Amanda POV
Amanda could feel her heart twisting.
Her nightmares had barely stopped after Merlin told her he was going to help her brother and the orphanage children evacuate.
But now, her trauma returned.
The words her brother said years ago rang in her mind.
"She needs me? What about me? What did she do when I needed her and this family? When you came to kill me in front of entire academy, where were they? When I proved my innocence and needed someone to support me, where were they? When I was exiled and attacked by knights and mages, where were they?"
Isaac had always been alone.
When their mother died, when their father told him he was useless, when Zara framed him.
He always found himself alone whenever he needed others.
There was only one person who remained beside Isaac.
Merlin.
When everyone stayed away from Isaac, either because they didn’t know how to apologize to him, or because they were too prideful, only Merlin supported him.
That man had once tried to kill her brother, yet he shamelessly—and thankfully—stuck with Isaac through thick and thin.
How lonely did her brother feel to accept the company of the man who tried to kill him?
Amanda took a sharp breath, trying to erase the thoughts that were once again drowning her.
She ran after Isaac when he left the tent.
She tried to open her mouth, tried to call him, tried to tell him to not go to the battle.
But words would not leave her mouth.
She was suffocating.
Her own mistakes, and her brother’s words from years ago were tightening their grip around her neck.
Only after Amanda lost her father did she realize what loneliness meant.
Only then she felt how suffocating it was to live a life knowing everyone was an enemy.
If she made a single mistake, every noble would tear her apart for the inheritance left by her late father.
She had to live every day under constant fear and pressure.
Isaac had lived the same way.
Everyone in the academy and the estate talked behind him back, and cursed him. Everyone wanted him dead.
He knew he had no allies.
That’s why, when he was framed by Zara, he never asked anyone to trust him.
"Brother!" Amanda shouted with all her strength, unable to run anymore.
Her trauma had relapsed
She would probably lose consciousness soon.
She had to say it, knowing this was the last time they might be talking.
"D—"
Don’t go.
The words died in her throat.
What right did she have to tell him to not avenge the only person who trusted him?
Amanda closed her eyes.
She knew he wouldn’t listen. Just like the day they met in the academy, and the day they met at funeral, he would neither stop nor acknowledge her words.
He would continue forward, and leave her behind.
Forever. This time.
But once, just once, she wanted to support him.
"I know you will win! So, I will be waiting for you at the home!" she shouted. "Come back when you are done! Don’t stray too far from the paths during travelling! Look out for the monsters! Stay safe!"
She kept her eyes closed, afraid to open them.
The darkness was scary, yet comforting.
Isaac heard her and gave her a nod.
She could tell herself that as long as she kept her eyes closed.
Seeing what lay in front of her would shatter the illusion. Even though she knew he would not stop or acknowledge her words, as long as she—
"You too."
Amanda’s eyes snapped open.
Isaac had stopped.
He wasn’t looking. He hadn’t even turned back to look at her.
But the voice unmistakingly belonged to the older brother she used to follow everywhere during their childhood.
"Don’t stray too far from the paths during travelling. Look out for the monsters. Stay safe."
He began walking away, leaving behind his last words.
"I’ve given some money to your Knight. Use that to settle in Lands Between. As for me, I’ll travel with to the new continent after defeating the Knight of Death. Don’t worry about me."
Amanda fell to her knees, crying.
A single reply from him untangled the tragedies straggling her neck.
She could finally breathe.
...
Isaac POV
Isaac entered a private tent, and began concocting the Organ Melting Poison he found in Merlin’s diary.
This was his trump card.
Knight of Death had Death element. With his mastery at First Layer (Advanced), he could not be killed.
First Layer (Beginner) in Death Element allowed one to sense the flow of death.
That’s why assassinations did not work against Death Mages. Be it poisons, ambushes, assassination, they could sense Death coming and tell they were under attack.
If their mastery increased, they could also sense bloodlust.
That allowed them to know who secretly wanted to harm them, and was an enemy.
At First Layer (Intermediate), one could alter the flow of Death.
To be exact, they could "push" Death away.
If they died, they could delay their death for a week to a year. Death Mages of this mastery were often called "Undying Berserker."
Upon reaching First Layer (Advanced), Death Mages could "pull" death.
"Death" from injuries of their own or the enemy could be pulled out.
They could push that Death into their weapons and attack with them.
Depending on how much Death they were wielding, a single graze could take away one month to ten years of lifespan from the enemy.
Death Mages at this mastery were called Reapers, due to their ability to pull Death from all sources and use it to kill their enemies.
They could also stay alive for up to five years after their Death.
Moreover, the closer to death—dying—a Death Mage was, the stronger their Death Element became.
If a single bolt of red lighting—Death—could take away one day of lifespan if it hit the enemy.
Then, a single bolt of red lightning—Death—from a Death Mage who had countless injuries and was about to die, could take away three months of lifespan.
’Blowing their hearts, using a poison, or burning them, nothing can kill a Death Mage instantly. They can still stay "alive" for years due to their Death Element.’
’The only way to kill them instantly is to behead them.’
If you could not finish them with a single attack, they would become stronger because your attack put them close to the state of dying.
Isaac was focused on concocting the poison, and thinking of a battle plan when the flap of the tent opened.
Zara entered.
"The princess ordered me to follow you, and help you," she said.
Isaac gave her a brief glance and returned to his work.
She was lying. As the princess’ guard, her reasonability was to protect the princess—the last bearer of the royal bloodline—at all costs.
She had likely argued to come here.
"...What were his last words?" Zara asked after a long silence.
Isaac took out the diary and threw it back.
Zara caught it.
She began the message Merlin had left for her in the diary.
Hours passed. Sometimes, she would tear up. Sometimes, she would chuckle.
When the new day broke, Isaac stood up. He had completed the poison.
Zara stood with him.
She was done reading the diary hours ago, and had been waiting for him.
It looked like she wanted to say something, possibly apologize for the past, but an apology would change nothing, if not feel insulting.
She knew that too, and was unable to say anything.
"Let’s go," Isaac said.
The two exited the tent, and took their horses from the stable.
The nobles who were supposed to go to South-East port followed them. Their faces were glowing after seeing Isaac and Zara coming with them. Though a few had dark faces due to their history with Isaac.
After reaching the port town, the nobles and Zara organized the fleets. Hundreds of people were boarding the ships. It would take a few days for everyone to leave.
Thankfully, there was no shortage of ships.
...
Five days later
Knight of Death POV
The Knight of Death travelled to the Port Bella with his soldiers.
Even before he reached the port town, he could feel an intense bloodlust from that direction.
He reached the port just as the dawn broke.
The intense sunlight forced him to raise his hand and cover his eyes, unable to see the source of bloodlust who was standing at the bridge leading to the port town.
His eyes slowly adjusted to the intensity of the dawn.
’It’s him.’
The Knight of Death raised his hand. The soldiers stopped.
He came down from the horse, and walked towards Isaac.
"Greetings, Sir Isaac. As much as I am happy to meet you, I must ask, why are you here?"
The Knight of Death stopped at the beginning of the bridge.
Isaac stood at its end, silent.
His silence spoke plenty.
"Please withdraw, Sir Isaac. Sir Merlin made me promise that if you come to avenge him, I will give you a chance to leave with your life."
Isaac stiffened, as if he had realized something.
Then, he closed his eyes.
...
The Knight of Death took a deep breath.
He coughed several times, puking blood.
’What happened?’
He was lying on the ground, deep into the forest. The ground beneath him was cracked, as if he had been smashed into it.
The last thing he remembered was giving a chance to Isaac to leave.
Then—
’He grabbed my face, and suddenly I’m here.’
Isaac had moved too fast. Before the Knight of Death could react, Issac grabbed him, and threw him far away from the soldiers.
Tap. Tap.
The noise of steps.
The Knight of Death stood up with trembling limbs, and looked towards the noise.
Isaac was walking towards him.
’His bloodlust is increasing. At this level, he is only thinking of killing me.’
’But even so, he is fighting strategically.’
’He threw me away from the soldiers, so that they don’t get injured in our battle, cutting off my source of Death.’
’He threw me as lightly as possible. If he had tried, he could’ve dealt massive damage at the beginning. But he knew that wouldn’t kill me.’
’I’m injured right now, and he still isn’t rushing, knowing I could have trump cards.’
The Knight of Death stood up and smiled. The Human King had warned him that something was wrong with Isaac, but this level of power was something none of them had predicted.
"When did you reach the level of Ten Stars?" the Knight of Death asked.