The two men smiled. Took steps. Shook hands. Firmly.
"Out of blows, friendship grows."
Thorne made a new friend. Since leaving Caria.
Truth be told, a gap remained. Between him and the Cleanrot Knight. Life and death? The opponent could tank. Heavy armor. Weight affected speed. Men's friendships? Simple. Soldiers clapped softly.
"If you had my strength, your future... immeasurable. How about this? I'll buy you a drink. Teach you some exercises..."
Ivan looked proud. Then his face changed. Fast. He let go of Thorne's hand, jumped aside.
Before Thorne could react, a foot whipped past his face. The shockwave fluttered his clothes. This speed...
The swordsman snapped his head around. His pupils, tight, reflected another Cleanrot Knight.
A blonde woman. Ponytail. High nose. Fair skin. Gentle, dignified. Her pale green eyes were knives.
Thorne knew strength wasn't about looks. Still... he couldn't believe the force. This woman.
None of the Cuckoo Knights he'd seen could have taken that kick.
"Ivan, you're out of line again!"
"Ahem. Her Highness didn't forbid sparring."
The knight climbed up. Brushed off his armor. Put on a flattering smile.
"Lord Finlay, I was just collecting payment."
"What payment?"
"They eat and drink for free every day. Not right to let this continue."
You set me up.
Thorne rolled his eyes. Wondered why a practice match, out of the blue. This knight... a lot on his mind. Couldn't advise Malenia directly. Used this method to remind her.
"Hmph. I'll let it slide this time. Remember to report directly to me in the future."
Finlay's anger gone. She turned to Thorne. "Follow me. Her Highness wants to see you."
Finally. The Valkyrie. Thorne had expectations for this expert. But he didn't move. Offered a bitter smile.
"Is it too rude for me to go looking like this?" She was a demigod, after all. Bare-chested? Probably not appropriate.
"That's true."
Finlay looked around. Thorne was the shortest. A Haligtree Knight. She told him to pull off a light blue cloak, threw it back without looking.
Thorne stood dazed. Looked at the cloak. A new perspective on these Cleanrot Knights.
Thorne emerged from the training grounds. Swathed like an esoteric prophet, he stared at the swaying ponytail of the blonde knight. Finlay. The Cleanrot Knight. Malenia's adjutant.
In another life, she had carried the unconscious Valkyrie. All the way from Caelid. Back to the Haligtree. Only dying peacefully after placing her beneath the tree. How many enemies did the Valkyrie have? How many factions craved a demigod's body?
An epic journey. Beyond imagining. She was the "Dragon Among Women" of The Lands Between. If I had that kind of power, I could change the future. Envy flared. Nothing more. The Lands Between lacked many things. Powerful enemies weren't one of them. He would kill his way through. Over Rivers of Blood. That day would come. Finlay's demeanor was colder than Ivan's.
They walked in silence. Towards a green tent. Center of the camp. Larger than the others, but otherwise unremarkable. No guards. Absolute confidence? If an assassin could take Malenia's head from ten thousand soldiers, why not become the Elden Lord?
"Follow me."
"Alright." Thorne straightened his clothes. Walked inside. Head high. No inferiority.
It was a joke. He'd shared laughs with another demigod. No reverence for the Erdtree. A quick glance, professional habit. Inside: a map of The Lands Between. A sand table. A set of table and chairs. Nothing else. Except a golden prosthetic arm. Resting on the table. Beside it, a woman with crimson hair wrote military orders. Tall. Heroic. Confidence born of strength.
This was the invincible Valkyrie, the Blade of Miquella, the pure-blooded offspring of Radagon and Marika—the 'Empyrean' Malenia.
"You, wait a moment." She didn't look up. A sharp gaze pinned him. He stopped. No chairs. He stood in the center of the tent. Couldn't read Malenia. Didn't want to stare like at a zoo animal. He looked toward the training grounds. Then his heart quickened. He turned. Met golden eyes.
This was the invincible Valkyrie, the Blade of Miquella, the...
A heartbeat. Thorne shielded his eyes. A flash of something bright.
"Not bad. Ranni has found herself another strong arm. One who rivals Loretta, the Haligtree's guard." Malenia's voice: clipped, sharp. No wasted words.
"Your Highness flatters me. I am far beneath Lady Loretta." Thorne gave the knight's salute. He'd only faced her phantom. Even that was a hero.
"Strength can be forged. Intuition is a gift."
The Valkyrie rose. Attached her golden arm. The skin of her left arm, exposed and ravaged.
"How shall I address you?"
"Roland Heinberg works." Thorne knew instantly. These demigods, they knew nothing of Ranni's feud with the Two Fingers. Malenia cared nothing for such things. She passed the orders to Finlay, then swept her gaze over Thorne. "Your swordsmanship was good. You've woven your will into it."
Thorne's lips twitched. Then, her tone shifted.
"But don't use it again."
Thorne's smile vanished. Before he could speak, the question came again. "Do you know why?"
"My skill isn't enough to wield that technique perfectly. The cost is too high. A simple blade is more efficient."
The Valkyrie nodded slowly. A flicker of approval in her eyes. She'd seen many gifted swordsmen. Few saw past the flash. Few understood that a single strike could end a life.
Shredded by a Secret Sword: death. Throat slit by a blade: death.
"Well said. You are stronger than most Cleanrot Knights. The simplest swordsmanship can take a life. Why chase the flashy?"
Waterfowl Dance, Thorne thought.
"Let's end this swordsmanship talk. You're worth a favor for Ranni. My protection won't last. Once Stormveil falls, how you return to Caria is your own affair."
"Understood." Thorne had no intention of staying with the Haligtree Army.
"You are dismissed." Malenia waved a hand. Too many matters demanded her attention. No time for Thorne. The chasm between them was too vast. Thorne didn't linger. He saluted once more, then turned. The entire exchange: five minutes.
Outside the tent, he let it all settle. One thought, clear and sharp. About the second demigod he'd met in the Lands Between…
Sharp as a blade, steadfast as steel. As for where to go next? He watched the sun bleed into the horizon. Then he took a step. Let's see.