Sariel: June 11th: Kargos Capital, High Temple
The Holy Tournament, is tomorrow. I havent gotten any training done.
The walls in my now familiar, quarters are quite a nice shade of white with some rough green patches starting to age into their complexity, I suppose I shouldve decorated them by now, but I really havent had much time with all of the reading ive been doing.
Reading about magic, reading about history,
reading about… I… I.
Scratch! Scratch!
Across the room at one with my pillows is Scarlett, my large rat pet.
She is less like a pet and more like a free spirited companion now that I think about it, I've never thought about eating a vagrants eye before, although I suppose theres a first time for everything as only a few days ago she practically cut our visit short to the slums… no.
No thats not it…
Why did we leave?
It was…
It w…was my sister!
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Knock! Knock!
My gaze darted towards the large hunk of wood that helped me avoid Lexita and Felton asking me to train, and avoid those twins I decided to so foolishly afflict upon myself.
I heard Dan whispering outside
-"See, I told you she wouldnt answer."
Then Lenni,
-"Oh shut up dan, this is why mother always put me in charge, and master prefers me too I can see it.
Actually I like her brother a great deal more, she never seems to shut up as of recent, its as though I broke the seal, without knowing it.
I edged over towards the door, despite the fear of outsides cold embrace stroking my exposed body, as I'm only wearing a nightgown dress at the moment.
My hands reached the door, the smell of well cooked meat and hand picked fruits started drifting through the cracks in my door.
I heard some more creaking, before I decided to open the door, very very, slowly.
They pushed past me, and threw me like a outed fish back onto my bed, before Lexita rushed in behind them.
Oh so this Is a co ordinated attack on my freedom then is it.
They lit the candles in my room, and the light was almost blinding.
I know its the morning, but I was planning on leaving the room later probably.
I looked back at the twins, after ruffling myself through the sheets and sitting up, then I held out my hands, and started doing a pulling motion with my arms.
I want that food, It looks so delicious, and if youre going to disturb my sleeping on the final day before the tournament you might as well give me some food.
-"No master, you can have the food when you listen to what Preistess Lexita has to say."
I then turned my head, to see Lexita sat on the stool near my mirror, putting on some sort of powder, before she shot back around upon hearing her name mentioned. And gave me a shy look.
I notice she has something quite big wrapped up in her arms.
-"Okay Lexi, Dan, Lenni. sorry for ignoring you all, ive just had… alot on my mind."
They almost looked sympathetic, before I jumped across Lennis lap using my extreme muscle and strength honed in the weeks before this one. And caught the meat in my mouth, before attempting a speedy retreat, Lenni and dan tried to wrestle me for it. But I had already eaten half by the time they managed to tear it from my jaws, and after that… It was too late for even them, Scarlett was upon it, nobody knew where she came from. But where she was going, was obvious. The meat was already hers.
After being plonked back down on the bed by the twins, I sat back up again In a state of renewed zen, awaiting Lexis response. With a now very straight face.
I havent been, myself after what my sister told me.
It's just been hard to do anything, or take anything seriously. Because If I do then that makes it real, and it's not like I can tell lexi what my sister said. It sounds insane, and Lexita is zealous enough to think it to be insane. But why would Katarina lie?
She wouldnt.
Even without proof I believe her, what happened in the slums was a shared bond.
One that Lexita and I have, One that I have with Katarina, but lexita does not know of katarina, and vice versa.
-"Sari, I understand what you're going through, I know that something happened with your sister in the slums, the twins told me… and even though I'm doing better you need to get out of this room okay, being alone in here is not doing you any good."
Her robes moved with her, while she put down what she was holding, and stepped over to embrace me. She felt warm, and I just dont know what I'm even doing in this room anymore. Tomorrow will either make me or break me, and I'm already breaking myself.
-"you're right."
I stretched my legs up, and shoved the twins out of my room, as I donned my armour.
Lexi helped me, as the leather chestplate strained onto my stomach and chest.
I put on my sturdy boots after that, and then my gloves, and found my sword poking out from under my bed.
Oops.
-"Sariel, I have a gift for you."
I turned back around, the blinds were now open, outshining the candlelight, and extenuating the black leather straps hanging from the course iron helm, it was beautiful.
-"Angels grace lexi, that must have been expensive. You shouldnt have."
She gave me a devious smile.
-"Sari, I already have two silver on you winning so this is more than me being nice alright."
We both laughed for a while.
I put the helm on, and then pushed open the doors with my favourite priestess closely following.
The twins formed up behind us, and scarlett was even closer almost tripping me up as we moved through the familiar white passages of the High Temple, and trodded down staircases towards the gates of the Temple.
I noticed the place was practically deserted, apart from the occasional knight and squire patrolling the hallways.
Moving past the gates onto the pebbled roads, I stopped to look around at the flowers, and vast vegetation of the commoners district. We trudged through even further, and reached the golden entrance of the city.
-"Hello miss what is your purpose here"
A guard stopped us,
I shot back at him
-"What is your purpose in blocking us sir, my friend here Is a holy priestess, I myself."
I pointed down to my medal,
-"Am a holy squire, and these are my initiates, have you not heard of the tournament going on?"
The guard took a step back, he clearly had not been expecting a mixed breed to belong to the church, and had not noticed lexita.
-"Sorry, you may pass"
We trudged through towards the peasant district, the campsite of the tourney was quite far away from the High Temple, and was bordering the royal spire, where the actual arena was, there was an entrance to the large grand elven structure, within both the noble and peasant parts of the city.
Lexi moved past us In order to get the attention of another elven girl donning robes, who was occupied in the process of entering a well kept tourney tent.
-"Alinity!!"
The girl stopped and turned around, hands full of clothes,
-"Is that you lexita?"
They had a curt embrace.
-"How are things, I havent seen you since your placement in the kings court"
-"Oh they've been alright, the place is still quite new to me, but settling down hasnt been all that bad although it never quite compares to the Temple, which has always been home."
Just then, I saw High Priest Corvos stick his head out of the tent, and give all of us a scowl. Understandably considering his mans blood was now setting into my blade as we walked.
-"Oh dont mind father hes been very upset since Geldar passed from an accident in the slums. They say it was a gang of some sort, foul business although I never liked the man. Whats your friends name?"
-"Hello miss, I am Sariel"
I shook her hand.
-"Well sariel nice to meet you as well."
She turned her attention back to Lexi.
-"I really must be going now, although I will catch up with you in the stands tomorrow, goodbye, lexi, sariel."
She waved us off and wandered back into the tent, faint arguing could be heard before we decided to move over to High Preist Felton's side of the encampment.
Felton was still in his tent I had been told, I'll speak to him later.
Me and lexi got some food, whilst the twins set up their own tents, ours had already been set up for us.
And we sat down In the sun, just chatting.
I saw a Noble Elven man, only a few years older than me move past with a whole ten man entourage dressed in silks and moving to a rather expensive tent nearest the royal spire. If hes competing, I might genuinely be over training. His movements are slow, hes more concerned with himself than the people around him, Christ that sword is tiny for a man of his stature, what is he even thinking?
A girl around my age, was leading a group of half elves and rough looking humans into a shoddily put up tent, that certainly wouldnt house all of them. Oh god I feel bad for them, they probably came from the slums looking to receive the holy armour prize to sell off, angel protect them.
Then a very large band of scarred and strong looking humans wearing different levels of armour came rushing through before dissapearing behind a different part of the place. I suppose that makes sense then, mercenaries.
Before noon there was already a sea of tents littering the place.
I suppose I had not realised just how many people entered the city, as I spent most of my time in the temple this week. Not observing the taverns of the inner city.
I expected it to only be squires, but from what Im seeing so far, Holy Squire's make up around 25% of the tents here. The others are just people from across the kingdom looking to be the next Saulvanious of the Holy Angel Order.
I took a deep breath and took it all in.
-"What are you thinking Sari"
-"Im thinking they're all going to die tommorow lexi."
She laughed back at me, as though I was making a joke.
I did not laugh with her, my gaze stayed firm.
Before I got up and poured all of us and the twins some ale.
I noticed Scarlett was getting some foul looks from everyone.
She was an abnormally large rat, emanating darkness magic, wearing a collar next to a holy squire and priestess. It would be less odd if they didnt to be honest.
Still, even though me and Lexi are surely too young to be drinking, it shouldnt be a problem for us to have a tiny bit before Felton catches on.
-"Sariiiiii, l l o ok at those over, over there."
-"I think you've had quite enough to drink now."
I took the cup from her.
She pointed at the mercenaries,
-"Why would p p people withhh no elven blood, e evven think of joinin g?"
Thats a good point actually, I didnt even realise that until just now.
The mercenaries, the slum dwellers, even some of the nobles. They are either without elven blood or incapable of using it to its full extent.
What's going to happen tomorrow?
Before I could think about it, I saw a heavily armed band of squires marching towards us.
Corvos. That cretinous scheming bastard.
The men who looked to be as young as me, were looking at us with hatred and some with lust.
Then corvos stepped out.
-"Sariel was it?, now I can allow the pontiffs wishes as far as elven purity comes. But that creature of darkness behind you. Now that is pushing it girl. Hand it over."
I glared at him before standing up in my seat, Lexi looked like she was about to say something, then she looked like she was about to vomit.
-"Corvos is it?, well High Preist, I appreciate your wisdom on this matter. But as far as I have been told, we are allowed familliars in the tournament. Or am I mistaken your holiness."
His face turned into a scowl.
-"That thing is your familiar?, I knew there was something wrong with you girl, half elven and now a darkness proficiency. Gutter rat would be an upgrade ha! ha! ha! "
The crowd behind him started laughing aswell, then I noticed the people from our side of the camp begin to come out, though our numbers were sparse.
-"I would have thought you smarter High Priest, I may control the darkness but clearly the dimness is your own talent."
He hissed back at me,
-"Insolent whelp, Elves like me are a premium to the expired filth that plagues this camp, hand over the rat. And you may meet your fate tomorrow rather than today."
Then he was snapped from his advance by the sight of his rival, with his own squires in tow, this tournament quarrel was starting to get quite tiresome.
-"Is that a threat I hear Corvos?"
Corvos looked back at High Preist Felton, and took a few steps back before returning in kind with.
-"No just a simple warning, that creature is an affront to the fallen angel and it shall be removed."
He went to try to grab her, and Scarlett shot back behind me. Chattering and squeaking at the man.
Feltons men advanced with him as he moved closer. Although he was outmatched, it would be significantly worse for a High Preist to battle with another over Scarlett, rather than just come after a lone squire.
-"Well, I cannot fault you for being I'll informed High Preist Corvos, however this summon, is actually from the holy temples own guides on how darkness magic should be used correctly. Which you would have known had you asked the Pontiff who no doubt already felt it through the walls of the building. As it is subservient to the fallen angel not opposed to it."
Corvos, turned his whole body, and gave a long stare towards felton, their green eyes never wavering.
-"There is nothing to be done then I should think."
He turned around not before one of his squires spit on the floor next to Scarlett, and they headed back to their side of the camp.
-"Sariel, this is why I requested your Immidiate presence within the tent."
-"My apologies, High Preist.
I followed him back Into the largest tent in this area, leaving Lexi with the twins who were shoveling pitchers of water down her throat to, sober up.
Taking Scarlett with me. There were two elven boys my age, and an elven girl my age dressed in similar armour to my own who were also waiting inside. The tent. And they gave me a warm glance before Felton began.
-"As you may already know, Pontiff Svalands tournement allows magic to be used. However it does not mean you have to use it in the first round, these squires will also be going into the tournament and have divised a strategy for our candidates."
The larger boy spoke up,
-"Thank you your holiness. So as he was saying, the tournaments first round will basically just be this big free for all, which is kind of chaotic if you've ever dealt with it. As the one with the medal here, we kind of thought we should give you a heads up that were all basically going to push to the back of the arena and hold it, until the people without magic are down, there'll likely be just under one hundred and twenty people going in, so we cant afford to lose all of our guys before the actual event tomorrow.
Also even though the swords are blunted, ive been told strength is an important factor in their lethality, and some people have a lot of it, and some have so little their bones might crack so were going to take it easy I think.
Oh and my name is Arelton by the way, nice to meet you."
-"Sariel… Nice to meet you as well, I just. Im not quite understanding, are you saying one hundred and twenty go in and how many until they blow the horn?"
He looked at me dead in the eyes.
-"sixty, its sixty."
I did not sleep that night, Lexi would be watching from the sidelines with Felton, and the twins. Scarlett would be with me, but protection was the least of my worries. What is going to happen tomorrow?
Sariel: June 12th: Kargos Capital, Arena
Thundering boots, and laughter was the first thing to come through to my tent this morning. I hauled myself up, standing firmly and taking a short while to collect myself.
Picking up my sword, I cleanly inserted it into the side of my belt.
Then my new helm, forcing it on, It fit perfectly. Of course Lexita would have put so much thought into the sizing. The leather cushioned my head, as the cold metal of the face guard fell onto my skin.
It's time then.
Walking through the camp, I spotted Arelton, giving a short speech to the thirteen other squires around him, I joined up with them.
-"Alright, remember the plan, look after one another. And we will earn the fallen angels grace, and the Pontiffs blessing. I dont expect to lose any one of you"
He glanced at the elven girl from before in the crowd as he said that. They must have some sort of relationship, I think. She had quite distinctive curly blond hair, and it was quickly covered with her helm by the time the speech had ended.
-"March Forward!"
He shouted, and our formation began to take root. With me on the far side of the right flank. We marched through the camp, I spotted felton and Lexita, and the rest of his affiliates moving through to the stands entrance.
And there were two lit torches showing us the way in through a rather large gateway.
A large croud was pushing through the gates, and I spotted corvos lot being lead by that foul boy who spat at my Scarlett earlier. She gave him a chatter, as we passed their twenty man group.
By now we had all exchanged our blades for the blunted ones at the armoury table, our plan wasnt exactly by the rules, however as long as we were on the defence with our teaming plan there would likely be no objection.
This was just to whittle down the numbers I suppose.
The gate was a part of a much larger elven wall that was old and cracking, but not lacking in grace and golden mantlepeices. The torches themselves were solid gold, and some firm looking guards stood next to them. Eyeing up everyone as we passed through.
From the inside you could really see how ancient the place looked.
We were all practically crammed into there.
-"Hey, that hardly seems fair does it mate."
I heard the loud comment from one of the mercenaries in the space. Before a noble elven girl with a crow familiar, and markings on her hands, replied with.
-"Groups dont break the rules as long as they form mid fight, and take defensive positions, now be silent."
I could see over sixty faces just where I was standing, and the bulk of the competition, were off at the other side of the clump.
We all spread out, which gave me a good deal of space.
I could see some friendly and not so friendly faces around me.
A noble boy around my age, In very decorative shining armour, that looked to be slightly too heavy for him.
And a group of slum dwellers to the left of me.
Behind me was one of corvos men.
And scarlett kept to my side.
My summon was quite rare, and I could only see bird ones from some of the other people in the arena.
Although Scarlett seemed quite unique in her unsettling size.
Everybody was shaking, either from excitement or fear.
I looked down at my hands, and they were perfectly still.
Good.
Then a loud voice boomed out from the highest point in the stands, which were fully seated with a countless number of the clergy, nobility, and the public, densely packed.
Atop this high point, I could see… The King, sitting beside the robed man giving it.
Surely enough It was the pontiff who started things off.
-"Elves and humans, men and women.
We have all came here in the hope of the rise of a winner of this tourney, a begotten one chosen by the fallen angels will.
Do not forget as the future grows ever more clouded, that anyone in this tourney can become a holy knight, but not just anyone is chosen by the lord. You have all done well my children to be here.
And the demons will always think once more about an attempt at our great elven nation with every day that passes since this one.
For this is a great day, one with little bloodshed.
And rewarded Talent.
By the Angels Grace, The kings will, and my own wisdom.
Begin!"
With that horns rang out across the space.
I readied my blade.
Scarlett was steady beside me.
People were already falling, the half breeds and people of the slums were going quickly. I could see spurts of blood and bodies hitting the ground with a thud from where their heads had been caved in at the back, by a series of well placed attacks from a hoarde of men including that foul beast corvos had bred, he was going on the offensive. Now thats against the rules.
The pontiff was watching absent mindedly and sipping wine with the king already.
The mercenaries were attacking everyone, including other mercenaries.
And some elven mages were already making the Arena a smoking pit of ash, with fire and light attacks irritating my eyes in quick succession from across the arena.
Blades hit blades, and the ringing pierced my ears, as I shot forwards past the slum dwellers.
Three of them were on the floor, and the noble man was in the middle of it all slicing another one with a well practiced strike. Their plan of overwhelming him come apart in such a short time.
I curved my body, avoiding the cluster and slipped behind them through a narrow passageway of bodies, with heavy strides, almost being struck down by a spell of ice that had came from another direction, knocking several people infront of me down to my feet. before I shot across trampling them.
-"Bitch!" I heard one of them say before my foot cut him off mid sentence across his stomach.
Well im not the one on the floor am I?
Hitting a mercinary in the face with a very heavy strike I had lined up, I felt a sharp pain in my back, from a slum thugs retaliation, it wasnt as bad as It could have been and I squared up my surroundings, before I rushed towards my nearest destination passing through smoke.
A familiar faced squire was fending off an already bloody mercenary,
It was the elven girl, and looking around her it seemed that eight more of our original group were all locked in combat.
She fell over and I saw Arelton turn to beat off her opponent, before a different strike knocked him to the floor.
-"Saffron No!"
He shouted.
I reached them with a renewed speed, the mercenary attacking saffron was quite silly to not only have her back to me, but aswell as that they had been so kind to leave themself without protection on their shoulders and arms. I lined my arm up, my muscles flexing through my leather chestplate.
Then I swung, directly upwards. I was In a crouching position so clearly came as a shock to them, when my blade lodged firmly through their armpit, and I heard an audible crunch as their arm went limp.
I didnt stop there of course.
A firm kick to the back left them dropping onto the floor.
-"What!"
Was the last thing they said before my final strike hit them across the face, and a small amount of blood got on my pristine blade.
Nothing like the feeling of someone succumbing to planting a firm kiss on the ground.
They werent dead so they should thank me when they awake.
Looking back up, I saw that we were being almost completely swarmed by bloody and angry sellswords.
That blond elven girl saffron, was regaining her footing.
Right before a terrible crunch was heard, and my eyes were drawn to Areltons head losing form and being beaten into a bloody stain on the ground, his teeth littered the ground, and his eyes were bulging before one was forced out by that mercinaries blade.
-"Ulgh, angel be graced."
-"Arelton!!!"
Saffron the girl next to me was practically crawling over.
I had to push her back with a firm kick to the stomach.
-"Not the place."
The rest of feltons band was dispersing or getting trampled. People fell down left and center. The plan was clearly a weak one.
And at that exact moment, two debilitating crushes to each side, sent me right down next to the girl. I scurried back up, like a wounded dog. Scarlett was behind me.
-"ARELTON NO MY BELOVED!!!"
She was crying, Is this a game to her?
I gave her a firm kick to the leg.
Before feeling another blow skim past me as I pulled out of the way.
My eyes rested upon Corvos man, the boy that had spat on scarlett.
-"Bastard!"
I shot back up, behind me the reminants of my allies were holding back in an impressive display.
To the left of me was a fierce fire, almost catching me at some points.
And the right of me was a wall, which saffron was clinging to. She had gathered herself enough to at least steady her weapon. Although she was still sobbing like this was a funeral and not a battleground.
It seems like nothing is going well.
-"You going to fight or just stand there mongrel, I want to see what the holder of the Angel's Grace Medal can do."
His hands started to form tattooed marks travelling up his spine.
And he began chanting.
I rushed towards him, as soon as he began.
He was pulling back a few steps, and scarlett was on him aswell until she was intercepted by one of his companions boot hitting her face.
I smelled blood eminating from my chanting opponent, his hand was cut open from the ritual.
And it smelled delicious.
I cant help myself.
With one leg on the wall, I pushed forwards right into the man, at that exact moment an ice magic cloud fired right into my helm, knocking me down with his attack.
Fuck. fuck. Fuck.
I pulled the helm right off my face.
A chunk of my skin peeled off with it.
I felt his boots hitting the rough dirt and stone of the ground.
I pulled my weapon up to my face at the exact moment, he decided to try to strike whilst the iron was hot.
Deflecting it into the wall, I swung lightly into his helm, before hitting him hard with a hefty puncture to his stomach.
His armour was only leather. And my attack had the force of my knee and training behind it.
He swung for my face, after pulling back. At which point Scarlett appeared and rushed for his face.
The canine sized rat was already upon him, his helm being scratched at knocking him off his feet.
She looked quite injured already.
Perhaps I should have left her back at the camp.
I kicked away his sword, and pulled him right back towards the lines of my allies that were faltering, his allies sensing their leader was in a dire position rushed to help him.
I had a decision to make, so I simply made the best one, With my arm ragging on his armour.
He struggled against me, before I threw him into the fire that was still raging opposite the wall. He smelled better than I thought burnt dog would.
-"Hold them off!"
Saffron turned her head,
-"Ill try"
The Arena was slowly dying off, there had to be anywhere from seventy to ninety remaining, significantly less people than the one hundred and twenty people that entered.
Looking around, on the east side I saw the nobles and many more squires, were fighting eachother… and the corpses of half elves and slum dwellers were spread across the floors. They were using magic this early, and with lethal intent. Its sickening, they truly have no empathy for the less fortunate. To go as far to slaughter what you could incapacitate, well what do I expect from this religion headed by that cold monster presiding over it, the pontiff.
Looking over at him I saw that he was watching with a keen eye now.
Then I was interrupted yet again, by one of Felton's squires falling and knocking into my leg.
Useless, the wall was crumbling.
However there are Corvos forces still recovering their leader from the fire in front of us, and we have still around seven people still somehow holding the line behind.
There have to be at least twenty of the mercenaries to our measly seven,
And on top of that corvos forces are around ten strong.
Alright Ive made my decision.
-"Saffron, can any of our people use ice magic."
She stumbled through her words,
-"Y.. Yes, I can."
Fuck me.
-"Do it now, towards that fire"
The wall of fire blocking our escape on our left side, I refuse to use my own magic as that would be playing mine own hand to early.
She began her chanting,
Then I moved towards the seven man defence line,
And looked for the least injured of the seven, two elven men,
I picked up Scarlett just as Saffron cast her spell. Then I pulled the men back towards myself just as the spell completed.
-"WHAT ARE YOU!"
I bore a hole into them with my glare.
-"Saffron quickly, go through"
Her protests died as she saw the line behind us become enveloped with mercenaries, who were now split between corvos men, and our own.
I charged through, with them readily following me.
What lay in front of me far exceeded what lay behind at this moment.
Two nobles with quite immense magical power were shooting off spells at eachother from a great distance, everyone on the field was avoiding them like the plague.
They fired off light and fire spells at eachother,
Beams of light and arrows shaped in fire clashed above our heads as we passed through.
Smoke filled my lungs, and all I could go were forwards as a blinding light took away my sight.
Pain hit me in the shoulder guard, and I powered through it.
My breathing getting heavier, and gutteral screams passed as we passed with them.
As the smell and sense of danger subsided.
It dawned on me that we were completely exposed.
-"BACK TO BACK!
SWORDS UP! "
I commanded, I only felt one back to mine.
A girls back, the one who had collapsed in a puddle of her own tears mere seconds ago.
My vision came back to me slowly, the battlefield was sparse, groups turned on eachother, and blood filled the air.
The cruelty and suffering was drowned out by the audiences cheers.
What a sick, sick display.
Many of those on the floor would never live to see tomorrow.
But I cannot think about that now.
A noble dressed in full armour plating, was running at me.
Easy pray I bet was the only thing running through his head, before his blow was intercepted by my longsword, and a sweeping one knocked him to the floor.
I was on him, the pommel of my sword hitting his helm.
I kicked off his helm, to feel his sword give me a kiss on the leg.
Hes done, just look at the black swollen lumps of his face.
-"hahahhaahhahahahahhahaha!"
So many more,
So many men,
Everywhere.
Then It happened,
The horn blew.
It finally blew.
And it was over.
Everything was still.
Then his voice boomed out.
-"And with that the first day of the tournament is over, the sixty of you that have surpassed this challenge may return to fight again tomorrow.
Well done"
Cheers erupted from the arena,
I looked around at the carnage of the grounds.
Already clergy cloaked in white with a red star on their draped faces forced into the arena with cloth lined boards.
Saffron had began walking to the gate, and collapsed to the ground.
I helped her up, and walked with her back to the place this all started.
Watching as they carried the corpses of the half elves and dead contenders through now opened passages underneath the arena, the wounded brought away on stretchers.
Nobles cheered, mercenaries smiled, and squires sullied out chanting prayer.
I was silent.