My lady, is there anything else I may help you with? the ssenger asked politely.
Isne finished reading the report and shook her head, No, thatll be all. You may go.
My lady, he bowed and left quietly.
Isne folded the letter and slipped it into her pocket. She surveyed the Katag mansions large lawn. Gone were the dead bodies and fires. If she ignored the bloodstains on the grass then it was almost as if the attack last night hadnt happened.
The countless soldiers, servants, and tribesn who had fallen last night had already been moved. The enemy corpses had been carted away to be burned in a collective pile with the other tribesn who had been slain throughout the city.
Those who had fallen in the service of the Great House of Katag had been moved by the surviving soldiers to the back of the mansion where their bodies were being buried. Lord Krall Katag himself was leading the funeral rites.
The remaining servants had been ordered to take care of House Katags guests. The servants needed no more instruction, they worked quickly and efficiently without a hint of complaint, a testant to House Katags training.
The servants had brought out a couple of tables from the ransacked mansion and placed them on the front lawn where they then served a simple but hot al to the guests.
Isne watched over her students eating peacefully under the morning sun and smiled to herself. They had fought for their lives last night and every single one had managed to survive. She silently thanked her patron god Stjerne for not abandoning them and she thanked the goddess of war Bellum for protecting them.
Yet all was not well.
Isne gripped the slip of paper in her pocket. The report had confird her fears. Ophelia Thorns army had managed to drive away the invaders, but her armies had not stopped there. As of this morning, all of Undergrowths armies had begun to mobilize under the direct order of Ophelia. Worse, Ophelia had ordered martial law, for the safety of the people, or so she said.
Undergrowth had fallen into lockdown with several regints of troops patrolling every single street at all hours.
The threats to our people have grown while our list of allies has fallen slim, Isne thought grimly. Our situation has beco very precarious.
Excuse , Professor Isne?
Freyas voice broke her from her thoughts.
Hm? Isne blinked, What is it, child?
Are you going to join us? Freya asked.
I seem to have lost my appetite. Ill have sothing to eat later, thank you though, Isne smiled.
Um Freya glanced at the stone pillar in the distance, What about Stryg? Feli tells he hasnt had a single bite yet. As team captain, its my duty to make sure my team is healthy, and in this case, well-fed.
Dont worry, Ill talk to him.
Thank you, professor, Freya bowed.
Isne nodded and looked over at Tauri who was eating with her sister and the other students, Tauri! With !
Yes, Lady Isne! Tauri pushed her plate away and jumped to her feet.
Ready and willing as always, Isne smiled lopsidedly.
She appreciated the soldier-like attitude of the Katags.
Tauri jogged over to Isne and fell in behind her as the old woman hobbled her way to the pillar that stood in the middle of the lawn. A little over an hour ago Stryg had erected the 10 ft stone pillar by casting a Green stone spell and hadnt co down ever since.
Isne walked up next to the pillar and looked up. She could see Stryg's legs dangling off the pillars edge. She clicked her tongue and tapped the pillar with her cane, Enough with the sightseeing, ti to get down.
There was no response.
Hmm, Isne narrowed her eyes and her lips ford a tight line.
Oi! Respond when the Tempest Archmage is talking to you, spoiled brat! Tauri yelled and kicked the pillar. What are you even looking at!?
...Things left unfinished, ca Strygs voice from above.
What sort of bullshit? Tauri frowned.
Hey Tauri? Stryg called out.
Yeah? What is it? she crossed her arms.
You once told that your father had an aurum aegis. But last night he wasnt using it. Why not?
If youre gonna be asking people questions, at least have the common decency to show your damn face! Tauri yelled. She glanced at Isne and shook her head, This is why I hated having him in my class you know. Disrespectful as ever.
Technically speaking, Stryg was never a good student in the traditional sense, Isne sighed. The boy always struggled listening to orders.
Truer words have never been spoken, Tauri nodded wholeheartedly. Oi! Stryg! If I answer your question will you co down from there?
...
You better, Tauri muttered. My mother carries the aurum aegis. She is the only one who can reach my father when he loses himself in his berserker magic. The aegis is just in case he attacks her. Now, will you co down?
...
Tauris eye twitched with anger. She laughed maliciously and channeled brown mana into her arms. Im gonna fucking send this pillar tumbling down and that stupid goblin with it!
Wait, Isne raised her hand. Stryg, despite the attack last night, Ophelia is pushing for the tournant to continue without a break. Your match versus Kalliste is set to begin in an hour.
What!? Are you serious?! Tauri yelled incredulously. But Strygs hasnt seen a healer yet! He hasnt even seen a white mage to assess the full extent of his wounds! An hour wont be enough to heal him! And hes lost so much blood, healing spells cant replenish that!
Ill do it, Stryg said quietly. My injuries have already begun to heal.
Is that so? Very well, Ill still bring a white mage to see you just in case, Isne stared up at the pillar thoughtfully, One more thing. The arch-mage I faced last night told to give you a ssage. Nokti, the vampiress whose throat you tore apart, still lives. He said you would understand.
Stryg jumped down from the pillar and landed on all fours. He slowly looked up at Isne, eyes wide, slit pupils as thin as blades. What did you say? he whispered hollowly.
Nokti still lives, Isne said steadily. Who is she?
A thing left unfinished, Stryg hissed through clenched teeth.
~~~
Mark Stem looked down from the Heralds Tower at the crowds in the coliseum below.
There are less people, he muttered glumly.
What did you expect? I heard we lost over two thousand civilians last night to the barbarians and the fires, his sister Jane sighed. A lot of families are mourning right now.
We shouldnt be doing this. The tournant can wait. We should be holding funerals for all of them! Mark gnashed his teeth.
As if Lady Thorn would let us, Jane laughed weakly. Our queen gets what she wants, always. There is a reason there are still thousands of people lining those stands today. Theyre scared of her as much as we are.
Might as well get this over with then, he sighed.
Yeah might as well.
Mark took a deep breath and walked over to the giant enchanted trumpet that curled around the top of the tower.
He forced himself to smile wide and he shouted into the trumpet, WELCO TO THE 11TH MATCH OF THE CHALLENGE OF SPELL & STEEL!
OUR CITY MAY HAVE BEEN BESIEGED BY SAVAGES LAST NIGHT, BUT WILL WE BOW TO THEM IN FEAR!? Jane yelled next to him.
NO! ca the collective scream from the crowds.
THATS DAMN RIGHT! WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN TO SAVAGES NOR FEAR-MONGERING! WE ARE THE CITY OF THORNS! WE FEAR NO ONE!
The crowd's cheers grew even louder.
TODAYS TWO MATCHES WILL BE DEDICATED TO LAST NIGHTS FALLEN. LET THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE KNOWING OUR CITY HELD STRONG AMIDST THE WRECKAGE!
FROM THE NORTHERN GATE WE HAVE THE ICY BEAUTY FROM THE GREAT CITY OF FROST RIM, THE BELOVED VAMPIRESS ~KALLISTE LILIIIITH!!!~
The northern gate rose to the cries and cheers of thousands. Kalliste stepped out from the shadows and walked proudly onto the sands. Her silky black hair shined brilliantly in the sunlight, though she did her best to hide her sensitive pale skin beneath her thick blue cloak.
AND FROM THE WESTERN GATE, Jane yelled, IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE MOST UNEXPECTED CONTESTANT THE TOURNEY HAS EVER HAD! YOU KNOW WHOM I SPEAK OF!
The crowds scread in agreent.
HE CARRIES THE DEADLY SWORD NALESS, A BLADE SAID TO HAVE BEEN FORGED BY THE LEGENDARY ARCH-SMITHS OF THE BRONZE REALM! Mark yelled.
HE FIGHTS WITH THE ANCIENT STYLES OF THE SYLVAN, WHOSE TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN HONED TO THE GREATEST DEGREE IN THE MONSTROUS SCARLET FOREST OF VULTURE WOODS!
HE CASTS SPELLS OF LOST MAGIC THAT WE ALL BELIEVED LOST IN THE SCHISM. HIS ARRAY OF MAGICAL POWERS EXTENDS BEYOND ANYTHING OUR MAGIC SCHOLARS THOUGHT POSSIBLE!
Jane threw her hands into the air and scread from the top of her lungs, HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY EBON ASPIRANT OF OUR REALM! THE DROW-GOBLIN OF EBON HOLLOW! I GIVE YOU ~STRYYYYYYGG!!!!~
The arenas sands shook as the western gate rose. The crowd's voices echoed off the coliseums walls in a boom. Stryg stepped out from the tunnel and covered his ears with a wince.
He briefly wondered why the heralds had insisted on an interview with him and yet they lied about almost everything. Naless was forged right in Hollow Shade a year ago. While he did know Sylvan fighting styles, he mainly relied on Gale swordsmanship when he fought with Naless. And last he checked, he didnt know any kind of lost magical spells.
Stryg wanted to speak up but the cheers were too loud. Then he heard it. Finally understood it. The word they kept chanting again and again.
STRYG, STRYG, STRYG! the crowds chanted.
Stryg slowly dropped his arms and looked around, amazed. They were all cheering his na, his na. The small goblin of the Blood Fang Tribe. The weak goblin who had gotten lost in Hollow Shade. The blue goblin who had never quite fit in among his classmates.
If only his old tribe could see him now. What would they say? How would they feel? Would they reject him? Or would they
As Stryg stood in the eye of thousands, their voices cheering his na, he couldnt help but laugh and smile warmly, tears at the corners of his eyes. It was as if the world itself was saying he was enough.
You seem happy, Kallistes nonchalant voice cut deep.
Strygs smile disappeared and his lilac eyes grew cold. You
? she batted her eyelashes.
Youre the one who hurt Callum, he snarled.
Please, that idiot hurt himself, Kalliste rolled her eyes.
Even still
You act as if I killed him, she chuckled. Very well, lets see what youve got.
Stryg glared at her. He gripped Naless handle and crouched low.
MAY THE 11TH MATCH OF THE CHALLENGE OF SPELL & STEEL BEGIN!
Kalliste imdiately threw her hands up in the air, I surrender!
Stryg stumbled a step forward, Huh!?
User Comments
0 comments from readers