AETHER BEASTS

Chapter 203

Sandra had thought of a few ways the fight might start, but she had not once expected Pate to rip off a strip from his robe and tie it around his eyes as his two opponents charged him. The disciples hadn't waited for him and one had formed a blade of darkness around a hand while the other had used a technique that had lengthened his shadow before a copy of himself had appeared from it, matching his movements. It was a complex technique and the disciple must have had practice with it, though she could tell it was not that durable, and with what Zirani had taught her, she saw more than a dozen ways to improve it.

Instead of using a large amount of aether to create the copy, the disciple had a link that was constantly draining aether, not to mention that with the way the technique was, he wouldn't be able to change anything about the copy. No morphing limbs or changing shape.

'That's a good idea. Need to remember that.'

A good idea, but executed poorly, then again, it was still leagues above anything anybody in the plains could do, and she shouldn't be too harsh. He was only average in the lands beyond the scar and had probably created the technique by himself, which despite the flaws, was still impressive.

The way it moved was also fairly fluid, and if used right could be very effective.

The other disciple's dark blade seemed simple at first glance but she could see that it was actually poisoned. The disciple had a mix of dark and life, though she could tell, the poison was different from what Zirani and Aiden used and hadn't been made via aether change, so it was probably just a common type of poison.

'It's of the life affinity though, so it will be deadly.'

Pate didn't seem worried though as he waited for the disciples to near, or at least she assumed he was waiting. It would really anti-climatic if Kai's boast had been false, and Pate was ended in seconds.

Then, when his opponents were but a few feet away from him, Pate acted. Aether was pulled from his core far faster than she had ever seen, and two small metal spikes shot out from the middle and index fingers of his right hand while smokey darkness began to leak from his left hand. The spikes hit his opponents necks and made them stumble, allowing him to easily duck the poisoned Blade and spin to sweep the legs out from both the other disciple and the copy in a fluid motion.

Instead of using the opportunity to attack again, Pate jumped back.

"What's he doing?" Sandra asked.

Kai smiled. "Showing you what he can do."

Pate slammed his left hand down onto the ground, and darkness began to coat the earth, but it didn't remain that way. As the two arcanists got back to their feet, the darkness changed and seemed to shrink into itself to form dozens of thin lines upon the ground.

Pate's two opponents looked very nervous now, and she could see that they clearly knew they weren't going to win, but neither surrendered or backed down. The disciple with the copy used another technique to create a long spear of darkness that seemed to radiate heat while the other pressed his hands together before pulling them apart. What was revealed was a ball of dark smoke which the arcanist pushed outwards. It expanded into a wave as it moved, and both disciples used it for cover as they charged forwards.

She might not have noticed what really happened next if she hadn't been paying attention to the lines of the ground

The lines or more accurately, strings on the ground, moved each time something touched them. They shook like normal strings, though there was no sound to be heard.

"A detection web." Zirani sounded impressed and Sandra tilted her head, her eyes still on the fight.

She only half paid attention as Pate engaged the two in close quarters combat. He moved with simple yet extremely efficient movements, like a machine that knew exactly where and when to move. He could have easily ended the match multiple times, but as Kai had said, he was showing what he could, though Sandra had a feeling, he had only shown a small fraction of what he could do.

Her mind worked, and she began to understand what Pate had done and what the lines of darkness were for. Zirani had called it a detection web, and it made sense since Pate had blindfolded himself, though he hadn't had trouble in the first few seconds when he had used those spikes.

? ?? ??-?? ???. ??? 'Like a spiderweb,' she thought to herself.

"He's talented, I'll give you that," Zirani said, and Kai's chest puffed out.

Kai probably didn't like Zirani, but she was still Zirani Atmore, legendary fighter, and princess to the verdant court. Praise from her meant a lot.

"The main family thinks the same," Kai said, glancing at Sandra.

The rest of the fight went about as expected, and Pate showed his skills for a while longer before ending the fight by trapping bought his opponents in metal strings with spears of darkness rising from the ground to their necks.

Kai and the rest of the disciples clapped, and Sandra waited for a moment before she too clapped, though not as enthusiastically as the others.

Kai turned to Sandra as Pate helped the two disciples up. "So what did you think?"

"He's skilled," she said, deciding to be honest. "And his style and affinity combination is… interesting."

"Indeed," Zirani said and a thoughtful look appeared on her face before she shook her head.

"Well, I think that's enough for today."

Kai frowned. "But you've only been here an hour, there's still more to see and show you."

"Perhaps later," Sandra said, and because she knew it would annoy him, she added, "I promised Aiden I'd be back to meet him soon."

That was a lie but he didn't know that, and just as she had expected, his face darkened. "I see."

"That's a shame," Pate said as he walked back over to them. "I was hoping we could spend some time together, maybe spar and trade pointers. You are a daughter of the can after all, but if you made a promise then that it us understandable."

Sandra was surprised as she hadn't expected that.

'Pate doesn't seem too bad, but there's still something off about him.'

"This Aiden," Pate said. "He's a good fighter?"

"A very good fighter," Zirani replied. "I trained him."

Pate smiled and bowed to the jungle queen. "Then would you mind if he and I sparred?"

From the corner of her vision, Sandra saw a glint appear in Kai's eyes, and a creepy smile appeared on his face.

"A spar?" Zirani rubbed her chin and then a smoke appeared on her face. "Sure, but not tomorrow. In fact, why don't we make an event of it? One day before we leave, you two shall fight in the shared training area."

"Ok," Kai said, his smile growing.. "But let's add stakes. If we win then you must allow Sandra to stay with us on the return journey."

Zirani shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I do not control Sandra, she is free to make her own choices. Ask her."

Kai turned to Sandra who bit her lip as she thought about his words. Did she want to risk this? The thought of staying with Kai filled her with dread and disgust, but then she thought of Aiden. She smiled as she imagine how he'd reacted if he heard and the determination that would spark like fire in his eyes when she told him of the fight and the bet. She sometimes envied that about Aiden. That fearlessness and confidence, not arrogance. He didn't think himself unbeatable, nor did he think himself the greatest, but he did fully believe in his capability to move further up the mountain.

She and Misty wanted to get stronger, but not like Aiden. His sight was set on the top, for what she wasnt fully sure yet. They had talked about it some, but she still didn't know the full reason as to why he wanted to get there. Maybe he himself didn't fully know the reason yet?

With a final decision, she met Kai's eyes. "I agree, but if he wins, then both of you have to swear a loyalty oath to me."

Kai sputtered. "What!"

"That is unreasonable." Pate stepped forward. "You must know that."

She smiled and her heart beat like a drum as she spoke her next words. "Then I'll up things. If we win you swear full loyalty to me on behalf of your family." She took a deep breath and then let it out. "If you win, I will agree to marry Pate."

She felt someone grab her arms and then was pulled to look into Zirani eyes. Her friend did not shout or scream but spoke calmly. "Are you sure about this, Sandra?"

She smiled and thought of Aiden. "I believe in him, Zirani. I'm sure."

Zirani gave her a genuine smile before turning to Pate and Kai who both looked shocked.

"Well?"

"Give us a minute," Kai said before he pulled Pate away and they began speaking in hushed tones. A minute later they returned and Kai faced Sandra. "We agree. Shall we bind this?"

Zirani shook her head. "No need, if you break your word, then I will have your family wiped from the very annals of history after I use you as bait to lure some beasts for training on our return journey, and your brother is strong, he'd make a great gift to my aunt. She could use him as fertilizer for some of her more lively plants."

Sandra shivered, recognizing the tone from when she had questioned the twin horn disciple in the tower.

Kai nodded, his face having gone slightly pale. "I understand."

"Then we shall next meet in four days."

With that, Sandra and Zirani turned on their heels and left the Umbrin clan area.

As they walked Sandra caught Zirani staring at her, and turned to raise an eyebrow at the jungle queen. "What?"

Zirani smiled, and it was full of warmth for her. "Nothing, nothing at all."