1577 – A few months ago
The highlander & young Miqo’te clashed against shield and lance. Edgar smirked at the skill of his opponent for his age. He also had flashbacks of his first fight especially when he tried the same tactic but failed this time.
Edgar had a defense up waiting for an opening. The lancer was impressive at keeping his distance. But the opening finally arrived as he dodged a thrust and hammered the lance to the ground with his shield. Before the lancer could withdraw, he stomped down snapping the tip off. Continuing with his momentum, he swung the sword around at his enemy.
The Miqo’te dodged but his staff was caught in the attack and cleanly became two more pieces. He twirled the now baton bringing it against Edgar’s cheek. Edgar stepped out of offense and shook the blunt hit off.
The warrior returned to his attack. The Miqo’te went to parry only to have the lance broken into another piece. Edgar pushed forward and another chunk was created. Two more parries turned the lance into nothing more than a handle. He knew he won as the Miqo’te threw the pieces down.
Edgar took his normal stance with his feet shoulder length apart. The Miqo’te knelt and lowered his head for the end. He felt conflicted in the presentment, “How old are you, boy?â€
The Miqo’te jumped at the words and hesitated to reply. “Seventeen,†he responded with his head remaining down. Edgar shook his head as he struggled to bring the finishing blow.
“Get out of here,†he turned himself toward the door and didn’t look back at his opponent.
The Master grew furious once more. It was a long time since Edgar did this, but this was the last straw. The gate opened and he watched Edgar stroll in leisurely. He turned to his peon, “Get the whip.â€
Edgar threw his sword and shield down in the same spot he was told to do so for countless times. The Master entered and signaled for his escorts to Edgar. They lunged after him and quickly got a hold of him. One jammed his fist into his gut to get him down.
“That is the last time this will happen,†The Master spoke angrily.
Rebeccah glided through the hallway with a smile on her face. She felt great today for some reason. She couldn’t tell why but enjoyed the moment. She slowed her pace as she heard the crack of a whip.
“46!†the number echoed through the hallway. “47!†She followed the sounds out into the open area. “48!†She placed her hand over her mouth at the sight.
Edgar leaned all his weight against the pole with his arms tried around it. His eyes squeezed tighter at each blow. His back was gashed up from the constant strikes.
“49!†the brute flicked the whip across the victim’s back once more.
“Stop this!†Rebeccah felt herself scream out. The entire group but one turned to her. She walked briskly up to the Master with her finger in his face. “How do you expect me to help when you do things like this?!â€
The Master ignored her question but signaled to have the highlander removed. They obeyed and began dragging him back to the room.
“I want an answer!†She screamed up at him. He let out an unemotional sigh while standing around. “I want it upfront today then!†She held out her hand. He gestured to the peon who shuffled up and handed out bag of gil. Without another word she snatched it and turned briskly in pursuit of the others.
The men exited the room as she finally arrived. She waved them out of her way to enter the room. She began to tremble of worry for him as she approached. She knelt beside the mat they discarded him on. His breathing was slow but unhindered.
She brushed his hair back as her eyes watered up, “What did you do to bring this on yourself?†She spoke her thought.
A few breaths later, “I refused…to kill a boy…†he struggled to get out. She gained some relief at the sound of his voice.
“I don’t understand…†she paused while still brushing his hair, “why are you so defiant with him?â€
He coughed as he tried to speak before finally saying, “I can’t let him win…â€
Two weeks later…
It was the first day Rebeccah felt good again. She took a good breath of air and released it in a relieved sigh. She arrived at the door and jammed the key in with a twist. She still had trouble getting the heavy door open but was successful after a second.
“How are you feeling?†she spoke out before entering. He stretched in his seated position and gave a yawn. She admired his flexed body with a smile.
“I am fine,†he responded tightly with the stretch ending. He caught the smile on her face and gave his own, “You seem to be in a good mood.â€
She shrugged and grabbed at his hand. “Come on, we are going out for a walk today.†Her feet slide her closer as she tried to lift the man up. He raised an eyebrow at her suggestion.
“Are you sure?†he was hesitant but stood up to help her out.
“Yes, we are going to the courtyard, so we won’t be breaking any rules with your ‘master’,†she joked at the title. He let her guide him out the room.
They walked casually around the walkway in the courtyard in silence for a few minutes. “So…†her voice cut into the silence but she was shy to continue.
“So.†he responded with a small chuckle. It still sounded so foreign when she heard his new speech. Even after being the one who helped him get his words a bit more like Ul’dahn.
“I-I have been getting gil lately,†she started but her nervous self made her stutter, “t-to hopefully pay for your freedom.â€
He stopped and looked out away from her into the courtyard. “Why?†She noticed his entire demeanor change immediately.
“Because I think you deserve to be free,†she placed her hand on his arm to get his attention, “No one should be a slave, period.†She gave it a slight rub feeling the tension in it.
“Don’t waste it on me,†he retorted bluntly. “I am only good for killing.†His voice was emotionless.
“Don’t say that,†she argued, “You let that boy live. That is more than most can say. You are not a monster.â€
“I am what I am.†he admitted to her. She was speechless. She didn’t expect this outcome. “Why do you want this?â€
“Because…†she fidgeted with her clothes with her eyes to the ground.
“Why?!†he pushed back angrily.
“Because I-“
“There he is! Get him!â€
((Thank you for reading . One more post and the story will be complete.))
The highlander & young Miqo’te clashed against shield and lance. Edgar smirked at the skill of his opponent for his age. He also had flashbacks of his first fight especially when he tried the same tactic but failed this time.
Edgar had a defense up waiting for an opening. The lancer was impressive at keeping his distance. But the opening finally arrived as he dodged a thrust and hammered the lance to the ground with his shield. Before the lancer could withdraw, he stomped down snapping the tip off. Continuing with his momentum, he swung the sword around at his enemy.
The Miqo’te dodged but his staff was caught in the attack and cleanly became two more pieces. He twirled the now baton bringing it against Edgar’s cheek. Edgar stepped out of offense and shook the blunt hit off.
The warrior returned to his attack. The Miqo’te went to parry only to have the lance broken into another piece. Edgar pushed forward and another chunk was created. Two more parries turned the lance into nothing more than a handle. He knew he won as the Miqo’te threw the pieces down.
Edgar took his normal stance with his feet shoulder length apart. The Miqo’te knelt and lowered his head for the end. He felt conflicted in the presentment, “How old are you, boy?â€
The Miqo’te jumped at the words and hesitated to reply. “Seventeen,†he responded with his head remaining down. Edgar shook his head as he struggled to bring the finishing blow.
“Get out of here,†he turned himself toward the door and didn’t look back at his opponent.
The Master grew furious once more. It was a long time since Edgar did this, but this was the last straw. The gate opened and he watched Edgar stroll in leisurely. He turned to his peon, “Get the whip.â€
Edgar threw his sword and shield down in the same spot he was told to do so for countless times. The Master entered and signaled for his escorts to Edgar. They lunged after him and quickly got a hold of him. One jammed his fist into his gut to get him down.
“That is the last time this will happen,†The Master spoke angrily.
Rebeccah glided through the hallway with a smile on her face. She felt great today for some reason. She couldn’t tell why but enjoyed the moment. She slowed her pace as she heard the crack of a whip.
“46!†the number echoed through the hallway. “47!†She followed the sounds out into the open area. “48!†She placed her hand over her mouth at the sight.
Edgar leaned all his weight against the pole with his arms tried around it. His eyes squeezed tighter at each blow. His back was gashed up from the constant strikes.
“49!†the brute flicked the whip across the victim’s back once more.
“Stop this!†Rebeccah felt herself scream out. The entire group but one turned to her. She walked briskly up to the Master with her finger in his face. “How do you expect me to help when you do things like this?!â€
The Master ignored her question but signaled to have the highlander removed. They obeyed and began dragging him back to the room.
“I want an answer!†She screamed up at him. He let out an unemotional sigh while standing around. “I want it upfront today then!†She held out her hand. He gestured to the peon who shuffled up and handed out bag of gil. Without another word she snatched it and turned briskly in pursuit of the others.
The men exited the room as she finally arrived. She waved them out of her way to enter the room. She began to tremble of worry for him as she approached. She knelt beside the mat they discarded him on. His breathing was slow but unhindered.
She brushed his hair back as her eyes watered up, “What did you do to bring this on yourself?†She spoke her thought.
A few breaths later, “I refused…to kill a boy…†he struggled to get out. She gained some relief at the sound of his voice.
“I don’t understand…†she paused while still brushing his hair, “why are you so defiant with him?â€
He coughed as he tried to speak before finally saying, “I can’t let him win…â€
Two weeks later…
It was the first day Rebeccah felt good again. She took a good breath of air and released it in a relieved sigh. She arrived at the door and jammed the key in with a twist. She still had trouble getting the heavy door open but was successful after a second.
“How are you feeling?†she spoke out before entering. He stretched in his seated position and gave a yawn. She admired his flexed body with a smile.
“I am fine,†he responded tightly with the stretch ending. He caught the smile on her face and gave his own, “You seem to be in a good mood.â€
She shrugged and grabbed at his hand. “Come on, we are going out for a walk today.†Her feet slide her closer as she tried to lift the man up. He raised an eyebrow at her suggestion.
“Are you sure?†he was hesitant but stood up to help her out.
“Yes, we are going to the courtyard, so we won’t be breaking any rules with your ‘master’,†she joked at the title. He let her guide him out the room.
They walked casually around the walkway in the courtyard in silence for a few minutes. “So…†her voice cut into the silence but she was shy to continue.
“So.†he responded with a small chuckle. It still sounded so foreign when she heard his new speech. Even after being the one who helped him get his words a bit more like Ul’dahn.
“I-I have been getting gil lately,†she started but her nervous self made her stutter, “t-to hopefully pay for your freedom.â€
He stopped and looked out away from her into the courtyard. “Why?†She noticed his entire demeanor change immediately.
“Because I think you deserve to be free,†she placed her hand on his arm to get his attention, “No one should be a slave, period.†She gave it a slight rub feeling the tension in it.
“Don’t waste it on me,†he retorted bluntly. “I am only good for killing.†His voice was emotionless.
“Don’t say that,†she argued, “You let that boy live. That is more than most can say. You are not a monster.â€
“I am what I am.†he admitted to her. She was speechless. She didn’t expect this outcome. “Why do you want this?â€
“Because…†she fidgeted with her clothes with her eyes to the ground.
“Why?!†he pushed back angrily.
“Because I-“
“There he is! Get him!â€
((Thank you for reading . One more post and the story will be complete.))