The Burden of Destiny | Sequel to The Aura Within

33 | Bloody Oath

Hope and Levi managed to fight back long enough for Soleil to stop Haku from bleeding to death, but both were at their limit. As one Obsidian knight met their end, another one took over and fought with all their might. Levi was running on nothing but adrenaline due to the painful injuries he sustained since this battle began. However, the adrenaline was beginning to fade as the pain began to settle in, holding him back.

Hope was in no better condition either. Although she did manage to dwindle the enemy's numbers drastically, it came at the cost of exhausting her ability to use aura. She had lost sight of the sword she was given, so she had fought with a replica she created using Aura Projection. Unfortunately for her, the replica disintegrated the moment exhaustion took over. As she defeated another Obsidian knight, Hope fell to her knees with a pained groan.

"You've proven yourself to be quite the adversary." Raven chuckled as she took a step closer. Levi noticed and immediately shielded Hope and his friends. "I'll be sure to make you the most powerful pawn in my possession once I rip that aura out of you."

"You're not going to get anywhere near her!" Levi spat. "You'll have to get through me first!"

"Levi... no!" Hope weakly cried out. She fell to the ground when a sharp pain shot throughout her body. "You promised..."

"I know what I promised." Levi looked over his shoulder at Hope. "But you also made the same promise. We have something to fight for, and I'd rather fight through to the bitter end than just give up, especially at the hands of a witch like her!"

Raven just about had enough of them, especially Hope. She wouldn't admit it to his face, but Darnic was right to call her out on keeping Hope alive. Why didn't she just kill her back then? She was alone; nobody would've gotten in her way. Raven cursed herself for letting her leave with her life intact. Hope was nothing like her predecessors, but she was certainly a force to be reckoned with. She didn't care if that woman was the niece of the man she loved.

Hope Eldridge had to die.

This is for you, my liege. Raven held out her hand, creating fuchsia energy that grew rapidly. No one will get in the way of you reaching your dream. I will not fail you, and I'll do whatever it takes for you to succeed!

However, nothing could've prepared her for what happened next.

Raven's fuschia eyes widened in shock as the blade of a sword cut through her hand. She felt no pain, only the ghost of where her hand had once been. Instead, it fell on the ground with a disturbing squelch, followed by the instant leaking of blood. Her handless arm dripped with excess blood like a broken faucet.

"W-Wha--" Raven jumped back in time to dodge another slash that would have decapitated her.

She clutched the wound under her arm and looked up to see who was responsible for this. There stood a man with dark golden hair tied back in a short ponytail. He stood in perfect posture despite holding a sword with fresh crimson blood on the blades. Raven detested the way his muddy green eyes stared down at her as if she was beneath him. He had some nerve to look at her in that manner, especially after he sliced off her dominant hand!

"You dared to bring harm upon my betrothed and her friends." The man glared at her. "That is something I will never forgive."

Near the rubble of the church, Soleil couldn't help but gasp in relief upon seeing him. She could almost cry, but right now she needed to tend to Haku. While she managed to stop the bleeding, the wound was still in a vulnerable state. Still, knowing that her beloved and his knights were on the battlefield, Soleil knew the Rota-Indigo Knights were in good hands.

"Who are you?" Levi questioned, still shielding Hope from him.

"I am General Hugo Yves Cadieux," he answered. "Our men have made the journey to aid Kanto's royalty by squandering this tyranny."