That, and he can only really travel through the Sunlands at night, in the far less relentless temperatures.

The moon is bright, and it lends itself to helping him locate Erhardt fairly quickly.

“ Thank you for waiting, ” he says, after getting the other’s attention. “ Some persistent ratkin held me up, unfortunately. ”

       So many swordsmen in one place was, as always, an impressive sight. People from all of Orsterra had begun to gather in the designated waiting area, each one their own unique challenge, and no doubt each of them devastatingly strong. It was the kind of thing one could only see in Victors Hallow. 

       This was Joshua’s third year in the tournament, and though he wasn’t proud of his previous losses, he was pleased to have another chance at victory. He had no illusions about how easy or difficult this challenge might be--especially after losing to the Unbending Blade the year before--and it was exactly that promise of a good fight that had Joshua in relatively high spirits.

       He glanced around at the crowd, sizing up the competition. There were a few rather imposing looking people present, but one in particular caught Joshua’s eye. This man, though large and intimidating like so many other men, seemed familiar to him somehow. It stirred a memory in the back of his mind, possibly of one of the tales his tutor once told back in the days of his training.

       But what were the chances of the Blazing Blade showing up at a tournament...?

       To Joshua’s embarrassment, the man caught him staring. He looked away quickly, pretending in vain not to have been gawking like a fool. After a moment, however, he gave up on that act and glanced back. “My apologies. It’s impolite to stare, I know. I mean nothing by it.”

❝ well, ten years have passed and I feel the same way. ❞

It really has been 10 years, hasn’t it... More than that, even.

“ Is that so? ” Olberic asks, softly as to not disturb the quiet night too much.

A pause, as he ponders on Erhardt’s words. It’s... a relief - for lack of a stronger word - to know that Erhardt is not as much of a stranger as Olberic had feared after the fall of Hornburg. So much so he can swear his shoulders feel lighter just at the thought. It’s almost worrying - feeling as if he could be sent flying at any given moment.

But despite that, he smiles, at least a little bit.

drawing muses. / ( acc. ) / @xblazingblade

YES GOOD

PLEASE...... THEY’VE BOTH BEEN THROUGH HELL AND BACK.....

@xblazingblade || letter prompts || 11- a secret letter

(Cut for length!)

To Sir Erhardt,

I suppose it's a bit silly to be addressing this to you. I've no direction in mind with my writing, nor any intention of giving this to you when I am finished. Still, writing helps me organize my thoughts.

“Olberic, you dumbass!"

There is something familiar in Erhardt’s exclamation. Olberic cannot help the ghost of a laugh that escapes him. How much time has passed while they were apart, how much the world has changed and them. And yet, the twin blades are a reflection of how they once were, a memory made manifest.

But those days are gone, things have changed. Painfully so, irrevocably so, as the recollection of the past fades into the hole in his chest that is the present. Really, he should have known better than to attempt to hide these injuries from Erhardt, he should have. But alas, Olberic is a stubborn man, and one who dislikes others fussing over him when they should worry about other things and other people to boot. Not much can hide the crimson that stains Olberic’s clothes and between his fingers at this point, though, and so he is forced to admit his actions. Erhardt knows them all too well.

“ And what, pray tell, would you expect me to do instead? ” He asks in a soft tone, shaking his head. “ I have lived through worse than this, and I can make it back to Wellspring just fine. ”

He pauses, hand lingering on the wound as though afraid he will simply unravel once he allows it to be seen, as though it is the last bastion before everything crumbles within him after all that has happened. Which would not be far off from the truth, he fears. The memories of softer days still cling to his mind, but he cannot grant them attention. Not now.

Erhardt seems to remain equal parts angry and upset at this revelation. Olberic sighs.

“ I’m not going to simply not treat it. ” He clarifies, dropping his gaze. “ Just that it can wait, and you did not need to know about it. ”

Nor does Erhardt need to know this wound was sustained while Olberic tried to protect him. ‘A knight must protect’, a sentiment that was deeply important to him, even with the title of knight no longer being his. But he cannot help his nature - his burning desire to protect the loved ones that remain.

Deep in the corners of his heart, he knows of other reasons why he is so quick to throw himself in harm’s way for the sake of others, but he does not dare acknowledge them.