Bi'ranna awoke to pure bliss, she sat up stretching, feeling a gentle breeze flutter through the tent. It rocked side to side with a gentle sway. She cocked her head to the side. Why was she on a bed? How was she on a bed? When did she get on a bed? Who's bed was it? And why was it so incredibly soft? She shook her head, slapping her face. She felt the sting and her head spin. "I'm definitely not dreaming." She quickly scrambled off the bed, feeling the tent shake and shift, with each step. Followed by groaning and complaining from outside. She froze in place. "What the fuck is happening?" She whispered. Bi'ranna felt the tent suddenly lower to the ground and land with a solid thud. Thanatos entered into the tent, wearing a simple tunic over his shirt and pants. "I see you are well rested." Her eyes bulged. Her face became hotter and redder than magma. The memories of the previous night flooded in.
"Did I fall asleep on your bed?" She asked bashfully. He nodded with a warm smile. "You did. Kicked me off the bed as well." He said chuckling. Bi'ranna fell to her knees, bowing to him. "I'm humbly apologize! I will do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness." "I don't blame you. I remember the first time, I was given a proper bed. Rather than sleeping on the stone ground outside. Now get off your knees and stop apologizing. We have a lot to discuss." He said, walking out the tent. "We do?" She asked anxiously. Bi'ranna followed him outside, adjusting the sword at her hip. She emerged to the piercing and furious glares of several Commanders. All of them were huffed, with a thin layer of sweat on their brow, rolling or rubbing their shoulders. She gulped and nervously smiled at them, before slinking away. Bi'ranna quickly jogged to Thanatos. "We're they carrying me!?" She hissed in whisper. "Yes, they were. I wanted to move you, without waking you."
Bi'ranna winced rubbing her head vigourously. 'Ahhhh! Why is he being so nice to me? Just because I asked a question? He's going to get me killed!' She looked back to the see the Commanders still glaring at her. 'Worse, he's gonna get me broken in as a breeder.' "Where are we going? Actually...where are we?" She asked looking around at the new surroundings. "We've moved our forces back, behind the Fork." "I was carried that far!?" She exclaimed, before quickly covering her mouth. Thanatos snickered. "Yes, you were in quite a deep and peaceful slumber. You didn't ever hear all the groaning and shouting, my nephews did." He said without noticing Bi'ranna's mortified expression behind him. She took a gulp. She was now a target. He led her deep into the forest, to a small open field. His maul, war bow, and his armour were planted into the ground, in front of a large stone slab.
Thanatos took a seat and gestured for Bi'ranna to stand before the weapons. She hesitantly stood in front of the large weapons. Each of the weapons still stood as tall as Bi'ranna even when planted. She grimaced inside, her heart beating anxiously. Why was she brought before these weapons? Is this how he planned to gut her? "Do you know what these are?" He asked. 'Oh by Vasha's bloody cunt! Is this a trick question? They're weapons. What else could they be? AHHH! Why didn't you just keep your mouth shut!? You just had to ask, and now-' "Bi'ranna." She shook out of her dazed state. 'How long was I speaking to myself for!?' "Are you alright?" "Yes!" She replied, her voice peaking with a piercing octave. "They are weapons." She said standing at attention. "Yes, they are. They are mine. Well, I should say they were mine." Bi'ranna looked at him confused and shocked. "Are you giving them to me?" He shook his head at her puzzled. "What? Of course not. You aren't trained to wield any of these." She let out a sigh of relief. "Besides, if you think my nephews are pissed off at you now. Imagine them if you got one of my weapons." Bi'ranna took a gulp, shuddering at the thought.
"No, I brought you here to give you this." He said, taking out an emerald cape from behind the stone. She watched as the cape unfurled revealing the outline of a long sword. Bi'ranna then stumbled back bewildered as Thanatos drew the blade out with Enk magic. The long sword gleamed a pure silver. A weapon of beauty made from pure Mythril. "That's a Citadel cape." She pointed out. Thanatos shook his head with a smile, inspecting the blade over his lap. "No, this once belonged to a Magic Knight, that resided in Shizukana." Bi'ranna cocked her head. A Magic Knight, that resided in the Immortal town? Who could it be? "What was their name?" Thanatos plunged the blade into the ground. With a sharp ring it sliced itself through the ground, stopping at the hilt with a clang. She jolted at the reaction. "Never found out his real name. The locals simply called him Hakai." "The Magic Knight...was an Islander?" She asked.
Thanatos nodded glumly, looking at his weapons. "How come none of your stories, tell of you defeating a Magic Knight? Surely we would have been told of such a thing. Even if the Magic Knight was an Islander." He let out a chuckle. "That's because I didn't beat him." "You didn't?" She asked, puzzled at Thanatos's mismatching expression. Why did he seem sad thinking about his defeat, yet wore a smile? "I tried for weeks. Best I did was tear off his cape. He then told me, that was the best I could ever do against him. So he let me keep his cape. Even the sword in it." "What happened next? Did you go back to defeat him?" "No, he vanished. Never saw him again." He said furling his fist. Why was he telling her this story? Was it even real? An Islander that could make a fool of Thanatos Argul? "Alas, this is not the time for stories of the past. It is time to learn from it." He said standing up. "Draw the sword. We will begin your training."
Bi'ranna did a double take, shaking her head at him, and taking a long blink. "I'm sorry, we'll be doing what?" "Take up the sword, we will begin your training." Bi'ranna felt her heart sink through the ground. Was he trying to get her killed? Everyone knows you survive, by keeping your head down. And not getting special treatment from the generals. She stuck her arm up to ask a question. "What is it?" He asked. She lowered her arm. "May I, humbly refuse?" "No." Her arm sprung up one more. "What is it now?" He frowned. She lowered her arm. "May I, be exchanged for better warrior?" "No." She went to raise her arm once more. "Your options are to train with me, or I send you back to my nephews with the same rank as them." Bi'ranna dropped her head in defeat. She unenthusiastically trudged towards the sword, unclipping her sword belt.
"Your name. Bi'ranna. Are you and the traitor Ul'lanna related?" She froze in front of the blade, feeling Thanatos glaring down at her. She took a gulp. "We...we came from the same breeder. That's all. She is five years older than me." "Hmm." He mumbled, stroking his chin. She squatted down beside the blade, grasping the hilt with both hands. The sword was incredibly light. There was absolutely no weight to it. Bi'ranna pulled the blade free, it towered over her, but felt lighter than air itself. She stared at it amazed. "How...is this possible? It's so light..." She said smiling in awe. "That weapon is forged from pure Mythril. It absorbs your affinity naturally. Judging by the weight, you must have a Wind affinity." He took her arming sword from the ground, and inspected the chipped and dull edge. "Show me your palms." She hesitantly took off her gloves, revealing thick calluses. She shied away, pulling her hands away. He gave her a pat on the head, and a proud smile.
He took ten paces away from her, and tucked his good arm behind his back. "Draw blood from me. You have from now till night." Bi'ranna glanced over her shoulder to the east. The sun only just starting crest of the horizon. She closed her eyes taking a deep calming breath. 'Bi'ranna, you fucking idiot. Never fucking ask anything. Ever again. ' She let out a long sigh, and took a sword stance, perfect for a thrust attack. Thanatos clenched his toes, ready to side step her attack. 'A thrust attack to close the distance, he'll side step it, and I can sweep-No. That would never work on him.' Bi'ranna pushed her arms out, holding the sword at arm's length. Thanatos cocked an eyebrow at her. 'What is she planning?' A Wind gate appeared encircling the ricasso of the sword. She cocked the sword back into a thrust position once more. Thanatos felt his shoulders being pushed forward. He lurched forward, stretching his arm instinctively to catch himself.
He glanced up seeing Bi'ranna lunging in for her thrust attack. 'She knocked me off balance first, before charging in. A sizeable Wind gate created almost instantly. With great control.' He smirked dodging her attack. The Wind gate disappeared around the ricasso. She threw a flurry of rapid thrusts, each one aimed at his throat or eyes. He continued to wear his smirk, enjoying her display, as he back stepped the attacks. 'Perfect range control, of a new weapon. Aiming for vital spots without hesitation.' He noticed her breathing becoming ragged, and sweat already beginning to trickle down her face. 'It's too early for that. Surely she can't be that-' Thanatos stopped noticing the Wind gate, still encircling the ricasso. His eyes widened with shock. 'It didn't disappear?' She smirked at his reaction and pulled back, holding her hand out. "Tempest !" She shouted clenching her fist. Thanatos spun around to see several blades of air, whistling towards him.
He smiled back at her, standing completely still. 'I GOT HIM!' She watched in dismay as the blades dissipated before him, with loud puff of air. She fell to her knees leaning onto the sword. Mortified and exhausted. 'What did he do?' "An excellent display of your skill. Truly marvellous." "But..I...Haaaa....didn't....pheeeww...do...anything. Oh by Vasha, I can't breathe." She panted. "You exceeded my expectations of a lowborn. Excellent footwork, adaptability, cunning, and skill. You lack only one thing." She collapsed onto the ground, staring at the blue sky. Panting heavily, the exhaustion of expending her Arcane energy settling in. He casted a shadow over her, wearing a smile. "You lack Arcane energy, therefore strength." "But I'm fast and....haaaaaaa....and strong...." "The three key attributes, one must have in a fight are. Speed, Skill, and Strength. It is not enough to excel in only one or two. It will only take you so far."
He took the weapon from her hand, and placed it back inside the cape. "You'll get this back, once you have enough strength to wield it properly. Until then you'll be doing conditioning training with me." 'Please don't be running or lifting. Please don't be running or lifting. Please spare me from the agony. Please do not be running or lifting.' She pleaded. "When you recover, we'll starting running and strengthening your muscles." He said with a smile. Bi'ranna said nothing, continuing to pant. She took a deep breath, hearing him walk away. She sucked in her lips. "FUUUUCK!" She roared. He chuckled hearing her pout and whine in the distance. "We'll start with you carrying back my weapons." He said aloud.
Thanatos returned to the war camp, hearing screams and weapons being drawn. "STAY BACK!" "DON'T TOUCH HIM!" Voices bellowed. Thanatos pushed through the scared crowd. "What is the meaning of this!?" He bellowed. "Uncle..." Belphegor sobbed. Crimson tears streamed from his black eyes, running down his dead skin. Belphegor crawled feebly towards Thanatos, snivelling and reaching out. "STAY BACK!" A commander shouted, weapon raised. "For fuck's sake. Put your weapon down boy." Thanatos barked. He squatted in front of Belphegor, grabbing his chin. A audible gasp rang throughout the crowd. Thanatos felt Belphegor's spine snap with the sudden motion. His jaw felt like wet clumps of sand, breaking and reforming in his grip. "Please help me Uncle. It hurts...so much...I can't-" Thanatos ripped his throat out, watching him claw at it desperately. Black blood sprayed out, and everyone jumped back shocked.
Thanatos rose, throwing the clump of flesh to the ground. The others watched as Belphegor recovered, wheezing and crying. His throat bulging with two vocal chords. Thanatos glared at the other terrified Commanders. "He's a warning from the Citadel. Attack us and there is a fate far worse than death. And here's my warning! Those who disrespect my command and orders, ever again, like this little shit! Will also suffer." His voice rippled through the crowd, sending a chill down their spines. He opened a Fire gate, and lit Belphegor ablaze. His screams rang out. He writhed and thrashed in agony. The flames continued to burn, and his screams continued to ring out. Thanatos snapped his fingers, and the flames disappeared with the gate. He marched over Belphegor, gasping and wheezing. His charred skin begun to peel and reveal new scabs. "Please....kill...me..." He wheezed. "No. You brought this upon yourself. Solve your own problems." He growled walking away.
A sweating messenger bowed before Thanatos, offering him a scroll. "A message, Commander. From the generals of Artaraxus and Tuskdran." He angrily snatched the scroll out of the messenger's grip. 'To, General Commander Thanatos Argul. Why have you retreated your forces behind the strange Fork? We would like to discuss your actions, as well as a new plan of attack. Sincerely General Xanxar.' The letter read. "Which fucking Xanar is calling me? Do people not remember how to place first names anymore? Fucking damn it." He sighed. "Go and prepare the meeting room." Bi'ranna slogged back to the camp. "And make sure she runs five laps of the camp." He said pointing at her. Her jaw fell to the ground. "But!" "It's now ten!" He yelled out. She fell to her knees in defeat. He pointed to the timid messenger. "You, make sure she's actually running. And if anyone tries to touch her inappropriately, let me know." He whispered.