Veliona stumbled back in surprise as she watched her father and Sir Noctisse be swallowed up by shadows. She rushed to the edge and looked around the colosseum to find the same thing happening in multiple places.
But only to knights, she realized. Whoever had coordinated this was very thorough, leaving only helpless civilians left in the stands. And herself as well of course, but she wasn't as helpless as the attacker thought she was.
Is what she'd say if she had her dagger with her. She lifted up her skirt to find the blade not attached to her thigh strap. She had left it up in her bed chambers. She would have to leave discreetly and get it, then maybe she could save Aldrich and everyone else trapped in the arena.
As she walked, she urged the civilians to stay calm and remain in their seats. So far anyone without a virtue had been completely looked over, so they didn't seem to be in immediate danger.
She was almost out of the colosseum when she spotted the girl covered in shadows from earlier. She seemed to have just exited the shadow dome. Veliona's breath caught in her throat when the girl's gaze snapped in her direction, locking eyes with her. It sent a chill down her spine.
She turned and ran.
x
Aldrich dodged to the side as a heavy great sword came down hard at where he was standing a second ago.
He held up his hands, trying to reason with his attacker. "What are you doing, I'm not the enemy!"
But the half orc didn't seem to register his words at all. Björk's eyes were glazed over, and he almost seemed to be looking right through Aldrich. "All of Quelkriste's enemies will be eliminated. On my honor as the 5th of the Regius Cohortis. I will not fail his Majesty again, I cannot!"
"What are you even talking about?" Aldrich groaned. There was no getting through to him. Whatever Nildi had done to him, he couldn't break it. He had also only been on the defensive so far. The orc had been annoying earlier but he still didn't want to risk hurt him since he wasn't in control.
The great sword came down again, this time only inches from his face. It cracked the ground as it landed, causing Aldrich to stumble backwards.
Aldrich wiped a bead of sweat from his face. He still had no idea what his opponent's virtue was, so far, he had only attacked with his weapon. Trying to go on the offensive would be way too risky, and he wasn't completely sure he could even hurt him if he did. If only there was a way to restrain him without harming him.
"Father's vines would be really useful right now." He mumbled to himself. "Alright then. If fighting isn't an option..."
He turned on the balls of his feet and began to sprint in the opposite direction. The sound of heavy footsteps behind him told him that Björk was chasing after him. And he seemed to be catching up as well. He looked over his shoulder to see the half orc grasping his great sword with both hands, swing it back and then launch it through the air straight at Aldrich.
Aldrich could hear the blade cutting through the air as it flew towards him. But before it reached and took his head clean off, his foot slammed into something hard on the ground causing him to trip and fall. He faceplanted hard on the ground as the sword flew over him.
"Would you look at that." A voice said a few seconds later. "We found him."
Aldrich groaned as he lifted his head slowly. His eyes were met with a familiar sight of expensive looking foreign boots. He followed the legs up to meet Shans' gaze. Shans smiled at him as if everything was completely fine. Then he offered his hand and pulled him up to his feet.
"And Björk as well." Vox noted. "Isn't that convenient."
Several meters away Björk stood with his outstretched palm open and pointed in their direction.
"What is he doing?" Aldrich asked. To which Vox yelled, "Get down!" in response.
Aldrich dropped to his knees just as the great sword came flying back. It passed over them and hurtled right back into Björk's hand.
"So that's his virtue?" Shans observed out loud.
Vox pulled back his bow string, letting a slew of arrows fly. "He can control the sword remotely, yes. It's not particularly powerful on its own but paired with his fighting prowess and natural orc strength he is still very dangerous. Don't let your guard down!"
Björk walked through the rain of arrows towards them, plucking out the ones embedded in his flesh one by one and tossing them to the side. His great sword, which floated by his side seemed to move on its own, blocking a fair share of the arrows. It hadn't even slowed him down.
"Björk!" Vox called out, still firing arrows. "Listen to me."
Both Aldrich and Shans' eyes were drawn to Vox as well, and for a little while they could not look away. For a split second Björk seemed to stop moving as well, but then he snapped out of it and continued his march.
"Tch. Mind control is always so tedious." Vox grumbled to himself. He plucked at the strings of his harp bow, creating a melodious sound that echoed in the darkness. Then he turned to Shans and Aldrich. "Cover your ears for a second, this might hurt."
Shans and Aldrich exchanged confused looks but followed his instructions. Vox strung one more arrow, pulling the bowstring as far back as he could. As he did, hey concentrated his soul energy all around the arrowhead. Vox took a singular deep breath.
Then he let it fly.
The arrow screeched as it shot through the air. Like an actual voice screaming, Aldrich thought to himself as he shielded his ears with his hands. The arrow pierced Björk's chest with enough force to push him back a bit. Björk grabbed the shaft with his hand, about to pull it out.
"Adagio." Vox said softly.
A deafening noise filled the air, causing Aldrich to grimace. If he hadn't been covering them his ears might have started bleeding.
Finally, the noise quieted down, leaving a loud silence. Björk pulled the arrow out of his chest and dropped it.
It didn't work, Aldrich thought to himself. But Vox didn't seem as surprised as he was.
Björk took one step forward, and then suddenly fell over face first to the ground. The sword dropped as well.
Vox lowered his harp bow, letting out a sigh.
"Well wasn't that something." Shans commented, resting an elbow on Vox's shoulder. "What did you do to him exactly?"
"Burst his ear drums." Vox answered calmly. "With his sense of equilibrium severely debilitated, he should be immobilized for the time being."
Shans whistled. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."
Aldrich inched closer trying to see if he was still moving or not. "Is he... gonna be alright?"
"He'll be fine. Half orcs heal fast." Vox replied nonchalantly. "For now, we have bigger problems, like finding a way to get out of here so I don't have to do that again to every other knight we meet."
Aldrich nodded grimly. "These shadows, they bring your fears to light. I know who's behind them. I'm not sure how to find her though, she could be anywhere."
"I say we head west." Shans declared all of a sudden.
"What?" Aldrich asked. "Why west? Also, how can you even tell where west is?"
But Shans had already began to walk. Vox patted his shoulder as he walked past Aldrich and after Shans. "It's how we found you. I wouldn't worry about the details."
Aldrich took one last look at Björk lying on the ground before turning his back and running after them.