The two troll chieftain's heads lay on a massive rock for support, facing the corpses of their two hundred tribesmen slaughtered by Lanius and his knights. About fifty troll corpses were stacked together on each pile of wood, and when Sir Robin recounted the numbers, they totaled at two hundred and fifty-five.
Crows had found the opportunity to feast on tough, troll flesh. But before more of them could swallow the cold, vile flesh, they scattered and flew away as Damian lit up every pile of wood where corpses lay on top with a basic fireball. He caught a whiff of the burning corpses, and it was the most revolting smell he ever smelled. The stench coming from the troll chieftains was worse. It smelled like rotten eggs and dead rats.
Blerghh!
Damian threw up. The breakfast he ate that morning at the inn, all wasted, now they're mixed disgustingly on the snowy ground.
"Smells like crap." Ivan hastened his steps towards Sir Elric's chestnut stallion. Hiding, so the smoke won't chase him and terrorize his nostrils. "Will there be more trolls as we go?" He asked Sir Elric, who stood quietly near Smiler.
"A small pack of trolls perhaps," Sir Elric grinned, reaching over the boy's auburn hair, ruffling them. "but I doubt they'd be much trouble for me. You saw me fight back there, right?" he smirked.
"Indeed, sir." Ivan nodded, leaning to the knight's touch like he's family to him. "You fought like a mad direwolf, I even saw how you performed the Northernblade sword style."
It was indeed amazing to see. Sir Elric moved like a blur of red, his sword cleaved through waves of trolls in two and spilled their blood on the snow. The strikes and thrusts he performed were not random, it was intended to pierce through their vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and major blood vessel lines.
The Northernblade style wastes no time for flashy movements and smooth counters, it wants nothing more but to efficiently kill and sever limbs. It was never meant for dueling, but to slay monsters using the user's raw strength and killing intent.
The day ahead was still long, and they needed to hunt more trolls.
They encountered small encampments—five in total—with only seven to eight trolls at standby. Sir Robin and Sir Elric dispatched them all quickly. The body count now totalled to two hundred and ninety two.
Lanius and his party had searched every suspecting hole and cave they could find for troll dens. But to their surprise, neither of them have any signs of life. Only their unused weapons such as stone axes, spears and clubs were left at their dens.
He had been hunting them down for years. Today, with the two strongest troll chieftains dead by Lanius's bare hands, they are closer to wiping the troll population completely out of the mountains.
…
The sky was now casting a hue of deep blue and red. About time to make camp. They settled on a forested part of the mountains. While helping on setting up their tent, Damian thought about the two troll chieftain's heads. He reached for the hem of his father's cloak.
"Father," Damian asked him, "Why did you leave the troll chieftains heads while the rest of the corpses burn?
Lanius, who was making green tea on the bonfire, turns around and faces Damian.
"The town's mayor and his men will go and get those heads." Lanius said.
"Three years ago, Mayor Campbell sent me a request letter. The Mistypeak mountains had a growing troll population problem, and upon further scouting they found out about the two gigantic trolls. The townsfolk had been growing weary that trolls will attack and kill everyone on one unfortunate winter storm night."
"And it took you three years to finally end all of them." Damian said.
"It wasn't easy, I must admit." Lanius said.
"Trolls will send separate raiding groups from towns and villages to divert my focus and confuse me. Having two tribes of the same blue skinned maneaters to deal with at the same time didn't help either. The chieftains were smart enough not to face me head on, until today."
"They thought organizing a massive army would change the outcome, and now their ashes and bones mixed with the snow. Their leader's rotting heads are on full display to let the carnage be remembered." Lanius said.
Damian took his time to think about what his father said. Trolls are creatures born with only the desire to consume flesh and destroy, but he realized they can be clever monsters as well. Making them hard to deal with. Lanius focused on defending villages and towns near the mountains during a winter storm, instead of actively pursuing them.
"Still, I never would have expected the trolls to be so eager to die in clear weather…" Lanius said. "Perhaps it was the recent mana storm that drove them out of the higher slopes, where the chieftains and his elite tribesmen lay rest."
"Either way, they're all dead. Even if a meager group of trolls survived, they'd still be left unorganized without a powerful chieftain to lead them."
Lanius grabbed the kettle and poured warm tea on a cup. He reached it to Damian.
"Here," Lanius said. "I know you're still shaken with how things turned out today, but our world is full of monsters, as there are good people we must protect.."
Damian sat comfortably on a log beside the bonfire. A soft smile curved on his lips as he sipped his tea. The others had come to sit down as well. They had just finished setting up their tents, and fed the horses.
Sir Robin opened the pot of beef stew he was cooking at last. The smell of boiled beef and aromatic herbs was very welcoming to their noses. A pleasant change from the terrible stench they had smelled that morning. Before Sir Elric could even reach for the ladle, Sir Robin grabs it first. He hit his head with the ladle.
Thok
Oww!" Sir Elric hissed, rubbing his head.
"The food hasn't even graced yet…" Sir Robin said.
"You didn't need to hit me."
After the prayer was finished, they filled their stomachs with warm and hearty beef stew. Sir Elric consumed five bowls of the stew, commenting to the knight who cooked the meal it was the best stew he ever tasted. The boys enjoyed the meal as well, while their lord father quietly asked for an extra bowl.
Sir Robin's expression seemed to soften. It was just a simple stew, and yet everyone around him certainly had their spirits lifted up.
An hour had passed, and mists slowly crept around the forest. Everybody has settled inside their tents. Lanius is on watch duty. Even as his knights volunteered that either of them must take watch instead, the lord still insisted. There was no room for argument. Besides, he needs them at full energy tomorrow morning.
…
The morning light glowed faintly inside Damian's tent. Trees cast deep shadows, as well as figures moving outside. His brother stirred, stretching himself before greeting him.
"Morning…little bean…" Ivan said. "Did Father sleep inside our tent?"
"No, I don't think so." Damian opened the curtain of their tent. "He was on watch duty, remember?"
"Oh, yes. He did. You mean to say he slept outside the cold?"
"The cold doesn't bother him." Damian gestured for his older brother to come outside.
Lanius sat on a log, brewing tea for all of them. The mist around them slowly cleared, and the view of the mountain peaks were on full display.
After their morning breakfast, Lanius instructed his sons to spar, as well as use their mana reinforcement ability. It had been weeks ever since the brothers trained for this power to manifest.
Damian assumed a stance, facing his brother across him. He let the mana inside him coat his body with an icy glow. Relaxed. Ready. He steadied his breathing, the wooden sword in his hand ready to clash and strike.
Meanwhile, Ivan breathed heavily, his body giving itself a hot red glow. He gritted his teeth and launched himself to Damian.
"Ivan, I'm betting on you!" Sir Elric shouted, cheering with his fists.
"Remember the sword strikes and parries your lord father and I taught you." Sir Robin said, his face giving a neutral expression as he crossed his arms. "Do not swing wildly like your brother, focus on maintaining your form."
Lanius watched as his sons clashed their wooden swords while using their mana reinforcement. He could only give them a soft hum sound, as if he was expecting their reinforcement to manifest today.
By the looks of it, Ivan has the upper hand. Even if his form and swings were wide and full of force, the more textbook Damian struggled to find an opening.
"Your form…" Damian said, parrying his brother's strong sword strikes. "Is this the Northernblade style?"
"So? What about it?" Ivan grinned. "Afraid? Little brother?"
"No," Damian shook his head. "It's just I wasn't expecting you to use it. We were taught only the basic forms of swordsmanship, which is mostly from the Imperial sword style. How did you learn it so quickly?"
"While you practice your magic after our mana reinforcement and swordsmanship training, I began watching and imitating Sir Elric's Northernblade style whenever he sparred with Sir Robin."
Ivan thrusted his wooden sword to Damian, but was quickly blocked by him. The force sent Damian sliding a few feet away in the snow. Before he could even recover, Ivan had already leapt, his hands gripping his sword tightly. The height was enough to block the sunlight facing his little brother.
It messed up with Damian's vision, and soon his brother landed with a devastating strike. He tried to block, his left hand gripping the end of his wooden sword.
CRACK!
Damian's wooden sword snapped in half, rendering him defenseless and defeated. Without having a chance to yield, Ivan swung his wooden sword to his brother's neck.
The world seemed to spin around Damian's head when he felt the wooden sword come in contact with the side of his neck. His limbs weakened, and he found himself lying on the snow, half conscious, drooling.
"Uhh…" Ivan blinked down at his brother, his wooden sword raised upwards. The outcome was worse than when they've fought before.
On the corner across them, Sir Elric burst out laughing, while Sir Robin pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Hmm, very well." Lanius said, turning his back away and headed to the logs. "Help your brother to get up, Ivan."
Ivan nodded and lifted Damian like a sack, heading towards camp.
Once settled on their tent, Ivan knelt beside Damian, applying ointment on his brother's sore neck. His hands were surprisingly gentle this time.
"No way wood hurt you." Ivan said. "Dont we have the same Arcaedian blood flowing in our veins?"
Damian made no reply, but the sour look on his face as turn around to stare at his brother. Though he's physically active nowadays compared to before where he sat all day in the library doing nothing but reading books—even now he couldn't catch up to his brother when it comes to their developing Arcaedian traits. What he lacked in strength, his magical talents certainly made up for it—developing at a faster pace than most kids his age.
"Next time, you better block properly." Ivan said, his tone gruff but also caring. "Your parries are starting to improve, you just need good defense."
"Block?" Damian said with a surprised tone. "With what, my sword destroyed by your swing?"
Ivan rolled his eyes as he continued rubbing his brother's sore neck.
"You could have stepped away before getting hit." Ivan pointed out, bluntly. "Or raise your sword and counter strike instead of freezing on your feet."
"It's just…you're too strong for me." Damian replied, rubbing his neck. "Even if our age were not so far off."
Ivan's hands stilled for a moment as he took Damian's words. He let out a deep sigh, before speaking frankly.
"I'm stronger because I train harder, so stop comparing yourself to me for once."
"Maybe your wish at the fountain came true then…" Damian replied, sighing heavily.
Afterall, Ivan had become even stronger and faster than expected the moment he unlocked his mana reinforcement. Too fast. Too strong for Damian.
After a brief moment of silence…
"Yeah…" Ivan said, admitting the truth quietly. "It did."
…
Five days have passed, and during those times they traveled to look for other troll camps that they might have missed. A trail of smoke was spotted by the party near the ruins of a temple. Pillars of marble were now discolored with age, and most have cracks on them. The long stairs took the party towards the troll camp, where trolls had just finished hunting a wild boar. Unfortunately for them, they may not have their last meal at all.
URRAGHH!!!
GRROOGHH!!
SKREEEYAHH!!!
With the most desperate cry they could ever produce out of their throats, six trolls threw themselves towards the approaching Lanius. He pulled Frost out of its sheath and sliced the last of the trolls to pieces.
Was it the Northernblade style again? Damian muttered under his breath. Father sliced all of them like they were vegetables…
The others behind Lanius were in awe.
It was too fast for their eyes. Northerblade combines the user's strength and speed, and would have sent shockwaves with each powerful swing meant to sever limbs. Perhaps it was the Windblade style that Lanius had used? That sword style has overwhelming speed put on to them, and was meant to finish fights before it could even begin. Afterall, he is Master Ranked in all sword styles, with Northernblade at his highest being at the Conqueror Rank.
Lanius sat on the rocky outcrop, looking at the expanse of the mountain range. Now, it was quiet. He added the six trolls he had slain to his tally.
"The trolls are gone," Lanius announced to his party.
Sir Elric cheered, while Sir Robin simply nodded in approval. The work is done. Peace in the mountains at last. Two hundred and ninety-eight, that was the last count. Both knights knew how thorough their lord was in clearing threats.
On the morning of their seventh day, Lanius and Sir Robin prepared their bows for a hunt. After the threat of trolls that had plagued the mountains for decades were resolved, the party settled and made their camp at the foot of the Mistypeaks. Where trees are abundant, and game is just hiding themselves under the shade of wood and bushes—ready to be hunted down.
"Sir Elric, you're in charge of our camp and the one to look after my boys." Lanius ordered the younger knight.
"Me? Really?" Sir Elric said, giving his lord a confused look while scratching his head. "I know how to hunt, my lord. The venison we served at the Redford manor during your visit was my game and my lord father's—"
"I have never forgotten, lad," Lanius gave him a sharp look. "Consider it a test. You've proved your worth in combat, surely you can handle a simple task of taking care of two little children?"
His tone was dry with a hint of humor behind it, but even so, he was serious with his command.
Though Damian is six, he would be the easiest boy to handle. But Ivan? He's so much like Sir Elric and wouldn't stand staying in one place. His energetic body and love for mischief only meant he'd be the hardest to rein in.
But the boy looked up to Sir Elric, respected his skills and knightly principles. Perhaps that would keep the young Vermillion obedient to him?
"Yes…my lord," Sir Elric finally obeyed.
Lanius gave him a soft hum sound, before turning around.
"Keep my sons away from trouble," Lanius said, "We'll be back at camp by midday." He added before vanishing into the misty treeline with Sir Robin.
Sitting on a log near the campfire, Damian reads his pocket-sized book. He was already trying to learn Intermediate magic spells. A mage with steady control of their mana is able to cast Intermediate-rank spells without the help of a staff or wand. It has a greater area of effect, and the scale is much bigger compared to just basic spells.
For example: an ice spell called Freeze can temporarily render someone's body immobile, or leave a line of jagged ice spikes around and behind them. A fire spell called Fire Arrow can pierce deeply into an object before making a small explosion. Before Damian could even turn another page, Ivan stood in front of him and put his book down.
"Boooring," Ivan grumbled. "How can you sit there just like that?"
Ivan eventually sat beside his brother. "I wanna do something fun…"
Meanwhile, Sir Elric decided to brew tea for them. Although Ivan had other plans. With a sly glance at Sir Elric, a cheeky grin spread on his face as he leaned on Damian.
"Let's play hide and seek, brother," Ivan said.
"What? No…" Damian glowered. "We were told to stay here, so hold your feet for once."
Ivan pouted, annoyed at Damian's frankly boring response.
"C'mon," He whined like a pup, leaning closer on Damian. "This is going to be so much fun! Besides, Sir Elric seems distracted."
"I can hear youuuuu," Sir Elric retorted, even with his back turned on them, his ears picked up their chatter easily.
"He heard us?!" Ivan hissed, his face falling dramatically as he glanced at Damian with his wide eyes. "No way…"
Sir Elric turned around slowly, a mischievous grin stretched his cheeks. He set the teapot before speaking.
"Just don't get too far out of our camp, that'd be fine with me." Sir Elric said, his attention shifted from the brothers towards the saddlebag of Sir Robin's mount. He rummaged through the bag to find some interesting trinkets, or perhaps to look for his revolver.
"So we can hide anywhere as long as you see us?" Ivan perked up, already scooting away from the campfire.
"Yes. One more thing," Sir Elric added. "Dont get lost in the woods or I'm telling Lord Lanius."
Damian wanted to stay and read within the warmth of the camp, but his brother wouldn't allow himself to be the only one playing the game. He slid his booklet inside the tent, afraid it might get lost while playing, before catching up to Ivan. Standing beneath the tree, he was already trying to find hiding spots.
"Hmph, fine," Damian patted his brother's shoulder. "I want you entertained, or else you'll be whining and rolling in the snow all day. You hide first."
"Wooh! Finally," Ivan's face sparkled, "then go to a corner and start counting."
Ivan bolted away from his brother. Meanwhile, Damian started counting from one to ten, his head bent on a tree and arms covering in each corner.
When the counting was over, Damian scouted every corner of the trees and bushes to look for Ivan. He doesn't want to take too long searching all day to find his brother, so the most logical thing to do is use his mana detection.
I don't care if this is cheating, Damian thought.
It didn't take much longer for Damian to sense where his brother was hiding. The red hue of Ivan's Reinforcement aura was too strong and noticeable for his mana detection. He looked above a tall darkwood tree and saw Ivan. He was standing on a branch, his arms wrapped around its dark trunk.
"You're like a koala clinging to that tree," Damian snickered, his voice echoing faintly on the small clearing.
"What the hell is a Koala?" Ivan called back. He shifted awkwardly from the branch he was standing, before jumping off the darkwood tree. His landing thudded heavily on the snow, yet none of his bones broke in the slightest.
"Small, tree hugging, little furballs," Damian replied. "I read a book about the wildlife from the eastern continent that these koalas eat highly toxic leaves of the stringybark trees—"
"Yeah yeah, whatever that is," Ivan waved his hand, dismissively ignoring his brother's explanation. "Stop yapping and go find a place to hide, or else I'll find you faster than you found me."
Ivan ran back near the camp. He rested his head on a tree with his eyes closed, counting numbers from ten to time in slow succession.
"One…two…three…" Ivan counted.
With haste, Damian bolted deeper into the woods. A mischievous idea sparked in his mind that will make his brother look like an idiot. To find the best hiding spot where Ivan couldn't find him until midday, so he can holler all day long for Damian's amusement.
A heap of stone debris sunken half on the snow caught Damian's eyes. There were glyphs inscribed on it, likely coming from an ancient northern kingdom. He traced the stone and the writings with his hand, there was a lingering magical energy within them.
There were more of them, and it did not take a while for him to realize there was a trail of debris with ancient glyphs scattered in the snow. Eventually, he found himself at the edge of the woods, where an entrance to a cavern beneath the mountain slope revealed itself. Broken pillars of limestone were lined on each side, and they looked similar to the structures from the capital city of the Lynerian Empire.
No human bones or sacrificial edifice scattered around, no signs of life either so it's impossible for trolls to make this cavern their den. Direwolves, perhaps? Or even the mighty and gigantic Fenrir might also live here? But the entrance was only fit for a normal human to enter.
This place emanates magic, and there's so much of it.
It felt as though a force urged him to go inside.
Curiosity won Damian's decision-making. He stepped into the darkness of the cavern with a small fire ball in his hand to illuminate his surroundings.
Droplets of water made a rhythmic tune that echoes inside the cold enclosure.
As he got closer, a faint light shined through another entrance. He flicked his wrist to get rid of the small fireball, and ran inside. The sunlight piercing through the hole of the wide cavern chamber highlighted a structure made out of polished stone. They were lined in the form of a circle, and runes had been carved on each pillar.
Damian caught a chill in his spine. Staring and frozen in utter shock or pure amazement—somewhere in between, as he stood near the otherworldly structure. He stepped further, the pillars of stone have lines coming down towards the center. A magic circle is etched deep on the platform.
"What is all of this?" Damian mused to himself.
Damian knelt on one knee, tracing the symbols carved towards the center of the magic circle. The runes seemed to whisper in his ears, and the wind coming above the hole sang with it.
He looked above and saw polished spherical gems on each pillar that glow with a bright hue of blue.
Etherites? Damian thought.
The runes whispered again, urging him to stand at the center of the circle.
This feels bizarre…I shouldn't be staying here for too long.
Yet his feet remained in the circle. Slowly, he stepped back, finding himself standing at the center. Whatever plan of running away from this place had been nothing but an afterthought, and now he feels the same unknown force he sensed earlier was keeping his legs from moving.
A bright glow surged underneath where the magic circle was carved deep into the stone platform. Resonant energy shook throughout the chamber of the cavern as all runes in the pillars lit up in unison.
"I…I can't move," Damian muttered, his body locked within the center of the magic circle.
As more energy poured out of the runes, Damian's body began to float. Surges of energy sank into his body like hot needles, each pulse coming from pillars down to the runes coursing through his veins.
"Ivan, help!" Damian cried, his hands reaching towards the exit of the chamber.
"AAAHHHHH!"
His scream muffled through the vibrating air. Distorted. Damian can feel his mind slipping away as more energy continues to take its course through him, filling every inch of his body with overwhelming power. It was too much, even for him, who is a talented magic user.
The world soon began to blur around him…