Chương 944: [899.1] - Y03.199.1 - Twilight Days I

"They're fightin'," Copper said, his eyes squinting as he tried to watch the specks in the distance.

"Why's he fightin' foh? He just got married!" Jack said, shaking his head, letting out the kind of disappointed sigh Julia used against him.

"She's fightin' too," Ginny said.

"Yeah, but she's not a Priest," Copper said.

"Priests fight," Ginny replied.

"Yeah, but 'e's…"

"He's a Priest of Lady Arya," the girl said, tapping her forehead with her index and middle fingers in a botched attempt of the Lady of War's holy gesture. The boys tapped their foreheads the same way, relenting to Ginny's words. He was a Priest of War, after all. They squinted further to check the fights of their Managers, and them. Them.

'Where's all the fire?' Alex thought, expecting a flash of fire any moment now. No fire came, but the figures, like ants on the horizon, could feel blood splatter against them.

"Blood after a wedding?" Amira tutted, using the new blade she had been gifted. She barely had to slice the air and the blade struck deep upon her will. It was a strange sensation to strike true at one's will, even if she could only do so three times per day. No. It was crazy enough she could do so once per day, never mind thrice.

"The sign of a long marriage, and our lost innocence," Dunes joked, distracting her from her ridiculous thought.

'It's dangerous to make such jokes when she wields such a blade.'

'What?' Merl thought, barely holding her shield as she watched a greater shield cut down the bear before her. The wall known as Nobby swung his axe and the bear lay dead. It was truly that simple when it came to Nobby. Merl gasped as the bear tore against Nobby's chest with a mighty claw, and Nobby's arm raised slowly, far too slowly, before swinging down to completely slice the creature's arm clean off. The bear howled in pain, and a swing silenced it forever.

Merl had heard again and again about Nobby's adventures. She had heard how he had come first place in the tournament, but against those who had yet to turn eighteen, it was just a playground for boys and girls. He had fought hydras too, but hydras were… something. They were within her imagination and her imagination was wild, but she understood the unknown was more dangerous than the familiar. With how easily they had dispatched so many hydras, perhaps they were truly weaker than she had expected.

She knew how strong bears were, however. A single bear could slaughter three or four villages with ease. Yet, Nobby stood. Even as two or three bears came to cut him down, their great claws which could kill her with a single swipe, merely pet away at Nobby's skin, which seemed almost as strong as iron.

"Jurot," a voice called through the air, taking Merl's thoughts for a moment.

"Can I use my smites?"

"Yes," came the other voice, equally as terrifying as the first. Whereas Amira and Dunes fought with some semblance of modesty, still understanding the threats of the bears, there were two who seemed to enjoy the oncoming horde of beasts. Attack - Wraith (Flanking) D20 + 11 = 17 (6) Hit! Mana: 25 -> 24 Ability: Divine Smite 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 17 (1, 3)(2, 2) 17 damage! Attack - Wraith (Flanking) D20 + 11 = 18 (7) Hit! Mana: 24 -> 23 Ability: Divine Smite 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 17 (1, 1)(1, 5) Stolen story; please report.

17 damage! Onward Soar: 1 -> 0 Attack - Wraith (Flanking) D20 + 11 = 30 (19) Hit! Mana: 23 -> 22 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 4D6 + 9 = 36 (2, 3, 3, 3)(1, 3, 6, 6) 36 damage! Attack - Wraith (Flanking) D20 + 11 = 31 (20) Hit! Mana: 22 -> 21 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 4D6 + 9 = 28 (1, 1, 1, 3)(4, 4, 4, 5) 28 damage! Mana: 21 -> 20 Spell: Shield Magic Save D20 + 6 = 17 (11) Pass!

Defence: 15 -> 20 Health: 91 -> 81 Like a hot knife through butter, but more akin to cold axe through bear, the beasts fell one by one to Adam's axe. Adam raised his shield to block a bear's mighty paw, willing forth his magics to protect himself, though the might of the beast pressed him back.

'Damn, it's really scary to fight without my armour,' Adam thought, leading with his shield, no longer quite as reckless as when he was within his puthral, though the others did not view him quite the same. Adam could feel something slipping away from him as he willed his magic forward, almost as though his magic drew away to an unseen void.

'What was that?' Merl clutched her spear, remaining behind the wall known as Nobby, while skilful weapons brought death to the bears, even the Priest, who should not have stepped forward, was swinging his blade with great might and skill. Victory! XP Gained: +500 XP: 200 -> 700'That much XP?' Adam thought. Mana: 16 HP: 69'Nice,' he thought, glancing down towards the rest of his attire which had taken quite a battering thanks to the bears.

He glanced aside to see Merl was safe and sound within her chain armour and shield, though it was no doubt Nobby's presence which had kept her safe.

"You fought well," Jurot said, nodding his head to Merl, whose spear would peek through from behind Nobby to strike a bear.

"I am not quite as strong as you all," she admitted, glancing to Amira, who wiped her magical blade, the blade sparkling like the night sky. Then her eyes snapped to Dunes' blade, the heavy dwarven blade which had sliced through the bears with ease, though the Priest remained behind.

"You fought well without magical weapons, or magic," Jurot said, his eyes glancing to the side towards Adam.

"Did you cast a spell?"

"I cast Shield to protect me, but I felt something weird."

"Casting magic this month is dangerous," Dunes said, glancing up towards the late afternoon sky.

"Even I hesitate to pray during this month."

"Yeah…" He cleared his throat and glanced towards Merl.

"So what do you think of our Nobby? Isn't he strong?"

"I can't deny it. Watching you all, I understand why we villagers remain within our village."

"It's not a big deal," Adam said, waving his hand almost dismissively.

"Just find someone crazy to make you an Expert in a year, and you'll be almost as strong, especially if you wield Greater Enhanced weapons."

"You make it sound as though it's so easy."

"Well…" Adam glanced to the rest of his companions.

"You're the only one who hasn't done it here." Merl narrowed her eyes towards Adam, who smirked slightly. The half elf had at least worn his helmet, though he revealed the large grin on his face for her.

"Alright, let's go get everyone to bring the bodies back."

"How will we split the bears?"

"We'll split it…" Adam thought for a long moment.

"We'll split it into three. One for the business. One for us as a group. One for the village." Merl furrowed her brows towards Adam, wondering why he chose to split it that way.

'That doesn't make any sense.' Chief Merl held up her hands at the approaching group, her heart beating quickly.

"That was quick!"

"There were only about twelve of them," Adam said, shrugging his shoulders as if it was any less impressive.

"Oh look at you all, you're all torn up," the Chief said, before ushering them to sit so they could be fixed up. Adam reached up to his chest, before he was stopped by Jurot's hand on his shoulder.

"Oh. Right." The Chief glanced up towards her granddaughter who had gone out to fight and had come back with nary a hair out of place. She raised her brows expectantly. The young Merl let out a long sigh and bowed her head.

'Nobby's far too strong to let him go. He'll make a good protector for the village.'

"Executive Adam, about the marriage between Nobby and Merl…" The Chief smiled towards Adam.

"Why are you asking me when you've got a needle so close to my heart?" Adam replied playfully, certain they wouldn't actually try to kill him.

"Like I said, I'm not going to force you."

"When can they marry?"

"What?"

"I think it would be best if it was sooner rather than later, I'm too old!" Adam smiled wide.

"Not a day over twenty five, I'm sure."

"Oh you!" Chief Merl smiled wider.

"Nobby, what do you think? Do you want to get married?" Nobby flushed a deep red.

"Okay."

"What do you mean okay? Do you want to get married or not?" Nobby's cheeks turned red.

"Yes."

"Merl?" The younger Merl nodded.

"Don't just nod, I want to hear an affirmative. This is important. You'll be getting married, and hopefully lots of children. This is the person you'll be wanting to spend your life with. Don't just nod."

"Yes."

"There we go."

"I will inform Nobby of our customs," Chief Merl said.

"He must marry over the river. He should bring a gift too."

"What kind of gift?"

"A gift of some worth." Adam thought for a long moment.

'He has some magical items. He should probably gift that.'

"Daddy!" called a tiny voice which wished to tackle her father, while her older siblings and younger twin also charged towards their father. Adam let out a satisfied sigh.

'I shouldn't have held back.'