Point-of-View: Argent Stryker

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"Oh, look, she’s finally waking up," Izzy nudged me, as the Knight muttered something and her eyelids began to flutter open.

"Wha...? Where am I?" She mumbled groggily, staring around in confusion.

"It’s about time you regained consciousness, I was getting tired of waiting," I remarked, getting her attention.

As she glanced at me, her eyes widened as she began to try and get up...before falling onto her side with a thud as she was heavily restrained by the belts, wincing slightly in pain as she hit the ground. I’d tied up her hands behind her back, with another couple of belts around her arms and torso.

And one more around her feet...she’s not breaking free from that, and I won’t give her the chance to use her Soul Weapon to free herself. I then manifested my own Soul Weapon, walking over towards her and sitting on her side and pressing the tip of one of my blades against her neck.

"If I see any Magic Circles appear, I won’t hesitate to kill you right away," I informed her, as she grimaced in pain at my weight against her injured ribs.

"Do as you please, you won’t get any information out of me. I won’t sell out my comrades," She shot back defiantly.

"Huh, I guess not all humans are cowardly creatures," Mused Izzy, as she sat down beside the Knight’s head and poked at her cheek.

"Hey, I don’t know if that was intentional or not, but you kinda just called me cowardly," I frowned indignantly.

"Well, you’re different, I sometimes forget that you’re actually a human too," She shrugged in response.

"Anyway...," I sighed, before glancing down at the Knight, "I’ll keep this simple. I’m looking for a couple of people, and if you know anything about them, you’re gonna tell me."

"Oh, but I won’t. I will never help you hurt more people," She replied with a glare.

"Wow, how noble of you, pun intended. But I strongly suggest that you cooperate...if I have no leads, I don’t have anything against having my friend here blanket the entire capital in blue flames," I warned her.

That’s a bluff, I’ll only end up killing dad and Larrk if we do that. That’s why I deliberately avoided mentioning why I’m looking for the couple of people I brought up...I want her to assume that I’m looking for two people to get revenge on.

"What? That sounds like a lot of work, do I have to?" Groaned Izzy in dismay.

Yeah, I should’ve discussed this with her, expecting her to improvise and play along might have been a bit too much to hope for.

"Well, it’s upto her whether it comes to that or not...so, what do you say, Knight? Feel like talking yet?" I prompted her with a smile.

"Fuck you, you asshole," She growled in response, a frustrated look on her face as she averted her gaze, her shoulders slumping slightly.

Not sure if that’s a yes, but I’ll assume it’s not a no.

"Know anything about a runaway Prince recently recaptured?" I asked her.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" She frowned suspiciously.

Wait, really? It genuinely looks like she has no idea what I’m talking about...is she really the Knight Commander? I don’t want to give away too much just yet, so I’ll get back to that...

"Alright, what about slaves? Specifically, from about five years ago...have you seen a young boy with dark blue hair, one blue and one purple eye, about ten years old at the time and-...," I began, before trailing off as I noticed her expression.

"Looks like she knows something, your description is familiar to her," Remarked Izzy, noticing it as well.

Okay, wow, she has a terrible poker face.

"What? How do you know him? Why are you looking for h-...?" She began to respond, before I cut her off by slowly pressing my blade more firmly against her neck, drawing out a trickle of blood, feeling a surge of rage.

She knows my brother...then she must know where he is! The fact that she recognized him so quickly must mean that she’s quite familiar with him...has she been torturing him or something?

I know that some Nobles like to have their slaves fight each other in death matches and things like that, with an audience betting on the outcome, does she know of him through something like that?

"I’m asking the questions here, not you. You better answer, or I’ll fucking kill you, you hear me?" I threatened her icily, pressing my blade more firmly against her neck.

"He...he’s not here! He escaped the capital three years ago, you’re...you’re talking about the boy with the whip Soul Weapon, aren’t you?" She responded as she met my gaze.

Huh? He escaped?

"Strange, she answered your question despite declaring that she wouldn’t say anything. And yet, it doesn’t seem like she’s lying," Remarked Izzy in fascination.

"It’s quite simple, that information doesn’t compromise any of my comrades. The boy you’re looking for got away a long time ago, he’s been off the radar of the Knights for quite a while. Additionally, I can’t afford to die here...I have too much left to do," Stated the Knight as she glared at me defiantly.

Impressive that she can talk like that in this situation, with her life in our hands.

"Yeah, I highly doubt that I’m going to leave this place without killing you. But maybe, just maybe, if you’re willing to talk a bit more, I just might spare you. Assuming that doesn’t go against your Noble sense of pride or whatever the hell," I taunted her.

"Very well, so long as it doesn’t betray my comrades, I’ll talk. What use is pride if it gets me killed? So long as I don’t compromise on my own principles, I’ll do what I must to survive."

"You know, I think I’m starting to like this one. And she was pretty strong, I had a lot of fun fighting her. Maybe we should let her live, after all," Suggested Izzy after a brief pause.

"Seriously? Fine, I’ll think about it, depending on how this goes. Let’s get started...tell me exactly how my-...the boy I’m looking for...-escaped, every detail that you’re aware of," I instructed the Knight.

She complied and explained what had happened, how he’d killed the previous Knight Commander and most of his family, before barreling through to one of the gates in a stolen vehicle.

He killed several Knights on his way out, and even fought this current Knight Commander and managed to slip past her, though she didn’t get too into the details of how she’d been defeated. I let it slide, finding myself in a pretty good mood...damn, I’m proud of him! Way to go, little brother!

"That’s everything I know, I haven’t seen him since," She concluded her explanation.

"Strange, I’d have assumed that a Commoner breaking out of the capital like that, and killing several Nobles along the way, would have scores of Knights searching for him," I mused as I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Naturally, there were several search parties sent out throughout the nation for nearly a year. However, through my influence, I downplayed the importance of capturing him. He may have killed many people during his escape, however, it was due to the abuse and enslavement he experienced at the hands of our former Knight Commander.

There was a recent report matching his description, a couple of Knight Lieutenants were releasing Monsters around Kieph Town, they were ambushed by Adventurers and one of them was killed, but not before unleashing a Frost Dragon.

I don’t know what happened after that since the surviving Knight retreated, but well...it’s possible that he was killed. That said, the Frost Dragon was slain in the end, so it’s possible that he survived. I hadn’t planned on confirming it though, he’s probably gone into hiding if he survived, anyway.

Punishing him for seeking his own freedom didn’t sit right with me, so I did what I thought was right. Of course, if he ever returns and attacks the citizens here, I will cut him down without hesitation," She stated firmly.

Hm...this Knight Commander, I can’t deny that I have some level of respect for the way she thinks and does things. Or maybe I’m biased, because if what she said is true, she’s played a part in ensuring that my brother doesn’t lose the freedom he no doubt worked extremely hard to regain.

I am worried about the fact that Larrk faced a Frost Dragon, but I’ll just have to hope and assume that he made it out of that encounter alive.

"I’m still not opposed to killing you right here and now, but I think I’ll spare you this time. Though it’s upto you to free yourself from your restraints and get out of this sewer," I sighed as I began to get up, before suddenly grabbing hold of her head and adding as she stiffened against my touch, "Don’t worry, I’m just gonna knock you out."

"Wait-...!" She began, before I interrupted her by firmly slamming her head against the ground, knocking her unconscious.

"Weren’t you going to ask her more questions about your father?" Izzy asked me, as I stood up and stretched my arms out with a sigh.

"No, it seemed like she didn’t know anything about him at all. And I didn’t want to give away my relationship with my father, it’s better if she has no idea why I’m looking for him...otherwise, that could be used against me. Just because she isn’t a completely terrible person doesn’t change the fact that she is still our enemy," I frowned in response.

"Yeah, that makes sense. So, now what do you want to do? Are we going to leave and search for your brother?" She inquired curiously.

"Hm...no, I don’t think I will. Based on everything she told us, it sounds like he can take care of himself. I definitely will seek him out soon, but for now, I need to find out where my father is and save him if he needs saving. So, no, we’re not leaving the capital just yet...we’ve still got plenty left to do here..."

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