Lancet stared at her. He hadn’t really thought much about what the effect of his possible death could be to Astensia. Well, he hadn’t really gotten the chance to think much at all.

He imagined that Astensia might have been really afraid, watching him sleep for four days, not knowing if he would wake up or if he would die, causing her to disappear back to her time.

Lancet created Astensia to be brave, but in her Minor Details—the characteristics that finetuned her entire personality—he made her have a fondness over simpler things.

Unlike the battles and the raids, he made her cherish smaller things like friends. Astensia wouldn’t want to see a friend, like Lancet, die.

"I understand, Astensia," he said to her. "And I’m sorry for scaring you like that. But don’t worry, I’m back now. Nurse Hallow fixed me up—"

"Not about that," Astensia interrupted, her voice almost shaking. "Back there. In the town. When you disappeared."

Lancet fell silent, listening to the raw tremor in her voice.

"When you vanished, I was terrified," Astensia continued, her eyes glistening. "I didn’t know where you went. I didn’t know what had happened to you. My mind instantly conjured the absolute worst."

She swallowed hard, struggling to maintain her composure. "I was so lost, Master Lancet. I didn’t know what to do."

Lancet’s heart struck heavily against his ribs. ’What?!’

Fuck!

How ridiculously selfish of him! Throughout his scheming, his preparation, and even the execution of the plans, Lancet had never stopped for one second to think about how his sudden disappearance would make others feel.

Especially Astensia whose entire oath was protecting him.

’Why didn’t I think of that?!’ he yelled in his mind. ’Is this just me being selfish again?!’

Lancet watched with shaky eyes as the legendary Ironwill Knight began to break down in front of him.

Astensia was standing still and strong like a knight, but her face showed just how difficult this was for her. Her eyes started to glitter like an ocean, even getting as wet as one.

"I was forced to choose between saving you... and protecting the civilians. And I didn’t know what to do," Astensia confessed, the guilt pouring out of her. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"So I just stood there, torn between the duty of my oath, and the responsibility of my power." She liked her lips and tilted her head once, asking a sad question. "Do you have any idea what that felt like?"

Lancet froze, dumbfounded, perhaps too ashamed to speak.

Astensia pressed a trembling hand against the center of her chest. "It felt like something inside of me was literally tearing in half, and I was desperately trying to pull it back together. To hold it. It was like the Greatest Gate all over again, but this time I was failing."

A stubborn tear slipped free, tracing a hot path down her cheek.

"And the worst part..." Astensia’s voice dropped to a shameful whisper. "The worst part is that all I really wanted to do was abandon them and go after you."

She lowered her head as if disgraced, then gathering her courage, she raised it up again.

"I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. I was so afraid and so guilty that I was choosing you over staying back and protecting those innocent people."

Lancet stood on his feet immediately and tried to reach out to her but thought against it. "Astensia," he said, lowering his arm. "I am so sorry that I forced that on you. I never intended for you to make that choice."

"I know that," she whispered. "Nereus... he made it easier for me. He told me to go find you, vowing to protect the civilians through the evacuation. And he did."

Lancet’s eyes narrowed slightly in thought. ’Nereus. I guess I owe him now.’

"But then," Astensia breathed, looking directly into his eyes, "when I finally got to the cemetery... I saw you slay that Demon Head. A whole Demon Head."

Lancet frowned slightly. "I had Spectra—"

"You dealt the killing blow," Astensia corrected firmly. "I saw the reality of your strength. And when I saw that, Master... it felt like my entire reality was crashing against me."

"What do you mean?" Lancet asked softly.

Astensia gathered herself, pulling her shoulders back as she tried to reclaim her Knightly posture, but her eyes betrayed her vulnerability.

"I swore an oath to you," Astensia said, her voice trembling with a deep, existential fear. "I swore that I would always protect you from evil. But... I see now how strong you have become. To kill a Demon Head is a great feat for any Awakener."

Astensia looked deep into his eyes. "Master Lancet, how can I possibly fulfill my oath when you do not need me anymore?"

Lancet stared at her, completely stunned. "Astensia..."

"I can not do it. Not truly," she continued, the words tumbling out as the fear of obsolescence gripped her heart. "In a very short time, I have outlived my oath and now, I am of no true use to you since you do not need me to protect you. I am a Knight without a purpose."

Suddenly she bowed before him, one knee touching the ground and her hands rested on the other as she looked up at him.

Lancet stared down at her, utterly confused.

"Please, Master," Astensia begged with a broken voice. "You see, if you give me another oath to swear, I will do my job better this time, I swear it. Just do not cast me aside."

Lancet’s heart almost leaped out of his chest. ’What the hell is she talking about?!’

Ignoring the burning pain in his chest, he grabbed one of her hands, forcing her up to her feet.

"Don’t say things like that, Astensia," Lancet commanded softly. "You don’t need another oath! You are my shield, and Thor is my hammer. I will never outgrow that and you will always be my most important Summon."

Astensia’s eyelids were brimming with defiant tears even as her expression remained stoic.

"I am a Knight," she insisted, her voice fighting back her emotions. "A Knight needs an oath."

Lancet gazed deeply into her eyes, seeing past the lore, past the system, and straight into the real person who was Astensia Valengard, the devoted soul he had brought into the world.

"Your oath is the exact same," Lancet whispered fiercely. "Protect me, Astensia. That is your oath!"

Astensia gazed at him, her eyes glittering.

"I was strong in Hebthej," Lancet continued. "But I will not always be strong so protect me! Like a Knight."

He took a deep breath and with his free hand, gently brushed a tear from her cheek.

"My Knight."

Astensia gazed into his blue eyes for a long time. All that fear, the crushing guilt, the whole existential dread thing, they were gone, just like that.

And in its place? This massive, crazy wave of relief and renewed devotion took over the Ironwill Knight.

Her stoic expression didn’t stand a chance anymore, not against her flood of emotions. They crashed through her stone face as Astensia let out a breathless gasp.

Then, to Lancet’s surprise, she did it again.

Astensia leaned forward in a rush, closing the distance between them, and pressed her lips fiercely against his.