GAMBIT

The fear thoughts looped around in my mind until there was no room for anything else. The "loop" played like this. "If I don"t tell the truth, then I"m up for a graver punishment. If I tell the truth, my promise to Virgo would be crippled. Although she clearly said not add her name in my statements, I wonder how I can think of a reasonable excuse? After all, it was Virgo who proposed that I should tell the truth but without getting her involved."

As he continues to walk, he talks to his mind persistently, thinking of the most reasonable excuse with a blend of truth to it. From there, the most unexpected scenario happened. He and the princess has locked into each other"s eyes after crossing paths. The pleasant smile of Jupiter quickly shifted into an infuriated one. He gesture the young man with a scowl, a terrible, terrible scowl that not even the courageous could stand a minute with the princess"s looks on her face.

"Why you traitor?! Give me a reason, where were you during the siege?" Jupiter pins Quartz to the corner with her mother"s sword. She uttered her words with a ferocious voice.

"You got a new sword?"

"This is my mother"s sword. Don"t try to change the topic. Where were you?!" Jupiter moves the sword closer to Quartz"s neck, pinning both him and his falcon.

"Good G.o.d." Endeavor swears.

"About that. I was not here during that time since I was busy practicing my piccolo in a flower field."

"You exchanged the lives of thousands for that instrument of yours?! This is outlandish. Who were you with?"

"What do you mean?" He starts to perspire heavily as he thinks of an excuse to leave Virgo out of this mess.

"You think I have not noticed all these time?! Every night I would see you riding a stallion, traveling to the forest and by the way things are, I suspect you"re meeting with someone."

"Why would I be doing such a thing? Of course I"m not. If I were, then I should"ve told you long ago."

"Just make su-"

"Princess Virgo! Princess Virgo!" A sentinel calls from behind. He runs in swiftness as he gasps earnestly for oxygen. He halts in front of them, interrupting the arising heated argument between Quartz and Jupiter.

"Another siege has been declared in the city of Villamore. Your presence has been requested by the king."

"Sigh. We"re not done here! Once this siege is over, our interrogation shall continue." says, the princess as she places back her sword on its sheath. Alongside the sentinel, she leaves Quartz and Endeavor as they proceed to the king"s throne room.

"Villamore city?! Isn"t that the closest city to where Virgo is?" Quartz begins to panic.

"You"re right sire."

"Then we must defend the city. Come on Endeavor we better prepare." says, the young man with determination as he jolts to his room.

***

The cavalry marches to the city with the knights soaring across the sky. As usual, the allies of Pureheart have reunited to forge a stonger alliance in hopes of defeating Witherheart for good. According to Kingston and Harold, they have lost the previous siege once more and countless lives were slaugthered.

What Quartz fears is Virgo"s safety since the city is merely a kilometre from the flower field. In the city they were greeted once more by the poisonous smirks of their rival. The sounds of the enemies" trumpets blare over the distance, bringing terror and intimidation to the opposing kingdom.

After the confrontation of the two kings, they lift extend their swords to the air, unleashing the powerful creatures they bear. From the crust comes the serpent of might, from the sky comes the fiery phoenix. Each are desperate for the blood of their enemy to be spilled. After years of fighting, they long for the battlefield to be bathe by the blood of their enemies.

The siege begins. Both sides advances, the signal of another b.l.o.o.d.y war. Morgan Storm of Witherheart, makes the first approach, suffocating the elves with its granite smoke. Morduk Dragoncult follows, reaping the necks of sentinels with his scythe. The beast who has the power to become both a griffin and a man, drags his enemies to the sky and drops them afterwards. This is no other than the work of Charles Gunner.

For Thalia Blackmage and Balthasar Bluemagic, they fought with sorcery. Witchcraft against wizardry, who would triumph? Balthasar starts with the simple lightning strike spell, sending a thunder bolt to the foe. Thalia laughs hysterically and quickly dodges the attack. Her broom spews out a spell which has the ability to turn anyone into ice. It was quickly countered with Balthasar"s fiery spell.

West of the battlefield, the war rages to the extreme. Surrounded with pools of blood, the four pillars of Pureheart fought of the hexes with all their might despite their bodies reforming again. As for the kings, they fought respectively, and helping those allies who are in need of a.s.sistance.

Bad luck comes across Quartz. His frosty parrot is busy handling the enemies from the sky. As for Kingston and Quartz, they were too far and busy with their own agendas. One on one, Quartz comes across Morduk Dragoncult.

"Pity." murmurs, Morduk.

"In my world you"re nothing but fiction." teases, Quartz.

"Sadly, you"re in my world!" His voice intensifies as he tosses the the scythe to Quartz. With Harold"s sword, it tries to counter the scythe being manipulated by Morduk"s mind.

The sword breaks in half, and Quartz quickly kneels before the scythe cuts his neck. He grabs Melchior"s sword from his left sheath to use it insteas as his breathing intensifies. The man was flabbergasted by Morduk"s scythe. It upholds legendary might that could slice down the weaponry of any foes.

Slowly he stood up, glaring at Morduk as he wipes of the bitter sweat covering his eyes. His face was filled with filth, but he disregarded it. With bravery, he stands on his fighting stance, taunting at the pillar.

As for Morduk, he extends his hand, calling upon the return of his scythe which now seems more like a boomerang. Quartz tries dodge as fast as he could but he lacked a second. The edge of the scythe pierced the side of his abdomen gravely. He fell to the ground, nauseous and lethargic.

"Never mess with a magician, young man." mocks, Morduk as he lets off a soft laughter. Quartz still had the chance to stand but Morduk spared no opportunity and instead kicked him down the hill. His body rolled to the stream, and just like a boat it floated still.

As for Morduk, a man who has fought and killed many strong men. A man who has the capacity to take down a whole army by his own will, he strikes Quartz once more with his scythe just to make sure he would die for good.