Knight (32 page)

“I'm going to enjoy this victory.” He said.

Valeriana already knew from the very start that she would lose. Judging by her state right now, she probably would turn out as the defeated. She was panting heavily, blood soaking through her clothes. She never felt so miserable her entire life that she wanted to just pass out and sleep through everything. Yet, through all the hardships of the duel, she knew that she couldn't and must not back down.

“Not if I can help it.”

She hopelessly tried to fight him. Zion could tell she was already at her limits. Her attacks were getting weaker and she wasn't exactly in the same condition before the fight started. She moved clumsily on her feet, waving her sword around unthinkingly.

“You're still saying that? With the state you're in?” Zion quirked a brow. “Come on, I'll give you a chance.” He stopped and jumped away from her, lowering his blade. “Give up. Maybe I can change my mind and we can continue this fight another day.”

She chuckled. She couldn't help but notice how weary her whole body felt. Her knees quivered that it took a lot of her willpower to remain standing. “You think I will believe you? This fight has already started. I might as well finish it.”

“You really are stubborn, aren't you?”

“Who says I wasn't?”

“Ah.” He paused and looked at her thoughtfully. “This is what I like. I must admit you impress me, Valeriana.”

“I don't need to impress anyone.” She muttered. “I . . . just want to get this fight over with.”

The battle continued and Valeriana shakily responded to his attacks. Zion looked as if he was having fun at first, but the expression gradually faded from his face and was replaced by a look of total boredom. The light from his eyes disappeared and his mood turned dull.

Valeriana noticed that he started to move slower than he did from the past few minutes. The human girl couldn't but think that they were back to square one. “What the hell's wrong with you?” She asked. “I thought you were going to fight me seriously.”

“I changed my mind.” He breathed. “This is pointless.”

“You're seriously confusing.” She told him. “One minute you do this and the next thing you do that.”

She was starting to think he was suffering from bipolar disorder.

“I can't help it.” He lowered his lance and gazed at the girl, who looked pitifully bruised and beaten. “I can't help but think I'm beating up a poor kitten that can't fight back.”

“What?” Valeriana hissed, anger smoldering in her eyes. “Who's a poor kitten?”

“Just look at you.” He gestured to her form. “You're not even in condition to fight anymore. Although I admire your determination and spirit, you just can't keep up with my pace.”

Valeriana gritted her teeth and felt her face going red from anger. “So what are you planning to do?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Zion lowered his weapon and the flames flickered before disappearing. “I'm throwing it away. It doesn't amuse me anymore.”

“So it's only like that? After everything?” She asked. “You won't even try and actually defeat me?”

“I don't need to.” He said. “And I don't want to. Like I said, I only want a fight worth winning. I don't need to waste my time here anymore. I should start looking for a more worthy opponent.”

“So are you saying that I'm not worthy?”

“Maybe.” He shrugged. “Not that I care anymore.”

Valeriana's blood boiled and she began to chew on her lower lip.

“I even heard Lady Seraphina's personally coaching you. To think you were her student . . . how regrettable.” He stopped and watched the girl's shoulder shake with anger.

Valeriana didn't make any sort of retorts. She kept quiet from where she stood, trying to control her anger. That proved to be impossible though, as Zion's words sunk in.

“Don't freaking underestimate me, you ass.” She lashed out at him her grip tightening around her weapon. “I can very well cut off that swollen head of yours and feed it to the dogs. I'll savor every minute of it.” For once, she could not believe those words just came out of her mouth.

He sighed. “Your insults can be pretty unnerving alright.”

“That's more to where that came from.” She growled. “I don't give a damn about what you think. I won't let you out of this fight until it's over, do you hear?”

“But it is already over.” He grumbled.

“Not until I say so!”

With that said, Valeriana attacked, but she was only pushed down by Zion easily. He competently evaded her attack and forced her to the ground, pointing the tip of his lance on her neck. She sat on the sandy floor, hands buried in the rough grains. Her grip was wrapped tightly around the hilt of her weapon still.

Everyone looked uneasy seeing Valeriana at the mercy of Zion. There were a few people who looked like they were rejoicing though. Lady Seraphina, Lord Aeron, the Headmaster, and the Celestial Circle were anxiously mute.

That was it. Valeriana didn't know what to do anymore. She was just . . . too weak. She never really stood a chance against him from the very start. She was nothing compared to Zion. She was a fool to think the fight would turn out like it did with Courtney.

How naïve she was.             

No matter her hard work, it wouldn't be enough for her to win.

There was a strange sensation that surged through her and her heart pounded. She never felt this way her entire life—the strong need to prove herself mixed with a flare of built up anger and annoyance. It was painful and frustrating. Her heart was crumbling to pieces and so was she.

What exactly did she get herself into? Why was the world so unfair?

She then realized. It wasn't easy.

What exactly was she thinking? Valeriana never felt so defeated her entire life. She should've just become a slave like Lord Aeron suggested. Perhaps everything would be easier. Maybe she would've been saved from this cruel place.

She wanted to surrender. She wanted to succumb to the desire of being freed from all these hardships weighing her down. She wanted to have the old life she had back then before she saw Seraphina slaying those stupid demons.

She wanted to go back home.

Tamara was literally on the edge of her seat. “Damn it, Valeriana!” She screamed. “YOU ARE NOT LOSING THIS FIGHT! AND I MEAN THAT SINCERELY! NOT BECAUSE OF A STUPID BET!”

“So are you calling it off, then?” Charles remarked beside her.

“What?” She flashed him a pair of shocked eyes. “No way!”

A few seconds of silence, a choir of voices echoed in the arena as well.

“MISS VALERIANA! GET UP AND FIGHT!” The three chorused together.

At long last, a song which she never thought she would hear permeated the area. The three's voices didn't blend that perfectly, but their words were loud and clear. It sent the whole arena silent, even the Headmaster, Lord Aeron, and Lady Seraphina's attention were taken.

'You held her down, but she got up. Already brushing off the dust. You hear her voice, you hear that sound. Like thunder, gonna shake the ground. You held her down, but she got up. Get ready 'cause she's had enough. She sees it all, she sees it now.'

At first, no one seemed to know what was going on, but the girl caught on to what they were doing.

They were cheering for her. The idea itself brought more tears to her eyes.

She silently chastised herself for berating her own person. This wasn't the time to actually lose spirit, right? She was in the middle of a battle. There was no backing out. No retreating.

Zoel, Poulette, and Quincy continued to cheer from the background.
'She's got the eye of the tiger, a fighter. Dancing through the fire. 'Cause she is the champion, and you're gonna hear her roar! Louder! Louder than the dragon! 'Cause she is the champion! And you're gonna hear her roar!'

It clicked in place. She realized that that was what they were talking about earlier this morning. The song of Katy Perry became the instrument for their cheering. She didn't actually expect them to actually do it, though.

“You can do it Miss Valeriana!
And you're gonna hear her roar
!”

The long strands of Valeriana's hair fell on her face, shadowing her expression. Zion didn't know where she was looking, but he was certain she was staring at the ground. She was unusually quiet, contrary to his expectations.

“Catchy song. Too bad.” He started to lower his weapon. “Don't worry though. It's not like I want to win or anything. I'll surrender soon. I just want to let you know that—” He was cut off.

“What's the use if you gave this fight away? If I'm going to win anyway, I might as well do everything in my power or else I'll be living off a stupid lie.” She stated. Her voice was low but held a dangerously sharp and threatening edge. It sounded daunting, and the pause between her words seemed like the eye before the storm. “This fight isn't over until I say so.”

“Hm?” He tilted his head to the side, questioningly gazing at the girl. The tip of his blade pointed tenaciously at Valeriana.

Zion gazed at his fallen opponent as if she was the oddest creature he saw in his entire life—but of course, that wasn't not true. He sensed something different around the girl. For some reason, the air around her changed suddenly. She became . . . different.

“What's wrong, Valeriana? Where's all the spirit you had a while ago?”

He knew it wasn't about the spirit though. She was exuding an aura that the mere sight of her made the hair on the back of his neck stand on the very tip. The threatening air she gave off gave him an ominous feeling pooling in his stomach. He grew somewhat uneasy just being near the girl and he wasn't able to discern the reason why he was feeling that way.

“There's no way I'm going to let you win. Do you think I'll let you walk away that easily? You challenged me to a fight. You might as damn well see it through. You stuck up, goddamned bastard.”

The whole area grew quiet and all the noises that permeated the air vanished. When all eyes landed on Valeriana, a bunch of shivers ran down their spine. No one knew what was going on, but instincts told them it wasn't good.

“That . . . can't be . . .” Corvan trailed off in disbelief. “It's . . .”

“This is unexpected.” He said. “This,” Lord Aeron made a dramatic pause. “Is what you call
killing intent
, right?”

Seraphina stood from her seat abruptly. “Valeriana!” She hollered. “Use that technique! You can use that technique!”

Valeriana twitched at the sound of the lady knight's voice. Technique? She wasn't exactly sure what she was talking about. Her body was on fire. She felt numb from the pain as countless thoughts ran inside her head.

She wanted to win.

She never felt so strongly about doing something before. Every fiber of her being screamed and urged her to defeat the man before her and mind the consequences that would come with it later. With a loud, enraged roar and newfound strength, she moved.

Her eyes darkened but somewhat glowed, burning like a pair of twin flames that made the air surrounding her grave and solemn.

To hell with it all.

“Victory is mine.”

Valeriana then stood from where she fell and fired a seemingly endless onslaught of swift strikes towards Zion. She started moving by instinct alone, her assaults executed without rhythm.

She glowered at Zion intently, hell bent on pushing him down.

“This is the right moment, Valeriana! Use that technique! Now!” Seraphina bellowed from where she was, but Valeriana didn't appear to have heard her. “This is no good.” She muttered. “I think . . . she lost control.”

“Valeriana!” Tamara yelled. “Snap out of it!”

I must win.
She chanted inside her mind, completely oblivious to what was happening around her.

“Miss Valeriana!”

Win.

“This is a disadvantage of killing intent. When one succumbs to that desire, nothing else comes into mind. I was foolish to think Valeriana would be able to subdue that so easily.” Seraphina said. “I should've taken into consideration that she was human as well.”

“What is this killing intent?” Keelan wondered aloud.

“Basically a form of adrenalin rush.” Aneeka told him. “One is fueled with unbelievable strength to survive a particular situation. But, while in the state, it is no different to losing yourself to your primal instinct. You lose control of your body and you become reckless.”

“Damn.” Zion grunted.

Her opponent was apprehensive of her impending moves. He took a few steps back from Valeriana warily. He called upon the flames and his lance was set ablaze.

He hastily jumped back and shot a stream of fireballs Valeriana's way. She dodged his attacks, evading them while one grazed her arm. The girl made an audible hiss as she felt her skin burn, but didn't stop.

It wasn't long before she reached him and they started to engage in combat once again. She continued her unremitting assault although the wounds on her body increased. Their weapons clashed repeatedly, the incessant sound vibrating throughout the whole area. Zion felt a surging feeling of distress coming over him as the girl's insistent attacks continued without letting either of them breathe.