CASTER
Standing beside his bed, the morning he probably didn't look forward to had finally come. Dressed in her house's silver and black colours, Talia spared no effort in trying to force out the details of my mission.
My brother and his wife were standing beside the mirror. For some reason he allowed Talia to perfect his dressing and even brush his hair.
"I give up! I expect you to come back alive and unscarred," Talia said as she perfected Emon's dressing.
"I'm sorry. But keep your anger for your father-in-law," Emon replied.
Emon was dressed in an all black attire. No armour, no Clovis colours or emblems. I too was directed to wear inconspicuous clothing. That gave me a vague idea of our mission.
It was a covert mission.
The details however, were something unknown to me and his wife.
"You too seem closer than before, Talia," I said, my words interrupted their activity.
"Oh no. Don't misjudge me, Caster, his face is one of his only redeeming qualities. It must be kept unsullied," Talia replied with a wry smile.
My brother had been spending more time with his wife. Sometimes the fool even writes poems for her. At the very least, it can be said that both of them are trying. A good thing for them.
For me, their closeness would stand in direct contrast to my relationship with that girl. Diana Taric, my wife to be.
"Would you also be applying make up, Emon?" I questioned, my impatience spilling out like spittle.
"I'm already done," he replied, as he walked away from the mirror.
My brother walked to a grey figurine that held his sword, the one Dyran made. Dark as darkness could be, that sword always gives me the creeps.
"Until next time Talia," Emon said, his back facing Talia.
"Whatever," Talia replied blankly.
Emon turned and walked towards Talia. His hands shook in nervousness. Taking Talia by surprise Emon kissed her on the cheek.
As if to not deal with the consequence, my brother briskly walked out of the room.
Talia's left palm was on the spot Emon kissed. She didn't seem to mind. Clearly they weren't lovers, perhaps friends.
"Goodbye sister, take care," I said, as my back now faced her.
Unlike Emon, I walked out at normal a pace and the two of us carried on in the dead of night. Mirroring our outfits, we also moved like thieves.
-------
Two days had now passed since we set out. We carried enough coin to last a year. So food and rest was always assured.
Emon and I stayed in the same room. His reasoning was that he didn't want us to be separated. A solid reason, even I could not fault him for it.
But for some reason, everything he did only made me nervous. Now I was restless to know why I have left the comfort of Damattis for the hard beds in Newttis.
It was the poorest region in Velecor itself. Crimes of many kinds prospered there. No Emperor has been able to clean the place.
"Emon, now would be a good time to tell me what the hell we came here for," I asked in a calm voice to assuage him.
"Not this," Emon said as he watched his sword.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah," I laughed.
"I'm sorry." Emon replied, his face somber.
"My neck is close to the noose and I don't even know what for. We're in hell on earth, damn it." I said out loudly.
"I am selfish, I know. But looking out for my own life is not selfishness. We only have one life," I continued.
"You're right." Emon replied, his hands now on his knees.
"I am not foolish, Emon," I said, my voice now lowered.
"I know." Emon said, his face more somber than before.
"You're smarter than I am. But, I do think I am a bright fellow. By piecing things together I would find out the details," I replied, my fists tightening.
"My being here means me knowing isn't the worst thing that can happen," I said.
"It seems I won't be furnished with the details. Selfish as I am I promise to give my life for yours if necessary. After all, you're my precious older brother," I said and then left for the bathing chamber.
"Thank You, Caster." Emon's thanks were the last thing I heard as I closed the door of the bathroom.
-----
The next morning we went about finding something as we did in the previous two days. My misgivings about the mission were still abundant, especially now that we are still looking for what I don't know.
"You can't dangle meat in front of a dog and expect it not to drool. Father always said that. Now, whatever," I caught my statement short before I said something out of bitterness.
"You really want to know, huh? It's information only privy to the Emperor and his heir. As far as I can remember, when I offered you my seal, you shunned it," Emon said, his words forcing out a smile from me.
"Being Emperor won't let me live the life I envisioned. I want to travel through not only Vermachor, but to every continent and kingdom. I long for battle too, the Emperor must not be belligerent," I said as the smile on my face widened.
"Even at fifteen, you still hold such childish views?" Emon questioned with disgust.
"Even at sixteen, you can't hold yourself together. One crisis and give away your inheritance. Your resolve might be made of iron, but it is porous and fickle," I replied, my anger accurately aimed him.
"Don't cross the line," Emon warned with anger.
"Whatever," I said to quickly quench the rising fire.
Nice, he still falls prey to things like this. Talia would eat him alive. Such a pity, I would have liked a rematch. Our last fight was rigged in his favour after all.
Luckily our argument occurred in an alleyway with no soul around. The streets in contrast were very lively. Businesses of every kind thrived here: food, prostitution, blacksmithing, even drugs.
Their taxes were an important source of revenue to Damattis, regardless of whether the coins were dipped in blood.
"Heads up Caster, we're being tracked." Emon's warning set me back to the mission.
"Yeah, I can notice now. Four men," I replied after noticing them.
"Seems my plan worked. Even here, people might recognise Emon Clovis, if even just from gossips. I made us remove our hoods yesterday and today to draw out attention. Ordinarily, we won't have found them, however, we allowed them to find us," he said confidently.
"I see," I replied as I nodded my head.
"The story about the dog and the meat holds true. Now they want a piece of the High Prince," Emon said with a disgustingly confident smirk.
"Follow me," he ordered.
Emon led me to an empty alleyway. The buildings around it were dilapidated but would render us cover. We already passed this area yesterday, perhaps it was always his plan to fight them here.
Moments later, I sensed four lifeforce signatures surrounding us. They were clearly not stronger than I or my Brother in principle. But, battles aren't won solely by strength.
An eerie sound rang through the air. It was a sound well known to me. Emon had unsheathed his sword and prepared for battle.
I followed suit and removed Bellkyn. The sword which doesn't cleave but renders harm. Its shimmering light served as a remembrance that its creator sleeps deep in the dungeons of the imperial palace.
Imbuing his trait into the sword was the price for his life.
Three of our attackers jumped down. Two went after me, and one after Emon. A splendid strategy, if I do say so myself
"My name is b--" the tall brown haired man said before I cut him off with a swift movement towards him.
I wished to get clean strikes to drain their lifeforce but for some reason they dodged it like a plague. Strike after strike fell only on the whispering wind.
Emon fared no better. He fought someone who could somehow deactivate his barriers. Their skill at the sword almost equal.
The one at the top of a clock tower watched on with his hands folded as if the outcome was already set in stone.
A gust of wind suddenly flew my way. I dodged skillfully but lightning from above struck me down. Nice moves, they put me in a situation where I couldn't dodge.
Emon on the other hand stopped using barriers and engaged his opponent in a sword fight. Emon made a powerful thrust that was duly dodged. In return, his opponent used brute strength to slap away Emon's sword with his own sword.
But Emon was faster. He quickly retrieved his sword and retreated, probably for analysis.
A powerful kick struck my face and brought me back to reality. I was fighting two skilled men. The one who used lightning reinforced his hands and feet with it. His attacks were swift but lacked the edge to put me down for good.
I stepped back to analyse as well. I couldn't be losing to people with such generic abilities. Mine might be too but I'm a Clovis. And so far, I haven't even used a candle light worth of flame. Their speed is just too overwhelming.
"Emon, let's partner up," I said, seeing the possibility of a win in such a scenario.
"I had the same in mind," he replied, his face analytical.
We scrambled to join up, lightning and wind attacks flew my way. Emon had it easier. After leaving the unusual guy in the dust, he kicked the wind user on his face and forced the lightning user to dodge a punch.
Emon and I now had our backs pressed together. The two-versus-one and one-versus-one were now three-versus-two.
But that was not my brother's plan. He created three different barriers to separate us. Unlike his Veil Art, he doesn't need multiple contacts because he was placing the barriers on objects.
And so, Emon fought against the lightning user in a one-versus-one while I fought the one who could dispel his barriers. The one who could use wind was left alone in a separate barrier. Perhaps one with the inside stronger than the outside.
"I am Dramm. Pleasure to meet you, High Prince," the one who nullified Emon's barrier blurted out.
"Sorry, can't say the same," I responded.
He drew out his sword, and did a powerful thrust at me. I dodged, but then noticed his sword was also emitting lifeforce signatures. Maybe I can deduce his trait by observing it.
But that didn't go as planned. As earlier observed, he and Emon were equal. His strikes were powerful. Each strike left me barely standing, despite blocking them with Bellkyn.
Is his sword also like Bellkyn? I thought. I could feel both swords fight for dominance with each strike. I should probe more before using flame manipulation.
Emon's fight with the lightning user was equal. But I knew he had him in his palm. To fight Emon within his barrier was a foolish thing. But how many knew that?
I can't believe I am the one struggling. I launched myself at Dramm with a powerful thrust of mine. He dodged again. I feinted to slice him, as expected he dodged but this led him open to a kick from me.
Yes, I drew first blood. I covered my fist with flame and drew a dagger for which I did the same.
Expecting a close-range attack, I surprised him by hurling a fire blast at him. He noticed at the last second, he evaded but his right half was caught in it.
Dramm looked surprised to see himself not burning. But that surprise quickly turned to pain. He scrambled his hands all over his left side as if trying to quench an invisible fire.
As a matter of fact, my win was abrupt and underwhelming. But he probably wasn't on guard. For majority of the fight I didn't use my divine trait. Even when I used it, I used it to reinforce my fists and dagger. Indicating we were set for a close-range fight.
A warrior must always be sly after all.
The cession I made was what ultimately decided the outcome.
I turned my view towards Emon who seemed to be enjoying himself. Although weaker than I, his divine trait gives him many technicalities for victory.
The lightning user inflicted some injuries. However, Emon's 'Barrier Arts: Veil' would soon encircle him.
I turned my attention back to Dramm. I needed to finish him off or he will recover. At this point, he had already surrendered to his burns but was still alive.
Just as I was about to stab him with the dagger, Emon had encircled the lightning user in a barrier. One that is unbreakable by the one stuck inside.
After our win, Emon's barriers were dispelled probably due to fatigue. The wind user however didn't take any chances and fled like the wind.
Suddenly I felt something holding my scabbard. Dramm's hand, he had recovered enough to do that. I wanted to finish him off immediately, but I was taken aback by my scabbard's state.
The scabbard had rusted. Next, he scrambled to hold me. And then I realised his divine trait had to do with aging things up.
He had enough will to kneel and almost hold my leg. That was until Emon swooped in and struck a fatal blow. But his hair was tangled in Dramm's hand.
His golden hair began to turn grey. Streaks of gold remained due to the halting of the grey's advance. That was the signal that Dramm was dead.
I took out my anger on nearby buildings, striking and burning anything. The building the fourth person stood on collapsed and took him down with him.
Regardless of the cost he incurred just a while ago, Emon moved swiftly to take him out mid-air. And so we stood victorious at a cost.
The two of them spoke for about two minutes before he died. An hour ago I would have loved to hear. But now, I cared not.