Broken had thrust his spear into Cedar, the Faery Mage Knight, from behind a fatal blow that would surely end the knight’s life.
Cedar, already weakened from the earlier battle, hadn’t had the chance to recover, and now he was paying the price. The others had forgotten that they had left someone behind-someone they had wronged, and Broken had not.
The spear pierced through Cedar’s back, and Broken’s smile deepened as he watched the shocked expressions on the remaining Faery Knights.
“What have you done, Broken?!” Morel shouted. “He was already gravely wounded, barely able to recover, and you struck him from behind? What kind of disgusting act is this?”
“You forget, Morel,” Broken said calmly, “he was one of those who pushed me into this corner in the first place. You all doubted me, ridiculed me, and now you’re shocked that I’ve taken action?”
Cedar’s body shimmered, breaking apart into a cascade of glowing pixels before vanishing from sight. The faery knight was gone, leaving nothing but silence in the wake of his death. Broken spun his spear in his hand, then drove it into the ground with a cold smile.
Ivana, now standing beside Broken, raised her shield, pointing it directly at the other faeries.
The knights, still in shock, stared at the two of them, their sense of victory quickly dissolving into dread.
“Whether he was heavily wounded or not,” Broken said, “you challenged me to a life-and- death battle. Have you forgotten?”
“Damn it! You’re so deceitful! All humans are deceitful!” one of the Knights spat.
Elaine sighed softly, her expression heavy with regret as her eyes lowered. Her face was frozen with sorrow.
“This is all my fault,” she murmured, shaking her head as if trying to deny the weight of her own words. “I should have been a better leader… none of this would have happened.”
One of the Knights stepped forward. “My Lady… he intended to hunt us from the beginning. That was always his plan. They see us as nothing but prey.”
“They’re too greedy,” another knight said. “They don’t care about the generosity we’ve shown them.”
“Generosity?” Broken scoffed. “You must be joking.”
Elaine suddenly raised her voice, “It’s my fault, Broken! It’s my fault.”
“Enough!” one of the Faery Knights roared. “He’s crossed a line-committed an unforgivable mistake!” freёwebnovel.com
“You’re not leaving this place alive,” another knight growled
As the remaining Faery Knights prepared themselves, their faces twisted with rage, their seriousness clear.
Ivana stepped forward, her shield gripped tightly. “I’ll hold them off while you look for an opening to strike, Broken.”
“I trust you, Ivana,” Broken replied.
A loud clang echoed as Ivana slammed her shield into the ground with great force, bracing herself for the incoming assault. The three faery knights rushed toward her, ready to attack in unison.
Ivana reacted swiftly, raising her shield just in time to meet one of the knights’ strikes. The impact sent the knight flying backward with a powerful thud. She then swept her leg under another, knocking them off balance and sending them crashing to the ground.
“You should appreciate our good intentions!” Ivana said firmly. “After all, we’re trying to do the right thing.”
“Humans are hypocrites when they speak of good intentions!” one of the knights spat. “They say one thing and do another.”
“Everything we’ve suffered for hundreds of years, all this pain, is because of humans!” another knight shouted.
The other faery knight lunged with his sword, but Ivana was ready. She swiftly smashed her shield into him, blocking the attack and forcing him back.
“Stop! Cease this at once!” Elaine’s voice boomed through the air.
The faery knights instantly realized their mistake, and, in response to her command, they began to retreat.
Ivana, sensing the shift, lowered her shield and returned to Broken’s side.
“Lady Elaine,” Morel spoke. “I fear this situation has gone too far. If we allow him to leave, he may bring allies and launch an attack on us. We cannot risk it.”
Hearing this, the three faery knights bowed before Elaine.
“Lady Elaine, we apologize for acting rashly, but Sir Morel is right. The situation is too dangerous. We must kill them both now, before it worsens,” one of the knights declared.
Morel added, “That player, Broken, will revive after we kill him, but we can at least permanently eliminate his knight companion.”
Elaine’s face was unreadable as she listened, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Then she spoke. “Respect my decision. If you cannot, then I would rather die right now and end this all.”
Her words were met with a tense silence. The faery knights, shaken by the gravity of her statement, lowered their heads in submission and stepped back.
Elaine took a deep breath, her gaze dropping to the ground before she slowly looked up at Broken. Without hesitation, she began walking toward him.
“Lady Elaine!” one of the knights cried out in alarm, but Morel raised his hand, signaling them to stay where they were.
Elaine walked slowly toward Broken, while the faery knights stood back, no longer daring to intervene.
Are they really not afraid their leader could be killed by me? Broken thought, a faint smile forming on his lips.
The faery knights had clearly lost their sense of reason. Perhaps living so long and isolating themselves from the outside world had dulled their minds.
Elaine stopped just a few steps away from him, tilting her head upward to meet his gaze. Her eyes held a soft, weary expression.
“Is there any chance this good relationship can be repaired, Broken?” she asked gently, her voice barely above a whisper.
Broken’s smile faded. “I’m sure your knights know the answer better than I do, Elaine. I heard them threaten to kill me… and Ivana. That’s not something I can overlook. No one, and I mean no one, touches Ivana. They’ve made a mistake I won’t forgive unless they pay for it with their
lives.”
The faery knights bristled with anger at Broken’s words, their fists tightening at their sides, but they held their tongues.
Elaine, still calm, nodded solemnly. “I can only blame myself for what has happened. I failed to treat you as honored guests and ensure your safety.”
Broken remained unmoved by her apology, knowing that trust had long since been broken.
“Lady Elaine,” Ivana said gently, stepping forward, “it’s important to remember that not everything has to turn out the way we expect. I hope you don’t carry regret for what’s
happened.”
Elaine nodded at her. “Thank you, Ivana. I’d really like to get to know you better. I still hope we can be friends, despite everything.”
Ivana smiled. “Of course. We can still be friends, and I’m glad you welcomed us into your
home.”
“You’re very kind,” Elaine said.
The tension between them seemed to ease slightly, but the uncertainty remained. Could this
really mean the conflict wouldn’t have to continue? Would Broken and Ivana be able to leave Moonlight Land peacefully, or would the Faery Knights push harder and reignite the battle?
“I will let you leave Moonlight Land, Broken,” Elaine said. “I hope this can serve as an apology on my part.”