Chapter 17: Stronger

An entire day on the world of Prima passed. Rouge still could not believe she was now knighted. Alex and Alice were already working on newer and improved armor for her. They were excited as it was the first real commissioned work they’d get to create with their aspects. Soon Rouge would have to choose herself a last name and have a crest designed for her. In fact, the twins said they would need the crest right away as it was to be incorporated into her armor. The Young Lord was supposed to grant her a new last name however he wanted his knights to pick their own. Weird, but Rouge would follow it. Her salary was way higher now, and the Young Lord had assigned another two squads plus her original underneath her. It was the same for Alex.

They both stared at one another weapons ready and to think they spent the night of the feast drunk and ended it passionately in each other’s arms. Rouge grew hot at the thought and Alex sensing her distraction took advantage and shifted the ground underneath her. His raw physical strength destroying the land and toppling her over. She looked up only to see a blade at her neck.

“You’ve been distracted lately. What’s up?”

Rouge glared up at him and he gave her a toothy grin before reaching out a hand and helping her to her feet. It was here that she was truly glad for her level of strength otherwise all parts of her body would be sore. Magi Humans were enhanced in every aspect after all. Rouge took the hand and was pulled forward. Stronger than Alex intended as she flew into his body in their armor causing them to collapse in a heap to the ground.

“Control your strength,” Rouge growled previous thoughts forgotten as they detangled themselves.

“I’m sorry. I’m still trying to get used to having the strength of a tier four. Not only that I still can’t believe I’m actually a knight.”

“We’re both knights the first of the Crimson Army. Ronwick is so jealous.”

Rouge said thinking of her twin who promised to work ten, no twenty times as hard to catch up. Even when he realized that Rouge received a different aspect Ronwick had not worked as hard as she saw him earlier. Her twin had a new drive in him, and it made Rouge proud to see it.

Yet her drive was different. Rouge wanted strength she wanted to adventure and become a true hero the dukedom and Empire would need. So, when her brother was slacking off and lazing away during the years the Young Lord was gone. Rouge was training. Her handle of her short spear was amazing because of this and with her apsis shield for defense, Rouge felt like a proper warrior, a champion.

She got back into position and faced her fellow champion. Where they lovers now? Rouge didn’t know but decided in the upcoming days she would explore this new feeling developing between her and Alex.

“My ARENA is not for cowards; my MIGHT is limitless.”

The now familiar glow began to surround her creating an aura around her body where her enemies would be suppressed.

“You face me in the ARENA, when my MIGHT is unlimited.”

Her fellow champion responded in turn and their auras clashed. Not to be confused with the aura projection those in Path of the Mind and Body are able to unlock at tier five.

At once they moved Rouge spear thrusted towards Alex chest only for her to pull back in a feint as Alex brought her large sword to cover himself as a shield. The handle within the blade made it easier to hold. Not receiving a blow Alex brought his sword down only to receive a shield bash that sent him stumbling backwards. In the quick second the weapon blocked his vision Rouge moved in. Her opponent now off-balance Rouge short spear struck a blow against Alex side further throwing the magi human off balance as he collapsed to the ground. A spear tip was held at his throat and Alex was glad they were using their training weapons as the tip poked into him.

“Again.”

Like this they repeatedly attacked one another getting used to their bodies new level of strength until a crescendo had built.

“You have opposed me, the Sword, let this be your final transgression.”

A projection of a sword much like Alex appeared and slowly rotated around him. it gave off a soft blue glow and was see through for the most part, yet that appearance didn’t fool Rouge. The sword was as real as the one Alex was holding and it was just as dangerous.

“Failure is not the end, but for you this is, the Spear of Altin has no eyes.”

A crimson projection of a spear overlapped her spear giving her a slightly longer reach without the added weight yet the Spear of Altin felt heavy in her hands. It looked worn as if it had been through a hundred battles, but Rouge eyes only grew brighter the longer she held onto the spear. A technique implanted itself into her head and suddenly the spear became so much heavier as she absorbed the information. This was not the first time Rouge held the Spear of Altin, yet this time was different from any other occasion. Something had changed and in doing so the Spear acknowledged her. Rouge could feel it deep in her bones.

Her stance change putting her right foot forward and bring her left foot and shield back. The spear was pointed to her right side giving off the illusion of Rouge being uncaring or disinterested within the fight. Alex held his sword will ready. He knew Rouge liked to strike before her opponent and was banking on that opportunity to give him one final win over the woman today. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he began to fill exhausted from using their aspects on and off all day.

He blinked.

Only to reopen his eyes to a spear mere inches from piercing through his left eye. Every sense in his body screamed and the Sword Will moved before he could even finish processing a thought as his body reacted before his mind could fully comprehend how Rouge had crossed a bit over 20ft in the span it took for him to blink.

Sword met spear and the battle raged on as sparks flashed between the weapons tearing long gashes into the surrounding earth.

***

Nick looked over to Ivy as she descended the stairs of the military hospital. Her work for the day done as the next shift took over. He smiled up at her then down as she stood in front of him.

“Hey Nick,” her voice was tired, but Nick knew exactly how to make her a bit cheerier.

“Hey Ivy,” he responded as he presented her a meat pie.

A smile instantly blossomed on her face and Nick’s heart skipped a beat as he lost his breath in the same instant. Not from Ivy looks but from the punch he received in the stomach as she took the bun.

Narrowing her eyes Ivy spoke after she enjoyed her first bite. “Stop trying to fatten me up. You’ve been bringing me food almost every day since we arrived on this planet. What’s the deal?”

Nick paused looking down on the chubby girl before a genuine laugh erupted from his mouth. Ivy glared at him as he laughed for a solid minute. He couldn’t help himself. She just made him so happy.

“What’s so funny?”

They began their daily routine as Nick munched on a meat pie himself. The Young Lord had made sure there was plenty of parks within his city and a place for people to enjoy themselves. It wasn’t like they were here to conquer a world or anything Nick thought.

Nick would have to thank the Young Lord the next time he saw him. the parks had provided a major opportunity to Nick. All the young developing couples would take walks through the park and Nick was hoping this atmosphere would help him woo Ivy.

“I’m sorry it’s just that you’re so short and cute,” Nick muttered that last part under his breath.

“What was that?” Ivy rolled her eyes as they walked to one of the many different parks in the growing city. The inner-city district had fully been furnished and now a greater outer wall was being built in anticipation for more people to travel.

“I said it’s just that you’re so short.”

“Not that… what did you say after,” Ivy turned away from Nick.

Summoning the rest of his courage Nick decided to repeat the last part of his sentence.

“And cute… I said it’s just that you’re so short and cute. I can’t help myself,” Nick said as he paused in his steps and turned towards Ivy. While his courage was still hot Nick decided to throw everything out there.

“Ivy,” he began as she turned to face him still not meeting his eyes.

“Ivy look at me.”

Her head turned down and Nick moved in closer until they were less than a foot away from each other.

“Ivy look at me,” he repeated once again only to receive no answer as her head stayed down.

So, Nick while his courage was still hot moved in even closer, and he raised his hand slowly. Gently he cupped Ivy’s chin as he brought her eyes up to meet his.

“Ivy, I don’t know if this is the right way to go about it. Gods above and below I don’t know if this is even the right atmosphere for it but I’m not waiting any longer. We’re in an entirely new world and seeing men die on that battlefield has opened my eyes. Ivy I love you. I’ve always loved you ever since we were children just trying to find our way in life. Since Alex took us up into his gang. Since the Young Lord recruited us for his army.”

“I’ve loved you. Even now while looking at you I feel this every time my heart beats. Before I sleep, I think of you. When I wake, I want to wake next to you. There are apartments for couples and the Young Lord has priced them cheap for every one of his people. I want to be with you Ivy.”

“From sun dawn to sun dusk, I want to be with you. No matter what happens here on this world and the adventures we go through I want to be with you. I know I’m rambling but what I’d really like to say is do you want to be with me?”

*

Murnia sat patiently in the pitch-black room. Straining her senses to the limit as she waited to hear any signs of movement. This was what she did when not serving Aegis. One of the many things that never crossed his attention. She was in the Hukku compound located in the west district of the inner city. Aegis resided at the center with Moriah there as well. The nobles and their troops occupied space in the east and the south was for the troops of her Young Lord. In the north the two churches had stationed themselves there.

Lady Keala made sure her training would not end just because they were off world. In fact, the difficulty was to be upped as several Hukku clan’s golems came attacking all at once.

Directly left, behind, front, and above. Murnia moved silently moving from a seiza sitting position to a quick acceleration at the enemy in front of her. Darkness coated itself to her skin muting anything the enemy could use to pick up information on her. Her breathing, her moving, even the unsheathing of her blades as they strike hard and true into the neck of the first opponent.

The opponent from above landed only to never move again as the spikes piercing his feet quickly moved the poison through his system. The one behind leaping over his fallen comrade blades extending towards her throat while the one from the left did the same except going for her lower body.

Murnia’s mind and core whirled pumping her body full of essence and her aspect activated. One of the few rare other aspects out among the Young Lords troops.

“Wolves at the door, your defiance against my Lord shall be ended, Swiftly.”

She vanished. Both parties sailed through her last known location looking around in confusion.

“What are you waiting for? You are already Dead.”

The lights came off as she finished her last sentence as a fountain of blood erupted from both figures. Or Murnia would like to imagine how it would go as the golems moved back to their individual stations.

Murnia took the time to check over her aspect once again.

“Aspect.”

Aspect: Battlemaid

(35%)

Effect: Increase in essence capacity while fortifying all traits which include but is not limited to physical toughness/endurance, mental endurance, and mana.

Perks:

Flawless Cleaner (Tier 2): When activated anything you categorize as ‘dirty’ will be clean. The larger the stain the more essence will be consumed from your body.

Black Blade (Tier 2): When activated cast intangible blades constructed from dark/black mana that can be controlled remotely.

Dark Displacement (Tier 1): When activated allows the user to move through the dark/black magic to another location within their line of sight.

Dark Descent (Passive (Tier 2): User is pulling dark/black essence towards themselves permeating the area around them.

Murnia sucked in a long breath before slowly releasing it. Since she widely began to use her aspect, she could feel dark essence and mana more closely than before. Her body always had an inclination for it, but this really brought the talent to the forefront.

It was amazing. The feeling of power she got and her ability to displace hopping from point to point completely altered her fighting style. The raw essence that it used up however would not allow her to last long but with her passive Dark Descent she always had a steady supply surrounding her.

Murnia thought about her Young Lord and the information that when she broke into tier 5, she would be able to choose a second aspect. She looked forward to the days to come.

*

Ronwick watch the sparks fly from as his twin battle Alex in the distance. Yet his mind was elsewhere. He thought back to the days were he would struggle to protect her and provide for them. Then they met Alex and their lives got a little bit easier but still hard in reality. It wasn’t until they were saved by the Young Lord that their lives truly began to change. Having a fully belly constantly can do a lot to change a person. Ronwick had changed.

That was the first step into doing something about it. Acknowledging the fact. He had become lazy. Food was provided and he had no need to scavenge for it. Training was given dulling his senses to the harshness of reality. Nothing was free. That was the first lesson taught to him after he stole a bread and was beaten like a dog.

If we wanted strength Ronwick would have to take it. His Aspect: the Soldier one of the only none special aspects the members of the Slight Hands had received. Granted Ivy and Nick received Aspect: Mage as most of the mages Ronwick new of did but that didn’t count to him as they weren’t frontline fighters.

Ronwick had grown weak. Not physically as he always knew he was weak. His high mental defense built as a child had crumbled in the face of comfort. This would change. He would change. He turned away from the battle and unsheathe his blades as he looked at the figures in front of him. His entire squad would be fighting him. They were the rogues of the army the ones who remain hardheaded as some may call it. Just like Ronwick.