Chapter 56: I’m just tired...
I stopped and placed my hand on the guard of my sword. "I do not know which clan you are from, but according to the rules, we are not allowed to kill each other," I said in a calm voice.
The five guys laughed. One of them spat on the ground. Katelyn turned toward me and murmured: "I think they are mercenaries. They came here to rob the others."
I sighed deeply. I did not have time for this. We did not have time for this. "Listen," I said, raising a hand, "we do not have time. We are from the Clan —"
I did not have time to finish my sentence.
One of the mercenaries stepped forward and punched me. My head snapped to the side, and a taste of blood filled my mouth.
"They are only two, guys," said the man, rubbing his knuckles. "We beat up the guy, and then we will have some fun with this girl... Hehehe."
Katelyn glanced at me.
"I see that you are not in your normal state," she murmured. "Stay back. I will handle this problem."
She drew her rapier and took a step forward. But before she could continue, my body moved on its own.
A cutting Chi projection crossed the air. The Chi had materialized around my blade, invisible but with absolute sharpness, and it mowed down two heads in a flash.
The bodies of the two mercenaries remained standing for a fraction of a second, then they collapsed backward, their heads rolling on the ground with a dull sound. Blood spurted from the severed arteries, splashing the walls and the stone floor.
"How!?" cried one of the remaining mercenaries, stepping back.
Katelyn was shocked. Her eyes were wide, her rapier suspended in the air.
Not only because I had just shown the ability of the third Sense: the Art of Chi Emission, that ability to project one’s energy at a distance without physical contact, but especially because I had just killed people.
I walked calmly toward them, my left hand drawing my second sword from its sheath. "I am sick and tired of everyone thinking I am a nice guy," I said, my voice low and steady. "I can break the rules too."
"Shit, guys! This... this guy is powerful!" stammered one of the mercenaries, backing up until he hit the wall.
I raised my two swords, crossing them in front of me. "As the heir of the Sword Clan, I execute you without judgment! You bunch of scum!"
I leaped toward them. The distance closed in a flash. My right sword sank into the chest of the first mercenary, piercing the flesh. The man let out a strangled groan, his hands grabbing the blade by reflex, then he slumped.
I drew back to strike the next one, my blade tracing an arc toward his neck.
"Kristian!" Katelyn screamed.
Her hand seized mine in mid-motion. She was fast, faster than I had anticipated. Her fingers gripped my wrist with surprising strength, then she threw herself against me, her arms wrapping around me to block my movements.
"Hey! Calm down!" she shouted, her face very close to mine. "I know you are angry. But this is not you, Kristian. This is not you."
The remaining mercenary took advantage of the interruption to flee, running, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness of the corridor. His footsteps faded quickly, then silence returned, disturbed only by my ragged breathing.
I remained motionless in Katelyn’s arms, my swords still drawn, the blood flowing slowly along the right blade. "And how am I supposed to be?" I asked.
"You think you know me better than I know myself? According to my personality, I should not kill them? Is that what you think? Then I will do it anyway!"
But Katelyn did not let me go. Her arms remained around me, firm but gentle, and her body was warm against mine. "Tell me what is going on," she murmured.
I clenched my teeth. My eyes became misty, and I closed them to prevent the tears from falling.
The anger, the fatigue... everything was rising to the surface.
"I am tired, Katelyn," I confessed, my voice broken. "Tired of being the flawless talented young man, the model heir, the perfect son. Just... tired."
"You absorb too much of what you feel," she said softly. "You should let it all out..."
I shook my head, but the words came out anyway. "I... I feel guilty," I said.
"Since I was little, I have always been jealous of Daemon. Jealous of his freedom, of his carefreeness, of the way he does what he wants without anyone saying anything to him. While I have to remain irreproachable. So I have always, in a way, wanted to appropriate his life. By taking his responsibilities in his place... to feel free too."
Katelyn pulled back slightly to look me in the eyes. "I see," she said.
"So now, enough with the irreproachable boy. For the first time, do what you want. Do not forget that if you need someone to help you, I am here. So... what do you really want?"
I did not answer immediately. My thoughts drifted, toward a face, a silhouette, white hair and ruby eyes... Andromeda.
I wondered what she was doing at that precise moment. If it were her, she would do something reckless. She would not wait, she would not hesitate, she would act. I was really sick of everyone having expectations of me. Sick of being the one who follows the rules.
So I swore to myself that I would do what I wanted.
Somewhere in my heart, I knew there was something between Andromeda and Daemon. But without even realizing it, I had separated them. I had put myself between them... And I had not regretted it.
Daemon had only hurt her. It was obvious... But I understood everything she had been through. I understood the loneliness she must have felt, and the fatigue of having to take revenge for her entire tribe.
We were alike, she and I.
I swore to myself that I would find her... that I would conquer Andromeda.
And then, leave on a journey alone with her. Travel to places no one could find, where she would truly be free and happy. Far from the clans, far from the rules, far from the expectations. It was the least I could do for someone who had saved my life.
"Katelyn," I said finally, my voice back to calm. "I know what I want to do.."
Katelyn looked at me for a long moment. Then she smiled softly and released my wrists. "Then do it, Kristian. But first, let us finish this mission. Let us find Pandora’s box. After that, you can do what you want."
*end of pov*