ℂhapter 1

A tale told only once...

A tale about love, hardships & tragedy. The only love that Felix has ever experienced...with the one whom he would continue to cherish forever...Rumia.

This story is spoken from Felix' point of view.

"Silas!" I call out.

I can't keep up with him. His footwork has mastered the speed of light.

"What is it?" he hurriedly swings around. "We don't have much time left."

"Well, at least wait up for me!" I whine. "I am not cut out for this much walking!"

Panting down, trying to catch my breath, I hear a chuckle leave Silas' mouth.

"Well, I guess you have to find a way to catch up." he grins & returns to walk faster.

Such brutality.

...

Silas & I were invited to the Erstonia Empire by the Emperor himself, Jack Cyngus.

The reason for the matter...was that Silas is set to be engaged to his youngest daughter. That plan has been coordinated for a while now.

Silas has lost most emotion after the attack on Vortis Empire. It took everything inside of him & he swore to show no mercy nor trust to anyone. He still laughs & reveals his amusement from time to time...however, it will never be the same as it was those years ago, when we first met. I have lost all hope that the old him is still in there somewhere, burried deep.

One thing was for sure though, he plans to keep the promise he gave his mother...to marry Rias Ambrose.

Not too long ago, we were surviving in the slums & learning how to use a sword for the first time...only recently, the Emperor had got word of our situation & is now keeping track of us.

"Took you long enough."

I have reached Silas while he stands in front of the Erstonia Empire.

My eyes have blessed me. I haven't seen anything quite like this mansion that stands before me. It's really a sight to behold.

We are given no time to admire it because we were already running late.

When we enter inside, I wait for Silas outside while he discusses matters with the emperor...and that is where I saw her.

A sword, slashing through the wind. The amazing footwork right before me, in this very garden.

The long hair that flows through the cold breeze in a ponytail is very graceful, considering she's using that sword with everything inside of her.

That is one talented swordswoman.

I walk towards her but when she notices me, things don't go well.

I don't know why my feet had started to move towards her but all I know, was that I was not in control of it.

"Who might you be?" she howls in such an aggressive tone.

Her sword is pointed at me, her eyes are staring directly into my soul...and all I could do, is just stand there, breathing heavingly.

Her form is perfect, she can slice right through me if she wanted to.

"I-i'm Felix...Severan..." I stutter.

She sighs & swings her sword into her scabbard. "You're Silas' friend?"

I nod, slowly. "Correct."

"I see." she mutters. "Sorry for the confusion."

She turns around & begins to pick up her belongings. "I thought you were a scum, sneaking into the palace."

I should have stayed standing still until she was out of sight...but I was not in control of my own body.

"Wait!" I yell after her.

She swiftly turns back around. "Yeah? what is it?"

I had become standing so close to her. How did that happen? though she seems unfazed, I decide to man up & at least say something. I should have just let her be on her way.

"I want to..." "I need to..." I begin mumuring before I straighten up my posture to say what I was going to say. I open my eyes widely & stand confidently.

"I want to learn how to use a sword like you...battle me."

She smirks & looks me up & down.

"You?...a scrawny fella like you has no business using a sword."

My eyes widen.

Sure, I have no muscle...but I am pretty decent in using a sword...I just need to be better.

"Trust me angry gorilla, I am not as weak as you think..." I grin & lift my eyes up, tilting my head. "Battle me."

She keeps her composure, chuckling. "Fine then."

Throwing me her sword, I catch it quickly.

It's ordinary...and simple. Only a good warrior can make proper use of a sword like this.

"Your move first." she gloats.

I am looked upon as if I had never wielded a sword before. Perhaps I shall prove her conceited attitude wrong.

"As you wish." I beam, sarcastically.

My stance needs some work but I can still cut through pretty much anything. I lift the sword up & count to 3 in my head before I swing it towards her without a warning.

*CLASH*

Her sword had stopped mine in less than a second. Her speed is quick. She plays no games, just how I like it.

"Cleaver move" she whispers under her breath.

"But not fast enough for me."

That little grin on her lips just makes me want to fight that much harder. No holding back with her from here on out.

"Well then...two can play at that game."

I make the next move, once again, aiming the sword, nearly hitting her but she dodges as it slices a strand of her hair. This causes her to get serious as well & we begin sparring & clashing our swords together.

Her foot movement is magnificant, I wonder how she learnt such moves.

Examining her, aspires me to be a better swordsman in the future.

"Nice moves you got there..." she breaths. "But that won't get you anywhere."

She continues to use her sword with swift acceleration. I can barely pinpoint it.

"Perhaps...but at least I am not an overweening witch." I grunt.

She shows no emotion by what I said & proceeds to brawl. "Just give up...you're never going to beat me."

Every time I get near her, she easily dodges my attacks, which leads to the end of our quarrel. She hits her sword with mine & the grasp of my hand lets go. I watch as the sword falls over to her side & I just know that she won.

"You know, you're not as bad as I thought." she admits, then puts her sword away. "But...not quite on my level yet."

She's very confident & has every reason to be. I noticed how she never lets her guard down & goes for the kill. I must have that mindset.

"Key word:...yet." I mutter under my breath, making sure she didn't hear.

"The name's Rumia by the way." She states, distinctly through her teeth. "Rumia Ambrose."

She disappears into the grounds of the palace...and that's when I realize...I just called the Emperor's daughter "an overweening witch."

My mind can't comprehend that. I wasn't knowledged that the Emperor had another daughter but for all I know, she's the type to stay away from the media.

That female was trained to be a knight...not a princess.

"Felix!" Silas calls out. "What are you doing standing all the way over there?"

I turn my head & upper body. "Oh I was just

talking to-"

"Never mind that" He interrupts. "The Emperor invited us to dinner."

He begins to walk away, shouting from behind. "View the inside halls before then."

I guess I will be seeing Rumia at dinner then. If she had never told me her name & walked away all pertinacious, I would be one hell of a stupefied individual to see her there.

...

This palace is bigger than what Emperor Dominic owned...though Silas pledged to make an even greater one in the future. One where there's peace between the villages & not what thy status of one holds.

"Mr. Severan!" The Emperor greets me as I make my way to the table located in the dining hall.

It was a tad bit hard to find, making me a little late but at least i'm here now.

"When Silas had come in alone, I was beggining to get false hope that you didn't travel along side with him." he chuckles.

Emperor Cyngus was in contact with Silas & I for a long period of time, thenceforth the attack on Vortis Empire summoned by Oryn Empire. He had began to become weary of how close we are, sending us on multiple missions. Perhaps he was worried we had grown apart...but I had promised to stay by Silas' side forever, no matter what. Not even love can come in between that.

"Sorry i'm late father." a voice echoes through the hall.

It's her. Rumia.

The one beside her must be Rias.

"I, however, would have been on time if Rumia hadn't insisted on sparring with me!" Rias informs the Emperor, giving attitude.

"Oh Rumia...always one to push her limits." he sighs.

The Emperor turns to me & I swear I see a grin printed on his face.

"Felix...have you met Rumia?...I have a feeling you two will get along quite well."

What does he mean by that? my first impression of her was that she was obnoxious.

"Yes, sir..." I mutter. "Unfortunately...I had the dishonour of meeting her when I first arrived."

She stabs a fork in the surface while a snicker exits my lips.

"Oh, like meeting you was a whole party!"

"I thought I was talking to a witch when I saw you." I hoot, leaning forward.

"Your insults are just like your sword techniques..." she chuckles, whispering the next words under her breath. "Utter...trash."

I seem to see more emotion in her than earlier. This is quite shocking.

I roll my eyes. "As if I wouldn't go easy on a female."

"My, already fighting like a married couple are we?" the Emperor chimes in.

I had almost forgotten what our setting was.

Silas had tried to knowledge me on how not to say what i'm thinking.

To the people of the outside world, I look skinny & soft at heart...but my flaw is that I say horrid things without a second thought, hurting the people I say them too....though that's not the case with Rumia.

"Oh is that so?" Rumia screeches. "Let's have a match right now then. Just you & me!"

"I don't think that's necessary..." Rias says calmly, patting her shoulder. "Please, let's just enjoy this meal that was cooked for us."

Rumia breathes heavengly & sits back down. "You're correct...my ego had gotten the best of me."

"Yay...good sister, Rumia!" she hugs her.

I sneakily take a peek at her angry pout before she takes the fork back out of the table.

...

That...was a quick turn of events.

I look over at Silas & he is staring right into my soul. He doesn't even have to say anything, that look says it all.

...

The rest of dinner went by pretty quietly. The Emperor discussed matters that Silas & I are to take care of. The topic of Rias bethrothed to Silas had also come up.

Rumia had finished her meal & left the dining hall swiftly without a word.

I regret my turn of phrase, especially since it was in front of the Emperor but I guess what's done is done. I can't feel bad about it now.

"Rias...can you please show our kind guests to their rooms?" Emperor Cyngus asks before getting up from his seat.

"O-our rooms?" I utter, astonished.

"Yes." He smiles, squinting his eyes. "The rooms you are to stay in anytime you visit!"

The Emperor has done more than enough to help both Silas & I. He truly is kind.

Though, I feel bad that his Empress is no longer by his side & he refuses to get re-married...but I guess if he truly loved her...no other woman can compete with that.

"Sure thing, father." Rias smiles, graciously.

It's been far too long since I slept on a proper bed but sleeping on a rock hard ground didn't really bother me. It shaped me into a stronger person than I was as a young child.

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