A Zombie's Path to Power

By the time Oz had found them Rio had demolished the pillars that had kept the chamber standing and left Netra's corpse behind. The previously squeamish girl had no issue burying the evidence of her crime.

Her master Oz, was obviously distressed about loosing his sister, but Colwyn handled it well. Too well, in fact. The young squire kept Rio's secret murder without any hesitation, apparently he decided to remain loyal to a girl that he never got along with instead of his master of two years.

They never spoke about those events again, not until four years later on the day Rio became a knight at the young age of twenty-two.

"I hereby dub you a knight of the Sunchaser's," Oz's voice cut through her thoughts, the formal words sealing her fate. "May your blade be swift, and your heart just."

He placed the ceremonial sword in her hands, a weighty gesture that should have felt triumphant, but all Rio could feel was a familiar emptiness. She had come so far towards her goal, but the woman couldn't muster up any sense of accomplishment.

"Rise, The lost knight."

Rio resisted the urge to shake her head. the title came in accordance to her mastery of three lost magics; gravity, soul, and cataclysm. But to anyone else she just sounded ridiculous.

<----o---->

"The lost knight?" Called a voice from behind Rio. "Couldn't they have thought of anything better?"

Turning she saw Colwyn, his face was now covered by a intricate helm after the permanent facial scars across his face, but she was still glad to see him. Letting out a rare smile, Rio greeted him, "It's better than still being someone's squire,"

Colwyn's hand moved to his side, brushing the hilt of his sword, a silent gesture of solidarity. They had seldom seen each other since that event. After all, seekers rarely ever stayed in one place and the world wasn't very small.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, the concern in his voice now unmistakable.

Rio hesitated, her eyes shifting towards the horizon, the place she often found herself retreating to when her thoughts became too tangled. "I'm fine," she said, her words as rehearsed as they had ever been. "I haven't had any nerves or anything... who would have thought the most difficult part of becoming a knight would be practicing a fake smile?"

He didn't respond immediately. They both knew the weight of her question. The title, the knighthood—it had been something she had dreamed of, something she had fought for. But the cost of getting there? That was something she would carry with her, long after the ceremony had ended.

"...Rio," Said Colwyn before pausing, trying to find the words. "In that cave you said that you wouldn't leave me because you'd regret it for the rest of your life."

"I did say that, didn't I?" responded Rio, already predicting the question.

Colwyn turned away from Rio for a moment and admired the view of the city. He had found her atop a hill in the park, hiding away from the bustling crowd's.

"If you did leave me," Started Colwyn, his voice soft like he was scared of chasing her away. "Would you still have regretted it?"

"What are you trying to say," Said Rio, failing to keep the hurt out of her voice. 

"You've changed, Rio." Said Colwyn slowly, "You're more ruthless to your enemies, more cold to your friends. What if that parasite took something from you that was fundamental to your identity as a human."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said flatly, her voice colder than she intended, but she couldn't help it. The thought of losing herself—that was a fear she didn't want to entertain. Not now. Not when she had finally risen to the position she had fought so hard for.

Colwyn stepped closer, his eyes not leaving her face, watching for the cracks, the way she'd always tried to hide the truth. "You don't see it, do you? How much harder it is to connect with people, to care about them. You've been pushing everyone away, and not just because of your title."

Rio clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, trying to control the rising frustration. "I didn't ask for your analysis, Colwyn. I'm fine. I'm a knight now." She straightened her back, the weight of the sword at her side somehow feeling heavier than before. "The past is the past. It doesn't matter."

"What if this path leads you to becoming someone you'll regret." Said Colwyn, "I could never imagine the young Rio making the decisions you've made to get where you are,"

"You think I'm lost?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly, though she tried to keep it steady. "You think I've already crossed that line?"

Colwyn didn't flinch. "I think you've come too close to the edge to turn back. And if you keep pushing people away, Rio, if you keep hiding behind that mask, you might find yourself alone when you need help the most."

Pushing past Colwyn, Rio left in a powerful stride. "Watch what you say to me, old friend, I'm a knight now,"

Standing there in silence, Colwyn slumped against the heavy oak tree that happened to be nearby. "Don't worry Rio, I won't let you do something you'll regret."

Looking up at the stars, Colwyn chuckled, " 'Old friend'? Huh. That stung deeper than I thought it would,"

<---o--->

"Lady Rio!" called a voice, snapping Rio out of her sleep. "I have the reports from the lord of thorns!"

Quickly putting on the calm, relaxed smile. Rio smoothed her crumpled uniform and gestured for Noah to leave the papers on the desk.

The lord of thorns referred to Oz, her mentor, who even now enjoyed sharing thoughts over various reports with her. Frowning Rio realised that it had been a while since she had visited his hospital, recently she had been more focused on playing the role of Templar.

And then there was Colwyn. He made that declaration to her four years ago, and at some point he had found out her true goal by joining the Sunchaser's, even if he had no proof.

Ever since then, the knight had been trying to stop her from the shadows, and she had responded in kind.