With Theresa's departure, Siegtyr proceeded to remove his armor and clothes and did what he was instructed to. Now fully naked with his athletic and lean body on the loose, Siegtyr grabbed the bath towel hanging nearby and draped it on his right shoulder. With no one around, it's of no use in covering his decency.
Not that it mattered anyway. Siegtyr is not known for being shy, and others seeing him in his full naked glory is never an issue for him. As a matter of fact, he always bathed at the nearby river back home together with his father, mother, sister, and other shield maidens on occasion, and not a single one of them really cared when each of their private parts is exposed. Such is the liberated thinking of the people of the North. Of course, they still prefer themselves in clothing, mostly for the purpose of protection, and won't intentionally go on their way to crazily flaunt their assets.
Siegtyr's eyes widened with awe when he stepped foot inside the bath area. The place is huge, consisting of a large rectangular pool filled with hot clean water as evident by the sight of hot steam. The walls are also filled with different kinds of paintings that depict many powerful deities of the old. Not that Siegtyr knew of that, but the quality of the painting nonetheless is superb and can be painted only by a master painter with years of experience in their craft.
The Northman wasted no time and immediately dipped himself at the water. His amazement took a step forward when he felt utter bliss at the feeling of the balmy water temperature. When Siegtyr started to rub his skin to cleanse off the dirt, another shocking revelation was revealed when the filth surprisingly was easy to come off even without any cleaning agent to assist him. Besides, the dirt that fell into the water also dissolved into nothingness, thus allowing the water to retain its overall purity.
"Interesting." Siegtyr was fascinated by the water's stimulating properties. Not even once did he encounter such phenomena back home. "It must be some form of Water Magic then. No normal water is capable of such a miraculous deed. The Empire sure have their compelling applications in the ways of the Arcane."
With the bathwater being one of the most engrossing things that he had encountered since his battle with King Ubba "Dragon Breath", Siegtyr was more than tempted not to get out of this heavenly experience. After all, he has not tasted civilizations for days. Sure, Siegtyr is more than capable of enduring the harsh elements of nature all by himself, having experienced it first hand when his own father put him in a trial of self-survival in the wilds as per his training when he was a child. Thus, Siegtyr closed his eyes and spent his time leisurely, temporarily forgetting his problems amidst the ecstasy of unadulterated tranquility.
Now leaning against the gutter of the pool, Siegtyr was interrupted in his unwinding when he expertly caught a flying dagger that was directed to him.
"Hmm, it looks like that you finally began your move, assassin." Siegtyr displayed no emotions of distress even when his life is currently on the line. As a matter of fact, it's as if he is already expected of this attempted killing of the other malicious party. With Thyra's vision from the skies, it was rather easy for Siegtyr to see someone stalking him and Lucon back when they were outside. Of course, he could stop the assassin earlier but Siegtyr wanted to have a chat with this killer regarding their intentions.
Siegtyr then eyed above him where the dagger came from and smiled at the shadow figure who was creeping on the ceiling with their hands and feet sticking above. The now revealed assassin was seen with a black leather hooded bodysuit composing of a black corset and brown pouch belt. Beneath her hood, Siegtyr could also glimpsed the brown color of her long hair.
Based on the assassin's body figure, Siegtyr saw that it was a woman. The female assassin nevertheless continued her dagger onslaught, raining sharp projectiles from above despite failing her initial attempt of murdering her target.
The assassin also wondered how the Northman successfully fended off her silent attack. Not even a single target of hers was able to do such a surprising feat, and all of them are dead. Although she quickly recovered from her shock and told herself that it does not matter anyway. The Northman shall perish in the name of the Empire and her family. She failed to see what good is going to achieve in making peace with these uneducated and heartless savages. The Empire is clearly superior in terms of military and political power, so they should destroy the Northmen instead of offering this so-called nonsensical alliance.
With an amused expression of how futile her action is, Siegtyr conjured a dark transparent barrier to block the multiple dagger throws. He then summoned a simple ball of ice and hurled it at the assassin's direction. The assassin quickly reacted and disappeared into shadows, going slightly to her left before eventually charging in at Siegtyr with another dagger in her hand.
The barrier did its purpose once more in protecting Siegtyr, but he could feel that every notorious slash from the assassin's dagger degraded the barrier's integrity. Casting a spell is out of the question since he felt something disrupting the flow of his mana. The cause of said disruption most likely was the assassin's doing when she closed the gap between them. If Siegtyr won't do something about it, then he might as well forfeit his life here and now. The assassin is clearly cunning for her to target Siegtyr in one of his most vulnerable and exposed state.
"You're quite the stubborn girl, aren't you? Smart of you to also possess anti-magic parameters. Not that it really matters though, I only know a few spells, so I'm not exactly a true Mage in a sense." Siegtyr conversed with the attacking assassin despite being in the thin line between life and death. "Are you in the service of someone with a grudge on me? Or are you simply doing it with your own accord?"
The assassin merely ignored the Northman and continued her assault. Deep inside, however, she was baffled as to why her target was acting all calm and carefree even if his life is about to be taken away. Nevertheless, her efforts came to fruition when the barrier finally shattered. Smirking at her own triumph, the assassin quickly dashed and stabbed Siegtyr directly at his stomach.
"You talk too much." The assassin now revealed her soft voice but one could discern the cold rage behind her every word. "You and your kind are all just a bunch of pathetic lowlife mongrels who know nothing but violence and atrocity. I'm simply doing the Empire a favor by getting rid of you. Your death shall mark a new beginning to bring justice that every one of my kinsmen rightfully deserves. The dark poison from my dagger shall spread deep within your whole body, so relish this final wretched moment of yours while you still can."
"So, what you are saying is that you are willing to start another war just to satiate your selfish satisfaction of this so-called justice of yours?" Siegtyr now started to feel unamused, his voice dripping with venom that even the assassin could not help but be terrified by it. "Color me enlightened; you are no different than the warmongering fools who I had the displeasure of meeting back home."
"Don't you dare compare me to your barbaric brethren!!" The assassin screamed with pure contempt and plunged the blade deeper, not wanting to hear any more of what Siegtyr has to say. "I am nothing like you!!"
"Nothing?" Siegtyr uttered with a bitter laugh while spitting more blood caused by the dagger stuck in his gut. "You use war nevertheless as a means to your end, just like many others. Innocents are being forcibly dragged in the conflict and are one of the unfortunate casualties even when they want nothing to do with the bloodshed. When the father was murdered, his son shall avenge him by doing the exact merciless act to the killer, and the killer's son in return will also enact the same deed of cruelty. This is why the cycle of hatred never ends because of people like you… like us rather. It would be rather hypocritical if I exclude myself now, would I?"
"Shut up, shut up!!" The assassin now lost all semblance of sense with her teeth gritting resentfully. She also wondered how her target was able to talk rationally despite the fatal injury that he is currently sustaining. The poison should already take effect by now. Still, she retaliated Siegtyr's statement with her own opinion that was incorporated with some brutish facts. "All of the people of the North shall perish, no matter what the cost!! The years of warfare and invasion has cost my loved ones' demise. My father was slain in cold blood while my mother and sister…" She choked in her heart-wrenching pause before resuming. "…violated horrendously by a group of your vile kinsman as I saw with my own two eyes. I was lucky and saved by Imperial soldiers who were passing by, and now the Empire that I serve is telling me that we are to make peace with you?!!! Why don't you just die already?!!!"
"I see." Siegtyr closed his eyes in contemplation at what he is going to do to her. It did not take long for him to decide and the assassin faltered at the sinister sight that was now presented to her.
Siegtyr opened his eyes and the blood-curdling red color made itself known on his pupils. "The world does not revolve around you, assassin. Yes, many Imperials desire revenge for the monstrosity that my kinsmen have performed for the sake of plunder and riches, but there are also who are willing to put their hatred aside for the peace and good of the whole land. Frankly speaking, I immensely respect people who possess the latter selfless view, and I will not allow you to tarnish the delicate peace that they have been striving for."
The assassin faltered and the grip on her dagger loosened out of fear. Siegtyr suddenly was engulfed in a powerful red aura that caused her to retreat a few spaces. Well, that was the plan though, a plan that unfortunately cannot be executed. The assassin felt constricted by the water that she dipped herself into when she engaged Siegtyr in melee combat. Upon looking down at her spot, her mouth turned agape at the eerie display that caused her entrapment.
"B-blood?"