Chapter 321: Child of Noir

Chapter 321: Child of Noir

Then why did you come? Stryg asked.

Youre family now, Gilgard winked, I wanted to give you some advice, regarding a particular drow girl and her mysterious sword.

Strygs voice grew solemn, You mean the northern drow, Nalla.

Half northern drow, Beatrix corrected.

What? Stryg said. Arent the drows from the Northern Lands blue? Shes blue.

Beatrix clicked her tongue, For being a drow hybrid yourself you sure dont know much about them. Northern drows are more of a dark icy blue. Nallas skin tone is more muted, more of a blue greyish Id say. Shes mixed.

Shes a hybrid? Stryg asked, surprised.

No, shes a drow, just not a pure northerner, Beatrix said.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Nor does her swordsmanship match the fighting styles of the Northern Lands, Gilgard added. The few times she spoke I realized I couldnt quite place her accent either. She doesnt speak like a northerner.

I wouldnt be surprised if she isnt even from the north, Beatrix said. Which begs the question, why is she fighting for Frost Rim?

...Youre both quite observant, Stryg muttered.

Beatrix looked him over suspiciously, Clearly not enough, Aspirant.

Ahem, Gilgard cleared his throat. Our point is, Nalla is an unknown, especially that sword of hers.

Stryg recalled the giant black sword and nodded grimly, Im well aware.

When I fought her I theorized that such a powerful sword would consume exorbitant amounts of mana. And I was right, Gilgard said.

Yet you still lost, despite having your own enchanted sword, Stryg noted.

Gilgard clenched his jaw at the goblins words, having his failure thrown in his face stung more than he thought it would. He took a deep breath, relaxed his shoulders, and continued, I dragged out my fight with Nalla in order to exhaust her mana. And it almost worked. It should have worked. But I made one made miscalculation.

Which was? Stryg asked.

Gilgard shook his head, Nallas sword isnt like other enchanted weapons. Most enchanted weapons are composed of three things. A base object, such as a sword. The enchantment itself is a complicated series of sigils, usually etched onto the steel of the blade. And a magestone that acts as the supply for the enchantments mana, Gilgard pointed at Nameless hanging from Strygs hip.

The swords grey leather hilt was capped with a round magestone pommel that dimly glowed a mixture of brown and yellow hues.

Gilgard clasped his fingers together, All three parts work in unison to create a cohesive enchantment when wielded. Such as a sharper edge or more durable steel. Im fairly certain your sword is the same.

And what if it is? Stryg asked warily.

Gilgard chuckled, Are you always this defensive?

Beatrix stepped forward, My brothers point is that most enchantment items work the same, but there are a few exceptions. Nallas sword is an exception.

Gilgard nodded, We know because our familys sword Feather is the same. Weapons like those drain more than just the mana within their magestone, they drain the mana within the wielder. Sometimes the weapons require even more

Like what? Stryg asked suspiciously.

It can be a lot of things depending on the enchanted weapon in question. Some weapons crave the wielders life force or that of others. Others crave blood, some even souls.

Crave? Youre talking as if theyre alive, Stryg said.

Some of them are. Feather carries a small part of the blood wyrm Fraxinus soul. I felt it speak to me when I fought Nalla. It wanted to fight. Feather awakened.

Its a rare ability that a few powerful objects have, Beatrix said. Their power awakens in exchange for a large amount of energy.

That red aura that appeared around you during the duel, Stryg muttered in recollection.

Right, Gilgard nodded, Nallas sword is the same, but her sword didnt just drain her mana, it put an incredible strain on her body as well. Had our duel lasted a little longer, Im certain she would have fallen under the pressure of her own weapon.

So I should just try to drag out the duel like you did, until she collapses from exhaustion? Stryg surmised.

Gilgard smiled wryly, No, that was my mistake.

What? Stryg blinked.

I underestimated the sheer raw power of her weapon, Gilgard said. Her sword isnt like Feather, its power is something much greater. If you allow Nalla to awaken her sword then you will lose.

Stryg remembered the final moments of Gilgards duel. The sheer wave of power that exploded from Nallas black sword had carved a crater into the arena. Had Gilgard not been shielded by Feather he would have been a bloody smear on the sand.

There are two points in our favor, however, Gilgard said. Nalla doesnt like to expend more energy than she needs to, Im guessing it's because her sword is so taxing on her body. She wont be at her full strength when the duel starts, that will be the best chance to defeat her.

Secondly, Beatrix added. Feather only awakens when it wants to, but Nallas sword seems to require her to speak a certain set of words. I talked with Heather Navis, Nallas first opponent. She spoke the same words in both her duels right before her swords power awoke. Heed my call, Votum.

Who are you to Elzri Noir?

Huh? He hadnt expected that question, especially from her.

That old drow had betrayed him. Elzri had been the one who had ordered the lie of Widows Crag.

Hes nothing to me, Stryg said coldly.

So you deny youre his adopted son? That you are part of the Noir family?

Family?

Elzri had only taken Stryg in to give him access to a wider range of magical resources in exchange for his loyalty. A loyalty that no longer existed between them or perhaps it had never existed in the first place. Perhaps Elzri had never really cared for him, only for his power.

That family means nothing to me, Stryg repeated, a trace of anger in his voice.

Hm, odd, she said thoughtfully. Your academy records state that you are part of House Noir and that Elohnoir Noir and you share a master-apprentice relationship. How odd that someone that claims to have nothing to do with that wretched family is so closely related to them.

Stryg hated the Noirs for what they did to him, yet hearing Nalla insult them somehow felt wrong. A cold pit of anger slowly formed in his chest.

What does it matter to you? Huh!? he snapped.

Thats what Im trying to figure out. What are you to them? A pawn to seize power in Holos Shade?

Im no ones pawn, he hissed.

Then what are you?

Why the fuck would I tell you?

I didnt think you would, she said calmly. Elzri and your ilk are all the same. Cold-hearted monsters that hide until its useful to them. How long did you hide your nature as a prime mage, hm? Why reveal it now when all the realm is watching?

What are you even talking about? Stryg glared at her.

...I know youre lying. I know youre close to Elohnoir and Elzri. I know you're keeping secrets that could hurt a lot of people.

Secrets? Stryg laughed angrily. Says the woman who is carrying a strange giant sword with her everywhere she goes!

I wield my sword to protect others, not for my own desires.

Bullshit! I dont know why you wield Votum, but its certainly not to protect others!

Votum? Nalla stiffened, How do you know its name?

How do you think!?

Nalla chuckled under her breath, So Elzri has even told you the secrets of the family I should have guessed.

What are you even talking about!? Stryg shouted.

Secrets, Stryg, secrets. Nalla narrowed her eyes.

WELCOME BACK LORDS AND LADIES, MERCHANTS AND COMMONERS ALIKE, TO THE GREATEST CITYS TOURNEY OF THE CENTURY! Jane Stemme yelled from the Heralds Tower.

I know you were there the night the Monster in the Dark appeared in Widows Crag, Nalla said. I know it was you, the adopted son of House Noir, who led a class of students and a caravan of innocent commoners into the Cairn Tribes ambush. I know that Elohnoir was leading a squad of master mages to protect that caravan yet somehow she and her team weren't there when the valley savages attacked. In fact, almost the entire squad of master mages mysteriously died, save for Elohnoir and her two closest friends. And I also know that Elzri used his influence and power to cover up what really happened that night.

You have no idea what happened that night, Stryg said in a low voice.

I know enough.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THE EVE OF THE FESTIVAL OF THE GODS THAN OUR EAGERLY ANTICIPATED SEMI-FINALS! Mark Stemme announced.

Jane nodded eagerly, WE KNOW YOUVE ALL BEEN WAITING! SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO

Strygs eyes grew cold and his face became bereft of emotion, If you think you know what happened at Widows Crag, then you truly know nothing of the Noirs nor me.

I am a Noir! she yelled resentfully.

What? Stryg frowned.

...LET THE 12TH MATCH OF THE CHALLENGE OF SPELL & STEEL

I am Unalla Noir, daughter of Una Noir! And I will not stand by and let my House do the bidding of that Monster!

BEGIN!!!

Unalla grabbed the hilt of her blade, Heed my call, Votum!