Support my main contracted novel and winner of Writing Prompts #26 - The Legendary Mage!
Desolate Mage: A Legend Reborn!
https://www.webnovel.com/book/12013957905760805/Desolate-Mage%3A-A-Legend-Reborn!
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The unnamed forested area between Pari and Lyon was idyllic; peaceful... Tranquil.
And after the short but intense clash was over; and as the dust settled; it returned to relative tranquility.
A quietness pierced only by birds chirping, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and cries of, "Ow!", "Urg!" or "Ouch!" by men and orcs alike.
* * * * *
It was a sight to behold.
It was only natural for the weak to yield to the strong.
It was only natural for the conquered to be meek before their captors.
But it was the first time Albert had ever seen orcs and men together like this.
Like what you say...?
Well... Imagine a classroom scene; where the students had not finished their homework. The teacher got mad and knocked their heads, *Thud*! (I'm sure it's not supposed to have such a heavy sound... Or we'd have casualties and news reports...)
Then the teacher got the naughty boys and girls to kneel in a line, from tallest to shortest, then to pair up and pull their partner's ears with their hands.
Yes, that's what Sam had done.
Shadowmane was still sprawled unconscious on one side; his mangled [omitted] covered by a white cloth - laid by a sympathetic caravan driver - while the non-combatants and various workers tearfully cleaned up the bodies of the 9 fallen guards.
Nearby the scene of the battle, a tall girl stood in front of a row of kneeling "children"; the tallest of the orcs still taller than Sam though he kneeled.
Included in the row were Khadir and Paulos, along with the other mercenaries - excluding Mr/ Ms Archer and Carl the Mage.
Each of the kneeling wargs, men, orcs and 1 woman had bumps on their head, from where Sam had gently rapped them as punishment. Gently for her - but enough to draw a trickle of blood for them...
"Do you admit your wrongs...?"
The row of penitents reluctantly nodded to their new raid boss and chief.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU?!"
"YES!" "DATH!" They bellowed loudly for fear of being hit again.
*Thud* *Thud* "Ouch! What the--!" Paulos and Khadir were hit again by the girl, drawing sniggers from some others in the line - followed by a chorus of "Ow!"s and "Urgh!"s as she knocked the heads of those daring to laugh - including the wargs.
"Laugh. Again. And. I'll EAT you." She bared her teeth threateningly.
"You two!" She returned to chide the caravan master and his mercenary captain, sternly wagging her finger at them. "If you had just let me help, no-one would have needed to die!"
"S-sorry... We're really sorry..." Dejected, the two men stared at the floor, not daring to meet her gaze. But they could be blamed right...? Who could have known that the slim, tall and pretty-faced level 2 girl was so strong?!?
Yet they could not refute her words - the lives of both man and orc had been forfeited; something that could have been avoided by a duel between Sam and the orc boss.
"Okay...." She sighed... "I forgive you." Then she spoke to the orcs. "GO. HOME." She spoke in loud, exaggerated words as if afraid they wouldn't get her.
(Lady, it's not like we're idiots... We understand you just fine...) The orcs exchanged glances but kept quiet.
"AHEM, lady boss, I ask question?" The smallest, oldest orc asked - still over 2m tall despite being the "smallest". He had no hair to turn grey or white, but the wrinkles on his skin and numerous scars hinted at his age.
Sam thought for awhile, then nodded.
"Shadowmane lose; you new boss!"
She nodded again.
"Ok. Men follow lady boss! BUL'TAR!" He roared at the rest of the orcs; who quickly echoed his cry, "BUL'TAR!!!"
Shocked, Sam paused - then nodded. "Okay..."
* * * * *
After burying the orcs, men and wargs to prevent the spread of disease or them rising as undead, the two groups settled down to rest - the orcs' camp separated by about 100m, near the forest fringe
Moving Shadowmane was tough; he had regained consciousness but was feverish and delirious; sputtering in fear about "Kulshodar...!!" or "Monster" in the orcish tongue.
They lugged Shadowmane and laid him across his white warg. The feral and wild beast snarled at first, refusing to submit to any orc; but turned tame when Sam stroked its head slowly and whispered "Tasty..."
The white wargs hairs stood on end - quite a sight for a long-furred creature - then happily sauntered over (ran for its life) to where Shadowmane lay, helped the orcs pick him up with its mouth and voluntarily carried him; "smiling" a toothy grin to show its submission to an apex predator.
Thanks to Albert's knowledge of the orcish tongue, they found out a chilling fact - the orcs were tasked by the frost-born of the Swiss mountains to hunt for an unspecified egg. Their instructions were to seek and procure any eggs found, and to bring them all back to the frost-born.
Sam's group was the fifth such group they had met in 3 days - which was why the orcs were missing numbers and nursing injuries.
The moment the topic of eggs and frost-born were said in the same sentence, it brought only one conclusion to mind: some madman had dared to provoke the masters of the Swiss Alps; the dragons!
The only good news was that no one would be tracking Shadowmane's group, as there were numerous teams of various races tasked with this search. The bad news was the same - with so many groups searching for the egg, the caravan seemed doomed to meet with trouble.
"Mmm... You guys decide." Sam shrugged when asked what she thought they should do. Paulos, Khadir and the old orc - Kel'Razak - convened and asked her to join.
But she "wisely" absconded from her role as new raid chief of the former-Shadowmane's group - before she fried her brain from trying to strategise or gave a command that even orcs would consider dumb...
Leaving the difficult decision of what to do to the older men and orcs, Sam returned to the little fireplace that Albert had made for himself and her; where he was simmering a pot of stew - courtesy of Sam's supplies. Snowie, who had been sleeping throughout, stretched; cat-yawning but not bothering to open her eyes. The cat was turning into a round ball. Not of fur, but from over-eating...
"Fatty! No food for you today!" Snowie scowled at Sam; then lazily picked itself up to go plead with the naive and gullible caravan workers for food.
Albert smiled to her as she sat, passing her a hot bowl of re-heated stew. The stew was carefully packed and sealed by Emilda in a metal tiffin container; a recent import from the East that was suitable for bringing liquids, soups and stews on a journey without spilling.
They ate silently, then quickly cleaned up as the last wisps of day turned to darkness. Sam then took the containers and utensils and left to the trickling stream not far off to rinse them.
The man stared at her back as she left; pensive in his mood; then sighed.
(What am I doing...) He stood up slowly; then began to walk after the girl, unsure of what he himself intended to do by going after her.
(Why do you remind me so much of her...?)
* * * * *
At the stream about 1.2km away, Sam had quickly rinsed off the dishes and was now cupping her hands to wash her neck, arms and face of the grime.
She heard footsteps; but no threatening aura or killing intent. She turned around and saw Albert standing there.
"Ahem..." Albert coughed, unsure of how to start as he walked over to the stream and picked out a rock to sit on.
Sam watched as he sat, then ignored him and finished her washing up.
She triggered Disruption for a split second; shaking off most of the water and evaporating the rest from the high-frequency vibrations and heat caused from friction with the air.
Satisfied that she was dry, she glanced at Albert for awhile, then started her walk back.
"You know..." Albert started - causing Sam to turn her head to look at him.
Then he blushed - he didn't know how to continue. "I..."
He had an idea.
"Ahem... I may not look like it, but I'm actually one of the greatest fist-practitioners around... Ho ho ho..." His words and actions were in stark contrast to his usual serene and also tsun-tsun behavior; making him look silly...
Sam continued to stare at him, waiting.
He blushed deeper, then grit his teeth and decided to throw his face away. "I know! I look weak! But that's because my powers are sealed! And you're really strong, but you surely need some one-hit-kill moves, right...? Right?" He blinked a few times, hoping that he had her hooked.
Slowly, she tried to understand what he said - as the sentence was quite long. Then, as Albert grew nervous, her face brightened up and she smiled; then nodded enthusiastically.
Albert smiled too, then beckoned to her to follow him. He needed to find a rock to demonstrate on...
(Well... Since I'm sealed... I guess teaching her this is like, a life-saving trump card? Yeah, without my troops, and with signs of *them* at work... And I need to stay sealed but still arrive together with the caravan... It's just a pre-caution... Right...? It's, it's all for to ensure my mission succeeds...)
* * * * *
"First, let me check what your elemental, law or concept affinity is. Ok...?"
Sam nodded.
Albert formed a few hand-seals, then reached out and placed 2 fingers on her forehead.
At first, Sam felt nothing; then she began to feel a funny feeling. She laughed - it was quite ticklish.
"Shh!!" Albert shushed her in irritation.
Collecting herself, she stood still and allowed the sensations to continue; trying hard not to giggle.
Seconds later, Albert withdrew his fingers, blinking and whispering to himself, "Amazing..." while stroking his hairless chin; thinking.
"Sam, you are supremely talented. Your affinities are incredibly, incredibly high..."
He paused, considering his next words.
"Your affinity levels are suited to learn this next move. In fact, it is almost as if this move were created for you; it's uncanny..." He stared at her as he said the next words.
Sam blinked, then blinked again a few times. Wasn't her affinities listed as, "NONE"...?
Albert had a look of awe on his face as he looked up the mountain face before him and spoke: "Your affinity is so high, it's almost as high as this cliff(hanger)..."
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* * * * * FEEDBACK ON COVER * * * * *
(Keeping this up until end of October!)
Which cover do you prefer? Old one or New one? Caucasian Sam or Asian Sam?
Please decide for me!
I'm targeting to commission a new cover at 500k views; custom made from scratch!