Maria kept making her way through the bandit camp, leaving the bodies of those brave enough to try and stop her behind. She was determined to make it through and get to the bottom of this, For the first time since what seemed like an eternity, she would meet with a fragment of her past life. She would be able to confront, at least partly, the ghosts that haunted her since fate forced the knight to leave home. A man jumped from the side, ready to strike the woman. Unshakable, Maria parried the attack with ease and counter attacked with a powerful slash at his leg, almost severing it completely while making the man trip over. Before the first bandit even touched the ground, Maria fluently turned around the strike down yet another foe who failed at sneaking up on her. As if nothing happened, Maria immediately went back on her way, leaving the men half dead, moaning in pain.
Once she reached the very back of the camp, Maria realized the leader was nowhere to be found. There was, however, a small trail going deeper into the woods. Maria took it without hesitation, as there were signs that showed someone before her passed through here. Her thoughts were confirm as she reached a smaller clearing with a single person in the very center, facing the knight who just arrived.
''Took your sweet time.'' The stranger said. She was holding a bow, arrow ready, but also had quite a couple of different daggers attached to her leather armor. Maria took position a couple of feet away, facing the girl who just spoke. ''Yet I came. Alone, just like you asked. Why are you doing this?'' The knight answered.
The bandit chief laughed off her question and grinned as both of them began walking in circle to stay in front of each others.
''You know why, you know what happened. It was your fault.''
''You don't have to do this, I accepted my fate.'' Maria said, but seemed to be struggling inside.
''I did not accept mine, and you're to blame for that, Sister.'' Maria remained silent, and her sister kept on going. ''I am here to avenge our parents who died for YOUR crimes, along with the rest of our family. You're a traitor and I can't --''
''Don't you think I was punished ENOUGH?!" Maria yelled from the top of her lungs, actual tears falling down her cheeks. ''They were MY parents, MY family as much as it was yours! I've acted with honor as by following the code that guided my every steps up to this day. Why can't you understand, dear sister...?'' The knight's voice changed from anger to sad, to almost begging. ''I tried...I came back, but it was way too late. It was already done...''
''And then you fled?!'' The archer spitted out, suddenly angry. ''You did not even mourn them, you did not stay to give them proper burial, you've abandoned ME! You are no longer my sister, you're nothing more than a traitor and I'm here to bring justice both to our disgraced family and Cabadra!'' She she spoke her last words, the younger woman let the arrow fly. Maria barely had the time to step aside, causing the arrow to scratch her arm instead. Without losing any time, Maria's sister drew two of her daggers and dashed forward. Maria tried her best to defend herself, but her opponent was faster and ferocious. It proved hard to parry and evade the tempest of blade that rained upon her with such a mighty sword, but Maria managed to break her sister's defenses and deliver a powerful kick to her stomach, making her retreat a couple of steps back, taking her breath.
''I don't want to fight you, sister, Please. I've...lost enough as it is.'' Maria pleaded.
''It was you, all you. It was your fault. Mother...Father...'' She said, almost whispering, but then she looked up to Maria as she began getting closer, slowly. ''...but not just our family, right? Our family were apparently not important enough...I was not important enough. I used to admire you, sister. Your strenght and will were legendary...but as soon as they were executed, you lost it all. You were too much of a coward to put an end to your days yourself so you went on a crazy quest to get yourself killed.'' The more she gave her speech, the more Maria slowed down until she completely stopped, her will to fight utterly destroyed by memories brought back to her. The once mighty knight dropped her sword into the dust and went on her knees.
''You're right...Do what you must...I...can't continue on. Not without them...not without you. Not alone...''
Maria's sister took back her bow and readied an arrow. She walked up to her sister and pulled on the string, aiming straight at Maria's chest.
''I'll put you out of your misery, Maria. By killing you, we'll bring honor back to our family. Farewell, sister...'' She said with emotion. Despite having been through much hardship because of Maria's treason and after growing up understanding she,d have to one day claim her life, she still loved her. Their life pitted against one another, but in the end this was for the best.