No Regrets

Standing off to the side Xilo was setting up a few different things after knocking out the other two left over men just in case. They were already weakened so it was a pretty simple task for him. "How to help Relda?" He debated using some darkness on her however he didn't really have the time or trust to do that. Scratching that off the list in his head, he decided to go for more simple stuff that would just be more annoying. Holding Kirel tightly against his chest he refused to let her go as he watched their fight.

Preparing a couple daggers he waited until Relda gave him an opening that wouldn't put her in danger. He was quite intrigued by their fight though. "They're really good with the sword." Unlike his brute forced style they were much more refined and fluent. Seeing an opening, Xilo raised his hand slightly and aimed right at Mason with a couple daggers cloaked in darkness after Mason fell from taking Relda's attack. "Huh?" Pausing he heard a voice quietly leak out that stopped his attack. He thought he was crazy for a second since Relda didn't stop but he clearly heard a voice that was definitely coming from Mason.

"A chance to protect Relda?"

Trying to process what was just said Xilo saw Relda attacking Mason again without even stopping. "Am I going crazy?" Xilo felt himself hesitate in what to do next as Mason fell to the ground. Feeling himself fall, Mason watched Xilo as his heart sank with him. If he was able to get that fox he could change so much for Relda. He would be able to use his fortune to buy out the Clan's word and have Relda soar to greater heights. With his Family's prestige backing him and that kind of money he was sure they would make an exception. If not he would just go looking somewhere else with her. As much as he had trouble admitting it openly to her, she was the woman he had loved all his life and chased after since they were young.

Even if it meant he would continue being weaker than her, he was okay with that. He just wanted to see her bloom into the wonderful girl she could be. "All that hard work." As much as she was praised for her talents she was discriminated against for her origins. She was a lonely girl that most didn't want to associate with so she trained every day and night instead going for the next level. Countless times he had caught himself wandering around where she trained and watched her struggle. She was a huge part of his own motivation as well, she kept him going without even knowing it.

"I guess it ends here, my love. I just wanted to do something for you....to make you happy."

Relda's attack came at him full force and he couldn't defend himself. "I never even told her how I felt." That regret lingered in his mind as he felt himself give up. He was lying to himself from the very beginning. He knew he would lose this fight from the very start, he was just hoping for a miracle. Relda felt her blood boiling in anger as she looked at mason. The man she had watched try so hard his whole life giving up now. "You're better than this." The fact that he could even wield a sword properly was proof of that. He went from a spoiled rich kid that could barely hold a weapon when she first met him to a strong swordsman who's will didn't break.

She felt disappointed and betrayed as she brought her swords down onto his body. "I have to." Closing her eyes she tried to swing her sword down onto his body. If she wanted to end this it was what she had to do. "It's the right thing to do." Telling herself that she waited until she heard Mason's grunts however they never came. With some time passing she eventually opened her eyes to see her blade a little bit off from slicing into Mason. It didn't go any further than that though and Mason wasn't blocking it. Her body just naturally stopped on it's own without being able to go further.

Looking at the man below her, Relda realized she really couldn't do it.

"Get up, I'm not going to hurt you anymore. I won't fight someone that refuses to fight back anymore."

Staying silent for a few seconds Mason took one last look at the fox as he picked himself up. Letting them talk for a bit Xilo stayed off to the side at a safe distance as he thought about something. It looked like things were over, however there was still a bad taste in his mouth. "I know I didn't hear wrong." Looking at the two of them talking, he tried to figure out what he wanted to do. Mason's tongue fumbled as he looked up at Relda's face. "I'm an idiot." Taking a deep breath he tried to untangle his tongue and speak up. He had already lost so fighting now was pointless.

"Look...Relda, I'm."

"Just shut up, I don't want to hear excuses. I'll have to report to the Clan Leaders about this. Trying to attack innocent people and lying to everyone...seriously what were you thinking."

"I...I...I don't know...Sorry."

Holding his head down he didn't know what else to say in the face of Relda's anger. He felt like a child getting scolded by his mother yet it hurt so much more. Her cold tone and sad face stung deeply at his heart and her words wounded his soul more than any sword would. He just wanted to make her happy but he only managed to accomplish the complete opposite in the end. He couldn't even admit the reason he was doing all of this to her face. He felt like he had no right to especially now that they had fought like that.

"So Mason, going to keep what you said earlier to yourself or actually say it?"

Jumping into the conversation Xilo decided to speak up with a bit of doubt.

"Huh?"

Turning his head towards Xilo he wondered what he was talking about.

"I heard what you said earlier, no playing dumb about that. The question I have for you though is whether or not you're going to give up that as well?"

Relda was a bit confused about what Xilo was talking but stayed quiet in the end. Feeling some dread run through his blood, Mason heard Xilo's words loud and clear as he remembered what he said earlier. "How did he hear me?" Switching back and forth between Xilo and Relda, he didn't really know what to do. So instead he turned away from Relda as he talked with XIlo. He knew he didn't deserve to say anything nor did Relda need to hear it. She would find someone better one day instead of him.

"You know I can't do that, I have no right to, not after what I did."

"Why? Just sounds like you're making excuses to me. You had the courage to say it before so why not say it again. I won't forgive you either way but that doesn't mean I can't understand where you're coming from a bit even if I don't know everything. It's worth a shot, no?"

Xilo knew how it was to feel scared of opening up, if his guess about Mason was right, he would rather them not experience the same even with all they tried to do to him.

"Xilo?"

"Give us a second Relda. So what's it going to be Mason, I doubt you'll ever get another chance if you don't do it now. Might as well go all out."

"....."

Going back and forth in his head for a minute, Mason felt his bones turn to jelly as he turned and faced Relda making his decision.

"...Relda...I.."

"Yes?"

Confusion filled her voice as she looked at Mason.

"I love you."

Mason pusheed that out with the last of his determination.