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The Reid Dragon Sword was an extremely mysterious weapon. The members of the Astrea family had passed it down from generation to generation, along with the title of Sword Saint, and treated it like a most precious heirloom, but no one knew how this artifact came to be in the family's possession.
The mysterious blade had one annoying feature - it was very reluctant to be used in battle. Only Saint Swordsmen could wield it, and only when Reid himself deemed it appropriate. Some of those blessed with the blessing never saw the blade for the rest of their lives.
There are many legends about this mysterious weapon. In the past, Reid was said to have been able to strike down dragons and slay Witches and various deities. No one knew what it really was, but one thing was certain - once drawn, it could not be returned to its scabbard until the blood of its opponent appeared on the blade.
- Reinhard... - Wilhelm whispered.
The young man held a scabbard marked with dragon claws in his left hand, and the Dragon Sword itself in his right. He looked determinedly at the people around him.
Wilhelm was impressed. He had never seen his grandson on the battlefield before, for he had left home the day he learned he had lost Theresia. Fifteen years had passed, Reinhard had become a respected Sword Saint and member of the Guard, and Wilhelm had still not been able to mend relations with either him or his father. He wasn't there when the Heinkel rolled to the ground, he wasn't there when Reinhard was growing up. He had not taken responsibility for any of the family issues.
Only now did he fully realize that his grandson was a true Sword Saint. He recalled the past history. He felt again like the moment he saw Theresia on the battlefield. He felt as if he had come face to face with an entity that operated according to different rules, which he, an ordinary human, would never be able to catch up with. This painfully reminded him of his own shortcomings, proved how insignificant are his skills. Despite this unpleasant experience, he did not give up. He trained for so long that he finally managed to reach Theresia's level of skill. He proved that nothing was impossible. At least, that's what he thought at the time.
I was so stupid. Limited. I saw so little... Now that his grandson was standing in front of him, he realized anew that the Sword Saint was a being from another planet. It was out of the question to try and match up to someone like that.
He watched as Theresia resigned herself to dealing the fatal blow to the Heinkel, as she leapt away to a safe distance and pointed the hilt of her long sword at Reinhard. She had found a new target. She was just an empty shell. She had no pride, no principles, and no heart. She didn't understand who she was just facing.
- Wait, wait, wait! Theresia, look at me! Theresiaaa! - cried the Sword Demon, trying to get closer to her. His wife didn't seem to hear him. It was as if she no longer remembered that they had just crossed swords.
Don't think about humiliation, don't think about sadness. You don't have time for that. You have to scream. You have to stop it.
- How, how, how, what have I done? - groaned Heinkel, hugging his head and lamenting the absurdity of the situation, He was so busy with himself that he didn't even see what his son was doing. He didn't notice Reinhard stepping in front of him to shield him.
Heinkel's mind rejected reality. Besides, it could hardly be expected to cope with such a tragic and dramatic situation.
If I don't do something...
- Rein...!
- The dead have no right to return to the world of the living,' Reinhard interrupted him confidently. - I can't let this go on. I must put an end to this absurdity.
Sword Saint had responsibilities to the world. They were the most important, not his feelings for his family members. Wilhelm was stunned.
Reinhard pulled Reid in front of him. Curiously, his opponent stood in the exact same pose. They were now like mirror images.
The Reid Dragon Sword shone brightly and cleanly. Here he was given the opportunity to present himself to the world. And what an opportunity it was! He was about to face a woman who was a Sword Saint herself. The most magnificent of swords gave his silent blessing.
The tension could be physically felt, as if the air had become heavier and cloudy. The temperature dropped a dozen degrees. Wilhelm opened his mouth, feeling the heaviness growing, it was getting harder and harder to breathe. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what.
- Noooo! - He screamed.
They ignored him. The fight began. For these two, anything but an opponent ceased to exist.
The long sword glided with a swish. Wilhelm had never seen his wife make such a perfect cut. Perhaps it was the clash with the extremely powerful warrior that awakened new possibilities in her. The old swordsman felt jealous. After all, he should have been the ultimate opponent for Theresia. Their duel was to be a display of swordsmanship...
If I could match her, Reinhard wouldn't have to...
He couldn't stop it. The words flowed out of his mouth on their own:
- Don't kill her!
So far he'd managed to keep those feelings locked deep at the bottom of his heart. After all, it wasn't her. He was not allowed to love this empty shell. Now that the dam had been breached, the emotions poured out of him like a wave.
There stood before him the woman who had touched his heart. The one he would give anything for. She made him understand that there was more to life than just fighting. He thought he had lost her forever. He had never told her directly that he loved her, and now here she was, standing in front of him, so close, almost within arm's reach...
- She's mine!
He shouldn't have.
Every warrior knows that in battle, the smallest mistake can be the deciding factor in losing, so feelings must come to the background. Wilhelm let his emotions take over. He ruined his pride as a swordsman, and broke the golden rules that had guided him all his life.
He said those words as an ordinary man, not a Sword Demon who doesn't want his beloved taken away from him. Who would do anything to keep her.
In response, he heard Reinhard's calm voice:
- Theresia is already dead. For fifteen years. I killed her myself.
Wilhelm looked at his grandson, at the gleaming sword that fell upon his head.
He won't have time to defend himself!
- That's not her," the Sword Saint added, then promptly lifted Reid in a clean, beautiful stab.
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