Valis blocked and parried blows from an Anthrocile's clawed hands witrh her sword. The narrow curved blade flickering in precise and deadly moves that were almost too fast for the eye to see.
Behind her she was aware of Mal fighting another Anthrocile with various weapons he conjured using his mind. As always during combat he was smiling. His various weapons and the ability to switch instantly between them giving him an edge that few warriors or monsters could overcome.
Valis blocked a blow. "Pushil," she incanted before the monster could swing again and it flew backwards and upwards and she dashed after it. Her form glowing with magical power. before the Anthrocile hit the ground it was impaled on her sword.
Valis watched as it moaned and died. Then disintegrated into dust to blow away on the slight draft wafting through the underground crypt.
"Seven seconds," said Mal in his gruff voice. Even though Valis could hear the smile. "Incantations only slow you down. A good distraction or escape possibility, yes. Time wise, no."251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs4D5l4mIN
"And your refusal to learn them will be your downfall," laughed Valis as she slid her sword into its sheath. "You're sure its here?"251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEJDdVMvOx
Mal looked round the circular crypt they were in. At each of the cardinal points hung a tattered green banner with a silver coat of arms on it. A sheathed sword in front of a shield.
"This is the crypt of my ancestors," he said. "No monster could unravel its secrets."
He walked over to one of the banners and tugged at a protruding fastener. in response a hidden door behind one of the other banners swung open. Valis walked over and looked in. sitting on a rough stone block was a sword. A rapier, with a long knife extending from the pommel, a beautiful worked basket hilt, and an engraved blade. Sitting next to it was an extensively tooled leather sheath.
Valis walked in and picked it up. Noting a small button set at the top of the hilt under the basket guard. she pressed it and the knife disappeared into the hilt. Valis slid the rapier into its sheath and hung it on her belt.
"You're sure about this?" she asked.
"I am," Mal said. "The prophecy must be fulfilled. it is written on the wall over there for crying out loud."
Valis looked and there it was. She read it again.
Two there shall be
One young to teach and one old to see
One there shall be
to learn and be set free
Sword of the past
Hero of the last
a new age shall usher in
long shall it have been
since blade was laid bare
for monster to pare
a new age shall be wrought
or all be brought to naught
"I still don't get it," she said.
"Of course not," said Mal. "I'm only sixty-eight and have enough wisdom in my head to tell you so many times. I have seen in my dreams the fulfilling of this prophecy. it is my destiny to guide you to it. And through the hero you teach, young one, humanity."251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72OJunaUfq
Valis bristled at being called young one. But quickly got over it. "Why me though? Why do I have to be the one to teach him?"
"Because no one else will," said Mal. "The smile slipping from his face. "I would teach him if I could but you know that I cannot. The prophecy states that it must be a young one who teaches him. I was old when he was born. And would any other of the five young members of the Knights Mantre teach someone who has been rejected from every academy in Borim because of who his father was?"
"None of them would even listen to the prophecies in the first place," said Valis. "They forego the ancient wisdom to forge their own paths to ruin and destruction."
Mal nodded. "I know. Thanks to them Hiramis was left in ruins. It's only thanks to you that any of the people survived. And yet they get a heroes welcome. When we lose a city state to monsters and they're treated like heroes who saved the day. Thousands died because of them. Them and their damned egos."
"I know," said Valis. "But there's nothing we can do about it now except fulfill the prophecy. That's what's important."
"Yes, you're right," said Mal. Throwing away his gloom and cheering up. "Now we just have to find him. Which could be a problem."
"Yes, it could." said Valis as they turned and left.
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