Previously, on Sword Of Vengeance
Kalus trailed behind Austrus, his footsteps careful and deliberate as he cradled Cathiana in his arms.
Her unconscious form was feather-light in his grip, though the weight of her predicament pressed heavily on his mind.
The muted crunch of his boots against the grassy trail filled the silence between them, broken only by the occasional rustle of the breeze through the tall grass.
The narrow path they followed wound through the wilderness, carved by nature's hand. And the wildflowers peeked timidly through the grass, their colours dim under the fading light.
The air was damp, carrying the earthy scent of moss and the faint trickle of water ahead.
When they reached the river, its clear waters glimmered faintly under the twilight sky. Its current whispered as it danced over smooth stones, its surface broken only by the occasional ripple.
Austrus crossed first, stepping effortlessly onto a broad, flat rock that jutted out of the water.
As for Kalus; he hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning the stone for footing. With a steadying breath, he shifted Cathiana in his arms and followed, careful to keep his balance.
The cold spray from the river kissed his boots as he moved, but his focus remained unbroken. Once on the other side, Kalus glanced at Austrus, whose stride never faltered, his figure a steady guide in the dimming light.
"How did that pest know where to find you guys?"
Kalus looked around, wondering where they were still heading.
"Princess Elena and I decided to go on a hunt and Cathiana...."
Austrus was still answering his questions when Kalus cut in.
"Lady Cathiana; is that her name?"
Kalus asked curiously and impatiently.
"Yes"
Austrus answered and continued.
"She insisted on coming along which gave us no choice but to allow her. We made it known to her that if General Hough came around, we might not be able to protect her."
Kalus frowned at his explanation.
"Why would she be depending on you weaklings for protection? She's the Eye of Samsara; she's powerful enough to protect herself."
Kalus insisted.
"Cathiana is indeed powerful, but her powers have been waning as of recently. And, we're no weaklings.
The reason why we've not been able to kill General Hough is because he uses the ambience of dark ones: The Evil Trinitarians. Princess Elena has not been able to use her magic sword to its full potential.
And as for me, the Dalbeth's sword wasn't originally mine. It belongs to her Father, the more I use it, the more it saps me of my energy"
Austrus said, stopping and waiting for Kalus to catch up with him.
"Well, what can I say? It took me just a single slash to kill him. I still regret it anyway; I could have given him a slow, painful death as a reward for hurting Lady Cathiana."
Kalus spoke slowly with disdain.
"I guess General Hough is indeed lucky then."
Austrus said with a smile.
"Okay. So, just like you predicted, you got ambushed by General Hough, but you couldn't hold him back, right?"
Kalus asked, a surge of anger coursed through him, and he could almost feel the weight of Austrus's hair clenched tightly in his fist.
The thought of yanking his head downward, forcing his smug face into the sticky, foul-smelling heap of cow dung nearby, played vividly in his mind.
Every detail—the squelch of the muck, the humiliation etched on Austrus's features, and the satisfying release of pent-up frustration—felt almost too real to resist.
"Holding him back? I didn't even get the chance to do that, even when I have always looked forward to fighting him directly.
He uses a strange emulate to trap us on a spot. It turns out that he has always been looking for Cathiana too, so the moment he spotted her, he lost interest in capturing us"
Austrus paused for a while, ruminating on someone before he spoke up again.
"For some time now, she's been talking about someone called the Protector.
With your brute strength, I think you're the one.
By the time we broke free from his amulet, we began to look for her. By the time we saw you, we knew we were already late
I'm sorry we met ourselves this way."
Austrus apologized after explaining his ordeal.
"It's okay."
Kalus answered, feeling more at ease with Austrus after his explanation.
"Is she ...."
Austrus asked hesitating.
"No, she's fine. Just unconscious now. Since you said her powers are waning, I don't think she will be waking up anytime soon."
Kalus said, glancing down briefly at her face.
They stopped before what appeared to be an ordinary thicket, cloaked in overgrown bushes and wild grasses.
The cave's entrance was masterfully hidden, its disguise so seamless that no wanderer, no matter how observant, would ever suspect it existed. The vegetation seemed natural, blending effortlessly with the untamed landscape around it.
Austrus moved forward with deliberate precision, parting the dense greenery with his hands.
His movements were practiced, his fingers finding the edges of a hidden wooden door, camouflaged by layers of moss and intertwined vines. With a low creak, he slid the door to the side, revealing a dark, yawning passage.
The entrance exhaled cool, damp air, carrying the earthy scent of stone and decay. Without a word, Austrus gestured for Kalus to enter.
Kalus hesitated briefly, adjusting Cathiana in his arms, her face pale against his chest.
Then, he stepped inside, his boots echoing softly on the uneven stone floor. The dimness enveloped him immediately, sharp and absolute, cutting off the world outside.
Once Kalus was inside, Austrus followed, pulling the door shut behind them. It slid back into place with a soft thud, disappearing into the vegetation once more, erasing all trace of their presence.
The narrow hallway they entered stretched into the darkness, its walls jagged and rough, as if carved in haste by ancient hands. Crude symbols and markings etched into the stone glowed faintly, their meaning lost to time but their purpose clear: to guide those who knew the way.
Austrus moved ahead, his pace steady and unerring while Kalus followed closely, careful not to stumble, his burden weighing heavier with each passing step.
The oppressive silence of the tunnel was broken only by the sound of their boots on the rocky ground.
As they ventured deeper, the chill in the air was replaced by a growing warmth. Soon, Kalus noticed a faint light ahead—a soft, flickering glow that danced along the tunnel walls.
The scent of woodsmoke drifted to him, subtle at first, then stronger as they drew closer. The glow intensified with each step, revealing the end of the passage where the promise of firelight awaited them.
"Delian were back, with a guest."
Austrus sighs, raising his voice while he calls her name.
"Welcome, Austrus; how was the hunt ?"
Delian asked smiling brightly.
Kalus, on the other hand, stood at the entry to the room, watching keenly.
Delian stood gracefully, clad in a flowing white gown that radiated both quiet authority and a sense of reverence.
The fabric, soft and matte, seemed to drink in the light around her, creating an aura of mystery and understated elegance. Its design was deceptively simple, yet every fold and seam carried an air of deliberate purpose, amplifying her enigmatic presence.
The gown's long, wide sleeves draped like cascading waves, shifting gently with each subtle motion she made. They fell open just enough to reveal her lower arms, their porcelain tone glowing faintly against the soft fabric.
Her hands, relaxed yet purposeful, peeked from beneath the flowing sleeves, adding an air of serenity to her commanding figure.
The gown seemed timeless, a perfect blend of grace and power that made her presence impossible to ignore.
As she strode toward Austrus, the gown's flowing splits, beginning at the bust, fluttered with each step, briefly revealing the deep charcoal or midnight-black leather trousers beneath.
The contrast between the stark white of the gown and the dark, polished leather added a striking depth to her appearance, hinting at both practicality and power beneath her ethereal exterior.
Her overall presence was a perfect blend of sombre dignity and refined elegance. The simplicity of her attire carried an understated authority, balanced by an undeniable grace.
This was further amplified by her demeanour—calm, unyielding, and sharply perceptive, a figure who commanded respect without demanding it outright.
She greeted Austrus, her face glowing with the vitality of spring, as if surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of nature itself.
In his mind, he had long considered Thirteenth Prince Marcus's wife; Princess Gamina, as the most beautiful woman he had ever met.
Then came Eleuren and his subconscious, fanatical belief shattered as he was confronted with the undeniable truth.
Accepting his mistake, he realized he had not truly been defeated in his conviction—until he encountered the Eye of Samsara.
The Eye of Samsara; her power was as boundless as her youthful, otherworldly beauty. What could he even call her? She was a mere teenage girl, yet possessed an aura that defied her years.
As for Elena, there was no denying her beauty either—striking and top-notch—but her sharp tongue and irritating demeanour often overshadowed it.
And now there was Delian. Watching her interact with Austrus, Kalus couldn't help but wonder. Was she his partner? His wife, perhaps? The ease with which they moved around each other suggested a bond far deeper than mere acquaintanceship.
Whichever one.
"You never told me you have a stunning woman as your wife."
Kalus said deeply, mischievous smiles forming on his lips.
Delian took a good look at Kalus.
It was apparent that she hadn't noticed his presence before even when Austrus announced that they had a guest.
She moved with the swiftness of the wind, circling Kalus with an almost predatory grace.
Her sharp, curious eyes lingered on his faintly glowing, bloodshot gaze before shifting to Cathiana, nestled securely in his arms.
Kalus tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he regarded her with quiet amusement.
There was something raw and untamed in her movements, a potential waiting to be refined.
With the right training, Delian could become an exceptional warrior.
"What happened to her?"
She asked, standing closer to Kalus as she gazed down at Cathiana while she checked her pulse.
"Oh, she's alive. Thank God."
Delian sighs in relief.
Kalus chuckled.
"You're not afraid of me?"
He mused
Delian backed away from him, gesturing at him to drop her on the bed.
"Why will I? You may look strange, but you pose no danger of any kind"
"Bring her here."
She said.
"Hmmm, interesting "
Kalus chuckled darkly again and did as he was told.
Austrus stares at both of them, astounded. He couldn't believe a dangerous person, such as the Protector, would be comfortable with Delian.
"What happened to her? "
She asked, staring right into Kalus's gaze.
"Well, I think that is a question you should ask your husband instead."
Kalus answered casually while dropping Cathiana to the ground with intense care and straightening up.
"He is not my husband "
Delian replies softly, turning to Kalus.
Austrus stood silently against the rough stone wall of the room, his broad shoulders resting against its jagged surface. His muscled arms were folded tightly across his chest, a posture of both ease and quiet strength.
The dim, flickering light from the nearby torch cast uneven shadows across his face. One side was illuminated by the warm, dancing glow, highlighting the sharp contours of his jaw and cheek. The other side faded into the encroaching darkness, obscured as though the shadows themselves sought to claim him.
The interplay of light and shadow gave him an air of quiet intensity, a figure at once commanding and enigmatic.
Somehow, she understood the unspoken meaning behind the expression on his face.
It was subtle, but it struck her deeply, causing a pang of regret for the words she had carelessly spoken—that he was not her husband.
The truth of it hit her harder than expected.
Since the day he had saved her, he had been nothing but caring, constantly looking after her with a quiet, unwavering devotion. His actions, his concern, had always been more than enough to prove his worth, yet she had dismissed it with a thoughtless remark.
To make amends for her careless words, she moved closer to him, her steps slower than usual, her heart thumping with the weight of her unspoken apology.
Her tongue slipped out, nervously licking her dry, chapped lower lip as she approached. She reached out, her fingers brushing through his hair, a strand slipping between her fingers.
With a soft, deliberate motion, she curled it around her finger, her touch lingering as if to silently convey the feelings she couldn't put into words.
"Austrus, what are you thinking? Who is he?"
She spoke, her words deliberate, but she avoided meeting his gaze, choosing instead to lightly dust off the broad expanse of his shoulders.
Austrus' eyes, however, remained fixed on her face.
His gaze traced the delicate curve of her lashes, his mind racing as he tried to decipher the meaning behind her actions.
Every subtle movement, every shift in her demeanour left him with more questions than answers.
"It turns out that he is the Protector Cathiana has long been talking about."
Austrus whispered, retreating from her and choosing to sit instead.