Bloody

'Let's hope this works.' Were Mary's first thought as she looks towards the crowd of soldiers. Their loud chatter, a sign she took as their disrespect.

Mary shouts "Listen up!" The words resonate through the crowd, the men looking at her with their piercing gazes. as if judging her competence.

"My name is Mary and I have been hired as the commander of this company." The hushed murmurs that followed questioned her authority.

Then a shout came from the crowd "And why should we follow a little girl!." The following laughter angered Mary, who tried to lock it away in an expressionless glare.

"ENOUGH!" The powerful shout silences the laughter, a man in his forties walks slowly beside her.

The soft steps can be heard from the silence before he continues "You have all been paid to follow her orders, the five gold in your pockets the payment for your loyalty."

The crowd remains silent until the man from the crowd shouts, "How can we expect to survive if we follow someone who hasn't even used a sword."

The man looks to the crowd, "Probably got the job from kissing ass." The taunt was followed with laughter.

Mary clenches her fist, her anger rising. "DO YOU WANNA TRY TASTING MY SWORD!"

The men recoil at her anger, followed by loud raucous cheering. "HELL YEAH!" "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

Mary throws away her coat, her face filled with burning rage as she starts walking down the stage as she shouts, "Then duel me, lets see who's a better soldier."

The old man beside her grabs her shoulder, "Commander Mary, this is unnecessary. They are paid to follow you regardless of your martial strength."

Mary huffs as she looks at him, her eyes burning in fury. "They dared question me, question Michael."

She brushes off his hand as she grits out. "Vice commander Egon," She glares at him, "I'd make sure they kneel."

Egon sighs, he sees the girl leave for the improvised ring of dirt as he thought to himself, 'Ah, to be young again.'

He carries his sword with him as he follows behind her, his years as a mercenary earning him a reputation as the men watch as he and Mary make their way to the ring.

He looks around in disinterest, sighing to himself as he thought 'Just gotta make sure the girl remains untouched.'

He then repeats the boy's order in his head. 'Guide her in battle and make sure she goes through it alive.'

He shudders to himself as he thought, 'That boy will fucking kill me if I let anything happen to her.'

He then stops as he notices they're already here, the raucous cheering and the excitement of the crowd for battles ahead, nearly deafens him.

He looks to the girl who remains unfazed as she walks to the centre of the field. She takes out her sword.

Egon looks on, a bit impressed by her fortitude 'Well, let's see how good she i-.' His thought grinds to a halt, as she takes out her sword.

'Isn't that the Cruent Broadsword?'

Mary stands in the middle of the ring, her anger now fading. She realizes her situation as she furiously thought, 'What am I thinking!?'

"Haha, you look kinda scared now, little girl." The man takes a step forward, his stubble prominent, as he sneered in her direction.

Mary inspects him as she thinks, 'A man in his thirties, large with an equally large greatsword.' She shouted back, "Quit talking and start fighting."

The man then shouts, "HA, then the name is Ivan. Make sure to remember that." Mary only glares at him, expressing her anger at the man the insulted her and Michael.

Seeing this, Ivan grunts, his demeanour changing as he takes out his greatsword. Noticing this Mary follows suit, and a grave atmosphere silences the crowd.

Their mercenary careers showing themselves with their respect in battle.

Egon stops inspecting Mary's sword, he clears his throat before he steps forward with a shout. "Then the duels shall follow the rule of three strikes, whoever wins, twice. WINS!" He looks around, "Yielding is allowed, while death is forbidden."

Ivan holds his sword forward in a defensive form, carrying it with two hands. Mary steps to the side as she held her sword with one hand.

Mary inches forward, Ivan faces her. Before Mary could react, Ivan runs to her, he strikes down his sword, which Mary parries to the side.

The strength of the sword unsteadies her. Before she could recover, Ivan strikes. She defends with her sword but the force of the strike makes her fly, leaving a bleeding gash at her shoulder.

Egon shouts "First strike, IVAN!" Loud cheering rings from the crowd.

Mary holds her shoulder as she goes back to where she stood. She looks at her hand and she sees her blood.

Her eyes turn red, something which both Egon and Ivan notices. Ivan grins, the red eyes reminding him of some old memories.

Mary grits her teeth through the pain, She looks to the worried Egon then nods. Egon nods back as the two fighters take position.

Ivan takes a defensive form, his two hands holding the greatsword close to him.

Mary inches closer, her left hand on her sword. She dashes in and thrusts her sword forward, something that Ivan parries to his right.

The force of the parry gives her momentum as she spins to Ivan's left leaving a gash at his shoulder.

Egon shouts "Second strike, MARY!" Loud and exciting cheers come after.

Ivan looks to his bleeding shoulder and laughs, Mary only glares at him as her red eyes lightens, she goes back to position, he follows after.

The grim atmosphere returns, but before anyone could react Mary dashes towards Ivan. Ivan strikes down, hitting the dirt.

It splashes over Mary who immediately ducks as the sword pass over her head. She looks up as Ivan strikes down his sword, she jumps to the side, dodging the hit.

She swipes her sword from the ground, blasting him with a face full of dirt. Something which he dodges with his head, he lifts his sword to hit her.

Mary jumps away as she slashes, something Ivan instinctively guarded. They look to each other once more, circling each other to find the perfect opportunity.

Mary's expression now maniacal, a grin plastered over her face, her red eyes shining brightly. Mary suddenly appears behind Ivan.

She used both hands as slashed with enough power to bring Ivan to his knees.

Ivan grunts as he raises his sword to guard before pushing her away, Mary flew from the force, as both their grin only widen.

Mary appears behind him, she thrusts her sword to his shoulder, Ivan parries then strikes her back. Mary tosses her sword to the back as she ducks.

She jumps away as she grabs her falling sword. Ivan follows with a speed unbefitting for his size.

Mary grins as she mutters "Bloody sword, Form one." She uses both hands to start a series of cuts and thrusts, intended to bloody the opponent.

Egon sighs as he watches the two combatants destroy the improvised arena.

The men around them stop their cheering, running from the carnage as the sound of steel clashing grows closer.

Egon shakes his head, the smile playing on his lips was from the reminder of old times.

'I really should have decked him before he could speak.' He thought with a chuckle.

The match then ends with a shout, with Ivan's shoulder pierced as he held the sword with his hand.

Egon shouts, "Third Strike, MARY!" The thunderous cheers and applause were more than enough to show the men's awe from the battle.

Ivan chuckles as Mary takes the sword from his shoulder, She spoke with a cheeky grin, "You have got to get that checked."

Ivan's booming laughter follows as he knelt to his knees, offering to her his sword. "Well young one, Ivan pledges his allegiance to you."

The crowd was shocked to silence, the event of which was by a shout. Mary remains unmoving, touching the sword with a nod.

"Then I expect you'll help me going forward." Ivan bows his head as he replied, "Always, milady."

Egon shakes his head before shouting, "The first duel has concluded, who's next!?"

The subdued murmurs and the men taking a step back was more than enough of an answer.

Mary grins as her red eyes turn back to their emerald green. Mary shouts, "Then I am assuming that no one shall question my authority again!?"

The simultaneous nods were enough of an answer as she strides confidently back to her quarters.

A few hours pass Egon walks through the camp, inspecting its logistics and the men's wellbeing.

Unfortunately, he was interrupted by a shout "Egon! my good friend."

Egon looks back to Ivan as he sneered, "We're not friends, Ivan."

Ivan laughs loudly taking Egon's shoulder into a hug, "Don't be like that old friend."

Egon elbows him in his stomach, forcing Ivan to let him go. He spoke with irritation, "You made a scene."

Ivan puts his at his side as he let out booming laughter, "HAHA, I wanted to check the little girl's mettle."

Egon glares at him, "But was it really necessary for you to fight and taunt her?"

He ruffles his beard as he smiles, "I didn't consider her getting quite heated from my acting and besides."

Ivan waves around his sword, "I don't surrender my sword on anyone unworthy of it."

Egon rolls his eyes, massaging his forehead from the migraine of seeing the boisterous idiot.

He looks to Ivan as he spoke, "What pulled you back?"

Ivan frowns, "My children have grown up," He tears up a bit, "My wife has already died, there's nothing left for me to do at my home."

He puts his hand to his waist with a jolly smile "Then I got recruited, with a five gold salary?" He laughs, "HA. I was more than happy to join."

Egon shakes his head as he spoke, "I get it," He then waves Ivan away, "So go away now, I still have work to do."

Egon walks away, Ivan follows with a grin. Egon looks back at him and shouts, "What do you want now!?"

Ivan spoke in a grave tone, "Is she his daughter?"

Egon turns his back from him as he mutters, "I don't know,"

Ivan raises an eyebrow, "What do you mean? You don't know?"

He looks at him with suspicion, "How is she not Frederick's daughter?"

Ivan raises five fingers, "She has his hair, his style, his eyes, his sword and most importantly." Ivan looks around before whispering, "His bloodline, they Bloody eyes of Cruent"

Egon sighs as he looks down, "I went to Frederick's hometown, they said he already died and his family gone. I'm not sure, she was even alive."

Egon continued as he feels his eyes getting wet, "I tried finding her and her mother, to at least repay Frederick but I never found her."

Ivan lowers his head in grief, "I see," He shakes his head as he forces smile on his face. "No matter, we just need to help her in her path,"

Egon smiles, "I guess, you can be right." Ivan smiles, Egon mutters, "Sometimes."

Ivan then drags Egon away, "Now, let us go."

Ivan raises his fist in passion, "We must teach the little girl everything we know."

Egon struggles from his grip, "Unnecessary, She's already beaten you hasn't she?"

Ivan only laughs, "That mayhaps be true," He holds the wound on his shoulder as he mutters, "Even stabbed the same place her father did."

Ivan says, "Her inexperience seems to remain."

Egon replies, "We can't do anything about that, just need to make sure she doesn't die."

"Then what shall be our first assignment after this?" Ivan gestures around him as the sounds of marching and shouting resound around the camp.

Egon reads, "The war between Don and Neil."