Chronicles of Metal: Chapter 18 – All in the Eyes

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By the time dusk had set in, the mercenary's had whittled it down to around forty people. Anyone who didn't make the cut was sent home with a few silver coins as consolation, and allowed to stay in the city to find their own work, if they'd prefer, so there wasn't much arguing to be had. And, by Aeirfin's best guess, they'd gotten what they wanted. A skilled, flexible group that could adapt to any satiation. They where a varied bunch, but none compared to the massive Lizardman standing opposite the field however. A hulking, muscular body clad in blue scales silently observing the group. He couldn't remember it's profession, but the size of them alone was enough to know he wouldn't want to face it in a fight.

"Hey, elf." Aeirfin let out a grumble at that familiar nickname. "Ya just gonna stand there all day?" Turning his head, he came face to face with another of the mercenaries. Shaggy black hear, adorned in light leather armor that had been dyed red, with a pair of swords hanging from the same hip. Aeirfin remembered him instantly; he was a warrior but his fighting style was so rough that a brawler may have been a better title. "Well? Ya deff or something?"

Shaking his head, Aeirfin tried to recall of there was a question in there. "I'm... sorry, what?"

"Your little trial is over. But I haven't seen you so much as lift a sword." He said, his eyes casting a condescending glair. "Got someone in your pocket or something, long ears?"

Aeirfin let out a grumble at that other very familiar nickname. It seemed like he'd never be able to get away from it. "Sorry, I'm just here to lend a hand." He tried to look like he was busy with something, flipping through the papers Tyr had given him. When the man continued to glair at him, he let out a sigh. "Really. I'm not here to join. I'm just helping out."

"And I'd be careful who you go calling, long ears, Zane." When Aierfin looked up, he saw a woman roughly shove the man’s shoulder. A woman that, like Aeirfin, was an elf. "Some around here might take that the wrong way."

He recognized this woman on the spot. Nisara Alric, according to the papers. She especially had stood out during the trail fights. Dancing, disarming, and tripping up anyone who came within more than two meters of her. They'd only been using training weapons at the time, and no blood had been spilt. But picturing her wielding the two glaives she carried with her painted a pretty ugly picture. The man, Zane Blackmoon, was a similar story. Brutal, rough, but highly effective in a fight. More than a few walked out of the arena with a broken nose because of him. Among other things. Tyr was apprehensive about letting him stay, but his skills spoke for themselves.

Likewise, Zane brushed Nisara's arm away with and smirked. "Aww, c’mon. You don't want to see what this one can do too?" Nisara rested her hands on her hips, snorting gruffly at her companion. Aeirfin felt her look him up and down, and after pursing her lips gave an affirming nod. "C'mon, let's have us a match."

Letting out another sigh, he Aeirfin shook his head. "Look, I'm really not-."

"Heard you town guard guys shit the bed pretty hard." Zane's words instantly made Aeirfin's stomach burn. Either that to it was the condescending look her was giving him. "Tried to start some sort'a uprising, and made off with every girl in town."

Dropping the pretense, Aeirfin glared back at him. "I wasn't a part of that."

"Yeah yeah, we heard. Town hero, they say." Zane strolled past him, walking into the center of the arena and grabbing up a wooden training sword. "Well, I wanna see what ya got, Mr. Town hero." He stopped and rested the training sword over his shoulder, shooting Aeirfin another grin. "Unless the reason we're all here is because you're too chicken shit to do the job anymore!"

He was baiting him. Aeirfin knew he was bating him. But at the same time, the fire in his stomach compelled him forwards. This asshole didn't know a thing about what went on that night. Only rumors. And yet, the past few years living as a town guard told Aeirfin that if he didn't confront him about it now, he'd never hear the end of it. He wasn't about to let that happen again. He'd finally earned some respect in this city; he wasn't about to let this guy trample all over it.

"Fine..." Aeirfin nodded, placing the papers down on a bench and picking up a training sword of his own. A crowd began to form as he stepped into the ring and took up a fighting stance. Zane's grin only grew bigger, and Aeirfin steadied himself. "Whenever you’re ready."

He expected some sort of formal stance. So, when Zane just charged at him, it caught him off guard. He tried to back up, but Zane was on him in a second. Aeirfin raised his sword, as Zane still carried his over his shoulder. Instead of striking with it however, Zeke through a low jab that hit the young elf just below his ribs. He winced and gasped in pain, but was able to keep his sword raised to deflect when Zane finally swung his sword.

Aeirfin stumbled back a few steps, moving out of range of Zane's next wild swing. He only bought himself a second before Zane was on him again. He started with a shallow upwards slash, which Aeirfin stepped out of the way of, followed by a quick pair of lateral swipes. Aeirfin again stepped out of the way of the first, but brushed the second aside with his training sword. The next few seconds where more of the same. Zane was practically chasing him around the arena. Aeirfin had noticed a pattern to his attacks though. A flurry of shallow attacks probing for weaknesses, changing which hand he swung with almost with every strike. Occasionally he’d rush him, standing so close it was hard to see where the next attack would come from.

It was a lot to take, and it kept him on his toes. But if he could get Zane to overcommit to an attack, he could disarm him. The next time Zane rushed him, Aeirfin lowered his sword. True to form, Zane stepped inwards, going for an over the shoulder slash. This was his chance. Rather than deflect, Aeirfin made a quick hop to the side. He caught Zane's expression for just a brief moment, before Aeirfin brought his training sword up and smacked it against his wrist. Zane's weapon was thrown high into the air. Aeirfin took breath, but before the weapon could hit the ground, Zane spin in place and delivered a spin kick into the elf's gut. He gasped again, not expecting the fight to continue, when he caught a glint of something metal out of the corner of his eye. He instinctively raised his weapon, just as Zane tore one of his swords from its hilt.

He cleaved through Aeirfin's training weapon like it was nothing, narrowly missing Aeirfin's face. What the hell was he doing? This was a training match. That was as far as Aeirfin was able to think before Zane charged him again. Catching his breath, his hand flew to the hilt of Frostbite hanging at his hip. For just a moment, he forgot it'd broken, so when he drew it, the slash was far too shallow. Zane didn't even have to dodge; he was still out of reach by the time Aeirfin finished his swung.

Aeirfin had little time to react. He dropped to one knee, catching Zain's blade with the cross guard of his broken sword. In that instant, Zane pressed down on the back of his blade with his free hand, putting his full weight behind it. Aeirfin gritted his teeth, coming to a realization. He was losing. Hell, he could barely even fight back. Frostbite's broken blade left him at a critical reach disadvantage. He needed something, anything else to even the playing field.

That's when he saw it, the second blade hanging from Zane's hip. He reached for it just as Zane's blade began to cut into his shoulder, and with a grunt threw himself backwards. Again though, Zane was faster. Just as the blade left its scabbard, Zane grabbed his wrist and kicked him in the chest. He lost hold on the weapon and tumbled back a few feet, landing in a crouched position. He'd failed, and now Zane had both weapons drawn.

Just as Zane was about to close in however, something landed between them however. Neither one got a good look at it before it detonated with a bright flash and plume of smoke. Aeirfin covered his eyes, not knowing what to expect, when a new voice screamed. "That is enough!" He looked up to find Tyr approaching, looking less than impressed. Someone else was with her, one of the other mercenary's they'd decided to keep hire on. "What the hell do you two think you're doing?"

Aeirfin looked back just as the smoke cleared, finding Nisara and the lizardman holding Zane back. He, meanwhile, didn't even look phased. "Aww, c'mon." He said with a shrug, retaining his insane grin. "We where just training."

"You don't train with real swords, you idiot!" Nisara barked at him.

"We have training equipment for a reason." Tyr growled. "Do something like this again, and you're not getting paid a thing." Zane's grin shrunk a little, but Tyr turned away from him before he could argue. "That goes for all of you! You're peacekeepers, not attack dogs! If any of you pull something like this, you won't be paid that week!" The barracks fell silent at that proclamation. Aeirfin was right, Tyr was completely different from his first impression of her. "Now get out of my sight."

Still grumbling to himself, Nisara led Zane away. A few at a time, the mercenaries began to follow after them. Many of them stole a glance at Aeirfin, but everyone looked away and hurried along when they caught Tyr glairing at them. It was weird to think at first Aeirfin thought he might fit in here, now it seemed like just another day in the town guard. So much for that respect he'd earned.

"Um... excuse me?" A spacy voice snapped Aeirfin out of his spiraling thoughts. He looked up to find a woman staring down at him, donning a pail green robe and clutching a decorated staff. "May I?"

She pointed at the shallow cut on his shoulder, something he'd completely forgotten about the instant Tyr broke up the fight. "W-what?"

Without explaining, the woman knelt down, resting her staff at her side, and clapped her hands together. "I cast, **healing light**!" A soft white glow emanated from her palms, which she turned towards Aeirfin's wound. The pain vanished instantly, and the wound itself slowly began to close up. "My name is Gwen Hathorn." She said with a large smile. "Please to meet you, sir Aeirfin."

Now he remembered her. She was a cleric. A fairly skilled cleric, if he'd remembered right. Some noble's daughter that'd taken up as a wondering healer. She was the only one Tyr didn't ask to participate in the sparing matches, but watching his wound close up, it wasn't hard to see why.

"You." Speaking of Tyr, Aeirfin winced when he heard her harsh tone directed at him. He looked her way, to find her glancing disapprovingly at him with her arms crossed. "I expected better from you..." He hung his head. Honestly, he expected better from himself. He didn't know why he let himself be bated so easily. Years of enduring the other town guard's remarks and jabs should've hardened him to it. "And how long are you going to carry a broken sword?"

Again, it was hard to respond. He knew it served no purpose; the last few minutes where all the proof anyone needed of that. But... He just couldn't bring himself to throw it away. "Sorry..." He muttered, sliding the broken blade back into it's sheathe. "I'll... Get it replaced."

However, he didn't expect what Tyr did next. "Give it to me." She said, holding out her hand expectedly. He and Gwen both glanced at her confused, but she spoke up before he could ask her to repeat herself. "Lady Astra might... Know someone who could reforge it for you." It seemed like she stumbled over her words a little, but Aeirfin hardly noticed. How could someone reforge it? It was made of a metal he couldn't even name. But even if someone could figure that out, the enchantments where a complete mystery to him.

All the same though, the offer was too enticing to just brush off. "T-thank you..." He muttered again, unclipping Frostbite from his hip and handing it over. "Are you sure-?"

"No, I'm not." She interrupted, slinging the weapon across her back. "But if it means that much to you, I'd rather have you with a weapon you're familiar with." With that, she turned on her heel and strolled towards the main barracks. Aeirfin didn't want to get his hopes up, but the chance of seeing his family's prize sword in one piece was too good to pass up.

"Uh... Sorry about that, mate." Aeirfin turned next to the man that'd returned with Tyr. A Younger man in a dark cloak wearing a think golden scarlet on his head. "Saw you and that other guy were hashing it out, figured it was some kind'a hazing or something."

Her spell having run its course, Gwen took up her staff and said. "And who might you be, sir?"

The young man stood up straight. "Celic Fellwin, best thief you've ever met."

Gwen's smile dropped instantly, and Aeirfin shared her sentiment. "Thief?" He repeated in disbelief. He definitely didn't remember seeing someone clamming to be a thief on the list Tyr had written up. "Why would a thief help me like that?"

"Because, I ain't a fighter, mate." He said with a laugh, almost like it should have been obvious. "You look like you are though. And you look way easier to get along with than that other guy. I figured if you two killed one another, there'd be nobody around to watch my ass when things go tits up."

That was a... Strangely honest answer. So much so that Aeirfin was actually impressed. Gwen, meanwhile, clearly was not. "Thieving is not something one should aspire to." She said, turning up her nose.

Celic snorted, but a small smile began creeping across his face. "Well... Truth is I'm just a scout. But thief sounds cooler. And the skills are like... Ninety percent the same." He said with a small shrug. "So what if I embellish a little?"

"Good stories... Always hold a bit of truth to them." The three of them looked to the new voice, only to find the massive lizardman looming over them. "Maybe the young one... Dabbles in both?"

It was hard to tell, but Aeirfin suspected that was an accusation. Apparently, so did Celic. "W-what? No... No I don't..." Despite his words, a nervous sweat broke out over his forehead. "W-what makes ya say that?"

The lizardman stared at him for a moment, tilting his head slightly. "How else would you know... The skills are the same?"

Celic bit his lips, and began sweating twice as hard. It almost made Aeirfin chuckle. It might not be the most reputable group of people, but he already liked them more than half of the guards he used to work with. "And, you are?"

The lizardman offered him a hand, which Aeirfin accepted. "I am called Karrock. The blue hunter." He said while bowing his head. "You have some great skill, little elf."

That was an unexpected complement. As far as he knew, Zane crushed him. He was able to keep pace, sure, but that was about it. More, he thought about that enormous knight the night of the fires. His world had suddenly got a lot bigger over the last month, and he found it quite humbling. "Yeah... Lately it hasn't felt that way."

"Do not be discouraged." Gwen beamed at him. "That Zane character fights with no honor. You have nothing to be ashamed of, sir Aeirfin."

"The world is a big place, young elf." Karrock mumbled, glancing up at the sky. "And I sense... The winds of change blowing through this city."

Aeirfin didn't know what that meant, but could appreciate that they were trying to make him feel better. Or at least that Gwen was. It was a far cry to how he'd been treated by the other guards. And maybe... Despite everything, it was a sign of something good. Maybe these winds of change Karrock spoke of would bring good things to Hashigin. He certainly hoped so, for the sake of Aoi and her family.

Elsewhere in the barracks, Tyr made her way to what she and Astra designated as the main office. She didn't see a point in it, but Astra insisted it'd make organizing things easier. She trusted her judgment on that, but as a whole still wasn't set on the idea that she'd be the one leading this group. She preferred working alone, behind the scenes. Barking orders like that wasn't exactly second nature to her.

She rounded the corner leading into a long hallway, so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice she wasn't alone until a voice called out to her. "Hello there." Tyr whirled around, her breath catching in her throat. "I was wondering if I might enquire about a rumor I heard. This city was taking on adventurers, yes?"

There where two of them. They where both beast men, as far as she could tell. A large one, with white fir and tiger stripes littered with scars, and a smaller one. A girl, by the looks of her. Wearing a white robe and fox mask that obscured her face above her cheekbones. An odd choice of attire, until Tyr spied a single fox tail hanging out the back of the smaller one's robe. An odd pairing, and they certainly stood out. But then again so had every other adventurer that'd shown up in the past few weeks. "I'm sorry. If you're here about the job, we just finished selecting everyone we need." That was a lie. In truth there where a few she wished she'd turned away. Near the top of the list was that Zane character who'd goaded Aeirfin into a fight. But she'd already dismissed everyone, and wasn't about to go hunting them all down just to test out these two. "But I'm sure you could find other work here to make up for making the trip."

"Oh, that won't be an issue." The smaller one said. Tyr had already turned to leave, so she didn't see the woman reach up and remove her mask. "You'll listen to my request."

Tyr glanced back, but the moment she did she felt her blood freeze. She instantly had tunnel vision. All she could see where the woman's vibrant blue eyes. She tried to look away, but couldn't seam to muster it. She was getting drowsy, her head filled with fog. "W-what... Are you...?" It was a fight to get even those words out. Her hand fished for the blade hanging from her hip, but by the time she felt the handle against her palm, she forgot why she needed it.

"Shhhh, relax..." The woman in white muttered. Tyr went limp on her feet. Her arms dangled by her sides, and her eyes where half opened. "No harm shall come to you. Just look into my eyes." The woman approached, resting her hand on Tyr's cheek. When she didn't react, the woman smirked to herself. "You look tired, sweetie. You should go to your room and take a long rest." Tyr nodded dumbly, and half turned to leave before the woman spoke up again. "But before you do... I need you to add two names to your list." Tyr stopped, slowly pulling the papers from her belt and folding them open. "Ryo Bangel." The woman muttered, watching Tyr write the name down. "And... You may call me Shino."

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