With a start, Vita noticed that the rotten dog didn’t just appear revitalized. Hypno’s once corrupt gaze had a faint spark, and...was that a kind smile she saw? This was unprecedented.
“Hypno, what’s going on? What did you and that bast—I mean, you and Crow talk about?”
Though the young girl had never taken an interest in her family’s lapdog, she had a burning need to know what that man had done to and for Hypno.
The commander chuckled before replying, “I thought you might ask, so I had everyone else leave. Very well, I’ll tell you.”
Hypno spoke slowly, with a face like that of a beautiful teenage maiden experiencing love for the first time.
“He told me not to forget the righteousness in my heart, you see...”
Vita could hardly believe her ears as the story unfolded.
Crow had slapped the corrupt Hypno—who was at the helm of the Salem division, a position many would surely respect—without any hesitation or fear in his eyes. Then, without any show of anger, he’d consoled the commander with an embrace, fully sympathetic to Hypno’s plight. He’d said Vita should be protected and pardoned, and he’d refused the offer of the Kaambls’ dirty money. And he’d told the commander that, if leaving the life of a lapdog behind wasn’t an option, the choice remained to become a wolf, sharp fangs and all.
And—
“Excuse me, what?! He wants me to become a righteous knight and destroy House Kaambl from within?!” Vita exclaimed with a shudder.
How could that man suggest such a plan to Hypno, whom he’d just met? Preposterous! Reckless! Exceedingly foolish!
“That’s what he said,” the commander replied. “The look in his eyes told me he meant all of it.”
“Absurd!” Vita knew that if her relatives caught wind of this, both Hypno and that man would be summarily dealt with. The great heroes of House Kaambl would soon step in, and no doubt it’d all culminate in a fight to the death.
This man, Crow, said such things knowing what the consequences would be?! What manner of rash fool is he?!
Corruption among the wealthy had always existed. Commoners like him should stay out of it all! This was madness!
Vita’s mind swirled as she internally disparaged Crow.
“Dashing, don’t you think?” Hypno said, interrupting her train of thought. “Crow proposed the downfall of a military family in one fell swoop with a righteous, solid plan! Absolutely exciting, is it not?!”
The young girl was in shock. This was something straight out of a storybook! A knight from far away, journeying forth with only a sword at his side. With courage and justice burning bright in his heart, he gathered allies and fought against the great evils of the world!
This cheap—but nevertheless exciting—tale played out in Vita’s mind.
“Should you even be telling me all this?” she asked.
“Oh, probably not, huh? It’d be the end of the road for me if you ratted me out,” Hypno replied.
“What?!” Vita shrieked, sounding nearly hysterical. She wondered, bewildered, if Hypno had come unhinged.
But no. Completely serious, the commander laid a pale hand on Vita’s shoulder. Under better lighting, Hypno’s comely looks would’ve captured the hearts of men and women alike.
“H-Hypno?!”
“Vita, listen to me. This is my way of showing my resolve. Thanks to Crow, I once again want to walk the path of justice,” Hypno explained, eyes shining. “He told me to risk my life to steer you toward righteousness. And to that end, I will truly entrust my life to you, and say goodbye to my former corrupt self for good.”
Such zeal reminded Vita of a tale she’d once heard.
There once was a great hero, forced to retire due to injury... Hypno, the Crusher!
Over twenty years ago, the now corrupt commander had been a zealous, righteous knight.
“Now, Vita. If you tell your shitty family about me, I’ll be done for,” Hypno explained. “And, of course, Crow will be too, although I’m sure he’s prepared for that possibility. So, what will it be?”
“H-Huh?!”
“I’m asking what you’re going to do. Will you carry on as a slave to your vile family and become corrupt as I did? Or will you aim to become a virtuous and just knight, and join me in seeking the light?”
“What?”
Young Vita felt caught. The right choice was clearly the latter, of course, but loyalty to House Kaambl had been drilled into her since childhood.
Her body vividly remembered the pain of the lashings.
“I... I...” She hesitated, her voice trembling with shame.
Surely Crow would have not wavered, choosing to walk the path of light. Compared to him, I’m...
Vita stood dumbfounded, tears welling in her eyes.
Hypno gently pulled the young girl into a hug. “It’s all right, Vita. That’s good enough for now,” the commander said, petting her head comfortingly.
It was the first time an adult had done that for her.
“It’s...enough?”
“Yes. You were conflicted, ashamed of yourself for not choosing the latter. You even shed tears,” Hypno explained. “If you truly were a slave to your family, you wouldn’t have given it any thought at all.”
The silver-haired girl’s eyes widened at those words. Hypno was right. She had been conflicted. Postponing a choice was, itself, a choice. This was the first time Vita had defied House Kaambl’s wicked ways.
Hypno offered her a sincere smile in response to such an incredible feat.
“Congratulations,” the commander said. “And thank you, Vita. Thanks to you, I’ll live. Fighting House Kaambl head-on would’ve been a fool’s errand.”
“It’s true. Mine is quite the terrifying family. I might not be of any help to you with bringing it down, you know.”
“Perhaps not now,” Hypno mused. “As you rise through the ranks as a knight, however, your words will bear more weight. If, when that time comes, you tell everyone what worthless scum House Kaambl truly is, you could cause quite a stir, I think.”
“Saying something like that is far too scary! I could never!” Vita declared.
“I’ll teach you courage, Vita, so come with me. We’ll head toward the light, together.”
Releasing her from the embrace, Hypno held out a hand to the young knight once more.
✦ ✦ ✦
Hesitantly, but firmly, Vita took the hand before her.
“Hah! You’d better teach me well, then, if you don’t want me to tell on you,” she said. “And mind you, my objective is still to surpass Iris. Even before my family said anything, I never liked her as a woman—nor her enormous assets, for that matter. I’ll keep applying myself and become the strongest knight there is!”
“Ha ha ha, wonderful! That’s the spirit! If you become strong and rise to the top within your house, why, that’ll solve all our problems, now, won’t it?”
The pact was sealed. Two souls, previously fallen to darkness, had begun to walk a different path in life thanks to a certain man.
Whether that was a good thing remained to be seen—perhaps it would lead them both to ruin.
Still, Vita chuckled at Hypno, who laughed brightly in return. With heartfelt smiles, they began the arduous task of breaking free from the fetters that bound them.
Thus did House Kaambl’s authority begin to waver. And it was all thanks to Crow.
Oh, and speaking of Crow...
Aaaaaaaah! What do I do, what do I do?! I thought it was all staged! I didn’t think I was actually suggesting to overthrow a noble family! Auuuugh! he said to himself, agonizing in his bed at the local inn.
Everything he’d said and done had been because he’d assumed it’d all been a prank by the commander, whom he thought he’d yet to meet!
I’m screwed! I’m so, so screwed! he panicked. Not that it would do him any good at this point.
Knowing he couldn’t claim it had all been a misunderstanding, Crow thought, Oh, I know! This is all a dream! When I wake up, none of that will have happened! Okay, g’night!
And so, spouting nonsense, he half-heartedly settled on escapism to solve his problems, then drifted into unconsciousness and started snoozing, the absolute bastard.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I just need to sleep it all off!” Crow told himself. “Then it’ll all go away!”
(Spoiler: it did not go away.)