E-book 8: Chapter 26: Gird Your self

Victor ate some form of candy, smoky meat on a skewer as he listened to Lam, Darren, and Edeya speak to Arcus and his little sister. He and Valla sat on a cushioned bench, their backs in opposition to the deck railing, as Arcus spoke, waving a hand for emphasis. Victor had finished numerous mingling, even spent a while evaluating notes on Berserk with Drobna, and now issues have been winding down somewhat. It had been a surprisingly stress-free evening; Arcus hadn’t stirred up any additional arguments, and, in actual fact, Victor had hardly seen him, because the Pyromancer frolicked with others, hardly ever in the identical dialog.

“I, um, was going to carry that up,” Darren stated, answering Arcus’s pointed query about his Class. “I’m nonetheless solely stage eight.”

The hearth mage snorted. “In case you’re going to enter the First Conflict Coliseum, you’ll need a Class.”

“They’ve per week, brother pricey. Effectively, practically so. In any case, don’t be dismissive! It’s not like I’ve groupmates lining up at our door.” The familial resemblance between the 2 was placing; their eyes and noses mirrored one another, they usually spoke with a sure refined air that Victor discovered grating from Arcus however nearly endearing from Trin. He supposed he was biased.

Lam cleared her throat. “Talking of the ‘coliseum,’ are you able to inform us why it’s not within the guidebook?”

“After all,” Arcus chuckled. “The dungeon is on my household’s property and never open to the general public.”

Edeya checked out Trin. “You stated your father ‘acquired a cross’ for the dungeon—”

She was reduce off by a burst of laughter from Arcus as he shoved Trin’s shoulder. “Making an attempt to be coy? Making an attempt to downplay your—”

“Our household’s wealth? Sure, I used to be! It’s embarrassing. I’m sorry, Edeya. My father controls entry to the dungeon, so the ‘cross’ was a fabrication of kinds. The true a part of my story is that he by no means lets me go into the place; it solely opens a number of occasions a month, and he sells the slots for favors and affect with the council.”

Victor misplaced observe of Edeya’s response as a result of Arona approached and leaned near whisper, “Victor, may we communicate in non-public for a second?”

“Um,” Victor glanced at Valla, however she shrugged and stood up, giving his shoulder a delicate squeeze on the way in which.

“I’m going to test on the kitchen employees. I’ll discover you once more quickly.”

Arona stepped again, decreasing her head in a respectful nod. Victor couldn’t assist smiling at how Valla squared her shoulders and appeared down her nostril on the Demise Caster as she brushed previous.

He stood. “Come on, let’s take a stroll.” They meandered by way of the little dialog teams, following the deck alongside the again of the home, previous the library, after which onto a cobbled path that led into Dar’s gardens. The identical path would ultimately divulge heart’s contents to the world the place he and Lesh favored to spar. As soon as the music and dialog have been a muted background hum, Arona quickened her step to stroll beside him.

“I do know I spoke confidently concerning the little quest the council is sending us on, however I hope you perceive how harmful your half on this will likely be.”

Victor sniffed deeply of the evening blooms, having fun with a faint citrus tang that tickled his nostril. He shrugged. “I want to do that to be freed from them. You already know about my punishment for damaging the dungeon.”

“I do know. I hope you notice that anybody with a mind acknowledges that there’s a faction on the council making an attempt to get to Dar by way of you.”

“Effectively, he used me fairly nicely to strike blows of his personal, didn’t he? I’ve a sense he made a fortune betting on me, and let’s not overlook that many individuals, resembling Arcus, are considerably weaker at this time than earlier than going into that dungeon.” Victor shrugged, peering up on the brilliant stars. “I assume I’m simply making an attempt to say I don’t blame individuals like Roil for making an attempt to abuse the scenario.”

“You appear . . . completely different.” Arona chuckled, even her giggle raspy and low. “I’d imagined you to be fuming over this entire scenario.”

“I’ve had some readability during the last couple of days. My rage continues to be there, belief me, however with Dar’s steering, I’m studying to make use of it extra like a device than a highway I need to stroll upon.”

“An fascinating analogy. It doesn’t trouble you that the council has misplaced 5 representatives making an attempt to realize a foothold within the dungeon?”

“There’s part of me, Arona, that really enjoys challenges. I like to battle, and extra so when persons are round to see me win. I imply, truthfully, if individuals thought I’d be discouraged as a result of some others failed earlier than me, they don’t know me very nicely. Valla is aware of that. It was humorous listening to Arcus making an attempt to rile her up; she is aware of me higher than I do know myself. I instructed her what we have been doing, however I didn’t point out the individuals dying earlier than me. Nonetheless, do you suppose she didn’t suspect one thing like that?” He barked a brief, real giggle. “She’s most likely relieved to listen to what’s actually occurring.”

Arona’s small smile didn’t waver, and within the starlight, her tooth shone in the dead of night void of her black-painted lips. “You suppose she was imagining one thing worse?”

“Yeah, contemplating the difficulty I’ve gotten as much as prior to now, I wouldn’t be stunned.”

Arona’s voice grew even quieter as she stated, “She’s lovely. I’ve by no means seen anybody like her.”

Victor stopped and turned to have a look at her, listening to the evening sounds—chirps, clicks, and even the warbling tune of a nocturnal chicken. He took a deep breath and nodded—how may he deny it? “Yeah, she is. Was there one thing else you needed to say? Had been you simply hoping to warn me concerning the hazard we’d be dealing with tomorrow?”

“I needed to make sure you have been conscious of the politics at play. Some masters preserve their college students in the dead of night. Lord Roil and Grasp Dar have fought wars in opposition to one another—not solely politically, right here on Sojourn, however with armies on different worlds. Arcus is one among Roil’s college students, and he misplaced a lot favor by being eradicated from the Vault of Valor so shortly. He will likely be trying to save face and regain his grasp’s favor. He might attempt one thing underhanded.”

Victor grinned and reached out, resting a hand on Arona’s naked shoulder. He supposed it was somewhat ahead, however he needed to convey his confidence and didn’t suppose phrases have been sufficient. Her flesh was icy to his sizzling flesh, and she or he shuddered barely on the contact. “You’re the third individual to present me that warning. If he surprises me, then I’m a idiot who deserves it. Do me a favor, although, will you?”

“I’ll.” She nodded, somewhat too eagerly, if Victor have been being trustworthy.

“Is that so?” Dar produced an obsidian blade engraved with smoldering orange runes and, quicker than even Victor’s Quinametzin eyes may comply with, slashed it by way of the meat of Victor’s forearm.

“Fuck!” Victor hissed, slapping his hand over the deep reduce as blood started to swell out. Dar deftly slapped his hand away, his stony fingers inconceivable to withstand, and stared on the reduce. Victor adopted his gaze and watched as his flesh stitched again collectively in only a few seconds.

“A high quality reduce, simply healed, but it surely illustrates the purpose. You’re a tough man to kill. Use that axe of yours, use that power and vitality, and bully your approach out of their entice. When you’re away from no matter formation they’ve arrange, you should use your different talents and lay waste to them.”

Victor rubbed the blood into his arm, making an attempt to smear it into nothing. “What is going to the formation appear to be?”

Dar nodded. “An excellent query. Search for a sample of runes on the ground or pillars or totems or flags. If the magic prevents you from passing by way of, flip your axe in opposition to the formation. Will probably be sturdy and will resist your blade, however Lifedrinker and you’re robust. If you will get her edge to pierce the formation, she will be able to siphon the Vitality. Have you ever imparted your spirit unto her?”

“Sure.”

“What facet?”

“Inspiration.” Victor snatched Lifedrinker from her harness and held her on his knees so Dar may see the white-gold gleam that limned her shiny steel head.

“Not a nasty alternative, however for this, give her rage. She should be her most ferocious, with a blade that may soften stone.”

Victor nodded, after which he quietly stated, “Chica, I’m going to drag again this spirit, however then I’ll offer you one other piece, the a part of me that’s at all times pissed off. Are you able to deal with it?”

I yearn for it!

Victor chuckled, nearly nervously, after which canceled his Imbue Spirit spell. Lifedrinker misplaced her white-gold aura, however as quickly because it was gone, he solid the spell once more, fueling it with rage-attuned Vitality. A deep crimson gentle that smoldered nearly like fireplace started to limn the axe, and he felt her eagerness for battle redouble—she vibrated and virtually pulled away from him, determined to strike one thing. Victor rigorously lifted the axe over his shoulder and let his harness snatch her tight. “She’s prepared.”

“And your Sovereign Will?”

“Already on power and vitality.”

Dar nodded. “Even if you happen to don’t break away, if Montes Foh can final twenty minutes, you possibly can final an hour.”

Victor grunted his acknowledgment, leaned again, and tried to chill out; the coach would arrive in only a few minutes. He’d most likely be nervous or nervous if he considered issues an excessive amount of, however he didn’t like to try this. Earlier than a match or, on this case, a battle, he merely needed to consider how he’d carry out. It calmed him to visualise his actions, to image foes taken down or cleaved in half. He favored to consider his axe work—his stances, cuts, blocks, mixtures, and counters. If he couldn’t use his spells on this battle, it simply meant he’d get to pay attention extra on his preventing fashion. Frankly, that sounded enjoyable to him.

It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the coach settled with a delicate bump, and Dar threw the doorways open, leaping out with a ground-shaking thud. Victor adopted swimsuit; he was simply as giant as his mentor, and the 2 of them simply cleared the crowds on the bustling sidewalk exterior the town council’s tower. They made their approach inside, previous the big System Stone, after which onto an elevator manufactured from crystal that, slightly than ascending as Victor thought it could, dropped down beneath the bottom flooring and past, descending quickly for a number of seconds.

When the elevator lurched to a cease, Victor adopted Dar out into a elegant, gray-and-white marble hall large sufficient for a metropolis bus to drive by way of. It led towards an equally giant pair of wide-open double doorways. As they approached, Victor’s boots clicking on the stone, he noticed a huddle of robed people within the room past. When Dar led the way in which into the chamber, the figures appeared towards them, and Victor acknowledged a number of of the consuls he’d met at his “inquest.”

As he glanced across the spacious, domed chamber, taking within the murals—torture scenes, body-strewn battlefields, and an outline of what may solely be described as hell—he noticed Arona and Arcus standing to the aspect of the in any other case empty chamber, chatting. Dar nodded towards them. “Wait over there. We’ll open the portal quickly.”

Victor walked over, and, to his shock, Arcus inclined his head in a nod of greeting. “A pleasure to see you made it, Victor.”

Victor supplied him a half smile. “Arcus.” He shifted his gaze to Arona, noting she was again in her darkish robes with the deep cowl. “Arona.” He gestured to the macabre murals. “Beautiful area.”

Arona breathed a delicate chuckle, then rasped, “That is the antechamber to a jail dungeon. You needed flowers and angelic beings? Would you want a statue of your girl love, Valla, right here?”

Victor felt some warmth in his chest, felt the craze making an attempt to slip out of his Core into his pathways, however he willed it down. Arona’s lips turned up in a smile, and he may see she was being playful, maybe even making an attempt to pay Valla a praise with the “angelic beings” line. He shrugged. “If it have been the very last thing I’d see earlier than getting dumped right into a death-attuned dungeon? Hell, sure!”

Arona’s smile widened, exposing her sharp canines. It appeared like she’d say one thing extra, however then Arcus ran his gaze up and down Victor’s determine. “I see you’re again to your gigantic measurement. No armor?”

“I’ll put it on earlier than I am going in.” Victor was, in actual fact, sporting the clothes variations of his armor; he’d been tempted to put on his outdated dragon-steel belt as an alternative of the brand new Sojourn-set belt, however the outdated one was beginning to lose its worth; opponents at his stage, particularly casters like Arcus, may unleash monumental torrents of Vitality of their assaults and the belt solely absorbed a small fraction. His new one may increase his agility and dexterity in a pinch, and was just about immune to wreck.

“Nervous?” Arcus requested, his head craning again inside his excessive, sharp collar to see Victor’s face higher.

Victor stepped again to make it simpler on the a lot shorter pair. “I don’t typically really feel nervous earlier than a battle, bud. I’m somewhat anxious, I assume, however that’s simply because I’d slightly battle than stand round speaking about it.” Arona stifled a raspy giggle at his phrases, turning away and feigning a cough, and Arcus stiffened. Victor grinned and turned towards the gaggle of older women and men standing on the chamber’s middle. “Assume they’ll let me get issues began quickly?”

As if his phrases had been prophetic, Victor felt a surge of chilly, death-attuned magic, after which, with the howl of a thousand tormented souls, a swirling portal shaped on the middle of the chamber, casting the area in malevolent, chilly, blue gentle. Lord Roil’s unmistakable cowled determine stepped out of the group of consuls and masters and referred to as out, “Victor, the time is nigh. Gird your self.”