Beyond Chaos

The woman was also adorned in her full plate, the purple sun of dusk illuminating the silver blade at her side, her eyes focused upon the western horizon. She turned upon her heel, noting the fellow in puthral, smiling warmly towards him. "I hope I did not interrupt?"

"No, Kal," Adam replied respectfully.

"I hear you so not like such formalities, so just call me aila."

"How could this lowly one speak such words, like pearls before the swine," the half elf replied reverently, a moment of silence passing between the pair. "I'm actually not sure that's the right phrasing or the right way to use it, but thank you, aila."

"Speak comfortably, you are no stranger to me," Samra confirmed.

"I hope you will also speak comfortably to me, aila," the half elf stated.

The woman smiled, rolling her shoulders lightly. "I know you will not draw your axe against me, but if you can stand five rounds against my blade, I will consider it my defeat."

"Okay," the half elf replied, donning his red shield.

The woman was fairly certain the half elf had worn another shield, but she thought little of it, drawing her own silver blade, which gleamed brightly under the ever slumbering sun.

Mana: 33 -> 32
Spell: Shield
Defence: 25 -> 30

Health: 126 -> 106

Mana: 32 -> 31
Spell: Shield
Defence: 25 -> 30

Health: 106 -> 80

Mana: 31 -> 30
Spell: Shield
Defence: 25 -> 30

Mana: 30 -> 29
Spell: Shield
Defence: 25 -> 30

Mana: 29 -> 28
Spell: Shield
Defence: 25 -> 30

Health: 80 -> 51

The woman cast a prayer, her blade glowing brightly as she assaulted the half elf, her blade forcing the young man back, though she found difficult purchase against the half elf's puthral, feeling the resistance of magic. However, as they fought, she realised something, even as her blade continued to flash brightly as she smote the young man, forcing him back. She had certainly struck so harshly that all Experts would have already fallen, but the half elf still stood, though she could see the strain within his eyes, hearing his laboured breath.

"So, you were the one to defeat the Poison Sword Dragon," she said, with a sudden realisation, for it was not just the fact that he had survived five rounds against her, but the fact that…

"If I was a moment slower, he would have killed me," the half elf admitted, smiling awkwardly, not daring to lie towards Dunes' mentor.

"I wish to hear your tale."

"I would rather that my brother speak it to you, but since you're the one asking, aila, I suppose I'll try my best."

"No, no," Samra said, sheathing her blade, taking a moment to compose herself. "It is too late in the day to hear of your tale, I shall hear it tomorrow, but… I wish to know, who are the strongest that you have defeated?"

"I suppose there's Poison Sword Dragon, the Grand Commander of High Garden, who I killed, and… Ashuk? I think I would consider him stronger than the likes of the New Moon, or the Full Moon, whichever one I beat up at the Order of Five Moons, though, I was also willing to face the other immediately after, because I would have beaten her up too." The half elf recalled another who was equally as impressive, but he decided against mentioning them, not wanting to betray Vonda like that.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty five."

"I thank you for humouring me, nephew," the woman stated, reaching over to brush his cheek.

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Health: 51 -> 81

The glowing warmth of her healing slipped through the half elf, forcing away the ache in his shoulder and back.

"Thank you, aila, and I appreciate the honour of facing against your blade."

"If you're going to talk like that again, you can leave!" She tapped his cheek gently, feigning annoyance, allowing the half elf to leave, the boy shuffling away as he rubbed his cheek. She watched as his form turned so much smaller with every step, a bead of sweat dripping down the side of her face. 'I don't have to worry about the Fariq killing you, Dunes, but…'

"Ah," the half elf said, turning to face the woman, who tensed up. "Even though I've defeated the likes of the Poison Sword Dragon, I haven't been able to beat the Mad Dog yet."

"Your grandfather?" Samra asked.

"Whose grandfather!" Adam huffed, storming off, since he had felt the air had grown far too heavy, the anxiety had rushed into his heart. "Seriously, that old geezer…"

Samra understood what Dunes had meant, if they could win Adam over, how much did they need to worry in this century? A half elf would live for at least a century, though she supposed the half elf could get himself killed from messing with the wrong person, but at the same time, just what kind of monster could deal with the likes of the half elf, whose brother was an Iyrman.

"Ah!" the half elf said once more. "I'm twenty four."

"…"

The most terrifying thing of all was that the half elf, while he had raised his shield, hadn't even thought to dodge her blows. If he did, she gathered she would need at least ten rounds to even cut a single strand of his hair.

Dunes let out an obvious sigh as the half elf returned, the young man already beginning to strip out of his armour. "Did Kal Samra tease you too much?"

"No, but you're right, she's quite strong," the half elf admitted. "I gathered she was at least a Master, I think?"

"She is," Dunes replied. "It is rather impressive still, even if you are you, Adam."

"I know, I know, I'm not that much of an…" The half elf decided against lying, having enough shame not to lie to the Priest's face at least. "She healed me too, though I need an hour or two in order to get back all the Health and Mana."

"Hmm?" Dunes raised a brow. "How much did she hurt you?"

"She took me down to about four tenths?"

Dunes blinked. 'How did she…' "Adam?"

"Yes?"

"Did you not try to defend yourself?"

"I wasn't going to raise my axe against her."

"You hid behind your shield, but did you not try to dodge her blows?"

"I didn't realise I was allowed to dodge."

Dunes blinked. "How many rounds did you fight?"

"Five."

'Adam, you crazy fool!' Dunes reached up to his forehead, rubbing it hard, kneading his forehead with his knuckles.

"Hey, hey, hey, I've been good so far, so you can't react that way!"

"It is not about behaving well, but having common sense," Dunes admitted, hiding his eyes behind his hands.

Uli blinked. He stared out at the scene before him. Even though he should no longer be able to feel such shock from the half elf, somehow, he would wake up to being surprised by the half elf's antics again and again.

"Adam is a Rot too," Jurot said, sitting up, exhaling with pride at how the half elf had distinguished himself during the spar.

"Who is a Rot?" Adam grumbled quietly, though his cheeks flushed so overtly red. The half elf's heart throbbed, missing the eery sensation of the Iyr, and all which it afforded to him.

"Tomorrow, we will meet with the Priest Commander," Jurot said, calming the half elf down almost instantly. "You will need to behave then too."

"I know, I know…" Adam continued to doff his armour, the half elf suddenly far more sheepish, his eyes trailing to the side. "It should be fine, right? We have so many gifts for him, we have so many offers, and plus Dunes, you're so charming, you can probably deal with it, right?"

"The only reason I have any doubt is because you are involved," Dunes admitted.

"How can you say something like that?"

"He is right," Jurot stated.

"Oh, come on! I'm being good, aren't I? Didn't you see how smooth I was with Dunes' mentor? I'll just behave like a good little boy."

"Dunes' mentor is not like the Priest Commander, who must not look after Dunes, but the Order as a whole," Jurot said.

"Alright then! What should we do in order to deal with the nerf that is me?"

"Is that a different word to nerd?" Dunes asked.

"Yeah, nerf is more like…" The half elf thought. "You know how Bless buffs, Bane nerfs."

"Ah," Dunes said, nodding his head.

"Anyway, what should I do? Should I send word to the Mustashalur? Should I ask the Amira for help?"

"That would only worsen the situation," Dunes said, suddenly further on edge. "Adam, please!"

"Alright, then who can I ask for help?"

"If you asked, Lady Arya, perhaps she could-," Dunes began, only to freeze in place, before his eyes darted to the half elf.

"Alright then," the half elf said, causing Dunes' heart to ache. "I'll just ask Lady Arya."

"Adam, please! You should not bother the Lady with such a small matter!"

"It's important to me, isn't it?"

"Adam, please!"

"What? A man can't walk into the oldest temple of the Lady and pray to her? Is that illegal?"

"A man can, but you are no man! You are Adam!"

"Even though that sounds really cool, it still pisses me off, damnit!" The half elf exclaimed, shouting at the Priest.

Tanagek and Chosen listened to the shouting from the next door, glancing between one another.

"You have to save him if things become troublesome," Chosen said.

"You should save him."

"I will tell Jurot you refuse."

"Did I say I refused?"

"Oh, you are speaking like an Al-,"

"Chosen," Tanagek warned.

"Hmm? You think I am afraid of you?" Chosen tilted his head to the side, smiling playfully, daring Tanagek to pick a fight with him.

'Baktu take you both,' Tanagek thought.