chapter Twenty Seven

The courtyard became absolutely still at Nahand's revelation. The knights tightening their circle around Silvari's figure.

"Tch." Silvari eyes narrow. "Why do you still call me that? You and I haven't been family for nine years."

Nahand sighs as he turns to the head knight. "Vale, apprehend her. Feel free to use force if necessary."

The head knight has a pained look on his face, although he managed to hide it from the young master. "Young miss, I advise you come peacefully, for your sake."

Chrome watches from the side as Silvari grits her teeth. 'She's an archer surrounded by knights. She's out of her element here.' he glances at the *young master* 'Red hair that resembles embers, I wonder how Mii would relate to this world.'

Chrome feels a hand in his arm. He turns to see Yui staring at him, a begging look on her face. He turns to Mai and she has the same expression.

The knights close the encirclement around Silvari, their spears getting close to piercing her through when Chrome's voice cuts through the tension.

"She's with us." He declares. The knights immediately cease, with Vale getting a relieved, almost grateful look on his face.

Nahand raises an eyebrow, the red armored man gathering his attention. "And, who might you be?"

Chrome scratches the back of his head with a wry smile on his face. "Sorry about that, the name's Chrome."

Nahand nods. "Well then, Chrome. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Chrome sighs as he glances at Silvari. "I'm not doing anything. She's with us, and we are here on an official quest as the bodyguards of a certain someone. Hence, you don't have the right to arrest any one of us."

Nahand immediately scoffs, facing the head knight directly he growls. "I said, arrest her."

Silvari's eyes flash with defiance, her gaze darting between Chrome and the encircling knights. "You're making a grave mistake, Nahand." Her voice is laced with a quiet intensity, a warning that belies her precarious situation.

Chrome's smile wanes, his eyes glinting as he feels Mai tense up behind him. 'Not good. They'll destroy the castle.' "Ah, but if I'm not mistaken arresting any of us is a slight against our charge, is it not? And like I said, she's one of us. You wouldn't want to cause an incident now." He pauses, his gaze locking onto Nahand's, a silent challenge issued.

Nahand's expression darkens, his jaw clenched in frustration. "Enough games. Vale, take her in." The head knight hesitates, his eyes flicking towards Chrome before returning to Nahand. "Unfortunately, young master. He has a point."

The knights stand down, their spears poised upwards. Silvari's eyes relax, still, her hand instinctively reaching for the quiver on her back.

Nahand takes in a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure. "Chrome was it? A challenge like this will not go unanswered."

Chrome groans. "Like I don't have enough on my plate already... did I say that out loud?" The knights stare at him listlessly as he nervously chuckles. "Well if you'll excuse me. Silvari we should be leaving."

Nahand, feeling insulted, growls. "You dare." The courtyard remains charged with tension as Nahand's growl echoed through the still air. Chrome meets his gaze calmly, feeling the weight of the situation. Silvari, stands just behind him, watching intently, her fingers twitching near her quiver.

Nahand steps forward, his red armor glinting ominously in the sunlight. "You dare undermine my authority?" His voice was a low rumble, dangerous and cold.

Chrome takes a deep breath. "I'm not here to cause trouble, Nahand... sir. We're on a mission, and we would rather avoid pointless conflicts." He glances at Silvari, then back to Nahand. "Let us pass."

Nahand's eyes narrowed, a flicker of rage crossing his features. "You think you can just walk away?" He signals to his knights, who tighten their grip on their weapons but hesitate to move.

"Stand down, all of you," Chrome orderes, his voice firm. He turned to Nahand. "This isn't about undermining authority. It's about doing what's right. If you want a fight, we'll have it, but not here, not now."

Nahand's lip curls in disdain. "You talk big for someone out of his element."

Chrome's gaze doesn't waver. "You don't know the half of it." He steps forward, placing himself squarely between Nahand and Silvari. "We'll leave peacefully. There's no need for violence."

Nahand's eyes burns with defiance, but he finally relents, stepping back with a huff. "Fine. But this isn't over, Chrome. You'll answer for this."

Chrome nods, not breaking eye contact until Nahand turns away. He lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and glances at Silvari. "Let's go."

Silvari hesitates, her eyes lingering on Nahand, but then she follows Chrome, Mai, and Yui as they move away from the courtyard. The knights parting to let them pass, their expressions a mix of confusion and relief.

Once they are a safe distance away, Nahand exhales shakily. "On second thought." He vanishes.

*Clang*

A blazing red fist collides with a pale red surface as Chrome effortlessly blocks Nahand's surprise attack with wrath wraith wall.

Silvari jumps backwards quickdrawing her bow, Mai and Yui launching themselves towards the flaming foe.

"No." Chrome stops them in their tracks, "I've got this." He pushes back Nahand's fist in a display of strength, their clash still producing shockwaves.

Nahand scoffs at this, his fist losing ground. "Oh? You think you can take me on? With just a shield? what can a mere guardian do? I'll bust through that poultry shield of yours."

Chrome jerks his shield sideways, successfully parrying Nahand's attack, the wall next to them crumbling in a blaze of flames. "Then you've never fought a great shielder before." A smile adorns his features.

The knights are immediately in panic. "Young master." Vale yells trying to place his hand on Nahand's shoulder, a bad move that sees him through the ceiling.

Nahand's eyes blaze with fury as Vale is thrown through the ceiling. "You will burn nonetheless," he snarls, lunging forward again, flames licking his armor.

Chrome meets the charge head-on. "I don't think so." Their clash sends out a shockwave, the ground cracking beneath them.

Silvari steps back, her bow trained on Nahand, waiting for an opening. "Chrome," she mutters, her eyes flicking to Mai and Yui who are poised to intervene.

Nahand's fiery attacks come in rapid succession, each blow deflected by Chrome's shield, the ground cracking beneath them. "Why do you fight so fiercely for her?" Nahand growls, frustration mounting as his strikes fail to break through.

Chrome's eyes harden. "Because it's the right thing to do." With a powerful shove, he pushes Nahand back, creating some distance between them. 'And I don't want Mai charged with unnecessary murder. she's been a little too trigger happy recently.'

Nahand's laugh is harsh, echoing through the courtyard. "Noble sentiments, but futile. You cannot protect her forever."

Without waiting for Chrome's reply, Silvari releases an arrow. It flies straight and true, aimed at Nahand's exposed side. Nahand barely has time to react, his flames flaring up to deflect the arrow, but it only buys him a moment. Chrome blitzes in, his shield leading the way.

The impact is like a thunderclap, Chrome's shield slamming into Nahand with the force of a battering ram. Nahand is thrown back into a wall.

Nahand's body collides with the wall, finding himself in the outer walls of the castle, the stone cracking under the impact. Knights cease their training as they stare at the figure that had literally crashed into the training area. He staggers to his feet, flames reigniting around him. "You'll regret that," he hisses, his eyes blazing with rage.

Chrome stands firm, his shield glowing with a eerie, silver light.

Nahand surges forward, his movements a blur as he launches a series of fiery punches at Chrome. Each strike is met with an instinctive block from Chrome's shield, sparks flying as metal met flame.

With each clash, Chrome can feel the heat intensifying, the force behind Nahand's attacks growing more desperate and erratic. "You think you can wear me down with brute strength?" Chrome taunts, his voice unwavering. "You don't know what you're up against."

Nahand's face twists with fury. He spins around, delivering a powerful kick aimed at Chrome's midsection. Chrome anticipates the move, sidestepping and using his shield to deflect the blow, causing Nahand to stumble.

Seizing the opportunity, Chrome swings his shield in a wide arc, the edge catching Nahand across the chest. The force of the blow sends Nahand skidding across the training area, his armor clanging against the ground.

Nahand quickly regains his footing, his flames burning brighter, hotter. "You're only delaying the inevitable, Silvari!!" he roars, charging forward once more. He unleashes a torrent of fire, a wall of flames hurtling towards Chrome.

Chrome raised his shield, the barrier shimmering as it absorbs the brunt of the attack. He can feel the heat seeping through, but he feels no damages whatsoever. "You're wasting your energy," he calls out, his voice echoing through the area.

Nahand snarled, his frustration mounting. He closes the distance between them in a heartbeat, his fists engulfed in flames as he hammers away at Chrome's defenses. Each strike accompanied by blazing flames, the ground beneath them shaking with the intensity of the battle.

Chrome's shield holds, but he can feel the strain. 'This guy's relentless,' Chrome thought, his mind racing. 'I need to stop this from getting out of hand.'

Nahand blitzes back for another strike, and Chrome sees his chance. He shifts his weight, his cleaver appearing in his free hand, leaning into the blow and deflecting it with a strike to Nahand's wrist using the blunt edge. At the same time, he steps forward, driving his shield into Nahand's midsection.

Nahand gasps, the air knocked out of him. Chrome follows up with a swift uppercut, the blunt edge of his cleaver connecting with Nahand's jaw and sending him staggering backward.

Nahand stumbles to the ground, trying to clear the dizziness. "You'll pay for that," he growls, the pain in his midsection keeping him on the floor.

Chrome stands tall, his shield and cleaver ready. "Had enough yet," he mutters, his eyes locked on Nahand.

Nahand's face twists with rage. "You!" he bellows, launching himself at Chrome with renewed fury.

A voice however stops him in his tracks. "That's quite enough."

Silvari's eyes pale as they notice the small crowd that stood behind the damaged wall. Mai and Yui wave at Maple who waves back.

The Sins and the others, had watched the altercation from behind the damaged wall.

Namarie shakes her head with a sigh. "That was just sad to watch." Hamarie cocks her eyebrows at this however, sending a look at her sister.

"Agreed. It's pathetic really." Kaelith nods.

Sapphire puts her hand on her chin as assesses Chrome. "I've never seen a shield user like this, is the guardian class that powerful?"

"Nahand shouldn't be that weak, and yet the shielder barely went on offense. To put it simply, he wasn't even trying." Varkos smiles. He turns to Garuth. "Your son truly is pathetic."

A knight rushes towards them. "Apologies, Master Garuth. I tried to stop the young master."

The Sin of Pride motions with his hand and Vale keeps quiet. Garuth's eyes scan the training area, eventually resting on Silvari.

Silvari shudders under his gaze, instinctively taking a step back. "Uncle." She whispers. Mai takes notice of this, her hands twitching.

"Soooo." Maple nervously turns to the Namarie. "Chrome's not in trouble?"

Namarie brushes the black armored girl's hair, a dangerous glint in her eye. "Of course not, I don't believe he started this altercation." She turns to the knight.

Vale immediately shakes his head. "N...no it was the young master," he glances at the Sin of Pride before shutting up once again.

Maple heaves a sigh of relief, before seeing the Sin of Pride jump into the training grounds.

The entire training grounds trembles from his descent. Silence filling the air.

Garuth stares at his son, taking in his distressed form. He gazes at the warrior that had effortlessly foiled his son. Then he gazes at the red haired lady standing besides two little girls with contrasting colors, his niece.

He makes his way to his niece with commanding steps.

A million thoughts race through Silvari's head at once as she trembles. 'what do I do, I haven't spoken to the girl yet. this... this is-'

Silvari's thoughts are broken however, as Chrome appears before her standing between her and the sin of Pride.

The other Sins are surprised by this alongside the other representatives, the glint in Namarie's eyes gleaming.

It happens in an instant.

Garuth's hand blurs.

*Poof*

Silvari's face is stained by a spray of blood, her heart beating so fast it might as well had beaten out of her chest.

Yui's eyes are wide in shock and fear as she scrambles back after falling on the floor.

Mai leaps into the air, her black hammer in hand, her eyes filled with rage.

Hamarie turns to a smiling Namarie and then to the black armored girl beside her and a knowing look dawns on her face, a small smile forming.

Maple however watches, her brain still trying to process what had happened, her heart beating fast. A stinging pain grows in her chest and her view turns red as Chrome's headless body hits the ground.

"Chrooooooome!!!"