[899.5] – Y03.199.5 – Twilight Days V

[899.5] – Y03.199.5 – Twilight Days V

Adam turned, kneeling as he unstrapped his shield. “Jurot,” the half elf called, while Jaygak pressed forward, raising her shield against the red bear, though she didn’t swing her blade, instead keeping it at bay with her sheer strength. She had no idea what Adam was doing, her body reacting in the way of an Iyrman upon sensing the situation around her. Kitool stepped around the beast to try and gather its attention too.

“It’s your turn,” Adam said, having stopped his brother for a moment, holding out the shield. “You’ve got to look cool in front of our sister and our cousins. Don’t lose.”

Jurot almost refused the shield, but the crimson shield gleamed. He unstrapped his shield while Jaygak struggled to keep the red bear at bay, before strapping Strong Shield against his left arm.

“Okay.”

Adam bowed his head, picking up Mighty Roar as Jurot stepped forward. ‘Those bears really took a lot out of me. I haven’t been so tapped out in a while.’

Health: 86

Wraith: 0

Mana: 11

Jurot’s entire body flashed red hot as Jaygak leapt backwards, narrowing missing a giant claw swiping at her. Jurot emerged from behind the Iyrman, slamming into the red bear. The beast wave thinned around them, the Iyrmen around gleefully killing the stragglers, all the while the trio watched the pair of red masses in their heated battle.

As Nirot had slowly cut away at the python, Jurot slowly cut away at the creature. Jurot hid behind his shield, feeling the gaze of so many hopeful children upon his back. Jurot understood the difference between himself and the creature. The creature could strike so much heavier than even his Phantom if it so chose to, and while Jurot was certain he could slay a normal brown bear with a single blow, this was no brown bear. This was a red bear, and even within his rage, he could not outlast the creature.

For once, his best offence was not his great might, his Phantom which could slaughter even Aldish Grandmasters, but his defence. He was swift, his body hearty, and most importantly, his shield was a Greater shield. His defensive capabilities were not quite as great as Adam’s, but he would prove troublesome to most.

‘How does one kill a dragon?’

The creature crashed against the red shield, splattered further red by the creature’s blood. Jurot shrugged off the superficial blows of the creature, swiping against his iron skin. The creature roared and cried as the pair continued their dance of death, Jurot’s body not quite used to the carefulness he was displaying, but it fell into the rhythm he had learnt while growing.

‘One slash at a time.’

Sweat clung to the Iyrman’s body, growing cool for once. Jurot was not used to the feeling, it had been far too long since he had felt it. It wasn’t long after meeting Adam that he stopped feeling the sensation of cold sweat against his skin whilst in battle. Again, his axe cut into the creature, not only against its body, but against its mind.

Sonarot watched as her son fought the red bear, a creature so powerful, she gathered she would be unable to face it alone. Her heart pounded within her chest with a heaviness she hadn’t expected. Her son was fighting, carefully, but he was fighting a creature of great strength. If he won, it was another great story he could share, and if he died, it was another great story they could share.

‘Baktu,’ Sonarot prayed, secretly within her heart. ‘He is to marry soon.’

Tonagek stood beside his sister, his arms crossed. He could feel her worry splash against his skin. He remained silent, watching the great fight of his nephew from beside her, while the children stared from around their feet.

“Smelly daddy! Not fighting any moh?” Jirot shouted out, throwing out her hand, exasperation across her face.

Jarot remained focused on his uncle, who fought carefully, so tiny compared to the red bear. There was something about the scene which spoke deep into the tiny boy’s heart.

Jurot’s body flashed a deep red as his muscles finally flexed, throwing all caution to the wind. Phantom, who had been yet spent, brimmed with great power. He swung with all his strength, and the explosive blow revealed why Phantom had been surrendered from Adam, as the creature’s two halves fell beside him. Jurot felt the great magic slip out of his weapon. It was a blow so deep, so grievous, it would have struck even him unconscious within a fresh rage.

Jurot stood tall, and as his right shoulder raised, he paused. He raised his shield instead, which gleamed with fresh sanguine.

Victory!

XP Gained: +2 000

XP: 700 -> 2 700

‘Damn, he’s so strong,’ Adam thought, watching as Jurot lifted the red bear by himself, his body almost swallowed by the beast.

“You did well,” Sonarot said, embracing her son gently as he returned. She took Adam’s hands within her own. “You fought well too.”

“Obviously I’m impressive, but my brother was so much cooler,” Adam replied, while his children swarmed him.

“Daddy! No magic?” Jirot asked, narrowing her eyes towards him.

“Not this month.”

“Why?”

“It’s the Twilight Month.”

“Why?”

“Oh! Inakan!” Adam picked her up and held her close, peppering her face with kisses.

Inakan smiled shyly, giggling lightly before she began to babble excitedly towards Adam, barely able to form her words in her excitement.

“What about cousin Jurot? He was strong too, wasn’t he?”

“Stwong!” The girl flexed her arms together, puffing out her cheeks.

“That’s right! So strong! So strong!” Adam laughed wildly, while the children gathered around the older four.

“Did you see?” Jaygak asked, nuzzling Kavgak’s nose gently.

“See,” the girl replied, reaching up to poke her sister’s cheek.

“Kaka, good fight,” Katool said, giving her elder sister a thumbs up.

“You will one day fight such creatures too.”

Katool froze in place. She shook her head, her tiny bob jiggling slightly. “No! You can fight, I will stay.”

“You do not wish to become strong?”

“I will become strong here, kaka.”

“Okay,” Kitool reached down to brush along her hair, fixing the girl’s bob.

Lanarot stared expectantly at Jurot, who lifted the girl up, the pair holding one another.

“Did you see that?” Adam asked, smiling wide. “Aren’t you so glad your future husband is so...” Adam flushed slightly upon saying the word, before his smile dropped. He could see the polite smile on Vonda’s lips. “Uh, I mean... it was a shame we had to kill such fine creatures.”

Vonda smiled more politely. “The loss of life is regrettable, but it was a beast wave. I cannot take away such pleasure from you.”

“I’ll try not to take so much pleasure from their deaths...” Adam reached up to rub along his amulet. “I’m sure Lord Sozain won’t mind.”

“You should live according to such ideals.”

“Well, I’m sure it’ll be fine, since we have such a special relationship.”

“The bears are Adam’s by right,” Jurot informed the Iyrmen, who had begun the task of grouping the bodies together to take inventory.

“What can I do with them?”

“Whatever you wish.”

“How many belong to me?”

“Four.”

“Then... I’ll give one to the Iyr, and one to the business, one for my family, and one for the village.”

“There is no need to give any to the Iyr.”

“I know.” Adam smiled, nodding his head to Jurot, who returned a nod of his head.

“I will carry the bear to the village,” Jurot said, lifting the bear up, feeling his muscles ache slightly. His heart continued to pound wildly, feeling the gaze of Pam against him as the young man carried the large bear by himself. ‘I should have killed quicker.’

Just a husband wanting to impress his wife by flexing his muscles.

Even our Jurot can be this cute?