Aidan

The Realms

Secondday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1

Late Afternoon

Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands

Aidan ducked under Ysbail's horizontal swing. "What was that magic you used against the Labyrinth boss?"

"Magic? What do you—oh, do you mean my Aura?" Ysbail rolled her shoulders, twisting her grip on the giant slab of metal she called a sword. It came hurtling back toward Aidan. He was out of position for another dodge or parry, so only two options were left to him. The first was to take the hit. Ysbail would pull her strike, but only enough to leave a bruise rather than slice him in half.

Instead, Aidan pushed off with his back foot. He lunged forward, darting inside Ysbail's reach. She saw him coming, of course. Ysbail was stronger, faster, tougher, and far more experienced than Aidan. Still, he pursued her step for step until she switched to a one-handed grip. Aidan's eyes widened a fraction of a second, and he planted his leading foot and twisted. Ysbail's mailed fist caught him beneath the ribs instead of hammering him in the gut.

"Good," she complimented Aidan as he sprawled out on the grass. "You are starting to adapt and to anticipate. We will make a warrior of you yet."

"Time out," Aidan gasped. "I think you cracked a rib that time." He turned his head to locate his Golden Fawn and beckoned it over. While it nuzzled his side, Aidan returned to his previous question. "Aura. Yeah, I guess? Whatever it is you were doing to make yourself glow like that and shoot sword beams. You did that against Karsarrym too."

"Yes, that was Aura, not magic."

"Sure looked like magic to me."

Ysbail shook her head. "How to explain? I do not know much of the theory behind either, so this may not make much sense. With magic..." Ysbail's hand glowed silver. She traced a series of glyphs in the air in front of her. "You take some of the world's energy, shape it with gestures and words, and then unleash it." The silver glow spread from Ysbail's hand onto her sword, then sank into the metal.

"Aura is different. Aura comes from inside you. It is a warrior's determination to win at any cost, their refusal to accept defeat no matter the opposition, made manifest." As Ysbail spoke, her voice became rougher, tenser. The air around her distorted like heat rising off summer asphalt. Then, golden flames appeared, racing up her arms and down her flanks.

"You do not need to force it into a useful form. The energy comes from you. It follows your will without needing to be told how." Without looking, Ysbail swung her sword to the side. The golden light surged along it and then curved through the air, forming a shining crescent that shot across the empty field.

"Can you teach me how to use it?" Aidan sat up. Then he lay back down, wincing, holding a hand to his side where Ysbail hit him. The Golden Fawn pushed its head under his hand, looking up at him with big, limpid eyes as its healing energy washed over him. He patted it on its head.

Ysbail sighed and settled her sword on her shoulder. The golden Aura around her flickered and vanished. "I can try," she said, "but I have never managed it before. It seems that the affinity for it is exceedingly rare among the Starchasers."

"Maybe, but while I'm a Starchaser, I'm not a centaur. It can't hurt to try, can it?"

"No, it will not hurt me at all. You, though?" Ysbail's slow, sadistic smirk told Aidan that he might want to pick his words with more care in the future. "Aura cannot be learned through study like magic. I cannot demonstrate it for you and have you pick it up over time. Once you grow used to it, you can use Aura for frivolous purposes like I just did. The first time, though?" Ysbail brought her sword down until the point hovered motionless six inches from Aidan's nose. "The first time you use Aura will always come under intense physical stress. Get up, Aidan."

"Um, still injured here?" The pain in his side was going away, but it was still there.

"You want to learn Aura alongside the half-dozen magic schools you have? Then. Get. Up." The point of Ysbail's sword grew in Aidan's vision.

Aidan scrambled backward, then rolled sideways, coming up with his feet under him and springing to his feet. His rib screamed in pain, but he ignored it. Ysbail's face was an impassive mask as she came at him.

"To unleash your Aura, you need to be desperate." A twelve-pound blade sliced through the air where Aidan had been. "You have to know that you are losing, then refuse to." The wind screamed as Ysbail spun her sword around for another attack. "If there is a shred of doubt in your mind, you will fail." Aidan barely got the Summer Sword up in time to deflect a thrust aimed for his heart. Pain blossomed along his shoulder instead, and Ysbail's sword dripped red as it came back into his view.

"Confidence is not enough. You must cast aside the possibility of anything else happening." Another thrust. Aidan leaped to the side. "To believe in yourself is to fall short. You must know that victory is the only outcome." Ysbail's blade sang as she brought it around in a diagonal slice. "Reject all other realities, no matter how likely, and seize the one in which it is you standing over your enemy's corpse."

Aidan ducked and dodged, deflected and danced away from Ysbail's onslaught, accumulating minor wounds with every near-miss. "How are you going to win like that?" Ysbail's voice was cold, harsh, uncaring. "You are causing me more harm by bleeding on my sword than anything else. You cannot defeat me without attacking, Aidan."

Step by step, Ysbail beat him back. Her attacks flashed out with speed and power Aidan couldn't match. Even when he managed to parry a strike, pain shot up his arm from the effort of shifting her momentum. Sweat poured down across his brow and into his eyes, but Aidan couldn't spare a second to wipe them clean. Still Ysbail attacked, relentless. Aidan's world narrowed down to the glint of the setting sun reflecting from deadly steel.

Try as he might, he couldn't manage to get an attack in between Ysbail's. Her height and the length of her sword gave her a massive advantage in reach. Combined with his wounds and her greater stats and skill, it was hopeless.

"What is that look in your eyes?" Ysbail spat on the ground. "Have you forgotten everything I told you? Strike, Aidan!" Her words came out in a furious roar. "Seize victory where none exists! Or I will run you through." She brought her sword up in front of her, then point angled down toward Aidan.

The muscles in Ysbail's shoulders tensed. "Raise your blade, face me, and win. You want to see your Aura? This is how it happens." Her legs shifted. She paused, glaring.

Aidan closed his eyes. Was this something he wanted? Did he need it? He would fight Karsarrym again in a few weeks. Every edge mattered, and Ysbail's Aura fighting was effective against the dragon before.

He opened his eyes and raised his sword.

Ysbail smiled, the first time since he asked her to teach him Aura. "Good." Golden flames outlined her in the fading light. She charged forward, hurtling toward him at an incomprehensible speed. Aidan pushed away his fear, his pain. He crushed his doubts. There was a path to victory. All he had to do was follow it.

Silver light flared into existence around Aidan, but he didn't notice. His eyes were set on Ysbail's. He bent his knees, then lunged, right hand extending toward his teacher's midriff. His left hand came up and grabbed the leading edge of Ysbail's sword. Aidan ignored the sudden agony as it bit deep into his flesh. He pushed even as he struck, forcing Ysbail's strike to pass over his head even as his own hit her center mass in a blinding flash.

Congratulations! You have reached level 1 in Aura Control.

The mark of the indomitable, Aura is what makes warriors into legends. Aura Control allows a practitioner to turn their unbreakable will into weapons and armor. A Master of Aura Control can shrug off any hit and fight dozens of enemies at once with only their Aura.

Aidan

Thirdday, 2nd week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1

Late Morning

Caellach Macht, Mistvale Highlands

"You are an idiot, Master," Aoife told him for the third time that morning.

"I know. I'm sorry," Aidan responded, also for the third time. He gritted his teeth as the alcohol burned against the wound in his left palm.

"You could have died."

"I know. I'm sorry." Aidan didn't think Ysbail would have killed him, but he admitted to himself that he wasn't certain. Denying it hadn't done any good anyway.

"I would have had to find a new Master. One who would probably turn me into their pleasure slave."

Again, not true. Aidan still had at least one life, so he would have come back. He'd told the entire city that he could come back from death, so Aoife had to be aware of it. It was better to let her work out her anger, though.

"Brighid would have been devastated. And poor Sunnild, she would have to raise her daughter without a father."

"I was rash. I'm sorry."

"If this collar would let me, I'd slap you." Aoife's tail lashed the air behind her. Despite her harsh words, her hands were gentle as she bound his cut. The Wound had been too serious for Aidan's magic to fix, and Ailis hadn't been any more pleased than Aoife was. She declined to heal the Wound, saying instead that it would be a good lesson on thinking before he acted.

"I deserve it."

"Stop being so reasonable." Aoife's golden eyes swam with tears. "I know you think you're invincible, but you're not."

Again, Aidan decided it was better not to correct her. He knew better than anyone that he wasn't unkillable. He still woke up one night every five or six in a cold sweat, the Taig's sing-song voice rattling around in his head.

Instead, he wrapped his right arm around Aoife's shoulders and pulled her into his lap. After a moment's hesitation, she curled up against him, her head buried against his chest. She shuddered, sobbing. Aidan ran his good hand through her black mane and let her cry it out.

"I can't lose you too," Aoife whispered once she recovered. Aidan kissed the top of her head and held her tighter. "Please, Aidan, please don't leave me."

"I won't. I have too much, too many to live for. You, Brighid, Sunnild, Ailis, all my children, all the people of Ceallach Macht. And I want you by my side the whole time." Aidan tilted Aoife's chin up so that he could look her in the eyes. "I love you, Aoife."

"Idiot," she whispered. Aoife's arms looped around Aidan's neck. She leaned back onto the bed, pulling him down on top of her. "You don't have to tell me that." Tear-stained lips pressed against Aidan's.

"How about I show you instead then?" The rumbling purr that filled the room was enough of an answer.

Aidan

Early Afternoon

"By the way, your new conquest is up to something," Aoife said as she helped Aidan into his clothes.

"My new conquest?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "Eldrid. You know, bright blue hair, [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords] bigger than her head, you mindfucked her somehow, and now she's a little," Aoife dragged out the vowel, "bit obsessed with you? That conquest."

Aidan winced. "Yeah, that wasn't..." He stopped. It had been his intention—his Intent. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Idiot. Well, whatever, you've got the hook jammed in her mouth. So she's not getting free. But while you reel her in, she's plotting."

"Against us?"

"I... don't think so. Not in any kind of sinister way, anyway. She told Brighid and me some of her story yesterday while you were busy trying to commit suicide by Ysbail. She's got some serious issues." Aoife finished lacing up Aidan's trousers and patted his [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords]. "Eldrid wants that too much to try and hurt you. And she does seem genuine in her interest in the city." She shrugged. "I can't figure out what her goal is, and that means I don't trust her."

"Do you want me to back off of her?"

Aoife gnawed on her lower lip, then nodded. "Not all the way. She might go crazy if she thought you were closing the door. But make sure you always leave her wanting more." She snorted. "I know I told you to find some more women to [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords], but damn, boy, you move fast."

Aidan groaned. "I know. I never used to be like this. I keep trying to figure out what changed. Is it the Brighaid altering me? They are deities of passion and sex, after all."

"No idea. And since I benefited from it, it's not in my best interest to complain. Just try not to stick your dick into too much crazy."

Aidan smirked down at his lover. "Oh, sure, you tell me that after I get done making love to you."

Aoife flipped her hair over her shoulder and shoved her nose into the air. "Yes, exactly. I'm just the right amount of crazy for you." A rare serious expression settled onto her face. "Really though, be careful around her."

"I will."

Aidan

"I'm going to cast a spell to keep the conversation private," Aidan told his bodyguards. "If you can read lips, please don't. That being said, try to keep both myself and Eldrid in sight at all times."

"Are you expecting trouble?" Lili asked.

"No, but it's better to be safe than sorry." Aidan met the eyes of each of his four guards. "Also, I expect you to keep anything you see to yourselves outside of what you need to report to Cai and Llwyd. Your job is to protect me, and that goes for more than just physical threats."

"Understood, Lord Aidan," Ruari said.

Aidan softened his expression. "Good. I don't think any of you would spread rumors, but I find it best to have all expectations on the table ahead of time. Anyway, time to face the lioness in her den." He turned and knocked on the warehouse's side door.

A moment later, one of Eldrid's crew popped her head out. Then, seeing Aidan, she opened the door wider and gestured him inside. "Captain is waiting for you in her office."

Eldrid looked up from her paperwork when Aidan knocked on the doorframe. "Oh, good." She stood up and gestured for him to enter. "Come in, come in, have a seat."

Aidan sat down in front of the desk. Instead of taking her own seat, however, Eldrid walked around the desk to stand in front of him. She hooked a finger under his chin and tilted his head up. Her silver eyes searched his for a moment. Then, she licked her lips, slid her other hand behind Aidan's neck, and leaned down.

Before their lips met, Eldrid murmured to Aidan, "Remember, no touching unless I give you permission." Then she crossed the final inch, her lips pressing hard, her body crushed against his. She pushed him against the back of the chair, pinning him in place as she straddled his lap.

Aidan was awash in Eldrid. [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords].

It took every ounce of focus Aidan had to sit there passively. His hands ached to [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords].

But no. Not only did the rules of the game forbid Aidan from being an active participant, not only did Aoife's words of warning echo in his head, but he still didn't feel comfortable with how uncontrolled his libido was. So, instead, he let Eldrid have free reign. [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords]

When Eldrid leaned back away from Aidan, her eyes were hooded. "Good boy," she said. "It looks like you can be house-trained after all. Here, have a reward." Eldrid sought out Aidan's right hand. When she found it dangling at his side, she wrapped delicate fingers around his wrist and pulled his hand up [content censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords].

"There. Since you were so good, you can touch while we talk." Remembering Aoife's admonition, Aidan decided to play along. [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords] Letting his skills and experience guide him, Aidan opted for a slow, gentle tease.

"So, are you going to pay up on the first half of the bet now?"

"I am." Eldrid shifted her weight, settling fully onto Aidan's lap. She was heavy, but not in an unpleasant way. He could definitely get used to this. "First, can you make us private?"

"Of course." He was a little surprised she'd waited that long to ask. But then again, her ship had a naked, anatomically correct figurehead of herself.

"Thank you. So. I told you that I'm a Chosen, just like yourself. You wanted to know who my Patron is. The problem is this: that is a complicated question."

Aidan raised his eyebrows. "Complicated how? Do you not know? If you bargained in bad faith, I might need to adjust the terms of our deal..."

"Oh, settle down, I'll make it up to you." Eldrid tapped Aidan's nose with a finger. "I know who my Patron is. The issue is that They don't like being in the spotlight. Even knowing Their name is forbidden to those outside the organization."

Yeah, OK, Aoife was right. This was definitely fishy. "A God who hides everything from those who don't already know it? That seems ... counterproductive."

Eldrid shook her head. "Not a God. A Power." Seeing Aidan's confusion, she elaborated. "Gods are created and sustained through belief. Powers are ... well, they're basically what you get when a mortal accumulates enough strength to equal a God. You know that old Aladdin movie? The cartoon, not the terrible remake."

Aidan was even more confused now. "Yes?" he asked.

"It's kinda like the end of the movie. Great cosmic power! Ittybittylivingspace." Eldrid spoke the first line in a grandiose tone, then switched to a high-pitched patter for the second. "Once a mortal passes the threshold into Power status, they're locked away by the same magic that binds the Gods. As far as what they can do, there isn't much practical difference."

"OK, I sorta get it. I think. So your Patron doesn't need belief, so they don't need to spread their name around." Eldrid nodded. "What can you tell me about them, then? From where I sit, you still took the bet knowing that you couldn't deliver the forfeit."

"I can tell you their tenets and goals, as well as my specific mission as Their Chosen. In my mind, that satisfies the terms of the bet. You wanted to know who my Patron is, and Their name wouldn't do you any good anyway."

Aidan frowned and took some time to think. What Eldrid said was true. It was far more important to know someone's methods and goals than to know their name. But, at the same time, he didn't like the mystery of it. A Power wouldn't hide its name without cause. There must be some reason that they wanted to remain in the shadows.

A whimpering breath from the woman on his lap brought Aidan's attention back to the matter at hand. Or, rather, to the one under his hand. While Aidan was absorbed in his thoughts, his body went on autopilot, and his hand and fingers took his slow teasing up a couple of notches. Taking quick stock of the situation, Aidan decided to lean into it.

"You aren't entirely wrong," he said, [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords]. "On the other hand, I'm not happy at the deception. Tell me what you can, and I'll see if I need to alter the terms." On 'alter,' Aidan twisted the metal bar about a quarter-turn.

Eldrid's eyes fluttered closed, and she let out a long sound, [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords] When she didn't, he raised his left hand and delivered a swift spank to her skirt-covered bottom.

That got her attention. Eldrid's eyes shot open and she sat up straight, glaring down at him. "No touching!"

"No reneging on the bet," Aidan said in return. He left his hand where it was—a provocation and a promise, all in one.

Eldrid glowered at him for a few heartbeats longer. Then, with a snort and a toss of her hair, she said, "Fine." She did not, Aidan noticed, remove his hand. "My Patron pursues four primary goals. First, They seek to improve the lives of non-human sapients."

That explained Eldrid's interest in protecting the Highlands from Gildhardt's supposed intervention.

"Second, They protect those who cannot defend themselves. Third, They punish anyone who exploits the labor of the poor and weak."

As a budding monarch, that wasn't what Aidan wanted to hear. Then again, he intentionally avoided oppressing those underneath him, like Deirdre and her festival food stall.

"Finally," Eldrid continued, unaware of Aidan's internal monologue, "They oppose the Gods and Powers who seek to destroy the magic barring their return to the Realms."

That made Aidan sit up. "Wait. That's what this whole Chosen thing is about, isn't it?" Then, realizing that he'd tightened his grip on Eldrid, both above and below, Aidan relaxed his hands.

Eldrid squirmed in his lap, pushing herself back into his grasp. "Yes, it is."

"Do you know whether the Brighaid is in that faction?"

"I don’t know one way or the other, but I wasn’t sent here to interfere with you."

Aidan relaxed further, sinking back into the chair. Eldrid moved with him. "OK, that's good. Why were you sent here then?"

Silver eyes bored into Aidan from a foot away. Eldrid gnawed on her lower lip before responding, "This is going above and beyond, you know? I'm revealing secrets that might put me in hot water."

Aidan snorted and rubbed her with his thumb again. "You don't strike me as a girl who minds revealing everything in pursuit of a worthy goal. Your figurehead doesn't leave anything to the imagination. I bet it even has the piercings. Then, too, my guards and your crew all watched you [content censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords] on my lap."

That made Eldrid's pale skin flush crimson. She lunged forward, muffling a [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords] against Aidan's mouth. Eldrid's left hand grabbed Aidan's right through her blouse and forced it harder into her flesh. When she started to [censored by Royal Road's advertising overlords] again, however, Aidan pushed her away.

"No, no more of that until I'm satisfied with your answers."

Eldrid's eyes smoldered. For a moment, Aidan thought she might try to force herself on him. Then she drew in a deep, shuddering breath and straightened. "I was sent here for two reasons. The first is to help destroy the dragon. The second is to root out an enemy agent here in Ceallach Macht."

"Do you have any idea who they are?" She had Aidan's undivided attention now. He had a good idea what her answer was going to be, but he wanted to hear her say it.

Eldrid looked away from Aidan for the first time since he sat down. "I'd prefer not to say until I have more than suspicions."

Aidan's hands tightened involuntarily, sinking deep into Eldrid's yielding flesh. He felt her thighs flex and strain against his but paid it no mind. "Tell me," he said, voice low and infused with as much dominance and command as he could muster.

Eldrid stiffened for a split second. Then she whimpered, shuddered, and ducked her head down to her chest. "Aoife," Eldrid gasped. "I think it's Aoife."