Sariel: May 21st: Kargos Capital, Plainview Church
The sun was peeking out through the curtains.
It stood at 22 days until the holy tournament that would decide my future.
And do you know what?
I honestly, zealously even… believe that I am standing slightly taller.
And despite the nature of my affinity, I had been thoroughly reading through this ancient elven book of dark magic.
And I had realised rather suddenly, a few pages in, that this too was unnatural.
I had not been able to read ancient elven….
The ritual must have had unforeseen consequences.
There have been quite a few unanswered questions that I have been blocking out for the sake of my own peace of mind. What was Cook going to say to me before he died? Why did he know of my conversation with Lepron, the elven merchant? What happened to Regnald after my departure from the slums of the city? And most importantly, why was it that the rats were linked to everything… as Lepron had told me.
I would hope to learn the answers sometime or other.
For now, I had already learned the method to cast my first ever spell.
The signs required to cast this spell were not complicated.
I stood up from my seat inside my quarters. They were modest, but still had a warm bed, despite the splintering, and a nice functional curtain to block out the light and view inside my room.
I pricked my finger with the dagger gifted to me by Felton.
hands worked through a course of varied movements, with the final sign being of the star of the church that echoed through my hands. It was a long process, and I bled quite a bit from my inexperience.
My lightheadedness almost knocked me off balance, before I was steadied by a shadow, a long limblike shadow that pressed to the wall and moved me back up. It was thin, yet strong, and it was the product of my blood and hard work performing this spell.
Embarrassingly enough, the time taken was about two minutes to prepare this shadow.
I moved it about a bit, the shadow picked up the book from across the room, and it was about to reach my hand before the shadow dissipated, and the book fell on the floor.
Another fucking rat appears from under my cabinet to sniff the book before shooting off.
I'm so sick of them; they're practically everywhere.
And every time I see them, it reminds me I'm not that far away from the slums, or the truth.
That my life is more similar than I can allow myself to believe.
A short knock on the door startled me.
It was another initiate.
-"High Priest Felton has already left Miss. He asked me to tell you that a gift was waiting for you in his study."
I moved past the useful messenger and made my way to Felton's study.
I opened the large oaken door,
The candles from last night were close to being melted wax on the floor. There were things left on the old study desk.
A black leather vest with wool padding,
and a sleek short sword that curved up slightly at the top, with a complementary green leather handle.
A note sat alongside them.
Felton has really outdone himself this time. I reached the desk and picked up the note. It read.
'Keep up the training, Sariel, I expect much from you yet."
What a gift, I thought as I slipped the vest on, squeezing my head through the neck hole. It fit as expected, slightly too large in some areas, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with my own hand and needle skills.
It must have been more than 3 gold for the whole thing, which wasn't a minor expense by any means.
He really believes in my worth.
I suppose that means I'll have to start with results then. I've been doing what I could whilst sparring.
But if I want to get a head start on my well trained, and even better looking instructor, I would have to start doing training on my own. Laziness doesn't suit me.
I picked up the sword; its leather felt rough to the touch, and I noticed the same seal from the dagger he gifted me on the bottom of this one. If there was one thing that could be said about Felton, he never missed out on ceremony.
I made my way out the doors of the church, taking some fruit with me in a satchel bag, and passing some friendly neighbours of the church. Of which I remembered to greet with a short nod, as was standard for anyone trying to become a holy knight from initiate upwards.
It was only a short walk later, before I came upon that very same tree that I had rested upon when sparring Felton. I will fight him here again soon, and by then, I must be a better student than before, so without thinking.
I forced my arm out and cut two lines into the tree with the blade I had been gifted. One at his head, and one at where his legs would be.
I rested my shining blade onto the ground before pulling out the training sword from the satchel.
Blow strength first, then footwork, then guard.
I took a deep breath.
Then, a step forward, swinging my wooden blade firmly into the side of the tree.
Apart from the crumbs of bark that had hit me in the eye so rudely, there was no noticeable damage.
This is going to be a long morning.
Corvos: May 21st: Kargos Capital, High Temple
Scrunched over a mountain of paperwork, High Priest Corvos was finishing up his last paper of the day before a crow flew in and dropped a wax-sealed envelope on his desk with a thud.
He looked up, his aged and withered eyes not fitting well upon his features; he barely looked to be approaching his early thirties, and his hands tore open the envelope before his face turned into a slow grin after reading its contents.
_________________________________________________________
-"Geldar!"
I called out.
My faithful man came promptly, closing the door to my sizeable chancery.
The white brick walls reflected off his shining armour, and highlighted his battle hardened, scarred face.
-" A man has just been exiled by the pontiff, last seen in a small village adjacent to the capital. He is extremely volatile and moderately dangerous. Now it would be an easy thing for us to deal with wouldnt it?"
The message also contained a dossier about his forces, which was usual for an exile, considering his strength and position previously. People who are stupid and malleable tend to follow whichever flame burns brightest. The ones preaching the fallen angels' teachings to their own will be like a brazier before the common man, a facade naturally.
He perked up and straightened his back with a smile forming
-" Not even a question, your holiness."
But that was not what my intentions were.
My rival Felton has a connection to this man, Bilal the scourged. A flesh magic user of the Holy Knight variety.
According to the Pontiff's message, he had fled his post as guard to the king. Compromising not only the High Temple's political position, but our standing in the eyes of the common people, holy men cannot simply abandon their duties whilst the Kingdom is already reeling from the Rats plaguing the land.
And considering that Felton has already tried my own patience with this half-breed as of recent, Im most certainly going to take this opportunity to wear him thin by forcing his hand in the next meeting.
-" I need you to go to the slum district, double our eyes and ears on Felton. Prepare for anything otherwise unforeseen, as the next meeting is sure to be eventful… Geldar, take care not to be seen."
With that, he walked out, leaving me to finish my paperwork. The Pontiff truly is a busy man, so far as requesting private meetings, they were denied in favour of holy clergy meetings. Its just a small thing of many that make my life harder. I think if things were just, the ones like me who put in the most work would be favoured by our lord. And maybe that might come sooner rather than later.
With any luck…
Sariel: May 21st: Kargos Capital, Plainview Church
Chop!
Another branch fell apart
Whack!
A thief's head would be rolling on the floor.
Cut!
Their legs would follow after
The sturdy trunk of the oak was an adequate target; my strength was bearing results even as my arms were straining from the hard work of the last few hours.
I decided to try something.
The tree was now chipped but whole, its green leaves shedding in a heap on the floor from my practice blades' respectable blows.
My pride is growing, deservedly so, as my hands were suffering the backlash.
I would definitely have to use some of the water I brought with me if I wanted to avoid any blisters.
Im coming to the last bits of my strength now, so I have to make this last strike count.
In the green fields overlooking the church, this tree was my only target worth its branches.
My boots firmed into the dirt as I readied for my next blow.
I tensed my arms, and my shoulders raised.
With my arms extended to the right side of attack, I aimed for the face, and almost jumped off the ground with an intensifying agility and strength comparable to a fierce dog.
I feel a calm wash over me. This is where im heading, strikes powerful enough to kill a man with the only tools needed already in my possession.
Crack!
A loud, reverberating sound permeated the empty fields.
I felt my practice sword shatter…
I looked up at my own work,
The tree was splintered,
A dark pattern of bark and wood was noticeably perforating a third of the tree's central mass. The wood inside exposing itself to my eyes.
-"hahahahhahaha, ive fucking done it."
I took a moment to savour my own small victory, I enjoy my progress, despite the leaps and bounds that would be expected to jump the hurdle that is becoming a holy knight.
I dont even mind it anymore, really.
Elven blood really does hold magic, and I am knowledgeable enough to know when not to look a gift horse in the mouth and profess that the fallen angel is likely a folklore tale. The benefits of clergyhood are just too pleasing. I know I can never go back to my old family in the slums or my village now, but a change in scenery is never a bad thing.
And why… cant I have the small things?
I moved my legs, this time Im practicing stance and my technique in holding a weighted blade. As my practice one is in shambles on the floor.
I moved over to the trunk and pulled my new blade out from next to the roots of the tree, unsheathing it from the small litter of environmental rubble.
I turned around.
Strike!
A head cleanly taken.
Swish!
A leg severed from its ligaments.
Thwack!
Someones eyes losing their vision.
I continued for several hours until sunrise was in full effect.
-"ok.." gasp "okay I think it's time for me to settle down for a bit now."
My head was on course for the ground, and the grass cuddled up to me.
The breeze was nice on my skin, honestly.
It was quiet and beautiful.
The hills, and flowers, and the grass and elven trees.
I love it all, I dont think about it usually, but I'm so glad I left those slums.
I… I just wish my siblings could have come with me to see this.
Sleep took me for a while
I awoke
-"Sariel, You uhh seem to be enjoying the grass quite a bit" the handsome voice laughed.
I looked up and almost jumped to attention.
-"Oh, Ser Sardon, I did not know you would come so soon. Is it approaching noon so quickly? I must've dreamt a bit too long, I hope you'll excuse this one's behaviour. How are you?"
-"I am quite well, do not worry yourself on my part."
He took my hand for a second and helped me up to my feet, which made me blush a bit.
He had quite a dashing smile on his face before he said
-" Shall we commence your training initiate, you look quite well rested.
So this should be fun."
He let go of my hand sadly, then threw me a practice blade he had brought with him from the church grounds, and moved a few meters away from me before taking a stance with his own sword up and his holy armour matching his skilled handling of the weapon.
I took my own stance opposite him.
We locked eyes before I made the first move.
I shot across at him, my legs carrying me with all the speed of an athletic but skinny girl who had something to prove to this well made man in front of me.
My leather armour felt an unexpected impact before I could register it; he had landed a blow to my stomach.
I reeled back, with an unseemly expression.
I knew this wouldn't be an easy spar.
So this was but a wrench in my form.
I fired back with a flurry of my own sword strikes.
He was parrying them, but I could see that my strength and speed were causing him quite a bit of strain, although his guard remained hardened.
He landed a sweeping blow to my legs, which sent me almost spinning down the hill. I stumbled and fell before I reached for the grass for support.
He was running towards me with his practice sword in hand and readying up for another strike.
But he had made a hasty mistake; I have endured far worse than a leg sweep.
I shot back up with the same speed but my own strike, that landed firmly upon his chest, sending him back slightly.
-" That was unexpected. Your training has cultivated well under the fallen angel's guidance, I see."
He took up a new stance, with his sword at the ready on his right, and a playful look put my way.
I rushed him again, this time ensuring every blow was utilizing all my strength and concentration.
My strikes were being parried relentlessly.
Our swords were chipping as they were locked into a war of passion.
This would be my defining hit.
He had left an opening whilst parrying my last soft blow from the left.
I pulled back my sword and aimed right for his leg.
My shoulders strained, and it thrusted down quickly with my other hand pushing down on the back of the practice weapon.
He stumbled to a knee, and we locked eyes, as I was almost ready to send him to a final blow of defeat.
Then his body tightened. Every part of his defined figure was on display, as his own sword sent me to the ground with a perfect blow to my already wounded stomach.
I rolled onto my back and breathed towards the sun.
He moved above me, our bodies pressing together.
His gaze was enchanting.
I could stare into those green eyes for hours.
The blade went up to my throat, and it only excited me more.
I had fought to the best of my abilities, and although it was enough to land some very good hits, in the end, the experienced holy knight on top of me was just better.
He had such a cute smile on his face.
-" I yeild ser, you have bested me."
My exasperated breathing had simmered down before he moved off of me slowly. My hand might have wandered a bit around his waist, before he then stood up and helped me up with him.
I just stared at him for a while, reciprocating his enjoyment.
I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and then started to walk back towards the church through the field.
-" Come on then, were going to be late for dinner ser"
I gave him a sly side glance.
We took a stroll back to the church and spoke about our own lives up to this point, my life with my mother, and his life growing up in this rural part of the city.
It was… good.
Felton: May 22nd: Kargos Capital, High Temple
I made my way up the lengthy steps, the weight of my four-man entourage's boots livening up the dim and quiet passages of the deepest part of the high temple's inner sanctum. The other high priests and the pontiff himself, no doubt, awaited me in the high council chambers.
My men pushed open the doors for me and waited for my return outside as I paced through the room to my seat. The pontiff's eyes were watching me sit down, as he gazed upon us from his ancient white seat.
-" Felton Im glad you're here."
He leaned forward.
-"The preparations for the holy tournament are well into their closing stages. This will be monumental for our stabilizing hands to close around the region, and will no doubt bring donations to our coffers, as we move forward."
He continued
-" I do hope you all have made progress in that which ive asked of you."
He picked up a cup of unknown contents and leant back in his chair.
-" Corvos, Felton, Zarwik… you may speak now."
He took a long sip. Looking off towards the stained glass windows.
Zarwik spoke first before I or Corvos could.
-"Yes, your holiness, I have made it my mission to talk to a bunch of the nobility from the royal spire district of the capital. And secured a good few sizable donations that I have already sent back to your coffers, oh great divine one."
He lowered his head and placed his star pendant out towards the pontiff.
The pontiff didn't even look at him
-" yes, very good zarwik. Felton?"
Hearing my name, I replied with
-" yes your holiness, I have a sizable clergy force converting people within the slums, as you have asked. They should have a functional church up and ready by the end of the month."
He took another sip before diverting his gaze from me onto corvos who was sitting on the other side, to Zarwik, who was in the middle of us.
He gave Svaland a short nod before saying
"I have gathered more intelligence as you have asked me to on the exile known as Bilal the scourged, your holiness. And I have found out something quite useful for us to move forward with the operation, High Priest Felton," he turned to me
"Your Holy Knight Sardon was his classmate for quite a while, yes?"
-"Yes that is tru…"
He interrupted me
-" Yes, so as you see, Pontiff, Felton's man… has inside knowledge on the enemy. It is my personal belief that, as it stands felton should be the one to make the first move against the man. We have heard troubling reports that he has somehow used new church information to perform forbidden rituals to attack and kill people who wander too close to him and his band of criminal heretics. So I think you should do it quickly aswell felton, better not to waste time when peoples faith in the church is being tested by this rogue dont you think?"
How vile, I can't believe he would attempt something so bold.
-"That is quite rich corvos, was this whole operation not placed upon your shoulders, and now you seek to take a backseat whilst my men do the hard work?"
He was about to say something in reply before the pontiff silenced the room with the loud thud of the cup he was drinking from splashing down upon the table.
-" Stop it, the lot of you, children i say, quarrelling over your duties to the temple. Felton, although your concerns are well placed, your man is clearly the perfect fit for the job, as only he was the one to see the heretic, as he underwent the same training at the temple.
Have! It! Done!
I will hear no more of this.
And corvos, I expect to see adequate results reflecting the time you will not be spending upon the mission."
Corvos has played me, I can no longer refuse, and he gets free rein to do what he pleases at the capital, whilst the strongest of my own holy knights is dealing with the situation in the outskirt villages.
I shall have to head back now, deliver the news personally, and bring a good few men and my prodigy daughter to help assist Sardon in his new directive against the exile Bilal the scourged.
Angel, protect them.