt Ana begin to stir. Really it would be odder for her not to after their emergency landing.

"Vanter?" Ana spoke groggily into his ear. "Am I dreaming?" Before Vanter could reply, Ana pushed her head into his neck, tickling it. The tone of her words completely surprised him, it was so far different than anything Vanter expected that he froze, unsure how to react. Her usual confident tone was sweet, almost seductive to his ears.

He cleared his throat, "Ana are you awake?"

A jolt coursed through the elven knight's body as she fully woke, "Vanter?" She spoke again, her voice taken on its usual rougher tone. She pushed off his back, "Where are we?"

Vanter let her down, "Don't move suddenly, you're hurt."

"I'm fine," Ana replied despite the pain from her bruised body. "Where are we? Did we get out?"

"We did," Vanter replied frustrated. "But Ardent stayed behind."

"I see...," she grit her teeth. "They were strong. The ones they called Master were on the level of Knights of the Table." Ana kneeled, "I have failed you, I offer my deepest apology."