A Friendly Spar
Note: This takes place after Underlord. Spoilers abound!
Eithan reclines atop a block of black stone, a fan in hand. If not for the ominous purple flashes of lightning and the illumination of script and torchlight that dotted the Akura arena grounds within Night Wheel Valley, the ex-patriarch of the Arelius would easily be seen as slacking in on one of the most prestigious tournaments in all of Cradle.
The team captain of his Blackflame Empire being his person truly if his fashionably inscrolled pastel robes haven't denounced it yet to an onlooker's eyes.
He hummed a tune, whoever was managing the maintenance of this particular space was doing an incredible job. The entire place was immaculate; not a crack in the masonry, script runes whole and hale, and the symmetry... to think this is just one of the arenas within this little pocket space. Admirable, but this was just a pleasant appetizer of what is to come.
A smile graced his lips as he fans himself in anticipation.
"Sometimes I like to see what's in that golden head of yours."
Naru Saeya walked through one of the awnings behind him. Her steps echoing through the empty arena. Peacock feathers adorned her raven hair, their long black strands were now tied into a tail that brushed past her green sacred artist's robes holding the Blackflame Empire's emblem upon them. On her back were her folded emerald wings -her goldsigns that marked her chosen path.
"Right now? Nothing important, just tweaking the training regimens is all."
Her eyes narrowed as her own bloodline abilities picked up one particular madra signature approaching on the other side of the arena.
"You're messing with Akura Charity's plans for her Blackflame ward?" her voice trembled to almost a shout as she reigned in her emotions. It was one thing if the boy was still under their Empire, but when the Sage of the Silver Heart had chosen who would replace her nephew in the tournament for the Akura; they could not say otherwise. For in truth, their Empire was but a vassal under them.
That and because the Blackflame had been involved in the death of Akura Harmony.
Eithan waggled a finger " Uh-uh, the correct word is complementing. And not to worry, I still have say in the boy's progression." The blonde underlord winks.
"I'm not the first ranked Underlord in charm within our Empire for nothing mind you."
Saeya isn't too sure whether or not she'd be horrified or angry at this. But the man has pulled off some ridiculous stunts before.
So she lets out a sigh.
"Well, so long as Charity won't suddenly swoop in from her meetings with the rest of the ranking Akuras... I'm in your care team leader."
Eithan gestures to one of the nearby seats overlooking the arena grounds below, brushing off her earlier tone.
"If you have some time off from your own cycling techniques this morning.." He waves his free hand up at the dark open roof "Not that I can tell, may I suggest spectating this particular match? I promise you, this'll be... informative to say the least."
And that he might need a helping hand if things get too heated.
Wei Shi Lindon walks into the outer courtyard of the arena. His black Akura robes trailed behind him as he moved, the purple accents showing beneath the outer lapels and pleats in a pattern reminiscent of fire. His prosthetic right arm was alabaster white despite almost mimicking his original in all ways except that the white the hunger madra composing it lay dormant within.
It hasn't been two months since he'd trained with the Akura and already he felt the keen sense of loss he has with his friends. It was like those first few months out of Sacred Valley all over again. He still occasionally wonder how was the clan doing without him; Did his actions in Mount Samara find its way back to Wei Clan? What would they think of him? A pariah, either exiled or dead?
Sure he had Mercy to talk to [although she'd promise to train her younger brother this morning too bad]. But what of Yerin, was she stronger now too? He'd been told who were the team the Blackflame Empire had formed and to his relief [unsurprisingly] both Eithan and Yerin had made the cut.
Still, without Eithan for the past month, would he be left alone? He banishes that stray thought. He was fine after that time stranded within Ghostwater right? And with the Akura's guidance, surely he'd be at her level still.
It was why he was anticipating the blonde underlord's message when he was finally allowed some leeway from Akura Charity and Fury's instruction. He was grateful and all despite the literal bone breaking sessions he had. [Pride really cracked that femur bad huh.]
He was getting fidgety.
Dross interrupted his thoughts [Hate to ruin your self depreciating internal monologue, but we're here. Oh look, janitor numbuh one's here too!]
And Lindon was. He emerged up the steps to the edge of the Akura arena. Sure enough he could see Eithan atop the black walls encircling the grounds.
And just emerging from the opposite from his was Yerin.
She kept her straight black hair past her shoulders. Yerin never bothered to experiment since the master always prioritized practicality first in battle. Not too long that it'd get in her way, not too short she was adminished for the proper appearances around the more urban parts of the world.
Although having it this long wasn't so bad, her friends did say it looked good on her.
Yerin nonchalantly passes a hand through her hair as she walked towards the arena's edge. As underlady, no one would under her rank would get even close to her unless she'd allow it. One of six metallic bladed arms that served as her goldsigns folded on her back will be ample deterrant, if not for her control of sword madra.
Grey robes covered her lithe form, with the Sage of Endless Sword- her master's straight sword sheathed tight to her left hip. Her blood shadow within was wound tight around her madra core, the parasite almost throbbing with anticipation.
An old reflex caused her to move the hand on her hair and latch unto the sword's hilt, knuckles white.
Burn and bury her, she was the same; that she'll concede despite her feelings of enmity towards her parasite. The desire to see Lindon again even after such a short time of absence. It plagued her like her master's death and her family's before that. Ironic that the realization of loss had fuelled her to underlady status.
It wasn't so long ago that she'd been Lindon's guardian, the hen that protected her egg before he overcame that and became her rival in training- her equal.
It was laughable she knows. There was an undertone of fear that she realized his growth may far outpace her own, almost drowning her when that cracked Seishen gardener had forced her to feed her very life to that bloody parasite. In that brief state with barely a month to live, a terror encroached; she'll never make it to the pinnacle of where her master had once stood. That she'll get left behind.
Until Lindon had pushed her on, even made her want to see what was beyond the endless climb of battle that her master had so drilled into her. She'd like to read and write one day, and go back to...
She forcefully shoved the rest of the thought to the depths of her skull before her face would show them. No need to feed Eithan. He had eyes everywhere.
She steps into the edge of the arena, the light of script and flame shining on her face.
And there was Lindon. The Akura robes suited him, and now he even wore the part of evil sect leader. She repressed the urge to go running and hug him. She settled for a grin instead.
"See, you just can't get rid of me that easy."
"I wouldn't want to get rid of you. You know that." Lindon pointed out.
She barely noticed the faint blush creeping on her cheeks.
[Yes, we miss you too. More from my big, strong and capable artist here- who just now has become a bigger softie. But yes, also from me.] Dross echoed from inside her head.
As they moved closer to the arena's center, Little Blue materialized atop Lindon's shoulder. The etheral wisps of bluish madra collected into the form of a small blue lady perched upon his robes. After a moment's hesitation, the small blue spirit managed a wave at her before hugging Lindon's neck. Her blue mouth speaking in tinkling chimes.
Yerin waved back. It wasn't much but it was something finally from the Riverseed Spirit. After months Little Blue would immediately back off from her in fear, it was maybe getting used to her parasitic guest.
The ground before her shook as Eithan leapt to the center and immediately hugged the both of them in each of his arms.
"Ah together at last and all in one piece!"
"One piece?" echoed Lindon.
"Tell me this isn't just a reunion party after just two months away." Yerin grouched.
"It did cross my mind that the Akura would have a brutal regimen rivalling my own especially with the Uncrowned Tournament's hastened schedule. With the way you are right now, I'm pretty sure mine's still the best right?" The Arelius Underlord needled unabashed.
Then he pushed both Yerin and Lindon away from him.
"And that's right little sister. We're celebrating this with a bang."
"Let me guess, both of us are finally fighting against you?" Yerin's goldsigns emerged from her back in an array of pointed blades. A hand on the sword's hilt.
Eithan barked a laugh.
"Oh heavens no Yerin! Well, maybe not yet." He made no attempt to hide a coy smile.
"You're going to duel each other."
Notes:
ARGH! The Cradle series consumed the majority of my sleep as I breezed through the books in a span of two weeks. Now that I've cleared Underlord I've had withdrawals trying to seek out similar books while waiting for Uncrowned. Now with my collection of light novels and books to tide me over in the meantime, hat's off to you Will Wight; the books were quite the ride.
Now unto this story. So this takes place approximately two months post events of Underlord. Lindon has gotten stronger under the tutelage of the Akura, along with Mercy and Pride. While both Charity and Fury oversee the training of the Clan's representatives. Eithan and co. have done their own preparations before coming through the Night Wheel Valley to maximize training efficiency for both teams to compete and allow Eithan to have some input since Akura Malice did approve of him. (This scenario is probably not going to fly in Uncrowned, but one can dream.)
Oh can anyone take a gander what you'd think Lindon's weapon would be? Or what you'd like to see in the future upcoming fanfictions? Suggestions? Please write them down the comments section 😊
Stay tuned, since this is but part one of two. Till then, 😉