The Corrupted Syndicate

"It will be a friendly bout, of course. I've even assured your little rabbit that I'll refrain from inflicting any lasting damage."

"But make no mistake, I'll grant you the battle you deserve, one worthy of your strength—unlike the pathetic display the Legion offered."

Mavislin couldn't help but giggle, causing Zenos to be slightly puzzled.

"Forgive me if my reaction is strange to you. For the past two years, my only companion has been Matt, and he detests when I ask him to spar. Prior to that, I handled my missions alone. Your request to spar comes as a surprise, but it is one I welcome wholeheartedly."

"No one has ever willingly sought my time, much less a friendly tussle. Rest assured, I will do my utmost to ensure you are not hurt in the process." explained the dragoness, as she looked away from the Viceroy's intense gaze.

Zenos didn't need to see her face to sense the bittersweet smile that marked Mavislin's pain. Her voice, though barely faltering, betrayed the struggle within her.

The notion of comforting her was strangely alien to him, yet he couldn't ignore the tug of an instinct that urged him to reach out, acknowledging the hurt he saw beneath her facade.

Could it be that they were more alike than he would have anticipated?

"Could you not stare? It's a tad bit unnerving…" said Mavislin.

Her fingers tightened around the stack of reports as she grabbed them, her gaze skimming swiftly over the documents, absorbing critical details with practiced efficiency.

"Apologies. I have nothing to do."

Mavislin's tail flicked up in annoyance as she continued poring over the reports. Despite the Viceroy's reputation as a man driven solely by bloodlust and battlefield fervor, his writing skills were the finest she had ever encountered.

Reluctantly, she had to admit that Zenos's penmanship and language surpassed even Raven's, who had been a scholar before joining the Syndicate.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, struggling to digest the information before her, then closed her eyes and tilted her head back to gaze at the ornate ceiling.

"Something wrong? I apologize if my words are a bit too profound for you to read…"

Zenos had less than a second to react, snatching the pen that Mavislin had wielded as her impromptu weapon before it could reach its mark.

"Are you up to date with the Legion's movements?" quizzed Mavislin, still having her eyes closed.

"Yes. Are you wondering if there are any cases like the one you've encountered?"

"Well, aren't you a clever one…"

"The contents of my desk's left drawer might pique your interest."

The dragoness sighed as she lazily opened her eyes to check. Sure enough, there were more papers detailing the other incidents regarding the Legion.

"I thought Venom was kidding about the Legion doing some shady business… I guess I owe him…" noted Mavislin, gripping the papers tight with stress.

"What's bothering you?"

"Zenos… Are you aware of the existence of Guardians?"

A profound silence enveloped the two figures, their surroundings falling away as they locked eyes in a tense standoff. The air seemed to thicken with unspoken words, each waiting for the other to break the stillness.

Their gazes held a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty as if the very weight of their mutual silence carried the gravity of Mavislin's query.

The minutes they stretched, each second stretching into eternity as they continued to stare, hoping for a response that would bring clarity to their shared moment of suspended expectation.

"I am aware. I do, in fact, have a Guardian at my side, though I will refrain from revealing it unless absolutely necessary. And what of yours?" quizzed the Viceroy, shifting his position.

"As you've already witnessed, I have forged a pact with a legend of Ancient Times, granting me an edge on the battlefield. However, I am asking you personally… What do you know of them?" shot back the dragoness.

The blonde hulk closed his eyes and settled into a meditative cross-legged position, focusing intently on dredging up the memories of how he had first learned about the Guardians.

He strained to recall the circumstances that had led him to forge a pact with one, searching through the haze of his past for the motivations and decisions that had driven him to make such a binding commitment.

"I understand that to acquire a Guardian, one must first vanquish it. I happened upon this knowledge while we were preparing to seize Valokia."

"An old witch from the nearby mountains suggested that I could gain power by forming a pact with a defeated monster. Following her counsel, I pursued that path and forged a pact with my current Guardian."

"Hmm… So you are capable of following instructions…" said the cheeky dragoness, nodding her head.

"Mavislin."