John looked down at the fallen Valkyrie as she glared up at him, and a wave of emotions flowed through him: Anger, sadness, pity, disgust, but most of all, regret.
He couldn’t help but think of who she was, and who she used to be: A divine warrior maiden, a former servant of the heavens; now corrupted and blackened, a slave to the Demon Lord Lilith. He shuddered to think just how much harm she has done since then, how terrifying a fallen angel can be; only to be bested by a man younger than twenty five.
He had to suppress a chuckle at that last thought. Though at the same time, a being like her, a warrior like her, still deserved respect; as it was only by the skin of his teeth did he come out on top.
So it was, that he knelt down to her before speaking up.
“Out of respect for your prowess and background as a warrior, I will remove your gag. But only if you promise to keep that sharp tongue of yours in check. Can you do that for me?”
***
Ben’s hairs stood up on the back of his neck as he felt the presence of what he was sure to be magic. And Vergent’s discrete, but sudden change of expressions did little to put him at ease. Such a sensation would absolutely warrant investigation from his part.
But his curiosity would have to wait, for now he listened to his gut; quite literally in this case. And so he followed the captain’s directions and headed to the mess hall.