' Why must we play nice with these ... these ' His digits curled around the chicken leg he was eating, the plate his food sat on absolutely overflowing with food as soft chatter ran through the yarls court.
" Steel your emotions boy... you're drawing attention you don't need " Eyvind, whom had plopped himself down right next to Tyr, whispered, placing a gently hand on the young man's forearm whom shook visibly at the contact.
A dark look swelled behind his brown orbs, his childish face rising to meet the haggard looking old man whom had accompanied him and his teacher since they left the village. " I don't much like it either, but sometimes you have to put in your big boy pants and move beyond simple feeling... the world doesn't care about your feelings boy... the sooner you realise that the better "
Eyvind gave a solemn nod to the child before reaching to the platters of meats piled high upon the large table everyone sat at. At the end of the table sat the jarl, Arvernus and the yarls children along with his wives nearby. Everyone else was scattered about the table not in any particular order, Tyr and eyvind themselves sat five people down from Arvernus, were regarded somewhat suspiciously by those about at their mere presence. Then there was also the strange platinum haired girl staring at them not so subtly from the side of the jarls son.
' Can she stop staring ' Tyr grunted and turned away, choosing instead to study the grizzled men that occupied the table. ' Animals the lot of them'
He strained an ear to listen to his teacher whom the jarl seemed intent on deciphering information from. And he was ashamed to admit he too was interested.
" Tell us about this land of yours my friend ... I want to know .. the land this foreigner comes from " Unlike many others that called Ard skellig home, he wasn't so racist as to alienate a man and formidable warrior, instead asking earnestly about this man's home.
" Couldn't be much " Cerys grunted under her breath at her father's side, only to relieve a harsh glare from her father before sulking and focusing on her food.
" Hm ... oh... it was ... for a long time a rather turbulent land full of suffering when the realms lord ... went missing " Arvernus grunted, adjusting himself as he ate a rather large prawn Crach was sure wasn't apart of the banquet yet couldn't quite know where it came from. " The King and Queen went missing and left their children to war amongst themselves for the throne.. infact as long as you met certain prerequisites... many could have vied for the throne "
" Youe king and Queen went missing ... how does such a thing even occur " Hjalmar grunted, looking to the small girl sitting to his right with a complicated stare.
" As easily as a ship goes missing in a storm... it's much simpler than you think boy " Crach grunted, before interlacing his hands and regarding Arvernus with a long stare. " I take it the positions have been filled ... "
" Quite readily.. I'm afraid... the turmoil has been long since settled. But during my times, when I was neither lord nor had any titles ... I was a warrior first and foremost ... " Arvernus waved his hands slightly. " I was a soldier in the kings armies before I found myself in service to the Carian family, and when I was tasked with fighting in the name of Caria ... I found myself in battle against the strongest of the lands .. I slew them ... one by one .. until"
They watched him go quiet no need to finish what he had said as they all understood the implications.
" So you've been in many a battle my friend ... tell me ... what was your greatest foe ... " Crach asked, shifting slightly, it wasn't often you heard war stories, especially some as grand as what he suspected might come from the man he was sitting across from.
" Ah ... well then... there was .. three ... I will tell of one ... she looks ... quite abit like your daughter actually... " Arvernus gestured to Cerys at her father's side. " Just ... more complete than Malenia ever was ... here "
He reached into a pouch on his waist and withdrew a handful of shining dust, glinstone dust." Instead of my word ... let me show you ..this Is abit of magic I have picked up from Caria academy, in much the same way I was shown story... let me show you one of mine own"
" Oh .. verywell then ... " Crach expected much, grand theatrics or strange incantations, what he didn't expect was a simple parting of the man's lips to produce an obnoxious amount of dust that spread across the table in a thick iridescent cloud of light, said cloud consuming their sight, muting their hearing and stilling their feeling.
And only when it cleared, did Crach realise that he hadn't been swallowed by a cloud, but transported to what he could only assume to be a realm of memory.
....
They all stood, rooted in place as they as a group witnessed the events unfold. As little more than translucent hallucinations, they could see ecahother just barely as no sound but their own chatter alerted them.
" Bloody hells what is this " Eyvind grasped Tyr's shoulder tightly as they stood in what could only be described as a garden at the base of a tree larger than any they had ever seen.
" Caria .. I assume " Not far off, after steadying himself after the shaking his mind had endured after being brought to this strange thought form, Crach stood tall and proud as he studied the massive tree roots rising around them, only to be drawn to the strange human looking effigy marring the roots surface. Cerys stood at his side, confused and concerned about the nature of magic they had been subject to.
" Close ... but no ... this is the haligtree ... one of the queens children's creations... where I battled another ... a child of the kings cursed by rot at birth " Sauntering into existence much the same way they had, Arvernous quickly garnered their attention by pointing at a figure sitting far off, one that none of them had noticed.
She was as ethereal as she was alien to them, sitting on a lone chair amidst the field of flowers, with a golden helm and prosthesis at her golden tipped feet.
" By the kind mother .. she's disabled .. what kind of affliction could do this " Crach cursed as he studied the woman closer, and felt fury burn as he noticed the subtle resemblance she held to his own daughter. She had no eyes and no arm, her entire body seemed to he slowly but surely breaking apart.
" Malenia was cursed at birth by a terrible affliction.. the scarlet rot... am incurable disease that swelled within her ... it was ... believed ... to be the will of an outer god... I'm not particularly inclined to deny it " Arvernus drew everyone's attention to a second arrival in the memory, shorter than he was now, he wore a simple set of Carian knight's armour, moonveil in hand as he strode comfortably up to the flower covered hill.
" You're not ... by the mother you're not planning to fight that frail woman are you " Whatever respect Crach felt blooming for the man was smother as he turned to the towering individual, only to pause at the harsh stare the man gave the memory of the woman.
" That woman is anything but frail ... I can assure you "
They watched as the man of memory came to a stand still at the centre of the field, and only then did the woman stutter and seemingly animate to life. As she leant over slightly.
" I dreamt for so long ... " Her voice carried and many a man felt themselves swoon. Whilst Cerys stared, mystified by the obviously and quite terrifyingly ... adept woman.
" My flesh was dull gold and my blood rotted " She reached down and grabbed her arm from the floor, sliding the prosthesis in place before reaching down to her Valkyrie like helm. "Corpse after corpse left in my wake "
" As I awaited his return " To the shock and startled gasps of the man and women of the yarls corpse, she rose to a hight far taller than they could ever have imagined.
" By the mother she's about as tall as you" It was only then that Crach noticed that Arvernous in the memory was significantly shorter than the version of him standing at his side.
" I have only grown this tall as of recently ... I was still ... young ... back then" He explained the stark height difference with a shrug of his shoulders. " And now it begins "
" heed my words " They turned back to the woman whose arm shifted as if it were real.
" I am malenia ... blade of miquella ... and I have never known defeat "
Whatever weakness they had perceived died a vicious death as soon as the battle began. As the woman tore across the field and delivered a single strike that caused the air to visibly shutter at the strength of it.
" BY THE GODS " She slashed forward In a thunderous strike so fast many men felt their hearts skip a beat, terrified immediately by the sheer strength as they watched Arvernous and Malenia began a terrifying and inhumane expression of swordplay none of them had ever experienced.
They danced around eachother, striking with speed and finesse befitting that of a fine dance.
" It's..m " Tyr watched, awed by the sheer strength displayed, as moonveil clashed with prosthesis in a spray of sparks, the two cutting the flowers apart with each strike, each sweep.
" Beautiful " Eyvind felt his legs go week as Malenia jumped up and thrust forward, almost suspecting Arvernus at the waist, yet was saved by bringing his blade up and diverting the strike to the side, an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object in a shower of sparks.
Awed as they were, they were equally terrified, horrified by the inhumane strength. The leaps into the air as the two shadows they could barely believe were people moved faster than their eyes could properly perceive.
Just when they thought they had seen enough, when their hearts hammered in their chests, when they could no longer deny the sheer oppressive power the two mighty warriors in the memory held, Malenia did something that would forever mar their memories. ... she jumped into the air. And to the shock of everyone watching, became suspended for several seconds as her arm slung back.
Even the arvernus of memory seemed confused, and then she fell, rotating on several axis as her arm moved a blur even to him, several slashes on a single visible movement, tearing at air and flesh. It was a miracle he survived the three complete steps of the waterfowl dance, before he barely managed to used bloodhound step to escape the last of the strikes, bloodied ... wounded.
" How did you ever survive that " Crach had to subtly hold his son for support, never in his life had he seen such fine beauty, such strength on another woman ... he was a man in love, and heartbroken by the fact she was doubtlessly ... dead.
" Luck ... and nothing else " To their shock, The memory of Arvernus rose, his blooded form standing tall as he gripped moonveil tighter, and blitzed towards Malenia agin after drinking some kind of flask.
' This goes beyond mere strength ' Hjalmar thought internally, amazing and as terrified as his father, watching with the platinum haired girl at his side as their began their clash in earnest once more. Slashes left and right, dancing around eachother more a lovers quarrel than a foe. Their swords sung their beautiful song, the wind carried the hum of their feelings as they cut violent strikes through the air... and to their shock and horror, Malenia bounced up into the air a second time.
She did it again, and yet ... that was not all. As they turned to the gallivant and powerful, even resiliant Arvernous whom also, much to their shock and not so hidden awe, did something that they would forever remember.
He too with a single hop, leapt into the air, and reached back slightly in the same pose this demon of a warriors woman was.
" NO WAY " Tyr cried out in shock as the two warriors touched a single foot down before lurching at eachother in a show of speed and bladework the likes the yarl and his men couldn't even begin to imagine.
A flurry of white streaks surrounded the two blurs, sparks flew as the two warriors collided like great storms. Metal screamed and the wind carried. And yet they couldn't tear their eyes away as Arvernous, as if he was possessed by the spirit of Malenia herself, mimicked and performed her waterfowl dance the exact moment she was. Their blades striking eachother in unison, each cut appearing the same on another. Each slash slicing eachothers arms and legs, threatening to spill eachothers guts before they finished their flurry with a last stroke that made the air cry.
And once more did they rise, Arvernous whose eyes were hidden below the Carian knight's helm, and the malformed Malenia, regarding eachother with silent respect before they continued their battle in earnest.
It was somewhere between the seventh perceived hour of the clash that Cerys became to idolise Malenia and vowed to honour her skill as best she could, and the next passing hour that Crach and his men realised that perhaps, Arvernous could have verywell have slain every single one of them back there in his court chambers. As several more waterfowl dances collided together, when it became visible that Malenia was slowly and surely losing the uperhand as Arvernous predicted, learnt and perfectly mimicked her moves ... that she was losing.
" It took no less than twelve constant hours of battle for one of us to fall ... and before she fell, she earnt my undying respect as a warrior " As the scene seemed to shift and blur. With Malenia seemingly collapsing upon the ground, Arvernus dispelled the memory displaying glint cloud, not wishing for then to see the rot goddess. That was something more private. Something they needn't know.
Crach blinked harshly at the sudden returning of his faculties, once more deposited before his table of food, having spent what felt like hours in that... memory, only to find the food at the table still warm, as if no more than seconds had passed.
The glintstone cloud itself sucked back into Arvernus's hand as if dragged by gravity itself, which he tucked neatly back into his satchel, and simply resumed eating as if he had just bequeathed unto them the sight of a battle they would never in their mortal lives forget.
" How can you eat so easily after that ... that woman ... dont you feel anything" Cerys hissed, both fearfully respectful of the man whom had slain her new idol, and hateful for doing that one thing.
" I feel ... hungry... she was a warrior of peerless strength yes. And she fell, the food is hot, the dead are cold ... nothing changes, except for my mood ... as I eat " And so he reached down and to the chagrin of Cerys, pulled a steaming prawn from the satchel, and ate it with a slow almost purposeful blink.
Tyr sat still five people down, slowly turning his head like grinding concrete to stare at his master with newfoumd humility and respect, as were many of the other men at the table. ' He beat .. that woman ... he's.. '
' Beyond anything I've ever met ' Eyvind finished his own similar thoughts, shivering slightly as a put of realisation slowly formed in his stomach, as he turned a slowly contemplative stare at Tyr. ' Will he teach you ... much the same as he has ... will you become like him ... a warrior of peerless strength'
" My lands were perpetuated by a single rule... the rule of strength. I have not reached such station with ... notations such as weakness " Arvernus hissed slowly as a slow, uncomfortable silence encapsulated the table. They couldn't be sure that what they had seen had been little more than a fabrication, an intricate weaving of illusion, and a few of them did hold those reservations. But the wise among them understood, and feared.
" I ... would have a room prepared for you and your group ... would you accept " Crach was one of those whom saw and understood true strength, and felt himself humbled in the face of a warrior he knew he and his men held no chance of beating. A healthy dose of fear compelled him to please the man before him. ' Don't look at me like that Hjalmar... you'll understand one day '
To show respect in the face of oblivion was a simple notion, yet one few of the younger generation could understand. They would stubbornly meet their ends for no reason, only to meet their ruin, and he would not bring oblivion unto his people because of his own hubris and pride.
" I think we shall, as you have agreed to allow Arinbjorn to remain unscathed by your fued with clan Drommund, I see no reason why we should not get along ... previous transgressions not withstanding " Arvernus raised a mug of Ale towards Crach, whom nodded a single time back. " I would forget much the same should you agree to "
" I see we are in agreement " He sent a dangerous side glance to his daughter whom was to speak up, silencing her before she could utter a word. " In the face of new friendship, the halls of Trolde will be open to you... our training grounds markets and rite are at your access... you and your group shall not be assailed by my men... all I ask is the same of you "
" Of course ... " Those at the table remained remarkable silent, the men of Craite aware that should they utter even a single thing they could invite their jarls wrath and the death brought by what they considered to be more beast than man int he form of the towering knight of silver and blue. " Your men, should they not attack the folk of Arinbjorn,and remain respectful to the laws and rights of men, and leave mine own group unharmed, we be unharmed themselves "
" To friendship" Crach smiled slightly, masterfully hiding his relief derived from fear.
" to friendship " Arvernus smirked slightly, visibly as his eyes twinkled a startling blue that made some shift somewhat uncomfortably. " I believe I'm quite looking forward to seeing what direction our friendship shall travel "
" As ... am I "
....
" Father why do you submit so readily to these ... these foerigners " Cerys hissed nit a moment after they entered her father's personal solar, not even waiting for him to round the table as her brother came up to her side " They killed our men, the men who served you faithfully and now ... you are just willing to forget and forgive "
Her rage was palpable, her anger at her father's seemingly easy attitude driving her to confront the man whom raised her.
" Mind your tongue Cerys ... there is now killing about it..." He suddenly snapped the moment his arse touched down upon the seat he occupied behind his desk.
" Then why father" Hjalmar cried, coming forward and slamming his hands upon the desk, agreeing wholeheartedly with his sisters thoughts about the whole situation. Crach didn't respond immediately, rather his cold dark eyes chipped over with cold calculating thought, and stared his children down with a long searching look.
" Let me ... teach you about the fine intricacies of power my dear child ... " He slumped slightly, interlaced his fingers and sat back under the gentle candle light that lit his solar.
" Cerys , Hjalmar ... I have power , power pver men... power in my ability to guide men, to decide the fates of a legion that acts my name. I have strength yes ... but there is a limit to it ... my power ... comes from my station as jarl ... " He spoke softly, trying in earest for them to understand the fine intricacies... of power.
" Calanthe ... has plentiful power... over men because she is Queen of cintra ... and people defer to her status as Queen ... she is a strong warrior yes ... but that strength would fail against a legion of men. No what I and Calanthe have in common is we need men to act our wars" He spoke of their aunt in law, the Queen of Cintra whose grand daughter frequented their halls during the summers.
" Yes father but that ..." Cerys didn't understand, couldn't understand what any of this had to do with how easily that man in their halls had cowed her father.
" I'm not finished " He bit, a cold chortle escaping his lips with a billowing hot breath. And then he continued." Arvernus ... has power ... supposedly over men. I don't know this Caria ... and frankly I don't need to. Because whether he has power over men is irrelevant. His power ... is pure ... unbridled and ferocious. He has power because he is strong. He has power because because he and I are aware he could kill every single person in this fort, these lands and this island ... and nobody could so much as raise a blade against him."
He adjusted himself uncomfortably, the thought of that memory he had been privy to making him shiver even now hours after viewing it.
" Tell me Cerys, when a man is confident enough to stride into the centre of his enemies stronghold with little more than am hanging man and a little boy at his back, boasting the strength that subjugated will by simply existing... what can be done ... but acquiesce." He hated himself for cowering somewhat in Arvernus's face, but he knew deep down he was making the right choice.
" But it could have been a lie father ... a sorcerers trick ... it could have " Cerys, knowing she was grasping at straws at this point yet refusing to give up, froze as the doors to the solar were opened by Crach's Stewart, whom strode in and made his way to his lords side.
" Yes ... " Crach leant up as his Stewart leant down to his ear, and what he heard made his jaw tighten, the tightening of his neck visible before he held his children with a contemplative gaze. "Hm ... I see ... you say it could be a trick, then let us see his strength first hand ... he's in the training grounds with that boy as we speak "
....
" AGAIN " Arvernus roared as he hefted a titanic greatsword over his shoulder and slammed it downward towards the ground where Tyr stood.
' Whyyyy ' His muscles screamed as he leapt out of the downwards strike, the mudded ground he was training being thrown into the air, dusting their observers with thick sludge as Tyr barely managed to dodge out of the way of the strike without being harmed.
' Fuuuuck ' The scattered mud splattered his face as he stumbled back in simple rags, brown trousers stained as his master, the towering giant still wore his blue and silver armour, yet a single spec pf mud didn't so much as touch his ethereal body.
' Why me ' As the giant greatsword sunk into the muds surface, over half a metre into Tue ground as his master wielded it with a single hand, pinning Tyr whose feet became uneven as he fell back.
" Do you know why ... I make you do thus " His masters voice, stifled ever so slowly by his helm, slowly dragged the titanic sword from the ground with absolute and utter ease.
" Why ... what reason other than your amusement " Tyr groaned, he hadn't even been able to raise his sword or clash blades with his master, and yet he was forced to dodge obvious strikes over and over again with no reprieve.
" You words would wound me if I cared for them boy " He hefted the titanic greatsword and pointed it at Tyr, whom gulped as the tip of the blade pointed directly at his face. " I get you to do this because I must "
" The books I got you to read do little more than give you theory, knowledge for your mind to strengthen... but knowledge does nothing for your body nor your arm. Having a keen mind and a strong strike will do nothing in the face of an attack you couldn't hope to dodge... because your thoughts were to slow ... impeding you" He raised the greatsword up once more before dragging it down upon Tyr's position, whom rolled out of the way as the blade slammed down upon his position.
" Instinct... the ability to know when to dodge on instinct ... is what I wish to ingrain on you... do not push for am attack, wait for an opening " He didn't even allow Tyr to make his way to his feet as he proceeded to drag the greatsword to the side and slapped Tyr to the side and up into the air with the flat pf the blade, tossing the boy across the training grounds with bruises already forming on his body, yet he wasn't harmed truly by the strike. " You could've dodged that "
" I teach you this boy ... because it is necessary, your hubris will get you struck by an arrow one day, butchered by a man's sword because you thought yourself stronger ... faster ... I will curb those tendencies " He stood, and allowed Tyr to groan and make his way to his feet, shakily rising despite the pain that roared through his very being.
" Do you intend to fight ... to stand and not learn a single thing... verywell boy ... " Arvernus swung the greatsword in a wide arc. " You will learn this lesson alone... I hope it is not wasted on your stubbornness "
" AAAHHHHHH " Eyvind appeared and swiped a jagged cut down towards the tarnished right shoulder with his great axe. His face red, mudded grounds splitting as thick veins on his head pulsated. " HE'LL NEVER BE ALONE "
" Did my words make you angry " A simple backhand slapped Eyvinds great axe out of the way with little more than a grunt, sending Eyvind skidding back, yet the grizzled warrior remained on his feet despite the cracks that had appeared along his axes surface. " Verywell perhaps he would learn better with you alongside him "
Arvernus gripped the long hilt of the greatsword with his legt hand, two handing the weapon and leaning forward slightly. " A lesson learnt by two is still learnt none the less ... "
" Get up Tyr ... " Eyvind hurled over his shoulder, hoping to by the child a chance to retaliate, only for Eyvind to all but appear beside his left, well inside his defence.
" You're emotions are too rampant " Eyvind barely managed to raise his axe infront of the wide arc that came up front the ground, his arms ringing violently as he was lifted cleanly from his feet and thrown into the air.
The Craite soldiers slowly stopped their drills as Eyvind landed beside their groups, grunting as the portly warrior of the srommund territories picked himself up and threw himself back at Arvernus like a rock at a wall, only to he sent skidding back at their group this time with Tyr landing in much the same fashion.
" What are you gawking at " Eyvind growled as he turned a heated glare at Arvernus, whose grip was as easy as could be as he stood, untouched and unmarred by his and Tyr's efforts. " Together .. Tyr "
" Right ..." And so they threw themselves at Tyr's teacher, facing relentless beat down after beat down, occasionally managing to dodge out of the greatswords path, but far more often than not they would meet the flat of the blade and sent careening through the air like a kicked ball.
As the Craite soldiers watched the pair get up time and time again despite their bodies being obviously battered, the group of Craite slowly disengaged their drills, instead slowly circling the trio as they combat eachother.
' Brave ' One Craite thought as not for the first l, tenth or fiftieth time, Eyvind was caught by the flat of Arvernus's greatsword and tossed into the air. ' Galiant '
Only this time his landing was different, as Eyvind landed, he was quickly fished from the ground by a Craite soldier, whose hand supported his shoulder. This soldier giving Arvernus much the same look Eyvind had earlier, before heating his own weapon amd breaking into a dead sprint at Arvernus much the same way the Drommund warrior had.
This time, watching their brother in arms land much the same way their perceived rival had, seemed to galvanise the surrounding soldiers, stirring their previously bystander like disposition into something more active.
One by one, the men dressed in red and black joined the fray, tyr and eyvind turned into a trio including another Criate soldier, the two... then doubling that and eight. Only for each and everyone to be smacked haphazardly by the flat of Arvernus's blade, tossed high into the air and sent over the heads of their comrades or into the crowd only to get back up and run back at the man only to once more meet the same fate.
This continued, one by one, as they all joined the unstoppable force at the centre of the formation, any sense of training they might have had had been long since discarded by their desire to bring down the man their rivals and comrades had failed to so much as glance a single strike against.
Realising this, as he now stood entrapped by the entire yard of training men whom had rallied together to fight him as one, with even Tyr and Eyvind standing amongst their number, a wave of black and grey standing together in the hopes that just one of them would rove skilled enough or lucky enough to glance a strike.
Seeing this , Arvernus scoffed. ' These mortals and their fickle thoughts, still bravery has its own merits in the face of absolute loss ... hope ... has its benefits'
He stopped as he deflected one soldiers strike and kicked him way, ducking another amd jumping a thirds blade before punching out at his stomach. " Enough ... "
He called, landing on the ground and sweeping his balde in a wide arc to keep everyone away. With that savage sweep, the men seemed to step bacl several paces as to gather themselves for their next attacks" You would all clash blades with me ... how... brave "
" Aye ... We are many things lord Caria .. but corwards are not included... "One Craite soldier, a captain of a squad called out as a chorus of agreement moved through their ranks, earning a soft chuckle from the man at the centre.
" Verywell then ... let this be a lesson learned by all " He simply dropped the greatsword to the ground, his arms spreading apart as they became motes of white ash, vanishing to leave the Tarnished in a simple pair of black leggings, his entire body bare for the world to see.
' By the gods... what has been done to this fellow ' Eyvind shuttered as thousands, tens of thousands of scars interposed every single portion of his body. Woven together like stitching on clothing, completely healed and scarred yet each one told a story, a grand story of battles they would never know.
" I FIGHT NOT AS LORD CARIA " Arvernus cried, his rumbling voice shaking the earth as every muscle across his body visibly contorted, the men of Craite shifting uncomfortably as they bore their weapons upon the warrior standing before them. " Let me take unto you, battle ... battle the way the greatest warrior of my lands did .. WITH STRENGTH ... I STAND HERE AS ARVERNOUS... WARRIOR "
Bent over slightly with his arms stretched outward as if he were going to hug a man, Arvernus smirked viciously ... and sprinted at the nearest man.
" AaaaaAHHHHH " A craite soldier, the one Arvernus was simply splrinting at, screamed with abject terror as the towering man grabbed him in a bear hug and leapt into the air before throwing him down into the sea of soldiers.
' WHAT MANNER OF STRENGTH IS THIS ' Eyvind shuttered as a shockwave went through the men as Arvernus landed, sweeping his arms wide as he struck out with a thick arm, slapping men and weapons aside.
"GET HIM " One cried and struck with his blade, drawing the thinnest of cuts along Arvernus's outstretched arm before he was grabbed, lifted by his helm and used as a flail to attack his own brethren.
It was something ferocious, something humbling watching a towering giant sweep through men like a maiden cleaning the ground, seeing men tossed into the air in dozens only to he dragged down by the man whom seemed to defy gravity on a whim.
" RAAAAAGH " A thunderous shockwave caused the air to shake and the ground to loosen, before Arvernus simply slammed his closed fists down onto the ground, sending the men flying with a shockwave that caused the very air in the lungs to be sucked out.
One shockwave tossed them back, a second threw them into the air and a third had men passing out in dozens.
Eyvind himself barely fared little better, his head hammering and eyes flickering from side to side in confusion, his body physically shaking as it seemed to realised the sheer gap between them even if his mind did not.
Tyr, despite being the youngest of all, stood tall in the face of the man tearing through them like a hot knife through butter, his lips parting as he let out a ferocious cry and rushed at Arvernus's back, blade raised and poised for a downward arc upon his teachers bare flesh.
He raised his weapon as Arvernus was mid sweep of a soldier, and his longsword smacked uselessly at Arvernus's outstretched arm , not even drawing blood... and the world froze.
He watched, his swollen triumph freezing like a cold glacier, as Arvernus simply dropped the Craite soldier he was about to hurl at another group. Turning to face the eleven year old boy with a near glowing stare, his eyes wide and unblinking as he stared down at his squire.
" So you have landed your first strike boy " The few cuts he had gained from his scuffle, shrugging off the damage to simply grab at men, began to release subtle mists of steam into the air as they closed at a visible rate, leaving nothing but unmarred flesh.
Arvernus lowered himself down to the boys eye level, as a suffocating presence semeed to rob the world around of light, a thick mist escaping Arvernus's lips as he bore down upon the boy " Very well then.... "
It happened in an instant, the kind almost gentle nature of which he had dismantled them bled off of him like a fake skin. " I have given you ... courtesy enough .. been gentle enough .. it appears I was mistaken to do so .. since you're all so confident "
" Allow me to disperse your hopes " Before Tyr could so much as pull his sword back, Arvernus's hand latched onto his face, and the next thing he knew, he was unconscious on the dirt below Arvernus's feet, and Arvernus moved on like a comet to slam Into the men he sought to thoroughly humble.
....
He stood, centred within a groaning pile of men layered ontop of eachother. As Hjalmar, Crach and Creys slowly blinked at their fallen soldiers, whom despite their disappointment, slowly picked themselves up from the ground that they played upon ... thoroughly humbled.
" And yet none of you even attempted to dodge " A burst of white ash re-equipped his Blue and silver armor, as he turned to face the jarl and his children.
" I hope I have not offended lord jarl... I seem to have... indisposed your men " Arvernus, appearing anything but apologetic, gestured to the fallen men surrounding him, with Tyr and Eyvind somewhere in the pile of groaning men.
" Of course... a lesson learned is better learned in the training grounds than on the field of battle " Crach spoke from the balcony he and his children had watched the brute dismantle his forces with utter ease upon. " I do however find myself without capable guards ... perhaps "
" I shall stand in for them until they are fit to return to duty, rest assured " Arvernus inclined his head, with Crach readily agreeing to the assurance of protection now that his guards would most definitely spend much of their next week recovering from their ill earned beat down.
" Then I shall see you on the morrow ... " Crach turned as Hjalmar followed, whilst Creys gave him a longer look before turning and following her sibling and father into the fort. " Do you understand now children ... what can be done in the face of such overwhelming might ... I doubt even sorcerers could hope to stop that man ... not even an army "
" I .. I understand father " Cerys whispered, casting one last look at Arvernus whom appeared to be picking up the young boy Tyr and spiritting him away to the boys provided chamber.
' So you do care ... '
...
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