Cervato - Girl On Fire (Part 1 of Cervato's Saga)

Rage

As Cervato stepped away from the jester named Mandel Stabler a doppelganger of himself appeared, attempting to trip her as she exited the sparring ring after training alone. How many Seasons had it been? How many days of teasing, pressure, and humiliation had he subjected her too ever since they had met?

The mesmer had been introduced to her by Joan shortly following Saromire's untimely death.  Always wearing a smile and treating life like everything that happened around him was a joke.  Cervato had quickly become one of his favorite victims as he was fairly successful in earning her scornful remarks.  The man had joined the Tyrian Accord and had made it a habit to continue to tease her at every opportunity that presented itself.  Perhaps if she had not been still mourning the loss of Saromire, she could have taken the teasing in stride, or even become his friend.  But her patience had finally worn out.

In an instant, something snapped within her mind.

Enough.

The pristine swords that were constant companions on every journey were brought up into her hands. "That's it!" The Commander barked as she rushed towards the mesmer, preparing to deliver a direct hit to his shoulder! The slim great sword that was present on Mandel's back was finally drawn to prevent the woman from getting any closer. A small bout escalated as Cervato delivered several strikes against his person, including using the pommel of her sword to knock his jaw away. The woman had her armor to thank as Mandel's sword merely dented at her exterior, until cutting the leather straps that held the breastplate to her form. After completing a standard round, it was clear Cervato held victory in her grasp.

Yet Mandel did something that resonated with Cervato. He refused to let the battle end, quickly switching to using his chaos magic against the warrior. The swelling anger within her head began to drive past any rational thought. Her victory would only be truly claimed when one combatant was left standing.

Ferocity. Speed. Precision. All of this was fueled by the desire to let her blade taste the blood of the man. Yet she did so with an empty conscience. She pursued him like a hound stalking prey. Mandel retaliated of course, chaos magic flooding through his form and focused through the extension of his sword as he burned through her armor, searing flesh itself. When had she delivered her sword into his side? Had she forgotten he merely was wearing leather robes? The strike could have killed him, and she had not even slowed her blade.  It was by his own skill he prevented his life being taken at her hands.  The moment passed quickly as he knocked her back once more with the powerful energy.

Burns riddled her shoulders and hips. Lacerations laced over Mandel's own form. The next few blows would determine the winner. Desperate, Cervato ran forward and without being restricted by her breastplate, she performed an aerial leap over Mandel's head! Like so many times before, she completed the combination of surprise by delivering a hard strike with the edge of her sword along the back of his leg, severing a tendon. His magic surrounded her before she realized it, yet both of them were weakening.

They both were now disarmed, left with only their own physical strengths. Mandel had lost quite a bit of blood as he stumbled forward and collapsed on top of Cervato. Even in this predicament he tried to pin her to the ground, yet the woman would have none of it, going so far as to break his cheekbone from multiple punches to his face with a clasped fist. The last thing she recalled was Mandel's forehead slamming against her nose, stars blinding her eyes until darkness fell upon her, feeling his breath shudder as he exhaled against her skin.

Cervato fled the scene after being patched up by Fijit. Mandel was still unconscious as Graham was quickly tending to his excessive injuries, preparing to have him transported to the Med Bay.  There was no guilt.  Mandel had gotten what he deserved.  He was alive, wasn't he? Wasn't he...?  Cervato ran to the cemetery. The small haven to honor the fallen in the Accord's history. Demetrius's headstone was hard to pass by. She needed to remember to bring flowers next time.

The other tombstone that sat off on it's own belonged to none other than Saromire Lancastir. A portion of his ashes had been buried there after his body had been cremated. The woman fell to her knees before it.

What was this feeling deep inside?

Why was there no satisfaction in her fight with Mandel?

Why did she feel so empty?

The rage.

The anger that still echoed in her heart and soul.

It wasn't able to be released.

Mandel would be left unconscious for several days. When he awoke he had temporarily lost his memory due to the severe concussion she had given him. He'd even thought that Cervato was his wife due to the brief spell of amnesia he'd earned from their battle when she had visited him, apologizing for taking her anger out on him in such a careless way.  Cervato had suffered a stern letter from his girlfriend, Emilie, and from the Luminary, Drake, as well.  The next time Cervato met Mandel was at the Mesmer Symposium in Lion's Arch where he greeted her, cane in hand due to his severely injured leg.  His memories had returned slowly, and he didn't seem to hold any grudges against her.

Cervato bore the guilt. She had fought Mandel seeking something he could never give.

The end to her anger.