Archive of Our Own ^beta

The warrior took no note of the bleeding cut on her cheek as she approached Zenos yae Galvus with her friends in tow. She stopped walking a couple hundred feet away from him, eyeing his katanas and armor. Alisaie and Pipin said something confident and encouraging about beating Zenos, but the warrior wasn’t paying attention enough to hear them properly. She was wholly fixated on the monster that stood ahead of her. He was completely still as she was, as silent and as motionless as a beast that was about to pounce upon its prey. At least, he was still and silent for just a moment. That moment ended abruptly when the warrior watched her friends suddenly charge at Zenos in attack position, their weapons drawn and mouths open in angry battle shouts. That was her cue to draw her axe, just as she watched Zenos ready his katanas.

The warrior followed her friends in the charge, quickly jumping to help block an attack that was aimed at Pipin. Alisaie took the moment to target Zenos from the side while he wasn’t paying attention. Alisaie was only able to get in a few strong slashes with her rapier, however, before Zenos turned and threw her to the side. He barely seemed fazed, with his armor protecting his body. Pipin tried to counter Zenos’ blow with his own weapon, but was swiftly struck with one of Zenos’ katanas like Alisaie. The warrior jumped back, more focused on defending their friends than anything. She was trying as best as possible to block Zenos’ attacks that were aimed at her comrades. But Zenos was far faster than she was- when the warrior went to defend Pipin from a blow, he would abruptly turn to attack Alisaie. The warrior couldn’t keep up with his sheer ability. Before she knew it, her two friends were sliding backwards through the dirt, knocked out of reach by the force of Zenos’ attacks. Neither of them were in visibly critical condition, but they were deeply weakened by Zenos’ force. The warrior heard Pipin mutter something about the samurai’s strength.

Zenos then looked at the warrior. “Hm. You yet stand. Mayhap you have potential.”

The warrior scowled at him, wordless. She then let out a battle cry as she raised her axe above her head and charged at Zenos, only for him to practically flick her away as effortlessly as one would smack a bug on their arm.

“You are indeed stronger than you know,” Zenos said. “It is quite fascinating.”

“I’m… not… your… training dummy…” The warrior managed as she struggled to get up.

“Whatever gave you the idea that I perceive you in such a way?” Zenos asked. “I assure you, you are much more than that to me.”

The warrior was confused for a moment. Was she crazy, or did Zenos say that with… fondness?

The warrior got back up on her feet, using her axe to stabilize her body. Once she regained her balance, she began to stumble feebly and then built up the strength to run towards Zenos once more. Zenos sighed and easily pushed her aside with his sword again, causing the warrior to fall over. Once the warrior was on the ground, Zenos began to use his sword to slash nicks at the warrior’s skin, which was exposed from her damaged armor. Zenos gave her one last slash, searing a gash into the warrior's arm before he sheathed his katana. Zenos stood over the warrior, towering over her as she lay on the ground.

“Powerful as you are, you are indeed quite foolish,” He said. “You still have much to learn, but I am excited to watch as you grow in strength with the passage of time. Perhaps our clashes could become of frequency, so I might assist you with your pursuit of development? As it benefits myself as well, granted that I would be able to see you more often.”

The warrior didn’t move. She refused to look at Zenos. What was he on about, anyways?

Suddenly, the figure knelt down beside her. 

“Rise,” Zenos commanded. “I wish to aid you with your wounds.”

The warrior finally looked up, staring down the suit of armor that hovered over her.

“You… are… joking?” The warrior managed.

Zenos half-chuckled, half-scoffed. “I am not, in actuality. I offer you sincerity when I say this.”

Great, the warrior thought. The bandages probably have some weakening spell on them, too.

The warrior looked back to where Pipin and Alisaie had hidden from Zenos’ view, observing the ordeal that was taking place from afar. The two of them looked just as surprised and as confused as the warrior felt in that moment.

But the warrior also wasn’t in a position to be picky at that moment. Her blood was spilling onto the ground and making the dirt into mud and her limbs ached horribly. She needed to take any opportunity she could get to rest and heal up. And here Zenos was, her enemy… offering her the assistance she needed. 

Zenos outstretched his armored hand, offering it to the warrior. The warrior looked at it for a moment, then took it, allowing Zenos to help her to sit up.

“I shall return,” Zenos said. He then walked a ways away, returning a few moments later with fresh cloth bandages in his arms.

The warrior stretched her damaged limbs, spreading herself across the ground so Zenos could easily bandage her wounds. Zenos hunched over the warrior and started to gently wrap her forearm with the bandages. Despite everything, the warrior took note of how incredibly gentle he was- touching her like she was a precious object that could shatter with one wrong breath. The warrior figured that expecting someone to be jarring and painful with healing procedures was possibly unrealistic, as healing, both magical and not, worked best when it was given gentleness and time. But she never imagined the Zenos yae Galvus to have such a level of care and precision. Especially when tending to the wounds of the one that he called his enemy.

Eventually, Zenos tied the last bandage and stepped back. “I have done all that is possible within my knowledge. I hope that this shall assist thee in some form.”

The warrior stood up slowly. While it still hurt to move, the pain wasn’t as unbearable as before.

“I thank you,” the warrior said quietly. “May I ask why you did that for me?”

Zenos rose and looked at the warrior. “All of what I do is a part of my goal to make you more capable with the power that you wield. This includes fighting you, as well as assisting you when the time requires. My one wish is to help you, come the endgame, as I see you as an equal and a worthy opponent. It brings me great sadness to think that the one that would be my true match would ever fail.”

The warrior hesitated. Was that it?

“And I do verily enjoy our encounters in regards to my own pleasure,” Zenos continued. “I do receive some version of joy when I am able to interchange with you.”

Just as the warrior suspected. There was something deeper going on here… and she had no idea how to respond to it.

Suddenly, Zenos turned on his heel and started to walk away. “I look forward to our next meeting, warrior. And I bid thee my farewell.”

The warrior watched him leave. Then, it hit her.

“Wait!” The warrior cried. Zenos stopped walking, but didn’t face her.

The warrior hobbled over to Zenos, using her axe as a crutch. When she reached him, she took off a necklace she had been wearing, and motioned for Zenos to lean down. He did as he was asked, bending over so the warrior could gently loop the necklace over his armored head and onto his chest.

“Think of it as a thank you,” the warrior said. “You keep it. Remember me from it. I know that we’re enemies, but I want to express my appreciation for your actions.”

Zenos stood up once more. “My deepest gratitude,” he said softly. “I shall cherish it eternally.”

The warrior smiled at Zenos as he resumed his departure.

“Until we meet again, Zenos yae Galvus!” The warrior called after him. “I shall beat you next time, I guarantee it!”

Zenos was wordless, but in turn waved to the warrior without turning around.

Pipin and Alisaie finally left from their hiding spot, rushing to aid their friend in walking and to give her medical attention. None of them said anything about the interaction, and the warrior preferred it that way. After all, the two of them making a fuss about the occurrence would surely make it harder for the warrior to sneak away to meet the samurai again in private.