Chapter 77 ‒ Shattered Oaths
Chapter 77 ‒ Shattered Oaths
“HOW DAAAARE YOU HURT THE PRINCE?!”
A blast of force flung the hooded attacker across the hut, crashing into the wooden wall with a heavy thud that sent dust and splinters flying. Tyler immediately slid into a defensive stance, his fingers tightening around his sword hilt as he scanned the cramped, flickering shadows.
The figure rose again almost instantly, moving with uncanny speed despite the impact. More scraps of their cloak fell away, revealing gleaming steel plates beneath — each one scratched and scorched from countless battles. Tyler caught a glimpse of a wolf-like muzzle, sharp eyes burning with unrestrained fury. Her movements were not merely fast; they were measured, elegant, almost like a dance perfected through endless drills and real combat alike.
Metal shrieked as their swords clashed again and again. Sparks sprayed, lighting the dim hut in stuttering flashes. Tyler strained to keep up, feeling every vibration shudder up his arms as her blade pressed closer and closer. Her footwork was impeccable, pivoting lightly on her toes, each slash guided as if by instinct alone. Every motion seemed designed not just to attack but to protect someone behind her.
“What do you mean, ‘the prince’?” Tyler shouted between parries, sweat stinging his eyes. “When did I hurt the prince? Who are you?!”
No answer — only a growl, followed by another merciless flurry of strikes. She was precise, almost frighteningly so, her armour catching the lamplight like quicksilver. In that moment, Tyler realized she was no ordinary guard. She was trained to defend — and to kill — without hesitation.
He gritted his teeth, ducking under her swing and pivoting behind her. With a sudden burst of energy, he rammed his shoulder into her, sending her staggering backward. He wasted no time; he activated [Ram], slamming her into the wall with enough force to rattle the entire hut. Her sword fell from her grasp, clattering against the wooden floor. She dropped to her knees, gasping for breath, glaring up at him with defiance shining in her narrowed eyes.
Before he could question her further, Tyler sensed movement behind him. He twisted just in time to see another hooded figure charging with a dagger. Tyler caught his wrist mid-lunge, spun, and swept his legs out from under him. The figure crashed to the ground, the dagger skittering uselessly away.
Tyler sighed, pinning the smaller figure and binding his arms swiftly with [Spider Web]. He turned back to the knight, carefully securing her wrists as well. The second figure groaned, reptilian features twisting in pain as he struggled.
“You… you’re not with Sir Caldus’ men?” the reptilian youth rasped, his voice trembling.
Tyler shook his head, panting lightly. “No. I came to find the prince. But… who are you?”
The young dragon hybrid hesitated, then reached up to pull back his hood. Golden eyes blinked up at Tyler, his scales shimmering faintly in the lantern glow. “I am Prince Theodore of Virelia. And she… she is Nyelisse, my escort knight. Please, untie her.”
Tyler’s eyes widened as the final pieces snapped together. With quick motions, he loosened Nyelisse’s bindings. Theodore immediately scrambled over, cradling her head in his lap with shaking hands. “Do you have medicine?” he asked urgently.
Tyler handed over two small vials from Lira’s shop without a word. Theodore worked quickly, easing the liquid between Nyelisse’s lips, whispering softly. Her eyes finally fluttered open, disoriented at first, then immediately sharpening as she saw Theodore’s worried face hovering above hers.
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“My prince!” she gasped, trying to sit up at once.
Theodore pressed her down firmly. “Enough, Nyelisse! How many times must I say it? Stop throwing yourself in harm’s way for me! I’m not a prince anymore!”
Nyelisse turned her face aside sharply, her ears flattening. “It is my duty,” she insisted through gritted teeth. “As your knight, I must—”
“Stop!” Theodore snapped again, though his voice broke with tenderness almost immediately. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. “Nyelisse… I never wanted a knight. I wanted a friend. Someone I could trust.”
Nyelisse’s eyes trembled, her claws digging lightly into the blanket beneath her. “I… I am your protector. I will never abandon you. Even if the whole world turns against you, I will remain. That is my vow.”
“Is that all it is to you? Just a vow?” His voice turned to a near whisper, thick with hurt.
Her breath hitched. “D-Don’t say something so foolish! My loyalty has nothing to do with… anything else! I… I am just doing my duty!”
Theodore closed his eyes, his forehead still pressed to hers, his fingers trembling as they brushed her fur. “You always deny it… even when it’s so obvious.”
Nyelisse’s cheeks flushed deeply beneath her fur. “S-Stop speaking nonsense! You are still so naive and childish! You can’t do anything without me. I’m the only one keeping you alive, you fool!”
Tyler stood awkwardly near the doorway, scratching his cheek and clearing his throat loudly. “Uh… maybe I should just leave you two alone…”
He finally stepped forward carefully. “Look… I’m not here to hurt either of you. I came because your family— your father — was worried. You should return.”
Theodore’s expression darkened, his gaze hardening. “My parents do not care for me. My mother, the queen, always favoured Lucien. I was only a burden, a pawn for political alliances. My father… he merely watched in silence, never once protecting me. I was to be sold off, nothing more.”
Nyelisse clenched her fists tightly, voice shaking. “You are not weak! You chose your own path! You are stronger than you think, Your Majesty!”
Theodore’s eyes softened at her words, but his voice remained heavy. “I didn’t want to be married off to someone I barely knew, just to strengthen alliances. I wanted freedom. With you. Even if it meant hiding here forever.”
Nyelisse looked away, tail curling around her. “I only followed you to protect you. It is my duty as your knight. Do not misunderstand…”
“And yet… here you are,” Theodore murmured, a small, bittersweet smile tugging at his lips.
Tyler frowned slightly. “I heard the conspiracies in the palace — your brother, the minister… they intend to eliminate you.”
Nyelisse’s eyes snapped up, glinting with feral anger. “I knew of their plot. I overheard Lucien and Sir Baldwin scheming in the training grounds. I suggested reporting it as treason to the king — but His Majesty… he refused. He just wanted to disappear and live quietly.”
She glanced at Theodore, her voice breaking. “He ordered me to leave him. But I refused. I’d rather be a bad knight… if it means I can keep him safe.”
Theodore lowered his gaze, biting his lip to stop it from trembling.
Tyler closed his eyes briefly, taking in a deep breath. “I see. I understand now. Your secret is safe with me.”
Theodore looked up in astonishment, eyes wide and glistening. “You… you will not report us?”
Tyler shook his head. “No. I will tell them you fled beyond the border. You should find a safer place to stay.”
Theodore chuckled softly, though tears rimmed his eyes. “With someone like… him leading the search… we should be fine, right, Nyelisse?”
Nyelisse’s ears twitched as she glanced away, trying to hide the faintest smile. “If you say so, Your Majesty.”
Tyler glanced between them, feeling the raw, unguarded warmth radiating between knight and prince. “Next time, find a less obvious place. You two are far too conspicuous.”
Theodore managed a weak laugh, and even Nyelisse let out a small huff of breath that might have been a laugh.
Tyler nodded once more, stepping toward the door. Outside, pale dawn light crept over the forest, casting long, serene shadows.
Whether they deserved the world’s judgment or not, Tyler knew these two had chosen each other — and that was reason enough to protect them.
As he stepped into the hush of the early dawn, Tyler paused beneath the arching trees. The cool forest air pressed against his skin, carrying the fading scent of firewood and lavender. He thought of Nyelisse’s trembling hands, of Theodore’s quiet defiance, of a vow that was more than duty. In this world of shifting alliances and scripted quests, he had stumbled into something raw and real — a bond more human than any line of code. For the first time in a long while, he wondered if saving a kingdom was worth less than protecting a single fragile promise. With a quiet exhale, he turned toward the path ahead, a subtle warmth blooming in his chest.