Rebellion Helesta: The Betrayed Princess and the Cage of Twisted Love - Flames of Alliance — Blood-Stained Cooperation and the Awakening of Impulse

The night in the royal capital of Cardinal was restless. When the sun set and the sky shifted from deep indigo to pitch black, the city should have been enveloped in silence. Hayato sat leaning against the wall in his room on the third floor of the palace's east wing. The lights were off. Outside the window, darkness reigned, and only the Vener streetlamps dotting the distant avenues lined up their orange points of light. He couldn't sleep. His body was exhausted. His muscles felt heavy and stiff from training with Vikto. And yet his eyes remained wide awake. ...It's too quiet." Hayato murmured. Over the past two days, he had learned to read the city's atmosphere. During the day, it was lively. The shouts of merchants, the laughter of children, the sound of carriage wheels striking the cobblestones. But the night was different. When night fell, people shut themselves inside their homes. Only patrolling soldiers remained on the streets. Everyone feared something. They cowered and trembled at the shadow of an unseen enemy. Nova Liberta—the anti-Empress faction. According to Lize, half the nation had become their enemy. If that was true, then enemies could be anywhere in this city. The neighbor next door, the merchant who greeted him in the morning—they might all be after Hayato's head. (Interesting.) Hayato's lips twisted. Not a bad way to kill some boredom. That was when it happened. —Knock, knock. A knock came at the door. Before Hayato could respond, he heard the sound of a key being turned from outside. "Hayato. You're awake, I take it." The door opened. There stood Vikto, clad in silver-white armor. His face was sterner than usual, the furrow between his brows deeper. He held his silver-white helmet in one hand. "We're mobilizing. Fires have broken out on Luce Avenue. It's the work of Nova Liberta." "How many?" "Reports say over a dozen. They set fire to shops and are attacking evacuating citizens." Hayato rose to his feet. He picked up Laevateinn, which had been leaning against the wall. Its blazing orange blade faintly resonated within its scabbard, as if yearning for battle. "This is your first real combat. It's nothing like training. You will follow my orders without fail." "You're the one who'd better not slow me down." Hayato said it lightly. Vikto's gray eyes flashed sharply for an instant. But he said nothing. The two of them broke into a run. The moment they passed through the palace gates, the atmosphere changed completely. Screams could be heard. In the distance, orange flames blazed, tearing through the darkness. The smell of smoke rode the wind. Luce Avenue—the capital's main artery, running straight from the palace's main gate to the south gate. A straight road stretching two and a half kilometers, lined densely with shops and taverns on both sides. Now, that avenue had become a vision of hell. "Help me!!" "My child is in there! Someone!" Panicked citizens ran about, screaming as they fled. Flames rose from the shops along the avenue, and the sound of rubble collapsing echoed all around. Arson. Fires had been set simultaneously in multiple locations. It was clearly planned—designed to restrict the directions people could flee and sow chaos. And then— "You dogs of the Empress! Now is the time to bring down the hammer!" "For freedom! Glory to Nova Liberta!" Soldiers clad in black cloaks strutted down the avenue, torches in hand. They drew their swords and mercilessly cut down citizens who were slow to escape. Vikto shouted. "Silver Guard, deploy! Prioritize evacuating the citizens! The enemy is mine and the Savior's to deal with!" The several guards who had rushed to the scene immediately sprang into action. But they were outnumbered. The enemy had over a dozen. On their side, it was just Vikto and Hayato. "Hayato, we're thinning their numbers." Vikto drew his sword. His movements were efficient, honed by years of combat. His silver-white armor glittered, reflecting the light of the flames. Hayato drew Laevateinn as well. Shnnng— The blade vibrated in the air, and an orange flame flickered faintly into view. Heat traveled into his palm. Magical power coursed through his body, a tingling sensation reaching his fingertips. (So this is real combat.) Hayato thought. This wasn't training. The enemy was coming to kill for real. And he would kill for real in return. Simple enough. "I'll be the decoy." When Hayato spoke, Vikto's eyes widened in surprise. "What are you—" "I'll draw them all to one spot. If we corner them in a tight space, you can take them all out at once, right?" Hayato surveyed the avenue. Ahead was a tavern—the Amber Cup. A sturdy stone building. If they fought there, even in a chaotic melee, the surrounding damage would be minimal. The windows were large, making it easy to enter from outside. "I'll lure them into that tavern. You come in through the window and hit them from behind. We can wipe them out that way." "That's reckless. You'll be the focus of their attacks." "That's the point. That's what a decoy is for." Hayato's lips twisted. Anguish flickered across Vikto's face. "...Very well. But don't you die." "I don't need you to tell me that." Hayato broke into a run. He kicked off the cobblestones, cut across the heat of the flames, and pushed through the fleeing crowd. The rebel soldiers noticed Hayato. "That's—the Savior! Kill him!" "There's a bounty on his head!" Just as planned. As Hayato ran at full speed, he deliberately breathed raggedly and purposely stumbled. The perfect prey. A weak-looking figure that practically begged to be chased. (Come on. Over here.) The rebel soldiers swarmed toward him. One, two, three—five, six. Those who had been chasing citizens moments before now came for Hayato one after another. Hayato dove through the tavern door. "Hahh... hahh..." A rough, acted-out pant. Dragging his feet, he fled deeper inside, past the counter. The tavern interior was in shambles. Tables were overturned, and the smell of shattered liquor bottles filled the air. Both the owner and the customers had already evacuated. "We've got you cornered, brat!" "Let's see you cry now, you Empress's dog!" The rebel soldiers poured into the tavern one after another. One, two, three—he counted up to eight. All of them had swords in hand and spread out in a fan formation to surround Hayato. "...Got you." Hayato murmured quietly. In that instant— Crash!! The tavern's large window shattered into pieces. "That's enough!!" Silver-white armor burst through, scattering shards of glass. Vikto's greatsword traced an arc, cutting down one of the enemy soldiers who had his back turned. """What—!?""" The surprise attack from behind threw the rebel soldiers into disarray. In that opening, Hayato moved as well. Laevateinn trailed flames. Its orange trajectory carved a single streak of light through the dark tavern. Shhk. He cut the sword arm of one enemy soldier. A scream. With the return stroke, he shattered another soldier's knee. "Damn it! It's a trap!" "Get outside! We're surrounded!" The enemy soldiers scrambled for the exit. But it was too late. Vikto's greatsword roared, cutting off their escape. A single heavy swing mowed down two at once. A dull sound—armor and bone crushed together. In that gap, Hayato kicked off the counter and leaped. (Over here.) Laevateinn carved deeply into the back of one soldier hiding behind a fallen table. Blood sprayed, leaving a dark stain on the wall. Hayato and Vikto positioned themselves back-to-back. "I've got your back." "...And I yours." Their first time fighting together. Hayato covered Vikto's blind spots, and Vikto took on the enemy's main force. They read each other's movements without needing words. An enemy soldier charged. Hayato parried the sword with Laevateinn, and the moment the opponent's stance broke, he drove his knee into their stomach. Guhh—the air escaped the enemy soldier's lungs. From behind the collapsing enemy, another lunged to strike. But— Clang! Vikto's greatsword swept the blow aside from the flank. "Don't look away." "Sorry." Short words. But within them, trust had unmistakably been born. The battle ended in a matter of minutes. All eight enemy soldiers lay on the floor, groaning. Vikto restrained them one by one, kicking their weapons away and piling them in a corner. "It seems the Guard has subdued the remaining ones outside as well." Vikto removed his helmet and wiped the sweat from his brow. His ash-brown hair was disheveled, and the white hairs at his temples glistened with sweat. "Your quick thinking saved us. You have my thanks." "Don't mention it. I just did what was practical." Hayato sheathed Laevateinn. His body was hot. His heart pounded like a drum. The excitement of battle still raced through his entire body. (That was fun.) An honest thought. While Vikto dealt with the remaining enemies and went to aid the wounded, Hayato stood alone in the corner of the tavern. At his feet lay an unconscious enemy soldier. A young man. Probably around twenty. His black cloak was soaked in blood, and there was a gash on his face. He was breathing. But he wasn't conscious. Hayato—casually, stepped on his face. Crunch. The sensation of cartilage being crushed. Something lukewarm seeped through to the sole of his foot. (—Huh?) For a moment, Hayato didn't understand what he had just done. He jumped back and looked at his own foot. The bottom of his shoe was stained with blood. The face he had stepped on was also a mess—nose bent, sinking into a pool of blood. "...Why." He murmured aloud. Just now, he had—unconsciously stomped on the face of an unconscious enemy. There was no reason. Just because. Simply because it was there. (...Just because?) Hayato looked at his own hands. His bloodstained fingertips trembled faintly. Memories came flooding back. During the battle—he had kicked the stomach of a downed enemy over and over. An opponent who could no longer fight. And yet. And yet, he hadn't been able to stop. Nausea hit him. Something rose from the pit of his stomach. (Disgusting.) But—at the same time. His lips were twisted. He was smiling. He was smiling. Hurting the enemy had felt good. The sensation of bone under his sole, the smell of blood, the sight of his opponent suffering. It was—fun. "...Am I messed up in the head?" Hayato murmured. (No, I already knew.) Ever since the first time he had cut someone down, it had been like this. It wasn't that there was no fear. But more than that—there was exhilaration. He hadn't realized such a cruel impulse existed inside him. No, he had simply pretended not to notice. (No one can ever know.) He thought that instinctively. If this impulse were exposed—Vikto would definitely see him as a threat. What about Lize? She might actually be pleased. But that, in its own way, was terrifying. Hayato wiped the blood from his hands with the hem of his clothes. The sticky sensation lingering on his palms. The blood caked between his fingers wouldn't come off easily. "Hayato. What's wrong?" Vikto's voice came from behind. Hayato turned around and put on a smile. "Nothing. Just taking a short break." (A lie.) The words that came out of his own mouth sounded terribly distant. Vikto stared intently at Hayato. Something flickered in those ash-brown eyes. Wariness—no, something deeper. "...I see." Vikto answered curtly. Perhaps he had noticed. The abnormality in Hayato's way of fighting. The excessively brutal movements, the way he hurt enemies more than necessary. But he wouldn't say anything now. The battle had just ended, and the tension hadn't yet faded. Besides, this was someone he would have to fight alongside from now on. This wasn't the time to create a rift. That was likely what Vikto had concluded. (This guy's pretty calculating too.) Hayato thought as he watched Vikto's back. The ch

日本語

What is Novelia? →

Episode 3

Name: Rebellion Helesta: The Betrayed Princess and the Cage of Twisted Love
Author: Novelia

What is Novelia?

Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.

Learn more about Novelia →New sign-ups get 5,000pt