Kayden retraced his steps with steady strides until he reached Michel.
Kayden, exhausted from running: "When it is held by one who knows when to sheathe it." But... how?
Michel: "It doesn't matter now. I need to tell you something of grave importance."
Meanwhile, the soldiers were closing in rapidly behind them, and they had no choice but to run in search of a safe haven. They reached an alleyway between the kingdom's buildings. Kayden turned to Michel and asked: "So, what was it you wanted to tell me, Michel?"
Michel took a deep breath, then said in a solemn voice: "It's about William's death, Kayden... I saw what happened there."
Eugene, arriving just in time to hear this, said in shock: "You saw what happened?"
The soldiers' voices echoed: "They're over there! Catch them!"
Kayden, Michel, and Eugene dashed through the street until a girl disguised in a shawl stopped them at a house door on the right side of the road. Seeing them, she hurriedly called out: "Kayden! This way!"
The three didn't hesitate; they lunged into the house and managed to escape the soldiers. Inside, after catching their breath, Kayden said with a tone of gratitude: "Thank you, but... who are you?"
The girl removed her shawl, her face a mixture of sadness and longing. She spoke sharply: "It has been a while, you foolish noble! What have you done to cause all of this? You had us worried about you!"
In the blink of an eye, Eugene drew his sword quickly, shouting: "Watch out, Kayden! She is Fionaria, from the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Fiore!"
Kayden moved quickly to stop him, saying urgently: "Don't, Eugene! She is on our side."
Then he turned to the girl. His features showed confusion, but his heart told him something else... something like love. He said in astonishment: "Fiona?! How did you get here? And what are you doing at such a time?"
Fiona's features bore clear signs of sadness, but she tried to remain composed, saying firmly: "I came to help you, even in a small way, by spreading some rumors. Baron Declan is here too, and he is helping me with that."
Kayden replied in surprise: "Baron Declan? Why would he want to help me?"
Fiona replied with a hint of irritation: "Of course he would, for the sake of his friend... your father! He is the one who stopped the second trial, and it has been postponed."
Kayden's face lit up with spontaneous joy upon hearing the news: "So... my father is okay!"
But Fiona added sadly: "For now..."
Michel interrupted them hurriedly: "I'm sorry to break up this reunion, but there is something important I must tell Kayden."
Kayden sat before Michel, his eyes carrying a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Michel took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the ground as if fleeing from the weight of the words he was about to speak. He began in a trembling voice:
Michel: "Kayden... there is something I haven't told you before, something that has haunted me for years."
Kayden looked at him intently, while Eugene said anxiously: "What is it, Michel? Tell us."
Michel: "Do you remember the day you met William in the garden? That day, Maxwell told me he had an appointment with William as well. I wanted to go with him, but Maxwell flatly refused, saying the matter was between him and your master only."
Kayden furrowed his brows, his heart beginning to beat violently. Michel continued in a lower voice:
Michel, still looking at the ground: "But I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I decided to follow him secretly. When we arrived, I saw him hiding behind a tree. He was waiting... waiting for you to leave!"
Kayden, in shock: "Waiting for me to leave?! Why?"
Michel frowned as he said: "Because he wasn't alone... there were soldiers hidden among the trees. They were waiting for a suitable moment to kill William! And when they failed, Maxwell stepped in himself!"
Kayden's eyes widened, while Eugene spoke sharply: "What are you trying to say, Michel?"
Michel closed his eyes, as if gathering his courage before uttering the painful truth:
Michel: "Maxwell... wasn't there to help William... he was there to kill him!"
Kayden shuddered, feeling as if the blood had frozen in his veins. He whispered in a trembling voice: "Impossible..."
Michel continued, narrating the scene he would never forget:
William stood in the middle of the garden, fighting the soldiers who had attacked him suddenly. He fought fiercely, and despite their numbers, they could not defeat him. At that moment, Maxwell stepped out from the shadows, sword in hand, and shouted loudly:
Maxwell: "William, I will help you defeat them!"
William turned to him with a quick smile before continuing his fight: "Well done, Maxwell! Let's teach them a lesson!"
Maxwell began fighting beside him. It looked as if he was standing by his side, protecting him... but that was never his intention. In a treacherous moment, while William was busy parrying a soldier's attack, Maxwell approached from behind, his sword gleaming under the moonlight, and then...
A deep thrust pierced through William's back.
His body froze for a moment, then he turned slowly, his eyes filled with shock. He saw Maxwell holding the sword buried in his body, a cold look on his face.
William, in pain: "You... why?"
Maxwell pulled the sword away, leaving William to stagger back, as he said coldly:
Maxwell: "Because this is my destiny, William... You have always been the obstacle in my way, and in the way of this kingdom's future."
William, weakly and in a low voice: "You were my friend... I trusted you, Maxwell... Why do you betray me?"
Maxwell approached and looked down at his friend falling to his knees, then said in a calm voice full of betrayal:
Maxwell: "Trust? What a ridiculous word, Master William. In this world, there is no place for trust, only for power."
William looked at him and, despite the pain, smiled sarcastically and said in a broken voice:
William: "You... are weaker than I thought. Do not think that my death will be the end of my legacy and principles. I have friends everywhere, and disciples—some you know, and others you don't... Maxwell..."
William added as he drew his last breath: "You will never live as a hero."
Maxwell froze for a moment, then his features hardened further, and he raised his sword high.
Maxwell: "Goodbye, my friend."
He plunged his sword into his chest, finishing him off completely.
Michel stood shocked, watching the scene from afar. Then he saw Maxwell turn to one of his soldiers and say quickly:
Maxwell: "Run! Don't let them catch you! Tell them I tried to save him but the killer escaped!"
The soldier ran away, and a moment later, Maxwell shouted at the top of his lungs: "Catch the criminal!"
Then he began running after the soldier as if chasing him. There was no room for thought, only the sight of blood and the echo of William's cry in Michel's ears. He had only one choice... Michel ran with all his might, his heart racing, his eyes filled with tears.