Tale Of A Knight 16 Volume 2: Chapter 6- 5Th Seat Of The Holy Swords, Aristan Jansulu

"It has been a very long time, Jansulu."

"It sure has, Sala." Jansulu replied.

Unlike what Sala heard, Jansulu was wearing clothing with her family's sigil on it, instead of the red and golden roses. Wearing red and golden roses on clothing for maidens signified that none has beaten them in a one on one combat. This was truly strange, Sala did not believe anyone could beat Jansulu, she was too powerful, in a sense she was a monster with a sword. Instead, she was wearing the cape with her family's sigil of a chimera, a beast with three heads- lion, bird, and a snake. The sigil signified that Aristan family had many strong people married into it throughout the generations in order to make their descendants become stronger, and it worked, tremendously. Those who had the blood of Aristan flowing through their veins had platinum white hair and golden eyes, the proof of the acc.u.mulated power being a dominant trait.

After the formal reception had ended, Sala invited Jansulu for a walk around the gardens, with Aurelia following them.

"I never thought I would see you again, under these circ.u.mstances…" Jansulu began.

"That is my line. I thought you would challenge me again and I would have to hide somewhere. I heard that you killed the centaur chieftain, was the purpose of your travel eliminating the centaur chieftain? Because if it is so, you have done a great service to the kingdom." Without their chieftain, the threat of centaur attacks upon the city would decrease tremendously; it would take at least a few months before they chose their next chieftain.

"That happened due to an accident. The centaurs were foolish enough to get in my way while I was still searching for him."

"You don't say." Sala internally thought 'So the centaurs just got in your way? Is that why they got killed? Unbelievable!'

"That stupid horse refused to gallop out of my way. He insisted that the territory was theirs and that none may trespa.s.s it. He bid his minions to attack my companions, some of whom were injured. I dealt with him quickly, it only took one strike to kill him, but several of my companions ended up receiving serious injuries, so we had to return to the capital. Sorry if this story ended up being over exaggerated. It was nothing special."

'Over exaggerated my a.s.s! You killed a centaur chieftain who possesses twenty times the strength of the human knight in one blow, how is that supposed to be "Nothing special"?' Sala wondered.

"I see. So the subjugation of monsters I have heard about was…"

"All of the monsters that ended up crossing my path and refused to walk away without causing trouble."

"I see." Sala couldn't help imagining Jansulu as a gigantic meat grinder. Swinging her sword left and right, cutting down all of her enemies swiftly and smoothly into red mush. "So I take it the monster annihilation was not intentional, then what was the purpose of your journey?"

"To find my fiancée." Jansulu replied.

"By find, do you mean challenging anyone you meet along the road because you defeated nearly everyone who challenged you in the city?"

"No. I am searching for a man who bested me in combat. I know not his name, just his face and voice. I travelled in hopes of encountering him again, but to no avail."

"Don't tell me…you were beaten?! By who? What kind of a monster can hope to beat the Unbeatable Maiden?" Sala was now genuinely surprised.

"Unbeatable Maiden? Is that what people call me now? Tche- he- he…" Jansulu ended up jiggling a little due to how ridiculous the name sounded. Then her calm demeanor returned. "Indeed. Over three months ago, I was beaten by a young man who challenged me. He was in word- glorious. I have never met anyone like him. He seems ordinary, but when one tests his mettle, he is a rare diamond."

"If that is the case, why didn't you search for him inside the city?" Sala asked.

"I did, but everyone told me that they either didn't know him or that he left already. I thought that my chances of finding him would increase if I exited the city but I was wrong. Instead I ended up encountering pests like demi-humans and monsters."

"Oh, I see. You can tell me how he looks like so I can keep an eye out for that someone."

"That would be kind of you. My father was overjoyed that someone powerful enough to defeat me had appeared, my entire family is ready to welcome him with open arms, if he shows up. He looks rather ordinary, but his appearance is…"

"Prince Sala! I have a message from master Mekros!" A young man barged in to the garden, carrying a scrolled parchment. His appearance was rather plain, brown eyes, black hair, no beard, just clean face. One arm had the letter, while his right hand was covered in glove.

"Bakit! What do you think you are doing?!" Sala shouted out in angry tone.

"Delivering a message, of course. As a squire, I occasionally am a messenger boy as well, your majesty." Bakit smiled.

Aurelia silently walked near him and manifested her ax, now pointing at his neck, but Bakit continued to smile.

"Shall I dispose of the fool, your majesty?" Aurelia asked in a cold voice.

"No need for that. He is just delivering a message, even if he has such a bad timing. Tell, Mekros that I am glad for his service. Now go!"

"Yes, your highness!" Bakit proceeded to leave.

Sala sighed and now turned to look at Jansulu. Yet, Jansulu's eyes seemed to be glued towards the way Bakit just exited.

"Now, back to what we were saying…"

"Sala." Jansulu interrupted him. "Why is my fiancée serving as your messenger boy?" she looked at Sala with an astonished gaze.

Sala couldn't help but open his mouth in disbelief. 'Wait! Does that mean the man who defeated Jansulu was…Bakit?!!' Sala felt rather nauseous, his eyes closing; now falling over backwards, with his panicking maid catching him. Before his consciousness faded from shock, Sala thought 'Bakit, who in the world are you?'