Burst_Swords to the Skies

by Adam Wan

  I went to Sora's room to wait for her. I knocked on the door and said "It's me, Cel. I'll wait for you outside", "K, I'm almost ready" she replied almost immediately.

  After a minute or two, Sora finally opened her door. She wore a red gown that had gorgeous white and red decorations and accessories. There were twinkling things all around her gown. She also wore a tiara that was made of diamonds.

  "You look gorgeous... Just... Beautiful..."

  "Thank you!"

  I praised her for how she looked. The gown was rarely worn, the last time she wore it was during the ball.

  "Let's go" she added.

  "Yea"

  "She's beautiful... She's my princess" I thought.

  At the arena, we saw Mia just outside. She came to our direction.

  "Hi, Mia! Good luck!" Sora wished.

  "Thank you! And Cel, I have something to tell you"

  "What is it?"

  "He is not what you think"

  She said it and ran away. I was given another clue that strengthens my theory.

  "What was that for?" Sora asked.

  "I don't know"

  We continued to walk to the gate of the arena. The place was crowded. It was filled with people lining up to buy tickets. It was a rare sight to see that many people, the last time I saw it was 4 years ago.

  Ordeal 18: Concert

  In the grand queue, the people were waiting to get their hands on the ticket to a grand concert that was going to be starring Mia.

  We got inside because Sora's a royal family member and that I was her knight. When I sat down next to Sora's seat, I remembered something important.

  "The ring! Oh, no! I forgot! I gotta go and get it!" I thought. I had to run back to my room and then run all the way back.

  "I have to go somewhere. I'll be back"

  "Where are you going?"

  "I forgot something in my room"

  "K"

  I ran out of the arena and went all the way back to my room. I was exhausted and was panting when I reached my room.

  I took the key and opened the drawer. I took out the little box that contained the ring and placed it in my pocket and sealed it.

  "The concert would start by night. The sun is setting now! I gotta hurry!" I thought.

  I was running as fast as I could. I didn't want to miss anything. The arena may not be as far as town but it was quite a long run.

  The arena that was used for the knight's training. The arena was also used to host the Knight's Test that I attended four years ago. The arena was also used for events like an orchestra, concert and some other things.

  When I reached the gate of the arena, I thought "Made it at last...". Suddenly, the guards won't let me in. "Hey! Let me in" I said, "We aren't allowed to let anyone else enter" said one of the guards. The guards weren't from the kingdom's guards. The guards were most likely Mia's guards.

  "Why? I got to find a way in..." I thought. I went away from the fences and remembered that the arena had underground passages.

  I went to the spot that wasn't visible by the guards are stepped on the rock. It was the switch to enter the passage.

  The ground below me swallowed me into the passage. The entrance was closed. I was in the passage.

  "This might be Kohaya's work. I got to get to his office first. If something was going to go wrong, Kohaya might be the cause.

  The passage was dark. It wasn't well lit, the torches were emitting dim light that was able to illuminate some of it.

  I walked quickly through the passage. The place had signs that show where it leads to. I was heading for the area that was close to his arena office.

  I eventually got out of the passage. I ran to the stairs to climb to the top floor.

  The place had a red carpet on the floor and stairs. The torches were golden in color. The walls were white while the ceiling was yellowish white. The floor was grey without the carpet.

  "One more floor! Faster!" I thought.

  Suddenly, there was a sound. The sound was that of a smoke bomb. The sound came from behind me. I didn't know what it was.

  "Wait, could it be that guy? That guy should be quite injured... But, who else would make this sound? Is it Kohaya? Or is it someone else? I got to react fast if I hear the sound of any footsteps or sword activation sounds" I thought.

  My hand was ready to grab my sword anytime I heard it.

  "Tap tap tap*"

  "Tss!*"

  I heard the sound it was the portable sword. I was sure that it was that guy. I took out my sword and...

  Ordeal 19: Ordeal

  //Sora's perspective//

  It has been a while already, the sun has almost completely set. The sky slowly turned into a dark color. The stars were visible to be seen.

  "Where could Cel be? It's getting late... Hurry up!" I thought.

  I was anxiously waiting for him to come and enjoy the concert with me. I was worried about him.

  //Cel's perspective//

  "Tss!!!*"

  The swords hit each other. I opened my eyes and saw his face for the first time. It wasn't a face that I was expecting to see.

  "Huh?!" I said in shocked.

  It was a young man. He had the same hair length as me. His hair was light brown. He was as tall as I was. It was the face that I didn't expect to see, really.

  It was the face that belonged to the young man named... Vergus. Mia's bodyguard.

  I jumped back and distanced myself from him. I was really shocked to see him.

  "How?! You?! What?!"

  "I was the one who attacked you those few nights. You were a strong opponent. It left me quite hurt the last time we fought. But I have mostly healed. Now, let's settle this"

  "But, why?! Why did you attack me?! Why did you try to kill me?!"

  "I'll answer that after the duel"

  "Ok, then"

  "The light shining in the sky. Stars so far, but still shine so bright~"

  "Ah! It has started! Damn it!" I thought.

  We raised our swords and started attacking. The sparks were flying everywhere like confetti. The laser of our swords made it like a laser light display.

  "Arghh!!!"

  "Hyaaa!!!"

  No one was going anywhere far. Our attacks were hitting each others swords almost all the time. Everyone was more or less a meter or two away from our starting position.

  "Tssd!*"

  "Speeding up infinitely. The blade so strong you'll see!~"

  I did "Rapid Fire" at him. The attacks did no damage to him.

  "Guuh. So fast" Vergus commented.

  "Not yet!"

  I tried hitting faster but it was no use. Vergus did "Blaze" to attack. The attack was a series of thrusts and slices that would leave flame behind on normal swords. He was attacking quite fast. It was hard to block thrusts so I avoided them.

  "Running away?" he asked.

  "Nope!"

  I did "Hurricane", I was spinning at high speed. I passed him, he avoided most of the attacks.

  "The time has come!~"

  I turned around, he did too. I did "Slash", a dash skill that does only one slice. He seemed to have done that too.

  "Aaaa!!!"

  "Hyaaa!!!"

  "Tsszzzrmmmzz*"

  "It is time to SHINE!~"

  "Gaaah!!!"

  I won... It wasn't over, but this should be over for his freedom. It shouldn't have been enough for him to die.

  "Guuuh... Kohaya hired me..."

  "Huh?" I said when he spoke suddenly.

  "Kohaya hired me to get you out of the way. Kohaya's plan was to assassinate the king with a laser gun so that he can rule Cielo. He wanted to take revenge on you for killing Sylus. I wanted to show Mia that I'm a strong guy... I wanted her to think I'm someone capable to protect her... I was desperate"

  "Huh?! Why?!"

  The music and singing could still be heard. The show hasn't ended yet.

  I ran to the top floor to get to Kohaya's office. "Why? Why is he
so loyal to Sylus?!" I wondered. I got to his office and opened the door.

  "Kohaya!!!"

  Kohaya turned around. And asked "Oh, it's Cel. What is it?".

  "Stop your evil scheme!!! Now!!!"

  "What scheme?"

  "Don't lie! You want to kill the king! Your a Sylus cultist!"

  "Hmph. You found out"

  "Stop your laser gun!!!"

  "I can't. It will shoot when the song 'Free' is over"

  "Spread my wings! Fly up in the sky! I feel so free!~"

  "It's the pre-chorus now. I got to be fast!" I thought as I heard the song.

  "Arghh!"

  "Stop!"

  I hit Kohaya to render him unconscious. I got out of the room and got to the roof.

  On the roof I listened to the lyrics of the song.

  "I'm feeling it all, I'm feeling it all~"

  "Its almost the end! Fast!" I thought.

  I spread my wings and flew to the laser that was pointing at the king.

  "Arghh!!!!"

  //Sora's perspective//

  The concert was about to end. Cel hasn't even shown up.

  "He didn't come back... Why...?" I wondered. I was disappointed.

  I saw a shadow that shaped like a person. I looked up and saw...

  //Cel's perspective//

  "Gahhh!!!"

  I swung my sword with all my might.

  "Tsszzz!!!"

  The laser was cut off. I flew down quickly to catch it.

  "C'mon!"

  "I feel!!! So FREE!~"

  "Boom!!!" went the fireworks.

  "Wooooo!!!!"

  "Yea!!!!"

  I landed on the ground. I managed to catch it. The king was safe from Kohaya's plan.

  "He is not what you think. I get it now, it was referring to both of them. Thank you, Mia" I thought.

  Ordeal 20: Stay

  "Thank you very much, Cel Alt"

  The concert was over. I told the king everything about Kohaya and Vergus. Those two were arrested and were going to be sent to the dungeon.

  "Cel!" called Sora as she hugged me.

  "You saved the kingdom..." Sora added.

  "It's my job. I love my job"

  The night sky was filled with stars that were twinkling brilliantly. The audience were returning home already.

  "Cel..."

  I heard a voice of a girl behind. I could recognize that voice easily, it was Mia. I turned around.

  "Thank you and good job! My clues were useful, right?"

  "Yea, it took a while to get it though"

  "I used to be Vergus's childhood friend. We played together, we danced together. He accompanied me during my first concerts. He became my bodyguard. I grew to like him and I am sure that he loved me. He started to act weirdly a few weeks ago. I saw him speak about the deal with Kohaya when I was tailing him. So I decided to tell you through clues"

  "Oh... I get it... Vergus is going to the dungeon"

  "Its fine. He needs to be punished. And tell him, 'If you want to be with me, please become like the old you from childhood, a real friend'. That's it"

  "K"

  "Goodbye, Mia. Sorry for the trouble" said Sora.

  "Goodbye, Mia" I said.

  "Farewell, Mia" said the king.

  "Bye..." said Mia in a sad tone. She turned around and headed to her carriage without her bodyguard.

  //Mia's perspective//

  I got in the carriage and waved goodbye. I pulled my eyes away from the window.

  "Vergus..."

  I started to cry. I was sad and disappointed of him.

  "Vergus... Why...?"

  //Cel's perspective//

  Vergus was being dragged out of the arena. I saw him being handled by two guards. I went up to him and said Mia's message.

  "Hey, Vergus. Mia has a message for you. 'If you want to be with me, please become like the old you from childhood, a real friend', that's exactly what she said"

  "Mia... Sorry!!!"

  Vergus seemed to be in regret. He was apologizing to Mia out loud without any answer from her since she already left.

  Kohaya was pulled out too. He said "I'll get you for this!", I didn't say anything. The guards continued to dragged him away.

  "I thought that I could trust you..." I said quietly.

  Sora heard what I said. She said "Me too. I trusted him too"

  Spica and Ayla came to see us. Spica asked "Is everything alright here?", "Everything is under control now" Sora replied. Ayla said "I saw your landing, Cel. Not bad", "O...k..." I replied.

  After some talk with those two, they eventually want to go home and go to sleep.

  "Yawn* Bye... See you tomorrow" said Spica.

  "Yea... Bye" said Ayla.

  "Good night!" Sora and I said.

  "You too" they replied.

  We decided to go to the garden and have a talk. The night was finally peaceful to me. The sound of crickets at night were soothing and fitting to the scene.

  Sora was still wearing her gown. The fireflies in the garden made the place feel magical.

  "Beautiful night, huh?" I said.

  "Yea... This place looks so magical like a dream"

  "Your face is beautiful"

  "Huh?"

  "You're perfect... Your cooking is spectacular, your eyes are so dreamy, your face is beautiful, your fighting skills are great... Everything. I love everything about you"

  "Thank you... You're making me so happy!"

  I took the ring box out of my pocket and showed to her.

  "Huh?!!" she was surprised. She had tears in her eyes.

  "Sora, will you stay with me?" I said as I opened the box, revealing the diamond ring that I bought that day.

  "Yes! YES! I will!"

  I placed the ring on her ring finger of her left hand. I then looked into her eyes.

  Her eyes were twinkling like a beautiful star. Her happy face was also blushing.

  We came closer to each others face. And before my lips touched each other, I told her these words:

  "Sora, I love you"

  "I love you too" she replied.

  Our lips have finally touched each other. The magical night was the night that this historical moment happened. The starry night when we were surrounded by fireflies.

  The night that we got engaged.

  End of Arc 4: Ordeal

  Hello! This was quite a good arc to right! I wrote at least 500 words for each chapter. I think I wrote 600+ per chapter most if the time.

  The new technology was something I wanted to have in this world. I wanted this world to evolve. This is the new era.

  The next arc would not have a chapter limit and some of the things would change. I would write as many words as I want for the titles of each chapter.

  The next arc would be exciting to write. See you there. Thank you for reading this arc of Burst! Hope you enjoy the next arc of this story. See you next time!!!

  Arc 5: Crystallization

  Hello! I'm back with another arc! This arc is the last arc of the Freedom Saga. Burst! would have two sagas.

  This arc would add another new piece of technology. This one would be used in all other arcs.

  I will shorten the title to CLO. CrystaLlizatiOn. This arc's name is quite long xD.

  I'm planning on making more than 20 chapters. The minimum is of course 20 chapters. There is no maximum.

  The next saga would have a lot of changes. I mean it, a lot of changes.

  Thank you for reading Burst! I really hope you enjoy this arc. Happy reading and I'll see you all next time in the next notes chapter. Bye!

  CLO 1: Feel the Light