Chapter 128: A Steady Decline.

Diana, like me, had a phone that had been improved by a silver coin. It was a gift given to her by Tabitha in preparation for this event. We’d exchanged numbers before we had left. Which is exactly how I was going to communicate with her.

The call, was not a pleasant one. Diana was concerned by what I had to tell her, how they had been anticipating our arrival, that they knew our purpose for being here. On top of everything else that was going on.

“That isn’t good…” Diana said, pointing out the obvious.

“No, it’s not.” I reply back.

“But they aren’t hostile at least.”

“No, they’re not. Not immediately hostile anyway.”

“Do you think they really do have a third option? One that won’t have us fighting them?”

“I don’t know, but with how he was acting, I’m interested enough to wait it out.”

“And if it’s a trap?” Diana asks, worry in her voice.

“We fight back, or escape. By himself, I don’t imagine he’d be much of a threat. Combined with his soldiers…” I hesitate. “The results would be unclear, but if the worst does happen, I’m sure we can at least preserve our lives.”

Diana paused, but eventually spoke with conviction in her voice, “If you say so, then I’ll choose to believe you.”

“I’m more worried about the other clans, if they all have about the same level of strength, we shouldn’t be in too much trouble, otherwise…” I trail off.

“How strong is he? At least, how strong do you think he is?”

“High-Gold, at the least. Just being near him can be, suffocating. However, he is injured or crippled in some way. He can’t exert himself much. He can put out a lot of damage in a short period of time, but the longer the fight drags on the quicker he’ll fade.”

“So, survive the first few minutes is the plan?”

“Essentially, something I’m sure we can do with my defenses, and Joan’s healing. As for Morrigan, I’m not too sure what she can do, but I doubt she’ll be a hindrance.”

“That’s good…” She says, clearly still worried.

“And how is it on your end?”

“Troubling. Groups have been entering the jungle, but the local wildlife has proven itself dangerous. Nobody has died, but we’ve been getting a steady stream of injured. At the same time, the patrols have grown in strength, which in turn attracts even more beasts…”

“Sounds troublesome.”

“It is… luckily, they have been bringing back the corpses. Which means we have plenty of meat, and Raksha has done a good job synthesizing their blood. Everyone has been getting notably stronger. The constant fights, the magic filled meat, plus the blood Raksha collects. We’re seeing good growth, so hopefully it will all even out.”

“I’m sure it will…”

“Yeah, me too…” Diana says.

Silence follows. Both of us were filled with concerns and worries. A single misstep could cause the deaths of many. Something we both knew extremely well.

“Right…” I finally say, breaking the uneasy silence. “For now, I’ll focus on maintaining relations and seeing what they have planned for us. Diana, you just need to continue letting and encouraging the others to continue hunting and growing stronger. Sound like a plan?”

“Yeah, it does. Stay safe Prima. I’d hate for you to die.”

“I should be the last one you should ever worry about Diana, you know how I am.”

“I do. Which is why I worry. Stay safe.”

“You too.” And with that, we hung up and I went to sleep.

The next few days went by rather quickly. Along with those passing days, we received more information. Not just from the surroundings of the city, but from the realm as a whole. Visitors, travelers, merchants, whatever were actively moving along the roads. Bringing with them tales of how bad the situation was.

Wild beasts routinely attacked people on the road. Entire villages were forced to evacuate as entire jungles emptied. Much of this was treated cautiously as hearsay, or mere rumor, even when refugees slowly flowed into the city.

Morrigan, with her crows, was able to corroborate these rumors, that and the confirmation from the clan leader pointed out that this was merely a result of our intervention.

The signs continued to build and with nightly talks with Diana, it became clear. The realm was indeed dying and it was only a matter of time until it reached its breaking point.

Until then, we all kept ourselves occupied.

I had undertaken the job of sparring with the clan leader’s granddaughter. Receiving a chest filled with magical metals and gold in exchange for my services.

With payment rendered, my days were quickly filled with sparring. Technically, I didn’t have anything worth teaching the young miss. Just fighting me though, was worth the time and effort for her. After all, the girl had talent in spades.

Each morning was filled with a series of spars, only to be broken by lunch, and by evening she’d be throwing herself into practice. This continued, day in, day out. With each day her progress was notable, and it wasn’t hard to imagine that she’d catch up to me by the time we were done here.

While I sparred and rested, Morrigan spent her time watching me, or just minding her own business. She didn’t really leave our compound, but it was clear she wasn’t idle. Evidenced by the occasional crow I would see making a fuss here and there. Not enough to be notable, but enough that I knew that she was up to something.

As for Joan, she spent most of her time wandering the city. As a healer, she gained a bit of fame inside the town. Healing people, and helping out here and there, all the while gathering information and money on her own. Not that she did it with that intent.

Really, Joan just didn’t want to be cooped up with us all day. Especially not with Morrigan constantly eyeing her. I didn’t blame her, but I wasn’t in the mood to take in the city. Not with the growing number of refugees choking the streets and alleys to their limits.

Of course, it wasn’t like my own schedule was boring. After so many days of sparring, Liu Lian, the clan leader’s granddaughter, had grown used to my current abilities. Even if she couldn’t win yet, her growth had begun to slow, which is when she decided to speak out…

“I need more.” She said after another bout of sparring. It was yet another day, but today she seemed frustrated.

“More how?” I ask back.

“This isn’t enough. We’re using training weapons, and even if you can use a wide variety of weapons, it’s not enough. I want to up the intensity.”

“You mean, you want to go all out?”

“Yes, with real weapons as well.”

“Ask your grandfather, if he gives you permission, then we can go forward.” I said, deferring to her grandfather in lieu of giving a proper answer.

She bows. “I’ll give you an answer by the end of the day.” And like that, leaves.

On my way back to the compound, Morrigan fell in at my side. “Not going to ask for more?” She asked, her intent clear.

“What he gave is plenty.” I said.

“You sure? I think you could have gotten a lot more out of the deal. Even now, with her asking you to up the intensity, I’d start charging more.” Morrigan said.

“You’re not wrong… but I have to consider the other implications, the political side of this. That I was paid in the first place means something, no matter if it’s a little or a lot. After all, we’re still living under their roof.”

Morrigan snorts. “So, what? You think they won’t take advantage?”

“Oh, no, they definitely would. He may be old, but that doesn’t mean he’s senile. He’s treated us well, up to now, and even the payment he gave me appeared to be good enough. But, I know for a fact that he isn’t paying my true worth. That, and even if she has me working harder, do you think I’m going to have to use my uniform against her?”

Morrigan blinked… “From what I’ve seen? Not at all. That girl is lucky you haven’t broken her.”

“Exactly. Why should I ask for more when I don’t intend to give it my all? And I think, on some level he understands that. Instead, sparring with her is a convenient method of keeping me in check, and from doing anything else while we await the answer from this mysterious person.”

“Eh, if you say so. I wouldn’t mind charging what I can and taking full advantage, even if I’m barely doing any work.”

“Which is why you’d be so easy to manipulate Morrigan. Granted, you are a bit of a wild card, so I can’t say how you’d act, but… if it were you alone, I don’t think you’d get much of anything out of him.”

She scoffed but didn’t deny my statement. “What is it you want then? The two of you are clearly playing a game of some sort.”

“No idea. I don’t think he knows either. At least, not now. I’m sure an opportunity will present itself soon enough.”

“If you say so… Honestly, as fun as this was at the start, I am getting bored.” She said.

“I can tell, but you’ve been paying attention to the surroundings, yes?”

“I have, yeah. It’s kind of wild. I’m having trouble keeping my crows active, as they’re actively being hunted by the wild beasts roaming the countryside. Somethings got them in a tizzy, and I’m not sure I like that.”

“Even if it’s interesting?” I reply back. In turn, she grimaces, her usual smile gone.

“It reeks of danger is why. That, and I don’t like losing my eyes and ears out there. Especially not when the situation is this uncertain.”

“I get that, but hopefully we have an answer before we go running off a cliff.” I say back.

“Yeah, well, based on what I’ve seen. Nobody is going to agree on a final solution. So, if this mystery guest doesn’t show up soon, we might have to deal with it ourselves.” She said with a malicious glint in her eyes.

“You’re not wrong. Just keep an eye out, I promise, we’ll have an answer sooner than later.”

She eyes me but doesn’t question me. Eventually she sighs…

“Anything else come up?” I asked.

“Not much, honestly. That healing girl is being tailed. For obvious reasons. As for the old coot, I’ve heard talks he might have you spar with the soldiers. As for everything else, the overall politics aren’t exactly in our favor. That old coot has us segregated away from everyone else, and there are some whispers that our presence might be linked to all the weirdness going on.”

“So, someone leaked information, or people are beginning to notice a pattern.”

“More or less. It’s nothing serious now, but as I said before, we are going to have to move soon.”

“And when that happens, I’ll have an appropriate response.”

Morrigan grumbled, but again, didn’t naysay me. Eventually, she spoke yup again. “Hey, so, is that why you didn’t ask for more? I mean, teaching the girl is one thing, but sparring with his soldiers? Did you think he might have tried to rope you in earlier?”

“Oh, definitely. That, and he would have gotten away with offering me even less. Now that he’s handed over one payment, if he wants anything else from me he’ll need to offer even more. So, if he does ask it balances out a bit.”

“Huh, yeah, I don’t get it. But why does he even want you to spar with that girl, or even his soldiers? You’ve just been beating her down, and yeah, she is improving, but it hardly seems like something I’d pay for.”

“You’re not wrong, but having a competent fighter with an extremely solid base as a sparring partner is rare. Rather, I know training with me is valuable, specifically because I only know the basics.”

“How so? I figured a properly trained fighter would be a better sparring partner.” She asked, confused and I didn’t blame her.

“Not really, once a fighter learns special skills or techniques, their fighting style inevitably changes. Training or sparring with them won’t yield much, only because the experience will be tainted by whatever special skill they learned or use.”

“Ah, so someone specialized in kicking won’t necessarily go for punches very often? Or… something?” She asks, trying to grasp what I was saying.

“Close enough, as I’ve only ever learned foundational skills, it means my fighting style, to many fighters is at the pinnacle, right before it becomes specialized. Having me spar with anyone with even a modicum of talent would help them develop and further refine their own preferred style.”

“Ah, so you’re an expensive whetstone…” She said with a snap of her fingers.

“I’d say more of a grindstone. Anyone and everyone could use me to refine themselves and their style, only because I never took the next step.”

“And why didn’t you? Why don’t you?”

“Because, as I said, I lack the talent for it. Sure, I improved my talent in some areas, and it is having an effect on my fighting style, but it isn’t actually altering the core of it. To do that, I’d need to find a path and follow it.”

“And I guess you have no idea where to go?”

“None whatsoever, partially why I’ve focused on golem creation, and well, it hasn’t exactly worked out thus far.” I say with a shrug.

“You sure? I mean, they look strong enough.” She says, looking at one of the stone soldiers standing idly nearby.

“Yeah, but you could beat them easily enough.”

“I could… but the silver ranks you got would put me through my paces.”

“You’d still win.” I counter.

“Of course, you think I’d let a familiar beat me?” She said with a grin.

It made me think of the bronze minotaur, how powerful it had been, that, and the bone golem. I hadn’t brought it with me, since I figured Diana might have use for it in case of an emergency…

That, and I didn’t want to carry around a volleyball sized power core everywhere with me. I could’ve activated the golem prior to entering the city, or even during the trek, but having a story sized bone golem smashing through the jungle doesn’t exactly yell, ‘We come in peace!’

Better to be underestimated than overestimated…

The conversation continued, though, it quickly tapered off as we arrived back at the compound. The rest of the day went by, as I spent my time reading through what literature was available and drafting up plans for the future.

It was without any surprise, that late in the night I got confirmation that starting tomorrow, I’d be fighting Liu Lian, the granddaughter of the clan leader with live weapons, and to prepare accordingly.

For our first day, Joan made sure to join in on the festivities. Hell, just about everyone arrived to see me and the young miss ‘Go All Out’, which included the clan leader. If Liu Lian seemed upset at the growing crowd of officials and commanders, she didn’t show it as we prepped for the fight.

The weapons in our hands were spears. The tips glinted in the morning light, and my magic freely moved through them. Moreso, when I calmly swept my blade to and fro, small trails of hazy light were left behind. Where my magic went, there was a clear sign of frost.

If anyone noticed, nobody said a thing as we squared off.

I let the magic hum in my veins at a low pulse. I could feel the ice crackle, the temperature dip, the world slow slightly, but not by much. I didn’t submerge myself into the cold, but more like dipped my toes in, letting it run through me, strengthening my muscles and reflexes only just.

With an exhale, I let out a small puff of cold air. Little else.

Across from me, Liu Lian took up a stance, holding her spear with two hands. Her breathing shifted, changed. It felt familiar, but how she breathed was odd in itself. There was a rhythm to it I could feel, and every breath grew deeper and longer, every exhale practically whistled.

Almost like starting a fire, like a bellows blowing into a forge. I felt small flickering embers spark to life, and roar into being. Her entire body began to vibrate, practically screaming out as energy poured out of her.

It didn’t quite feel like magic. It definitely was, but the flavor, the taste was different. Enough that I couldn’t quite grasp what the difference was. A part of me wanted to try and imitate her breathing, but I knew that wouldn’t work out well. It was likely catered to her style, her body, enough that if I were to just thoughtlessly copy it, it wouldn’t end well…

After a few more moments, her growing power seemed to settle and gather up into herself. The feeling of being next to a roaring flame diminished, but I knew all too well that it was just contained within her frame.

“Are you ready?” She asked, the slightest bit of strain could be heard in her voice.

As an answer, I gestured for her to calm. Her brow twitched, but she held nothing back. With a step, she nigh vanished. Her form became a blur and shot forward like a cannonball. With how little of the ice embraced, just reacting would have been difficult. Well, if this had been my first spar with her.

The moment her foot had tensed I was already on the move. Her spear struck head on, only to be deflected. There was a burst of displaced air, a loud crack of wood on wood that sounded like thunder. Instead of running, she planted her foot down and forced through another swing.

It was immediately apparent that she was stronger and yet…

Just as she swung out, the back of my spear swept out her feet right from under her, the swing she put all she had into swung up and wide, passing right by my face before crashing into the earth as she fell down into a sprawl.

The entire field was quiet. Especially as Liu Lian took a long moment to stagger up, while favoring her ankle.

“Your control slipped.” Was all I said. Something in her eyes flared, and in the stands, I could see her grandfather, the clan leader, his eyes dancing with glee.

She didn’t wait for a new signal before shooting forward, ignoring her strained ankle. Though we had sparred before, though she had improved, it was almost too easy to slip through her defenses and deliver a powerful blow to her sternum with the butt of my spear.

The blow, sent her back and gasping for breath. With her breathing disrupted, whatever power she was pulling from went out of control, causing her to spit out blood as her face paled.

There was some movement in the stands, but nobody came forward to assist, even if there were a few shuffling their feet. Gazes flitting between Liu Lian and the clan leader.

As all that happened, Liu Lian slowly gathered herself, her breathing recovered. Though, her face was still pale. Only after flexing her fingers a few times did she come forward, only, this time, she was a lot more cautious.

The fight went on for longer this time. She used her, as of now, superior physique and ability to pressure me, forcing me on the backfoot, and yet, she didn’t really gain ground. Her breathing was slightly rough, the blow to her chest had done some damage clearly. Which lowered her overall ability, and yet, she was already learning at an incredible pace.

A few times I tried to sweep out her feet, but each time she moved, perhaps overcorrected, which resulted in our positions being reset, but each time she recovered faster and faster. Before long, she didn’t even need to reset with each sweep I made, which meant that I had to make somewhat serious strikes and blows.

Her caution never really faded. If anything, she grew even more concentrated as the fight went on. A few of my strikes hit weak spots, leaving small cuts and wounds along her body, but even those rare instances slowly ebbed away until I wasn’t even touching her.

It was as she kept pressing, as it seemed like she might actually get a win, that her already ragged breathing hitched. Her strength suddenly faltered, her stance fell apart, and like a viper, the tip of my spear shot out for her throat. She tried to move, even as blood oozed from her clenched mouth.

Yet, it was too little, too late.

The tip of my spear stopped just short of her throat, the tip gleaming in the light. Her teeth were grit, but in her eyes, I could see the flame of desire, the desire to improve, to overcome.

“Thank you, for showing mercy.” She said as I slowly took back the spear, following with a bow, that I acknowledged with a nod.

“I hope to see you tomorrow, after you’ve properly digested what you learned today.” I said, and began to walk away, right before leaving the venue I looked back. Coincidentally, or perhaps, exactly to plan, my eyes met with the clan leaders. A large grin was on his lips. And all too easily, I could read his thoughts.

I’d exceeded his expectations. Whether that is good or bad, only time would tell.