Eron had arrived at Isharuma's and Abigail's quarters, telling them that his quarters was only a few feet away from Abigail's. The two had separate living spaces so Abigail could feel more comfortable, being a woman and all.
Abigail was somewhat relieved and at the same time taken back by this situation. She didn't really know if she wanted to be alone in such a gigantic space, but at the same time— she never had such a massive living quarters before.
It was all so much for her, but her room screamed unique, antique and priceless. Marbling at the decornations, the drapes, sheets, paintings and carvings that were on the walls and pillars.
A surreal feeling, as Eron stood in her doorway, watching as Abigail looked around at everything. A massive bed that looked extremely comfortable, with silk sheets, along with her own personal bathtub and a little balcony.
If her room looked like this, she could only imagine what His Majesty's quarters must've looked like.
" I hope everything is to your liking. " Eron remarked.
Abigail slowly turned back around to meet his gaze, as she would nod and respond.
" Yes.. Thank you. "
He would nod back to her as he proceeded to close her door and leave. Abigail turning back around, as she slowly approached the drapes that lead to the balcony.
Sliding them out of her way, as she could hear grunts and commands coming from somewhere. Approaching the balcony with caution Abby would look down and notice guards lined up in rolls.
They all jab their weapons repeatedly in a formation, as if they were training. Someone shouting the same words over and over again.
" Thrust! Forward! Again! Thrust! Forward and again!! "
Abigail eventually made the connection that her balcony must've been connected to where the guards train. She must've been close to their inner training grounds.
From where she was looking, the sensory even on the outside was marvelous to see. All she could do was take it all in. It wasn't too long ago she lived in such a small home.
Now, she was living in a castle and she was all but two and four now.
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" Guide us— your divine grace, may you have mercy upon us, protect us with your wings and keep us, and in death lead us home — Atem." Abigail would finish saying as she was on her knees by her bed praying.
It wasn't long before there was a knock at her door, Abigail had somewhat warmed up to her surroundings, because she had taken yet another bath and put on new clothing.
It was clothing she had found within her living space, and she had hoped she wouldn't get into trouble for wearing it. She simply assumed that they must've at this point knew someone would use this place.
It had male's clothing and women's clothing inside the drawers, so she simply helped herself to one of the attires. Since it was later within the evening, she was about to drift off to bed.
Though, hearing the knock she slowly rose towards her feet, the long somewhat see through attire sliding against the floor. Abigail somewhat debated to open the door due to what she had on.
So instead of simply opening it she spoke first.
" Who is it? "
" Open the door girly. " Mr. Lingo would say towards her.
Abigail sighed with an eye roll, as she really didn't have an option now. She somewhat still didn't want too, because of the fact that he had lied to her, and also her attire.
However, she made the decision to at least approach the door and slightly crack it.
" ... I'm not decent. " She remarked to him eyeing him from the small gap she allowed between them.
" Well put something decent on. We need to have a discussion. " He told her.
At this point though Abigail had — had enough of Mr. Lingo's riddles and defenses. She was tired of him telling her to do things without anything else to go off of.
For the first time in a while she felt like she was standing up for what she knew to be right.
" ... No. I'm not putting on anything because you're not coming in here. You've been lying to me this entire time! — I don't even clearly know who you even are, you go by a completely different name. " She explained with a more serious tone.
" Hmm.. " Isharuma replied.
Abigail sighed.
" .... I was hoping I could— tch.. nevermind.. " She remarked before she closed the door on his face.
" You're making a mistake child... " Isharuma began to say.
" Losing me in an unfamiliar place is not a wise decision, I'm sure your parents taught you at least that. — I can see that they clearly haven't taught you it is unlucky to be unpleasant to your elders. "
Abigail hearing his words felt like swords, as she came back to the door this time in a huff. Swinging the door open no matter what she had on.
" What did you just say to me!? You're the last person who should be giving lectures! When you've been lying this entire time! " She barked.
Isharuma said nothing for a moment, as he slowly made his way into her room. Abigail having no choice but to step back a few as she didn't want him stepping on her toes with his cane.
" Hey! Watch it! What are you!— " She was about to say before he spoke first.
" I can see your rage makes you blind to reason and truth. I did not lie to you. You never asked me if the royal family knew me. " He started to say.
" And even if you did ask. There was no reason to tell you I knew them, since I was retired. "
Abigail hearing him slowly started to calm herself, as she would shake her head a bit in confusion.
" Retired? "
" Indeed. " He began to say, as he continued to walk further into her room.
" ... Back when Yoshitsune Minamoto, our king's father was ruling, and his father before him. I was their best swordsman worker and crafter. However— I was but a mere mercenary with no morals. " Isharuma continued to tell her.
" A war between the Minamoto family and the Montellia family was at a high. The troops needed new weapons, better armor. The Minamoto family heard of my craftsmanship and talent, so they sent their guards to take me. "
" .... Take you? " Abigail asked during the tale.
" Yes. I did not wish to go, as I wasn't getting paid for doing this work, which I demanded I needed. But they told me — that they had something that I would have no choice but to work for them without pay. " Isharuma continued to tell Abigail as he clutched his cane harder.
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Past flashback.
" Isharuma Kitshiza... are you going to help us with these weapons and armor, or are you going to risk the love you so desperately are trying to keep. "
" Ahhh! Don't—don't do it Isharuma... " A woman gasping for air would say, as a guard was holding her throat tightly within his palm.
The bleeding Isharuma, along with the woman as she seemed to start to go limp with every second and breath she was taking in.
Yoshitsune's father, spiky hair with narrow reddish eyes, and black leather armor with dragon scale patterns and a long black sword stood by his throne and looked down at Isharuma.
" End her. " His father would command, as the guard went for the kill before Isharuma screamed out.
" Wait! "
Everyone looked at him, as his father looked down at the beaten Isharuma.
" .... I'll.. make them... "
His father would smirk devilishly, his red orbs piercing down at Isharuma, as he would shift his face to his guard.
" Release her. " He commanded.
The guard would toss the woman aside, as Isharuma grunted and gasped as he quickly tried to rush to her side. Although guards gripped his arms and kept him in place.
" You will make what I ask first, and then I shall release you and your ..... woman here. " Yoshitsune's father remarked, as he looked over at Isharuma again.
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Abigail, hearing the story, continued to simply sit and listen as Isharuma reminisced about his past life. Sitting in a chair by her balcony as the wind kissed his skin and blew his beard gently.
" ... Of course... When I did finish making the weapons and armor that the late great grandfather wished for me to make.... It was too late.. "
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Past Flashback
" My Lord! We are surrounded by all sides! What shall we do! " A beaten up guard exclaimed, as the war raged on and buildings, trees and lands burned to the ground.
The great grandfather would stand tall, as he looked up at the sky and saw his dragons flying around in the sky. Before he would shift his gaze over towards Isharuma once more.
Standing on the edge of a burnt up castle wall, as the woman would be grabbed by someone. The sword was drawn from his holster as he placed it to the woman's throat.
" No! We had a deal! " Isharuma yelled out.
" Indeed we did and you failed! " The king remarked with black and red mist illuminating from his presence.
" I told you to make me weapons and armor and you deliberately made them fragile and weak! You slimy, disgusting filthy mercenary! "
" I will make this day a day you shall never forget — when you defile what I command! " The king said in a demonic tone before he looked over at his right hand man.
The man without a second thought slit the throat of Isharuma's wife and tossed her body off the edge, as Isharuma in his pupils watched his wife's body collapse and fall as well.
" Cartmella!!!! " Isharuma shouted as she fell to her death.
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" ... He killed my wife that day... which meant that what I had suspected was true about the king. I knew he would never let my wife and I go.. " Isharuma continued to explain towards Abigail.
" .... So you purposely made the weapons and armor fragile and weak... " Abigail softly replied back.
Isharuma said nothing to her remark, but his silence was all she really needed to hear. As it simply indicated his guilt.
" In doing so... he led his army into obliteration... and the enemy swallowed the king and his men. The dragons were slaughtered once the king fell, while some of them fled. "
" In retaliation for my deceit his remaining guards and right hand tortured me, and blinded me in my eyes, hoping that I would be all blind... but it would seem the God's had mercy upon me. "
Abby orbs started to become heavy, as she felt a heavy weight within her heart. Hearing his story simply brought back painful memories of her father.
She could only imagine during those times what he must've felt. All she could do was continue to listen towards him, as she held into her attire tightly.
" After that, they threw me into the ocean bank, hoping the waters would consume me and I would die. For years I lived in isolation to recover, in doing so — I caught word that Yoshitsune was now the new dragon king, and then years after that he had a son named Yami who would become his heir. "
To Abigail it all started to make sense of why Isharuma never wanted to be known or be seen by the kingdom again. He had terrible memories from it, and was its enemy at one point.
Though so many questions remained unanswered for her, as she took this time to get to know him further.
" ... But wait.. if all of that happened why is the new king asking for you? " She wondered.
" ... I did not know. You would think that His Majesty would know me, and that they would ask for my head. Or perhaps, that is why I was called. " Isharuma said nonchalantly.
Abigail's orbs widened suddenly.
" This could all simply be a trick, simply a ploy that they want me to assist with weapons and armor only for them to execute me for treason. Hmm... Well, I am ready. "
" What?! " Abigail shouted angrily.
" I have lived my life.. I am far too old to run now, and far too old to be a coward. I can no longer escape the past and it seems that fate has finally decided what happens to me." He stated calmly as he slowly rose up from the chair.
Abigail hearing his defeat immediately felt tears start to swell up in her eyes. Quickly she rushed over to him as she looked directly at him.
" So that's it! You're just going to leave me?! ... maybe they don't know anything! Maybe they really do want you to work on the weapons! Maybe the new king has forgiven you! " She proclaimed.
Mr. Lingo looked at Abigail as much as possible, her long blonde hair and bright ocean blue eyes, as he eyed her directly.
" ... Abigail... enough. I have made my mind up, and you must learn to move from pain and conquer it instead. I have learned in my life— hard lessons, and have crossed paths with many enemies. " He began to tell her.
" But I was never a coward! And you shouldn't be one either! " He said sternly, causing Abigail to sniff and start to seize her tears.
" You are a strong girl, I can see you have much resilience, loyalty, respect and love. You must learn to control your emotions, before they lead you blindly to your own death. " He told her.
Abigail listened intensely before the sound of a knock against her door was heard. Startled her briefly before she looked back towards Isharuma.
" ... That day... in your house... when I saw that picture of that girl... and you said she was going to die regardless due to the curse? What did you mean by that? "
Isharuma remained silent for a second as Abigail would give a look of curiosity and sincerity. Which made him slowly move and turn his back on her but speak.
" It was more like a plague... but we call it the curse, because it has been around for centuries... it is not something you can get easily, but it isn't something you can ever get rid of either. " Isharuma tried to explain.
" I was told... that my daughter was given that curse by the God's but— I knew better .... Something happened that festival night.... And I knew that the dragon king family was involved... " Isharuma remarked before being cut off by the knock only louder.
" Open up! This is the royal guards here to escort Master Isharuma! "
Isharuma hearing what they said, as Abigail did as well, her heart started to race as she quickly went to his side. However, Isharuma with his shaking hand gently touched Abby's hand.
The guards without another word busted into Abigail's room, and walked over towards Isharuma and her both.
Abigail looked down briefly at his hand before looking up at him, starting to cry once again.
" I am ready.. " He told her but also saying it loud enough that the guards could hear him too.
Abigail, not wishing to let go, held into Isharuma harder, as she once again felt the same way when her father died.
" .... Please..... don't leave me alone... " Abigail begged towards Isharuma, who could hear the depth and plead within her tone of voice.
The guards without hesitation grabbed Isharuma's arms and proceeded to move him away and motioned him to follow them towards the throne room.
Abigail watched as the guards let him down the long hallway as she stood there helpless watching the last person she knew be forced away.