"That's good for you, Desmond. Finally after all these years, you may prove yourself to the many." said The Princess.
We both walking together along the hallway back into the horse-drawn carriage. Today is a bright new day and also an important day for me reclaiming my name. But despite all those happiness, deep inside my heart, I am not feeling well. There's a question inside my head, am I really worth for The Royal Family ?
"Desmond...? DESMOND!" shout The Princess calling out for my name.
"Ah....! Yes, Princess?" I awake from my daydream.
"How many time I must told you, don't call me Princess. You're one of our family." scold Princess.
"My apologize, Princess."
"Liliana !"
"Princess...."
"Li... Li... A... Na !"
"Please understand me, Princess. I may not easily call your name since you're the one who makes my life gain its color back. I do admire and be grateful to you so much which makes me cannot said your name lightly." I stand firm explaining my reason.
"Hmmm.... you hard headed. But well, people has their own reason and I am totally understand." finally, The Princess calmed and not make fuss about it even further.
Thus we walked together in peace again. Being able to walk beside her is an honor for me. But somehow, I don't feel any happiness inside me whilst beside me there's The Princess accompanying. I am lost in thoughts, confused, and hesitate to what I don't know.
We both then entering the main lobby. As I expected, people immediately bowing to The Princess and they were yet or even hesitate to bow at me. It just to early to become renowned, just before I've been appointed as The Symbol of Strength by the judge and both of my new parents. It just I still yet getting used for having a great title as The Symbol of Strength.
Our Royal Family butler then opened the door into the horse drawn carriage. To make sure everything is in order, I enter it first then The Princess follow. We sit facing to each other and there's only the two of us inside. The butler then close the door, finally the environment inside become tranquil and there's no sound of city noise could be heard inside this horse drawn carriage.
And so, The Princess may said what she couldn't said back then because it may offend the whole kingdom.
"Does our parents didn't overdo it ? They were look half witted for giving you that title.... is this really okay ?" said The Princess in anger and sorrow.
"Princess... am I a bother to this family ?"
"What are you saying ?! Of course you are not. It just... I am scared of losing you."
Hearing those words coming from her mouth, I am shocked to hear that. It is the first time that she said that to me and I feel relieved. My eyes widened, I hardly holding my tears after hearing those words but I must stay strong before her.
"Princess, I, Desmond Von Rerugen Ivanov vowing to you that I may not leaving your side forever. So please, let me walk in the path you carve and together achieve our own utopia." I sworn before my Princess.
"Desmond.... Ahahaha..." The Princess then laughed out loud at me.
Feeling laughed by The Princess, my face become pale and I don't know what to do or say anymore. It feels like that I wanted to die immediately after my heroic sworn being laughed by The Princess I sworn at.
"I am sorry...."
"Now you lose your will to live. Didn't I tell you, right ?" The Princess then hold my hand, "You are our family and a family never say that to each other. Because inside, we believe that we are family always supporting to each other."
That's it, that's all I wanted to hear. It feels like that I am sitting above the pool of light while in front of me there's a goddess of light staring at me. There is only light as far as our eyes could see. This realm of light is an imaginary world I created because of my happiness. A world where I feel happiness overwhelming my body.
Thus, I am back to my sense and then kneeling before The Princess.
"Princess, if that's so. I promised to you that I am not going to leave your side even after receiving such great and noble title from our parents. I promised to you that I'll always be a person as you wish."
"Desmond... Didn't you heard to what I just said before." said The Princess while inflating her cheeks.
"That's also not what I meant, Princess. I just want to ease your feeling that I can overcome the trial of pride given by our parents and this kingdom. The original Desmond you always know may reside inside this body and will follow you until I die."
Thus, The Princess smiled at me. Whilst I am lowering my body before her, she took this chance to pat my head and praising me.
"Thank you, Desmond. Seems that I picked you up in yesterday is the right thing to do. I am glad that my choices is not false." praise The Princess at me.
"The same goes for me. I do really am grateful to you for living up my life and change my fate."
Ah yes, that was the day where I sworn to her just to relieve her sadness.
The day after, I become renowned by the whole kingdom as The Symbol of Strength. People are bending their back before me as I walk passing them. Prestige, I got that thing right after I success reclaiming my name and took people attention. A shower of gold flooding my life and nobody dares to look down at me. My life has completely changed on that day.
Thus eventually, I'm being introduced by the other member who has the same great title as mine. Surprisingly, they all working under The Princess command directly. The Princess Sword they're called, an elite force assigned to keep The Princess from any possible harm.
From there, I am being introduced to the arena I am standing right now.
At first, I just dabble and see how worth is the arena potential. Unexpectedly, there are so many challenger excited to drawing sword with me. Thus seeing how enthusiast they are, I begin to like the environment and addicted to the feeling that makes my adrenaline rushing so fast. I accept their challenge and on my first attempt I achieve a glorious victory and defeating every opponent who dare to challenge me.
This glorious victory I achieve on my first attempt in this arena turned out to be my own grave mistake that I'm never expect. People start to turning their eyes on me and even The Princess Swords members are start to acknowledge my strength from there. In no time, I gain gold, prestige, and honor as easy as turning my palms. And even worse, someone has put a faith on me for participating in the arena.
Thus, my adventure in the darkness has been started before I even realize it. I put a black cloth on my head and walking blindly to fulfil those people who've put their faith on me. Because of that, I may become a sacrificial lamb for the better future. Human must develop or they won't survive for the other day. And at some point, on the day I don't know when, I've been swallowed by the darkness.
Just when I realized that I've been swallowed by the darkness, the new sun has arise and pulling me out from there.
The fire fades, though It wouldn't be any different if I still possess the power of the flames. It doesn't matter how strong I am, how fully equipped I am, or even how prestigious I am. None of them may useful in this last moment I am fighting for my pride. Cause the true warrior, always fight without expecting anything in return.
Over and over I swing my broken magic rune blade towards him but I never hit him once. He's moving so fast after he pulled out his secret weapon and changing his fighting style. Like I was fighting a light, I may see his appearance but I can't touch him no matter how hard I tried. All I can do now is just swinging my blade with every technique I've learned.
Abraham Huraira, a totally dangerous man to messed with. This is maybe the last time I am looking trouble with him, except of course whenever he's looking trouble with The Kingdom. And of course, that's impossible to happen.
Thus not long after, Cade show his domination to me. One swing from her knife, match my strength who used a bigger sword than his. But not just that, I just being reminded what kind of weapon that may be able destroy this sword. That's right, a tiny and puny knife held by him whom has the power to match his super strength.
Abra and his weapon has a great compatibility.
Over and over again I swing my blade at him but now he's not dodging my attack. He match my swinging speed, blocking, deflecting, and attacking at the same time. Using his puny knife, he's able to drove me and destroying my posture. But I won't easily be defeated, I keep my posture firm and block his attack that targeting my doom.
He attack me on every different side and angle. Surprisingly, his attack always knocking me back whether I block or deflect his attack. He is somehow just getting stronger and stronger than our first clash. Or there's even a possibilities that he's yet to reach his full potential. All he do is dance with our weapon and he speed up to dodge then attacking again.
Suddenly rather than deflecting or blocking my attack, Abra flowing his knife on the surface of my blade. He then pull my blade to the ground and then kick my face like he was trying to separate me from my blade. But I do hold my blade tight, I bring my blade flying with me after my face got kicked by him.
Thus I spin in the air, not letting myself fall just because I am launched by him to the air. And when I landed on the ground, I swing my sword at Abra's direction. But then after I swing my blade, I just realized that the swing is my last swing of sword in this fight. Abra immediately getting closer to me as he sees the opening after I swung my blade.
He's standing before me, Abra then putting his knife pointy side on my forehead. Pushing me lightly, I fall before him.
It's over, it's finally over. My glorious days as a man who've never lose in this arena is finally over and I've fulfil my contract to those people. Thus my day living in the darkness also over, even when I realize that just before it is still a good memory of me living in the dark. My my, I can't believe I've been beaten tragically like this.
Then, a hand filled with light came to me once again. The hand that pulls me out of my suffering and begin to coloring my life once again. I see the same soul that save me from the bitter end of my life reside inside him. I accept his hand, pulling myself towards him and look at the reality before me.
Thus when I took his hand and pulling over myself, the crowds immediately cheering out loud. They applause at us, congratulate us, and moreover showering us with the true gold that I always looking for. This is, the moment I wanted to see and acknowledgement I wanted to have. It feels like, my journey is over and I am starting again from the bottom of the line.
"Abraham Huraira, after all these years I wanted someone that may amuse me. And so you are here, exceeding my expectation and even defeating me in my own cage." I then release his hand, "But now I'm freed from this cage and stepping my leg into the outside world."
"Wait wait ! So you are saying, that you want to stop participating in the arena ?" Abra conclude while doubting his conjecture.
"What else ? I've been conquered. And now the whole kingdom may know that there's nothing impossible to achieve in this world." I said while waving my hand at the crowds.
Then, I look at The Princess face. She's smiled at me and so was I smiled back at her. Now I know it, you didn't fully put your faith to me, Princess. And yes, you shouldn't have to. Every decision you choose is right, every action you do is beautiful, thus I admire and appreciate everything you carve, oh my Princess.
I've found another sun that may shine to our world even brighter, Princess.
+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Just after the closing ceremony of The Arcadian Crusader Battle Arena is over, Tania Bloodtide, The Princess, and their first ranked subordinate walking together to The Secret Weaponry Research Center where The Symbol of Brilliance reside. The Princess easily access every floor using her authority as the leader of The Princess Sword.
Along his way to meet up with The Symbol of Brilliance, The Princess showing her terrible angry face like she wasn't the real Princess that everyone known. Since she's also having a very good relationship with Tania, The Princess has the same case as her for having the second face that may intimidate people who sees her face. And also the same as her, The Princess only showing her true face at her subordinate except for Desmond, The Symbol of Strength.
Though, even her best friend having a bad mood about this quarrel, Tania keep her calm and not letting her emotion get over her action. Thus when they already arrive at the source of the problem, Tania may focus and do whatever her best friend telling her what to do.
"Oh.... I wasn't expecting for your attendance tonight." The Symbol of Intelligence then spin his chair and face his superior eyes to eyes, "The Princess."
To be continued.....