CHAPTER 308: BEFORE HEAVEN AND EARTH, BEFORE GODS, AND MEN [PART 2]

News of Prince Garen’s and Alex’s duel quickly spread in the academy like wildfire.

Both students agreed to hold the duel after classes ended the next day, which made them the hot topic of the First Years, as well as the upper years who were also paying attention to the exchange students.

"Vaan, you do realize this is all because of you, right?" Alex asked in a calm tone.

"Mmm." Vaan hummed in agreement.

"Why aren’t you repenting?" Alex sighed as he looked at the pretty boy seated beside him, even resting his head on Alex’s shoulder. "Wait, are you actually enjoying this?"

"It’s a lie to say no," Vaan replied. "You’ve always been my Knight, Alex. I aspire to become someone like you."

The two were currently seated on a bench in the garden of the academy.

Some of the students, especially the girls, would look in their direction from time to time before giggling and whispering in each other’s ears.

Alex and Vaan paid them no heed since they were already used to this. Until now, everyone still remembered how Alex saved Vaan from the Demon Worshipers and set the "young lady" free from their control.

"Seriously, don’t go making boys fall in love with you so easily," Alex sighed a second time, though he still didn’t push Vaan away.

Knowing the pretty boy’s circumstances, he admittedly let the other do whatever he wanted.

Vaan giggled, but didn’t say anything else to Alex’s advice.

Among their group, only Nessia truly knew that Vaan was a boy.

The rest? They were still in doubt if she was really a he.

This was especially true for Lavinia and Latifa.

There was even a time when Latifa asked Lotte to spy on Vaan while he was taking a bath to confirm if he was a boy or a girl.

However, Lotte vehemently refused, unwilling to intrude upon Vaan’s privacy even at Latifa’s order.

Even Dim Dim was now doubting if Vaan was really a guy, which was very unusual for the Dim Sum God, who knew everything about Arcana.

"Alex," Vaan suddenly said, his voice soft and playful. "Do you think I look good enough to be worth fighting for?"

Alex slowly turned to look at him. "Vaan... don’t phrase it like that. Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused already?"

Vaan lowered his head. "You’re right. I’m afraid I will cause more trouble for you in the future. I don’t even know how I can repay you for everything you’ve done for me. If you tell me to pay with my..."

Alex placed a finger on Vaan’s lips before glancing at the eavesdroppers in the distance.

The girls were already exclaiming "Kyaaaah!" as if Alex and Vaan were reenacting the script of one of the romance novels girls their age liked to read.

"You’re enjoying this a lot, don’t you?" Alex inquired in a helpless tone.

Vaan nodded. "A lot."

"When you reclaim your title as Viscount, make sure to give me a piece of land in your territory. That’s the least you can do to repay me for my troubles."

Alex had no place to call home in Arcana, and to be honest, he was also thinking of getting a place where he could settle down once he was done with the academy.

Upon hearing his words, Vaan’s face brightened up, but he immediately changed his expression to a serious one.

"I will agree to your condition if you win the duel," Vaan replied. "I know that you’re planning to lose on purpose when you accepted that duel. Make sure to fight properly, and the deed of land is yours."

"I guess I have to take this match seriously now." Alex scratched his head.

Vaan then reluctantly stood up and unsheathed the ceremonial short sword he always carried around him for protection.

He then rested the flat edge of his sword on Alex’s left shoulder, who was still seated on the bench.

"By the blade you wield and the heart you bear, rise as shield of the helpless," Vaan said softly, as if conferring knighthood to Alex.

"Let your strength be tempered with mercy, your courage with wisdom.

In battle, be relentless. In peace, be just."

Vaan raised his sword and placed it on Alex’s right shoulder.

"Never betray your word, for a knight’s honor is the breath of his soul," Vaan stated. "Swear now to the crown and people, and let your name echo in the halls of loyalty."

Vaan raised his sword and sheathed it once more.

"That was the oath that my Great Grandfather lived up to when he was knighted by the previous King," Vaan said softly. "Do you know, Alex? Viscounts can’t confer knighthood because it is the privilege of Marquesses, Dukes, and Kings.

"If you were to become the knight of my territory, I can’t even imagine how happy I would be. But after spending time by your side, I understand that you’re someone who wishes for freedom more than anyone."

The delicate young man paused for a bit before crouching down to look at Alex straight in the eye.

"Tell me, if the King of Avalon were to confer you Knighthood, would you accept it?" Vaan asked in curiosity.

"No," Alex replied.

"See?" Vaan smiled faintly. "You are not a Knight bound by a kingdom. You are a knight bound by your heart.

"The Oathkeeper takes his oath seriously. So, when you made that Oath to save me, I felt glad to be born in this world. Thanks to you, I learned that someone out there is willing to risk their life for me."

"Back then, I thought that what awaited me was a lifetime of suffering. But at the cost of your battered body, you delivered me freedom. This life of mine belongs to you, Alex."

To Alex’s surprise, Vaan knelt down on one knee like a knight, swearing his fealty to his King.

"I, Alex Vaan Damne, swear upon ’The World’ that watches over all things, that I will use this life of mine to carry out the Oathkeeper’s will.

"His enemies will be my enemies. His burdens will be my burdens. His path, I shall walk beside him until the end.

"I pledge my spear to strike where he commands, my body to guard where he stands, and my breath to endure when all others falter. Let my blood be the price if ever his life is imperiled, and let my name be forgotten if I fail him in his darkest hour.

"Before heaven and earth, before gods and men, I bind myself to his cause. Not by force nor by gain, but by the truth of my heart and the honor of my soul.

"From this day forth, I am his sworn knight, his steadfast companion, and his eternal defender—until the stars fade and The World itself ceases to turn."

Suddenly, the world came to a standstill.

Alex’s eyes widened in shock as he felt a divine presence make itself known.

"N-No way..." Alex muttered.

A two-meter-tall card hovered above Vaan’s body, who was still kneeling and frozen in time like everyone else.

On the surface of the card, the number "VII" appeared, representing one of the Deities of the world.

"It has been a while since the voice of a mortal reached my ears." A voice spread in the surroundings, but Alex was certain that no one other than him was able to hear it.

"I will be paying more attention to you Vaan, and see if you are worthy to become my Apostle. As for you... child who had been marked by the Lovers, continue to look after my candidate, for Vaan had sworn to live her life for you."

"Her?" Alex asked almost hoarsely.

"I mean, Him." The Deity immediately corrected itself. "It’s been a while since I woke up, so I momentarily got confused. Vaan is an interesting child, someone who should have already disappeared from this world, and yet, he is here and continues to exist.

"He has broken away from the whims of fate, and you have played a role in his unbinding. But do you know? Changing the Fate of others is a double-edged sword. Do not think for a moment that you won’t be paying a price for changing the destinies of others.

"The Wheel continues to turn, and Fate will have its due. Pray... child of men, that the payment she will ask of you is something you are willing to let go.

"I give you this warning because of Vaan. Do not change destiny as if it’s a casual thing. Only when you have the resolve to risk it all should you attempt to continue this path you decided to tread."

The deity inside the two-meter-tall card smirked before it slowly dispersed in radiant light.

Golden particles descended upon Vaan’s body as if being blessed by one of the Deities in the world, whom Alex had only seen thrice in both lifetimes.

Time once again flowed normally, and Vaan finally raised his head to look at Alex’s face.

He had made his pledge, and the world had acknowledged his sincerity.