The Aegis of Noah Hart

25-Worlds Meet

SHK! SHK! SHK!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! PLEASE!"

SHK! Thud.

The man dressed in red robes falls face forward into sand, his arms stretched out toward a pile of gold.

"Won't need that anymore."

Looking around him, Alexius finds the collection of red garbed bodies littered with dark puddles of blood. For a moment he feels entirely alone. That is until he turns back toward the center of town and sees the others, standing tall and firm in their black armor. Though allies, he feels their eyes on him, studying him like a pack of wolves watch a rabbit. After waiting a moment, Sophus speaks.

"We're victorious Alexius! You can be at ease."

The long-haired knight shrugs then plucks his left blade free from the enemy's back and wipes the tip across the ground. Opening his palm, the weapon flies back to its sheath. Bringing his gaze up to a distant hill, he and the bearded elder both spot a small band of red armored men escaping through a dura. Alexius sighs as it closes before them.

"I'm glad to have any victory for Allahellos, Sophus, but I regret my slowness."

The group all begin to laugh until Sophus waves for them to stop when he sees the soldier wring his hands above his head. Stepping forward the elder places a hand on his soldier's shoulder. The others don't dare move.

"My boy, you're too hard on yourself! Of us all today, you struck down as many men yourself as we did all together. Compared to our time on Velos, we were a much more organized force and succeeding in driving out the enemy with incredible-"

"Because they let us, Sophus!"

He turns with a jerk making Sophus's hand drop.

"They knew we would take this planet in time so instead of fighting they pulled troops."

"And that's not a win?"

"Eros is up to something. Katara is up to something. I can promise you that."

"Katara? Katara is dead!"

"I...I know that."

"Do you soldier? This battle may be getting to you."

Alexius groans.

"Son, you speak as if he is out planning our demise in some hidden base when we all saw him fall to Noah's sword. The boy bonded with the Tayos armor! We both know that wouldn't have happened if Katara were still alive."

"I know that!"

"You have doubted that Earthling ever since he came here despite his devotion to our cause. Why is that?"

"All my time as a Redguard we were taught not to trust the power of the Empath. They're dangerous, unpredictable."

"And are you a Redguard still?"

"No..."

"Do you harbor this animosity for our late king? Was he not an Empath as well?"

Alexius swallows and shakes his head.

"Good."

Suddenly the princess comes running up the Eidikos and stops before Sophus. The men all gasps as she stops before their leader.

"PRINCESS!"

SHOOOOOOOOM!

The dark haired knight bounds to a space in front of Kalista so that his back to her as he scans the foreign city street. His arms splay out to the side like a shield in case someone opens fire on them, but instead of arrows or metal rounds hitting his flesh he feels the soft touch of fingers tugging his arms down by his sides. Turning back around to face her, Kalista withdraws her hands and brushes her dark hair out of her flushed face with a laugh.