Valerian, The Legendary

107 With Grace And Pleasure.

Valerian smiled and said, “Let me introduce you, these three are your sisters, they were originally orphans, but your father took them in. Then he raised them up for twenty years. Before your family finally decided to make them hosts to your vile guests. Isn’t that right?”

Ensoma was already covered in sweat, he froze. He did not expect this to be discovered. The three ladies froze when they saw him. He was glaring at them, and the ladies shivered.

He asked, “Do you think, you can manipulate the fact that they were kidnapped by those berserks and I have been trying to look for them?”

Vertex was already reaching his threshold of tolerating bullshit, so he lashed out, “Shut up. You wretch, dare you to say that they were kidnapped and you were looking for them? Think before you lie.”

Ensoma snorted and said, “Your Highness, you can eat what you want but do not slander me like this. Today I came here to seek Vulcan’s aid in searching for them. They were traveling with me, and four nights ago, outside the city, they were taken away. I tried to look for them but the beast tide broke up and I was forced to retreat inside the city with my men.

If I was a mole, then why would I lend my men to aid with the city defense? I placed the safety of this city above my sisters, what else do you want me to do?”

Vulcan raised his eyebrow, the part about aiding the city defense was true.

Valerian sighed and said, “I have run out of patience.”

He walked closer to the merchant and said, “Big sisters, I am also an orphan like you three, it is fate that we met today. So, allow me to give you a gift to get rid of your fear.”

.....

His words ended and his sword slashed, the merchant wailed in agony, his right hand was laying on the ground, chopped off cleanly from the shoulder. The duke stood up from his seat while Valerian calmly picked up the chopped arm and walked toward the ladies.

He looked them in the eyes and said, “This hand is the proof that the fear in your heart is not invincible. You stand in the presence of the imperial family. I accept that we might not be omnipotent but I also want to tell you that we do not turn our faces when we see something wrong happening.

You have the right to live the way you want and to smile. Do not give in to fear. I promise you as long as you dare to say the truth, I dare to ruin this man and his entire family. Everything they have built stands on the shoulder of people like you, think about what your sisters have suffered, the pain, the betrayal, the humility. Do you want to continue suffering all that?

Look at each other and if you cannot dare to be brave for yourself, look at the person next to you, do you want them to suffer just like you did? Tell me.”

Although his speech was compelling, his voice was gentle, aggrieved, and even pleading. The ladies heard him speak and did not know when tears began to pour down their eyes. The one in the center said stammeringly, “What was our fault? They... They took us in, gave us dreams, and then...”

She could not continue, overwhelmed by her emotions. They huddled together, crying out their heart. Valerian did not disturb them, but he snapped his fingers and cast the paralysis effect on the merchant, making him go, mute.

Vertex looked at the ladies and felt pity, he wanted to go forward and say something but he did not know what to say in such a situation. The mood was depressing and silent. No one stepped forward to console the ladies.

After a while, Valerian sighed before he said, “Be brave, be fearful, be wise, be patient. Vita will watch over you as you walk under the moon and the sun. Primus will wait for you at the end of the road, and embrace you as you rest in peace.

It may seem you are alone, you might suffer gravely. However, never give up hope, as you are brave, fearful, wise, and patient. Never forget, that others like you are your family. They will stand by you in the dark and rain, they will help you deal with your pain.”

The ladies seemed to have frozen, only tears dripping from their eyes. What Valerian recited now was a sort of an oath talk used in all the churches, to give hope to the orphans as they grow up and make them bond together.

Valerian had read this oath a lot in the orphanage, but with Diligentia. Recalling her, he smiled and then shook his head to focus back on the situation and asked, “Big sisters, have you made up your mind about what to do with this guy? I do not want to rush you, but...”

Before he said anything, his stomach growled, indicating he was hungry.

The ladies looked at him and after exchanging a glance, they spoke in unison, “We have made up our mind.”

Valerian nodded and handed his short sword to the ladies and said, “Break away from your fear with grace.”

The ladies shivered a bit, they were normal humans with no ability, they had never even raised their voices, so how could they hold the weapon? Valerian saw through their hesitation and said, “Fine, I will not tease you anymore. How about we go and have a meal? I am very hungry, would you believe this old man put me to work the moment I stepped into this city? Humph, some duke he claims to be. Come let us eat, but you will have to say grace.”

He put back his sword and throwing away the chopped arm he held the hand of two ladies gently and pushed the third one ahead of him before they even had the chance to react. He was manipulating the soft side in their hearts without scaring them by exposing the fact that he was an orphan and he was adorable. The ladies had witnessed enough cruelty and were not affected by the fact that he just chopped off an arm without blinking.

He led them out of the hall, but not before giving Quies a signal. The old man nodded and after the people left, he cast a gaze at the duke and the second prince, who was gazing at the door in a stupor, and said, “Your Highness, we should interrogate this man to find out clues about those who invaded the borders.”

Vertex nodded and asked his uncle, “Your grace, would you like to do the honors?”

Vulcan smiled and said coldly, “With pleasure, he is my old friend after all.”

Ensoma and Iker shivered from fear.