Chapter 114 - Achilles

"Lord Staxius Haggard, though it's unbecoming for a lady such as I to lay n.a.k.e.d before thy lordship – may I humbly ask for any sort of attire," she still knelt, Staxius paid no heed. The attention changed to the outside, dawn approached fast. "Achilles, there isn't a need for you to speak in such a formal tone. I'm but your companion now, a team is built on trust and not hierarchy. Thus, I'd humbly ask you to drop the courtesy." The new master threw her a black-hood smothered with blood. "Bear with it for a while longer, acquiring attire at this moment might be a problem." His eyes remained on the road; the rain stopped minutes ago. It was as if he waited, waited for something or someone; an anxious feeling whelmed him. To his statement, Achilles quickly looked around and spoke, "aren't we inside someone's domicile? Am I wrong to assume said person doesn't have any means of clothing?" her eyes squinted in doubt. "Do as you wish, head upstairs, there may be some clothes laying around." He replied nonchalantly, the footsteps quickly climbed up the stairs. "-please make it inconspicuous," he shouted, to which she replied with, "no worries."

A few minutes past, she climbed back down. The door was left wide open, the blood inside had vanished, Staxius was nowhere to be seen. In this manner, the new ally rushed outside to be baffled by the new world she stepped into. The way the roads were made, how masterful some of the houses were crafted. Flying vehicles up above, she engulfed herself in amazement. "Over here," he spoke, Staxius leaned on Void. While she changed, the car got parked beside the house in a tight yard, almost like an alleyway leading to the back garden. "Lordship, am I to assume this thing is thine?" her quick pace lessened, the sight of Void had the same effect on her. "I must say, the way you speak is slowly changing; the archaic nature fades." The door opened, "if you say so," she let a smile slip.

This was the first time Staxius fully saw Achilles. Before, the light blocked his vision, but now, as the sun rose steadily, it became clearer to see how she looked. Her hair was of a dirty blond, the complexion white but not as pale as Eira. A slight tan made it more distinguishable, her face nicely shaped. Her eyes lit of a hazel color. The clothing she wore was an exact copy of what Staxius had. Checkered pants with a long-sleeved shirt. They practically twinned, "I sort of understand why people would think you're a boy," he entered and waited for her to join him. "I strongly disagree," she quickly grasped her surroundings, "-clothes made for men are usually better suited for combat. The liberty of movement as opposed to dresses, spare me," her tone always had a bitterness to it. It pierced slightly but the tone never faltered, it remained monotonous with small intonations when needed.

The car turned on and headed into town. Claireville academy was the destination, never mind the fact that he has slain people on his night out. The tournament was set for tomorrow. Today was the last day he had to train with Eira. The scenery changed and so did the look on Achilles's face. Fascination, it never left – her eyes always glittered. "We've arrived," they passed the gate and parked near the office building. "Arrived at where?" she turned and faced Staxius who remained calm. "Arrival at the place where I'm to fight tomorrow. We've got much to discuss, however, for today and tomorrow – you shall follow me as if you were my shadow. Ask no question unless necessary." He paused and thought, "-never mind that, ask anything you want. I did bring you from another realm; here the use of magic is available to all. Not just for gods only, and please don't try and fight anyone unless I give the order. You are my shield and sword, but don't be aggressive, people here are on edge." He got out and so did she, their walk continued to the stadium.

Meanwhile, all this happened, Avon still shadowed one of the guards who ran away. He ran to the south-east. A good distance away, inside a rocky plain. The terrain changed drastically from urban and civilized to dense forest. It followed with a small swamp and arrived at a secluded area. No living being could be sensed from miles on end. Secluded was an understatement, however, the man continued to walk as if it were his playground. Hours onto hours, he walked and walked, till a strange red symbol engraved on a tree trunk caught his attention. A quick press onto said symbol revealed a hidden trapdoor. It was located just before a massive cliff, amidst a plethora of thorny and potentially poisonous plants. 'This is where the hideout is,' Avon returned to Staxius.

Also, concurrently in the capital, the quest about the search and rescue didn't grow in popularity. People were aloof to the fact that someone could have died due to the dark-guilds. Sadly, the adventurers didn't want to risk endangering their family over some quest. The underground guilds had a far deeper reach than anyone could ever imagine. Even if anyone were to set off to Claireville Academy, it wouldn't be worth the effort. The ranking for said quest was a tier was only a few individuals could participate. Tier five, otherwise known as Ruby rank; a rank just above Fenrir's. Melisa had her hands full with updating the noticeboard, Diane being herself decided to not let anyone take the [Search & Rescue] task. She firmly stood behind the fact that only tier five adventurers should be allowed to set off. A part of tier-six adventurers tried to undertake said challenge. However, their frivolous attempts were shut without arguments.

Time went on without fail, the capital strolled through as if nothing happened. Claireville academy was where the activity buzzed. The anticipation for the two versus two tournament made itself known. Five teams were to test their might against each other. It was all confusing, the tournament instead of being a normal elimination match between teams turned into a point-based game. Seeing one of the teams had to drop out due to unforeseen turn of events. Five teams were left to battle each one out.

The tournament was as followed; five teams with each one having three chances at being defeated. All started with five points – the duels were picked. It didn't matter if a team fought three times in a row or never fought, it was all random. This was the way how the Academy avoided any false claims over foul play. With three points at their disposal, the team who won a match was transferred over a point from the team they defeated. In total, fifteen points were distributed amidst the combatants. If at any time during the tournament a team reached zero, they would be eliminated without question. It was possible for a team to win all their matches and claim all fifteen points. In the more likely event of the points being spread out evenly across; the team with the lowest point would be eliminated at the end of the day.

This would leave only four teams to battle it out in a standard tournament setting. All this information was made available via pamphlets the student council distributed across town. A point game that could decide a winner and end it. This setting was unique to Claireville academy. It was a statement, a challenge if you will. A challenge for the participants to fight with a purpose; defeating all the teams. Not by luck, but with skill, thus why each was awarded three-points. Seeing as having five teams compete would be too long and rather boring. The main arena was divided into two halves' where four teams could battle out without breaks. One duo had to be left out but tis was just fate. Some called it luck while others might have hated it. But at the end of the day, the one who fought was decided by fate. One might never step on the battlefield until one team is eliminated. It was a fair game, a fight to the death.

With that in mind, Staxius sparred and taught Eira a few tricks and tips when it came to combat. They fought till noon; she didn't want to stop but Staxius replied with no. That point-setting was a test of endurance as well as mana conservation. Not only did it test how strong the participants were but also how ingenious they could be. Wit and strength, polar opposites when on the battlefield but if united; its wrath could not be quelled. On looking at the training, Achilles and Ysmay. They say a few seats apart, the latter seemed on edge while the former watched intently. She observed how her master fought and portraited himself. They stopped, Eira remained adamant about continuing to fight. Having had enough, Staxius pointed to his new companion and called. She stood and vanished, the speed at which she moved left dent marks on whence she stood.

"You've summoned me?" she stepped inside with her clothes matching. "Father, who's this?" Eira watched carefully, the sight of a pretty lady by his side triggered a lot of red alarms. "Calm the animosity," Staxius spoke, "-this here is Achilles, a new friend as well as my comrade in battle." She nodded with a cold gaze. "Achilles, meet my daughter, Eira," he smiled. Both ladies watched with dead stares, "now, now," he stepped into the line of fire. "Eira, I want you to burn this image into your head. I'll show you the final lightning strike stance," he added confidently. "What do you mean final stance," she was flabbergasted, "- you never use aunt Alyson's stance now do you?" her eyes remained confused.

"Yes," he agreed, "-there's a reason why I don't use it. That stance is too powerful to use and not to mention your aunt's signature move. I didn't want to copy her, for the way for the sword is a way to express yourself." He walked over and grabbed a simple-looking steel weapon. "I shall use this as demonstration," he stepped directly in front of Achilles. "Father, didn't you say that using that move was too powerful?" Eira's sharpness never ceased to amaze. "Yes, but don't underestimate the lady who stands before me. I don't choose my partners lightly,' he got into the stance. At first glance, it looked similar but was, in fact, a whole other move. It was inspired by Eira when she tried to use a shadow-element variant long ago. However, it didn't work out as she hoped. Mastering that variant was difficult but she surmounted her own limitations. What Staxius showed her on that day wasn't anything she had ever seen. A move he refined and mastered to the point of perfection.

The body slowly lowered to the floor, he bent forward. A mist emanated from his feet, *Shadow Element: Lightning strike,* instantly, the force of his feet sufficed to crack the ground. It looked like an arrow made out of the shadow, it headed straight for Achilles who stood without a care in the world. Eira thought that the girl would die even if she tried dodging. A faint sound of metal breaking followed by a massive explosion. The smoke cleared, she stood without any injury, Staxius's right arm, as well as a portion of his chest, blew right off. "Damn, I didn't expect the move to deflect partly," he turned around with blood dripping. "Achilles," he spoke, "-you truly are a hero aren't you," he smiled. For a second, her face turned gloomy; the sight of him in pieces made her guilty.

"Don't make that face," he added casually, "-I'm heir to the god of death. Each fatal wound makes me stronger," the body regenerated itself. "How can you be anymore reckless," Eira spoke while her face froze into a state of perpetual fear. "Don't worry about your old man. I'm immortal and for my companion here, she's invincible," he pulled out his tongue. "Unbelievable," she pouted, "-as if one of you wasn't enough. You had to go and find someone who has god level talents."