The few bolder scouts who wanted to get closer flinched as they stopped, not daring to get closer as they were startled by Rose's loud and angry hiss.
But when Polemos saw the few in the distance he only smiled slightly as he looked at the individuals who came close and introduced himself like he would a friend.
"Why hello my guests from the oasis. I'm Polemos the Mad One and this is my partner, Rose. We are only sparring. Don't worry, just head back and report. I'll be visiting early tomorrow morning but I do have one thing to say." His eyes went cold as he maintained the same smile and spoke as blood flowed from his wounds from sparring. "Remove that bloodlust it's pathetic and do what you're told as a scout."
One of the three bolder scouts frowned as his eyes narrowed, as the other two were angry also but, it was focused on the rider who had narrowed his eyes. He was different from the other two due to his bright white robe with a red edge, adorned with patches of leather armor that covered his vital spots. As the other two wore simple gray robes.
Polemos looked at the individual in the bright white robe as he smiled and spoke casually.
"That's better, now if you would be so kind, turn around and leave. We don't wish to be disturbed." Then looked at the two, wearing the gray robes as they held no hostility. "I have business with a blacksmith in the oasis, after I'm done I'll gladly visit. I hold no hostility, Rose not so much, as you interrupted our sparring." He finished by waving them away.
The ones in the gray robes nodded their heads as they looked toward the individual who wore the white robe with a red edge.
His face was black in rage as he shook, but he was able to hold himself back as he cautiously looked at the two other scouts in gray robes as rage was in his eyes. Then looked towards Polemos with hate, as he grunted and turned around. The other two followed after.
Both Polemos and Rose watched as they headed towards the direction of the oasis. They continued to watch until they were small dots in the distance, then they continued their sparring match until the first moon was nearing its peak.
Polemos was exhausted as he was sprawled on the ground near the fire, as he was breathing deeply, training his lungs. It's been a few weeks since Polemos, Mana Washed his marrows and Death blessed him with a kiss. The constant training and fighting of different beasts and monsters had trained his body viciously but it made his body and his blood stronger. The Blood of the Beasts array had washed not only his marrows, but also his blood with the array's effect. Increasing blood flow and making his muscles a little denser from what was described in Carl's notebook.
'She's getting stronger, damn I bled more than normal.' Polemos groaned in his mind as he slowly rose to a sitting position as he looked over to Rose, as she was sleeping near the fire soundly. Smiling, as he spoke.
"I do appreciate you not killing me but it would be rude if I don't introduce myself to an admirer of scars." He spoke in a friendly tone as he stood stretching his back and turned around with a hand on his axe.
"Polemos the Mad One. And you are my kind guest?"
When Polemos turned around he saw a tall and beautiful woman with long dark red hair, eyes of fire, and a light cross scar across her left cheek as well a small cut on her right side down her chin. She had a noble bearing as she looked at Polemos. As the second moon was rising behind her.
"You have more in the front than on your back, pierced right through it, seems interesting. Weapon ready, good. Mad One, alright. I'm Secat the Lioness."
Secat spoke in a strong and noble voice with her hands ready to strike. She wore a pair of gauntlets, a red martial battle attire that hugged her body, and was covered with a scaled type of armor that looked familiar to Polemos. As she was in a stance he looked Secat in her burnt orange-red eyes. He removed his hand from his axe as he spoke in a neutral tone.
"You can put your hands down as I don't wish to fight."
"Why, because I'm a woman." She scoffed while she frowned in anger.
"No, I don't care that you're a woman. I just don't wish to disturb my partner Rose, since she is sleeping and if she was awoken, well let's just say I got a couple of scars as a reminder. That and you'd easily wipe the floor with me, you're definitely at the Magician stage and not at the beginning." Polemos explained as he looked into Secats eyes as he laid his arm across his axe.
As Secat listened to Polemos her brow unfurled as she looked at him in his purple eyes to see if he was lying and saw that he was speaking truthfully. But there was surprise hidden in her burnt orange-red eyes when he mentioned her strength. She lowered her hands slightly, still ready enough for a surprise attack but enough to show she was going to lower her guard slightly.
"If Rose wasn't sleeping would you agree to a spare?" She asked with an eager tone.
"Yes."
Polemos didn't hesitate when he answered, even though he knew she was stronger than him he didn't care as the only thing that gave him a challenge were fighting and killing Special Elite monsters or beasts. As nothing else gave him a challenge anymore.
Secat smiled beautifully as she lowered her hands, as her gauntlets disappeared into two different rings. When Polemos saw her smile he looked at her face more closely as he noticed she had bright red lips, soft angular brows that matched her face, and excitement in her eyes. The moon in the background made her look like a deep burning fire against the horizon mixed with silver and gold.
"Beautiful." Polemos spoke softly but didn't know that Secat was able to hear him as she frowned, and spoke in anger. As she raised her hands back into a stance.
"Are you mocking me Mad One, calling me beautiful."
Polemos was a little surprised by her anger as he was a little confused and even a little angry, as to why since he spoke truthfully and not mockingly.
"Why would you think I would mock you, I would never do something like that to something I see as beautiful. I would never lie about that." Polemos was a little upset and it showed in his voice as he answered. Secat was shocked by his anger as well as the honest but angry look in his purple eyes as he continued. "Again I thank you for not killing me as I recovered and, if this is all you wanted, can it wait till tomorrow as I have a rather busy day in the morning."
Polemos crossed his arms as he looked into Secats burnt orange-red eyes as she looked into his purple eyes. She sighed slightly as she shook her head and fully dropped her guard. As she spoke in a sincere and honest voice.
"I didn't mean to insult you Polemos, everyone in the oasis mockingly calls me beautiful because of my scars. And no, since I'm the leader of one of the biggest Mercenary groups I took it upon myself to see who would cause a big enough disturbance in order for multiple factions to investigate. And to invite you to join my Mercenary group."
When Polemos heard her invitation to join her Mercenary group he was surprised not only because of the invitation but also because she was one of the biggest groups. He put one hand behind his back and one to his chin as he thought.
"Sure, I'll join makes things easier I guess, plus it seems like I've already made an enemy with a certain group already earlier. Oh and if Rose isn't able to join then I'm sorry then I'll have to refuse, she is my partner." He smiled as he gestured towards the sleeping Rose.
Secat smiled as she chuckled slightly. "That'll be no problem at all, she's definitely welcome. And what do you mean you already made an enemy already, if I recall you both just arrived three days ago how could you possibly make enemies already."
Polemos sighed as he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders as he spoke in a sarcastic tone looking at the night sky.
"Some pathetic moron in a bright white robe with a red edge, his bloodlust was childish if not feeble." Then spoke in a firm tone as he looked back towards Secat. "But the other two in grey robes were quiet yet, they felt powerful as Rose seemed more focused on them, then the moron. Who were they and what's the group's name?"
When Secat heard his answer she laughed in an odd fashion. "Well the pathetic moron is from a cult-like mercenary group called Gods Blood, it's not surprising as you made an enemy of them as they hate everyone who's not a part of their group. And the two grey robed individuals I don't know as there are many groups who use grey robes. And our group is called The Burnt Lioness." She smiled in the end when she introduced her group.
Polemos nodded as he smiled in an evil fashion. "Interesting, I think me and Gods Blood will be great friends, and I should be able to figure out who those two were in the morning as I did say I would visit them later." Then he pointed towards her armor. "Would you like to join me as I have business that seems related to the armor you're wearing, and I would love to have a beautiful guide as it's my first time to the oasis." He maintained his smile as he asked.
When Secat saw Polemos's smile she raised her brow slightly but smiled as she agreed to his request before she left saying that she would see him in the morning near the entrance. He smiled still as he waved her off. When he could no longer see her his smile faded as he frowned a little as he spoke up.
"They knew we were here three days ago and never sent a scout, either they came when we went to hunt, they probably thought I was a country bumpkin since they couldn't find anything worth anything or important." Then he looked towards the sleeping Rose. "Still even though she was asleep before whenever someone came close she woke up or hissed, interesting."
Polemos looked to the night sky as he smiled.
"It'll be an interesting morning indeed." He laughed slightly as he turned toward his tent to meditate then sleep.