Little author note: Some gore and blood ahead, please brace yourselves~
~*~
Ceremus didn't waste time as he got himself up in an instant, charging forward with the agility of a panther.
He swung his blade in turn toward the Sphinx's exposed flank, but the intelligent creature saw through his moves. With a twist of its muscular body, the Sphinx shifted just enough to avoid the strike. Ceremus' blade caught its fur, but the impact was far from fatal.
The Sphinx let out an ear piercing hiss, spinning to face him, eyes narrowing. It unfurled its wings and, with a violent thrust, took to the air. The two men shielded their eyes from the dust as the creature rised higher, becoming a shadow in the burning sunlight. The knights as well as Loki gasped as the Sphinx hovered over them, its wings beating with great force, and then dived, its talons aimed directly at the Ceremus' chest. But the king was ready. As the Sphinx plummeted, he sidestepped at the last second, narrowly avoiding the lethal talons.
He spun around as Hael slashed upward with his gladius, and this time, the blade met its mark—a deep gash ripped through the underside of one of the Sphinx's wings. The creature screeched, its roar a mixture of pain and fury, as it tumbled to the ground in a cloud of dust.
An evil smirk appeared on his lips. "Ha, serves you right."
The two men were relentless. They both knew their opponent was fierce, but they've fought beasts before, and Ceremus was not about to let some arrogant creature overwhelm him. As the Sphinx struggled to rise, he was already aiming his weapon towards it, darting forward with a burst of speed. He drove his gladius deep into the creature's side, sinking it into the ribcage with a grunt. The Sphinx growled, its eyes flashing with fury, but it was unable to move fast enough.
Ceremus twisted his blade, aiming for the vulnerable spots—the joints in its limbs, the soft underbelly. Blood poured from the Sphinx's body, but he was not finished with it yet. Taking out all of his frustrations on the Sphinx, bludgeoning it with all his might. The creature tried one last desperate maneuver, thrashing wildly, jaws snapping toward the king's throat, but he dodged every blow coming his way.
In a final, precise moment, he turned to his left and locked eyes with Hael who understood everything he wanted to say without having to utter a single word. The Sphinx lunged at Ceremus, creating the perfect distraction as he sidestepped another of its attacks while Hael made his way behind the beast, driving his sword into the back of its skull, right between its eyes. The blade sunk into the Sphinx, making it let out a strangled, defeated roar before collapsing with a massive thud to the sand. Blood trickled out of its wounds, making the once powerful looking beast a sorry and mangled mess.
The pair stood over the beast, breathing heavily, their weapons slick with blood. The knights on the side watched the scene with their jaws open, eyes wide and disbelief written all across their faces. Ceremus wiped the sand and leftover remnants of the beast from his body before giving Hael a glance. The young man was also covered in grime, but he looked absolutely ravishing in his rough state. As if sensing his gaze, Hael turned his blue eyes towards the king, a small smile painting his face.
Ceremus felt his heart pound in his chest, and a warmth spread across his body as he stared back at him with the same level of intensity. His entire body shook, but not from tiredness or exhaustion but from the irrevocable thrill of being able to defeat such a mystical creature alongside Hael, someone he had grown to care for more than he did himself.
He had to look away from the young man before he did something unsightly in front of so many eyes. Just then, one of the knights approached them, his eyes as wide as saucers.
"I can't believe Your Majesty defeated the Sphinx so easily!" the knight exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief.
Ceremus cast a glance at the fallen beast, then back at the knight, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "I can't believe it took you all this long."
"I—I beg your pardon?" the knight spluttered, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"You heard me." Ceremus shot him a sideways glance, amusement flickering in his golden eyes. "Go tell your king to dismiss all of his so-called scholars. The fact that not a single one of them could answer such a simple riddle is astounding. He has no use for such useless men."
The knight gaped at him, utterly speechless.
With that, they hauled the Sphinx's lifeless body onto a transport and made their way back to the palace. When King Aeson received the news—not only that Ceremus had slain the beast, but that he had also solved the riddle—his astonishment was impossible to hide.
~*~
"Please, allow me to repay you with our most prized possessions," King Aeson said, motioning for one of his officials to bring forth a gift he had prepared in advance.
"There's no need for gifts or repayment. Slaying that beast was satisfying enough," Ceremus replied, his tone indifferent.
The king blinked, clearly taken aback. "N-Nonsense! We must honor our allies with proper gratitude. And I assure you, what we have prepared is something you will appreciate."
At his command, the official stepped forward, carrying a golden case adorned with the Leacus crest. The intricate engravings gleamed under the light, its locks tightly secured. With a swift motion, the official unlocked the case, revealing a sword and shield more magnificent than any Ceremus had ever seen.
The shield was larger than the average man's torso and gleamed so brightly, like the sun itself. Crafted from the purest celestial gold and reinforced with silver inlay that swirled around the shield like trapped lightning, its rim was edged with an enchanted metal that could absorb the force of any blow, no matter how strong or powerful.
At the center of the shield was an almost life-like gorgon sculpted in enchanted silver, carefully polished so that the bearer could see his reflection through it. Legends said that just a mere glance at its surface could freeze even the most savage of beasts in their tracks.
The back was lined with a strap of horse leather, allowing the wielder a sure and firm grip. The blade, on the other hand, was longer than any sword both Ceremus and Hael had ever seen. Forged with celestial silver and streaks of molten gold, it was a sight to behold. It was said to be unnaturally light, with the ability to cut through stone, steel, the toughest diamonds, and even divine flesh. Its hilt was wrapped in lion-hide leather, ensuring the wielder an unbreakable grip.
The crossguard—positioned between the blade and the hilt—was masterfully crafted in the shape of a golden eagle, its wings spread wide in a display of majesty. The pommel bore a massive sapphire, deep and untamed, said to hold the fury of the ocean god's storms within its depths.
The shield was given to Hael, while the sword was given to Ceremus. Once the exchange was completed, the king announced that a banquet would be held for their guests.
As the celebration continued, Hael and Loki retreated to a quiet balcony.
Their conversation was soon interrupted by a voice. "Do you make it a habit of talking to birds?"