The two Velox pawed at each other impatiently. Edulis's cart had left the grasslands and entered the Casbah Desert, the largest desert on the continent. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAKOZPTxrs8W
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The sands of the Casbah are beautiful. White as a snowflake, soft as silk, it sparkles like quartz in the sunlight. But that sparkle poses a great threat to the Erabu who cross it. It can blind them.103Please respect copyright.PENANATKVNES4KaH
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He should have pulled his hood over his eyes, but right now Kishi couldn't afford to. A silver-haired boy was leaning his elbow on his shoulder. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAfcP33Lk43B
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Kishi turned his head slightly to check the boy's hands. He wasn't holding a sword, so what was this cold on the nape of his neck? 103Please respect copyright.PENANAqM6Z6wzfBd
103Please respect copyright.PENANAKGRPRzYqC3
He'd been an erabu for over a decade, but he'd never seen anything like this. Most of the Ygraine clan are depressed and lethargic. It's only natural. It's hard to be cheerful when you're trapped in a place like Kaldura and oppressed by the state.103Please respect copyright.PENANAO4CdPXC7JY
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But this boy, Edulis, is more than energetic, he is radiating. Kishi's Erabu senses were warning him. This bastard has killed a man or two before.103Please respect copyright.PENANAUiKAhEn58V
103Please respect copyright.PENANARmQIBtz3DI
"No. It can't be.” 103Please respect copyright.PENANAwPQwJo0I5V
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The other guy was twelve years old. He's never been outside of Kaldura, except to visit the Temple Memorial. Kishi ignored the alarm bells ringing in his senses and tried to sound nonchalant. 103Please respect copyright.PENANATpjgX46dib
103Please respect copyright.PENANAzs2PFtA26B
"Ha! This is ridiculous. You want me to hand over the Velox? Why would I take such a bet?"103Please respect copyright.PENANALoKqXIRbP9
"Hey, mister. Weren't you confident? Is Erabus Kishi a man who can't even stand by his words?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAxIUe83OHOX
103Please respect copyright.PENANAD7jmWVZGOj
That face. The smirking tone. Even if he belonged to the Igraine faction, he was, by name, a member of the Fei family. Where did he learn such insolence?103Please respect copyright.PENANAavMKVzavFn
103Please respect copyright.PENANARSYCs5JqHC
"There's no point in making a bet with someone who's going to die anyway!"103Please respect copyright.PENANAo7XDOyZTC5
103Please respect copyright.PENANA4ASQU5ZnKK
"You're not making a bet because you're going to die, or are you admitting there's a chance you're wrong?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAIiqIkKmMh8
103Please respect copyright.PENANA4jnJs4mVMv
"There's no chance of that!"103Please respect copyright.PENANAUKXO8ljXOo
103Please respect copyright.PENANAPlfQj4Vnwk
"Then what, are you intimidated by me, mister, are you a coward who's being pecked by a twelve-year-old, haha!"
Edulis turned his head toward the lifeless relative sitting next to him and said in a sarcastic tone.103Please respect copyright.PENANAjcK38FCP94
103Please respect copyright.PENANA7xWOTOKGO8
"Hey, go back and spread the word. That Erabu Kishi is an asshole who doesn't have the balls to bet with a twelve-year-old."103Please respect copyright.PENANA7p244uLnXu
"What, what did you say?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAJrHnU3m4n7
103Please respect copyright.PENANAPINNs7bB8l
"How are you doing so far? Aren't you scared to cross the Casbah Desert? Oh... I thought I smelled something fishy, but it must have been Kishi's piss on the saddle. Hey, buddy, spread the word. Kissy's wagon smells like Kishi's pee!"103Please respect copyright.PENANAjXXflKshfX
103Please respect copyright.PENANAvWgfxBSUnR
Kishi's face turned red. Fueled by rising anger, veins popped on his neck. He couldn't articulate his words properly due to excessive excitement. Edulis had touched upon Kishi's pride. In Erabus society, courage was the most valued virtue. Once marked as a coward, it was challenging to find opportunities.103Please respect copyright.PENANA1aqQiIMnLp
103Please respect copyright.PENANADAaf8YWiXJ
If word of what Edulis said was to spread among the Erabu, other Erabu would immediately come forward to take Kishi's job. They'd say things like103Please respect copyright.PENANAodKbwmm8SY
103Please respect copyright.PENANA18jloU8iRd
"Hey, I don't think a guy who's intimidated by a 12-year-old can get to and from Kaldura, so I'm taking it now.103Please respect copyright.PENANAR0xyzcjVYx
103Please respect copyright.PENANAxFrNWyXkIC
After that, it doesn't matter what excuses Kishi makes. It is the opinion of most Erabu that a coward's words are not worth listening to.103Please respect copyright.PENANAGgUzA1uFOT
103Please respect copyright.PENANAyzQ4ZEAtMB
Edulis was well aware of this. As far as he was concerned, Erabu was easy to manipulate. All he had to do was scratch their egos and they would bend to his will.103Please respect copyright.PENANA49tUZOk9Lb
103Please respect copyright.PENANAa5Z1u0lACA
"You... you bastard!"103Please respect copyright.PENANADh5l75uyi6
103Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4b1n2vobj
Blood rose to Kishi's eyes. "You've never set foot outside of Kaldura, you've never seen how brave Lord Bosha's descendants are, and you've never heard of the fear of a dragon!"103Please respect copyright.PENANA7JsnHTONC3
"Indeed. I'd like to see that." Edulis said with a smirk. That stirred Kishi's anger even more. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAHIakmwkVVQ
103Please respect copyright.PENANA5Yi80JHMjV
"When Mr. Lagarde swings his sword, the ground within ten paces around him is set ablaze! When Mr. Yug smashes his hammer, a giant pit appears in the ground as if a star had fallen! When Lord Kurjina raises his staff, spears of lightning fly, and if you stand in front of them, you will die a terrible death!"103Please respect copyright.PENANAzm3pGEv03M
"No, sir."103Please respect copyright.PENANAepnivF1X5i
103Please respect copyright.PENANAS7E4J7LnDB
Edulis scratched the back of his head and threw up his hands in boredom. 103Please respect copyright.PENANANfsIZUzBDT
103Please respect copyright.PENANAovngxxDM5o
"What’s with all this chit-chat? So, are you going to take the bet or not?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAiCHyNpojFU
"...Fine. When you die, I will kick your tombstone and piss on your ashes!"103Please respect copyright.PENANATwGln0zrwf
"Whatever. Then, swear to Assyria."103Please respect copyright.PENANAWoJMr2EGMN
103Please respect copyright.PENANAM95NWsVqIC
An oath to Assyria. It is the most effective means of guaranteeing the fulfillment of a contract. Assyria is the goddess of truth, and if you fail to honor an oath made in her name, your head will fall off at that moment. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAOiVMDSQDve
103Please respect copyright.PENANALPrMeBiCoO
"You... how do you know about the oath to Assyria?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAlbIYd2Be13
"It's none of your business, go ahead."103Please respect copyright.PENANAChoHn0CE5T
Kishi is quiet. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAJAN3vDxUJr
103Please respect copyright.PENANAbefSBZQxnI
The Oath to Assyria is common knowledge on the continent, but the problem is that it's also magic. Ygraine Clan does not have a spellbook. How is it that a child of Ygraine Clane, who has no access to magic until he joins the Festival of Saints, already knows this oath?103Please respect copyright.PENANAttTc3LDozg
Kishi questioned, but his pride wouldn't allow him to come this far and say otherwise. 103Please respect copyright.PENANA7PqZyVN97B
103Please respect copyright.PENANABv9TMTVwUN
He put his right hand to his chest and said Assyria's name. Blood flowed from his pinky finger, drawing a red band across it. It was a sign that Assyria would watch over the fulfillment of this oath. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAbVHHqsq292
103Please respect copyright.PENANAgucNJ0LQJL
"Justice will prevail. As Bosha defeated Ygraine, so will those who carry the blood of heroes slaughter the offspring of the insolent witch. Your soul shall not rest in peace in death!" 103Please respect copyright.PENANAraCRIHJ7iE
103Please respect copyright.PENANAoeSOXWunct
"Ah, well. You talk too much. You're usually called a loudmouth, aren't you?"
Kishi snorted as loud as Velox's prancing. He wanted to snap at Edulis, but he couldn't think of the right words, so he just glared at his face.103Please respect copyright.PENANAhyxPpSlkA8
103Please respect copyright.PENANAOPvwbQTIMC
"Hey, mister, can you drive properly? The Velox on the right is looking elsewhere. If you're not focused, he might too."103Please respect copyright.PENANAfL1ltis6SJ
103Please respect copyright.PENANAWVt2eGCHvG
Edulis said as he patted Kishi on the shoulder. Kishi's face was so red he thought it might explode, but what could he do? It was part of his contract with the Fae family to arrive in Vaidor on time. Kishi grimaced and tugged on Velox's reins. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAGghDMZU5Br
103Please respect copyright.PENANAsbtZXX85RQ
Afterward, Edulis lay down on the wagon with his hood over his head. He lay cross-legged, seemingly at peace with the world. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAFmTEbitb3J
Then, the boy who had been sitting there as if dead spoke to him. His voice was as small as a mosquito's.103Please respect copyright.PENANAWBvwkV4rCd
103Please respect copyright.PENANAanH4JVeBZH
"What are you going to do?"
"Oh, you can talk?"
"You’ll survive if you bang your head...Do you know what that means? You’re going to beat all six of them."
"Yeah, I'm thinking about it."103Please respect copyright.PENANAonfB8tYyXS
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"That's... we can't......."103Please respect copyright.PENANAag3SBeCbgO
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At the boy's words, Edulis chuckled.103Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2rQUVJo2Z
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"There's something we need to do in St. Trisis."103Please respect copyright.PENANA0tycvgAe89
103Please respect copyright.PENANAX5IyDdvWMQ
The boy looked at Edulis with pity in his eyes. He seemed to think he was a little off his game. Regardless, Edulis shifted his position, trying to find a comfortable one.103Please respect copyright.PENANAXLD6BvV2vQ
103Please respect copyright.PENANAIJNVPnH9SH
"Ahhh... this head part is uncomfortable. By the way, what's your name?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAAO5eYFGGwH
"...Enri."103Please respect copyright.PENANAAs6wW49gnM
“I see. Enri, please wake me up when we arrive."103Please respect copyright.PENANAk6gSu15iJK
103Please respect copyright.PENANAZiFkJSqvnR
Saying that, Edulis fell asleep on top of the rattling cart.103Please respect copyright.PENANAuvlnnzeFKO
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"Walk in from here. I'm not obligated to give you a ride inside."103Please respect copyright.PENANALbZSkrkSmr
103Please respect copyright.PENANAHK0IeUCvgP
Vaidor, the main gate of the Fey family. Kishi halted Velox and urged Edulis and Enri to follow; it seemed a long way from the gate to their destination.103Please respect copyright.PENANAh1hwWq6E4u
103Please respect copyright.PENANAx4VUETDJT4
Edulis stood at the gate and scanned the grounds of the Fey manor, which looked much different than it had when Bosha was alive. The grounds alone were ten times the size. 103Please respect copyright.PENANADa1xFeWzXg
There were dozens of marble mansions. Violet lavender and colorful roses adorned the gardens. The gardens were meticulously tended and the branches were neatly trimmed. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAhba1SKQPkY
103Please respect copyright.PENANA4PvQjEXKxm
Edulis didn't like the sight. When Bosha was alive, the Fey family had a reputation for frugality. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAQSjGEuJO8R
While other nobles built mansions and planted gardens, the Fey found, fed, and clothed the hungry. When there was a good harvest and tax revenues were surplus, they held festivals to laugh and enjoy with the people. They were not the kind of people who would decorate their homes for personal pleasure.103Please respect copyright.PENANAqp38YBHeqg
103Please respect copyright.PENANAk1G9EkTIdv
He remembered himself as Bosha saying "Are you the duke? You're dukes, aren't you, Our house seems better than this.?103Please respect copyright.PENANADCXGOv7VUw
103Please respect copyright.PENANAVP9bnVyPsk
Ygraine smiled and replied, "Yes. I'm glad to hear that. It would be a shame for a Fey to live in a house that was better than the people.103Please respect copyright.PENANAXzuR5eMuaQ
- The noblemen I know have gardens, and they're beautiful. Why don't you plant a palm tree?103Please respect copyright.PENANApLIEImTivL
- If I had the money, I'd add more stones to our foundation.103Please respect copyright.PENANAmCXXLo75lM
103Please respect copyright.PENANAKo3UPkkJpZ
That's Ygraine. That's the Fey family. But what is this place now? Dragging irrigation from the farms to water the gardens would surely lead to a shortage of agricultural water during the planting season.103Please respect copyright.PENANAZFGDssEYlS
An insult. An insult to the Fey family and Ygraine! Against the will of the goddess Lutea!103Please respect copyright.PENANAKjSkYeHjHT
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"There's the main family’s wagon passing by. Children of the witch, bow your heads more deeply in contrition."103Please respect copyright.PENANABoJfP3uXnT
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With that, Kishi bowed toward the cart. An elegant and rather luxurious cart was approaching in the distance. Enri did as he was told and bowed deeply. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAKj6MSWptcV
103Please respect copyright.PENANAGvjFELSsSe
But Edulis did not follow suit. He was staring at something that caught his eye.103Please respect copyright.PENANA4iMW3ERwXs
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"Rude bastard, come on, pay your respects to the descendants of heroes!"103Please respect copyright.PENANAzM5m0WfM7T
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Kishi shouted, but Edulis didn't bow. He held his head high and looked up at the door. The crest of House Fey was emblazoned on the top of the door. A crest as large as a shield worn by a Kingdom infantryman.103Please respect copyright.PENANAWXStHZ4wAO
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"Haha."103Please respect copyright.PENANAfrrqNmnrko
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Edulis laughed. His anger was beyond the top, and it made him laugh. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAdNGpnk5keg
103Please respect copyright.PENANAUfO9Ouw4Hg
The crest had a picture on it. A picture of Bosha defeating Ygrain. It depicted Ygraine as a monster with scattered hair and long fangs. 103Please respect copyright.PENANA14ZqHVMt3W
Ygraine sprawled miserably on the ground, and Bosha stomped on her head, then pointed his straightened sword at her throat. 103Please respect copyright.PENANApXCKWiJzOL
103Please respect copyright.PENANAgVBTpAGAej
"This thing is here too?"
"Hey, come on, look up...."103Please respect copyright.PENANAqtHrDVWchw
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Kishi was speechless. Because he saw Edulis' eyes. Those eyes. Eyes that burned as if they held all the anger in the world. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAL0yzAUxoRy
They were the eyes of the Kaldura Red Fox. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAWQ4dcb9sVr
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A memory flashed through Edulis's mind. It was Bosha who had wrestled Ygraine to the ground. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAAvVFZlJaKL
No, he’s ashamed to call it a fight. Ygraine had merely played with Bosha for a while. Ygrainne's sword was like falling petals, like willow leaves on water, like a lullaby to a child.103Please respect copyright.PENANANY3BKZQ6CB
When Ygrainne swung her sword, it was as futile as if he had cut through a flowing river, and Bosha's magick, which was like iron, scattered like sand. 103Please respect copyright.PENANA5qs1I6tv34
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Then, on the ground, Bosha looked up at Ygrain and said, "For a mercenary, defeat is death. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAN0WJtPs9Rz
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- If you don't kill me now, one day I will.103Please respect copyright.PENANA135PT20G6C
103Please respect copyright.PENANAzMZFMfoxrP
Ygraine never pointed her sword at Bosha. Not once, not ever. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAQBQVTgmEw8
Ygraine merely parried a lunging Bosha attack. 103Please respect copyright.PENANA47S0zyJCCU
103Please respect copyright.PENANAmv5EY9fBvQ
- I don't want you to follow me in victory or defeat. I want you to be driven by faith and love. 103Please respect copyright.PENANA0saUFOKWWy
- Do you not know who I am? Do you think the Fox of Kaldura would listen to that, you hypocrite? After all, you raised your sword to persuade me, didn't you?103Please respect copyright.PENANACFAvp091yd
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Then Ygraine nodded. 103Please respect copyright.PENANA72dqVghRff
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- Very well.103Please respect copyright.PENANA3bCgXbJ1NC
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Then he threw the sword to the ground and kicked it away. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAfC7wDXki4D
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- What is he doing? 103Please respect copyright.PENANAccGEmxvuGm
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Ygraine slowly approached Bosha. His chest and stomach were exposed, defenseless.103Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3N3d98LkI
Bosha raised his sword and pointed it at Ygraine. 103Please respect copyright.PENANA1tK77TtAtq
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- Ha! Are you going to walk up to me and cut me with your sword? 103Please respect copyright.PENANAZdMd3dnaf8
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Even after saying that, Ygraine didn't stop walking. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAxZAxEDgdHF
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- Be it so. But I believe in the light that wanders in the depths of your heart.103Please respect copyright.PENANAOiXRTvxiM0
- Bullshit!103Please respect copyright.PENANAhK6lzZIo40
103Please respect copyright.PENANAGoYXwUYmFn
Bosha threatened Ygraine with several swipes of his sword in the air, but Ygrainne didn't stop. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAPHAnZJ5l8G
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- Crazy woman! Don't you dare die for nothing!103Please respect copyright.PENANAfBF1YwF6Ox
103Please respect copyright.PENANA9HnOceH9Ek
Bosha shouted, but it was like a cat bluffing with its fur standing up. The same Bosha who had no qualms about holding a spear or knife to his throat or being surrounded by demons in the Varus Swamp was scaring the crap out of Ygraine.103Please respect copyright.PENANAkexPNbpYP4
No one knew what he was afraid of. Not even himself.103Please respect copyright.PENANAXZStPID4Sd
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The distance between Ygraine and Bosha narrowed to three paces. Then two. Then one step.103Please respect copyright.PENANAawt9XByR9L
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But in the end, Bosha couldn't swing his sword. Why he couldn't swing his sword, Bosha didn't understand himself, and his body stiffened. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAS14puPbSSv
Ygraine approached and gently cradled his head in his hands. Igrainne didn't give him any pressure, but he couldn't move. 103Please respect copyright.PENANARxQFZYezs7
103Please respect copyright.PENANALB8HOBs2q5
28 years of his life. Only once has he admitted defeat. That defeat was very special to him. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAEFWrAFIhd1
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"Well, these guys ruined everything.”103Please respect copyright.PENANA8bKytpmDhY
103Please respect copyright.PENANAyFLbMwTcUz
"What... what are you doing?"103Please respect copyright.PENANAoWPEm6nJFi
Kishi shouted in horror. The Fey family's main carriage had approached, its front clearly visible. 103Please respect copyright.PENANArJ31jJwL2H
Edulis put his hand on the handle of his sword. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAXsKyzWxpPe
103Please respect copyright.PENANAHEbBqs3JjO
"No!"103Please respect copyright.PENANA5CCWqk5pdG
103Please respect copyright.PENANA1AgOqLrtwM
Enri shouted at the top of his lungs. Edulis ignored him and chuckled. Then he spoke in a low voice. 103Please respect copyright.PENANAGWs1qqZaLp
103Please respect copyright.PENANAEd6Jded1E3
"Do not insult Ygraine."103Please respect copyright.PENANAkTcyRDSzTg
103Please respect copyright.PENANA5lR8sRPVaA
And with that, Edulis's sword sliced through the air. With it, the Fey family crest shattered into pieces and crumbled to the ground.
Author’s note:
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