Chapter 83: Strange New Worlds.
As they proceeded deeper into the hive Adesus felt a slight sense of unease in her heart but it wasn't from her companions, infact all of the Clan Mason personnel they'd met had been highly accommodating and sympathetic to them once they'd understood the purpose of seeking them out.
No, she got the feeling the sense of her unease came from feeling so disconnected from her beloved home and not just that but here in this place, she even felt disconnected from the world around her, this hive felt like a world within a world.
The group emerged into a truly massive chamber and both Feris and Adesus stopped dead in their tracks as they both felt their mouths fall open at the sight that greeted them.
All around them were Xenomorphs and intermixed with them were all of the Clan's species including the Beledon, they were all dressed in either bright yellow overalls that were laden with tools or lab coats that were laden with instruments and gadgets of unknown purpose.
"Welcome ladies to the heart of the science hive and more than that the heart of all knowledge, learning and most importantly understanding within Clan Mason, this is where the Clan's brightest minds strive to unravel the mysteries of the universe around us so that all may benefit from the knowledge gained, its also where our engineer's design, test and build the technological marvels you see all around you here, it all starts here in this hive under the watchful eyes of it's King Yoshi and Queen Citrus," Markus said doing a dramatic gesture around him with both of his arms to draw further attention to the remarkable spectacle all around them.
The centre of the hive reminded Adesus of a giant hopper bee hive with all of its little chambers all filled with either arguing Xenos or construction, it was like every single step from conception to construction happened right here in this very chamber, it was truly remarkable of a sight.
Suddenly a truly massive form loomed up out of the shadows between the chambers making Adesus gasp and go instantly on guard as the massive creature turned its large crested head to regard the newcomers.
"Ahh these must be the two aliens who came seeking the Clan's help, it is good to finally meet you," the creature said stepping over to them in just two long strides that really showed off the enormous size of its long legs and large frame.
"Ahh Queen Citrus let me introduce you to Adesus Bloodguard and Feris Littlequill of Velona," Markus said stepping forwards to gesture to the pair of them and that's when Adesus realised this was a Xenomorph queen!
"Greetings your majesty it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance and I hope you will forgive our intrusion in your rather remarkable home," Adesus said bowing formally.
"Oh this one has lovely manners come now little one there's no need for such formality here though that's not to say it is not appreciated, though I will say your manners do your species much credit," Queen Citrus said lowering her large crested head to regard the pair closely.
"Thank you, good queen," Adesus said and Citrus nodded approvingly.
"So Seeker what brings you to our little hive? I hope your Patriarch has not sent you down here to lure more of my mischievous sons and daughters off on another mission to prank our Grand Matriarch, poor Remus hasn't left the hive since she found out that he helped Ryan reprogram her cloaking tech to display an image of her in school girl outfit," Citrus said making Markus roar with laughter and shake his head.
"Yeah I remember that think that's the only time our Grand Patriarch was so stunned during a training drill that he got taken down without a fight, though from what I've heard he's sworn to pay him back for that one but that's our Patriarch all over Ryan never misses a beat to give the Tamers an advantage during the intersectional training or contests, don't think any of the Soul Knights saw that one coming, though to be fair not even our Grand Matriarch understood what the hell was happening and why her beloved husband sorta burst into the room and then just stood there with his mouth hanging open while she tackled him," Markus said drying his eyes from the tears running from them.
Citrus flashed him an evil grin that was so wide it looked like her entire head could just split in half at the seam, "I didn't have the heart to tell our Grand Matriarch that Ryan was sitting on top of the hive the entire time she was tearing the city apart looking for him," she said laughing.
"Well he and all of his co-conspirators, pretty sure the entire Tamer section was up there I don't think the Seeker temple has ever been so empty, well anyway speaking of the Grand Patriarch he instructed us to show our new friends around the Clan and I thought it would be a good place to start in the place that symbolises a big part of what the Clan is all about, understanding and knowledge," Markus said gesturing to the two Velons and flashing Adesus a smile that for some reason made her quills rattle all down her back.
"Ahh excellent, well my beautiful king is currently indisposed as he'd quite literally up to his neck in the new battle mech designs, you know what he's like he's not happy unless he's tweaking something," Citrus said casting a glance over at one of the chambers off to the left.
"Yeah I gotta say that thing was a major surprise during the Dark Star to rescue your daughter from that evil corporation from Earth," Markus said and Citrus nodded.
"Yeah my king was determined that he was not getting left behind for that fight, he made it with the express intent that if any of our children ever got themselves into a situation where they needed to call upon the oath that he would not be left behind while others went to their aid, in my eyes he fulfilled his oath to the Clan and to me when he set foot on that planet ready to fight and die at my side to return our beloved hatchling to our hive, no queen could ever ask more of her king than that and I am damn proud to stand at his side," Citrus said rising up to her full height proudly.
"Speaking of Earthlings how are the two that Saviour Mathers brought back with him from the Beledon homeworld settling in?" Markus asked and Citrus pointed with her incredibly long and dangerous-looking tail.
"See for yourself," she said and that's when they noticed a large Beledon woman dressed in Hunter gold heading into a chamber off to their left.
"I'll do that thank you Queen Citrus," Markus said giving her a crisp salute which was obviously the Clan's way of showing respect something Adesus could fully appreciate.
"Thank you again for your hospitality good Queen," Feris said smiling up at the massive Xenomorph who gave her an equally warm smile in return.
"Think nothing of it little one, friends of Clan Mason are always welcome in this place," she said before bidding them farewell and vanishing in amongst the chambers like a giant phantom.
"I must say Xenomorph queens are mightily impressive are they all so large?" Feris asked and Levi nodded.
"That's what makes them a hive queen, my own Queen named Ink is equally impressive to behold especially when she has donned her War Angel armour, she is every bit the warrior queen she has moulded herself and her hive to be," she said proudly.
"How many hives are here in Clan Mason?" Feris asked curiously as they walked towards the chamber the Golden armoured Beledon had headed into.
"Four, the science hive, the War Angel hive, the farm hive and the Battle Angel or hospital hive, each specialises in a different area of Clan life and each is as dedicated to keeping the Clan functioning in its own way," Markus said as they reached the door and pressed a gelatinous looking blob which caused the resin doors to quiver and become floppy before retracting like a set of insect wings.
Behind them, there was what appeared to be a small laboratory that was currently host to two humans, one male and one female as well as one very large Beledon who appeared to be hovering over the shoulder of the male.
"Greetings war sister Ova," Victus said bowing his large head to female Beledon.
"Greetings war brother Victus what brings you here?" the large Beledon woman obviously called Ova said before her eyes drifted curiously to the two strangers in their midst.
"We're here to introduce your husband and his sister to our two new friends here, I thought it might be a good idea for them to get the perspective of two newcomers to the Clan," Markus said gesturing to Adesu and Feris.
"Personally I think he just likes showing them shiny things and this hive is full of them," Lucious chirped making Feris snort a laugh which made Lucious smile and twitch his feathers happily that he'd gotten a laugh out of one of them.
"Ahh so you two are the reason me and my beloved sister here have had to endure screeching Xenos going ape shit for a couple of days, I swear this lot are worse than Chinese mothers at a buffet filled with crab legs when it comes to getting their claws on the latest gossip going around the Clan," the male human said stepping forwards and offering his hand out to Adesus in an odd gesture.
"It's a human sign of greeting and trust, it means I bear you no ill will and treat you fairly and openly with no weapon or hidden intentions," Markus explained upon seeing Adesus's confused look.
"Ahh I see then it is an honourable gesture I gladly return," she said reaching her own handout but not taking his until he clasped her hand and shook it mildly startling her enough to make her quills rattle in response.
"This is Xao and his sister Yu-Lin formerly of Earth and now of Clan Mason after being rescued from the Beledon homeworld, this here is Xao's wife Ova," Markus said gesturing to them in turn.
"You look like the one who destroyed our home!" Ova said suddenly in a snort and she raised herself up to her impressive height making every defensive mechanism in Adesus's mind trigger but she held herself resigned in but before she could respond Markus stepped in between them.
"And you look like the cowards that attacked the cities while Clan Mason was trying to rescue your people does that mean you are as evil as they?" he said in a calm and collected voice.
"Of course not I would never...Oh I see what you mean," Ova said starting off with a yell but then going quiet as her brain caught up with her words, causing her to deflate under the weight of those words and their implication.
"M-My apologies honoured guests my grief got the better of me I meant no dishonour, I know the Grand matriarch would never allow any such villans to walk these sacred halls, please forgive my outburst," Ova said softly as Xao stepped up and gently rubbed her big thigh through her armour.
"There is no need for apology Huntress Ova we are well aware now of the pain that Adem and his vile conspirators have caused your people and it fills us with both grief and shame that we share blood with him and any of his ilks but know this, true Velons and more accurately Guardians such as myself will not rest once word of the depths of his crimes reach the ears of my people, he will be hunted down and delivered into the right hands for justice to be done, such crimes cannot and will not be ignored, he will pay for them," Adesus said and this made Ova snort and smile.
"Then I call you war sister for you speak words that all true Beledon feel burning in their hearts," she said.
"Good now that's cleared up well yeah I and my sister were colonists and we were bound for a new home when unbeknown to us our colony ship was hijacked and our crew were killed, only myself and my sister were saved thanks to Clan Mason," Xao said turning to Adesus who felt a hard kernel of rage in her heart.
"Was this the work of Adem as well?" she asked and Xao shrugged.
"Unknown its one of the things Clan Mason gave us permission to investigate, we've been sifting through the data that they managed to recover from our ship before it got blown up, but yeah if it wasn't for them neither of us would be here and neither of will ever go home now because who would want to after seeing this place?" Xao said a smile breaking out on his face as he gestured around.
"We came out here looking for a new life and a new home but we never expected to find one filled with such love and strength, this place and the people that call it home are truly incredible, they gave us a new life and we are determined to show these people that we are worth the chance they have invested in us," Yu-Lin said happily.
"Speaking of investments hows those wives of yours Yu-Lin?" Markus asked and the young Chinese woman's face lit up at the merest mention of her spouses.
"Oh they're great thanks for asking, never in my life imagined I'd get married to one alien girl let alone four but these Serpentinus girls really are something else, I've got myself a pack filled with love and I couldn't be happier, I have my pack, I have my brother and I have my life," she said with a warm smile.
"As for me got all the love I need right here," Xao said stroking Ova's armoured tail which flicked about before the large Beledon woman let out a loud bray and she scooped him off his feet in a large cuddly.
"Please excuse us Seeker we umm have some very err important business to attend to!' Ova said and with that, she was gone with Xao bouncing along on her shoulder but by his smile, he was far from unhappy with the situation.
Both Feris and Adesus watched them go with mirrored shocked expressions before Adesus turned to look at Markus and the others and found herself even more surprised to see not a single one of them appeared phased by what had just happened.
"Umm is that normal?" she couldn't help but ask and Yu-Lin let out a little laugh and smiled at her.
"Around here yeah it is, happens all the time honestly I'm amazed that anyone ever gets any work down around here but it just seems to work, Clan Mason's core principle is unity through love, love that is free and unrestrained but with love like that you kinda have to expect outpourings of it but honestly it's rather beautiful, been swept off by my wives more than once myself since I started here," she said grinning.
"its part of being Clan Mason is being completely open and honest with both yourself and your feelings, that was part of the path you followed to find us," Markus said.
'The Path of the Unchained Heart!" feris exclaimed and Markus pointed and nodded.
"Exactly, it shows the path our Grand matriarch and Patriarch trod to become who they are today and how their unrelenting and honest love of one another shaped the whole Clan, it teaches how they gave their all to one another and now to the Clan and it's what's expected of every person who wishes to join us, only one who can understand that sacrifice and its message can walk these halls truly because only when you understand that message and embrace it will you be Clan Mason at your core," he said.
"Strength through Unity," Adesus said remembering a part of the Clan Mason creed she'd overheard and Markus nodded.
"Exactly now come on there's so much more to see, let's head over to the Hunter training grounds and you can see how Clan Mason trains one of the ranks of the Guardian core to defend not only the Clan but all who need us," he said making Victus snort proudly as he puffed out his chest, it seemed to Adesu that every member of the Clan Mason military was incredibly proud of their core and of their uniform, it seemed that they must have fought hard to earn it, though it didn't take her long to understand why.
Both Adesus and Feris stood watching as soldiers of all shapes, sizes and species worked and trained together in perfect harmony, all under the watchful eye of their commanders, "These are Clan Mason's Hunters, they are the backbone of the Guardian core, each is a trained special forces soldier trained from the ground up in both Yautja and human fighting styles and techniques but now they are so much more, now they incorporate styles and techniques from the Serpentines, Raptorians and even the Beledons, we learn from everyone we encounter and put that knowledge to use," Markus said gesturing around him to some truly incredible sights.
From a male Raptorian sparring with a Beledon male to a team of Raptorians speeding around a course on some very unusual floating vehicles, to Yautja hopping through trees before landing and engaging targets in close hand-to-hand fighting while a team of Beledon berserkers charged in to support them, it was truly organised chaos to Adesus but there was an unusual harmony to it.
"The Hunters are the primary attack force of the Guardian core and make up the vast bulk of its forces on any battlefield, our Grand Matriarch operates and trains this force but the ideas that govern it came from both our Grand matriarch and Patriarch as she was and indeed still is a Huntress and she pushes the understanding of one surrounding and one's prey into everyone who earns the right to wear her golden uniform, but they are also influenced by training regiments and tactics developed and taught by our Grand Patriarch as he was once a member of one of Earth's most prestigious special forces groups, the result is a fighting force like no other, equally comfortable standing toe to toe with any enemy on any battlefield in any environment working as an army or as smaller operator units deep behind enemy lines," Markus explained before he turned to face the training grounds and at the top of his lungs bellowed "HUNTERS OF CLAN MASON WHO ARE YOU!!?"
As if someone had blown a whistle every single Hunter on the ground stopped dead slammed their fist into their chest and answered as one including Victus, "WE ARE THE SWORD TO WHICH EVIL FALLS!!"
then as if nothing had happened the entire lot of them went back to training, Adesus looked at Markus as he grinned to himself, then he caught her looking and turned his attention to her, "The first thing you truly need to understand about us is every single member of Clan Mason no matter their station or role here feels a burning pride that cannot be dampened or quenched, every person here on these sacred ground earns their place, especially those of the Guardian Core because every one of us takes the pledge before the Grand Matriarch and Patriarch that we will happily give up our lives to defend the Clan and the innocent that the Clan seeks to protect, its who we are at our very core, once you understand that about us the rest kinda just falls into place," he explained.
"I'm starting to see that, this place and its people are if I may say so very impressive, in a way it reminds me quite a lot of home," Adesus said.
"You feeling it too Adesus?" Feris said suddenly looking both surprised and also a little relieved and she turned to look at the young Hand of Mycelia and nodded.
"Oh thank the All Mother I was beginning to think it was just me," Feris said blowing out a sigh of obvious relief.
"Anyone care to elaborate?" Markus asked looking a little confused.
"Well you see your home is a lot like ours in many ways, on Velona we are not the only sentient species, there are seven different sentient races but we all work together to keep our home functioning and to protect it, we all share this cause and purpose because at our core we all share the same blood and its that blood that binds us all, so while outsiders see us as seven different species we see ourselves as simply Velons one and all no matter the face you wear, your blood and your heart is velon and that's all that matters from the deserts of Sand Home to Mycelia's home in the Blood Plains we are all Velons, so to see you all here all so different in your appearance but all so bound together by a proud purpose and belief all working to protect your home and to make it better for all it reminds me of home," Adesus said feeling a smile creep onto her snout.
"Us, it reminds us of home," Feris corrected and Adesus nodded.
"Yes sorry us," she said.
"You know that makes me kinda happy," Markus said and Adesus looked at him vibrating her quills for him to continue before realising that the gesture would be lost on a human.
"Why do you say that?" she asked.
"Simple because I was beginning to think that only Clan Mason thought the way we do, having been born and raised in the Clan it's kinda hard for me to understand what it's like to have only a single race on a world and how they can be either angered or frightened of other species but having seen some of the shit we've seen in the last few years what with happened on first the Serpentinus homeworld, then the Raptorian homeworld, then the Beledons and now you too it's almost starting to feel like the entire universe is against our way of life and just want to go out there and to hurt others or are being controlled by the Dark Seed," he said with an obvious sadness to his voice.
"What happened on the Serpentinus and the Raptorian homeworlds?" Feris asked beating Adesus to the punch.
"The Scalathor and Draconis happened," Lucious said his usual happy and joyful features darkening and once again Adesus rattled her quills for him to continue before remembering it would be lost on him too but she didn't need to prompt him as he decided to tell the story off his own back.
Both Feris and Adesus both stood there in rapt silence as Lucious told the tale of what had happened on both the Serpentinus homeworld and his own before Clan Mason arrived to intercede, he told them of the lives lost and the battles fought, of the fear among the civilians that they were going to lose their worlds and that their people were going to be enslaved and both of them felt the fear and anger that he so obviously felt.
"...but then Clan Mason arrived and they stopped them, I don't know what it was like on the Serpentinus world first-hand as it happened before they hit us but I've seen the vids of the assault of the Grand Patriarch and his Seekers drop podding down onto the planet and acting like a bulwark between the Scalathor and the Serpentinus royal pack before their Hunters dropped in behind them and wiped them off the face of the planet, then the Grand Patriarch and his Seekers stopped their Nightmare Assassins from enslaving their Ghost Slitherers when the Scalathor decided to try again on our homeworld they had the Draconis with them and their plan was simple, hit us hard and invade our cities, they were going to enslave the females and force them into work camps and they were going to steal males like me away and turn us into sex slaves for their troops," Lucious said sounding sad.
'That's awful!" Feris exclaimed bringing her hands up to cover her mouth and snout as her quills vibrated in sorrow.
"It's not just awful it's fucking vile! Any form of slavery is a vile act!!" Adesus yelled before realising her outburst had made all of her new companions look at her.
"M-My apologies to you all but the merest hint of a sentient being being enslaved let alone like they had planned for Lucious and his kind makes my blood boil and my poison glands twitch," Adesus said apologetically and suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder which made her flinch until she saw it was Markus and she actually felt herself relax somewhat though she didn't know why.
"Then you and every single person you have seen and are going to see around her have something in common, there are two reasons we call our Grand Matriarch the breaker of chains, she breaks the chains of those desperate to lead a life of love outside of their race free from judgement and secondly she has made it her personal mission to find every being she can who wears the shackles of enslavement and to break them into fucking bits," he said passionately.
"A pair of goals very worthy of my hammer, the Grand Matriarch is an honourable woman that I would gladly follow through the gates of hell themselves," Victus said proudly.
"My entire hive owes its existence to this burning desire to free those enslaved and we have seen first-hand how Clan Mason deals with slave takers it is why I am damn proud to wear the armour of my queen and to charge into battle on behalf of the Clan as a War Angel!" Levi said rattling her tail across the ground before flicking it up to show off its deadly spike.
'And why I am proud to wear the Shield of a Saviour upon my chest, I might be a male but I will never flinch no matter what threat I face, Clan Mason protected the innocent people of my world myself included and now I take up the shield so that I too can stand in that line and I proudly say while I draw breath none who intend harm shall pass me!!" Lucious said balling his little fist and aiming it proudly at the sky.
"And now you see why we do what we do," Markus said and Adesus nodded.
"Yes I do believe I am beginning to understand," she said nodding.
The little group spent the rest of the day touring Clan Mason's homeworld with Markus having to promise to allow Feris to return to the grand library of the Clan so that she could read the work of the Chroniclers and delve a little deeper into the Chronicles of Clan Mason as she found herself fascinated by the knowledge and stories housed in those walls.
They saw everything from the city to the schools, to the great farms, Adesus was really beginning to see why they called this place their own paradise because it was truly beginning to feel like it but she still pined for home.
But as they finally returned to the Seeker temple Adesus once again found herself watching the training Seekers in the grounds with a fascination she couldn't quite place, maybe it was because she was a fellow warrior that she felt an odd kind of kinship with these noble warriors.
"You coming Lucious has promised to cook dinner for us, he said he's going to make us a traditional Raptorian dinner!" Feris said happily.
"I'll be along in a little bit I just want to watch the training a little more if that's ok?" Adesus said to her friend and Feris glanced at the Seekers curiously but then gave a shrug and headed off after the majority of the group though one noticeable gap was in the shape of Markus, he seemed to have remained as well.
"You're a warrior too aren't you?" Markus said suddenly from her left and she turned to see him leaning on one of the wooden rails that overlooked the training yard.
"What makes you say that?" she asked curiously and he gave her a strangely endearing smile.
"Forgive me but it shows a mile off, the way you carry yourself, your stance, your build, and the callouses on your hands are all signs of someone who is trained in hand-to-hand combat and extensive melee weapon training," he said gesturing to her and she raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'm impressed that you managed to notice those little details and yes I am a Guardian of Life, its mine and my fellow Guardian's sworn duty to protect not only our beloved home but all velons everywhere," she said feeling her voice trailing off a little at the end as a stab of guilt and darkness hit her as her own words stuck her soul like a gong.
She should not be here enjoying the sights of this paradise which her people were suffering at the vile hands of Clan Ruara and their fucking minions, it was her sworn duty to stand up and fight for Velona and she was here with these strangers!
"Wanna spar?" Markus said suddenly snapping her out of the darkness with what felt like a verbal slap.
"What?" she asked in surprise.
"Wanna spar with me? It seems to me that right now you are kinda like a bottle of that damn fizzy fruit drink the Xenos seem to love so much," he said confusing the absolute hell out of her, why was he comparing her to a fruit drink?
"What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded turning to square off with the smaller human setting her shoulders and folding her well-muscled arms over her chest as she glared at him.
"It's a drink that's gotten really popular here, especially among the Xeno hives, it fruit flavoured and is infused with a small amount of high concentration oxygen to make it fizzy, it's supposed to refresh you and give you a boost when drunk, now to look at a bottle of it from the outside it looks normal and calm, but shake it up and the pressure builds until it explodes soaking everyone nearby, a bit of a crude metaphor I know and I do apologise for it but I can see the pain and anger not to mention grief bubbling inside you plain as day and that's even without deploying my abilities, you look ready to blow so I get the feeling that maybe something a little more familiar might work off a little bit of that pent up anger and clear your head," he said gesturing to an open sparring area off to their left.
"Is that what you Seekers do then look inside people?" Adesu said a little snidely which made her feel a pang of regret as the words left her lips, she hadn't meant to snap at him as he was blatantly only trying to help her but for some reason, it didn't seem to phase him he simply oddly smiled at her.
"Do you know why they call us Seekers?" he asked suddenly and she cocked her head and vibrated her quills at him.
"Indulge me," she said.
"It's because we seek the truth no matter how well hidden or how buried it is, it's our job to seek it, find it and drag it out into the light for all to see kicking and screaming, it's why only a Dream Warrior can become a Seeker, we're the only ones with the power to make that happen, you see the truth frees us, even if it's painful, you can hide it, deny it, bury it but it's still the truth regardless of how you feel about it, you can't hide a secret from a Seeker because we will reach it sooner or later," he said with a soft smile once again gesturing to the sparring arena.
"I've seen what your Dream Warriors can do first-hand when I duelled with your Grand Patriarch hardly seems like a fair fight when you can move faster than I can even see," Adesus said feeling her teeth clench as she admitted this fault out loud, she'd always prided herself on her combat prowess so admitting that he could probably beat her without even trying was a painful truth let alone spoken aloud.
"Don't worry I won't use any of my powers it'll be a fair fight I promise," Markus said striding off towards the arena before stopping for a moment and pressing a couple of hidden switches on his armour.
To her amazement, his whole armour suit seemed to simply retract in on itself allowing him to ship it in pieces and revealing that underneath it he was wearing a very tight body stocking made in a jet-black material that kinda made him look like he'd been dipped in liquid oil.
Adesus suddenly found her mouth going as dry as Sand Home before watering like someone had just handed her the most succulent steak she had ever seen and she tried to shake the intrusive thoughts from her brain, where the fuck had those thoughts come from, he was a fucking alien and one she had known barely a full day!?
Markus stepped over to a rack next to the arena and hoisted up a pair of large training staves before turning and throwing her one and so distracted by his muscular form was she that she very nearly missed the catch.
"I get the feeling that this will be your style," he said smiling at her.
Adesus glanced down at the long hardwood staff in her hand and it was a near-perfect replica of the one she used to train with back home but how the hell had he known that?
"Are you in my head?" she demanded and Markus actually scowled at that making her feel yet another pang of grief.
"I resent that insinuation and no I am not, a Seeker of Truth would never enter the mind of an ally or friend without their express permission, only in the direst situation or need do we enter a person's mind without permission like pulling a dark entity from one of our brothers or sisters, or to learn a secret that could save lives or oust the guilty," he said in a very matter of fact voice.
"M-My apologies Seeker but how could you possibly know that my chosen weapon is a staff?" she asked much softer this time as she entered the arena with him.
"Simple your hands and stance, only a seasoned staff fighter stands like that and your hands are calloused on both sides so that indicates a two-handed weapon expertise, add the two factors together and you have..." he said and she nodded feeling like a fool.
"A seasoned staff fighter," she said nodding her head.
"Exactly, see you do not need to delve into a person's mind to pull the truth out into the light sometimes all it needs is a keen eye," he said and she sighed.
"My apologies Seeker," she said and he nodded before launching forwards intending to bring his staff down on her head causing her reflexes to fire off instinctively forcing a block followed by a follow-up sweep aimed at his legs.
Markus deftly jumped backwards over the staff before coming in from the side with a series of quick jabs, "Accepted and know this if a Seeker were to enter your mind you would be fully aware of it because we'll pull you in there with us," he said deftly dodging her counter jabs.
Adesus instantly began to feel herself loosen up as the familiarity of the weapon and the movements began to take hold, it was like a well-rehearsed dance, jabbing, parrying, sweeping, blocking it was as natural to her as breathing and it just seemed to flow through her like the waters of an unhindered stream, the more they clashed the more her body began to follow its patterns, until eventually they both struck and locked together.
"Well well a stalemate, colour me impressed," Markus said grinning at her before spinning back and dropping his staff into a standing salute bowing to her an action she mirrored.
"Me also Seeker no-one has ever managed to stalemate me with a staff before you are a skilled warrior," Adesus said saluting him.
"It was a pleasure sparring with you Adesus and if you ever wish for a rematch you only have to ask," he said and Adesus felt a smile creep onto his face.
"I will take you up on that offer Seeker count on it," she said and that's when they both noticed a large Yautja shape off to the side of the arena but when they turned it had vanished.
Adesus looked back to Markus for an explanation but instead found him smiling, "Patriarch Ryan likes to watch his Tamers train, though he only gets involved or intervenes if he feels it is needed we often call him the Ghost of the temple because you never quite know when he's going to pop up," he said with a soft chuckle.
"I see he sounds a lot like my own trainer she too believed that a warrior finds their own rhythm and style, she too would only intercede if she saw obvious or dangerous mistakes that needed correction," she said.
"Come on I don't know about you but after a match like that I think a home-cooked Raptorian meal sounds like paradise," Markus said returning their staves to the rack before collecting his armour and reapplying it though as he did Adesus felt a rather obvious pang of disappointment.
"I have no context to which to apply that to but I am hungry," she said making Markus grin broadly.
"Then you are in for a real treat, trust me not many know how to make a spread like our Raptorian boys," he said and with that, the pair headed off towards their room while a silent shadow simply smiled warmly to himself as he watched them go.