User blog:GoldenDiva/Stupid antic: clash at the moonlight

'''{Disclamer: This is an antic, which means this is not something to be read. Anyone who wishes to read this aberration should immediately turn heel and walk away, as this will bring about ills to whoever tries to be a bravado, or thing they can get through this without puking, hurling or wanting to duke their eyes into a vat of acid. So I warn you, if you wish to go through this, you better have a will lying somewhere, because chances are that you won't make it through this abomination without mental injuries. You have been warned.} '''

It is 5 in the morning inside a still sleeping village. Most citizens of that village are asleep. The night is still in control of the sky as they are in the solstice of winter. Therefore, a layer of ice and snow coats the houses, rooftops, roads and crops of summer. Even the nocturnal animals that usually tend to their daily hunts and gathering are hidden in their home, waiting for the sun's ray to point themselves. All town is asleep, but not far from here, at a forest, lie some training dummies and fake weapons. They were all used...

As well as the weapons lying down, all used, hundred of foot steps were imprinted over an open area. A bit further were broken dummies. They all had several holes and slashes on them, from the head to the torso. One of them was even on the snow, it's base destroyed. Even further than that were footprints with noises of clashing metal against wood. There were two figures training at the art of rapier techniques. Upon closer look, a boy and a girl were the one fencing at more dummies they had set out.

"Good fencing technique Merrily!" the boy complimented as she managed to strike down her dummy down in one thrust.

"Thanks Michael!" the lady said as she then watched him bringing down his dummy in one swing of his scimitar.

Those were Michael and Merrily training their sword and magic techniques. Since they were six, they were best of friends. At the age of ten, they both enlisted to be trained in the art of swordsmanship and magic that complimented it. At the age of 12, as they currently are. they both agreed to rendezvous in their secret training area, where they are at the moment. They would begin perfecting their techniques and sparring at 4 in the morning, while their parents and town was asleep. It took a while to convince the guard to let them training in a forest.

At 6 in the morning, Michael and Merrily were about exhausted. Well, Merrily was not as exhausted as he was. Despite her sweat dripping from her forehead and her blond hair, she seemed like she was ready for more. Her red, sharp eyes gave no lie; she was a vampire. As similar as she was to a dhampir, she didn't wear their attire, which was a fencing hat and leather garb. Michael was always surprised how quickly she would recover from their concentrated training while he would need a minute or two.

"Well, it's six in the morning Michael. Let's head back." she said with a honey laced voice. For Michael to easily hold himself from falling for her voice was a feat that other kids and adults were impressed by. "Very well then, I need to eat anyway." he smiled. She smiled back at him and they gathered their gear to carry back.

They were talking about trivial things like how Merrily's family had settled here. She told him that her grand-grand-mother had fallen in love with a man 300 years ago and decided to live in a small town. Their talent in magic and swordsmanship had then persuaded other swordsman to follow tail to this small town, turning into a moderately populated town with the best swordsmen of the region. Michael was happy that her ancient family had brought swordsmanship. Together, they walked all the way back to their town, not bothered by the snow.The guard welcomed them back from their morning season as they passed the gate. They were very content with each other as sparring partners. But, as soon as they came to their neighbor, a standing woman was waiting for them....

She had her arms crossed and was giving Michael dagger stares as they soon saw her. He paid no mind to that but Merrily was worried. Her mother Jacqueline had often pestered her daughter against 'hanging' out with common folk, as it insulted her vampire blood. She went to meet them. "I see you two are back from your training." she said to the two. "Yes mother. It was just training. And I liked it." Merrily responded back while standing in front of Michael, worried about her mother's look. Jacqueline shifted her gaze back to Michael. But, seeing that his friend was worried, he decided to let them alone. "Well, Merrily, I'll see you around." he said as he left. She waved at him but digressed when she saw her mother glare at her with her scolding stare. "Daugther, you know you should not spend time with the common like him. He is a bad influence for you." "But mother, he is skilled and nice with me. Most of the others treat me like I'm some fragile jewel." "With a good reason. You are of nobility AND a vampire like me and your father. Hanging out with the common only insults your pride as a vampire. Do you not feel it?" "No I don't and I don't want to." The mother looked at her and saw it would be pointless to argue at the moment. "We will talk about this again!" she said as she walked away. Merrily followed her with her head down. They went back to their mansion where a legion of servants were waiting for them. They all bowed down in a united salute. Merrily didn't like it so much, preferring to tell them to do as they wished. As the day passed, Jacqueline talked about the problem with her daughter to the father. He pondered about it for a few minutes and had a solution for the 'common' issue.

The next day, Michael waited for Merrily at 4 in the morning. His scimitar and fixed dummies ready for training was placed and ready. He looked at the sky, which was still filled with stars. But, as time passed, she gave no sight of life. He thought she simply had a minor issue and stood by until 6 in the morning. After seeing she was not coming, he got a bit worried and left for her mansion. But, the moment he got to the gates, a figure was standing in front of it. He recognized Merrily's father, who was expecting him. "What are you doing here, boy?" he sternly asked. "is Merrily sick?" "My daughter is fine, boy. Be gone now!" "But, can't I-- "Listen boy!" father interrupted "I do not know what you expect from seeing her, but my daugther is busy with family business. Common folk like you need not to meddle in this! Now, leave this sacred place at once!"

Michael didn't know what to do or what to say. He wanted to claim that they were very good friends. That they trained together. That every important they ever had, whether good or bad, the other always was here for the one. But, he didn't think the father would concede. So, Michael left... Day after day, he would come to try and see if his friend Merrily was ill or had a hidden problem. Sometimes, he would even offer his help. But of course, the father did not left him through. After many months, Michael realized that the parents were not willing to let him 'ruin' their daughter. That's when he left. For good this time.

Michael soon learned that some of the town's veteran swordsmen were going out in a long term mission to several lands to initiate potential recruits into their style of magic and sword techniques. Michael volunteered to accompany one of the veteran, for training and for the mission, where he could get more power and experience. Being known as one of the best child swordsman, a brigadier named Jerry took him under his fold. With the rest, Michael left in a ferry to the unknown with only the clothes on his back and his precious scimitar.

But, before he left, Michael took one last look at the mansion, where Merrily lied. he made a vow. A vow to come back for her. When he would be worthy of her lineage. And then, he disappeared, along the veterans...

Meanwhile, where Michael was previously trying to get inside the mansion to get to Merrily, she was trying to get out of the mansion to train with him. her mother had refused and forbidden her from ever seeing him again. Of course, she tried explaining why she preferred time with her friend, but the mother denied all of this under the fact that her vampiric pride had not awoken yet. So, in a attempt to accelerate the process, she made her daughter take a sample of her father's blood, via a bite on the neck. She protested furiously at first, but constant scolding from the parents had waned her down.

So, in a ritualistic night at the moon, she drank some of her father's blood. And that was only the beginning. The day after, Jacqueline, the mother, had arranged for her daughter to participate in nobles' parties, setting the exemple of how she should act and who she should considerate as potential mates. Slowly but surely, her vampires roots were overriding her old self, setting her perspectives to her mother's and soon enough, she regretted ever wasting time with that common boy Michael. Afterward, she also had set out to training deeper to the north, with a continent-renown rapier master, Laureo. And like that, she also disappeared to the rest of town, except to her parents...

8 years later, the city was filled with many new faces. Those were the merchants that came to this continent to sell their wares after the winter had given place to the spring. And spring to summer. The city was ripped with new exotics such as food, items, weapons, armors and luxury goods.

Suddenly, like a phantom that came back from the dead, the ferry that once left it's homeland for 8 years finally re-appeared. The citizens that knew of that ferry boat all stopped their activities to see the veterans that had come back. A brass plank fell into the sandy land of the town's beach. Soon enough, several men and women were coming out, all making their from the beach to the city. All the citizens were standing in silence, all looking at those that came out of the boat. The merchants that also came to the land much earlier were wondering as to who were the people that made their way to the city. But, as soon as the first veterans stepped in, the people were all cheering them as well as running to them. They went into the boat and helped getting the many boxes of treasury they had gain through jobs, missions and exploring the unknown lands.

Among those revenants, a familiar face was also present, the one that carries two chest full of gold and a backpack filled with gems. Michael made haste to the city as the chests were heavy. As he walked back in, someone took off his first chest. Then, another came and took the second one. A few seconds after one more guy took off his bag. The three of them were burdening themselves with the task of bringing the goods to the town's treasury room. Michael thanked them and other friends came to welcome him. He was surrounded by those that were his comrades in the city, all in their twenties.

He shook the hand of each and every single one of them and told them his story. Of how he and the veterans had to fend off other off-landers that bore the crest of the Order from taking hold of their newly appointed surrogate cities that took them in. Of how they explored lands that even the natives dared not enter because of the unknown. And, most importantly, of how the veterans were able to transforms new, inexperienced rookies of the other lands into some of the most persistent warriors that could hold on their own and train their own recruits, to defend the weak and herald the helpless.

He also gave a demonstration of his new scimitar techniques as his old friends all challenged him in a one on one duel. They all headed out to the arena, where Michael unsheathed his upgraded weapon: the Phantom Curtain. It glimmered with a ghastly green haze as a fog-like cloudy mist periodically vented out. Michael awaited his challengers. The fight had lasted several minutes, about 5 for each challengers, for a total of 40 minutes, and won with few efforts. His friends were amazed at how experienced and balance between his swordsmanship and phantom magic he had become. Of course, he replied that they had also dramatically improved on their techniques. Never the less, he had indeed become a powerful wielder. As thought someone else...

As Michael and his friends were going out to get dinner, they were intercepted by another familiar face. Merrily was in view, standing in front of them with two armored guards. of course, Michael bearing his mail mask and his helmet, she didn't quite know it was him. But, seeing his skills had more than convince her that he was a suitable candidate. And so, she blew a mist of sleeping dust that was made Michael's friends fall on the ground, all snoring loudly. Michael was outraged by this and drew his Phantom Curtain, but then a guard took a step forward with a paper, signed and forged with a seal and branded it in front of Michael. It reads: He who holds the seal of the sanguinary, A right he gets from the aristocrats Chosen from those who deems his worthy A suitor among others for the right of hand of the lady

Michael Was not sure what to make of this, but his mail mask blocked them from seeing his face. They told him that he had 48 hours to take his decision. After they left, he brought all his sleeping friends to their home, one by one. Then, he walked outside at night, seeing only the few guards that had night shifts. Most of them knew he had a letter inviting him to be a suitor for lady Merrily. She lets herself being called like that? Anyway, they encouraged him to up the offer, as only a few were handed the invitations. With their tips, he took it up. He walked right at the gate, still in his warrior gear. The mansion's gatekeeper wanted to stop him, until he branded the letter. The guard, looking at him, told him he was one lucky man to be hand picked for a chance to marry lady Merrily. With that said, Michael was given right to walk into the mansion.

Inside, Michael saw that indeed, there was many others men besides him that were invited. They were 10 in total, including him. Then, a row of servants walked down the stairs, indicating that the royal family was here. They walked and walked until the first of the two row reached the door of the mansion's exit. Then, came Jacqueline down the stairs as well, walking with her hands behind her back until she was in the middle. Then, came the father, walking down with his crossed arms until he was besides her. And finally, Merrily, in her splendid yellow dress and a rapier at her right waist. Michael was breathless, yet he did not let it slip through his neutral face, behind the mail mask. She exclaimed that one of them will be able to take her hand to rise to be at some of the highest level of elite.

And so, they all went to their quarters. Inside, was many luxurious items that he had saw during his training, yet to see them from this close made Michael uneasy, as if he was just dreaming. Yet, the blade he carried with him reminded him that this was why he worked so hard for. A chance to be worthy to take his best friend's hand. Over the bed, lies a suitor's garb, into what he was supposed to change. He did, and in that, spent the night meditating as he learned from his outside excursion.

The next day, at 5 in the morning, the suitors were all awakened from the lady herself. Each of them were sleeping fondly where wakened. Michael was used to waking up this early and felt little frustration. They begin the morning exercises, which was swordsmanship. of course, all of them exceeded the expectation since they were supposed to be among the best. Just as Michael did. But, the mother often put another noble in the spotlight, granting lady Merrily's better attention. It happened during their servitudes, their mental capacities, their intelligence tests, and most important, their magic mastery. Again and again, did the mother Jacqueline put emphasis on a certain Lord Sosen, whom she almost seemed to like a lot.

Michael,more then the other suitors was doubting himself. During their free time, he wondered whether he even had a chance. At least, he could try to speak to her. He did, and unsurprisingly, they had many common things they like such as swordsmanship and learning, as they did as children. She had the sparks in her eyes. He also had them. They were re-kindling into each other. But...

Just as it seemed they were going to each other once more, Lord Sosen walked around. Being the favorite one, lady Merrily immediately walked off to him, shutting Michael down. Unbeknown to her, his hope of re-kindling with her had now been burned down, and it's dust, scattered to the winds. He realized that vampires demanded someone that had high nobility, and despite his powerful harmony with techniques and magic, this was the one thing he could not work for. It was out of reach. So close, and yet so far, for him. This obliterated his spirit.

He stopped trying to win her and her parents' grace. And soon, he was almost invisible to them. Unwilling to stay just to see them nose off and sad beyond belief, Michael's attitude turned to marble. He often saw her and Lord Sosen talking, it was obvious she was going to pick him. And, two nights before she would pick her decision, Michael got rid of his suitor's garb. He refitted his old armor and mail mask. All of it, now that it was mentioned, was enchanted by his phantom arcane, as ghastly energy gently radiated from it. He wrote a message at in regard to lady Merrily:

Lady Merrily, I do hope you have been well, I have 'enjoyed' spending time aboard the mansion you dwell in, But, alas, I no longer wish to be second fiddle to someone that as already won, My feelings were genuine, but alas, I do not bear the one thing you ask more than anything, So, I take my leave, with the hope that you and Lord Sosen can be happy, As I could never bear to see the one I've fallen in love with in the arms of a man who ask the last piece you ask of, This is goodbye forever...  ...do svidanyia, my old friend...

Michael cried in the room, silently, but tears were falling down his face. All this work, all of this struggle, going over his friends' hope. All of this, for nothing. He was going to leave this town and work for it but at a distance. He will travel in their name into unexplored lands. And so, with his Phantom Curtain, he opened a window to the outside of his room, and leaped out, running to the exit in the silence of the night.

Later in the night, a few minutes after, lady Merrily walked among the rooms, for a surprise meeting with the suitors. Of course, she talked a bit with Lord Sosen. He looked excited at the fact that he would certainly win her hand and do as he wished with her. He anticipated all of his desires being reality as she left his room. then, after the others, Michael's room was left. She put a ear into it, but could only hear the wind riding inside the room. What was he doing in here? She opened the door, only to see an empty room. It was well maintained but empty. She went to the bathroom, maybe he was in here. But no...

That's when she saw his letter alongside his suitor's garb. She took it and had began to read, only to notice it was written in her best friend's writing. And then, she saw the goodbye. She suddenly had flashes of her old friend, who was always with her, during training, during her graduation, during everything. She then realized that he had fallen in love with her, but lost hope during the examinations. She took a second read at the letter. It was saying good bye forever. She realized he was walking away, for good this time. She couldn't accept it. She was not about to either. Summoning her threaded Rapier, she jumped out with a single word, a shout...

MICHAEL!!

Michael walked away, hearing of another long term exploration. He was going to sign up for it, as his friends had grown well to go well without him and his love interest was into someone else. He wouldn't want things to be awkward with anyone, especially not Merrily. He was crossing the exit, with the guard saluting him, but as he was crossing the exit, he heard a scream in the night. He thought to himself that the guard could look into that, as it didn't seem to be a scream for help, but it only got louder.

"Michael!!"

The second time, he thought it simply was someone else who had the same name as him. but then, it got louder yet again.

"Michael!!!"

This time, it was near. He turned his veiled face and saw a noble lady running toward where he was. The dress, the rapier, the face. He couldn't mistake it, it was lady Merrily. She had finally caught up to him, the guard, surprised at her sudden presence. Michael on the other hand was not saying nor doing anything. She branded the latter in front of her.

"Is this true?"

Michael didn't answer, remaining silent. he simple stared at her, his face hidden by his mail veil. She branded the letter again.

"Answer me Michael! Are you leaving?" "...yes I am." "!!"

She skipped a heartbeat, the thought of him disappearing for good. She couldn't feel the warmth in his voice, it was instead a cold dead one. He turned back. but she took a step forward.

"Michael--" "Return to your promised one, lady..." "!!"

He wouldn't even pronounce her name. He really was going to throw her memory away from himself. His heart had shat down, caged. She took another step forward.

"Michael--" "I am happy for you two.." "Couldn't we talk about this?" "There is nothing to talk about. You've made your decision and I support it." "But I have not made my final decision." "I saw the way your were enthralled to Lord Sosen." "I know but--" "Do not try to deny your desires. Your vampire blood demands you pick the most suited man as your mate." "!!"

She was losing him. He resumed walking. She was not going to let him go like this. She was not going to let their story end like this, in sorrow. And so, with a heavy heart and her face full of tears, she unsheathed her Threaded Rapier.

"Face me!"

He turned to see her pointing her weapon against him. But, he ignored her and kept walking.

"You have no need to try to keep me here. I fully support your choice in the matter. Return to him."

"I said face me in combat!!"

This time, she shouted at him and used a ghost step to stand in his way. Michael now had to combat her simply to walk away. He sighted and pulled out his Phantom Curtain. They both got into their combat stance. They then clashed in the moonlight, when everyone else, including her parents were sleeping. As their weapons made contact with each other, a bright light of purple and green radiated from the weapons. Merrily tried to see what was Michael thinking about, but failed to see, considering he had a mail veil over his face. She concentrated on the fight, knowing full well they were equal in combat. Over the night, the fight had woken up some people who thought they were being attack. The guards ran to the source only to see the two fencing. Eventually, Merrily's parents could overhead the ruckus. The other suitors were asleep, but Lord Sosen woke up as well. The three of them went to the source as well and saw her fighting a veiled man.

Merrily tried to see any advantage she could but the gap were too thin. She knew he had pushed himself well beyond the limits. She knew that when she took in his performance report to choose a suitable candidate. And it checked out as she struggled to find a opening. Her parents was cheering her on but also saw the veil man was an absolute equal. She tried talking to him, but silence was kept on him.

"Please. Say something."

Nothing came out of him.

"Say something Michael!"

"Michael?!" her parents exclaimed.

They weren't expecting him to be the veil man giving their daughter a hard time on the battle. The mother saw the weapon he was using and decipher that it was indeed him. Lord Sosen was also astonished by the swordsmanship of him and pondered. Since they would eventually have to face off during the final test. would he able to beat him? Tears were on lady Merrily's cheek as she stroke blow after blow on Michael, to which he blocked. But, after 2 hours of continuous combat, he began to tire. His mana pool was also slowly draining. Being a mamono, she had an expended pool of power and could continue. Knowing that, Michael gathered his last remaining mana to use in a spectral wall attack. With it, a jagged wall from another world fermented from the ground, and walled in on Merrily, slamming her on the ground. Then, shackles from them pinned her down, sealing off her Demonic Energy as long them contact her. She yielded...

Michael had won. Merrily's parents were shocked to see their daughter lose to someone, which means that he had trained much for this. Those that witnessed the fight were cheering for the veiled man. Despite her defeat, she was very thrilled to have fought her old friend in such a manner. She hoped he could perhaps stay. So she could talk to him. But no, Michael, still thinking he had one thing missing and believing she had already chose her mate, sheathed his scimitar and resumed walking away from the city. Dread filled lady Merrily's eyes as the crowd that cheered him on was wondering why he was leaving without a word. Knowing she would lose her true mate forever, let out a blood-curling scream full of lament as she was now powerless to stop him.

"Michael!!!"

Her parents, especially her mother was startled by this. The last time she saw something like this was when she herself lamented over her own parents' decision about her future husband. That's the moment she realized her daughter had long fallen in love with him, and that her attempt at choosing a suitable mate for her had caused this. She went to her daughter and kneeled down to meet her size and hugged her tightly.

"I'm so sorry, my little girl. I'm so, so sorry."

She looked at the walking Michael and lifted a hand toward him.

"Please! Wait!."

Michael stopped walking but didn't turn. Jacqueline lowered her hand after seeing him stopping. She looked at her crying daughter and back at Michael.

"I see what she's been trying to tell me all those years, before I suppressed her feelings. Please, will you not come back to us? To her? I think she did choose her suitable husband."

Michael slowly turned, his veil face in view of all. His mail veil, falling off from his face. What Merrily saw chocked her to the core. The reason for his lack of words was not because he abandoned. It was because he was crying inside his helmet all this time. And now, she saw it. He dropped down, trying to avoid bursting out completely. Merrily then asked her mother to go to him, to which she accepted. Crawling away from the shackles he had set up against her, she crawled all the way to him and hugged him very tightly. If he was trying to contain himself, she was full out crying on his shoulder.

Of course, Lord Sosen did not like the outcome of this. He was expecting to be the one chosen to be the mate of a vampire. he has been denied. Angry about the situation, he calmly walked to the two amidst the crowd now talking to each other about usual business. When close enough, he unsheathed his rapier and went to thrust at the two. Michael, seeing this, pushed her away to prevent her from taking the hit. He was punctured at his stomach. The crowd fell silent, Merrily's parents fell silent, and herself was horrified at this. Lord Sosen pulled out his rapier, and Michael immediately fell to the ground, now bleeding profusely. Sosen, thinking he had ultimately won, turned to lady Merrily with a victor's attitude. he had spreading his arms, expecting her to run to him. And indeed she did...

But then, he felt his shoulder being pieced by her Threaded Rapier. He did not expect this, even less the look on her face. If she was crying before, what he now saw was the blood shot, anger-filled face of a terrifying vampire that might have lost her soul mate. He was scared. Very scared. The people was saw this were equally condemning him. He, while suffering at her strike, which by the way rendered him shoulder and arm completely useless, tried to scold her for this, thinking he had defeated Michael. But really, all he did was strike down a worn down man who just barely managed to win against a vampire in a one on one duel. Jacqueline was disgusted by his action, and knew that was no way she was going to accept such a cowardly man as her daughter's mate. In this town, a duel was the most honorable way to settle a dispute, by seeing who's skills could speak for the most. and this man, by striking down a exhausted and battered man down, and also by trying to go for the kill, had spat down on this city's very tradition of swordsman.

Every swordsman, be they novice or veteran, was deeply ashamed by the spilled blood of a man who was blatantly downed and maybe killed while he was at his weakest. Lord Sosen realized he had made a grave mistake, but, the folk didn't want to hear it. While two of then were tending to Michael's injury, she pulled her weapon out of his shoulder, and used her magic to heal his shoulder, before challenging him.

"Surely you must be mistaken. I won, you should be happy to marry me. I'm the perf-" "Shut up and fight me! I will make you regret!" "But, surely this is part of a--" "I said shut UP!"

If Michael was barely able to defeat her in single combat, Lord Sosen couldn't even last for 5 minutes that he was already injured in many places. That definitely showed her parents that he was no suitable husband for her. Someone who could not put up a good fight is someone, that in this town has very much neglected his training. What kind of husband could not even defend his wife? Lord Sosen was now on the ground. He could fight no longer, and Merrily was glaring him down with dagger stares, showing not her sweet face when she is happy, but the face of someone with a killing intent. Despite this, she stopped, for she did not wish to kill him, nor would the rest of the city wish for his death. Of course, he was honorless in their eyes. Before the morning had even set in, lady Merrily walked to him, her weapon still out, put one knee in the ground and gave him his rejection notice...

You, Lord Sosen have been refused as a suitor, For your failed examinations and for striking down a exhausted man. I, Merrily, heir to the noble family of nosferatus, Declare you UNFIT to be my mate, You are herby banished from any ties regarding my family,  And, I will make sure your cowardice is echoed through the realms

Lord Sosen was utterly terrified of her, and even more so of her judgment. With that said, he was exiled from the city with the greatest dishonor one could be bestowed. With this done, Merrily immediately ran to Michael as they brought him to the medical facility. The last thing he saw, was Merrily tightly his hand as the folk all made way for them to pass through.

Two days later Michael woke up to a hospital bed, in the rising dawn. He saw a large wrap around his waist, with no trace of blood over it. The surgeon worked overclock to bring his from the brink. What truly surprised him however, was that he felt a weight on his left shoulder. It was no doubt Merrily, sleeping with one tear over her cheek. He wiped it off her with his free hand, waking her up at the same time.

"Oh, I'm sorry for waking you up."

"It's quite all right. I was waiting for you to wake up really."

"Really? Where you not with Lord Sosen? I thought you were ultimately going with him. He had the last thing I could never give you."

"Michael! You've already gave me everything I could want in a mate. You're powerful, a caring one, you have your manners. I couldn't careless about your inborn nobility lack. I've chosen you since a long time."

"What? But...but what about your parents?"

"They gave you their blessing. Sosen had struck you down when you were at your weakest. And that was something my mother and father could never accept. Plus, my mother was joyed at your performance against me."

"Really? Haha", I see."

Merrily, her worries now brushed over, she jumped over to the bed, landing on Michael. Despite her wearing her casual clothing, he could feel her 'assets'. He tried to hide it, turning his face away, but she saw it and gently made him face her. She was also as red as a tomato. But, giving her eager approval, Michael temptingly tried to put his hands over her waist, which she vividly clasped her hands over his to encourage him on. She reduced her face's distance with his. They were both breathing very heavily toward each other, not sure of what was to happen.

Then, Michael pulled something from his pocket. It was an adorned ring, a silver one, that he presented to Merrily. She was not expecting this at all, as she widen her eyes as he finally made his demand.

"My old friend, my love interest...my love, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

She couldn't answer, because she was crying tears of joy. She slammed her hands behind his back to hug him and he hugged back. That lasted for 10 minutes. Then Michael tenderly took her hand to put on the ring. Her red eyes were sparkling with a bright light. With that done, she looked back to her now husband and reached in for a kiss. He pulled her close and kissed her back. Around them, the light of dawn was sending small rays, but they were enthralled with each other, kissing each other for a very long time before breaking the kiss. She yawned a bit.

"Hum, Michael?"

"Yes dear?"

"If you don't mind, could we sleep here a bit longer here? I know it's morning, but I wish to share a few minutes of sleep with my husband."

"It's alright, I want it too."

With that said, she yawned some more and ended up falling asleep over his shoulder. He caressed her silky blond here, until he also fell asleep. A new story was now beginning for this new couple.

As for Lord Seson, however, words of him striking down a exhausted man from battle was spreading like a wild fire. He was outraged at Merrily for rejecting his and humiliating him. He ran away, far away to try to escape this. But, while bringing what was left of his rich guard with him to unknown lands, they barged into a whole pack of ogres that were in a extra bad mood from the fact that a noble had previously burned down their crop. Each and every single one of these ogres were now smiling in a intimidating way as the guard was shaking down to their knees. They ran but the ogres quickly chased them, one by one, until only Lord Seson was left. Just as he thought he was going to make it out of here, he was violently shoved into a tree by a particular ogres. This one had a broken horn, courtesy of the last man that thought he was god here. he tried to pay his way out of his, but she slapped his coins away.

"You're not weaseling your way our of this, feeble man."

"We...well, surely there is something I can give you."

"Yes, there one way you could paid me to let you go, but no! I like you, you look so spineless. Well, when someone like you strike down someone with their back turned, I guess that disgusting odor is blatant."

"Odor? What odor? I bathed before coming here."

"The odor of cowardice!" she shouted.

Lord Seson begged and screamed for her to let him go, but, that only made her fire up even more. She dragged him down to her den, where the others were already getting 'intimate' with his guard. She made him look at every act her minions were doing with their victims and told him the two of them were going do all of them. Twice. He screamed in despair...