Ah the middle stage of any event, a person's life span or creation of something unseen to the world before today, All these things have a property in common, That is during the middle of something or someone's life. They should have gained the benefits of their culture, cultivating the fresh experiences while still being spry enough to use these skills to inspire the next generation, basking in the glow of their elders accomplishments and planning at the tender ages what school will they become the next generations Grand Caster for? What type of fighter they will be and what will be the weapon they bring down on the evils of this world? How will they train their physiques to be able to handle the tortuous stress they will have to self inflict upon themselves to hit the levels of power that only the strongest can obtain...Much like the False Heroes that fight with menace and somehow a glowing warmth...hm? No no not of a mother of anything like that...How do I say this? Hmm...More like a Blade Scorpion bathing in the warm blood of their food...That was a great analogy pfft...Well then let the rest of the brutes fight to fuel the fire that is being stoked in this primal crowd...See? My eloquence is staggering
The crowds once again start there screaming, the smell the adrenaline from the high seats was strong as Treevoar stood, helping a still wrapped Reev who's body swayed at the simple task of sitting up before the tall one placed him back down and spoke,
''Right, welcome back! We apologize for the amount of breaks we have had to take but this year's festivities have really been a cracker to watch! We already saw the prince defeat our elder!...Also his ally but nevertheless! We now move on to the next fight, Orelia the Onomancer versus Vagnoman the Silent! Could the two with the flashy titles please step into the ring!''
Orelia moved slow as Otto placed his hand in her pocket, whispering something to the girl that made her eyes widen and flare up with passion, an evil smile now taking over, tapping the goliath on the shoulder before saying only one sentence before moving to the battlefield,
''Well thank you...Time for me to make sure you have to beat me in the finals, these two guys don't know about the true inner powers of the full Elves.''
She entered the ring to the sounds of applause and wolf whistling from the higher seats, moving to the center circle and closing her eyes, listening to her environment noticing she had not seen her opponent all of the second round before Otto had the confrontation, remembering something her eyes opened as Treevoar went to finish his speech,
''Now we will start the next fig-''
Interrupted by Orelia slamming her foot into the tree, sending a shockwave that tore the bark of like a flower's petals in a storm's gale. Treevoar's mouth gaped before slumping and saying with no passion left,
''Fine Just fucking kill each other for all I care! Begin!!''
The ring was still clouded by smoke, Orelia stood with her hands outstretched and eyes closed still but now with the broken nature floating and circling the young Elven caster, her eyes opened again moving her hands sending the wood like chess pieces around her intercepting a projectile of emerald green and setting the bark alight,
She smiled as she moved her fingers, sending the flaming charcoal back the direction the shot came from, hitting a tree and setting it ablaze but seeing a shadow jump from the top she zoned in on her target and uttered an incantation.
''Vagnoman Hollywin...The sins of the father are not forgotten by Vocaburis and you will pay his toll...Come to the master of name's right hand and bow in servitude.''
The blur now looked like the body she presumed it to be, movements stopped and now falling straight into the ground, sawdust rising from the impact, he moved like a undead with no will slowly creeping his way to Orelia but his muscles indicated from there twitches that he tried to fight the Onomancer's commands to the young casters amusement,
''You think you can deny my Lady? Not only the sins of your father but also the sins of the lines past!''
She walked over saying this placing her palm on his nose and stretching her surprisingly long fingers across his face like a kraken preparing to eat it's colossal meal before continuing her spell,
''Let them be cleansed at the cost of the living Hollywins souls!! This line has done naught but evil so do your godly duties!''
The words were spoke as the young elf's eyes shined a brilliant white before being murked with then fully enveloped by a blood red, his essence seeped out from any opening in his body and started to spiral above the stadium with souls being dragged in, only for one to be pulled into the crowd but in one fist, being formed in her spare hand, they could feel the will of the line known as Hollywin was shattered and started to crumble away into flakes of blinding gold.
Orelia shifted her hood to cover more of her face, raising her hand in victory at the crowds confusion, not sure of what just accrued, even Treevoar looked and had to take a second before speaking,
''Uh..Uh..O-Orelia the Onomancer has won! We can now move onto the next fight...Will Silver Rosewind and Mountain Bee make their ways to the centre circle in five minutes!''
Orelia walked passed the now screaming crowd, some in support and some in white hot rage, making her way to Otto, Wilt and Willabaar all standing on the edge of the ring, smiling and cheering on the girl not being able to stop the smirk coming over her before going straight to the goliath and hugging him whispering in his ear,
''Sorry...I'll save the fancier tricks for his royal asshole in the final...If you make it I can't really surprise ya but I can definitely beat ya.''
Otto patted her head once again as the crowd's anger levels out to that of nothing as the round ends, all getting up and getting refreshments and muttering about the strange magic used on their city's best and brightest with some saying things about what they called a vile curse, others speaking of this festival was the biggest display of magic in elven decades but all in agreement over one subject at least, Treevoar was the one who will clearly win this and bring the pride of the natives back in this bout, Our heroes all in earshot of the muffled speech of the passing spectators and looking at the girl before Willabaar asked,
''So...no more Mr. Hollywin? Damm at least I was able to get a Elven years worth of Deialeaves of the old bastard at a cut throat price only hours ago...Well at least I will profit...Courage for Currency Is a personal saying of mine.''
Willabaar said while the group looked on, Orelia making a face before retorting,
''I have never once here you say that...not once''
The half-mix smiled and spoke,
''Well...Are you from Recocto? Where I spent all my life except the last few months? Didn't think so Ores.''
The young elf started screaming at the prince only to his amusement as Wilt and Kyu made their way over with Treevoar looking stern towards the young girl with Otto and Willabaar both taking either side of her eyes filled with fire before the tall elf spoke,
''That family...has been in this city for over thirty Elven Decades...Do you even the slightest idea what you have just done?''
Willabaar moved and in a flash had his palm in the face of Treevoar sending a strong gust, making the elf shake and lose footing for a slight second before looking up and noticing the cold anger in the half-mixes violet purple and forest green eyes before he barked at him,
''Those who offend royalty will be punished...Was that not what you said? Is the royal himself aloud to inflict the damage personally?''
''Look at what that bitch did. I shou-''
A heat was felt on the back of neck seconds before seeing a searing wind leaving a burned smell in the air as Otto appeared behind Treevoar only stopping as Willabaar lifted his hand,
''I swear on my royal blood...I will not allow my party to treated in such way.''
Treevoar raised his hands as the two dropped theirs and spoke,
''Fine...Hope ya get to the finals girlie...We will have fun.''
The tall elf walked away as Silver and Bee made their way over to the group from the ring, noticing the tension rising before Silver spoke soft.
''Is everything okay? What was Treevoar so upset about?''
Willabaar leaned in spilling the story of what Orelia did and what the Hollywins of the last few generations had done to make the first look of searing anger boil and then return to normal state,
''Well...I can not condone your actions but i must see that your reasoning was just''
Kyu interrupted him loudly,
''enough bronze you do not want to offend this Lord of Rococto and get disqualified now do you?"
Kyu spoke looking directly into the elven cleric's eyes with a strange crooked smile seemingly unnatural on his face. Silver had not expected a comment like that and looked shocked before turning the other check, responding with.
"Under the laws you are right but a holy man should not be so vindictive, you will understand one day."
Silver says tapping the fallen's shoulder before turning his attention back to the half-mix.
"I should apologise for infringing your law. Take this as a token of my appreciation"
Silver spoke a contained, small twister of beautiful leaves into existence from the centre of his hand covered in the petals of red, yellow and pink with resin on the stem and buds a fragrance of citrus and sulphur, gently plucking it avoiding the ooze and handing them to the prince who marvels at the swirls before placing it gently in a large jar.
''A true symbol of the beauty of my homeland, I trust you will be able to appreciate its beauty even though you must have seen many more just as splendid to stare at''
The prince had a look similar to that of a pet being presented the freshest, juiciest cuts of the meat before snapping back and responding,
''Hmm? Oh yes I have seen some of the most intriguing beauty this world has to offer us but this...How faraway do you even come from?''
The lunar elf looked saddened before softly saying,
"A place of true beauty...Deserving to be more than what it stands as today but that is of no importance anyway your grace as I must get back to keep a eye on Reev's condition.''
Willabaar nodded as the elf walked away as Orelia decided to interrupt the silence.
''So why don't ya care about us giving ya those royal titles anyway?''
Kyu responded before the half-mix had even turned fully,
''Oh I tried when we first met but he insisted on Willabaar''
This left the young elf in confusion before Willabaar finally turned and spoke,
''Well those I consider allies do not need to mess with such formalities...Or is some twisted fantasy you got in your head...You want to call me your highness Ores?''
Blushing started again as Otto, Wilt and Bee all burst into laughter before the demon made his way to the centre circle,
''Wait Bee!''
Mountain stopped to see the pale hand of Kyu grab him, lean in and whisper something into his ear making him smile,
''Ah...Makes sense...Should be fine I'll squish him quick don't worry!''
He made his way to the ring where Silver was making his way to descending the thrones steps and standing opposite his opponent ,
''Now then!!''
Treevoar spoke quite quickly this round,
''The final fight of the second trial's opening, On one side we have the man who healed us in our time of need! The silent master of nature's touch! Silver Rosewind! Against him we have the pint size putrid stinking flame of the False Heroes! Mountain Bee!! Now that I have actually been able to do me job ya can go at it!! Fight hard and true as the last spot of the quarter-finals is up for grabs!!''
The drums sounded but for the first time in this round at the start no one moved even a muscle, The dwarf had his hands next to his hammers grip while Silver stood, hands clasped ready for prayer, Bee decided to move first slinging his hammer from his left side and throwing it as it turned to a crimson red blur of heat moving towards Silver, narrowly dodging the hammer before raising his hands making a wall of vines extend from the barked tiles, fire being taken in by the thorns, becoming a more searing gold like that of smelting metals, steaming with a look of sulphur from the dark recesses of one of the hells pits being released in small amounts from the large bladed ends, Silver looked back to see his wall and smiling slightly before widening his eyes and ducking down, avoiding the strike incoming, seemingly trying to take his arm from the shoulder from the impact it made with the ground, sawdust raising only to instantly turn to small floating wisps of fire. Through the smoke the elf could see sparks of molten flares from where the demon stood to strike him, raising another wall of vines, trying to encapsulate himself from the incoming barrage, only light he could now see was the small flares of sawdust falling around him thinking to himself that this should at least buy enough time for him to prepare his thoughts from going to wild.
Bee looked at this hive before staring at the snowflakes of fire that formed from the sawdust and proclaimed,
''All places in the dark can feel the fires roar!''
Silver heard this and opened his eyes all to late, the small embers that floated joined together while dancing along the vines before the self made ball was sent flying in all directions, all burning out quick only smoking by the time they touched the ground but from the shooting comets we see lighting up the ceiling of the cradle we see a burning body flying back down to earth with a thud that sent a cloudy grey wave of aura, Bee prepared to swing his hammer down and strike this attack into nothing but as he brought it down it passed straight through him and making his arms feel refreshed from the swinging he had been doing, only as he looked up did he put together what the elf had done, he had taken the whole force of the assault and used any spare reserves he had remaining to send a healing wave around as he noticed the centre circle all now with small patches of multiple flowers not indigenous to this land and a broken man, charred and still smoking Treevoar stands to call and end as Kyu flies onto the field to start work on the burning body.
''Well that was short and sweet but what a pretty fireworks display lad! We now have the quarter-final fights lined up for ya! We only got about eleven hours of the second day of the festival! So in an hour's time we will have the following for ya! Willabaar D. Price versus Otto Gaar-Eek! Also we have Mountain Bee and Orelia the Onomancer! Make sure to come back and see what one of our tourists will take the quarters!''
The crowd all just seemed to scream after Treevoar spoke, both in acceptance of the speech and bellowing orders for food as we see all our group all seemingly impressed and rearing to keep going, all that is but two. Wilt was still looking at the goliath sized Elf he had to face and Orelia was smiling, one that seemed drawn on by a two year old gnome looking at the laughing dwarf and muttered to herself under her breath,
''Really...Fuck. I would have preferred his royal asshole...At least i can say it...Why could it not of been him..''
Wilt heard all this and quietly whispered to her,
''Why are you complaining? Mountain...Bee...Not that hard to say right? Ya have been with him for a while ain't ya?''
She did not flinch but spoke back at the same level,
''Around a decade...I grew up from a juvenile into a woman around him sad to say...Mountain Bee is the closest translation we could get to his name...I asked Vocaburis about the language his original name was said in and it has been gone for over three era's...It's literally translation is something like 'Buzzing Nuisance'...He is a dwarf so Otto decided on Mountain Bee, half taking the piss with Bee hence Bumble Bee but tried to give him some pride by naming him after the dwarven side of him''
Wilt looked as if many questions were swirling inside his head,
''Okay...So to start my questions...Is a mountain dwarf? He looks like a ocean dwarf if ya ask me''
Orelia could not help but laugh before responding,
''You always ask the stupidest questions ya know that Wilt?''
She stood and made her way to the still laughing group with Wilt following close behind shouting to the men to break the laughter,
''Oi! So what is Kyu doing?''
Willabaar turned and pointed towards the centre circle where the fallen one was working on the still charred elf.
Kyu kneeled, having placed silver's burnt husk down in the centre, ash and cinders flaking off his body like a vampire after being soaked in silver bursting into flames. Kyu gently blesses a flask of pure water, Pouring it over the man's shattered form as it starts eroding away the burnt sections of skin in clumps, filling up with flesh revealing the crimson red cables of muscles, seared bones and cartilage. Kyu's face seemed to fill with both horror and glee, working on the man before his eye opened a touch and speaking with a new rasp to his voice,
''Someone...Who follows...A pious...god would...Not look so happy...at my body would they?''
Letting out a soft smile before closing his eyes again making the fallen make a face of confusion, tilting like the barn owl he was known for but letting a single tear out, wiping it to his confusion trying to seemingly analyse the product, His study was broken by the sound of footsteps, turning to reveal it was Mountain and Willabaar, the latter was unwrapping both of his bandages before wrapping one around the face and the other around the neck and chest, Kyu made a frightful face before the half-mix let out a sigh,
''Go ahead...You know better just hope they help him''
Bee took out his hand as his palm started letting off a searing white seemingly taking the charred skin and rejuvenating it while making the demons left arms veins shine that of freshly forged gold,
''That should help with the burns...What?''
The two looked on like they had seen death itself before Kyu started praying so fast that his words became nothing, even that being the case Willabaar clasped his hands and nodded along before the dwarf spoke,
''Ya know the one type of healing demons are good at? Burns ya fucking idiots why is this so surprising to ya?!''
Both stopped the pray and looked at each other in agreement before the rest of the crew made their way towards the centre to the sounds of laughter, now knowing that these trials will show more than just who is the strongest, but what this world has to offer the young and adventurous in a world that does not care for either.
Clerics...usually so full of potential but wasted on following only a god's will...It does make you think of how the clerics of old era's would look at their ancestors...Yes I know I did live through two era's technically...That would be a simple answer and that answer is...Impressed sadly as their god's will has spread more so it makes the circle keep spinning you see. Take this as a piece of safe advice having a god does give you purpose but limiting your view to such a narrow lens will mean you miss the finer more important details, this dulls the mind and leaves it vulnerable, also their swords are blunted to slice. But these False Heroes have managed to mitigate this, either through the ''divine path laid out from birth' or that of the ones some of this party's members have seen and felt all too much. Well anyway the next round is sure to make our skin crawl I'd say.