376: In the background

In the background

A dwarf, covered in blood stood atop a large rock looking at the retreating army. Fighting his will to chase them and kill more. Fighting the anger and burning hatred that filled every fiber of his being. Fighting the will of his axe thirsting for blood.2

Behind him stood a line of blood and sweat soaked warriors, breathing heavily and near collapse. The fighting had continued for days on end. 

"Boran..." Firhin, the commander of the army carefully called out to their newly promoted lord. They had yet to hold a proper enthronement ceremony. It was not needed though. All the dwarves had accepted him as their new lord already. 

"Make camp, we shall push further tomorrow." The blood-soaked dwarf said, while he was covered in blood from beard to boot, his axe gleamed happily in the light of the few flames on the battlefield.

The axe appeared like a vicious beast, and to all those who had seen it in action it felt like it too. Like a demon it seemed to smile in the dark, absorbing all the blood that it came into contact with it like a vampire. 

Boran's armor was pitch black, if not for him being covered in blood it would be hard to see him. Strangely, his left arm had no armor. Instead, it shined blue in the dark, appearing like the scales of a dragon. 

"We shouldn't... The other cities-"

"If we do not push them completely back, they will just return once we turn around." Boran countered, looking towards their home as he realized that their ancestor has come. 

He ignored this calling and turned back towards the dark of the cavern where the kobolds had retreated into. "We move again tomorrow!"

...

A few days had passed and Eldrian had gotten his spells, along with this the tourney was about to start. During the past few days, he had continued to practice diligently, but he dared not leave the camp. He had this feeling that he was being observed, yet he could not find by whom. 

"That's enough, take a break," Vivian said as she came out of her tent. She was almost back to top strength, yet the scars of the fight were clearly visible. And not just the physical ones. Her eyes were hidden under dark bags that seemed to grow by the day. 

"It is never enough, not until I succeed," Eldrian replied as he struck again. He had not just drilled in the basics, he had also learned a few more of the Grigora skills. Trying to master them through technique and not magic. 

With each new skill he managed to properly perform without magic, the more he felt the world of fighting grew. Each time he learned a new method of using his spear as an extension of himself, he also learned a new way to use his spells. 

Like a petal falling, he moved gracefully from one movement to the next. As each surge in wind would carry the petal elsewhere, so did each other movement carry Eldrian.

He was now able to instantly cancel one movement and turn to another. Yet, when doing so he could not divert his attention to spells. This was his worry and focus. 

"I get that, but you still need to rest." Vivian said, jumping into his space and forcing him to stop. Instead, he moved around her like it was planned, landing his hit where he had envisioned for it to land. 

"Enough! At least come and eat something!"

Smirking, Eldrian finally stopped. Not because Vivian had shouted but rather because he had managed to blend the skills together. 

Yet, instead of doing as she asked he started dual casting Frost Needle while keeping his mana sense active. Following the flow of mana he made the two icicles dance as he tried to cast a third. While he failed, he did manage to keep the two dancing icicles from hitting each other as well as from breaking from his control. 

"Eldrian! Stop it!"

Sighing, Eldrian did just that. Recalling the scene when one of the players had called out to him whilst training and Vivian had overheard it. It had taken some time to explain to her that it was his real name and that most Chosen had chosen fake names for this world. 

"Alright, but only a short break," Eldrian said, letting the two icicles swan dive into the ground right next to each other. One thing he had learned he needed to practice was his aim with two spells. 

With one it was easy to get them to land where he wished, but with two it quickly became much harder. If he focused too much on one, then those instructions (or thoughts if you will) would interfere with the second. Causing it to stray from its target. 

Smiling at Vivian's anger, Eldrian followed her to the tent. She had prepared quite a hearty meal. The meat came from the supplies that were shared with everyone in the camp, the herbs came from gathering around the camp. 

Eldrian had been opposed to her going out. However, she did not take his warnings to heart. She doubted something would happen so close to camp when it was so busy. And so far she had been correct.

"Do you have room for a third?" Kydone asked, having made a habit of joining the two for dinner since two days ago. At first, she had just wanted to say hi, but after smelling the wonderful aroma she had quickly asked for a plate. Now she made sure to not skip a day. 

While she liked being alone, she missed hanging out with Evale who was constantly fighting. Kydone certainly did not wish to fight, she hated it. While she was worried for her friends and would go with her in the shadows every other day, she spent the rest of the time just relaxing. 

Smiling, Vivian gave Kydone a plate just as she asked. "Of course we do, but stop just appearing out of nowhere."

"I'm don't! It isn't my fault you can't see me walking towards you."

Laughing at the scene, Eldrian enjoyed the food while thinking of how he was going to solve his problem. 

'I still don't get how I should change my approach on controlling the spells. It feels so naturally doing it as I am doing... Is it even really what I need to focus on?'

...

Waking up IRL, Eldrian quickly finished his normal morning routine. Chatting a bit with Flavia and the others while eating and then going for a run. Meditating under his special tree that was now flowerless, and then returning for the matches for the day. 

Only, today it was not just the normal matches. As such, everyone met up in Elizabeth's virtual home ahead of time. 

Upon arriving Eldrian admired the decorations once again before heading to greet the others in the training grounds area. 

"What are the plans?" Zyviss asked once everyone had arrived. They all felt much more optimistic for the coming fights. With everyone now having a good weapon and plenty of experience, they felt they had a true shot. 

"Same as normal, we will stay together for the start and then fight as is suited to each of our styles. We aren't some kind of army that knows perfectly how to maintain a line or something. Instead, we know each other and how we fight, and where we need help. So let's help when we can, and hold out when we need help."

Everyone nodded to Elizabeth's 'plan'. Even after all this time it was true that they couldn't really fight together. They had never practiced how to and trying to imitate what they had first done back when they first formed the team would be dumb. 

Everyone had an idea of what the others could do, all they needed to do was do their best and adapt. 

"Also, I asked for a grassland for our match. Our opponents instead had asked for a rocky outcrop. This means we are likely fighting at least one or two mages focused in earth magic. Archers or rogues are also very likely as the place is perfect for hide and seek fighting."

A collective sigh filled the air as this was one of the styles their group hated most. 

...

"Why do you still insist that helping him will alter his path?" Tovack asked, he was currently not in his armor, making the wound across his face visible for all to see. A terrible scar that had robbed him of his sight. Inflicted many years ago yet impossible to repair due to the enemy that had inflicted it.

"Because for someone to reach our level he must grow without us changing his path."

"I still do not understand how giving someone help will alter their path. Is it not up to them to determine their way through all that life gives and takes? Is that not what you had told me when I was first blinded and at the edge of no return?"

"It isn't the same?"

"And why not? You offered me a way to continue being a service to my family. You gave me a reason to continue living. Yet, it was my blood and sweat that made it possible. It was my will that pushed me through those dark days. To allow me to grasp dynamic magic, to be able to see through it."

"Yet you are now stuck at this level." Amnur countered, only for Tovack to counter even fast. 

"Why do you say I am stuck? I am constantly still improving. Sure, I do not see myself breaking through Tier 10 before the end of my life. Be it at the end of a blade or age. But, it does not mean I can't still grow, that I can't still create my own way. My own legacy."

"We can't risk it, we are in dire need of more legends. While I can contest against the devil kings, I will have a hard time escaping from the Devil Emperor."

"And you think this new candidate would stand a better chance? Only Athtar can contend with the Devil Emperor, why compare yourself to them?"

"Because..." Amnur paused as he thought of all the time that has passed yet those memories which stayed as bright as day. The burning flames that kept him sane and focused on improving. His inspiration for his crafts.

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