[899.1] – Y03.199.1 – Twilight Days I

[899.1] – Y03.199.1 – Twilight Days I

“They’re fightin’,” Copper said, his eyes squinting as he tried to watch the specks in the distance.

“Why’s he fightin’ foh? He just got married!” Jack said, shaking his head, letting out the kind of disappointed sigh Julia used against him.

“She’s fightin’ too,” Ginny said.

“Yeah, but she’s not a Priest,” Copper said.

“Priests fight,” Ginny replied.

“Yeah, but ‘e’s...”

“He’s a Priest of Lady Arya,” the girl said, tapping her forehead with her index and middle fingers in a botched attempt of the Lady of War’s holy gesture.

The boys tapped their foreheads the same way, relenting to Ginny’s words. He was a Priest of War, after all. They squinted further to check the fights of their Managers, and them.

Them.

‘Where’s all the fire?’ Alex thought, expecting a flash of fire any moment now.

No fire came, but the figures, like ants on the horizon, could feel blood splatter against them.

“Blood after a wedding?” Amira tutted, using the new blade she had been gifted. She barely had to slice the air and the blade struck deep upon her will. It was a strange sensation to strike true at one’s will, even if she could only do so three times per day.

No.

It was crazy enough she could do so once per day, never mind thrice.

“The sign of a long marriage, and our lost innocence,” Dunes joked, distracting her from her ridiculous thought. ‘It’s dangerous to make such jokes when she wields such a blade.’

‘What?’ Merl thought, barely holding her shield as she watched a greater shield cut down the bear before her. The wall known as Nobby swung his axe and the bear lay dead. It was truly that simple when it came to Nobby.

Merl gasped as the bear tore against Nobby’s chest with a mighty claw, and Nobby’s arm raised slowly, far too slowly, before swinging down to completely slice the creature’s arm clean off. The bear howled in pain, and a swing silenced it forever.

Merl had heard again and again about Nobby’s adventures. She had heard how he had come first place in the tournament, but against those who had yet to turn eighteen, it was just a playground for boys and girls. He had fought hydras too, but hydras were... something. They were within her imagination and her imagination was wild, but she understood the unknown was more dangerous than the familiar. With how easily they had dispatched so many hydras, perhaps they were truly weaker than she had expected.

She knew how strong bears were, however. A single bear could slaughter three or four villages with ease. Yet, Nobby stood. Even as two or three bears came to cut him down, their great claws which could kill her with a single swipe, merely pet away at Nobby’s skin, which seemed almost as strong as iron.Thê source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

“Jurot,” a voice called through the air, taking Merl’s thoughts for a moment. “Can I use my smites?”

“Yes,” came the other voice, equally as terrifying as the first.

Whereas Amira and Dunes fought with some semblance of modesty, still understanding the threats of the bears, there were two who seemed to enjoy the oncoming horde of beasts.

Attack - Wraith (Flanking)

D20 + 11 = 17 (6)

Hit!

Mana: 25 -> 24

Ability: Divine Smite

2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 17 (1, 3)(2, 2)

17 damage!

Attack - Wraith (Flanking)

D20 + 11 = 18 (7)

Hit!

Mana: 24 -> 23

Ability: Divine Smite

2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 17 (1, 1)(1, 5)

17 damage!

Onward Soar: 1 -> 0

Attack - Wraith (Flanking)

D20 + 11 = 30 (19)

Hit!

Mana: 23 -> 22

Ability: Divine Smite

4D6 + 4D6 + 9 = 36 (2, 3, 3, 3)(1, 3, 6, 6)

36 damage!

Attack - Wraith (Flanking)

D20 + 11 = 31 (20)

Hit!

Mana: 22 -> 21

Ability: Divine Smite

4D6 + 4D6 + 9 = 28 (1, 1, 1, 3)(4, 4, 4, 5)

28 damage!

Adam reached up to his chest, before he was stopped by Jurot’s hand on his shoulder. “Oh. Right.”

The Chief glanced up towards her granddaughter who had gone out to fight and had come back with nary a hair out of place. She raised her brows expectantly.

The young Merl let out a long sigh and bowed her head. ‘Nobby’s far too strong to let him go. He’ll make a good protector for the village.’

“Executive Adam, about the marriage between Nobby and Merl...” The Chief smiled towards Adam.

“Why are you asking me when you’ve got a needle so close to my heart?” Adam replied playfully, certain they wouldn’t actually try to kill him. “Like I said, I’m not going to force you.”

“When can they marry?”

“What?”

“I think it would be best if it was sooner rather than later, I’m too old!”

Adam smiled wide. “Not a day over twenty five, I’m sure.”

“Oh you!” Chief Merl smiled wider.

“Nobby, what do you think? Do you want to get married?”

Nobby flushed a deep red. “Okay.”

“What do you mean okay? Do you want to get married or not?”

Nobby’s cheeks turned red. “Yes.”

“Merl?”

The younger Merl nodded.

“Don’t just nod, I want to hear an affirmative. This is important. You’ll be getting married, and hopefully lots of children. This is the person you’ll be wanting to spend your life with. Don’t just nod.”

“Yes.”

“There we go.”

“I will inform Nobby of our customs,” Chief Merl said. “He must marry over the river. He should bring a gift too.”

“What kind of gift?”

“A gift of some worth.”

Adam thought for a long moment. ‘He has some magical items. He should probably gift that.’

“Daddy!” called a tiny voice which wished to tackle her father, while her older siblings and younger twin also charged towards their father.

Adam let out a satisfied sigh. ‘I shouldn’t have held back.’

The marriage arc amplifies!

Of course we get a little cameo from our favourite troublemaker too.