Leaping through the air toward the half-collapsed bridge, Theo caught its edge. In one swift motion, he pulled himself up and landed.
Glancing back at the shattered path, he wondered.
How is this place still standing?
Shaking his head, he turned toward the tunnel ahead.
I hope the barrier holds…
Then he froze.
A mangled mess of corpses sprawled across the ground before him.
Slowly, he stepped closer.
Kneeling beside one of the fallen, Theo set his sword down. Flies buzzed in the stale air.
Gently, he reached out to the dead man's face , the eyes still open.
With care, he closed them.
Drawing a crescent moon over his chest, Theo bowed his head in silent prayer.
"May the Goddess guide you to the garden," he whispered.
Rising, he grasped his blade once more and walked to the edge of the bridge.
Unsheathing his sword, he let Aura and Aura Armor flood through him , a quiet, glowing readiness.
Then he waited.
For Him to come.
…
On the surface, the knights stood in line around a hastily assembled tent where Luna lay.
The tent was made of a dark green material, triangular in shape, with a light green entrance flap.
An old Headmaster walked past the knights' line and into the tent.
Pushing the fabric aside, he stepped in.
"Is young Lady Luna going to be safe?" asked the old Headmaster, his voice laced with concern.
A doctor with gray hair and dark green eyes answered,
"Yes, she will be alright, but I'll need to work on her a bit more."
"Her body accepts healing magic, but not without backlash."
"Therefore, I need to be precise with the amount of healing in each session."
"What do you mean, young man?" the Headmaster asked, a frown forming on his face.
"That's not possible"
"I… do not know, Headmaster. I wish I did, but this is the first time I've come across such a problem."
"I don't know what to do. I need to report it to the Duke."
The Headmaster grabbed his long white beard and gently stroked it.
Interesting… interesting indeed. I'll need to ask her one day to run some tests, the Headmaster thought, pausing for a moment before speaking again.
"Mmm…" he sighed, looking at Luna with concern.
"Young child… what to do with you?"
"Young doctor, please take care of her. I'll go help the knights with anything they need."
The doctor nodded. "I'll notify you, Headmaster, if anything noteworthy happens," he said, bowing.
"Stand up, young man. No need to bow to an old man. And thank you… thank you for doing your job eagerly and properly."
"No need to mention it," the doctor replied with a slight smile.
The old Headmaster turned and walked out of the tent toward the guards.
"Is there anything you all need help with?" he asked.
A line of black knights stretched long before the tent, running parallel to the ruins.
The second-in-command, Mitch, turned his head toward the Headmaster and answered,
"No need, Mr. Venn. We are all alright here."
"If you don't mind, please stay near the tent, be the last line to protect the young lady, if anything happens."
"Alri-"
Venn, the Headmaster, was cut off by Mitch.
"I don't understand why the Captain cares so much about young Lady Luna.
I get why he would care… but to this point?"
He paused, then added quietly,
"I may not understand him much, but there's one thing I do know,
His loyalty to the one he swore to… it's unbreakable."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Venn, for cutting you off mid-sentence like that.
I had no one else to tell this to… it's been weighing on my heart for so long."
Mr. Venn exhaled softly, a note of relief in his breath.
"No need, young man. Your position surely burdens you a great deal.
I didn't mind it."
"So please… dedicate yourself to the Lockheart family, as young Theo did."
Mitch let out a short chuckle.
"Alright, Mr. Venn. I'll do as you say."
"Thank you, young man. Then, may the Goddess protect you."
"You too, Headmaster. You too," Mitch replied, turning to solidify the defenses.
Mr. Venn watched him with a faint smile as he turned away, then sat down on a wooden log to the right of the tent's entrance.
"May the Goddess protect you, young boy Theo," Mr. Venn murmured warmly.