>>6334227You approach Crowley, perhaps your most helpful ally of the last three days. The Dagdan, also starved from the lack of quality food inside the tower, had been helping himself to a plate of assorted cheeses. He was one of the few contenders left standing on the roof, the majority of the others having taken the exit warp panel upon the conclusion of Kosmas’ instructions. He offers you a friendly nod, and you take a seat next to him.
“So, it’s a rematch for you too, then?” He says in-between several chews.
>“Just what I needed. Me and that bitch have plenty of unfinished business. Also don’t talk with your mouth full. It’s rude.”Crowley merely shrugs, washing down the cheese with a mouthful of wine.
>“What about you though? From what I saw, Arios was kicking your ass. And now you’ve got to take him on after he’s already had a chance to see what you can do. What are you thinking?”“He hasn’t seen everything I can do. You haven’t either for that matter. I happen to have an ace up my sleeve. One that I didn’t bring here with me. With it in my hands, I’m confident I’ll be able to smack him around. And if I can’t, well, that’s life I suppose. I’ll have no hard feelings after giving it my all.”
>“Is this related to that treasure you took from those Gallowglass? What is it exactly?”“You’ll have to wait and see.” Crowley smiles knowingly, ripping a piece of bread off and dipping it into some sort of spread. You were both lucky there was still food left even this late into the event. “Though, I must admit, as much as I was hoping to have a chance to fight Arios again, I was also hoping that you and I would find ourselves crossing blades.”
>“Pft, you got a death wish, man?”Crowley laughs, unperturbed. “Is it really that surprising? I may not be as thirsty for battle as the likes of you or Saoirse, but I am a man who values adventure above all else. My travels have brought me all over the world, and given me the opportunity to enjoy many unique experiences. And in those journeys, I’ve never had the chance to fight someone with dual crests. I’ve wanted to fight you ever since I saw you handle Nathaniel.”
>“You’ve got the same weird Crest he did, right? Can’t say I care much for it. The way it seemed to suck the life out of me in order to reinvigorate him was downright creepy. But if you want to fight me so badly, then make it to the grand finals. I won’t give you any freebies before then.”“I’m more encouraged than ever to do just that.”
>“Is that so? You don’t strike me as very ambitious. You know if you win you get a whole kingdom, right?”“Believe me or not, I’m just here to have fun. A foreign land, a mysterious princess, plenty of strong fighters, not to mention, good food.” He swishes his wine around, leaning back in the sun. “Aren’t you having the time of your life? Even if I lose, at least I’ll have enjoyed myself.”
