The Princess and The Knight

*Clank* the sound of metal resounded all over the room as Dainsleif's greatsword was stopped by Allen's sword, Allen jumping in the middle of it.

"Hu!" However, Allen was overwhelmed by Dainsleif's strength, easily being pushed away without much resistance, needing 10 meters before finally stopping.

"Stop. This doesn't have anything to do with you, boy" Dainsleif stated looking at Allen.

"So trying to kill my friend doesn't have anything to do with me?" Allen ridiculed "Don't joke around!"

"He is right" Fischl turned over Allen "Your friend is gone and would never return, with only I remaining. There's no reason to protect me. Death is the best for me." She turned over Dain "Proceed."

"I might be unaware of the situation, really not understanding your situation. But I have one thing clear. I won't let a friend die in front of me!" Allen lifted his sword.

"Your resolution is commendable, deserving my respect" Dain nodded "So I will stop you." Dain lifted his left hand shooting a strange azure energy towards Allen who tried to defend against it with his sword. However, the energy passed through his sword, completely disregarding and invading his body.

"Hu!" Allen's body froze solid, it didn't matter how much he struggled, he couldn't move an inch, being completely immobilized.

"Know that you can't do anything and don't put the blame on yourself" Dain stated before turning over Fischl, lifting again his sword.

*CLANK* As Dainsleif swung his sword, it was again stopped, something interfering with him. However, this time it wasn't a sword, instead, it was what seemed to be an instrument's bow. And unlike before, he was unable to push it forward, their strength clashing.

*Clank* *Clank* the bow vibrated at great speed and flickered around Dain's greatsword, hitting it along it. Dain could feel a strong pressure pushing his sword, taking the flow of it and changing its course, creating an opening that his opponent did not let escape, thrusting the weapon towards him.

Knowing that he was at a disadvantage, Dain jumped backward, creating space and avoiding the attack. As he recovered, he glared at the one who stopped him, finding a beautiful young woman with light blue hair.

"Who are you?!" Dain glared at the new woman "That energy..." He quickly turned over Allen's previous position, finding no one there and making him realize the truth. "I see. You are one of the Tsaritsa's weapons, a Harbinger. But that doesn't explain it. How were you able to free yourself from my attack?"

"It was simply too weak to stop me" Allen stated. She really did not know what was Dainsleif's power that froze her, but once she used her full strength, she was able to free herself and dash to block Dainsleif.

"That's impossible" Dain glared at Allen, wondering the truth behind her release.

"Allen, why are you doing this?" Fischl asked Allen "Showing your greatest secret as if nothing, only to save someone that wants to die. It's not worth it, you will only regret it."

"Yes, it might seem quite the idiocy" It has been more of an unconscious movement, Allen's instantly reacting to save her "However, I've learned that rather than regret what I hadn't done and I could, I prefer to regret my actions. I won't regret saving a friend."

"Your friend no longer exists. Only this treacherous princess remains." Fischl stated coldly.

"Are you sure?" Allen looked directly at her eyes, not only at the left red one that seemed to attract all the attention but also at her right one that kept her usual green color. "I can say without doubt that you are not the same, but I can still see Fischl in you. You are unable to hide the shine of her eyes."

"That's only your supposition, a lie to yourself."

"It might be, but you know what's not a lie? The fact that Fischl paid the price to save me, her last wish as you said. This is my time to repay her." Allen lifted her sword, preparing to strike Dainsleif "Moreover, I made the promise to help and save you and I will accomplish it."

A single left-eyed person was the person that Skirk had asked Allen to try to help as the price of her training. And even if you were to look attentively, this Fischl had two eyes, but that scarlet left eye seemed to attract everything making it seem as if not. Since he had seen her, Allen was sure of it, this Fischl was the one that Skirk referred.

'That's why Skirk didn't know who she was, because she wasn't there to start, being hidden within Fischl.' Allen realized 'But it really doesn't matter much now as I will help her regardless of anything, because I truly want to help her!'

Allen charged at full speed, propelling with a jet of water as her sword vibrated, playing music and summoning multiple water swords around her.

"Stop!" Dainsleif lifted his left hand, that strange azure aura surging again and shooting towards Allen, who again was unable to cut through it even as Columbina.

'My summoned Hydro is completely blocked, but it's only slowing me down,' Allen could feel the changes caused by it, however, she could resist them. Allen clenched her teeth and kicked the ground, charging at Dainsleif.

*Clank* Dainsleif was shocked by how easily Allen broke through his skill, needing to hurriedly lift his greatsword to block Allen's sword.

'He is strong.' Even in that shock, Dainsleif was able to react and draw with Allen, showing far greater strength. 'I need to finish it quickly before he recovers!'

*Clank* *Clank* Allen started a barrage of slices, her sword never stopping as she pushed Dainsleif, not letting him recover his posture or breathe.

For his part, Dainsleif could only block Allen's attack using his vast technique and experience, as it did not matter how much azure energy he summoned, it seemed to be completely ineffective against Allen.

"What are you?!" Dainsleif swung his greatsword towards Allen, trying to force her to step back. However, Allen saw completely through the attack, lightly tilting her head as she backed her body to avoid it with the minimum movement, the greatsword grazing her cheek and leaving a small cut.

'A small price to pay.' Allen intentionally let that little injury happen to create the perfect opportunity, finding Dainsleif completely open.

'Now!' Even in her bad posture, Allen showed her immense flexibility, using her body as a charged bow to slice forward at Dainsleif, who was unable to defend.

'It's the end.' Allen was sure that Dainsleif would be unable to stop the attack, but...

"Kill, Dainsleif!" Azure energy exploded from Dainsleif's greatsword, and something impossible happened.

Allen was able to see how his sword twisted, changing its direction and slashing at her. Every movement seemed to be played at an incredibly slow pace, yet it surpassed her speed. It was a movement that defied logic, slow yet fast.

Seeing the greatsword coming, Allen instantly thought about two options. The most secure would be to stop her attack and back down. She would be able to avoid his attack, but she would also give him the distance and time to recover.

'He is too strong, I can't let him recover, so it's all or nothing!' Allen opted for the second option, to continue her attack while trying to minimize Dainsleif's damage, both receiving grave injuries.

"Idiots!" Just as they were about to clash, Fischl appeared between them with her arms extended.

"Ha?!" "Ha?!" Fischl patted both swords and twirled her body, controlling their flow, forcing each of them towards one side. Allen's and Dainsleif's bodies flew into the air and crashed to the ground on their backs, their swords falling near them.

Silence fell over the scene as they were still assimilating what happened, Allen not knowing what she had done, finding herself on the ground before she could react when Fischl shouldn't even have been near to act.

"Hahaha" Dain's laugh broke the silence. He stood up and turned to look at Fischl "You have changed. I saw you not even blink when close people died in front of you, but now you acted."

"This changes nothing Dain. There's no need for you both to die, only me is sufficient. This was simply a logical act."

"It could be but..." Dain took out his greatsword from the ground "You are perfectly aware of the properties of my weapon. The wounds inflicted by it can never heal and each time is summoned, a kill must be made as if not the life taken would be the user." Dain explained "Not like it can take mine, but it will be quite painful."

"Where are you trying to go, Dain?" Fischl glared at him.

"Here" Dain walked a little toward one of the corpses of the Electro Mages, kicking it and turning it around.

"T-that...?!" Fischl's eyes went wide as she looked at the mage. It was almost impossible to see, but it couldn't be hidden from her sight, light breathing close to death, meaning that he was alive.

"You know about my sword and with your sight, you should know that I was coming, meaning that you let him live to pay my price" As Dain pierced the Mage, killing it, his sword disappeared.

"That can't be!" Fischl shouted. "I did not decide to keep him alive!"

"I've never seen you fail a shot, princess" Dain stated "So even if it was only unconsciously, you failed to leave that option open, the option for you to live" Dain smiled "You want to live, princess."

"No, I don't! This suffering and pain, those decisions. I can't hold them. I prefer to die! I've decided long ago! This is the best for everyone!" Fischl stated. "Kill me now, Dain! It's an order!"

"Sorry, princess, but I won't follow it" Dain shook his head "I will choose that little doubt in you. Live and truly find your answer, I'll always wait for you." 

"You were called Allen, no?" Dain turned over Allen who still was laying on the ground "Please, take care of my princess as it seems that you caused those changes."

"DAIN!" Fischl scolded him.

"I wish we meet again, your Highness" Dain smiled at Fischl and made a bow to her before leaving the place with immense speed.

"Dammit, Dain" Fischl sighed as she fell to the ground, sitting in it and turning to look over Allen "What would I do now...?"

For all, there was only one thing on Allen's mind 'What the fuck is happening?!'