Chương 43: RUNES

VANESSA Diary log: I sat beside his bed on his chair. Dark wood and leather suited him well. I had not been into his room before this; the smell of medicine and steel hung in the air. I did my best to clean the ravaged room. But it still looked like a war zone. Snorting in his sleep, the intimidating man lay adorably; I could play with his black hair for hours. His cheeks were softer than I thought. But I couldn't be in this room all day. A mayor's job needed to be done.

The dark-skinned assassin, who resembled the new stable hand, guarded his room with an anxious Kurt; he couldn't throw out Tarion's guest. But, after a few hours, they made good friends, talking about Drac's travels and recipes he had learnt. He bowed to me as he stood by the duke's bedroom door, and all I could think of was him assaulting my husband. I stood by the door as a knocked-out guard slept on the ground, and I stole a soldier's weapon. But I froze.

Feeling like a coward, I asked myself what I could even do. With only 2 circles, the assassin outclassed me. But Tarion would have tried to save me even with none. A day after, I just smiled at him, with him smiling back. He did seem like a gentleman, but curious about the new hire, I asked him to do valet duty with us today as we do inspections. He gladly agreed, following me to the carriage after changing into a valet uniform in an instant. The horses seemed awfully familiar with this Drac.

In the corner of my eye, I saw a guest. A beautiful liuen woman, they saved from that horn man. I greeted her with a head nod; she did the same but ran off like a mouse. Another curiosity. The city passed with Kurt driving, and I used the time between inspections to ask many questions.

"I use runes, milady. Many of them. Interwoven and connected. Some connections give the wearer of the hood the power to manipulate perception, whether it is a true disguise or just misdirection. For example, I am using it on the carriage to make it seem less… ostentatious."

"So you're a mage, Drac."

"Kind of… I am a jack of trades. Master of some. I am a specialist mage who focuses on runes. I can create and manifest runes with more ease than most." Mana essence formed on the dark-skinned man's finger. Scribbling a few writings in the air, a firework popped into existence.

"I can also use language magic. But not the same aptitude. Oh yeah, remember, it's a secret." He winked like he wouldn't get sent to jail for being a rogue mage.

"Amazing." I was absolutely in awe.

"A mage that can fight toe-to-toe with Tarion."

'Only thanks to Zhi, I reached "Tempered Body", although only with the power of a rejuvenating pill. Without it, qi would be unobtainable to me."

"Whoa!" My mind was positively tickled. I wanted to learn more.

"Drac, was it you who healed Kurt? At mouve!" Jen exclaimed. Drac just smiled.

"Zhi got angry for wasting supplies. And it's Kwaba. With the hood, it's Drac. With this face, the name's Kwaba."

"Ah!

"You're from the land of Sika?" I said. I had the cross-scared man impressed, and he sat straight.

"Oh! Very knowledgeable, Your Grace. Indeed, my parents emigrated to the capital from Sika to work as translators and merchants. After their passing, I met my master and travelled with him. With his death, we made Black Shade my recent home."

"Black Shade… A place I have yet to visit."

"And you shouldn't," Kwaba commented.

"Full of the undesirables. A duchess shouldn't stain her feet with dirt." I sensed he was teasing me. I chuckled.

"I haven't visited Black Shade, but I am not so distant from the underbelly of society. If not for the stroke of luck and my mother's beauty. I would still be stuck in a place like Black Shade. Mmm…" Jen sighed beside me, "I hope you are not saying what you are implying."

"Kwaba, I know you can protect me well in Black Shade." I smiled.

"When you lot go there," my brother-in-law stepped into the conversation.

"Can I take a day off?"

"What, Joshua", I jest, "scared of a few commoners?"

"Absolutely! With that stingy brother of mine, I can't afford to get grime on these boots. Don't laugh! I am not joking!" While we laughed, Joshua's eyes perked with evil, aiming to destroy our joy at his expense.

"Wait, did I hear you came from Sika?" I braced for Joshua to make a stupid comment.

"Is it still restricted? Could you have possibly brought—"" Joshua." I glared at him with as much anger as I could show.

"Yes, Milord." Kwaba's voice went low with grief.

"The curse still taints the lands. But the people of Osberg have more to worry about with a different parasite occupying their lands." We erupted into laughter until my chest hurt. Kwaba will fit well with us, indeed. Kurt rode us from point to point; our conversation grew louder as they relayed the stories of the crazy night they had. As Kwaba talked about his brother, his smile illuminated the carriage. Joshua spoke of Kurt's martial prowess, making Jen gush over the stone man.

Sometimes he would hush himself before saying something. But his newfound respect for the guard was apparent. I've never seen his eyes gleam with enthusiasm like this. At times like this was when you really saw the resemblance.

"You know Kurt can hear it all." Joshua blushed, folding his leg to look out in embarrassment. But he did hide a cheeky smile. His guard uniform was finally fitting him. Kurt told Jen that the Frost Knight had been interested in him as a student. An honour any soldier dreamt of, he thought, was a hindrance to his training.

"He talks too loud," he would say to Jen. A loud bang stopped our jolly mood. JOSHUA North Desaw Kurt weaved the vehicle left from an unseen obstacle and crashed into a shop.

"AMBUSH!" screamed Kurt. Again!!?

"They are after me again…" I crawled close to her; his eyes wandered.

"What do you mean—?"

"Drac!" Her usually calm tone became authoritative.

"Hide Jen with a rune."

"Milady…"

"NOW!" Without a second thought, Drac kicked the left carriage door, breaking a shop window as well.

"I will be back. Stay focused. Greystone." Carrying a distressed Jen, he disappeared like the wind, and I pulled out my blade. Weapons clashed outside. A second circle ripped into the right door, opening it wide. His maniacal smile was wide while the leather-padded attacker grabbed Vanessa by the arm.

"NO!" I lunged, but her dagger had already freed her by stabbing into the man's arm. Vanessa stumbled on the ground, surrounded by almost a hundred men.

"DON'T TOUCH HER!" I lept over her, letting my rapier rain down mana with a flurry of thrusts. Mana shields block them, but I maintained distance between them and my charge. Kurt landed next to me, his sabre slicked with blood.

"MAKE WAY!" a bandit bellowed as the group of assailants spread out. A familiar smell stung my nose as black mist exploded from three different points in the crowd. Three humanoids burst out of the crowd, arms transforming into mist swords.

"Run", Drac flipped down from the roof, throwing rune parchments to the floor. A large shield blocked the cursed.

"I can't hold them for long. RUN." Kurt hit my chest.

"Carry her." His sabre burnt bright.

"I keep you alive." BEATRICE Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators! Greystone Manor"Bieye, I have some soup. For you…" I heard weeping and pushed the door. There she lay in the covers. Curled like a ball, she shuddered. I reached for her, and she scuttled to the end of the bed. She revealed her bloodshot eyes from behind the covers.

"B-Beatrice? I am sorry… I didn't know."

"Fjord isn't here. In the manor, you are safer than anywhere else." I placed the soup down on the table, crawling on the bed on my knees. She accepted me, holding me tighter than ever before. Like how I wished she would hug me every day.

"It's all over. I told him everything. The raven's hang out. Our plans." We evacuated the hideouts. It would be amateurish not to be mobile. And plans can be reworked." I pulled her to my chest, and she calmed down, feeling the warmth.

"It's my fault we kept you alone and put it all on you. Blame us. Blame me…" Bieye looked up while we embraced.

"You will never forgive me for what I have done." In her hand, a tracking rune glowed.

"A spare… In case it failed the first time."

"Bieye, w-why? Why would you—!" A tear ran down her gaunt cheeks.

"He still has my girls..." A door rushed open. A frantic soldier shouted.

"Cursed strike again! Numerous sights of humanoids. Around the city!" I stepped out of the bed, but a weak hand stopped me and placed the device in my hand.

"It's to keep the guard and possibly the duke busy with chaos while they get the real prize. Whatever punishment is to fall on me, save her. I can't let him down again." JOSHUA Alleys of North Desaw We were fucking trapped. A large building stopped us. An army of rabid bandits snarling after us. I put Vanessa down. And reached for my rapier. I wanted to bolt. Run with my tail tucked behind my legs. But a pair of judging eyes watched me. What if they told my brother? I shook my head like a rabid dog.

I watched in front and picked a man to kill. A second circle, scraggly beard – I could smell him here. My foot moved back.

"Officer. What is your duty?" I heard my fellow guard speak to the right of me. Kurt's eyes glowed blue; his senses were heightened by mana.

"To protect Her Grace!" I saw his strength; we can get past this. We will live. I parried an axe coming from my left, and I swiped to the right, cutting through a neck. The smelly man died by my feet. I struck first at the head of a third circle who tried to dodge the faint, and I moved my blade to the right to slash down at an attacker's shoulder. Circles spun. My mana blade grew, and I cut down to the ground, cleaving the man. A second circle struck me with a sword from my three o'clock.

My sword clashed; I tried to bring it up, but the golden grade outpowered me and my rapier. The wild man attacked again from my eight and I leaned away. The attacker finished his swing, and I saw an opportunity for an attack. Bobbing back in with quickness, I extended my reach to thrust. A shield bashed into me from my left. A bone on my arm fractured, and I nearly stumbled to the floor. A sword burnt blue as it fell on me. My rapier ground on the weapon; my strength can barely keep the blade from grazing my cheek.

"Lands above! Take a bloody bath before you ambush us!" I covered my left fist in mana. Mana imbued my muscles, quickly giving me the strength to push the enemy's blade back. Solar plexus open, my fist caved it in. Blood from the peasant's lungs spurted into my face, and I slit his neck for revenge. I felt warm blood on my back. I turned, and an exhausted Kurt sliced into an attacker's bowels as an arm whirled in the air.

"Don't let a single man through!!" Kurt shouted while he ran back into the chaos. A became a tornado of blood. My charge stood by the corner, putting on a brave face. Her Grace's dagger dripped red. My heart fell. Failure. Coward. Disappointment Circles spun out of control. With Overcharge, my chest was hot with power; I pounced into the crowd. An arm, shoulder, and head were pierced, and a man flopped back with a bleeding hole in his forehead. Mana pulsed, and chunks of meat rained.

I fell, slashing two times, and a cross of mana crashed into a second circle. I intercepted the sword of a skilled man. Our swords pushed and pulled as they scraped and sparked against each other. I flicked my wrist to the right. The attacker's sword bounced off. A blindingly fast lunge deep into the man's right shoulder made the man cry. I pulled up, cutting through flesh. I leant away from a stab to slash at my four o'clock, at his head.

A fourth circle pushed past the dead body and guarded his neck from my rapier's jab with a shield of blue. He stepped in, and I fled with only a cut to my chest. His brutal assault persisted, and I put my sword up to receive his heavy strikes. An attack on my leading leg was a feint at my arm, and another swift slice cut me again on my ribs. I huffed and halted. I CAN'T LET HIM THROUGH. My tired arms gripped harder on my rapier. Full of arrogance, the fourth smiled.

"Bastard!" I thrust shooting mana at the bandit, and the fourth circle leant away and charged at me. DEATH. Shielding with my rapier proved useless as I fell to the ground. Run away. The peasant stood above, his sword colliding into mine once, twice. More than I should allow. His attacks passed through my guard, cutting me bit by bit. The ambusher knocked my blade from my fingers. My mana formed a thick mana shield in my hand, saving me from death. Yet it cracked with his great force.

"First you die, then the saint is OURS! HEHEHE!" The ambusher pressed his sword deeper. His mana was a furnace on my skin as it seared my collarbone. A kick snapped my leg. And his sword went deeper.

"AaahRGh!" I screamed as my mana shield held the blade back from giving me my death. A thud and blood sprayed on me, and the ambusher's strength lessened.

"Bitch!!" A dagger stuck out of the pimpled man's left breast. A kick to the chest broke bones.

"H-H-HOW DARE YOU?!!" The ambusher limped over me with his sword alight. His blood dripped as he slowly made his way to the duchess. I looked around and screamed for Kurt, who faced off against six men. Chest crushed, I cried out with pain, "ANYONE HELP!!! Please…PLEASE!!!!" Coward. My hands grabbed the ground, and I pulled myself forward.

"Fight me, peasant!!" My fingers dug into the stone, and I pulled myself forward again as the injured enemy got further away from me and closer to Her Grace.

"I'M HERE! FIGHT ME!" Venessa stood her ground; her grace did not cower as she faced her death head-on. The attacker reached for her. Failure. Veins burst with energy as I pushed off my arm to grab the back of the attacker's leather garment. I pulled him to the ground, rolling in the dust and filth. I brought him below me, and my fist became a blur. The air cracked as my fists beat into the ambusher's face, and I let the madness, the anger, and my shame consume me.

I slapped his hand, and his sword bounced and clanged on the ground and started raining blows again. Desperate hands held my bloody fist back, and a headbutt released me from the ambusher's grip. Coward. I pound and pound. The man's face softened like dough. His cheekbone cracked and shattered under my mana-imbued knuckles. His nose disappeared into the mush of blood, cartilage, and muscle. His eyes burst, and I continued my barrage. Brain dirtied my broken hands and continued.

The dead did not fight back, and I continued. A shadow cast over me. I found the origin of the shadow walking past me. A patient fourth-circle bandit walked over to Her Grace, axe in hand. Mana Essence sparked, and a strange man appeared. Floating down to her in his purple jacket. He grabbed her around her waist, bringing her close.

"Geo-Veil!?"

"You remembered…!" He went closer.

"Don't worry, Vanessa. I'm finally here." In a click of the finger, they were gone. The battle paused in time. All who saw were perplexed. WHAT THE FUCK!? Confused as well, the fresh-faced bandit turned to me.

"I need an answer, mate." His axe burnt blue.

"Where is she?" I spat red.

"I wouldn't tell you even if I knew. You crooked head, mongrel!!"

"Oh, an attitude. You're gonna regret that!" That bandit lifted his burning axe to the blue sky.

"COME ON THEN! STRIKE ME DOWN!" Circles forced mana on my hand, and mana armour grew from red hands.

"I AM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT A FRIEND!" My mana shone on my face as my hand went up to block, and its blue light disappeared as soon as it came. DAMN IT ALL TO HELL! Oh well… Better to die fighting than to be a failure. Sorry, brother. I will get to join Father earlier than I thought. The smiling Axeman brought his weapon down for the kill. Teeth flicked in my face. A sword that was too long split through the attacker's face, breaking through teeth and jaw to stop the ambusher's weapon by the pommel.

A greatsword pointed at my nose. I recognised the way the steel was folded. Nary a blemish on its double-sided edge. The ambusher's eyes twisted and cried as the sword slowly cut up like a butcher cleaving muscle from bone. A carcass slumped to the ground as the famed greatsword of legends floated back to its owner.

"Joshua, my wife. WHERE IS SHE?" A deep but warm voice boomed through the alleys of terraced houses. Every eye faced the new arrival above. Kurt saluted, covered in the blood of the slain.

"A mage took her! Her friend!" The air became heavy on my wrecked body. I looked across the battlefield as enemies cowered under the frightening glare of red eyes. On the roof of a nearby building, a beast of a man made his hue shine as no other two circles have ever shone before. However, unlike the normal blue, pristine white radiated from his pores like smoke. Standing above like it was ordained, long hair waved on a windless day; shadows stepped beside the proud figure. A duke snatched his blade from the air.

"Ravens, deal with the cursed; I can handle this myself." At his word, shadows split in every direction. In the blink of an eye, the pale man disappeared. Mud, stone, and rock exploded as three heads spun in front of me. Blood rained in the cloud of dust. The raven-haired man vanished in the cloud. Two more men's chests blossomed with ribs sticking outward as the duke's fist broke them open with a punch. A raven knelt by me. Her garments were dark, like her expression.

"May I, milord?" Beatrice asked. I nodded, and she picked me up with ease. Drac skidded to his side with heavy breath. His blade and hood were covered in ash.

"I can find her!" The masked man was enraged.

"I just need time." The duke patted his man on the shoulder before he could bow.

"It's okay, mate. Three cursed, twenty-plus men, and hardly any injury," Tarion smirked.

"Go on. Search. I will clear the rest of this vermin."

"Yes, you grace—""And none of the grace stuff." Tarion walked to the front, resting his large blade on his right shoulder.

"It feels forced as fuck." Drac laughed heartily as he sat on the dirt. He pulled out a glove and bit a finger. Using his blood, he drew a rune program.

"I knew you were a weird one, Tarion. Glad I spied on ya." Kwaba closed his eyes, and mana essence ignited. Ignoring the horde, he looked back at me.

"Rest, dear little brother." His kind smile could heal all my wounds.

"I will take care of everything," Tarion said, strolling towards the army of ambushers. His greatsword condensed his blazing energy into a soft haze of white on his shoulder, shimmering beautifully like a gentle snowfall. Two fingers teased the hundreds of wild-haired, leather-armoured men.

"To me, scum. Face your demise with whatever semblance of honour you have left." 8 days to the ball.