CHAPTER 5: BLINDSIDE
Bright sunlight poured into the small bedroom window, blinding Siah on the top bunk.
"Damn it, I will end up blind if I keep facing this window," Siah grunted, pulling his sheets over his head and turning his back to the light. The heat of the sun still pressed against his skin, making the air in the small room heavy.
"I didn't dream about the ancient critten… does this mean I have to make sacrifices every time I want to see him?" His thoughts raced, quick and restless.
"It's obvious these lines on my chest were caused by his cold touch. The speed I cut that creep's throat was unnatural, which also points to him."
Siah jumped down from the bed, the floorboards groaning under his weight. Landing in front of the mirror, he unbuttoned his top, rubbing the strange lines etched across his chest.
"Hmm… that's strange. This line shortened."
He buttoned his top again with a slow sigh.
"I can't go back to the pit now… the nobles are probably searching for the victims around the border."
He pulled out a chair beside the table, its wooden legs scraping faintly against the floor, and sat down across from the cracked mirror.
"I should ask Theal for research on evil spirits…" His thought trailed, before he shook his head sharply.
"That bastard's hatred for anything related to evil spirits is only rivaled by his hatred for mother."
Siah slumped back in the chair, staring into the fractured reflection.
"If I ask him directly, he'd kill me on the spot or report me to his knight friends. The Pantheon would not hesitate to execute me."
He stood, drawing in a long breath as his gaze locked on his own reflection.
"Haha… that wench Hazel doesn't know what's good for her. I am much better looking than Theal."
Yawning, he left the room and made his way to the kitchen.
"Theal, I'm starving."
Theal sat cross-legged, reading a book and sipping tea without sparing Siah a glance.
"Pick up a silver coin on the table and go seek out the milk maiden. I will be waiting to spar with you when you return."
"What do I get in return? My time is precious."
Theal ignored Siah sipping his tea.
"That's good. You are injured — I will beat that pompous attitude out of you."Siah mumbled inwardly as he walked out of the house, heading down the street.
"Why do I have to be the one who always chases after the milk maiden? Hmph… wait till I start making more Equi. What courage does a mere squire have to order me around?"
He turned back, pocketing the coin, and headed back home. "Theal, the neighbors said the milk maidens are not working today."
Theal stood with three wooden swords, throwing two to Siah before taking a defensive stance.
"You should focus on your recovery. This is not a fair fight."
Theal scoffed. "I thought you took pride in taking advantage of your opponents' weaknesses."
The corners of Siah's lips twitched as he gripped the swords tightly.
"How can I not take such a glorious opportunity to beat this cocky bastard senseless?"
Dragging the tips of his swords across the ground, Siah kicked up sand obscuring Theal's vision, then dashed forward.
Flipping both swords up, he caught them mid-air, gripping them firmly by the tips. "I'm going to use the hilt to finish off those bruised arms."
Theal jumped back, retreating several steps before resuming his stance, sword tilted horizontally.
"Hahahaha, coward — already running." Siah laughed maniacally, swinging the sword in his right hand toward Theal's head with excessive force, crouching slightly as his left-hand sword hilt aimed for Theal's right knee. "Let's see if you can keep running."
Theal's sword clashed with the hilt aimed at his head, the force distorting his calm expression as the wooden sword creaked under the force of the strike aggravating the pain on his bruised arms.
His focus slipped for a heartbeat — the low strike to closed in.
Theal stepped on Siah's crouched knee, using it as leverage to flip sideways over the incoming hilt.
He landed perfectly, avoiding the strike, and his foot's push sent Siah staggering.
Unable to regain his balance, Siah faced a forward thrust — Theal's sword grazing his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Tsk… he grazed me on purpose. If it were a real fight, my life would've ended. This bastard is too good at turning defense into offense… I have to let him take the initiative so I can make use of his injured arms." Siah eased his guard, arms spread.
"He's too laid-back to fall for such an open trick… I need a more direct bait. This bastard won't be easy to deal with even if I catch him by surprise. If only the lines on my chest could lend me some assistance… sigh… screw it, it's been a while since I used this trick on him."
Theal lowered into a mid-crouch, circling slowly, while Siah stayed rooted, guard down.
"Deepshit! Are you trying to make me dizzy? Just attack already!"
Theal paused as a sword flew toward his face.
Siah slid forward, leg sweeping low.
Theal ignored the flying sword, leaping over the sweep but taking a solid hit to the chest from the thrown sword.
His face tensed from the sudden pain as he landed on Siah's sword arm, pinning it down while pressing his blade to Siah's throat.
With a wide grin Siah spat, blinding Theal's eyes, and connected a firm right hook to his jaw — sending him sprawling and spitting blood.
"Haha, Theal — do you think I'm one of your knight friends who stops fighting after you pin me down? How naïve. I see why the Blood Hounds left you behind."
Theal wiped the saliva from his face clearing his sight.
"The spar is over. Go wash up — we're heading to the city."
Siah sneered inwardly. "Hmph… just when the fight was getting interesting, this coward ends it."
---
Gourmand City – House Gullet Estate
Mist curled like a living veil over the mountains, parting only enough to reveal the majesty of the citadel beyond.
Rising from a bed of emerald foliage, the castle sprawled in tiers of pale marble and gold, each colonnaded hall and sweeping balcony glistening under the misty light.
Waterfalls cascaded down the cliffs behind it, feeding lush gardens that clung to the fortress walls like living crowns.
Inside the halls, a knight adorned in silver armour and a pale blue cloak knocked gently on a large door.
A hoarse voice came from within.
"You may enter."
The knight stepped into the dark room, his boots silent on the polished floor, before kneeling on one knee, head bowed.
"Grandmaster, have you made any new discoveries?"
A shriveled hand rose from the bed, trembling, clutching a silver ring.
Cough cough cough cough.
"Little Braggan… you have become a knight you are Sir Braggan now… cough cough… come, sit next to me… cough."
Sir Braggan rose, stepping closer to the bed.
"It's been some time Grandmaster I have already crossed five stillness statuses."
"Cough cough Little Braggan… you have grown up… cough cough… you are now a Status four Quaternity stillness of the Ascendant Echelon."
Sir Braggan bowed deeply. "I have only recently just progressed from status five Quintessence to a status four Quaternity. I do not dare claim to call myself an Ascendant its still new to me."
The withered hand placed the silver ring into Sir Braggan's palm with great difficulty. "Cough cough… That is very good, Little Braggan… very wise. You have just broken out of the Physical plane and entered the Ethereal plane… cough cough… do not rush your progress."
Sir Braggan bowed deeply in gratitude.
The shriveled hand retreated beneath the sheets. "Cough cough… I saw a child in my vision… his eyes burned blood red when he ended Rae's life."
Sir Braggan's expression sank. "Grand Master… are you saying Cousin Rae is dead already? What about his son, the bastard?"
No response came.
Sir Braggan bowed once more and left the room, the silver ring clenched tightly in his palm.
He stepped into the courtyard, bright with flowers swaying in a light breeze, while children played among the garden paths.
Opposite him, a middle-aged man sat beneath an arbor on a swinging bench, his grey beard and faded purple hair catching the dappled light.
Sir Braggan avoided his gaze, approaching with his head lowered.
The man removed his cigar from his lips, a deep frown forming. "Is it too late?"
Braggan nodded solemnly.
The man's expression darkened, the air in the courtyard turning cold. The chill stilled the children, their laughter dying away as they followed his gaze and left the courtyard.
He rose to stand before Sir Braggan.
"Speak, Braggan."
"Patriach the Grand Master's vision points to a child whose eyes burned blood red while murdering Rae."
The Patriarch snorted coldly. "Too vague. Rae was a weak mortal — any ant could have killed him!"
He sat back down, crushing his cigar, which shattered into icy shards."Did he hint at House Chagrin's involvement?"
Sir Braggan shook his head. "No, Patriarch… I might have missed it."
The Patriarch clenched his fist, the temperature dropping further. "Braggan, seek out the elders and get authorization to use Code Red totems. We will meet with House Chagrin and seek compensation. Do they think we are so easy to bully?"
Sir Braggan lifted his head. "As you command."
The Patriarch pulled out another cigar, inhaling its scent with slow relish. "How is the Blood Covenants' investigation going on this matter?"
Braggan opened his palm, revealing the silver ring. "I plan on handing them Rae's ring — maybe they will find something."
The Patriarch tossed the fresh cigar to the icy ground. "Good. Very good. They need to work hard on this. Now go and complete your tasks."
Sir Braggan bowed deeply before leaving the courtyard.