"D-Did you just say Irun's here?" he asked more calmly than I'd expected him to, but I knew the only way to explain things was to rip the bandage off quickly. "Yes, he's here. Don't worry, we were both mistaken about him, but I'll let someone else explain that side of things," I said, careful not to use Ardrin or Erumon's names. Bernar looked at me curiously, but after a few moments of scrutiny, he seemed to want to trust me.
"Well, where the hell are they, then?" he finally asked, crossing his arms. "They're training in the forest, but I'll go get them," I said, entering my fourth stage yet again and disappearing from their sight as I leaned into the spaces between.
Within a handful of dashes, I'd found them both on their backs and smouldering from what I could only guess was an intense training session. "Well, it looks like you guys had a good session," I chuckled, pushing the smoke and dust away from my face as much as I could. "We were until this fucking moron decided to try out a new spell in a test of strength, or so he called it," Athar groaned as he rolled over onto his belly to get back up.
"Oi, I told you I wanted to work on it in secret," Irun said in a pained voice. "Not my fault you let it get out of control," Athar groaned again as he rubbed his shoulder. "Work on what spell?" I asked, both amused and confused in equal parts at their discomfort. "Go ahead, shit-ass," Athar's alternate voice spat the insult, causing Irun to sigh.
"I saw the move you did to end Nexis, and I've been trying to replicate something similar with my own mana the last few days. It was impressive to say the least, and I haven't been able to do it yet," Irun admitted bashfully. I raised my eyebrows in surprise at his honesty, but I'd never expected to see him try to imitate something I've done with a different source of mana.
"Well, maybe Bernar can teach you how to do it," I suggested lightly, trying to ease into the fact that he was already here. "Pffft, as if he'd ever look at me without trying to kill me," Irun waved dismissively. "At least it would be a quick death from what Thoma's told me of his skills," Athar chimed in with a shrug, making me snort a little.
"Well, it won't come to that. I've made sure of it," I said, getting a fearful look from Irun in return. "Fuck me. He's here, isn't he?" he asked with no small amount of genuine worry in his eyes. "Yeah, but we'd better get moving if we don't want his patience to run out," I said as lightly as I could. "I get to meet him, too?" Athar asked with more excitement than I expected.
"Yep, and I'm sure you'll love to get to know him and the others as well," I said cheerfully, but I could tell Irun was worried more Synners from Codrean were here as well. "Don't worry. It's just him for now. Let's get moving," I gestured, making sure they followed behind me back to the others.
Within a few minutes, we returned to the training ground, where Bernar still had his arms crossed. It was obvious that my Ysevel and Kalia were explaining things to him, but as soon as Irun broke through the treeline that marked the edge of the training ground, Bernar's eyes fixed on him immediately.
Like I said, give him a chance, I sent my brother, who didn't immediately respond. Instead, he just stood there holding the same expression as before until we reached him. I didn't have to read Irun's mind to know he was nervous, but I was definitely sure of Athar's excitement, as he rushed ahead to shake his hand.
"It's an honor to meet you, Bernar! Thoma's told me a lot about you," he said, tugging at my brother's arm and forcibly gripping his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, too," my brother said, giving me a befuddled glance. "Bernar, this is Athar Wishert. Bastard son of the late King Truls, and a member of The Order of Nightfall's Blade," I said with a gesture to help ease his confusion before moving on to Irun.
The fuck is The Order of Nightfall's Blade? Is that some kind of cult? Bernar sent Ysevel and I. Not quite. It's something he came up with during our time in the Underworld that would give any concurrent missions we take on as a group a way to tell others who we are, I explained as briefly as I could.
Is Kalia a member of this Order? Bernar asked bluntly. Yes, and both your mother and I are also members of The Order, Ysevel chimed in wryly. It's even been made official by my mother as of two days ago, so I would recommend you take it at least somewhat seriously, she continued, getting another raised eyebrow from him.
"Well, if that's the case," he said aloud with a slight sigh. "You already know him, so I don't think introductions need to be made, but for those of you who haven't met him, this is Irun Mothac, former Synner of Codrean and current member of The Order," I said, stepping aside to present Irun to the others.
Those who hadn't met him were only mildly taken aback at the daemonic arm that replaced his human one. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," he said humbly, performing a low bow. "Bernar, I know you and I have some issues to work out, but like with Thoma, I hope you and I can come to an understanding," he said without a single crack or show of nervousness.
Bernar took in a deep breath and walked over to him. "I only have one thing I feel I need to know," he said, his eyes glowing much more brightly than before. "Bernar, wait," I said, but he held up a hand to stop me, which he only ever did to me when he was in absolute control of the situation.
He continued moving toward him at a steady pace and came to a halt just in front of him. Irun, at this point, was nearly a head taller than he was, but in an actual fight, I knew Irun didn't stand a chance.
"I don't have to reiterate whatever Thoma has already said, as there'd be no point in that. The only thing I need to know is whether it was all worth it in the end," he said, immediately throwing a heavy punch aimed at Irun's stomach, who quickly moved to block the attack using his daemonic arm as a shield. A large cloud of dust kicked up from the resulting shockwave, but Irun skidded across the dirt floor of the training ground, never losing his footing.
"Heh, not bad, shitling," Bernar said with a wry grin. "That's all you needed to know?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't throw another one. "Well, I would've liked to pull his head out of his ass myself, but it seems you've already done that. I just wanted to know how much stronger he got because of it," he shrugged. "Fair enough," I said, knowing it was better than the other outcome of this encounter I'd imagined.
"How's the arm?" I asked sarcastically as Irun walked back up to the rest of us. "It's numb, but I'd gladly take ten of those hits over what happened in Pyrdredd," Irun shrugged, making me recall the spell from Nexis that he blocked to save Athar. "I think I'd rather deal with the spells," I chuckled nervously.
I'll explain later, I sent my brother, who nodded his understanding after giving me a confused stare.
"There is something I'd like to know, though," Bernar said after a moment's pause, prompting the rest of us to look at him. "Since Leona will be training under Aurae's tutelage, what about me? Who am I supposed to train with while I'm here?" he asked bluntly, and I immediately felt Kalia's excitement bubbling through our connection.
"I'll train him," she immediately volunteered before I could even react to the sensation. Irun, Athar, Ysevel, and I all stared at her, knowing the kind of training he'd be subjected to. "He looks strong, but I'd first need to assess just how strong through a Davo Dugo Guva," she said in her native language. "A fucking what now?" he asked.
"It's like a trial by combat, but you're not allowed to use spells or mana of any kind, since it was created to be a coming-of-age event for the Iron Plume clan," I explained loosely, knowing it held much more to it than that, not to reveal anything about the Alternates just yet. "Ah, well. I'd love a good challenge. Have you ever lost one?" he asked Kalia, whose toothy grin began to show on her face.
I know that look all too well, I thought.
"Nuh-uh. Me first. I've been waiting for days for them to have recovered enough to really give me their all, and you just got back from Harut," my mother stepped in, matching Kalia's grin. "Fine, but I'll still have to be tested at some point," Bernar gave a relenting sigh as he raised his hands. "There will be time enough for us to test you both, but it's true that I owe Siraye a match first. Thoma, you can be the judge," Kalia said, prompting Ysevel and I to exchange a knowing glance.
Who do you think wins that fight? Ysevel asked me through our connection. I genuinely have no clue, but I'm itching to find out, I sent back with a pair of raised eyebrows as I followed both my mother and Kalia into the training ground.
Witness us, Battle-Brother, Kalia sent me briefly. This is going to be fun, my mother added to Kalia's statement through our connection, having heard the comment. Of course, I said, forming the kataki blade and drawing the one my mother gave me as they both got into their stances.
"Are both of you ready?" I asked, crossing the spines of the blades above my head. "Ready when you are, Kalia," my mother said with a wolfish grin, which Kalia only returned. I could feel, through the Wraith realm's connection, that they were both thinking I was already taking too long.
It made me chuckle.
"Begin!" I shouted, dragging the blades together as I swiped them downward to create a signaling sound for the duel to commence.