XIII. Door banging open, Sevrin stormed into the room, startling Valcrist with her unannounced and sudden entrance.
Valcrist’s sudden movement betrayed his surprise. “Girlie, I am just so glad you did not catch me in my knickers only,” he said quite irritably, hand straying to his bandaged side as if being startled hurt his wounds.
He was a quite a poor sight for someone who was to be a valiant crusader for justice and peace. His torso was wrapped in bandages; and he was bedridden as well, one of his legs supported by a sling attached to the ceiling.
The fight per se actually did not inflict him with a broken leg; rather it was Alric’s dreadful pecopeco riding skills that contributed to his pathetic agony.
Pathetic due to the fact that his subordinates survived the ordeal virtually unscathed, while he was there on his bed looking for all the world like a stampede survivor. Valcrist was worried that their victory had gone into their heads way fast.
This particular proud subordinate even stood there like a defiant queen, with her arms crossed and foot tapping.
“Why didn’t you do it?” Sevrin hissed, hands now on her hips. “Why didn’t you attack the monster on his weak spot?!”
Valcrist looked as if Sevrin was accusing him of murder. “What are you speaking of, Astergarden?” He exclaimed, incredulously. “Are you telling me that I should have resorted to an act of cowardice in order to defeat the enemy? Such foolishness! I won’t--”
Sevrin stared at him blankly. “Monsters…are beasts,” she said, enunciating the words slowly as if talking to an innocent child. “Beasts do not deserve to be treated like human beings.”
Not to mention that even some humans don’t deserve be treated as such, she thought, a faint image of Hesper Silberhof flitting in her mind. The unwelcome thought made her shiver.
Valcrist shook his head. “When you are older, and when you have gone through your one-hundredth battle, you will see what I mean, Astergarden,” he said solemnly. “Everyone…and thing…deserves a fair chance to life.”
“I don’t understand,” Sevrin said, her brows furrowing. “That thing is a threat to the people. To lives. Lives of men, women, and children. And you’re speaking of fair chance?”
“People have come across Ant Hell and invaded the territory, hunting vitatas for their valuable honey. They slaughtered Phreeoni and Maya just because they looked vicious. Looked is the word, Astergarden,” Valcrist said, smiling ruefully. “The two sovereigns of Ant Hell did not even do anything. And yet the Sword of Virtue went ahead and killed them.”
Valcrist snorted. “Virtue. Hah.”
“So you’re saying that everything is fair game, even your life?”
“Exactly.”
“Well that’s where I don’t agree with you, Commander,” Sevrin said, pursing her lips. “I happen to value the Sword of Valor, and I don’t want anything to happen to all of you. I’m selfish that way.”
“I do not know whether I should say thank you.”
“The Sword of Valor happens to be my family right now, Sir Valcrist,” said Sevrin, her voice thinning with thick emotion. “The Astergardens do not exist…”
Valcrist then appeared to be softened by Sevrin’s painfully drawn-out words. He sat up, wincing as his movement hurt his still-fresh wounds. “Come here, Sevrin. No, Venris,” he patted the bed, motioning for her to sit beside him. She complied.
Despite his quite serious wounds, Valcrist went ahead and gave Sevrin a quick hug. “Everyone has to leave their family at some point in their lives,” he said, easing back into the covers. “I believe families are there to help you grow, not shackle you down.”
“But Commander,” said Sevrin quietly, “I still need somewhere to go back to.”
