Risin remained quiet as he stared at Tymon, his grip tightened. His eyes contained a subtle rage as he stared at the man who supposedly killed his sister, but he wanted to know why.

  “Why did you kill my sister? If you were tired of her, you could have returned her to me.”

  “I did not kill my wife and daughter.”

  “Is that what the demon convinced you?”

  “Someone in the empire is the culprit; they must be close to the emperor, or he was the one who ordered it.”

  “Why would the empire kill my sister?”

  “It’s because I reported a noble who raped and killed a woman. If I dropped it, maybe things would have been different, but I couldn’t ignore my knightly duties.”

  “LIAR!”

  Risin unsheathed his sword and attacked Tymon, who dodged the first attack, then blocked the next one using his great axe. Risin stared at the silver battleaxe with disdain.

  “You are now even using their weapons? You are lower than a barbarian.”

  “I am no longer a knight; my name is Tymon, and I walk the path of justice!”

  Tymon unleashed his mana as he pnted his axe; rows of spikes appeared as Risin was able to move out of the way, but the unsuspecting soldiers were instantly killed.

  “Look at your so-called path of justice, killing the empire’s soldiers.”

  “Don’t lecture me; I know what they are, and innocent is not one of them.”

  Risin’s mana shot out as various weapons started to levitate in a circle. Tymon stared at him as he steeled himself. The swords came raining down as Tymon spun his battleaxe, blocking them. Risin shot forward as he attempted to overwhelm him. The flying swords descended on Tymon once more as Risin looked for a gap to nd a critical attack, but Tymon read his intentions and was able to evade.

  Risin clicked his tongue; Tymon was truly a blessed swordsman, and now he moved like he had just entered his prime. Risin increased his attack speed; Tymon slowly started to retreat as he defended himself. Some of the attacks would go through, cutting him slightly, but he was able to recover.

  “Risin, you are becoming impatient; calm your sword.”

  “Do not speak to me as if I am your brother in w.”

  Tymon adjusted his body as he waited for the decisive strike. As Risin swung his sword, Tymon skillfully deflected the attack to the ground, leaving Risin open as Tymon gently tapped his side.

  “If I was your enemy, you would be dead by now.”

  Risin stared at him with anger as a loud crashing sound caught their attention; an entire building had been demolished. Tymon’s mind momentarily shifted to Bihse and wondered if how she was doing against Lorenzo.

  “Risin, you know me. I loved your sister more than anything in this world. Why would I kill my only joy in life?”

  “I am the one who is supposed to ask you that.”

  Risin spat back as the rows of weapons fell on Tymon with killing intent. He jumped out of the way as the swords impaled the ground. Tymon frowned; he sighed, then poured more mana into his weapon.

  “If you won’t understand words, then I will have to use force. Now show me your will.”

  Tymon swung his axe at Risin, who blocked with the help of his flying swords. The two locked swords as the battle began; they both exchanged blows, creating carnage on the inner walls. Tymon dodged the flying sword as Risin charged up an attack; his mana soared. After a short time, he released it as he instantly appeared in front of Tymon, who raised his axe to block. He was instantly blown away into a set of houses, but Risin did not stop as he released another attack for good measure as the house colpsed on top of Tymon.

  Risin panted as he stared at the demolished house; he started to calm himself. He was convinced this was to avenge his sister. How could the empire have a hand in this? It was impossible; they were nothing more than monsters. He was protecting the innocent, as all knights should. He looked around as he saw the trolls and knights fight in a fierce battle, with the trolls slowly gaining an advantage, but it did not matter; soon more soldiers would come, and they would take over the frozen forest, then move to the pins. He did wonder how the fight was going for the Duke; that troll was fiercely strong. He stared to the opposite side as the sound of a heavy fight was taking pce. He turned and started to make his way there, but then the rubble started to move.

  Risin stopped as Tymon emerged from the rubble. He shook off some of the dust and stepped out. His body was covered in wounds which slowly started to heal. Risin turned towards him with a frown as weapons once again started to levitate. Tymon looked at him with disappointment as he sat down on the rubble while holding his great axe.

  “I thought I could reason with you, but your mind is clouded.”

  “You are the one who is under the demon’s control; she even named you like the pet you are.”

  “You are still na?ve. You cim to want answers but only come seeking me after five years. You could have visited me in prison or the mines, but you did not.”

  “Unlike you, I have a duty to keep the empire safe.”

  “Safe from what?”

  Risin paused as he stared at Tymon, who exuded a different aura; it was more murderous than before. He struggled to understand why Tymon's views on these monsters changed; they were not human.

  “They didn’t even give me the opportunity to y my family to rest. I was just shoved into a dark hole, then told if I behave, be a good man and work, then I will be released. Where were you Risin, Lorenzo, and the rest of the knights?”

  “Do not speak of my sister! You’re nothing more than a monster.”

  “I wanted to burn down the empire and everyone in it. My anger towards you people was like a bottomless pit. I spent all the time imagining different ways I will kill each and every one of you, but she found me.”

  Tymon got up and slowly approached Risin, who prepared for an attack. In an instant, his body was covered in mana as the ground beneath him started to shake. Risin’s attention was captured by the emergence of a rge hydra which towered over the battlefield. Risin’s hope for reinforcements disappeared as the hydra swept the battlefield, eating dozens of soldiers while the sounds of the Duke fighting continued.

  “I loved your sister more than life itself. She was my happiness, sadness, pride, and regrets. Risin, I do not want to hurt you, but I will do what I must.”