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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA1r4qyOTOIs
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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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAvFGX9sZLhK
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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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAxhzqFnYNNc
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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? 104Please respect copyright.PENANA1C6MoeECp6
104Please respect copyright.PENANA86Xv9qrsY7
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAwgvb2S9A6g
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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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAbtLhe97vEx
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"No. It can't be.” 104Please respect copyright.PENANA38JbC9S0LE
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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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAOAZncyxJ3s
104Please respect copyright.PENANAoCfC4Xtl7E
"Ha! This is ridiculous. You want me to hand over the Velox? Why would I take such a bet?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAwBCcmYMkMc
"Hey, mister. Weren't you confident? Is Erabus Kishi a man who can't even stand by his words?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAMXCepKe5GG
104Please respect copyright.PENANAiLVcCt8u3r
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?104Please respect copyright.PENANAAl46rUTRD1
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"There's no point in making a bet with someone who's going to die anyway!"104Please respect copyright.PENANAz89PBs6yFM
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4HcLsoO2Nx
"You're not making a bet because you're going to die, or are you admitting there's a chance you're wrong?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAeJk7W657Lc
104Please respect copyright.PENANAIwMWzAgsKF
"There's no chance of that!"104Please respect copyright.PENANA80AyLtGWXw
104Please respect copyright.PENANATzIOmmxUyv
"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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAyGtgCyrelB
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6nXcdiIZQz
"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."104Please respect copyright.PENANA5sEKNFX9fx
"What, what did you say?"104Please respect copyright.PENANALXMemO4xov
104Please respect copyright.PENANAw5B7iauYVj
"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!"104Please respect copyright.PENANA7RDMCptkAa
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZgbnJACnAB
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANA37atQvORgA
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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 like104Please respect copyright.PENANAhaTwwcUa0V
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1gy5m7Dl27
"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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAzvRp6TYLMq
104Please respect copyright.PENANAT0JlDw04jm
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANA3hAgj7wLPe
104Please respect copyright.PENANAJmDMZ4UKqD
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANA3MMnFkDH6P
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"You... you bastard!"104Please respect copyright.PENANA5IjKsMu5Uu
104Please respect copyright.PENANAiGClHEK1bH
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!"104Please respect copyright.PENANAmIK9fkcgVC
"Indeed. I'd like to see that." Edulis said with a smirk. That stirred Kishi's anger even more. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA9ViWNEmeqX
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6OW0Dqp8xE
"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!"104Please respect copyright.PENANA2s9q0Fi9EG
"No, sir."104Please respect copyright.PENANAoHVUbnTPEa
104Please respect copyright.PENANAChFIgeb3Te
Edulis scratched the back of his head and threw up his hands in boredom. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAzusIOXyBiq
104Please respect copyright.PENANAoZ0uur0Qzs
"What’s with all this chit-chat? So, are you going to take the bet or not?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAnfnvQ4DJC0
"...Fine. When you die, I will kick your tombstone and piss on your ashes!"104Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9LUYrLVZO
"Whatever. Then, swear to Assyria."104Please respect copyright.PENANA1pygvUUGfa
104Please respect copyright.PENANAsgClxN569C
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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAT9lwajfhdN
104Please respect copyright.PENANAV5drDRMvSA
"You... how do you know about the oath to Assyria?"104Please respect copyright.PENANA8UtxnJqyz7
"It's none of your business, go ahead."104Please respect copyright.PENANAN9qrttf0ID
Kishi is quiet. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAkea5jXhNiU
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvyo2os7YDn
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?104Please respect copyright.PENANA1EG3bgESlN
Kishi questioned, but his pride wouldn't allow him to come this far and say otherwise. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAJVpQh2qP48
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyzXT5i7nnt
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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAwEyfQUpUyA
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6vcWm9U8rb
"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!" 104Please respect copyright.PENANAeZLCTlrELb
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyJhIb9WDrP
"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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAdRYzGGLuvu
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3lGyFE1oca
"Hey, mister, can you drive properly? The Velox on the right is looking elsewhere. If you're not focused, he might too."104Please respect copyright.PENANABFheSkETme
104Please respect copyright.PENANA87X7hsjzYZ
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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAJsLOrl2co3
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Afterward, Edulis lay down on the wagon with his hood over his head. He lay cross-legged, seemingly at peace with the world. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA7AQI3UNGZB
Then, the boy who had been sitting there as if dead spoke to him. His voice was as small as a mosquito's.104Please respect copyright.PENANAnEwPlWgZNj
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"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."104Please respect copyright.PENANAimyMX6BnyY
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"That's... we can't......."104Please respect copyright.PENANAEaNy6cHNTn
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At the boy's words, Edulis chuckled.104Please respect copyright.PENANA34Npcfh4lq
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"There's something we need to do in St. Trisis."104Please respect copyright.PENANAtYK0QFUrBL
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5i8tSql1o3
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAvLYBvJ7Lvu
104Please respect copyright.PENANAf8B7vBtzLa
"Ahhh... this head part is uncomfortable. By the way, what's your name?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAh1xKa63WNZ
"...Enri."104Please respect copyright.PENANAM07borIp5H
“I see. Enri, please wake me up when we arrive."104Please respect copyright.PENANAYDHwRUvQGg
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Saying that, Edulis fell asleep on top of the rattling cart.104Please respect copyright.PENANA8q4cHl633q
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"Walk in from here. I'm not obligated to give you a ride inside."104Please respect copyright.PENANA4hvr1QzxGc
104Please respect copyright.PENANAWBQMW9UtDd
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAnAuEnW2dax
104Please respect copyright.PENANAb1JXJG1N4F
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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAl0VxaZhCfM
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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA2vbuwdfqDL
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZJE1deMTPS
Edulis didn't like the sight. When Bosha was alive, the Fey family had a reputation for frugality. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAYLlYKXxeA3
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANApX1nqVYA7E
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He remembered himself as Bosha saying "Are you the duke? You're dukes, aren't you, Our house seems better than this.?104Please respect copyright.PENANAp1lmrXAgaa
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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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAH2NKTc5uzf
- The noblemen I know have gardens, and they're beautiful. Why don't you plant a palm tree?104Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4r1IvyHNl
- If I had the money, I'd add more stones to our foundation.104Please respect copyright.PENANA4KuNLugYs3
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3OARUUBI9C
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAY7UpwXrVAq
An insult. An insult to the Fey family and Ygraine! Against the will of the goddess Lutea!104Please respect copyright.PENANAIP54AYyNsP
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"There's the main family’s wagon passing by. Children of the witch, bow your heads more deeply in contrition."104Please respect copyright.PENANApTpyL2KA7p
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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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA7BxyonFqFS
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But Edulis did not follow suit. He was staring at something that caught his eye.104Please respect copyright.PENANA7l21hXV4Y2
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"Rude bastard, come on, pay your respects to the descendants of heroes!"104Please respect copyright.PENANAFWpL3jpQRK
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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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAV8CECjEpo5
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"Haha."104Please respect copyright.PENANAkPjaCbo8hy
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Edulis laughed. His anger was beyond the top, and it made him laugh. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA9zeJyZFa1d
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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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAI7ofZT0Vc5
Ygraine sprawled miserably on the ground, and Bosha stomped on her head, then pointed his straightened sword at her throat. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAAmEudzXwP9
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"This thing is here too?"
"Hey, come on, look up...."104Please respect copyright.PENANAvhZCPT8neQ
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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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA7Nb3jXv3U8
They were the eyes of the Kaldura Red Fox. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAtM1xTrA964
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A memory flashed through Edulis's mind. It was Bosha who had wrestled Ygraine to the ground. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA1TQcNfUENC
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAGNvtmlpqrz
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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAl1mqN4wYU2
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Then, on the ground, Bosha looked up at Ygrain and said, "For a mercenary, defeat is death. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA7JmWrC6jIT
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- If you don't kill me now, one day I will.104Please respect copyright.PENANAoZhCV9mKXp
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Ygraine never pointed her sword at Bosha. Not once, not ever. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAJztK2Wkk8u
Ygraine merely parried a lunging Bosha attack. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA3wch0yXOQA
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- I don't want you to follow me in victory or defeat. I want you to be driven by faith and love. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAWyE8fGbg44
- 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?104Please respect copyright.PENANAHSej3K5Ou9
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Then Ygraine nodded. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAcwDXNrJCRL
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- Very well.104Please respect copyright.PENANAWQk7gCHV61
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Then he threw the sword to the ground and kicked it away. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAjSZmmzNlEi
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- What is he doing? 104Please respect copyright.PENANAPjbCQF7YjM
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Ygraine slowly approached Bosha. His chest and stomach were exposed, defenseless.104Please respect copyright.PENANAvAJSYZAt1E
Bosha raised his sword and pointed it at Ygraine. 104Please respect copyright.PENANARljlki68WK
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- Ha! Are you going to walk up to me and cut me with your sword? 104Please respect copyright.PENANAX1ZND3BfQN
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Even after saying that, Ygraine didn't stop walking. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAi2qjclpuR0
104Please respect copyright.PENANAm3rKMy6TTd
- Be it so. But I believe in the light that wanders in the depths of your heart.104Please respect copyright.PENANAIBBUYCKfRy
- Bullshit!104Please respect copyright.PENANAgbAxOazFMu
104Please respect copyright.PENANAg1bWXJ9szM
Bosha threatened Ygraine with several swipes of his sword in the air, but Ygrainne didn't stop. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAFsDEBs3LgH
104Please respect copyright.PENANAp4OXcUuBw6
- Crazy woman! Don't you dare die for nothing!104Please respect copyright.PENANAf0e4yOL4zT
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXAQsqRclHq
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.104Please respect copyright.PENANAnv1n1N0gEP
No one knew what he was afraid of. Not even himself.104Please respect copyright.PENANAFA1YsZDGA9
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The distance between Ygraine and Bosha narrowed to three paces. Then two. Then one step.104Please respect copyright.PENANAFhYoWEcSZM
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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. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAVY7KO1V15f
Ygraine approached and gently cradled his head in his hands. Igrainne didn't give him any pressure, but he couldn't move. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAbyiOwZJE6Y
104Please respect copyright.PENANAftt7B63dTO
28 years of his life. Only once has he admitted defeat. That defeat was very special to him. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAl3ZfKSyuSR
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"Well, these guys ruined everything.”104Please respect copyright.PENANAmYAiQ4mutK
104Please respect copyright.PENANAikdx69erR9
"What... what are you doing?"104Please respect copyright.PENANAgTUu2zeK7H
Kishi shouted in horror. The Fey family's main carriage had approached, its front clearly visible. 104Please respect copyright.PENANA5jzsAvS5yG
Edulis put his hand on the handle of his sword. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAhKmGzc0vS6
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"No!"104Please respect copyright.PENANAjYTX3ffhb6
104Please respect copyright.PENANAZKQNm1tAMQ
Enri shouted at the top of his lungs. Edulis ignored him and chuckled. Then he spoke in a low voice. 104Please respect copyright.PENANAxPF4tHYQlP
104Please respect copyright.PENANAeIFEJNYo2D
"Do not insult Ygraine."104Please respect copyright.PENANAgbFRKFwPd9
104Please respect copyright.PENANAF5JG7Zs4Wv
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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