Speech = ``...´´
Thoughts = [... ]
ºº
Perhaps he had been mistaken.
It was not a thought he usually considered or even wasted time in wondering, but...he had at least expected the warriors of such a named and worthy family to at least be better if only "marginally" than what he had seen so far.
Perhaps not as much as..what the likes of Fenrir had shown so far, but something...tangible at least.
But no…, the warriors of the Pendragon family were barely above of the strongest of bandits...or perhaps, those wannabe cultist who dressed in black gowns and their black pants.
In a sense he did not have high hopes of what he was to expect from them, and yet this guys…, had managed to under-perform. It was rather disappointing.., to say the least.
Said realization only becoming uglier the more he dug deeper...
The ones that were suppose to guard this people were dressed in shining new plate, wearing long and colorful capes, and with an excessive desire to look good in the eyes of the ladies..and sometimes, men.
If one were to take it for the worst, and it WAS….then it could be said that the entire thing looked more like a beauty pageant than anything combat related. The more he thought of the guards, the more they reminded him of a bunch of school girls rather than warriors.
Urgh…, he had seen the way some had looked at him, the way those eyes trailed on his back and way down where they should not be.
The thought almost made his stomach churn, which was a success on its own. For fucks sake, his chosen meat vessel was just ten years old! Well built as it should be, but still a child…not a target for mens wild and lustful imagination.
He found himself grimacing again. Shaking his head internally...
Humans were truly repugnant creatures. To think he shared a bond with them..
Still, pushing that aside...it was clear that they were not properly trained and were made only to look good like decoration instead of actual, factual living beings.
True, there was a secondary group who actually looked the part, and another one that was outside the main properties of the Pendragon family, but this lot where the majority of poor bastards they employed.
Quantity was a quality of its own…, and with all their funding and equipment they may have been able to be the best in this kingdom of fools and vagrants...but they may as-well been well dressed cannon fodder back home.
The thought that they were still alive bothered him.
It vexed him..
It annoyed him to see this fools made a fool of themselves in his presence and giggle away like a bunch of old gossiping nannies..!
Yes, it was official...the Pendragons were as wealthy as they were careless, and that was putting it lightly to not call them out right corrupt and wasteful businessmen given the fact that they were funding several orphanages to pick the children that were groom there..only to make them be barely any better than living scarecrows…
And those were the lucky ones, given that some of those who were not useful when they came of age, were sent to...guess again, the cult.
A rather secretive business, well, not quite...given that he did not need to mind rape the father of the family in finding that out his allegiances and how they had managed to make such a profit.
The fact that he had left a trail of dots connecting him with the institutions and the way those very men of the clergy had neither the zeal or faith in anything but pocket money was already telling. Also the cages they kept under those basements were a big give away...
…
...
Well, yes...he had also read his mind and all his secrets like a wet newspaper, but that did not diminish his findings in the slightest. He merely liked to leave no rock left unchecked before taking action.
The last time he did not, he had received and axe to the face..which had not hurt as much as he thought it would, but it was a bit embarrassing that it had happened nonetheless...
And so, even though he did not need to do anything, he had no reason to partake on this…, that it would probably make more problems that it would fix…. he had made it his mission to beat the stupid out of them by force.
A foolhardy decision at most if taken by anyone else, but he had "created" the favor of the masters of the family to be on his side, something that he had not hid in the slightest to make them all second guess and wonder "how he did it"
Making them think and give him more value than he actually possessed in the family hierarchy
A small child could indeed project a large shadow..
As expected, the idiots accepted…, a bit unsure and reticent at first, but something that did not last long. Either thinking that a ten year old brat would do little but barely swing the slab of iron in his hands and cry at the first poke of cold steel against his flesh.
He would not lie, It had first started as merely a free learning experience to the knights through the touch of the back side of his had. Now…?
He looked down on the 96 knight he had knocked down on his ass through the week.., his broken nose spilling out a fresh torrent of arterial fluid running down his face and into the now dented, dust covered chest-plate. Making all the more visible his stupid, baffled expression.
The sheer shock and confusion reminding him of a kid having been caught with his hand on the cookie jar a few moments before disaster..., only that this time they were less for wear and with a few less teeth.
Of course, it was not a "ten year old" who they were fighting with…, but he never said that this had to be a fair fight, and honor had never been in the cards. In a sense, he had enjoyed this brief affair…
After all, what was there not to like of simple, nonsensical violence..?
It was also the best and easiest way for not noteworthy characters to actually obtain relevance and pick up the attention of...interesting individuals. Simple...and yet so effective.
It was hard to not see it. The mysterious male heir of a prestigious family that had come from abroad, young yet gifted in the arts of war and academics and untouched and unassailable by either his peers or his elders?
Yes, he would be able to attract attention, either noble or foul, the kingdom or the cult..he wanted to draw attention. The more eyes, the more cards he would be able to have close to his chest, and the closer he got to them, the easier would be to plunge the knife in their hearts.
That was the whole reason why he was even bothering to play this charade.
It was not like he would pretend to be the son of a noble only to act as a background little thing whose name did not really matter and was there occupying space.
Whoever ever developed such idea would be just a lazy little shit..
º
...in other universe..
º
A certain uncharacteristic, unnoticed mob like boy found himself folding down, placing a hand over his stomach as he felt a strange, sudden and particularly painful churn of his stomach.
It felt as if someone had just been spoken about him in the most vile of ways…, tearing apart his most of holiest of dreams and beliefs before casting them down into the coldest and deepest abyss in existence..
Or perhaps it was just that those burritos made of raw fish he had for dinner had not gone down well and where about to make a rather spectacular entrance through the backdoor...
``Oi, Cid...why the face?´´
[Shit, just who I needed to come...ah...this is going to be a pain..
``S-sister? W-where did you come f-from?´´
``From the door, duh…I was looking for you´´
``Looking? Ah..for..what exactly..?´´
[Let it not be training..]
``To train of course..´´
[Dammit..!]
Why was his overly abusive and overbearing sister so obsessed in having to train with him? Could she not see that a mob character was not meant to train or get stronger alongside a named character..?
He had to worm his way out of that.
And so, he did...starting to turn around his heels and slowly walk away.
``B-but is so late, could it not wait until later when the sun its up? ´´
``I train better at night..´´
``But I am sleepy..´´
``Fighting will keep you awake..´´
``Oh, I remember that I have to go to the bathroom, so..I-´´
``You will be able to use the trees if necessary..´´
``Ah, well..oh but mother said that I had to stay in my room because I was to be in probation through the night..´´
``I am sure that mother will understand that sometimes a brother and sister must strengthen their bonds...´´
``Actually I think I am feeling a bit sick so I wont be-…oh? OOOOOooooh?S-sister!? Stop dragging meeeeee..´´
He muttered with a wail even though his face denoted that he was only bored and had seen her coming almost a mile away as she now dragged him by the collar.
It seemed that this time that words alone would not be able to make the cut with the brute of his sister.
Well, mob tactic (12) "Made out bullshit go" had failed.., but he was sure he would be able to escape her grasp soon enough.
He had a bunch of techniques that he wanted to test with her after-all...
º
..Back into ours..
º
Still, as always….all good things came to an end, and from the once massive group of people that had been once been waiting in line to face against him had now shrunk into nothing.
One by one or in groups the numbers had dimmed and now no one else remained in the large open battlefield that were the training grounds of the state. The sand was covered with chunks of metal or slabs of iron from the swords or armors of the warriors that had face him and fall to defeat as-well as a copious amount of blood that now made the once whitish sand change into a dark, scarlet hue under the suns unrelenting light.
He however had taken notice that the amount of spectators had increased ten fold.
What had been once wayward side-glances of people that were wandering towards other locations of the house had turned into a full blown staring contest as servants, knights and even some visiting nobles of lower status became transfixed into the joyful display of martial swordsmanship taking place.
All expectant..
All wondering..
All wanting to know who he was and how he had done that..
He tilted his head to the side, forcefully oozing sweat through the fake pores of the meat-suit he was now wearing, knowing all too well that it would have been surreal had there not been a single touch of liquid trailing down this body after all of this..
Ah, this brought back memories...didn't it?
Even though he could not remember when it had happened, the reason those events needed to take place or the faces of those souls that had glanced down at him from afar either with curiosity, interest or just fear…
The sensation he was feeling now was almost the same as what had been once.
It...felt nice.
And yet here came someone to disturb it.
Bastards….
``A wonderful show, my young Lord…, never seen something like this before..oh what a thing would be to be young again..´´
The voice of an older man reached him, the sound of boots scrunching the sandy ground warning of his path.
Sighing he took a side glance, not fully turning as he still held the sword in his hands. Regarding the one that was now approaching while he applauded with both hands.
It was an old man, in his sixties already, tall, clad in heavy armor and the markings of his status as commander of the guard the man made his way towards him with a calm demeanor, though one that was not good enough to hide the anger brewing inside.
..
..
If the knights were pathetically and horrifying to look at, it could be explained by poor organization skills and training. They were merely the symptoms of the sickness...
Looking at the commander, he knew where the sickness came from.
He really couldn't have made himself look any brighter, couldn't he? Why on earth did he needed to attache ruby's, sapphires, emeralds and even a small diamond into his battle plate?
Were those gold decorations carved into his legs? Were those inscriptions made of silver filling in his arms? Did that cape bellowed in the air with sparks of infused tailored cheap magic..?
Why? Just...just why?
The pragmatist in him was dying just to look at the sheer amount of useless junk the fool had strapped himself with.
Was this a custom of this world? Had he had overlooked something before coming here...?
As if to make matters worse Aurora seemed to have picked up on the target of his frustrations as-well, though given the confused and then widespread grin in her lips it seemed that she was not that bothered by it.
"Oh, look at that...a walking, talking peacock..."
[It seems that way…]
"Is this the way the warriors of this time dress...?"
[Apparently..]
The thought that those words had slipped through his lips made him feel foul.
"My, I must that I have not seen this many colors in one person…, in fact, I did not know there could be so many in one place at all…
[Aha…]
"I mean, is so weird that it becomes exiting... are you sure he is not carrying a tent or the entire circus.."
[Why don't you ask him.., given that shameless look on his face he probably is one to brag about anything…]
"Do I have to? Why cant you?"
[No..]
"Please"
[No..]
"Pretty, pretty please..?"
[You are the one interested on it, your problem, your responsibility…]
"You are just been lazy, aren't you.., to refuse a ladies request just like that without a second thought, that is so unknighly..."
[Says the ghost living rent free inside the head of a working man..]
"Fine, fine... perhaps I was too hard on you.
[Too hard would be quite the stretch..]
"Oi...!? Dont sass me back will you..?"
[Fine, I wont..]
"Really?"
[Yes...]
"Thanks, now..if I have to ask him myself then I may-wait..., you know that they cant hear me, right?"
[…]
"You did that on purpose…, didn't you..?"
[Can you blame me..?]
That was the last thought he managed to sent her way, before he was ultimately forced to regard the seasoned captain who was waiting by now for his answer.
`` I appreciate your words, yet I must say that there is nothing of wonder to be found here..´´
He made sure to gesture at the still fallen knight that had yet to rise from his semi kneeling position from the sand. His words earned a nod in response.
``Perhaps from the view of the challenger I guess that this shaft have not much to show for it, but for the onlooker was quite the show..´´
The man then looked at the bleeding excuse of a knight and his expression shifted from amenable to wrathful, almost as if he was glaring at a massive turd that had been shitted on a nice and polished floor.
``What are you looking at, boy? Scarce! Let you stain this ground with your useless blood..´´
That seemed enough to make the man break out of its own stupor and make him made a ran for it.
``Urgh, useless lot...they are a bunch of good for nothing. Truly a bunch of rookies green like the grass of summer. To see them wear that armor makes my stomach churn..´´
``Given the fact that you are the captain of the guards, does that mean that you are putting into question your own competence..?´´
The old man recoiled back a little, his face trying to held a kind if not polite demeanor, yet straining ever further..
``Sharp words my lord, and though I would want to deny them...I can not. Still, I feel a bit wounded by then anyway...´´
``That changes nothing, does it?´´
A moment of silence stretched between them, the old mans eyes narrowing in silent contemplation, the old, terse skin folding with lines as he clenched his jaw.
``Hmmpf...no, I suppose not…, the damage is done and those idiots are not gonna get better because you felt sorry for them..´´
``Thats true..´´
``But there was a need for you to blast your way through my-your fathers ranks?´´
``Better me, than a real threat..wouldn't you say..?´´
``Ah, that...still...the morale of the men-..´´
``Is non existent, what they were taught may as-well been nothing if they cant yet grasp their inadequacy and not repeat of the mistakes of others...´´
``They were...merely full of themselves, my lord, nothing more. With time they may learn..a thing or two before starting fights they can not finish.., that I will make sure of´´
``Wrong..´´
``Excuse..´´
``Your excused, but I said that you were wrong..´´
``H-how so...?´´
``Does it matter, it wont change anything..´´
``I..well, I suppose you are right..´´
``Good we are on the same page…, now…, what brought you here? Apart from the obvious...´´
``My Lord.., I know that you have fought hard and far…, but could it be so hard to be a little more polite? It feels as if you are...demanding answers of me..´´
Koldarrd finally turned to face the man, the semblance in his face blank, and yet the air drew colder and heavier…
[Well, well..well…., what a sloppy sly fox you are..]
``Perhaps you should try to refrain from taking...such aggressive postures, wouldn't you say?´´
``A tool never argues with the architect, did you...a mere object of my ambitions attempted to mock me..?´´
``My young Lord I-´´
``Did you, a mere bitter, pathetic excuse of a man dare to question me..sir?´´
``I no-...´´
``Do you want to die..?´´
``….´´
``….´´
He allowed for a thin, crooked smile to warp around his lips, silver eyes gleaming with no good intent.
``Good, it would have been unpleasant for you had that been the case, and yet I have to hear what brought you here. Speak. Now...´´
``I…. was merely enthralled by the wonders of your swordsmanship and sportsmanship….´´
Of course, the man had said a little more under his breath, mostly veiled insults and curses that he had whispered through clenched teeth, perhaps hoping that only he himself could be witness of...
Koldarrd paid little heed to them, more focused on what had actually been told to him. And it was bullshit.
In fact, he could smell the shit a mile a way…, slowly closing in.
Not even a blind man would miss them coming.
"Really, could he make it any more obvious..? Even I can see his up to no good.."
``And there was a need to do so up close and armed? Especially inside the arena..?´´
``What sort of knight would approach without their weapon of choice?´´
``Is not the weapon that I am speaking about, but the fact that you have yet to pull away your hand from the handle. Grip it a little more tighter and it may just break.., sir´´
``W-ell..hmmpf...trouble may seek one wherever one least expects it. Who knows when an...an assassin may lurk inside this walls and try to strike.., a little bit of wariness never hurts anyone..´´
``Wise words…´´
``I knew the young Lord would understand..´´
``So if that is the case, why are there three of your aids circling on my blind spots and approaching while we speak..?´´
``W-´´
Those were his last words when a fist dug into his face…, lines after lines creasing the old mans face until he resembled a folded paper than an actual face..before reality tried to make some sense of what was going and sent the old knight flying on his ass for all to see.
..
..
Koldarrd sighed, holding the weapon barely above his shoulder as he sent a side glance towards the remaining three idiots who stared at him with dimming confidence..
``Well, what are you waiting for…? An invitation?´´
ºº
Everyone who had been watching the act reacted differently from one another as the sight of the elderly knight flying and landing roughly on the ground make their hearts skip a beat.
Men blinked in utter confusion.
Women gasped loudly, hands covering their lips..
Servants held their breaths as if to not do so would incur tragedy..
And nobles, both friend and foe alike started to whisper between one another.
But of all of them, of all the souls that wandered in attention and watched with conflicted emotions and ideas at what they had and were surely going to witness …..only one of them started to smile.
The cult would certainly have a strong warrior in their hands if they played their cards well…, and Zenon was not gonna allow such opportunity to go to waste.
ºº
A/N
Hellow! Season two of Eminence of Shadow is officially out, so we better enjoy it while it lasts.
Here comes another chapter, I hope you like it and leave a comment down below to share your opinion if you want.
The chapters are gonna a be a bit shorter here and there, but I dont think they will hurt much of the story on itself. I was wondering which to update first the Alpha ones or Koldarrsd, in the end I chose the latter. You will see best girl Alpha soon enough, and well...best doggo is coming right away mid arc! Have a good day/night and have fun :)