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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAop0xMW0cWK
108Please respect copyright.PENANA1rySXHmRcT
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7n5aVyTRB
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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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAHsEsInRhps
108Please respect copyright.PENANAuXrqPWo9BI
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? 108Please respect copyright.PENANA1vUisiiIFV
108Please respect copyright.PENANAOIfPJ2RJTe
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAm3CdPqj29B
108Please respect copyright.PENANASEOHrBjUgc
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANA55hn7d45om
108Please respect copyright.PENANAjO4Z20w0dP
"No. It can't be.” 108Please respect copyright.PENANAp8pXfwBrC2
108Please respect copyright.PENANA2vgWViknex
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAaYR0gfceXj
108Please respect copyright.PENANAhNaPPLOr6Q
"Ha! This is ridiculous. You want me to hand over the Velox? Why would I take such a bet?"108Please respect copyright.PENANA2ObkSxIXyi
"Hey, mister. Weren't you confident? Is Erabus Kishi a man who can't even stand by his words?"108Please respect copyright.PENANA9s7v12fiXp
108Please respect copyright.PENANAwKK5UqN7Hq
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?108Please respect copyright.PENANAfAIwktYd4q
108Please respect copyright.PENANAtR3dhse9DY
"There's no point in making a bet with someone who's going to die anyway!"108Please respect copyright.PENANA3GijrkAVbK
108Please respect copyright.PENANAntz892gfTg
"You're not making a bet because you're going to die, or are you admitting there's a chance you're wrong?"108Please respect copyright.PENANAWdgfiZOLxJ
108Please respect copyright.PENANAnvges2HEhN
"There's no chance of that!"108Please respect copyright.PENANAy3cBH5H8FY
108Please respect copyright.PENANAmdITXjg5sK
"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.108Please respect copyright.PENANA6Gw95uNicx
108Please respect copyright.PENANAIRSKI5yLh6
"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."108Please respect copyright.PENANAr7d3zJ1lm6
"What, what did you say?"108Please respect copyright.PENANAHo70Vp7kn7
108Please respect copyright.PENANApz4htjlcqj
"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!"108Please respect copyright.PENANAVWuRlrtMCA
108Please respect copyright.PENANAmbsXTwdqT4
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAznBNwZPHmY
108Please respect copyright.PENANAeHoCB21qDl
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 like108Please respect copyright.PENANARVjI5pgoHx
108Please respect copyright.PENANAUHpF8SwNCx
"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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAPCkFATl489
108Please respect copyright.PENANAk8e20ToChD
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAujb3hKw28W
108Please respect copyright.PENANAImSgkneeWW
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAkl5IPHumnf
108Please respect copyright.PENANAMcFGRApxSO
"You... you bastard!"108Please respect copyright.PENANAVWLnM69bJl
108Please respect copyright.PENANAUGUdpAHt25
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!"108Please respect copyright.PENANAHG1cJERPRF
"Indeed. I'd like to see that." Edulis said with a smirk. That stirred Kishi's anger even more. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAezMkZzeIxf
108Please respect copyright.PENANAHFgLHZdUYf
"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!"108Please respect copyright.PENANAp8NOP1iGde
"No, sir."108Please respect copyright.PENANA21e18vnGAJ
108Please respect copyright.PENANAhKJwk2bOl8
Edulis scratched the back of his head and threw up his hands in boredom. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAQPT116GfWW
108Please respect copyright.PENANAzchXPUMXhX
"What’s with all this chit-chat? So, are you going to take the bet or not?"108Please respect copyright.PENANAMjJPqU6ora
"...Fine. When you die, I will kick your tombstone and piss on your ashes!"108Please respect copyright.PENANAY34sbGauCE
"Whatever. Then, swear to Assyria."108Please respect copyright.PENANAaBV3CVf1zt
108Please respect copyright.PENANA8DSN7ljSyW
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAutfjAd7DZq
108Please respect copyright.PENANAPmqoqqO6J8
"You... how do you know about the oath to Assyria?"108Please respect copyright.PENANAbeMkncSlLc
"It's none of your business, go ahead."108Please respect copyright.PENANAlwGSKkergG
Kishi is quiet. 108Please respect copyright.PENANA6OoGa5W8Wk
108Please respect copyright.PENANA6rzuIuB7gD
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?108Please respect copyright.PENANA5MtuzyOZhV
Kishi questioned, but his pride wouldn't allow him to come this far and say otherwise. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAftnXEPlMLM
108Please respect copyright.PENANAYgc6PWE2Uw
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANA78uRkeA0Vf
108Please respect copyright.PENANA9Uj6dDTMoQ
"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!" 108Please respect copyright.PENANAYVT1160tZi
108Please respect copyright.PENANAae001pVvc7
"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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0vD68e28O
108Please respect copyright.PENANA5rqR55zcct
"Hey, mister, can you drive properly? The Velox on the right is looking elsewhere. If you're not focused, he might too."108Please respect copyright.PENANAGJiO5z73ES
108Please respect copyright.PENANAP0rcKeSBwx
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANA6gDFhJB0hU
108Please respect copyright.PENANAHKs3E1RqfR
Afterward, Edulis lay down on the wagon with his hood over his head. He lay cross-legged, seemingly at peace with the world. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAXNx5DJTaIV
Then, the boy who had been sitting there as if dead spoke to him. His voice was as small as a mosquito's.108Please respect copyright.PENANAPh5CFgoWv0
108Please respect copyright.PENANAcCrzDoWnJQ
"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."108Please respect copyright.PENANAcIzHk39vKG
108Please respect copyright.PENANAkQnvj8iWGS
"That's... we can't......."108Please respect copyright.PENANAanLHA9UCXk
108Please respect copyright.PENANAHd9GlcWpf2
At the boy's words, Edulis chuckled.108Please respect copyright.PENANAHjfrcDEHZ5
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"There's something we need to do in St. Trisis."108Please respect copyright.PENANARxbcPyLXEU
108Please respect copyright.PENANAFbOACnu1Zp
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANArX6xuseam9
108Please respect copyright.PENANAipVdKz5xH7
"Ahhh... this head part is uncomfortable. By the way, what's your name?"108Please respect copyright.PENANAA0tbAbvskG
"...Enri."108Please respect copyright.PENANAmvb2Zoiw9X
“I see. Enri, please wake me up when we arrive."108Please respect copyright.PENANAcXO00JMK35
108Please respect copyright.PENANARC1cTdvYoM
Saying that, Edulis fell asleep on top of the rattling cart.108Please respect copyright.PENANAZQeMp2psr8
108Please respect copyright.PENANAwYdlJlxVv2
108Please respect copyright.PENANA1ed7o7uYaE
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"Walk in from here. I'm not obligated to give you a ride inside."108Please respect copyright.PENANAGbCAw0RhW3
108Please respect copyright.PENANAwu3vOPot6J
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANA1XrQeKId4e
108Please respect copyright.PENANA16OkWNidqp
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAvPaUZZk1Ha
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAwc8vH5RTVD
108Please respect copyright.PENANAPcybitKONE
Edulis didn't like the sight. When Bosha was alive, the Fey family had a reputation for frugality. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAuxJy1eoNmr
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANA7X9mtbgYSc
108Please respect copyright.PENANAJEVnwzUAPq
He remembered himself as Bosha saying "Are you the duke? You're dukes, aren't you, Our house seems better than this.?108Please respect copyright.PENANAqbGRUcaYaK
108Please respect copyright.PENANAeAaTfuIxUm
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAzM5SFPmwdl
- The noblemen I know have gardens, and they're beautiful. Why don't you plant a palm tree?108Please respect copyright.PENANA0erNpG3850
- If I had the money, I'd add more stones to our foundation.108Please respect copyright.PENANAwDah0IEXhn
108Please respect copyright.PENANA291gLhu7lJ
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANA2t5NEFQdL4
An insult. An insult to the Fey family and Ygraine! Against the will of the goddess Lutea!108Please respect copyright.PENANAIr6f7yHeSI
108Please respect copyright.PENANALjJhYGYMPd
"There's the main family’s wagon passing by. Children of the witch, bow your heads more deeply in contrition."108Please respect copyright.PENANAmyJMoM94gA
108Please respect copyright.PENANAKjOUUUsDFa
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAlzXPrQhCR2
108Please respect copyright.PENANALSobrXaqMu
But Edulis did not follow suit. He was staring at something that caught his eye.108Please respect copyright.PENANAzVDQMcaG2K
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"Rude bastard, come on, pay your respects to the descendants of heroes!"108Please respect copyright.PENANAZNghpPZ69r
108Please respect copyright.PENANAo9jH1zT8hk
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAveZrGwnLsr
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"Haha."108Please respect copyright.PENANA9lVPfp9lsn
108Please respect copyright.PENANAWCtzOAtfjf
Edulis laughed. His anger was beyond the top, and it made him laugh. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAW86lpEZAtJ
108Please respect copyright.PENANALRLoc7dTHo
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAr7jxUA9qDw
Ygraine sprawled miserably on the ground, and Bosha stomped on her head, then pointed his straightened sword at her throat. 108Please respect copyright.PENANATjpwAWsNsg
108Please respect copyright.PENANAk8MMNalRpy
"This thing is here too?"
"Hey, come on, look up...."108Please respect copyright.PENANAN23MIBV8V1
108Please respect copyright.PENANAqVLpRArodS
Kishi was speechless. Because he saw Edulis' eyes. Those eyes. Eyes that burned as if they held all the anger in the world. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAX78Y4qQuJq
They were the eyes of the Kaldura Red Fox. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAOP2dUReGSg
108Please respect copyright.PENANAQNBdoTYBIF
A memory flashed through Edulis's mind. It was Bosha who had wrestled Ygraine to the ground. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAgi4wDarvxy
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANA8RH1WkBDnl
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAKceXv4WI9A
108Please respect copyright.PENANA1TrPGCWA9H
Then, on the ground, Bosha looked up at Ygrain and said, "For a mercenary, defeat is death. 108Please respect copyright.PENANA5NiSi8ttHF
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- If you don't kill me now, one day I will.108Please respect copyright.PENANAY4cRT54KcX
108Please respect copyright.PENANAqtS1BMCsH8
Ygraine never pointed her sword at Bosha. Not once, not ever. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAiNknMPAeN2
Ygraine merely parried a lunging Bosha attack. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAbGy0gan838
108Please respect copyright.PENANAhF76IEmWgR
- I don't want you to follow me in victory or defeat. I want you to be driven by faith and love. 108Please respect copyright.PENANA82lZvT9LZc
- 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?108Please respect copyright.PENANAf9Vveqhg4a
108Please respect copyright.PENANAGWoIUQyAcQ
Then Ygraine nodded. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAqn2dIs7DnM
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- Very well.108Please respect copyright.PENANAl93ya27I2z
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Then he threw the sword to the ground and kicked it away. 108Please respect copyright.PENANABCC30VkRhD
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- What is he doing? 108Please respect copyright.PENANAFljHJu7LiK
108Please respect copyright.PENANAqlwm5bbEn2
Ygraine slowly approached Bosha. His chest and stomach were exposed, defenseless.108Please respect copyright.PENANAwWWkU3RAGw
Bosha raised his sword and pointed it at Ygraine. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAYkFmxp0WrA
108Please respect copyright.PENANAEMDCLlU2zh
- Ha! Are you going to walk up to me and cut me with your sword? 108Please respect copyright.PENANAPbsAUORRpk
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Even after saying that, Ygraine didn't stop walking. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAg8ihzs5JZN
108Please respect copyright.PENANAfoL6sPKS2Y
- Be it so. But I believe in the light that wanders in the depths of your heart.108Please respect copyright.PENANABPjmIKR7wM
- Bullshit!108Please respect copyright.PENANAGHycfosh3U
108Please respect copyright.PENANABg14W6gkKw
Bosha threatened Ygraine with several swipes of his sword in the air, but Ygrainne didn't stop. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAdiE4inMd5g
108Please respect copyright.PENANAtCRn4FQBqy
- Crazy woman! Don't you dare die for nothing!108Please respect copyright.PENANAOxfxjEnxPq
108Please respect copyright.PENANAvDDfSp848Q
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.108Please respect copyright.PENANAlqo9AENHWV
No one knew what he was afraid of. Not even himself.108Please respect copyright.PENANAWBUq60YCEb
108Please respect copyright.PENANAxjJZhO9bMz
The distance between Ygraine and Bosha narrowed to three paces. Then two. Then one step.108Please respect copyright.PENANAYXURR9oO0n
108Please respect copyright.PENANA0VkCbqlWhr
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. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAkQ12j4mMm6
Ygraine approached and gently cradled his head in his hands. Igrainne didn't give him any pressure, but he couldn't move. 108Please respect copyright.PENANATXk808MeLK
108Please respect copyright.PENANAuFtUzSdBuK
28 years of his life. Only once has he admitted defeat. That defeat was very special to him. 108Please respect copyright.PENANA38IhUf5Y1m
108Please respect copyright.PENANA8shjnD4w16
"Well, these guys ruined everything.”108Please respect copyright.PENANACVVJn7LrZx
108Please respect copyright.PENANAt8ptFXnaNC
"What... what are you doing?"108Please respect copyright.PENANAJrJOQemhXA
Kishi shouted in horror. The Fey family's main carriage had approached, its front clearly visible. 108Please respect copyright.PENANA04WO7IxOQl
Edulis put his hand on the handle of his sword. 108Please respect copyright.PENANASSoFv6QHQr
108Please respect copyright.PENANAwzzHh9efmx
"No!"108Please respect copyright.PENANADeOtNZx2PL
108Please respect copyright.PENANAEmKv45N20t
Enri shouted at the top of his lungs. Edulis ignored him and chuckled. Then he spoke in a low voice. 108Please respect copyright.PENANAbflovQjNcr
108Please respect copyright.PENANAtTKlA9glaa
"Do not insult Ygraine."108Please respect copyright.PENANA3GxxAwfqPy
108Please respect copyright.PENANAVUBNzceFCS
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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