by Dante King
A grin tugged at my face as Kegohr swung his mace down on Vesma’s magic shield with all his might. His weapon cracked off the Flame Shield with an echoing report. Vesma winced at the blow, backed off, and narrowed her eyes as she poured more Vigor into her defensive wall.
Veltai joined the fray with her blurring nunchucks. Flashes of fire from the magic shield held off her barrage of blows, but it wouldn’t be long before the combined might of Kegohr and Veltai broke through Vesma’s defenses.
But Mahrai only needed a few more seconds.
She slammed her quarterstaff into the sand. Dirt whirled up into a tiny tornado at the touch of her Vigor before it wrapped itself into a vaguely humanoid figure. The Greater Stone Golem reared its head as the last of the sand hardened into granite. Segmented portions of rock looked like a power armor exosuit. The creature stood at seven and a half feet tall, created from raw stone and earth Augmentation.
I knew all too well how difficult the golem was to kill.
Veltai mouthed a curse as she redoubled her attacks on Vesma’s shield. Vesma stomped her foot on the ground, flung her hands wide, and the Flame Shield exploded outward in a howling inferno toward Kegohr and Veltai. In response, they summoned their own Flame Shields to take the brunt of her technique.
Mahrai straightened up, grinning triumphantly as the Greater Stone Golem advanced on Kegohr with heavy, lumbering steps.
“My, that’s impressive,” Faryn murmured. “I’ve never seen anyone raise a golem without the use of a scroll. Where did she learn it?”
“An ill-spent youth,” a familiar voice said.
Kumi slid into the seat beside me, all dark curves and a blue silk robe that left very little to the imagination. The Qihin princess kissed my cheek affectionately and offered me a goblet of wine, but I turned it down with a shake of my head.
“I need to stay sharp,” I said.
“Of course, dear husband,” Kumi said. “Commitments later, I take it?”
“Probably. I’ve heard Xilarion has something special planned for the end of the exhibition.” I turned my attention back to the fight.
Kegohr’s mace crashed into the golem, but the elemental monster parried it with a flick of its forearm and countered with a crushing right hook. Kegohr ducked smoothly under the golem’s attack, caught its leg with a quick backswing blow, and staggered it.
Vesma raced past the golem in a flash of steel and smoldering fire, attacking Veltai with her spear. Veltai batted aside a thrust from the other woman’s weapon, tried to counterattack, and missed.
Mahrai circled around her golem, watched it brawl with Kegohr, and controlled it with small movements of her staff. Kegohr used the head of his mace as a battering ram against the golem. It staggered back a step before slamming both its arms into Kegohr’s chest. The half-ogre was thrown through the air before he struck the ground, skittering a dozen feet before stopping.
With a groan, Kegohr forced himself to stand, his mace stranded a few feet away. He smashed his fists together and activated Spirit of the Wildfire.
“Come on!” he roared as arcane flames coursed over his body.
The golem thundered forward with a huge left punch but missed when Kegohr slipped past it and smashed his own fist into its chest. My eyes widened as the golem shuddered. The unique Wild technique that enhanced Kegohr’s physical strength had always been impressive, but he had somehow managed to tap even deeper into it during the last few months of training.
A flare of fire drew my attention back to the fight between Veltai and Vesma. Veltai empowered her flails with Flame Weapon, turning them into spinning wheels of fire, and trapped Vesma’s spear. Vesma jumped into the air and arced a kick into the side of the other woman’s head. Veltai staggered at the unexpected blow, lost her grip on the opposing spear, and cursed as Vesma blasted her with a large burst of Untamed Torch. Vesma pressed forward, the head of her spear flaring white-hot.
The shaft of Vesma’s spear smacked into Veltai’s ribs, knee, and gut in a rapid flurry of blows. Veltai roared, swung blindly at Vesma, and found nothing but air. Vesma circled easily around the bigger woman’s attack, jammed her spear into the back of Veltai’s knee, and forced her to her knees.
The crowd around us exploded into cheers as Vesma rested the blade of her spear against Veltai’s collarbone. Veltai bowed her head in a sign of defeat before she retreated to the side of the arena to watch the rest of the match.
“Vesma is quite the little eel, isn’t she?” Kumi said.
“She’s come a long way in her travels,” Faryn said. “Veltai is one of our strongest Augmenters, but it’s clear that there’s no substitute for real-life experience.”
“Bring it!” Kegohr’s voice echoed. “Yeah, yeah, yeah! Come on!”
The golem sagged as Kegohr slugged it across the face, delivered another crushing blow into its hip, and tore out a chunk of stone and sand the size of my fist. Mahrai’s face fell, and she sprinted to the back of her golem. She pressed her hands to the golem’s lower back, and a flood of sand rushed up to piece her summoned monster back together. The golem straightened up, punched Kegohr in the gut, and doubled him over.
Vesma, having dealt with her opponent, closed in from behind Kegohr. She jumped into the air and smashed both of her feet into Kegohr’s back. He staggered forward into the golem’s massive arms.
Even with the odds stacked against him, Kegohr wasn’t giving up.
He jammed the golem’s leg, snaked his arms under its armpits, and torqued with every ounce of strength in his huge body. The golem’s feet left the ground in a whirl of dust as Kegohr took the monster down into the sand. Kegohr shifted onto the creature, pinned it down between his thighs, and rained powerful punches on its face as the Spirit of the Wildfire blazed through his fur.
Mahrai stepped up behind him and smashed her staff into the side of his neck. Kegohr flinched, lifted his eyes away from his target, and caught a kick in the gut from Vesma. He grunted and shoved himself into a backward roll. But Mahrai was already a step ahead of him. She jabbed her staff into Kegohr’s ribs with the full force of her body and danced away from a half-hearted swipe. An Untamed Torch propelled Vesma into the air as she reversed her grip on her spear and brought the shaft down onto Kegohr’s back. He floundered in the sand, trying to find his feet, but it was too late.
Vesma thrust the head of her spear toward Kegohr’s head but held back a few inches from his nose. She gave him a little smile and cocked her head. Mahrai came beside him, her staff pressed to his throat while her golem towered over him.
The Spirit of the Wildfire flickered out from around Kegohr, and he inclined his head in the traditional sign of defeat. Vesma grinned and offered her old friend a hand up. Mahrai simply scowled, as though she had been forced to fight as some kind of punishment that was now finally over.
Veltai joined Kegohr a moment later and smacked the sand off his shoulders. They both went and stood beside Vesma and Mahrai, whose golem dissipated into the dusty floor of the arena.
Faryn and Kumi jumped to their feet to add their voices to the roar of the crowd around us. I joined them as fierce pride for all four of my friends surged through my blood. Each and every one of them had come so far since I had landed in the Seven Realms. They had supported me in the beginning of my journey, joined me in hair-raising fights against some of the worst evil I had ever encountered, and always had my back, no matter what.
Could I ask for anything more than that?
Kegohr, Vesma, and Veltai all bowed deeply to Guildmaster Xilarion. Mahrai stood a short distance away, offered a curt nod, then trailed after my friends as they strode over to join us in the stands. Another huge grin split my face as the four of them climbed the barricade around the edge of the arena and sat down on the benches in front of us.
“I can’t believe you outpaced me. Again,” Veltai grumbled to Vesma.
“You rely too much on sheer power,” Vesma countered. “Not enough application of the finer details. But
don’t undersell yourself. You’re scary as all hells to deal with.”
“I remember that golem being bigger!” Kegohr said to Mahrai. “What did you do to it?”
She shrugged. “I sized it down. They said they wanted a show, not a fight.”
“Fair, fair, fair,” Kegohr said. “How did we do, Effin?”
All four of them looked at me expectantly, and I couldn’t help but laugh. A few months ago, the shoe had been on the opposite foot. They had been teaching me, not asking me for a performance review. I slapped Kegohr on the back, bumped fists with Vesma, and just gave Mahrai a smirk.
“Brilliantly,” I told them. “I doubt Flametongue Valley has ever seen a more spectacular exhibition match. I’m damn proud of all of you.”
Faryn brushed my arm. “Guildmaster Xilarion is about to give a speech.”
It took a moment for my friends to settle into their seats, but I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Vesma, Kegohr, Mahrai, Kumi, and Faryn clustered around me. Veltai laid her head on Kegohr’s shoulder and caught her breath. We had come here to put on a show for the people of Flametongue Valley, and the crowd’s energy was enough to convince me that we had succeeded.
“What happens next?” Choshi asked from within the Demure Rebirth Warhammer. “Is it all over?”
Xilarion stepped down into the arena, and a swell of anticipation rolled through me. The guildmaster’s quiet presence stilled the crowd. A proud smile flickered over his face, and his dark eyes sparkled as he surveyed the people. Gray gleamed at his temples, while an ivory-colored band secured the neat ceremonial topknot of his hair. Every inch of him radiated pride, confidence, and hidden power. I had seen him fight in this very stadium a few short months ago, and I knew just how dangerous he was in combat.
“We’re in for a treat,” I said to Choshi.
“What will he do?” Veltai asked.
“He might demonstrate his own power,” Vesma replied. “Nothing inspires confidence in a community like seeing the greatest of Augmenters in action. And it’s been a while since he’s shown just what he’s capable of. He might have even set up a match against some of Clan Wysaro’s own Augmenters.”
“People of Flametongue Valley,” Xilarion said in a clear, loud voice. I wasn’t sure whether he used Augmenting to enhance it, but it was probable. “Thank you for attending our demonstration this fine morning. We, the Radiant Dragon, are proud to call ourselves part of this community. I would like to extend my personal greetings to our distinguished guests, the Wysaro Clan.”
Cheers erupted from the crowd, and the nobles inclined their heads in gratitude at Xilarion’s words. I was surprised at how accepting the farmers, villagers, and other lowborn were at having the Wysaro here. It seemed that many centuries of ruling Flametongue Valley were worth something, even if the clan’s previous leader had attempted to destroy the guild.
Xilarion lifted a hand, and the people quieted instantly. He turned his eyes to us. “We have seen our most powerful warriors demonstrate their mastery of Augmentation. But there is still one bout yet to come. I am pleased to present to you our bravest and most accomplished Masters in Radiant Dragon. Masters Rutmonlir and Faryn.”
Faryn froze beside me, and her face flushed a deep crimson.
I prodded her thigh. “I think that’s your cue.”
Faryn took a deep, steadying breath and rose. My friends parted and gave her access to the arena’s wall. She slid over the edge with effortless grace. Rutmonlir vaulted over the wall and joined Faryn as they strode toward Xilarion in the center of the training grounds.
At almost seven feet tall, Rutmonlir towered over Xilarion and Faryn. Scars peppered his sun-scorched skin, visible beneath a ragged jerkin. He grinned wolfishly through his beard at the crowd. Faryn looked calm and collected, but I knew that special attention from the crowd was the last thing she wanted.
It was one of the personality traits I liked most about her. Faryn was a brilliant teacher, but her humility and willingness to raise up her students rather than claim any of the credit just made her all the more attractive. I smiled as I sat back and waited for Xilarion to speak again.
“You’ve seen our best students matched in a bout to test their abilities,” he said. “But now, they will face the truest test of all. We, the Radiant Dragon, call Ethan Murphy, Kegohr, and Vesma to the arena. They will engage in their final test as Outer Disciples of our guild by fighting myself, Master Faryn, and Master Rutmonlir. If they succeed, they will become Center Disciples.”
Xilarion turned and met my eyes. Kegohr and Vesma gaped at the masters upon the field, and I forced off a wave of trepidation as the weight of the guildmaster’s words sank in.
We were about to square off against Radiant Dragon’s most powerful Augmenters.
Chapter Three
I stood up, buckled the Sundered Heart to my side, and secured the Depthless Dream beside the Demure Rebirth on my back. The crowd roared their approval as I stepped down beside Kegohr and Vesma. The pair sat frozen in fear. Vesma’s gaze darted from the masters below, to me, and back again in a panicked rush. Kegohr shook his head and murmured something to himself.
Their fear was infectious, but I couldn’t let it slow me down.
“We’re up, guys,” I said. “It’s time.”
“We can’t fight against them,” Vesma stammered. “They’re too powerful.”
“It’s Guildmaster Xilarion,” Kegohr added. “We’ve seen him in action. There’s no way we can win.”
I fought off my own nerves and laid a hand on both of their shoulders.
“It’s not like we’re fighting for our lives,” I said firmly. “They’re not going to kill us in front of everyone here. Come on, we’ve fought off tidal wyrms, armies of demons, attacked a fucking castle, and defeated an entire guild before.”
Kegohr shifted uncomfortably. “Sure, but it’s not the same. These are our teachers.”
“Which is exactly why we need to show them what we’ve learned,” I argued. “Think back to the Diamond Coast, or Hyng’ohr. You didn’t even blink when it came to a fight.”
“He’s right,” Kumi said. “This is but a test, not a duel to the death.”
Mahrai rolled her eyes. “Stop being a pair of startled cats.”
Vesma gritted her teeth before springing to her feet. Kegohr stood a moment later, and another flash of pride raced through me. No one wanted to be shown up in front of a huge crowd against their teachers, but they were willing to face their fears and risk losing in front of thousands.
“Besides,” I said, “you’ve both taught me a lot about honor. What’s more honorable than the masters allowing us to showcase our skills with a packed-out arena? Let’s show them what we’re made of.”
Kegohr and Vesma shared a look before they nodded to me.
“Lead the way,” Kegohr said. “We’re right behind you.”
I jumped over the wall, landed on the sandy floor of the arena, and heard the others follow me. Adulation spilled from the audience like a tidal wave as we crossed the training ground. Xilarion, Rutmonlir, and Faryn watched us approach.
“Kegohr, you take Rutmonlir,” I said quietly. “Vesma, you handle Faryn. I’ll do my best to keep Xilarion from ending the battle before it gets started.”
“Do you really think we can do this?” Vesma asked.
“I know you can,” I replied confidently. “Don’t be afraid to go all-out. They’ll be pulling their punches, but it doesn’t mean that we need to. They have the advantage of experience and finer control over Augmenting, so we’ll need to give everything we’ve got.”
“Gods above,” Kegohr muttered. “Have you even seen Rutmonlir? They say he’s not a Wild, but he must have some monstrous blood to be so huge.”
“Small fry beside a stone golem,” I countered. “Smarter, sure, but not as strong.”
I wasn’t entirely sure Rutmonlir was weaker than the golem, but I figured a little white lie would help boost Kegohr’s confidence.
> “The sooner we’re done,” Vesma said, “the happier I’ll be.”
Vesma came to stand across from Faryn, and the elf master’s expression tightened. Kegohr settled opposite Rutmonlir while I stood in front of Xilarion and met his pleased expression with a smile.
We bowed to the masters as one.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to test ourselves, Masters,” I said.
Xilarion’s smile widened before he turned to face the crowd again, projecting his voice. “The rules of the match are as follows: each Outer Disciple must retain the ability to fight after three minutes of combat. Augmentation, martial prowess, and weapon skills are all permitted. At the sound of the gong, the hourglass will turn, and the bout shall begin.”
“And if we lose?” Kegohr asked.
“Then you’ll stay as Outer Disciples,” Rutmonlir said.
“Forever?” Vesma asked, her mouth gaping.
Rutmonlir grinned. “You scared, missy?”
“Hardly.” All sign of fear had fled from Vesma, and her jaw hardened in determination.
Fire blazed over Kegohr’s fur as he set his shoulders and met the beastmaster’s mocking gaze. Vesma spun her spear, tested the weight, and held it close to her side. I unsheathed the Sundered Heart and lifted the Depthless Dream from its harness on my back.
“We didn’t sit through your bloody classes to remain Outer Disciples,” Kegohr said before adding, “respectfully, Master.”
Rutmonlir bellowed. “You’ve got a lot of spirit, don’t you?” He glanced over my harness. “You’re keeping the leather in good condition.”
I inclined my head. “It’s perfect, Master. It’ll help us kick your asses.” He had made the harness for me after we had returned from Hyng’ohr. I smiled at him. “Respectfully, Master,” I added.
Rutmonlir laughed. “You bunch have made a name for yourselves outside the guild. It’s time you showed the people of Flametongue Valley exactly why.”
“Best of luck,” Faryn said to Vesma.
