Hey all. I am sorry that I have been so distant and have not posted as of late... It has been a very long and hard week for me.
I hope this finds you well.
Much better than I and my family and friends have been at least....
Earlier this week, My Godson was kidnapped and murdered... His 5-year-old body was found in a dumpster.
His name was... IS Prince McCree.
I wish this sort of pain on no human. We need to be better as an entire species folks.
The needless violence needs to stop...
With that being said, I will be posting a different chapter here today. One that is a bit more... lighthearted versus what I had originally planned to post this time around.
Forgive me for not being in the "Halloween Spirit."
I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and I am sorry for the heavy news. I just wanted you all to know why I have not been very active as of late.
Thank you kindly.
I will see you all back here at the gates on the way out.
Safe travels.
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The arena was at near capacity.
Row after row of seats were filled with Students, Grounds staff, Educators, and a select few special guests who had been invited to the grand spectacle by the Aetheral Society, and Garth Verlore School Board officials. The crowd was alive with a potent mixture of anticipation and anxiety.
And the combatants were set.
The Shift-sand floor of the arena rolled and pulsed in unison with the ever-growing chants of the nearly 1,000 people in attendance.
'YO! EE! KRAH!"
"YO! EE! KRAH!"
*YOUR OWN STRENGTH.*
The chant went on.
An invitation.
A challenge.
Here in the arena, nearly all was fair game. All spell types were allowed. The only bar that was held was the intentional causing of death. But this wasn't to be feared. There were mediators in place to keep that from happening. The sand began to settle and swirl in o itself, signaling the crowd to be calm as the event was set to began.
The Grand Mecca (as was the name of the arena) stood at just over four stories, and it was situated right at the very center of the five great Grounds. Students of all classes, ages, and paths packed the stands, the cries of joy and excitement filled every nook and cranny of the place.
Some were 1st years, come to see the spectacles as a sort of late orientation or initiation.
The adults, one and all, were a lot more reserved, many of them having witnessed such events many times before. But that didn't take away from what was to come, for as many times as one could see a duel here at The Grand Mecca, each and all were unique and far beyond compare.
Many were just gratefully for the mid-year break.
All were there for what they new would be one hell of a display of both skill, and natural talent.
As the white sands below them settled fully and truly, the crowd did the same. And from several enchanted cones that were mounted strategically around the arena spilled a booming and lively voice.
"LAAAAAAAAAAAADIES AND GEEEEEEEENTELMAN!
STUDENTS AND STAFF!
WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE BI-ANNUAL MIXED MAGIC AND MELEE GALA!"
His words were like oil to a flame.
The crowd exploded into cheers and screams.
The sand exploded into unworldly shapes of all colors and sizes. They flipped and spun through the air, glowing with fluctuating Aetheral pulses as the crowds energy steadily fed it. The sand was a part of the show. The individual particles were hyper reactive to Aether, and could be easily shaped and moved with enough of a mental investment. Small bowls of the sand was used commonly was a teachers visual aid in the classrooms that made up the five Grounds.
But here, it served a different purpose.
Fifty metric tons of the enchanted sand made up the floor of the arena.
Every single grain moved in unison, shaping and reshaping themselves into objects that seemed to grow ever more complex in design.
Giant swords clashed against equally giant shields.
Massive thunderbolts struck equally massive balls of fire as they crisscrossed the sky.
Beast and monsters of all sorts slashed and bit and battled as the sands captured both the attention and imagination of all in attendance. So far, all was to plan.
Twice a year, Garth Verlore opened it's gates to the public, letting people roam the grounds at their leisure in small tour groups. Carnival-like games were hosted, gifts were gifted. And large, elaborate meals were served. All in order to raise awareness and funds for the school and students. It tended to have a secondary effect as well: Recruitment. With each passing year, the "Triple M Galas" were hosted with hopes of obtaining enough funding to be able to invite a new generation of students a bit further down the line.
Thus far, each year had been successful.
This one would be no different.
The sands calmed once again, all of the brilliant colors and shapes fading back to its stark white hue. The booming voice returned.
"TODAY'S DUELS ARE SURE TO BLOW YOU AWAY!
The crowds cheers said plainly: We agree!
"WE HERE AT GARTH VERLORE WISH TO BRING TO YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST! WE HOPE THE FOLLOWING DISPLAYS OF MIGHT AND MAGIC AEW TO YOUR LIKING, AND THAT YOU LEAVE HERE WITH A FULL MIND AND A SATED HEART!"
The announcer's voice triggered more shapes with the sand.
Hearts, stars, and more unrecognizable things burst into life then faded just as quickly back into the flat nothingness that was the ground.
"WITHOUT FURTHER ADUE! I PRESENT TO YOU, YOUR JUDGE AND HOST FOR TONIGHTS EVENTS!"
"YOUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES!"
"THE ONE AND ONLY, LEGENDARY ASTRONOMAGE!: RAAAAAAAAAYDEEEEEEEEEEN!!!"
The arena fell silent as the booming voice echoed the name and then came to a sudden and startling stop. It's bass-filled tempo replaced by a subtle rumble that slowly built to a great and roaring quake. The sandy floor whipped into motion, its particles dancing together in a crazed and massive funnel that seemed to pulsate and spin at a pace that was untraceable to the human eye. The tornado of sand danced across the Grand Mecca, back and forth it spun before coming to a sudden stop at the fields center and collapsing in on itself with an opulent flourish.
In the blink of an eye, the tornado became a whirlpool, and from it's center rose a lone figure on a pillar of solidified sand. He rose from the hole that was the whirlpool.
10 feet.
20 feet.
40 feet.
The pillar came to a halt, and the gathered peoples bathed their respected and loved Master of Arms in cheers louder than any summoned forth thus far that day.
Rayden raised both of his arms above his head, his palms out wide and waving. The motion caused the sleeves of his weighted robes to roll down to his elbows.
His left arm was covered from wrist to elbow in runes and sigils. Great and powerful tools of his trade and profession. Each tattoo allowed Rayden the ability and luxury of being able to summon forth a mighty weapon of war with a mere thought and a bit of focused Aether.
His right arm was physically gone from the tips of his fingers down to his elbow, and in its place, an intricate prosthetic limb constructed of pure, solidified Aether and an artistic touch of Rayden's imagination. The renowned Astronomage had lost both his right arm and eye in his youth during a raid that had taken much more than just those things from him...
But these deficiencies were not to be taken as weaknesses.
He was among the best in the land with any and all weapons that he could get his hands on. And those that he couldn't physically get his hands on, he could simply summon from the collection of spell-laced tattoos that covered every inch of usable skin on his left arm.
Rayden was one for theatrics.
His Husband and all of his closest friends had always told him so.
He would always disagree.
He would then he would be selected to host an event such as this, and he would inevitably prove them all right. Today was one of those days, and this was one of those events.
With a flick of his wrist, the pillar on which he stood began to thin rapidly, the sand repurposing itself into the shape of a long and oval-shaped stage.
A stage that was supported by that very same, thin pillar.
Unphased, Rayden began to pace the platform, waving as he went, blowing kisses into the roaring crowd. The 1st Years were mostly confused as to who he was, and why all of the others were in such a fit to see him.
The 2nd Years were in awe, having heard of but never fully seeing the legendary teachers abilities in play.
The 3rd and 4th Year students were just as amazed as their 1st Year counterparts, but theirs was an amazement steeped in both respect, and adoration.
Rayden clasped his hands together behind his back and closed his left eye.
With his head to the sky, he continued to walk as he enacted a favorite spell of his.
From the orb of energy that was his right eye, shot forth a thick beam of blazing, teal-colored Aether. The beam rose into the sky 20 feet above his head and the leading point spiraled in on itself, rolling in the air into a single, solid mass, before it sprouted arms, legs, and then a head.
The huge, human shape was very generic at first, but it suddenly began to vibrate, and with that came it's true and defined form. Before the stunned crowd "stood" a 20 foot tall projection of Rayden himself. A massive surge of sound hit the real Rayden as the crowd leapt to it's feet and let forth a torrent of shouts and cheers to eclipse them all.
The very Mecca vibrate with the resounding noise.
And far below, the sand danced.
The Giant Rayden held it's hands behind it's back, just as it's creator did.
It brought forth it's massive left hand and patted the air before itself in a jester meant to calm the peoples. Respectfully (but not without the insistence of the Giant) they did just that. Rayden spoke, and his voice was amplified and cast from the mouth of his Giant form.
"Hello, and welcome one and all-"
His deceptively soft voice began.
"-to our annual Mixed Magic and Melee Gala. I can't thank you all enough for showing up to support Garth Verlore and it's ever-growing student body!"
They clapped softly at this.
"Many of you have traveled from far and wide I would imagine!"
He went on.
"Squires and Mages, Shifter and Scholars to name a few."
More clapping and many whistles escaped the crowd as groups stood and waved to Rayden and one another from across the arena.
"Our first two quarters have been off to a great and healthy start! Let us one and all stay focused and dedicated to our crafts, and I am sure that final and remaining two quarters will be just as grand."
As Rayden did, his Giant-self did.
So when he tilted his head to view the angle of the sun, and thus gage the time of day, his double did as well. The crowd seemed to sense the que, and silence again found the arena.
"But alas, we all know what we are truly here for!"
He said, his voice suddenly finding an air of excitement.
His eyes closing slightly and creasing at the edges with his large and welcoming smile.
"Let us go over the official rules of engagement before our first duel!"
The Giant-Rayden's arms swung out from behind it, it held it's arms out before it bent at the elbows. It's palms flat and facing the sky. 80% of the sand at the feet of the real Rayden flew away, rising to form two human-sized figures, one in the palm of either hand.
The right hand held the shape of a teen aged boy. He was armed with a single-hand long sword and a buckler shield.
The left hand held the shape of an equally sized and aged girl. She was equipped with what appeared to be a short staff or scepter in one hand, and a spell book in the other.
The first bout would literally be a clash of might VS magic.
It would be one for the ages.
Rayden began as the crowd analyzed the combatants above his head.
"First and foremost: All attacks are to be tempered. This is to be a NON-LETHAL duel folks
-In fact ALL duels at Garth Verlore are strictly non-lethal in nature."
With a wave of his hand, and a simultaneous wink of his Aetheral eye, two fist-sized orbs of white light appeared. One each above the heads of the two Student Combatants. The orbs circled the Students several times, locking onto and familiarizing themselves with their Aether signatures.
Below them, Rayden snapped his fingers and his right hand began to glow. The orbs that bobbed around the Students descended, and upon making contact with their heads, the sand solidified into the REAL physical forms of the participants, while at the same instant, they were coated in a thin vail of Aetheral armor.
Rayden's own and finest.
The armor would not only protect the students from death, it would also sense deadly intention with enough time for Rayden to intervein if need be. While pain could still be felt, Rayden's armor would negate the worse of it. The combatants needed to be able to feel, in order to fear. They needed to fear in order to have and maintain a sense of self preservations.
"Lethal Techniques are banned from not only the Grand Mecca, but Garth Verlore as a whole and any participant detected attempting such a Technique will be permanently and instantaneously disqualified."
The crowd chatted away in hushed voices. Some talked over what they though the best tactics for either combatant were, while others placed friendly wagers in very much the same way,
Rayden carried on.
"Secondly: There will be allowed NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE. Any attempts at such things, in any form -outside of trained and selected Staff and Educators- will result in a NO CONTEST end for our combatants, and the duel will be rescheduled with the offender or offenders being bared from future attendance."
"Any and all attempts at such things will be detected. Believe me."
He said, his right pointer finger to his right temple. His Aetheral eye flashed a deep, crimson red for a split second. A dark cloud crossed his soft, smooth face.
Just as quickly, the smile returned.
With a second wave of the same hand, a flash of light rocked the crowd into a shocked cacophony of gasp and shrieks. A hundred more of the same orbs of light that had coated the two combatants appeared above the head of the Giant-Rayden, then dispersed just as suddenly, flying out towards the crowd, stopping short just a foot before the first row. The orbs spread themselves out evenly, forming a perforated dome over the designated combat area.
They flattened out, then thinned and formed what looked like a hundred floating crosses. Each cross elongated itself until its points touch the nearest cross in either of the four directions. With a second-though-lesser flash of light, the spell was complete. There was not a known spell in Enverdolmal that could crack through one of Rayden's Aetheral barriers. The crowd would be safe from backsplash, and the combatants would be safe from detractions.
Rayden was ready.
The combatants were ready.
The crowd was more than ready.
"Last but in no way, least: NEVER GIVE UP!"
"YO! EE! KRAH!"
"YO! EE! KRAH!"
The crowd once again chanted and shouted. In one smooth move, the Students were lifted and placed on the Giant-Rayden's shoulders. With a bit of time and a bit more persistent air-patting, the huge man managed to calm the crowd.
"There are only two rules by the way!"
Rayden chuckled.
"That third one is very situational and subject to each combatants own perception and judgment after all... NONETHELESS!"
Again, the crowd was on it's feet and cheering.
It was time.
With a flourish of his arms, Rayden set the sand and his Giant-Rayden into motion. The huge frame melted away into the ground, slowly shedding the very sand from which it came. The sand settled back into a flat surface all except for the two Students and the upper half of the Giant. As they approached the ground level, the Giant-Rayden reached up and took one of the Students in each of it's hands then carefully sat them across from each other on the field of sand seconds before what remained of his massive Aetheral form flacked away into a rainbow colored dust.
Between the two stood Rayden alone.
His hands clasped at the bas e of his back once again.
"Enough of the waiting, yes?"
He shouted to the crowd.
As they jumped and cheered, he set the due into motion with the final step: Formal Introductions.
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Jonta stood nervously, but without fear.
60 feet across from him, a girl stood, in very much the same mindset he hoped.
He was a 2nd Year, and this was his 1st go in the arena. He had studied hard, and trained harder.
He didn't want... NO!
He WASN'T going to lose. He knew it.
That's all that mattered.
He was from Junt.
His time here at Garth Verlore had been wild.
Hard.
Challenging.
Very nearly impossible.
He had lost several fingers. A toe or two.
He opted to keep them, have them reattached unlike some of the more proud students he knew.
He had given so much to his Teacher.
He had learned so much in return.
This was HIS fight. He knew it.
-------------------------
Filot blinked wildly.
Had she just been transmuted from sand!?
WHAT THE ACTUAL FACK!?
None of the instructors or Teachers had warned her about that part...
Her stomach was in a knot.
Yes, she had trained and studied for this.
Yes, she was more than capable of taking down a charging swordsman. Or two even.
She was a 2nd Year student from Tri-Lore. It would take more than basic combat to fluster her.
But the crowd? The noise? The cheering? The expectations!?
Those were all individual problems that she now found herself facing...
Right here? Right now?
In front of not only all of her piers and teachers, but also the TOP Knight and Spell groups in all of Enverdolmal
She was about to puke.
-------------------------
Rayden spread his arms. Each palm facing one of the combatants.
The Shift-sand below them solidified into a thick disk, and the person on each was lifted about a meter from the ground.
"On my right!"
Rayden began.
"From Tri-Lore: The Echelon of the Elements! I present: Filot Bruneheld! The 2nd Year Starlet!"
The disk at the base of girls feet began to glow a deep sapphire blue as the crowd cheered her name.
"FI-LOT!"
"FI-LOT!"
Filot found herself blushing. Her stomach only seemed to spawn more knots. Across the field, the boys disk began to glow a deep crimson red.
"And on my left! From Junt: Coterie of the Blade, I give you: Jonta The Infallible! Also an astounding Second Year student!"
"JON-TA!"
"JON-TA!"
Again, the crowd lauded the combatant. The duel would be a good one.
"Aaaall right! The rules are stated! The duelist are set!
A hand pointed at Jonta.
"READY!?"
Rayden shouted.
"Hmph!
Jonta huffed and nodded gruffly. Ready to end this quickly.
His other hand pointed to Filot.
"READY!?"
"Ready Sir!"
She shouted. Formal as ever, a lie nonetheless.
Rayden clapped his hands before him, and towards the crowd. The Shift-sand beneath his feet coalesced into a disk not unlike those that still held the two Students. The disk picked him up without effort and carried him off and backwards towards the sideline furthest from the gathered crowd before him.
"DUEL OOOOOOON!"
He shouted, again raising both hands above his head, and just as quickly bring them down in two clean chops.
And so it began.
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Hey again.
Thank you all for your time ana energy. I hope again, that where ever you are in the world while you are reading this, you are safe and warm. The cold winds are here where I am. I love you all, and I hope that you continue to read along with my stories. We have a loooong road ahead of us folks! And many, many more tales to tell.
The stories have just began!
Till next time.
Stay Safe.
Stay Healthy.
Stay Vigilant.
-Redd.