A few years earlier, in the lavish office of the mayor of Sanbornia — now a lord — two men were having an important yet simultaneously meaningless conversation, in which the trivial personal was intertwined with the significant global. The musical accompaniment was provided by the crackling of a fireplace, cozy in this cold time of year, and their companions were glasses of red wine, whose scarlet color shimmered pleasantly in the firelight.
- From this it follows that you are a child of the Dawn Raven, friend?
- Yep. - The gaze of the young warrior's blue eyes combined chronic fatigue, exclusive kindness, and veiled madness, but behind the veil of mystery and the aura of indifference, an all-consuming sensuality was hidden from the eyes of those around him, from which the golden-haired man was ready to fall apart into atoms even in the next moment, which made his appearance ephemeral.
- However, you were born in this world, so when did... Ah! - The lord of the new region was struck by a thought. - On that very day when Rumior betrayed Koimaji, right?
- Yes. I was how old then, seventeen or so? Even for the strongest warriors of Tezoth, returning alive from the depths of the middle lands is a non-trivial task; someone like me had even less of a chance. The monsters of longing, vexation, and regret devoured me alive.
- And then?
- Then I woke up, and a dark angel appeared before me — Revaniel.
- One of the many masks of the Dawn Raven... - Man of Sanbornia spoke as if he knew much more about this world than other lords of Tezoth. - A being equal to the other heirs of the Nine Obelisks. What merits earned you her interest?
- I think she saw the absurdity of my entire being and the foolishness of my soul. - The one who said these words did not change his expression, and it was clearly visible that he believed them. - She probably decided that I could entertain her.
- Mwahaha, don't be so hard on yourself, Eigen! All life is a game, and we in it are absurd pieces! We get burned by painful mistakes, we rush about like a flag raised on a flagpole! And all this — in attempts to understand the labyrinth that makes up the rules of her game!
- Perhaps... But if I had known what awaited me next, I would never have answered the treacherous call of that demon. How often I regretted not quitting this game earlier, before those crushing feelings invaded my soul and tore it to shreds.
- What could have happened to you that was so terrible as to surpass the nightmare you experienced in the Crater?
- Wanting nothing in life is a rather sad existence, but you can find some consolation in it — you want nothing and expect nothing, and therefore, although you suffer, you do not suffer as much as you could, and you can accept life's troubles without being defeated by them. It was in this state that I spent a significant part of my existence after the "resurrection." I cannot say exactly what its source was; perhaps it was the realization of my essence being different from others, perhaps something else, but to tell the truth — I don't care. What is, is; digging into the reasons is as pointless as trying to overcome them.
- I'm afraid I've lost the thread of this epic just a little. What exactly ruined your soul?
- I realized that passionately desiring something, but realizing the impossibility of obtaining it, is much worse.
- My dear friend, please, put your thoughts into forms more tangible for my mind. Would my assumption be correct that the flame of love has captivated your melancholic mind?
- I loved her so much that I was ready to kiss the ground beneath her feet and, at her mere command, find the highest peak of Tezoth and step off the edge to meet gravity. - Placing his palm over his own eyes, the golden-haired man threw his head back, hiding the few, yet still emerging, tears. - Every moment I spent with her was happiness, and every moment of separation was hell.
- Oh, madness manifested in the face of my friend! So you, to put it simply, just went fucking crazy! No negativity intended.
- Hahaha... Ahaha...
- Mwahahahahaa!
- Haa... I don't fully understand myself how I ended up like this.
- So what treacherous twists of fate prevented you from making her yours?
- I want her to be happy, and I crave not only her herself, but also her reciprocal feelings, which is impossible.
- Hmm. Has your gaze remained cold to all the beautiful stars in this wide sky? - The Lord of Sanbornia picked up a cigar, unwrapped it, beheaded it with a guillotine, and lit it with experienced finger movements. Soon the room was filled with the noble aroma of quality tobacco. - I'm sure you would have been able to find someone who would allow you to experience the delights of a sweet romance sooner or later — you undoubtedly have the good inclinations and potential for it.
- Don't you understand? Romance as a concept doesn't interest me; I need only her. Even if she were crooked, cross-eyed, insane, anything, even if she smelled like a dumpster — it doesn't matter. I crave the attention of that one single person and want to give myself entirely to her. I would rather, than possess any stars whatsoever, be her second, third, backup option, just a friend, a slave for fuck's sake — anything, but only not to be forgotten by her. I don't mind being deceived and betrayed by her time and again. Anything is better than being nobody.
- Yeah. Looking at your dejected face and remembering individuals like Heel, Loyalty, Bliss, and the penultimate Deus, one involuntarily sinks into thought... Are all the men of Tezoth mired in moral poverty? However, I think that it is precisely this quality that makes you the best of men for this path... Will you take upon yourself the burden of being my knight, Eigen?
12.06.297
The Knight of the Sun stood on the scales of his riding dragon and serenely gazed at the night-time Tezoth. Kurokai — that was the name of the noble animal endowed with snow-white scales and azure, sea-like eyes — was his faithful companion, distinguished by its relatively small size compared to other members of its kind, but very fast speed, endurance, and maneuverability. The members of the coalition standing behind the knight were confident that only this pair could handle the appetizer of the upcoming enterprise.
In his hand was a latte glass taken in Makiate and a cigarette — he never smoked, but on this day he decided to try — why not? His body was covered in numerous tattoos — he would never have thought to spoil (as he believed) his own skin, but they were applied by the mistress of his heart, and therefore no better use could be found.
- Well, partner, ready to go with me straight to Hell? We certainly can't compare ourselves to the king of that desert country from the past, but let's not get too cocky, eh? For someone like me, this is a rare opportunity to go out in style, and a better one is unlikely to come along.
In response to these words, the dragon flicked its tail in displeasure and performed a barrel roll, causing the knight to almost lose his balance and fall from its back.
- Buddy, do you think I don't understand? - Over the long years of their acquaintance, the rider had learned to understand this animal. - I absolutely don't want my story to end prematurely. There is so much more that can be done and experienced, but what can I do if I turned out to be made of crystal? When I go to sleep — I think of her, when I wake up — I think of her, and throughout the day, only she and all the little things that connect us are on my mind. Over the long years, these feelings have eaten away my entire insides from within, and only skin stretched over a bare skeleton remains. Perhaps that is exactly what makes me a false knight. Where others dream of achieving something significant, I desire nothing more than to be a part of her life, even the most insignificant part. Let others perform feats, conquer kingdoms, overthrow gods.
Kurokai turned its head away and closed its eyelids, showing disapproval of what it had heard.
- Tough luck with a partner, huh? Alright, it's time for us to get to work.
The first stop for the Knight of the Sun and Kurokai was Densec: using sleep bombs — an invention of Stratos Genburry, based on sleep-herb from Ofdrim — he incapacitated the inhabitants of the lord's estate, left a letter addressed to Lord Richard, loaded first the ruler of these lands, and then her unfamiliar lover, onto the back of his scaly partner, after which he flew away with them very, very far... To where the events awaiting Tezoth would not affect them.
- Ahahahahahaha...
The knight's last glance directed at the face of the woman who had captured his heart expressed a bouquet of the most varied emotions. Leaving them in safety, he flew away.
The second stop was Sumika in Faredjia, where he received a mysterious large-sized device from the lord of those lands.
- Will it definitely work? - The knight had no idea about the structure of his luggage and only knew about the need to press the red button at the right moment.
- According to my estimates, the chance of success is 85.666%. Enriched Ikazkanium is unstable; the possibility of no reaction is possible.
The knights of Revnland and Faredjia worked to obtain the materials necessary for this device, and the idea itself was suggested to Stratos by a Man born in Margel — he was not a scientist himself, but knew much that helped the local lord understand a myriad of things.
- That'll do. Better than a 0.000% chance of...
- ?
- Ah, never mind, talking to you is like talking to a wall anyway.
Stratos said nothing in response, tactically deciding not to trigger the man on whom the success of the upcoming operation depended.
- Alright, let's fly.
And they flew — towards Margel, which was passing over Tezoth today.
On approach to the floating city, the pair was met by infinitely sharp blades of light, like perfectly straight threads; strange oblong tin cans flew into them, with hot flames visible from their rear parts — they exploded upon approach; small constructs made of light metal, showing aggression, hovered around... But they, though heavily wounded, overcame all obstacles, successfully reaching the very heart of the ancient city. In attempts to prevent the tragedy, local warriors, priests, and mages rushed towards them in haste, but it was too late — stroking his partner's head with one hand, the rider pressed the button with the other — and an artificial sun temporarily appeared over the night-time Tezoth.
- Mwahahahahahaha!!! How do you like this Dawn, Revaniel?! - Watching what had happened while sitting in the saddle of his wyvern, the Lord of Sanbornia was in complete ecstasy. - You did it, my knight! You truly reached the heavens! Today you have exceeded all my expectations and truly justified the title given to you, O Knight of the Sun! May your troubled spirit now find peace! Farewell, my dear friend!
Margel fell between Fairium and Gemstone — and it was there that Man headed. Both cities were completely destroyed, but the shockwave affected almost the entire region. Covering the distance at high speed and rapidly approaching his target, the rider began to feel his flesh being destroyed and transformed, but by the power of his immense spirit, he brought his own organism under control.
- A side reaction from the radiation, evidently! Hmm, so Albus has met his end.
Pushing unnecessary thoughts aside, the Lord of Sanbornia closed in on the only one who had managed to survive the fall — the daughter of the goddess of light, whose eyes showed only a lack of understanding of what had happened.
- I have won.
Ple-Sen
Arandor
