Chapter 309: A Clash of Swords

Chapter 309: A Clash of Swords

Feather throbbed with anticipation. The red veins that streaked across its bone blade pulsed with scarlet energy that slowly wrapped around Gilgard. The further the energy stretched across his body the more he felt his sword drain his mana hungrily.

I wont be able to keep up the blood-wyrm aura for long he thought.

His grandmother had once told him the story of Feathers creation. Unlike other enchanted weapons, Feather was not forged, it was shaped and bound by ancient mages. They had used long-forgotten spells to infuse Feather with a sliver of the great blood-wyrm Fraxinus soul. Feather would rarely awaken, but when it did, the might of Fraxinus would seep out.

So this is the Fang of Fraxinus Nalla muttered grimly.

The scarlet energy swirled around Gilgard, forming red scales of light over his body. The energy settled over his head in the shape of a malicious lizard-like beast, its maw open wide, sharp teeth glowing red.

Gilgard gripped the hilt of his sword tight. He could feel newfound strength pulsing within him, eager to be let out.

Gilgard pointed his blade at Nalla and smiled ruthlessly, Lets try this again.

He dashed at her in a burst of speed as if agility magic coursed in his veins. Nalla yelled a warcry and swung her sword at the empty air in front of her. Gilgard suddenly appeared, Feathers blade slashing down at her. The two blades clashed in a burst of sparks, red tendrils of energy crackling between them.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

She can still read my attacks even now!? Gilgard clenched his teeth.

The force of the black sword pressed down on him, each attack sending painful reverberations into his arms. But this time he felt he could hold on, the strength of the blood-wyrm coursing through him.

Gilgard shifted his stance and kept attacking. He swung his blade in wide arcs, each faster and stronger than the last. Nallas eyes darted all around as she blocked each attack. She tried to counterattack, but despite her greater sword skill, she was unable to find an opening.

Shes getting slower! Gilgard realized.

The toll of her mysterious weapon was finally pushing her body to its limits.

A burning pain skewered Gilgards chest. He grimaced, but kept pushing his advantage. Feather was consuming his mana much more rapidly than he had anticipated. He had a few moments left at best before his body gave out.

No, not yet! Gilgard roared and attacked with a frenzied fervor.

Nalla met his blade, slash for slash. But as his attacks went on, her breaths grew short and blood began to drip from her nostrils.

Just a little longer!

Nallas legs faltered and she stumbled a step. Gilgard swung Feather down with all the force he could muster. Nalla grimaced and raised her black sword to block. Feather slammed into her blade and sent her careening away. She landed in a sprawl several meters away, her sword fell on the sand with a heavy thump far from her.

Its over! Gilgard yelled tiredly.

He stabbed Feather into the ground and rested on its hilt. The blood-wyrm aura evaporated around him as the last of his mana was drained. He was covered in sweat and his breathing was ragged. His arms hung limply at his sides and his heart burned from the excessive mana loss. And yet he smiled. It was a tired half-formed smile, but it was a smile of triumph.

...Not yet, with unsteady legs Nalla heavily stood up. She suddenly coughed and spat out a glob of blood and spit. Her legs buckled underneath her and she fell to her hands and knees. She coughed up more blood between wheezing breaths.

...Its over, Gilgard said solemnly. Your sword took more than it gave.

Nalla glared at him, Its not She fell into another coughing fit and fell over on the sand.

Gilgard shook his head faintly. He sheathed Feather over his back and walked over to the giant sword lying on the sand. Its black blade was 5 ft long and 2ft wide with a glass-like sheen.

It really is made of orichalcum he whispered.

Every enchanter and smith worth their salt swore that orichalcum metal was impossible to enchant, yet here was proof that they were all wrong.

Gilgard reached down and traced his finger over the black blade. It was cold and smooth to the touch. The blade felt more like glass than metal. A single unfamiliar sigil was etched at the base of the blade.

Hm, he narrowed his eyes with interest. He wrapped his fingers over the long hilt of the sword and lifted the sword.

Agh! Gilgard screamed with pain and released his grip.

Youre fighting Nalla tomorrow? Feli asked with a raised eyebrow.

Huh? No. Im fighting Kalliste Lilith. But if I defeat her then Ill face off against Nalla in the semi-finals.

Then lets worry about Nalla after you defeat Kalliste.

Hm, I suppose that makes some sense, but only some.

Good, youd be smart to listen to your wife, she smirked. Now come to bed. You need your rest for tomorrows duel.

Stryg sighed, but he smiled reluctantly. He laid down next to her and closed his eyes.

Feli smiled warmly and nestled her head on his shoulder.

...So, um, about Elena Katag, Stryg whispered.

...You have terrible timing.

When else are we alone to talk about this stuff?

Just shut up and go to sleep.

But

Sleep.

~~~

Nora Azol lay on her bed with her eyes wide open. The moonlight filtered through her window and gave her dark room an eerie blue glow. She fiddled with a necklace in the palm of her hands. It was a gyroscopic medallion, a set of three golden rings each a slightly different size than the one before. The rings spun within each other and rotated around a small gem at its center.

The golden necklace was a gift and though it wasnt Noras style, she had to admit there was a certain unique beauty to it. At the very least it was a great way to pass the time and hopefully fall asleep. Except she wasnt falling asleep this time.

Her babys erratic sleeping patterns had thrown off her own sleep cycle. Kamilo had become moody ever since Stryg had left. He had grown accustomed to his uncles frequent visits and ever since Stryg had been away in Undergrowth Kamilo had made his dissatisfaction quite clear to everyone in the Azol mansion.

Nora could barely sleep 2 or 3 hours before Kamilo would wake up crying. It didnt help that he wouldnt stop crying even when the maids tried to calm him down. No, Kamilo would only stop when his family carried him. That damn little munchkin. Still, whenever Nora looked into his little purple eyes, it didnt matter how sleep-deprived she felt, everything suddenly became okay.

However, having her mother around definitely helped. In fact, she was actually watching the baby right now so that Nora could have a break for the night. And yet she still couldnt sleep.

Nora groaned with frustration and finally decided to get up. Perhaps some late-night tea could help.

She threw on a nightgown and headed downstairs. She needed no lamp or lantern for the dark corridors, she knew her house by memory.

When Nora arrived at the kitchen she wrinkled her brow. Odd, the kitchen was empty and the candles had gone out. Usually, there were at least one or two maids still awake, cutting vegetables or doing some other preparations for breakfast in the morning.

Nora shrugged, it didnt matter. She could make her own tea, there was no need to waste time looking for a maid. The moonlight was enough to guide her through the cabinet of tea jars.

Ah, wait, the honey, she whispered to herself.

Nora turned around and walked over to the pantry. She opened the pantry door and froze. A cold shiver ran down her spine.

A pair of maids bodies were lying on the pantry floor in a pool of blood. Each of their necks had been slashed in a single clean cut.

No! Nora gasped softly and gripped her necklace tight until it grew hot in her hand.

A babys voice cried out in the distance.

Nora paled, Kamilo!