Chương 1449: [1358] - Y06.258 - The Peak VIII

The Order were still reeling from the fact that Tagak, who hadn't spoken of his tales, and was assumed to be a random fellow, had somehow managed to face against Deen so well. It was obvious what the Iyrmen were doing, although with Taygak stepping forward, it was less obvious. Unless… One of the younger teens of the Order's eyes fell to the Malawi, who nodded, wanting to see how Taygak fought.

'If he did not mention Tagak, then Taygak must truly be skilled.' However, Taygak was still a teen, so even if she did hold great talent, it wouldn't have bloomed yet. She looked as though she were thirteen to fifteen or so, meaning they couldn't send an actual adult to face her.

"Farah," Hassan called.

"You may spar with the young Taygak of the Iyr."

'Taygak of the Iyr,' Taygak thought, her heart beginning to thunder in her chest, the young woman donning her helmet, while Farah donned the rest of her armour, and her helmet. The young woman hid her pretty face away and unsheathed her blade, the pair wielding their shields too, for they were still young. As the pair stood opposite one another, sweat poured down Farah's face. She was still thirteen, and though she had sparred often, she hadn't faced anyone in a spar like this.

As the bout began, Taygak's entire body sprung forth, like an arrow which had been knocked for too long, and she swung. Farah fell, gasping for air, as the single swing from Taygak forced her to fall under the Iyrman almost immediately. The loss was so sudden, she hadn't realised she was on the floor until she opened her eyes and saw Taygak looming over her.

"Another!" Taygak almost exclaimed, before gathering herself, her heart thundering within her ears.

"Please!" Taher had watched the Gaks carefully, seeing the swordplay which had crippled him for life. The fire of anger burned within his heart, though was overwhelmed by the flame of excitement. Though Laygak had displayed the swordplay, it was not quite as threatening as hers. Tagak, however, held that swordplay, but when Taygak swung the sword… Yes. That was the sword he had seen that day. Taher's back grew slick with sweat, the heat of noonval forced away by the chill that invaded through him.

He had already noted Tagak was quite the powerful Iyrman, having reached the peak of his natural strength, that much was obvious enough by looking at him, and though Taygak seemed of average, middling talent, he understood the half elf's words. Taygak was like Bilal, in the sense that her talent was barely enough to consider to allow her to fight, but there was something else about the two of them, and that was the will behind their blades.

Tagak may have held greater talent than Taygak, but he fought, and when he lost, his heart sunk. Taygak fought, but if she had lost, her heart would not have sunk. It was not just about the will to bring their name history, but something else.

'What are they feeding the children within the Iyr?' Malawi Hassan thought.

"Selina, step forward," Taher called, motioning with his whole hand. Selina was twenty, decent enough for her age, and would be a fair fight, so Taher thought. However, she was also about half a decade Taygak's senior, which lost them face, but since Taygak was so eager to fight, he was certain the Iyr wouldn't mind, and perhaps, would enjoy it thoroughly.

Selina was uncertain why she had to step forward, but did so, already donned in most of her armour, drawing her beautiful blade, beautiful in the way it was well forged. Taygak eyed her up for a moment before muttering something to her brother in their tongue.

"My sister requests that you wear your armour and do not hold back," Laygak said, letting out a soft sigh.

"She wears magical equipment." Selina turned back towards Taher, who nodded, and the young woman went to don the rest of her armour. It wasn't long until she stood opposite Taygak once more, feeling the young woman's pressure upon her shoulders. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"Since young Taygak wields a magical blade, Selina will wield a Basic blade, so that her blade is not damaged," Taher said.

"Okay," Taygak replied, wanting to fight, her heart once more thundering with excitement. There was a vast difference between facing villagers, and facing a warrior of Black Mountain. Yes, some of the warriors within Black Mountain may be not quite as capable as those who typically became legends, but they were well trained, and compared to the villagers, even someone with the same capabilities, there was a gulf of difference between them, like that of a dragon and a wyvern.

As the pair stood opposite one another, they readied themselves for the fight. Taygak inhaled deeply, understanding she was out of her depths, already beginning to feel the lake of around her beginning to draw up her body, her body growing still, threatening to drown her.

'Is she falling under the pressure,' Selina thought, frowning slightly.

"Taygak," Laygak called, noting how tense his sister had become.

"Fight."

"Okay," Taygak replied, and with that, her entire body shifted, moving as she had been taught, to follow orders, and she would follow the orders of her brother dutifully. Almost immediately, the pair clashed, the pair pushing through their limits as they clashed. After the first clash, Selina leapt backwards, her shield ringing as the teen pressed ever forward. Her heart pounded in shock as Taygak forced her backwards.

'What is this?' Selina gathered herself, flexing her muscles, clashing with the young woman, steel ringing against steel, the pair weaving between one another, the swordplay of Black Mountain, refined through generations, some say guided by Lady Arya herself, against the swordplay of the Gak family, a ruined family which remained unknown to Aldland and Aswadasad, save for the name of Flame Brand. The pair continued to clash, far too engulfed in their bout, until a voice cut them off.

"Taygak, withdraw," Laygak called, as Taygak swung her blade, but then leapt backwards, slashing down towards the ground, pulling her elbow back to tuck it towards her side, raising her shield ahead of her. Tagak glanced aside, other Iyrmen joining him, as the young Laygak smiled proudly.

'What are you doing?'

"It is enough," Laygak stated.

"Thank you," Taygak said, sheathing her magical blade, bowing her head respectfully.

"My gratitude," Selina replied, her heart still beating hard within her chest, sweat pouring down her back.

"What are you doing?" Faool whispered as Taygak withdrew to them.

"It is enough," Laygak repeated, smirking slightly, while reaching up to place a hand upon his sister's shoulder.

"You fought well."

"Yes…" Taygak flushed lightly, sitting beside her brother, her entire body tingling. Kitool's eyes fell upon Laygak, who continued to smirk, while Selina returned to her companions, shocked, the bitter flower of defeat blooming within her heart. It wasn't strange to see the Gak family retreating, but this time, it didn't feel quite so bad, since, without a doubt, Taygak had held the upper hand in the bout.

'Aren't they being too rude to the Order?' John thought, his eyes darting between the Order, whose eyes fell upon the group, and then back to the Iyrmen.

'Will they try to pick a fight with me to get their revenge?' Yasha thought, her eyes darting around the Order, nervousness painted on her face.

'I shouldn't have accompanied so many Iyrmen,' Zabir thought, reaching up to rub over his heart lightly.

'I am too old for such antics.' Maharan sipped his pink tea, deciding to remain completely oblivious to the shenanigans. This kind of thing was too much, this was a matter of those paid in gold, not for those paid in copper. Sokikez's eyes fell to the Gaks, who had displayed their prowess so openly. A victory, and two draws, one leaning towards defeat, one leaning towards victory.

She, who had stepped out to make a name for herself, hearing the tale of the hope of the Gaks dashed, could only pray this would not be the last time she would hear the Gak family were on the rise.

'Should I ask for a fight too,' Tanika thought, though she continued to eat the mass of bread before her.

'I should have asked father to bring us to the Order more often.' Adilnur had been fairly certain that Laygak was the least talented of the Iyrmen, yet even he surpassed the likes of Bilal? He held the same colours as the young man, those of hard work, trying to claw their way to the top, but Bilal's colours were brighter. Yet, even then, their Bilal had lost against Laygak, who was of similar age. While Bilal had reached Expert recently, Laygak had long established himself as such.

Laygak was undoubtedly the weakest of his companions, yet, other than perhaps Tagak, among their ages, each of his companions would remain undefeated against an opponent of the same age from Black Mountain.

'We will need to send the children out to gain experience,' Adilnur thought, and yet he sighed, for the Reavers remained a plague upon their land. Later, as Nirot explained her own tale, and spoke of her greatest accomplishment, the older members of Black Mountain felt a greater weight upon their hearts.

'So, this is the Iyr…' Hassan thought, hearing how Nirot, years ago, had faced a giant viper, by herself, and had managed to defeat it.

'Are they all such monsters? Ah… is she not the Mad Dog's granddaughter.' Adilnur could no longer help himself, bursting into laughter at the ridiculousness that was this particular group. He could only wonder what kind of legends they would become in the future, long after he had passed, especially a particular fool of a father.