Chapter 272
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Chapter 272
Submerged in the void so as not to intrude on Brothers intimate time with Mila, Baledagh immersed himself in reviewing his latest sparring matches. Even after Brother gave the all clear signal, Baledagh continued his secluded training inside their Natal Palace, studying his matches over and over again. Though his memory wasnt perfect, with Brothers help they recreated the days events well enough for Baledaghs purposes, allowing him to visualize his flaws and learn from his mistakes.
A Natal Palace was an incredible tool and since learning of its applications, Baledagh was loath to waste time outside it on common matters like eating, playing, or sleeping. Here, Baledagh could practice the Forms in their entirety and glean new Insights while only a single minute passed out in the outside world. He didnt do this often since it heavily taxed his mental fortitude and he feared slipping back into a dreamless sleep, but even without trying he felt like ten days passed in here for every twenty-four hours out there. He loved it here, lacking all distractions and complications, the perfect place to train and improve, so when Brother suggested they swapped places once a day, Baledagh tried everything he could to avoid it. Unfortunately, Brothers control over their mental plane was unmatched and while he couldnt outright evict Baledagh from their Natal Palace, he made the stay highly unpleasant in a variety of imaginative ways.
Thus, when Brother appeared with a smile and mentioned it was his time to use the Natal Palace, Baledagh obediently took control before the thousands of smiling, soulless, bearded midgets could make their appearance, singing their horrid song off-key and out of sync.
Stepping out of the void, Baledagh found himself in a crowded marketplace, with Tali and Tate in his arms and Banjo on his back. Staggering beneath the weight, he inwardly cursed Brothers carelessness, forgetting Baledaghs Reinforcement was not yet at a level where he could carry Banjos bulk with ease. Spying Mei Lins hare-ears and scarf, he struggled to keep up even as the crowd pressed in around him, his body breaking out in a cold sweat.
Something was wrong. Though he hated crowds, this was far worse than his normal response, as if a terrifying presence were watching him, waiting for an opening to strike. Swallowing his panic, Baledagh's head swivelled left and right as he moved, keeping a nervous watch on their surroundings. Should he put the children down? No, they might be trampled by the crowd if a fight broke out. If only the quins were here, but Pafu and Suret didnt like being surrounded by strangers. How was Baledagh to protect the twins and Mei Lin while burdened like this? The unseen watcher filled him with dread, his breath short and nerves frayed, but after a few minutes of shaky panic, the feeling eased away and into nothingness.
Shivering in the aftermath, Baledaghs cheeks burned with shame. He was a soldier, a warrior, one who faced wild beasts and Defiled Champions without batting an eye, yet when surrounded by unskilled commoners and towering buildings as far as the eye could see, he grew dizzy and short of breath trying to find an imagined threat hidden amongst them. Luckily, the scowling Jimjam and ambling Baloo were intimidating enough to keep the horde away else Baledagh mightve lashed out at some poor innocent bystander. There was nothing to fear here at the Bridge, but Baledagh still kept a wary eye out for the twins' sake. Bundled in their winter clothes and scarves, the pair of chubby children were a delight to behold, their eyes wide with excitement as Baledagh pressed forward through the mob. What made them look especially darling was their knitted hats, with two curled yarn horns on either side and yarn beards to keep their chins warm.
Baledagh would never forgive himself if they came to harm while under his protection, but given his inexperience combined with the mass of possible assailants, he was having trouble keeping calm. Why was his hand hurting so much? How was he supposed to hold a sword? Worse, Brother wasnt heeding his calls for help after sinking deep into the void, aware of nothing but awareness itself.
Get it together Baledagh, this isnt a battlefield.
He dreaded these brief hours filling in for Brother every day. Were it up to Baledagh, hed spend the two hours locked away in their ger practising the Forms, but Brother soon caught on and started making commitments every few days to force Baledagh out into the world. It was a nice thought, but these excursions only served to drive home the reality of his situation; he was a stranger in his own life. These sweeping changes taking place in and around them proved his point, as each time Baledagh emerged it seemed like hed stepped into a different world. The restored ruins of the city were now teeming with life as the hubbub of the market drowned out his thoughts. The sea of gers had ebbed away leaving this tide of towering brown-stone buildings in its place. Wagon wheels and horse hooves clicked over paved stone roads, carrying soldiers and goods as merchants haggled with customers in furious shouting matches, only to come to an agreement and part smiling mere seconds later. Strangers greeted him with grateful smiles while familiar faces took on unfamiliar transformations. Even Banjo and Baloo were no longer the large-headed, pot-bellied cubs of yesteryear, now more appropriately proportioned like small adults with developed personalities and quirks.
Life was passing by as Baledagh hid in the Natal Palace, but rather than face these changes head on, he retreated to the void. No matter how Brother tried, he didnt understand, couldnt understand. This wasnt Baledaghs life, so he felt no attachment to it. He hungered for the day when hed have a body to call his own, and with it, a life. Though it might be decades before he could introduce himself as Baledagh and not masquerade as Falling Rain, the mere possibility was enough to change Baledaghs outlook on life, no longer succumbing to periods of dark moods and indifferent apathy. Instead, he threw all his focus into training because when that fateful day arrived, Baledagh hoped to stand alongside Brother as an ally and peer.
Unfortunately, Brother wasnt playing fair. While Baledagh worked fastidiously inside the Natal Palace, learning to simultaneously Hone and Reinforce, Brother spent all his free time snuggling with birds, bears, quins, wildcats, and now, Mila. Yet after months of arduous effort totalling theoretical years inside the Natal Palace, Baledaghs improvements paled in comparison with Brothers, pushing the day when Baledagh might fight side by side with Falling Rain ever further into the future. Where Baledagh steadily improved one step at a time, Brother often skipped steps after receiving some sudden Insight or Enlightenment from watching Baledagh or training with former Bannermen.
Truly blessed by the Mother.
Though they were brothers sharing the same body, Falling Rain and Baledagh were worlds apart. While Baledagh sparred and lost to children, Falling Rain held his own against experts and elites twice his age. While Baledagh fought with wooden weapons in a level, sheltered arena, Falling Rain fought with Peace and Tranquility in frozen forests, buffeted from all sides by the chilling wind and biting cold. While Baledagh aspired to become a heroic warrior, Falling Rain was a heroic warrior and worst of all, cared nothing for the title.
There was no comparing the two of them. Baledagh fell short in every way, which made him both proud and jealous.
Testing the waters, Baledagh feigned horror and recoiled, even though several seconds had already passed. Aiding criminals to avoid the Purge is a capital offence. We must turn them over to the guards! Seeing the man frown at his unexpected reaction, Baledagh felt hed made the right decision. Something was off, a sane man would be pleading for his life, but this one only seemed mildly annoyed.
And was staring at something behind Baledagh.
Ducking down, Baledagh felt something sail overhead as he drove his Reinforced elbow into the unseen assailants ribs. Rewarded with a satisfying gasp, he drew Peace with his left hand and bashed the assailants face with the hilt. As the assailant fell to the ground, Baledagh pointed Peace at the wiry merchant. I dont know what game youre playing, he growled, but you should thank the Mother I dont care enough to find out. Move and you die. I have plenty of witnesses to corroborate-
A meaty arm clamped around his waist and threw him off-balance, the downed assailant not as unconscious as hed thought. Snarling in anger, Baledagh abandoned all mercy and stabbed the man clean through the face, spraying blood all around as he withdrew his sword. The dead mans efforts were not in vain as they bought enough time for the wiry soldier to arm himself with a hidden rapier. Thrusting out, the wiry soldier put the full weight of his body behind the blade, showing no thought of retreat or escape and boldly putting his all into this one attack. At the last possible moment, he unleashed his Aura, a wave of daunting panic crashing into Baledagh even as the cold, naked blade pierced towards his head.
Clever. Even if Baledagh had an Aura to counter him, the assassin hoped the momentary delay would be enough to take his life.
Two months ago, it might well have.
Drawing on his rage, Baledagh howled as his Aura erupted outwards, a wave of pure, unadulterated blood lust pushing back against his foe. Leaping back, he smashed the rapier aside before reversing his strike, victory already his. The soldier had no method to defend and he knew it, completely vulnerable after his all-or-nothing attack. There was no shock or hatred in the wiry soldiers eyes, no fear or regret, only bitter shame written across his face as Peaces Honed edge clove clean through his neck.
Heart pumping and chest heaving, Baledagh struggled to control his rage, staring at the surrounding slaves and daring them to make a move. Thats where the unseen assailant had come from, one of the bamboo cages. Caught by his Aura, the slaves were helpless before him, sheep ready for the slaughter, and its what they deserved. None of them had warned him about the ambush, standing silent while these men tried to murder him.
Forcefully exhaling, Baledagh shook his head and grinned wryly. He couldnt blame this on the Spectres, these thoughts were his own. Rehabilitation was a slow process, but dark thoughts didnt make him a monster. So long as he didnt act on them, then thoughts were all they were. Striding out into the busy streets, he raised his voice and shouted, Could someone call the guards? Theres been an incident.
Traffic paused as every eye turned towards him, their faces blanching in terror. One person turned to run and in the space of a few heartbeats, the street was empty and devoid of life. Glancing down at his blood covered body, Baledagh chuckled beneath his breath.
Right. Blood.
His goal accomplished, Baledagh stepped back into the store and waited for the guards to arrive. While he didn't know why these soldiers tried to kill him, he wasn't too concerned about it.
Great men will always have enemies, and Brother was undoubtedly a great man.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 272
Submerged in the void so as not to intrude on Brothers intimate time with Mila, Baledagh immersed himself in reviewing his latest sparring matches. Even after Brother gave the all clear signal, Baledagh continued his secluded training inside their Natal Palace, studying his matches over and over again. Though his memory wasnt perfect, with Brothers help they recreated the days events well enough for Baledaghs purposes, allowing him to visualize his flaws and learn from his mistakes.
A Natal Palace was an incredible tool and since learning of its applications, Baledagh was loath to waste time outside it on common matters like eating, playing, or sleeping. Here, Baledagh could practice the Forms in their entirety and glean new Insights while only a single minute passed out in the outside world. He didnt do this often since it heavily taxed his mental fortitude and he feared slipping back into a dreamless sleep, but even without trying he felt like ten days passed in here for every twenty-four hours out there. He loved it here, lacking all distractions and complications, the perfect place to train and improve, so when Brother suggested they swapped places once a day, Baledagh tried everything he could to avoid it. Unfortunately, Brothers control over their mental plane was unmatched and while he couldnt outright evict Baledagh from their Natal Palace, he made the stay highly unpleasant in a variety of imaginative ways.
Thus, when Brother appeared with a smile and mentioned it was his time to use the Natal Palace, Baledagh obediently took control before the thousands of smiling, soulless, bearded midgets could make their appearance, singing their horrid song off-key and out of sync.
Stepping out of the void, Baledagh found himself in a crowded marketplace, with Tali and Tate in his arms and Banjo on his back. Staggering beneath the weight, he inwardly cursed Brothers carelessness, forgetting Baledaghs Reinforcement was not yet at a level where he could carry Banjos bulk with ease. Spying Mei Lins hare-ears and scarf, he struggled to keep up even as the crowd pressed in around him, his body breaking out in a cold sweat.
Something was wrong. Though he hated crowds, this was far worse than his normal response, as if a terrifying presence were watching him, waiting for an opening to strike. Swallowing his panic, Baledagh's head swivelled left and right as he moved, keeping a nervous watch on their surroundings. Should he put the children down? No, they might be trampled by the crowd if a fight broke out. If only the quins were here, but Pafu and Suret didnt like being surrounded by strangers. How was Baledagh to protect the twins and Mei Lin while burdened like this? The unseen watcher filled him with dread, his breath short and nerves frayed, but after a few minutes of shaky panic, the feeling eased away and into nothingness.
Shivering in the aftermath, Baledaghs cheeks burned with shame. He was a soldier, a warrior, one who faced wild beasts and Defiled Champions without batting an eye, yet when surrounded by unskilled commoners and towering buildings as far as the eye could see, he grew dizzy and short of breath trying to find an imagined threat hidden amongst them. Luckily, the scowling Jimjam and ambling Baloo were intimidating enough to keep the horde away else Baledagh mightve lashed out at some poor innocent bystander. There was nothing to fear here at the Bridge, but Baledagh still kept a wary eye out for the twins' sake. Bundled in their winter clothes and scarves, the pair of chubby children were a delight to behold, their eyes wide with excitement as Baledagh pressed forward through the mob. What made them look especially darling was their knitted hats, with two curled yarn horns on either side and yarn beards to keep their chins warm.
Baledagh would never forgive himself if they came to harm while under his protection, but given his inexperience combined with the mass of possible assailants, he was having trouble keeping calm. Why was his hand hurting so much? How was he supposed to hold a sword? Worse, Brother wasnt heeding his calls for help after sinking deep into the void, aware of nothing but awareness itself.
Get it together Baledagh, this isnt a battlefield.
He dreaded these brief hours filling in for Brother every day. Were it up to Baledagh, hed spend the two hours locked away in their ger practising the Forms, but Brother soon caught on and started making commitments every few days to force Baledagh out into the world. It was a nice thought, but these excursions only served to drive home the reality of his situation; he was a stranger in his own life. These sweeping changes taking place in and around them proved his point, as each time Baledagh emerged it seemed like hed stepped into a different world. The restored ruins of the city were now teeming with life as the hubbub of the market drowned out his thoughts. The sea of gers had ebbed away leaving this tide of towering brown-stone buildings in its place. Wagon wheels and horse hooves clicked over paved stone roads, carrying soldiers and goods as merchants haggled with customers in furious shouting matches, only to come to an agreement and part smiling mere seconds later. Strangers greeted him with grateful smiles while familiar faces took on unfamiliar transformations. Even Banjo and Baloo were no longer the large-headed, pot-bellied cubs of yesteryear, now more appropriately proportioned like small adults with developed personalities and quirks.
Life was passing by as Baledagh hid in the Natal Palace, but rather than face these changes head on, he retreated to the void. No matter how Brother tried, he didnt understand, couldnt understand. This wasnt Baledaghs life, so he felt no attachment to it. He hungered for the day when hed have a body to call his own, and with it, a life. Though it might be decades before he could introduce himself as Baledagh and not masquerade as Falling Rain, the mere possibility was enough to change Baledaghs outlook on life, no longer succumbing to periods of dark moods and indifferent apathy. Instead, he threw all his focus into training because when that fateful day arrived, Baledagh hoped to stand alongside Brother as an ally and peer.
Unfortunately, Brother wasnt playing fair. While Baledagh worked fastidiously inside the Natal Palace, learning to simultaneously Hone and Reinforce, Brother spent all his free time snuggling with birds, bears, quins, wildcats, and now, Mila. Yet after months of arduous effort totalling theoretical years inside the Natal Palace, Baledaghs improvements paled in comparison with Brothers, pushing the day when Baledagh might fight side by side with Falling Rain ever further into the future. Where Baledagh steadily improved one step at a time, Brother often skipped steps after receiving some sudden Insight or Enlightenment from watching Baledagh or training with former Bannermen.
Truly blessed by the Mother.
Though they were brothers sharing the same body, Falling Rain and Baledagh were worlds apart. While Baledagh sparred and lost to children, Falling Rain held his own against experts and elites twice his age. While Baledagh fought with wooden weapons in a level, sheltered arena, Falling Rain fought with Peace and Tranquility in frozen forests, buffeted from all sides by the chilling wind and biting cold. While Baledagh aspired to become a heroic warrior, Falling Rain was a heroic warrior and worst of all, cared nothing for the title.
There was no comparing the two of them. Baledagh fell short in every way, which made him both proud and jealous.
Testing the waters, Baledagh feigned horror and recoiled, even though several seconds had already passed. Aiding criminals to avoid the Purge is a capital offence. We must turn them over to the guards! Seeing the man frown at his unexpected reaction, Baledagh felt hed made the right decision. Something was off, a sane man would be pleading for his life, but this one only seemed mildly annoyed.
And was staring at something behind Baledagh.
Ducking down, Baledagh felt something sail overhead as he drove his Reinforced elbow into the unseen assailants ribs. Rewarded with a satisfying gasp, he drew Peace with his left hand and bashed the assailants face with the hilt. As the assailant fell to the ground, Baledagh pointed Peace at the wiry merchant. I dont know what game youre playing, he growled, but you should thank the Mother I dont care enough to find out. Move and you die. I have plenty of witnesses to corroborate-
A meaty arm clamped around his waist and threw him off-balance, the downed assailant not as unconscious as hed thought. Snarling in anger, Baledagh abandoned all mercy and stabbed the man clean through the face, spraying blood all around as he withdrew his sword. The dead mans efforts were not in vain as they bought enough time for the wiry soldier to arm himself with a hidden rapier. Thrusting out, the wiry soldier put the full weight of his body behind the blade, showing no thought of retreat or escape and boldly putting his all into this one attack. At the last possible moment, he unleashed his Aura, a wave of daunting panic crashing into Baledagh even as the cold, naked blade pierced towards his head.
Clever. Even if Baledagh had an Aura to counter him, the assassin hoped the momentary delay would be enough to take his life.
Two months ago, it might well have.
Drawing on his rage, Baledagh howled as his Aura erupted outwards, a wave of pure, unadulterated blood lust pushing back against his foe. Leaping back, he smashed the rapier aside before reversing his strike, victory already his. The soldier had no method to defend and he knew it, completely vulnerable after his all-or-nothing attack. There was no shock or hatred in the wiry soldiers eyes, no fear or regret, only bitter shame written across his face as Peaces Honed edge clove clean through his neck.
Heart pumping and chest heaving, Baledagh struggled to control his rage, staring at the surrounding slaves and daring them to make a move. Thats where the unseen assailant had come from, one of the bamboo cages. Caught by his Aura, the slaves were helpless before him, sheep ready for the slaughter, and its what they deserved. None of them had warned him about the ambush, standing silent while these men tried to murder him.
Forcefully exhaling, Baledagh shook his head and grinned wryly. He couldnt blame this on the Spectres, these thoughts were his own. Rehabilitation was a slow process, but dark thoughts didnt make him a monster. So long as he didnt act on them, then thoughts were all they were. Striding out into the busy streets, he raised his voice and shouted, Could someone call the guards? Theres been an incident.
Traffic paused as every eye turned towards him, their faces blanching in terror. One person turned to run and in the space of a few heartbeats, the street was empty and devoid of life. Glancing down at his blood covered body, Baledagh chuckled beneath his breath.
Right. Blood.
His goal accomplished, Baledagh stepped back into the store and waited for the guards to arrive. While he didn't know why these soldiers tried to kill him, he wasn't too concerned about it.
Great men will always have enemies, and Brother was undoubtedly a great man.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 272Submerged in the void so as not to intrude on Brothers intimate time with Mila, Baledagh immersed himself in reviewing his latest sparring matches. Even after Brother gave the all clear signal, Baledagh continued his secluded training inside their Natal Palace, studying his matches over and over again. Though his memory wasnt perfect, with Brothers help they recreated the days events well enough for Baledaghs purposes, allowing him to visualize his flaws and learn from his mistakes.A Natal Palace was an incredible tool and since learning of its applications, Baledagh was loath to waste time outside it on common matters like eating, playing, or sleeping. Here, Baledagh could practice the Forms in their entirety and glean new Insights while only a single minute passed out in the outside world. He didnt do this often since it heavily taxed his mental fortitude and he feared slipping back into a dreamless sleep, but even without trying he felt like ten days passed in here for every twenty-four hours out there. He loved it here, lacking all distractions and complications, the perfect place to train and improve, so when Brother suggested they swapped places once a day, Baledagh tried everything he could to avoid it. Unfortunately, Brothers control over their mental plane was unmatched and while he couldnt outright evict Baledagh from their Natal Palace, he made the stay highly unpleasant in a variety of imaginative ways.Thus, when Brother appeared with a smile and mentioned it was his time to use the Natal Palace, Baledagh obediently took control before the thousands of smiling, soulless, bearded midgets could make their appearance, singing their horrid song off-key and out of sync.Stepping out of the void, Baledagh found himself in a crowded marketplace, with Tali and Tate in his arms and Banjo on his back. Staggering beneath the weight, he inwardly cursed Brothers carelessness, forgetting Baledaghs Reinforcement was not yet at a level where he could carry Banjos bulk with ease. Spying Mei Lins hare-ears and scarf, he struggled to keep up even as the crowd pressed in around him, his body breaking out in a cold sweat.Something was wrong. Though he hated crowds, this was far worse than his normal response, as if a terrifying presence were watching him, waiting for an opening to strike. Swallowing his panic, Baledagh's head swivelled left and right as he moved, keeping a nervous watch on their surroundings. Should he put the children down? No, they might be trampled by the crowd if a fight broke out. If only the quins were here, but Pafu and Suret didnt like being surrounded by strangers. How was Baledagh to protect the twins and Mei Lin while burdened like this? The unseen watcher filled him with dread, his breath short and nerves frayed, but after a few minutes of shaky panic, the feeling eased away and into nothingness.Shivering in the aftermath, Baledaghs cheeks burned with shame. He was a soldier, a warrior, one who faced wild beasts and Defiled Champions without batting an eye, yet when surrounded by unskilled commoners and towering buildings as far as the eye could see, he grew dizzy and short of breath trying to find an imagined threat hidden amongst them. Luckily, the scowling Jimjam and ambling Baloo were intimidating enough to keep the horde away else Baledagh mightve lashed out at some poor innocent bystander. There was nothing to fear here at the Bridge, but Baledagh still kept a wary eye out for the twins' sake. Bundled in their winter clothes and scarves, the pair of chubby children were a delight to behold, their eyes wide with excitement as Baledagh pressed forward through the mob. What made them look especially darling was their knitted hats, with two curled yarn horns on either side and yarn beards to keep their chins warm.Baledagh would never forgive himself if they came to harm while under his protection, but given his inexperience combined with the mass of possible assailants, he was having trouble keeping calm. Why was his hand hurting so much? How was he supposed to hold a sword? Worse, Brother wasnt heeding his calls for help after sinking deep into the void, aware of nothing but awareness itself.Get it together Baledagh, this isnt a battlefield.He dreaded these brief hours filling in for Brother every day. Were it up to Baledagh, hed spend the two hours locked away in their ger practising the Forms, but Brother soon caught on and started making commitments every few days to force Baledagh out into the world. It was a nice thought, but these excursions only served to drive home the reality of his situation; he was a stranger in his own life. These sweeping changes taking place in and around them proved his point, as each time Baledagh emerged it seemed like hed stepped into a different world. The restored ruins of the city were now teeming with life as the hubbub of the market drowned out his thoughts. The sea of gers had ebbed away leaving this tide of towering brown-stone buildings in its place. Wagon wheels and horse hooves clicked over paved stone roads, carrying soldiers and goods as merchants haggled with customers in furious shouting matches, only to come to an agreement and part smiling mere seconds later. Strangers greeted him with grateful smiles while familiar faces took on unfamiliar transformations. Even Banjo and Baloo were no longer the large-headed, pot-bellied cubs of yesteryear, now more appropriately proportioned like small adults with developed personalities and quirks.Life was passing by as Baledagh hid in the Natal Palace, but rather than face these changes head on, he retreated to the void. No matter how Brother tried, he didnt understand, couldnt understand. This wasnt Baledaghs life, so he felt no attachment to it. He hungered for the day when hed have a body to call his own, and with it, a life. Though it might be decades before he could introduce himself as Baledagh and not masquerade as Falling Rain, the mere possibility was enough to change Baledaghs outlook on life, no longer succumbing to periods of dark moods and indifferent apathy. Instead, he threw all his focus into training because when that fateful day arrived, Baledagh hoped to stand alongside Brother as an ally and peer.Unfortunately, Brother wasnt playing fair. While Baledagh worked fastidiously inside the Natal Palace, learning to simultaneously Hone and Reinforce, Brother spent all his free time snuggling with birds, bears, quins, wildcats, and now, Mila. Yet after months of arduous effort totalling theoretical years inside the Natal Palace, Baledaghs improvements paled in comparison with Brothers, pushing the day when Baledagh might fight side by side with Falling Rain ever further into the future. Where Baledagh steadily improved one step at a time, Brother often skipped steps after receiving some sudden Insight or Enlightenment from watching Baledagh or training with former Bannermen.Truly blessed by the Mother.Though they were brothers sharing the same body, Falling Rain and Baledagh were worlds apart. While Baledagh sparred and lost to children, Falling Rain held his own against experts and elites twice his age. While Baledagh fought with wooden weapons in a level, sheltered arena, Falling Rain fought with Peace and Tranquility in frozen forests, buffeted from all sides by the chilling wind and biting cold. While Baledagh aspired to become a heroic warrior, Falling Rain was a heroic warrior and worst of all, cared nothing for the title.There was no comparing the two of them. Baledagh fell short in every way, which made him both proud and jealous.Testing the waters, Baledagh feigned horror and recoiled, even though several seconds had already passed. Aiding criminals to avoid the Purge is a capital offence. We must turn them over to the guards! Seeing the man frown at his unexpected reaction, Baledagh felt hed made the right decision. Something was off, a sane man would be pleading for his life, but this one only seemed mildly annoyed.And was staring at something behind Baledagh.Ducking down, Baledagh felt something sail overhead as he drove his Reinforced elbow into the unseen assailants ribs. Rewarded with a satisfying gasp, he drew Peace with his left hand and bashed the assailants face with the hilt. As the assailant fell to the ground, Baledagh pointed Peace at the wiry merchant. I dont know what game youre playing, he growled, but you should thank the Mother I dont care enough to find out. Move and you die. I have plenty of witnesses to corroborate-A meaty arm clamped around his waist and threw him off-balance, the downed assailant not as unconscious as hed thought. Snarling in anger, Baledagh abandoned all mercy and stabbed the man clean through the face, spraying blood all around as he withdrew his sword. The dead mans efforts were not in vain as they bought enough time for the wiry soldier to arm himself with a hidden rapier. Thrusting out, the wiry soldier put the full weight of his body behind the blade, showing no thought of retreat or escape and boldly putting his all into this one attack. At the last possible moment, he unleashed his Aura, a wave of daunting panic crashing into Baledagh even as the cold, naked blade pierced towards his head.Clever. Even if Baledagh had an Aura to counter him, the assassin hoped the momentary delay would be enough to take his life.Two months ago, it might well have.Drawing on his rage, Baledagh howled as his Aura erupted outwards, a wave of pure, unadulterated blood lust pushing back against his foe. Leaping back, he smashed the rapier aside before reversing his strike, victory already his. The soldier had no method to defend and he knew it, completely vulnerable after his all-or-nothing attack. There was no shock or hatred in the wiry soldiers eyes, no fear or regret, only bitter shame written across his face as Peaces Honed edge clove clean through his neck.Heart pumping and chest heaving, Baledagh struggled to control his rage, staring at the surrounding slaves and daring them to make a move. Thats where the unseen assailant had come from, one of the bamboo cages. Caught by his Aura, the slaves were helpless before him, sheep ready for the slaughter, and its what they deserved. None of them had warned him about the ambush, standing silent while these men tried to murder him.Forcefully exhaling, Baledagh shook his head and grinned wryly. He couldnt blame this on the Spectres, these thoughts were his own. Rehabilitation was a slow process, but dark thoughts didnt make him a monster. So long as he didnt act on them, then thoughts were all they were. Striding out into the busy streets, he raised his voice and shouted, Could someone call the guards? Theres been an incident.Traffic paused as every eye turned towards him, their faces blanching in terror. One person turned to run and in the space of a few heartbeats, the street was empty and devoid of life. Glancing down at his blood covered body, Baledagh chuckled beneath his breath.Right. Blood.His goal accomplished, Baledagh stepped back into the store and waited for the guards to arrive. While he didn't know why these soldiers tried to kill him, he wasn't too concerned about it. Great men will always have enemies, and Brother was undoubtedly a great man.Chapter Meme
