"I guess you really are nothing special." Emile said as the final remnants of a soul flickered in Elder Euro's eyes until, like a candle, his light was sniffed out.
Emile released his grip around Eudo's throat. He raised his head to stand up, but he felt wrong, or more accurately, he felt there was more to do.
Looking at Eudo one last time, he felt pity. Pity in of itself is an interesting emotional response. Pity, at its basic level, requires a level of compassion for others. Without that compassion, the feelings of regret and sorrow that are synonymous with pity wouldn't manifest.
But Emile didn't feel compassion for Elder Eudo, if anything he was repulsed by the man. So then what was Emile feeling?
Emile shook his head, annoyed with himself, then ran his fingers over Eudo's eyelids successfully closing them. He went to stand up, but a metaphorical ding sounded in his mind.
Confused, Emile checked his soul's status.
[Soul Rank: Chosen]
[Soul Saturation: 11/1000]
[Soul Essence: 416/500
[Gift: Breath of Essence]
[Description: Accelerate cell growth and division and increase soul essence production]
[Enhancement: Breath of Essence is applied to self]
[Relics: Enlightened Nimbus Charm, Enlightened Royal Scimitar]
Noticing the new relic, Emile excitedly summoned its details.
[Enlightened Royal Scimitar Description: In a battle of succession, the second Prince of xxxxxx was exiled to roam the endless white sands. With nothing more than his blade and canteen, the second Prince conquered the desert and returned to his kingdom with the sand dwellers. On his return, the King of xxxxxx bled.]
[Enlightened Royal Scimitar Enhancement: Increases hemorrhaging and reduces weapons weight]
Absorbing the information, Emile couldn't help but smile. Not only was this a weapon, something Emile desperately needed, but it also had two incredibly useful enhancements.
The first is effectively an increase in bleeding, a buff like razor edge or bleeding +50% in a video game. The second was an enchantment like lightweight, making the sword almost weightless; a perfect combination for Emile's endless stamina.
Before he could summon the scimitar though, he had to escape from his current predicament. Looking up at the two remaining Elders, Emile interrupted the silence:
"I suppose that means I win." He said with a shrug.
"I suppose it does." Willow repeated.
"As presiding Judge of this duel I, Elder Zegris, declare Spright's victory against Elder Eudo. In addition to his victory, I, Elder Zegris, hereby appoint Spright Elder of Black Gates. Are there any who object?"
Emile looked around the room. Elder Willow was smiling at him and had also been the Elder to talk to him the most, he was sure she wouldn't object.
Turning around to face the Elder's subordinates, Emile expected someone from Eudo's camp to object, but after seeing them, he knew they wouldn't. The group of people Eudo arrived with were teary eyed and shaking, some of them repeatedly touched their own body in ecstasy.
Especially the girl in chains, the second Emile made eye contact with her she burst into tears. Very quickly the once tense and overbearing aura within the storage facility subsided and was instead replaced with a growing sorrow.
'I guess they haven't had their freedom in a long time'
"With no objections, I—"
"I object!" Elder Zegris was instantly interrupted by a girl's shout.
Looking around, Emile couldn't find the owner of the voice that objected to his victory until she revealed herself on her own accord. Emerging from behind Elder Willow, a young girl stepped into the center of the facility.
"Fay—" Elder Willow said, "what are you doing?"
The young girl named Fay stopped walking towards Emile and dropped a knee to Elder Willow, she lowered her head and responded:
"Forgive me Elder, but I cannot accept an outsider becoming Elder. I find it unjust."
The girl, no older than seventeen, kept her head down and remained on the floor. Her black hair was pulled back into a Dutch braid that complimented the rest of her black attire and she even had a black cloth pulled up past her nose.
"What is unjust?" Willow asked.
"This foreigner does not know the ways of our people. He is not suitable for Elder." Fay argued.
Willow narrowed her eyes on the small girl bowing beneath her, "As a member of our people, I am sure you are aware of what an objection entails?"
"Yes, Elder."
"And you wish to continue with your objection?" At this moment, Willow released an ounce of her pressure onto Fay.
Even though it was directed at Fay, the rest of the people in the storage facility were not spared. Emile felt the weight of the world increase, his knees almost buckled and he felt like he was being pushed into the ground.
'What is this?!'
Fay fought through the pressure and opened her mouth to respond, but Elder Willow cut her off.
"I cannot protect you if you object." Willow added with a more somber tone, eliminating the pressure around them.
"Thank you for your concern Elder, but even so I must object."
"Very well then—" Willow sighed, "you may proceed."
"Thank you, Elder." With that Fay finally stood back up and faced Emile once more. She stepped further into the center of the facility until she stood ten feet away from Emile.
Now that he could see her in her entirety, she was beautiful. At least, her eyes and figure were stunning. Emile could not really make out her face due to the mask, but she had royal blue eyes and a streak of freckles ran across the bridge of her nose.
As Emile and Fay stared at each other, Fay lifted her arms and pulled two daggers from her soul. The onyx daggers manifested in her hands as she took a defensive stance.
Emile's eyes wandered between Fay and Willow, he didn't want to fight this girl. He thought he was done for the day. In an attempt to avoid the fight, Emile raised his arms in surrender and looked to Elder Willow.
"Must I really fight this girl?" He asked.
"The objection has been made. The duel must commence." Elder Zegris responded in Willow's stead.
"Must I kill her?" Emile asked again.
"Or she must forfeit." Zegris clarified.
Emile nodded in understanding and met Fay's gaze again. Her eyes bore into Emile, focused, concentrated, she looked at Emile like he was prey.
'She's determined'
'The best way to end this is to overpower her'
'I have to make her believe she can't beat me, that's the only way she'll surrender'
'God, I don't even know what her Gift is'
Emile closed his eyes and regulated his breathing. He needed to go all out. He needed the people behind him, the other Elder's subordinates, to tell the others that he was strong.
'Conquer'
'Dominate'
'Overpower'
Emile raised his hand and a whirlpool of essence surged around his palm. He pressed his fingers down and wrapped them around the hilt of his scimitar then swung down, pulling the rest of the blade from his soul.
He brandished the weapon towards Fay and took his stance.
"I'm ready."