The Soul Engine Ch. 44 (Original Fantasy) (Patreon)

A/N: A small time skip while Mikael and Co. do the whole 'hurry up and wait' thing.

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Mikael is starting to worry about Bula. It’s been a week and some change since they’ve arrived at the Citadel, and in that time things have fallen into a somewhat hesitant but ultimately consistent routine. The four of them would come together for meals during the day, and at night Mikael would wind up doing the horizontal tango with one, two, or all of them.

However, outside of meals, Avina spent most of her time in the Citadel’s massive library, burying herself in books and Thayla spent most of HER time pestering her father, trying to get the Knight-Superior to change his mind.

She’d talked a bit more about how the Order of the Rose worked over a few of their meals, describing the meritocracy that the Knightly Order was supposed to operate under. As far as Mikael could tell, it was mostly exactly what Thayla said it was, which was surprising to him. After all, you either died a hero or lived long enough to become the villain.

… He wasn’t sure where that phrase came from, whether it was an Earth memory or a Vaclatora memory, but it felt really deep and philosophical either way. And yet, the Order of the Rose bucked that trend. Oh, their history books had a few bad apples here and there, and once or twice the Knightly Order had been brought to pretty extreme lows. But they’d always rebuilt and always bounced back, managing to return to the teachings of the Ancient Hero that started their Order even when some were led astray.

That all said, as much as Mikael believed Thayla when she said she’d had to fight and claw her way into her position as Dame of the Order of the Rose, it was equally obvious that her father was allowing her to occupy far more of his time then he would have let anyone else under his command occupy. How long that would last before he put his foot down, Mikael didn’t know… but for the time being, it meant Thayla was gone most of the daylight hours trying to convince Timothal that they needed to be more proactive against Foss Sangrey and his undead army.

This left Mikael and Bula without anything to really do except spar out in their private courtyard, fighting each other and trying not to make TOO much of a ruckus while doing so. Which brought Mikael back to his initial thought. He’s really starting to worry about Bula.

“Hah!”

“Oof!”

As he buries the pommel of his blade deep in the half-orc’s stomach, Bula folds over his blow. Dancing back, Mikael watches as she recovers swiftly, not even falling to her knees. Instead, she straightens up and growls at him, eager to go on the offensive. Except, yet again her eyes are shifting to the side… to the South.

It’s only for a second before she’s on him of course, but the distraction still costs her… as it has been all week long.

There’s simply no denying it, Mikael is trouncing his sparring partner. He has been for quite a few days now. And it’s not because he’s stronger or better than her. Stronger, maybe. But Bula is a consummate warrior and even with the memories shoved in his head, Mikael has actually been learning a lot from her. He’s also held back, dialing back his speed and strength to match her own immense physical attributes.

And yet he’s still been kicking her ass because of how distracted she is.

Another exchange between them ends in Mikael’s favor as he straight up sweeps Bula’s feet out from under her. As she lands on her back, the air driven out of her lungs, Mikael winces from the low growl that exits her throat.

“Bula? Do you… uh, are you alright?”

Hopping to her feet, she growls louder as she glares daggers at him.

“I’m fine.”

Mikael raises an eyebrow at that, because he doesn’t believe her for a second.

“You sure about that?”

“It is nothing. Come. Let us continue.”

She’s as short as ever with her answers. Sighing, Mikael shrugs and raises his wooden practice sword and buckler, readying himself for another round of sparring that likely isn’t going to be satisfying for either of them. Bula raises her wooden practice axe in turn, preparing to launch herself in his direction. However, just before her feet can leave the ground, an unfortunately familiar voice calls out that stops them both in their tracks.

“Ho there!”

Turning as one, Mikael’s eyes narrow and he’s pretty sure Bula’s do as well as they both gaze at Chevalier Nathaniel Ironshield and the group of knights he’s leading into their private courtyard. Technically they are guests here and as a high-ranking member of the Order of the Rose, the Chevalier is entitled to going where he wants to go.

… But Mikael still tenses up, his jaw clenching as his eyes slide over the group that Nathaniel has brought with him. Sizing them all up, he’s confident that he and Bula can take them. Still…

“What do you want?”

If this is an ambush, it’s a poor one. Then again, the Knights of the Rose clearly aren’t very good at ambushes to begin with because the one they were treated to upon their arrival at the Citadel was also pretty poorly planned out.

That said, Nathaniel doesn’t hesitate to raise his hands in surrender. Then, he drops into a gallant bow, one arm crossed over his body as he lowers his head in deference and respect.

“All I want is to apologize. To both of you.”

Mikael blinks, more than a little surprised by the man’s words. Truly? Mikael doesn’t know what to say. Bula, meanwhile, snorts derisively. In the ensuing silence, the Chevalier maintains his bow for a second longer before slowly lifting his head. There’s a sheepish smile on Nathaniel Ironshield’s handsome face as he spreads his hands apart.

“I said some… regrettable things when we first met. I spoke with a confidence I did not deserve to speak with. No… rather, there’s simply no denying what it was. It was arrogance. For that, and for trying to name you an undead abomination and you a murderer… I am sorry.”

As he looks first to Mikael and then to Bula while giving his apologies, Mikael just stands there, caught rather flat-footed. Sure, Thayla’s father had said that Nathaniel wasn’t necessarily a bad person. But this was… a pretty severe one-eighty, wasn’t it?

“What’s with the change of heart, exactly? And if you were really sorry, why did it take you this long to come and say it?”

Here, Nathaniel grimaces and bows his head.

“The Truth Above All cleared up any doubt in my and my fellow knights’ mind. If you and your companions passed through our most sacred relic without the Knight-Superior taking offense, then the accusations laid at your feet MUST be lies. As for why it took so long to come here and say it to your face… shame. It is not excuse, but I was ashamed. We were ashamed. We treated you all poorly, only to discover we’d been made fools of.”

Well. Shit. Now Nathaniel was almost downright likable. Mikael didn’t like it. He’d much preferred when Nathaniel was the handsome bastard who Thayla had beat into the dirt for being an arrogant ass and trying to impede their way. Now… well, he was proving to be an actual person. One with flaws, yes… but also some redeeming qualities.

Still, Mikael can’t help but be a little… antagonistic, all things considered.

“You know Thayla and I share a bed most nights, right? And you’re… okay with that?”

Judging by the even worse grimace on the Chevalier’s face at that, he’s not all the way to ‘okay with that’ just yet. But that just makes Mikael respect him more, especially when combined with the next words out of his mouth.

“I am… trying to be. I have come to terms with the fact that what I saw between Thayla and I is not what she saw between us. We have talked… and I have realized what an ass I have been.”

Well shit. Talk about character development. And all of it had happened outside of Mikael’s view too, apparently. Was that even allowed?

… What was he talking about? Of course it was allowed. Gracing the Chevalier with a polite smile, Mikael decides to let bygones be bygones.

“Very well then. Apology accepted. At least for me. I can’t speak for my companions, of course.”

Nathaniel nods, not looking put out by that in the slightest. Instead, he glances over at Bula hopefully. Mikael looks over as well, only to find Bula not even paying them any attention, her gaze fixated southward yet again. Coughing into his fist, Mikael winces.

“Err… Bula?”

At hearing her name, Bula tears her gaze back across all of them. For a moment, Mikael wonders if he’s going to have to catch her up on what they were talking about, but after a beat the half-orc just scoffs and lifts her practice axe onto her shoulder.

“Can you lot fight or is all that fancy armor just for show?”

Nathaniel and his fellow knights all straighten up at that, their chests puffed out and their heads held high.

“We can indeed fight, Lady Bula. If you are challenging us to a spar, we would be happy to test our mettle against one of your strength and speed.”

Bula huffs.

“Just Bula. No Lady bullshit.”

Nathaniel bobs his head in understanding, even as Mikael frowns slightly.

“Err, I’m really not sure that’s a good idea…”

Nathaniel laughs and for a moment Mikael feels himself beginning to bristle. But then the other man speaks and to his surprise, the Chevalier understands where he’s coming from immediately.

“Oh, I know full well that me and my comrades here stand little chance against either of you in a one-on-one confrontation, Sir Hero.”

Oh no, that damn title.

“… That’s why I would suggest something of an open melee and an unbalanced spar, so to speak. All of us against the two of you should be fair, right?”

That brings Mikael up short. His first instinct is that it’s some sort of trap. He’s definitely suspicious as he flicks his eyes across Nathaniel Ironshield and his men again. However, he doesn’t detect any deceit from the Chevalier. He’s not sure the handsome knight is even capable of telling a lie. Certainly, he doesn’t think Nathaniel can tell a lie CONVINCINGLY, at least.

… So this probably isn’t a trap then. And just glancing at Bula shows that she’s already starting to vibrate slightly with excitement. If this is what he needs to take her mind off of whatever’s distracting her, so be it.

“Sure, sounds like fun.”

Besides, they’ll all be using blunted weapons anyways and between Mikael’s magic and Bula’s orcish constitution, he’s not exactly worried about anything that Nathaniel or his fellow knights could possibly try and pull on them. In the end, a lopsided spar with Mikael and Bula working together instead of against one another sounded like just the sort of thing they needed to shake things up and keep it fresh and interesting.

“Excellent!”

With that, Nathaniel and his men go over to the side and pick up their own wooden practice weapons. After which, they fan out, quickly surrounding Mikael and Bula. Grinning as he goes back to back with the half-orc warrior, Mikael whispers over his shoulder to her.

“Wanna make this a little interesting?”

Grunting, Bula responds gruffly.

“How?”

“… Bet I can take out more of them than you. Loser has to do whatever the winner wants tonight?”

He can feel Bula perk up at that.

“Heh. You’re on.”

Mikael thought she might like that idea. It wasn’t as though Bula seemed to mind him pinning her down to have his way with her, but she certainly saw the appeal of getting to order him around instead. Not that Mikael had any intention of losing, of course.

“It’s a wager then.”

“Yes! One I intend to win!”

With a roar, Bula launches herself forward into the encirclement of knights, causing some panicked shouting and the Chevalier to call out commands to try and keep that flank from falling apart completely. Mikael laughs and leaps into the fray as well. They aren’t exactly fighting together anymore now that they’ve made it a competition… but that doesn’t make it any less lopsided in their favor.

Oh, Nathaniel and his fellow knights are certainly well-trained, and it’s interesting watching them work in tandem to try to take down two much tougher opponents. Especially when Mikael’s memories of battle and war usually involved him being one of the weak run of the mill warriors fighting side by side with his fellow soldiers.

… Except, there’s one knight wearing a closed helmet who doesn’t seem to be listening to Chevalier Ironshield’s orders. Instead, he’s clearly looking for an opening of some sort. Initially, Mikael assumes that it’s part of some feint or gambit and just keeps an eye on the steadily encroaching man, ready and able to put him down when he gets within range.

But then he notices Nathaniel looking at the other knight rather queerly as well.

“Hold! You there, who are you? What’s your name?”

Mikael blinks as the Chevalier brings the spar to a grinding halt, calling out the mystery knight right there on the spot. As everyone focuses on the knight that Nathaniel has just called out, Mikael does too… and realizes what’s truly wrong with the situation at the last possible moment. The helmeted knight doesn’t have a soul.

In the same instant that Mikael registers this, said soulless knight lunges forward, dropping the wooden practice sword he’d picked up and pulling forth a dagger made of black metal and glowing with an ominous green light. In a smooth motion, Mikael’s assailant stabs the dagger towards him… with limited effect.

Mikael might have been caught off guard, but there’s a pretty big difference between him being caught off guard and a regular person being caught off guard. In an instant, Mikael summons up a shield of teal energy, his magic swirling in front of him to block the strike and stop it dead in its tracks. Or rather, that’s what Mikael is expecting to happen.

While the teal power he’d gained from absorbing Zadicus Quinn’s magical talent does stop the enchanted dagger initially… that sickly green glow starts to immediately eat through his magic, causing Mikael’s eyes to widen in disbelief. He’s never seen something like that before, but then to be fair he hasn’t gotten many chances to fight real battles with his particular brand of magic at this point.

In that moment, Mikael finds himself in a position he hasn’t been in for a long, long while. He simply doesn’t have enough time to react. Everything seems to slow down as the dagger eats through his shield and makes a beeline for his chest. Heading straight for the Soul Engine.

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A/N: "What?! How dare my magic bullshit be trumped by other magic bullshit!" - Mikael probably

Heh, alright so maybe this is a bit of a cliffhanger, but at least it's not a weekend one. See you all tomorrow~

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