CHAPTER 43: REUNION

XENON WINGATE

PRESENT DAY - INTERROGATION

The hologram globe that is the only source of light in this black room rotated slowly as it finished scanning my memories relating to my first battle on a Pentagram Knight. The longer I stare at the globe itself, the more my eye aches. So I closed my eyes just to rest myself from this irritating sight.

[Let’s continue with the interrogation. One month after you challenged Gerald Luciello, you challenged the second Pentagram Knight.]

“Yeah.” I sighed. “The second Pentagram Knight is Eroll Fizarro. He’s rumored to be the weakest of all the Pentagram Knights in terms of firepower, so I decided to challenge him next.”

[Why didn’t you challenge Eroll Fizarro before Gerald Luciello?]

“It was a test of strength,” I said. “I thought to myself that if I challenged the Pentagram Knight who has the highest firepower of all, I would prove to myself that I can win all five battles.”

Suddenly, a sudden jolt of electricity gave pain to my brain. No, it’s not the torture equipment the mysterious interrogator installed to me. The pain is all inside my brain, and I can’t help but endure it by gritting my teeth.

Images. I see images inside my mind. I can see the face of Michael Eldritch and Marisse Trystgade, their eyes gazed down on me. They have this arrogant look on their eyes. They are sitting side by side, holding each other’s hands. Marisse is holding a baby on her lap, which is covered by a royal white cloth.

“Gah!” I exhaled white smoke from my mouth. I opened my eyes just to relieve myself from this nightmare of images. Eldritch. Trystgade. I don’t want to look at their faces again.

[It’s working.] The interrogator said. [You are slowly recovering your memories at a much faster rate than before. We are getting close to our objective.]

I panted. I breathed so hard as if I’m an asthmatic. I feel tired just by seeing those fragments of memories I recalled. The interrogator is right. It’s just a matter of time before I recover everything inside my head.

[Let’s go to the time where you challenged the second Pentagram Knight, Eroll Fizarro. You challenged him after one month. Why did you wait for such time even though you can just challenge a Pentagram Knight every week?]

“I have to make our battle tactics. I don’t want to charge into battle with doubts that I can’t win. I only fight a battle when I know I will be winning.”

[Your battle against your second Pentagram Knight is the proof of that. Is winning the only thing in your mind at that time?]

“No.” I exhaled smoke. “It’s because they are watching me, so I have to do that. I had to win no matter what.”

[Watching you? Who is watching you, Xenon?]

“They must pay. They must die. I should have smoked them down on that place.” I muttered to myself.

[Answer the question, Xenon! Who is watching you at that time!]

“Michael Eldritch. Marisse Trystgade.” I scoffed. “I swear I could have killed them that day.”

Suddenly, the hologram globe spun rapidly as it sprinkled bluish sparks all over the darkroom. The memories that could trigger my wrath came back to me.

<>

XENON WINGATE 

2 YEARS AGO

It’s morning. It’s a usual morning where all the good vibes could come in. I expect this to be a positive atmosphere for both me and my dragonoid so that we can be ready to win our second Pentagram Knight for this day. Since this morning is special, I made the initiative to make breakfast. The sound of the cooking oil and the smell of hamburgers makes this very second of my life perfect.

“G-Good morning, Senpai…” Serena rubbed her eyes the moment she appeared in the kitchen. Then, she gasped, fully shocked as if she saw something truly impossible. “Oh! Why are you cooking breakfast?”

“Why? Is it really hard for me to believe that I can cook too?” I smirked.

“Sadly, yes.” Serena forced a smile. “Um, Senpai? Do you happen to have a cold?”

There is an irritating teasing smug on Serena’s face. I know she’s a good girl, but I kinda hate when she turns so passive-aggressive and sarcastic. But of course, it’s not enough to ruin my morning. Serena is Serena, and that’s what I like about her. She’s like my rebellious daughter in her teenage years.

“You’ll regret criticizing me once I serve my meal.” I smiled back.

“Looking forward to that, Senpai~” Serena answered as if it’s a challenge. 

I seasoned my homemade burger patty with salt and pepper, flipped it, and then put cheddar cheese on top of it to melt. While I’m busy putting all my effort into my breakfast, Serena went to the living room and switched on the TV to watch some morning news. The kitchen and the living room is not so far away, so I can hear the news reporters' words.

“Elysia’s Emperor Michael Eldritch and United Human Nations Chairwoman Marisse Trystgade-Eldritch are destined to have a state visit this afternoon in the Guardian’s Haven to have a private conference with Emperor Sirius Elkyria. The current topic they will meet on hand is currently unknown.” The reporter said.

Eldritch. Trystgade. They are really going here on Alterra, and here on Guardian’s Haven. It should be easier for me to kill them with my own hands since they are going straight at my own den, but I can see several problems with that. I want to get my revenge, but if I ever succeed in killing those two, a war would break out. Eldritch and Trystgade now own three human countries, namely; Elysia, Sargus, and Fleija. Now that those three countries are standing together, they could match Alterra’s warfare capabilities. If I execute my revenge carelessly, the world will bathe with an ocean of blood.

As I land the tray full of our breakfast meals on the table in the living room, I stared at the TV. The face of my former friend and former love waving hands on their people look so charming and majestic. It’s supposed to give normal people hope and happiness, but not for me. Seeing their faces, seeing them together, seeing them stand in might make me want to kill them more with my wrath.

“Senpai…” Serena held her chest, full of worries. To negate her negative emotion, I rubbed her head like an obedient pet.

“Let’s eat our breakfast,” I said.

We started to eat my special breakfast, which consists of a clean golden egg omelet and pure beef burger patty coated with melted cheddar cheese. Serena’s first bite on my meal made her smile with joy, making her say: “Senpai! This is really good!”. She continued to eat down my special dish as if she’s eating in a five-star restaurant. She looks so jolly that it gives a little joy in my cold heart.

But the moment I tried a bite on my own meal, I couldn’t taste the flavor. I could have sworn I seasoned it with spices, and the quality of the cheese is superb. The problem is not my taste buds either. The problem is my brain. It couldn’t register the luscious flavor of my cooking.

My mind is only focused on Michael Eldritch and Marisse Trystgade. It’s thinking on its own, and it is formulating various plans to kill those two people. My mind keeps telling me that if I have to kill them, I’ll make it at least look like an accident to prevent a war to break out.

But before that, I have to defeat my second Pentagram Knight first.

Right after breakfast, Serena and I suited ourselves to our usual battle gear. We immediately went to the Dragon Knight Academy and to the arena inside the premises. Unlike before, the colosseum is occupied by dragon knights and their dragonoids. There are only a few civilians in the audience’s seat, including the annoying Serenatics Fanclub. There is still media personnel here, but for some reason, they are not holding any cameras.

It’s like I’m boxed inside as if they are waiting for an ambush. I don’t see any other dragon knights that ought to challenge the Pentagram Knights. I don’t see the Pentagram Knight I’m supposed to challenge either, but the four other Pentagram Knights are there at the audience’s seat. It’s as if I'm the only one here in this very center of the arena, and the show is all mine and mine alone. I can see familiar faces such as Alphonse, Z, Danielle, Nathaniel, Captain Valesmith, and Rius. I can’t read their facial expressions at all.

This feels so odd. I have this slight chill in my bones, which gives me a surge of adrenaline, even if I’m not even fighting or fleeing. Everything is wrong here. I have a hunch that this very arena is staged as if I am a gladiator who will be fed to a bunch of lions.

“Senpai…” Serena hugged my right arm, and it was so tight that I can feel her breast squeezing. I can feel her trembling as if she’s a cornered animal. “I… I feel scared for some reason.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed around the arena, making a proclamation to everyone who is here to witness us.

“Welcome, Sir Xenon Wingate!” It was the Alterran Emperor who is speaking with his loud voice without a mic. “I am grateful for your appearance in this arena. Your determination and honor truly know no boundaries.”

I looked up, but my eyes are not fixated on the Emperor of Alterra himself. My gaze is locked on the persons who are sitting beside him. There are two persons whom I didn’t expect to meet at this very time.

The person I hate the most is a man with blonde hair and a saint-like handsome face. He’s wearing a white tuxedo and a golden crown on his head. Beside him is another person I am itching to kill, which is his wife: a beautiful tall woman with reddish-brown hair and a princess-like atmosphere. Those two bastards are sitting comfortably on the VIP audience's seat as if they are just here to watch home movies while eating luxurious popcorn.

“Eldritch. Trystgade.” I muttered as I clenched my fist.

I couldn’t believe that I will be able to meet them again this early. Somehow, I feel like this is a surprise reunion.