Chapter 27: A violence of my own

Song recommendation: "Pardon me while I burst into flames" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXzuDXZwZtI )

The Emperor's unceremonious judgement and brisk tone made the words even more egregious to Ace. How could it all be decided so quickly? Everything had happened so fast. He could feel terrible darkness in his soul eclipsing his sense and reasoning.

Separation. Isolation. They were like snakes coiled around his heart. Why did everything he loved have to leave him? He had watched Sena be taken, and what did he do? He sat there in silence, like the good boy Sena told him to be. All the years and all the punishments since were his retribution. He knew it in his heart. And if not for them, his own vengeance against himself was to inwardly whisper, 'you deserve it', 'you can't have it', 'watch it go'.

To this end, he had replayed every moment of his own torture in his mind a thousand times. Yet somehow, whether Clover loved him or not, for the first time in his life, there was something other than darkness. Even if the pursuit in itself had only been another form of punishment, there was still a light: Purifying, redeeming even.

He wasn't good. No. He never tried to be. Fighting for breath, struggling to stay alive in the demon world wasn't through effort on his part. It was more like a reflex. Yet now two emotions were colliding with each other, the desire to live and the desire not to live without that light.

Ace came to a stand. A hundred eyes laid on him hungrily, resentfully, curiously as he walked up the aisle and stood face to face with the Emperor. The intense pressure of the Emperor's gaze rivalled a demon Lord. Ace couldn't feel anything. He met that icy gaze with a violence of his own: complete self-abandonment.

"I wish to challenge the charges,"

"And you are?" the Emperor replied in a low voice.

"No one," Ace's eyes were exceedingly black, "but I challenge it anyway."

There was a rift in the crowd between condescending laughter and gleeful expectation of punishment. The Sword Saint's eyes widened in barely contained torment. The wizard's congealed smile fell flat. As for the Demon Lord, Clover's eyes were alight with flickering emotion that even their placid smile couldn't conceal. However, Ace didn't dare to meet their gaze.

It was the minister of defence who broke the silence, "How dare you speak to the Emperor!" He screamed.

He motioned for the guards. The royal knights began to encircle Ace. However, to his surprise, it was the Emperor's hand that brought them to a stop.

"Where is the fault in my judgement?" the Emperor asked.

"I couldn't say," Ace couldn't help but laugh at himself.

"Then what is your challenge?" the Emperor leant back, a strange flicker of amusement in his melancholy eyes.

"A challenge to combat. The laws of the Empire permit a challenge of combat in these cases, do they not?"

The whole room echoed bafflement and hysteria. Once more, the minister of defence piqued up with a passion. His manner showed in an irate tremor that almost launched him from the ground.

"You dare challenge the Emperor?!" he exclaimed. This time, a number of the court members voiced their disapproval. Many people followed suit, heckling insults were thrown from the crowd.

"Let the Emperor kill him!" they jeered, "Throw him in the dungeons!"

The wizard was silent throughout. Both he and the Sword Saint's eyes were glued to the Emperor.

"You would challenge me for this Demon?" the Emperor mused.

Ace could feel Lord Clover's eyes burning upon him. Still, he didn't relent.

"Yes," Ace replied flatly.

"Very well," the Emperor smirked.

The minister of defence's eyes widened. He spun around on his heels in protest.

"Your majesty!" he exclaimed. Then catching himself, he stepped closer to the throne and lowered his voice, "You can't seriously accept such a request," he admonished.

The rest of the court joined in the protest. Those who were not of the royal court and who were merely spectators turned to each other in surprise. However, they were all silenced in the same breath by the Emperor's sharp reproach.

"A challenge by combat is within our laws. Who would have me break our laws? " his tone daring anyone to name themselves as his opponent. Even the minister of defence himself appeared to renege on his early decree.

"No one has challenged the Emperor in a hundred years!" the minister reviled in abject disbelief, "It is barely a law. You have not risen a sword in years. If your majesty insists upon this duel then a representative must be chosen. That is also within the remits of the law. You are the Empire's sun. No one expects the Emperor to actually engage in combat. Especially not with any lowlife scourge who dares creep into the royal court!"

Ace's eyes remained firmly in front of him. The Emperor tapped a finger against the throne with piercing azure eyes upon him. Then his eyes shifted to the demon lord. It looked as though his mind was made.

Albaric saw the look in the Emperor's eyes. He immediately doubled over in a low bow.

"Your majesty, this boy...is my apprentice," he said in a loud but strained voice, "He only speaks on my behalf. Please forgive him! He doesn't know what he says,"

This triggered another extraordinary exclaim from the crowd. At once, the minister took his cue and began to denigrate.

"Even if that is the case, this is extraordinary!" he exclaimed, "Have you no control over your own student?"

"All the fault lies with me," Albaric kept his head lowered, "I will rescind the challenge on my student's behalf and I will take whatever punishment your majesty sees fit!"

"You shall!" the minister snapped.

"No," the Emperor returned coldly.

"No?" Albaric peered up in surprise. As he did, the rest of the court stared up with him.

"The challenge has been made," the Emperor rose from the throne, "It cannot be rescinded." He stared down at Ace, "One week's time. The knight's training field. If you defeat me, I will let the demon Lord live. However, fail and you will die together,"

The procession followed the Emperor out of the court. Albaric cast Ace a stare of disbelief. He shook his head before hastily following the Emperor out. The abrupt end left the theatre in a state of chaos. The demon Lord was once more dragged out of the dock. Ace took his queue to follow them out. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the wizard's hard gaze but turned from it unrepentantly.

As they descended and the light dwindled, Clover's eyes remained on Ace. The irate stare was like a wild dog about to burst free from its chains. Ace knew what was coming.

"what do you think you're playing at?" Clover exclaimed as soon as they were alone.

Ace swallowed hard and let out a sigh. He stood a foot from Clover in the dank and scarcely lit dungeons. Its recesses appeared even darker after the bright splendour of the courthouse.

"What choice did you leave me?" Ace lowered his eyes.

"How about you stop inserting yourself into my affairs?" Clover reprimanded.

"He was going to kill you," Ace replied in a low voice.

"SO? " Clover began to pace the cell, "Why couldn't you just keep out of it?"

"I'm sorry," Ace repeated mechanically.

"I don't want to hear 'sorry'. Will 'sorry' end wars?" Clover stopped abruptly with an irritated smile, "I don't understand you at all. Don't you know he's going to kill you?"

"I'm not completely useless, you know!" Ace protested, " Didn't you hear the ministers? They said the Emperor hasn't held a sword in years. At least this way I have a fighting chance,"

Clover let out an exasperated groan, "Oh Ace! You're so gullible. The Emperor has probably had a sword in hand since before he could walk. He was trained by the same person as the sword saint. They only say that because they have to. Why else do you think the Emperor himself would accept a challenge like that? He was obviously within his rights to refuse. The only reason he accepted was so he could kill you in front of me!"

"You're angry," Ace observed.

"Angry?" the demon Lord repeated mockingly, "I was angry last week. Right now, you ought to thank the saints there's a barred wall between us!"

The bitter shout rattled the dead and lonely halls. Ace stood quiet and still.

However, his silence only provoked the Demon Lord more. Clover began to pace the length of the grim cell with crossed arms, greatly agitated.

"I don't know why you're doing this!" Clover cast Ace an annoyed glance, "What is it that you want from me, mm?"

"I'm not doing this because I want anything from you," Ace replied flatly.

"Oh really?" Clover scoffed.

"I'm serious. I'm putting aside my feelings. Right now, I'm only focused on getting you out of there. Once the trial's over, I won't bother you again," Ace answered solemnly.

Clover paused for a moment, then taking hold of the bars leaned forward.

"I don't believe you," mimicking Ace's words.

Ace's gaze didn't waver. "I mean it. I'm sorry for everything,"

Clover took a moment to consider the words. "Even if I did believe you, this doesn't mean I like this. I don't want you to fight the Emperor. If you beg for forgiveness, he might let you off,"

"I'm not going to beg for his forgiveness,"

"You have a death wish,"

"You're wrong," Ace gave a wide childish smile, "By risking my life, this is the most valuable it has ever been. I won't give it up easily."

Clover's annoyance subsided and a peculiar expression momentarily took hold. However, it was instantly stifled by another turn of the cell, pacing irritability.

"Where's that useless Sword Saint?" Clover uttered.

"At your service," Albaric said with a restrained smile.

"Where have you been?" Clover glared.

"Ace," Albaric sighed, "Let us talk for a moment,"

Ace nodded. He cast Clover one last glance then headed back to the palace. He decided it was for the best. He needed to use the time to train anyway. The moment he was out of earshot, Clover leaned against the bars with visible ire.

"How could you let him do that?"

Albaric raised an eyebrow, "Weren't you the one who said he does what he wants?"

"Funny," Clover said flatly.

"You don't look amused though," Albaric remarked, "Could it be you're having second thoughts about this suicide strategy of yours,"

Clover recrossed their arms across their chest and averted their gaze with a scowl.

"You're showing your weakness, Clover," Albaric stated coolly.

Clover's eyes widened and meeting Albaric's eyes.

"If I can see it," Albaric continued, "The Emperor can see it too. This isn't going to end well,"

"Then what are you here?" Clover snapped, "Go find the Emperor and get him to drop this ridiculous challenge!"

"You don't think I tried?" Albaric returned, "I was just there...It's too late,"

Clover inhaled sharply and turned their face to the wall. Albaric leant back against the wall. He surveyed Clover for a moment before adding.

"Clover," he said at length, "About what they said today... you know she forgave you, don't you?"

Clover let out a mirthless laugh. Their eyes were still planted firmly on the wall,

"I don't know what you're talking about,"

"What they said today wasn't true. The war didn't happen because of you. The demons were always going to attack the Empire. The Empress once told me that. She said that the demon world is such a place that anyone who has been trapped there shouldn't be hated, they should be pitied. That is why she forgave you," Albaric rejoined.

"If I did know what you were talking about, I'd tell you the same thing I told her. I don't want your forgiveness. And your pity...it disgusts me,"

"I never said I forgave you," Albaric returned, "I certainly don't pity you. But for Ace's sake, I do hope you stop being such a coward. Let go of the past."

Clover gritted their teeth. Albaric said no more, taking leave of the dungeon. The demon Lord threw a fist at the wall. The brick was black with rot and encroached by moss. The knuckle cracked against the brick and blood trickled from the wound. Then, there was a deafening silence.