Chương 22: Chapter 21 - A Duet of Steel

Elias could feel his pulse quicken as he approached from the far side of the clearing. The urgency to push ahead and find Astra's people weighed heavily in his mind, but even with the brush blocking the view Eli was taking no chances and was creeping in with a low crawl underneath the fern cover towards the backside of the clearing. Elias did his best to keep his breathing slow and under control as the tension mounted as they slowly approached their destination from disparate positions.

Eli's nerves tingled as he stretched his senses in all directions. Eli felt as if his whole being was taut as a wire and he slowly worked his way forward keeping a laser focus on the archer on overwatch in the trees above the clearing. When he closed within twenty feet of the clearing his nerves began to ease, before he swore under his breath. Eli could hear the guard shifting in the tree, but couldn't see the man as he glanced up through the fern cover.

Eli settled in waiting for the guard to go back to sleep before he heard another shift followed by a voice." Oi Jasper! Gonna water the bushes, I'll be quick, keep an eye out for Flint." following by a distant, "Aye ye prick!" and a round of quiet laughter. Fuck. Eli's stomached dropped as he grit his teeth, Shit. His thoughts went back to Astra and the worry in her gaze shot through him like an arrow through the heart. She's been through enough tonight, it's time to man up.

Eli turned forward only to hear a thump as the bandit dropped to the ground less than twenty feet away before crossing behind the tree and letting out a small groan as a splashing sound started. Eli popped up onto all fours, but crouched on his knuckles and the balls of his feet to stay below the fern line. Flexing his [Stealth] for all it was worth, Eli ghosted forward with the loping gait of a gorilla knowing he had a window only measured in seconds.

Closing the distance Eli drew his borrowed dagger in a reverse grip, and once he closed his hand around the grip he could feel a familiar tension thrum through his body as the drum beat of adrenaline roared through his veins, his perception of time slowed as he silently flew towards his target. The paradoxical sensation yet again made him feel like he had all the time in the world to line up his strike, but no matter the speed of his thoughts his blade still moved in slow motion as if he was in a dream. Thump.

One heartbeat as he readied his free hand to clap over his target's mouth and nose to stifle any noise. Thump. A second heartbeat as he lined up his blade to pierce through the carotid artery and lance into the windpipe to stop the scream. Thump. A third heartbeat as mouth spread wide into a grim rictus as he clenched his jaw tensing in preparation to strike. Thump.

On the fourth beat the dilation collapsed as Eli wrapped up victim in a flurry of limbs, clapping his hand over their mouth, slipping his dagger into the archer with all the ease of a needle punching through cloth and sheared through the other side with a disturbing ease, like gliding a pair of shears through silk.

A steaming hot spray splashed Elias's face from below as the Archer's lifeblood soaked Eli's face and the trunk before them, but the spray and a few quiet gurgles were the only signs to mark the end of his life. Elias paused holding the man upright for a few seconds until he went limp and gurgles of the man drowning in his own blood ceased before slowly easing the body to the forest floor and wiping his dagger clean on the man's shirt before returning it to the sheath.

Elias paused for a moment listening for any change or sign that the firewatch was alerted before turning and sinking into the brush once more. Eli circled to the side of the tree facing the clearing and poked his spear above the fern line by a couple feet and bobbed it twice, the signal to start the countdown they agreed upon before parting ways, before dropping into a sprinter's stance.

The stance was modified slightly by the spear clutched in his right hand as he dug a couple divots in the soft earth beneath his feet, readying himself with steady and even breaths as the count slowly ticked over in his mind. Eight one thousand, nine one thousand, ten. On that mark, Eli shot forward like an arrow from a bow, racing through the clearing in a series of bounding leaps, as a feeling he was beginning to depend on descended again, slowing his perception of time. Thump.

A shadow detached from beneath a large clump of ferns on the far side of the clearing, streaking forward. Thump. Elias's lungs expanded like a bellow as he took the next stride, his target none the wiser as it extended a wineskin across the fire to its companion with a crooked smile. Thump. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The shadow streaked across the clearing opposite Eli, an eerily silent series of small puffs of disturbed earth tossed into the air in its wake.

Thump. A streak of silver in the corner of Eli's vision caused his target to startle, recoiling slightly backwards and spoiling his aim, but it's too late. He's already reached his prey, he only needs to shift his grip to adjust. Thump. The broad leaf shaped head of Eli's spear pierced his target's neck, it only nicked the spinal column, but severed the rest of the neck, severing the fate of the man it belonged to.

Trusting in the speed and lethality of Astra's strikes, Eli whirled to his final target plunging his spear into the heart of the man slowly stirring in his bedroll as the dying gurgles of his previous target stirred him to wakefulness, albeit too slowly to save him from death.

Spinning to assess the rest of the battlefield Eli turned just in time to see the headless body of the second watchstander slump backwards and Astra spun gracefully whipping her blade through the neck of the second sleeping form, perfectly angled to sever without catching the ground below despite the incredibly small gap between the neck and the surface he was resting on.

Eli's eyes widened in amazement as she carried the momentum into a pirouette on a single sabaton, before arcing around to bring the other armored boot around in a savage stomp on the skull of the final bandit. Not satisfied with simply bloodying his face, she followed with three more stomps, grunting in satisfaction as the final blow caved in the man's skull before looking back as Eli with a fierce blood splattered grin to match his own. Ok. Maybe there is something wrong with me, but that was kinda hot.

Eli leaned his spear against his shoulder as he gave her a quiet round of applause with a low whistle." Damn impressive, has anyone ever told you that you move like poetry in motion?" Astra smirked before dropping into a flawless curtsy while pinching imaginary skirts in her gauntlets before pulling out her rag to clean her greatsword with a rag and replying with a smug expression." Well I do aim to please."

Eli laughed as he caught his breath and cleaned his own weapon before looking back at her with a curious expression." In all seriousness, your skill with that monster of a blade is deeply impressive. Honestly, I find it even more impressive how you can not only avoid all the juicy bits, but make it look easy while doing so." Eli waved as his own face as he did his best to mop up yet another jet of arterial spray. Astra glanced back after sheathing her blade with a sigh." Truly I owe it all to Mira.

She is not only a stalwart companion, guarding me since I was but a babe, but she is also a Grandmaster of both blades and frost." Her expression grew fond as her gaze drifted towards the path they were following." She is unlike anyone I have ever met, as strong as the founder of my clan and practically a force of nature in her own right."

"She can be a little, let's say blunt, but a wonderful woman and my idol. If I leave this world with only a fraction of her strength I would consider myself blessed by the Ancients." Asta's gaze fell back towards Eli with a small mischievous smile." I am looking forward to introducing you to her. I can't wait to see what she thinks of you." Eli eyed Astra with a wary expression as he tucked away his cloth and ran through a quick series of limbering stretches." Should I be worried?"

Astra shrugged her grin growing wider at Eli's clear discomfort before snickering and turning to continue up the path. Ding [Congratulations! [Observant] has reached Lv 9] Ding [Congratulations! [Basic weapon proficiency - Small Blades] has reached Lv 7] Ding [Congratulations! [Basic weapon proficiency - Small Blades] has reached Lv 8] Ding [Congratulations! You have defeated a [Urban Archer] (Air, Lv 15)] Ding [Alert! You have reached your first class evolution. Any experience gained will be banked under after your class evolution has been completed.] Ding [Congratulations! [Basic weapon proficiency - Polearms] has reached Lv 4] Ding [Congratulations! [Basic weapon proficiency - Polearms] has reached Lv 5] Ding [Congratulations! You have defeated a [Caravan Guard] (Earth Lv 14)] Ding [Congratulations! You party has defeated a [Woodland Bandit] (Earth Lv 11)] Ding [Congratulations! You have defeated a [Martial Woodsman] (Earth Lv 13)] Ding [Congratulations! You party has defeated a [Sturdy Bandit] (Earth Lv 12)] Ding [Congratulations! You party has defeated a [Bandit Reaver] (Earth Lv 12)] Ding [Alert! You have reached your first class evolution. Any experience gained will be banked under after your class evolution has been completed.] The pair continued following the trail left by the bandits at a slower pace than before. While they did not encounter any more patrols, it had been a long night with many miles traveled and buckets of blood spilled.

Eli glanced at Astra, impressed at her fortitude despite all she had been through in the past day, and given how the stresses of the night were weighing heavy on his shoulders, he was all the more impressed that she was only now beginning to show signs of strain.

Exhaustion weighed heavy on his limbs, and the monotony of their steady travel began to weigh on his mind. Eli shook his head to clear it, and looked up to gauge the distance to the next bend in the path to weigh the distance and consider calling for a break, but as the bend grew nearer he noticed they were approaching another light source, banishing all thoughts of stopping from his mind.

Eli tapped Astra with his spear a couple times, needing the extra jostling to break through the fugue of exhaustion that clouded her expression. As her gaze roused to his face the sight of the finger across his lips jolted her to wakefulness as he dragged her into the brush. As he leaned in to whisper in her ear, he noticed with concern that she was leaning on him and breathing heavily if silently." I see light up ahead, and not just a little, I think we may be close to their base. How are you holding up?"

Astra flashed him a brilliant smile and the ok sign, but he could read the exhaustion in her eyes and the slump of her shoulders as she leaned against him while catching her breath. Eli took a deep breath before giving her a smile." Thatta girl, we're getting close, I can feel it. Ready for the next part?" Eli felt more than saw her nod in the dark as he felt her hair brush past his face." Ok, same game plan as the last stop, get into the canopy, do a little silent snooping, drop back, plan and execute.

One last push, we've got this." Eli flashed Astra an ok before cracking a grin as she gave herself a couple gentle slaps to psyche herself up, before extending a hand to her, " Together?" She clasped his arm with a warm smile, " Aye. Together." Eli gave her shoulder a gentle slap before he faded into the dark, Astra following silently after.