by R. K. Star
Kaven got up from his seat and two of his maids carried over his oversized war hammer with some difficulty. The hammer was almost two metres long and at the end of the handle grip was a sharp point of a spear head. The head of the hammer had two symmetrical smashing faces with blunted and irregular tips at the end of each face. It had elegant gold patterns carved into the black alloy. The handle had leather wrapped around decorating it. Kaven took the weapon from the maids’ hands and waved it around with ease.
Gene drew his sword as did his reaeslave and maids. They all walk up to form a concave around Kaven. Kaven looked at them and waved his reaeslave and maids to back away. Kaven took a few small steps forward then lunge out bringing his war hammer in a cleaving motion from right to left. Gene’s maids crouched quickly follow by Gene then his reaeslave just in time before having their necks snapped. Before they could counter attack, Kaven brought the hammer back but swinging lower from left to right. The reaeslave rolled backwards and Gene brought his sword to his side to block the hammer allowing his two maids to charge at Kaven. Kaven stepped back and spun his hammer in reverse and smashed into the first maids head, killing her instantly. The hammer kept going for the second maid but she quickly stepped back before being struck. The maid came back quickly towards Kaven right side swinging furiously, Kaven parried all her swings easily with his hammer. Gene join in with his reaeslave and the three of them were on the offensive now trying to find an opening to pierce or slice his flesh. The three of them didn’t give much trouble for Kaven, he maneuvered them around then jabbed his hammer on the chest of the reaeslave and slashed across the chest of Gene with the pointed end. The maid attempted to lunge forward to skewer him but he thrusted the end of his hammer and pierced through her throat. Kaven pulled the hammer back leaving a large cavity in her throat. She stumbled backwards gasping for air and falling to the ground and her blood stained the green vegetation red. Gene came back trying to cut him but Kaven’s hammer found his way to his chest and Gene could feel his rib cage being shatter from the force of the hammer. The hammer knock Gene far back leaving him immobilized. Kaven walked towards to the reaeslave who was still coughing and gasping at the same time, he tried to crawl away. Kaven brought his hammer up and smashed it down on his right leg, tearing muscle and ligament apart, his bone crushed. The reaeslave screamed in agony as he turned his head slightly to see a smirk on Kaven face. Kaven brought his hammer up again and down on his back, smashing through his spinal cord and into his organs. The forced sent the fluids and solids in his stomach and intestines out through orifices of the nose, mouth and anus. Kaven rested his hammer down as he looked at Gene who was unconscious now and waved for his maids to retrieve him.
29
Highnar outskirts, Yhonar
Daily training began dulling her mind and she was exhausted, Layana found herself trailing away from the training area. One day she found a poster advertising a festival in Highnar. She had never been to a festival and had to check this out. Jhan had advised her not to go and stick to her training but she started getting accustomed to ordering her servants around. She ordered her reaeslave to take her back to Highnar for the festival. As much as he was displeased that she didn’t take his advice he was in no place to object with his daigon.
On her way to Highnar she enjoyed the sounds of the birds chirping and the insects cricketing. The fresh scent of the wild flowers was comforting to the saline taste of air by the sea.
They travel in a decorative vehicle with a sleek dark navy blue exterior metal framework. The inside of the vehicle was fashioned with wood carved seats with satin cushions. The front seats faced backwards. The roof was open allowing the breeze to blow in as the vehicle traversed. This position arrangement allowed for everyone to speak openly with face contact, the same way sitting in an open table would. It was a very simply design vehicle for comfort and luxury. There was plenty of space for each passenger as it was only meant to hold four. It sacrificed storage space for arm and leg space, allowing you to stretch your leg out as far as you like without hindering upon the opposing passenger. The vehicle didn’t use any fuel or electricity as that was a hazard. Fuel and electricity could be manipulated and someone could cause the vehicle to explode from a distance, if they were skilled enough. Therefore, most people preferred to travel in vehicles that were moved by the mind. Underneath there was an elaborate mechanism of gears upon gears. Kristen was rotating a small gear telekinetically which in turn rotated other gears that rotated the axis of the bars responsible for accelerating the vehicle. The faster Kristen rotated the gear the faster the vehicle went. Kristen and Katelyn would take turns accelerating to prevent excessive drainage of their focus. Jhan was controlling the tilt of the wheels thereby controlling the direction of the vehicle. The direction, acceleration and braking could all be controlled by one person but that requires significant mental focus and can only be sustained for short distances before the mind becomes fatigued. The vehicle pulled up towards a massive city gate that dwarf the vehicle. Layana assumed the gate was over ten metres in height made of reinforced metal, probably a steel alloy type.
“Welcome your excellence,” the gateman looked into Layana’s eye and greeted her as they approached to the gate.
“How come he addressed me as excellence?” Layana whispered to Jhan while Kristen was filling out some paper work the gateman handed over.
“It’s a very simple greeting for someone of status,” Jhan replied.
“Why didn’t he address me as daigon?”
“Daigon is an esteem position and there is no way he would know that. There are many people who hold different titles that can be referred to as an excellence from a daigon to a wealthy business man. Your excellence is a generic greeting and is nothing special. Daigon is a prestigious title and cannot be conferred unless it’s designated. A daigon can be addressed as a daigon or an excellency without insult but a wealthy business man cannot be address as daigon. It prevents shaming a lesser tittle the embarrassment of having to correct the greeter while the greeter still grants the guest with honourable honourifics.”
“The honoured guests are not from this city?” The gate man questioned while waiting for Kristen.
“We are here for the festivals,” Jhan replied
“May I have the privilege of welcoming…”
“You are in the presence and have the privilege of welcoming Layana Nito, Daigon of Honar and the Watnar district,” Katelyn announced.
“Be praised, my daigon.” The gateman came out of his booth and gave a courtesy bow. He was a tall and lanky man with a pale fair skin but with an enduring face. He waved for them to enter without further checking the paper work Kristen had returned.
Jhan parked the vehicle and scramble the gear locking mechanism. If someone was to steal the vehicle they must go through trial and error over the thousands of possibilities before the gears realign into position for it to operate. If the vehicle was left unattended in the open for months and someone was determined to steal it they would be able to release the lock.
The streets were pack side by side with booths of the local farmers and artisans. Layana could imagine the scale of the festival, there was no festival on Earth that was comparable. She walked through the street and passed the booths, she didn’t need anything but was curious of everything. There was a thrill to life again being able to do something normal but she wasn’t normal anymore. It was oddly satisfying hearing the merchants calling for her. They could tell she was an upper-class person and wanted to sell her their goods. The day passed as she sampled a few of the local beverages and culinary gourmet snacks from the various vendors before arriving at another street performance.
People made way as Layana approached forward. She saw four people performing their acrobatic gymnastic routine. All four had costumes on with matching masks obscuring their face. They wore tight fitting clothes and she could tell from their silhouettes the group composed for three men and one woman. Two of the men where big and muscular
, the woman had wide hips and was full chested. The last man was much taller but very skinny. They finished their routine of flipping and tossing each other and went to get props for their next act. The first two men pulled out swords. The woman retrieved a halberd and the skinny man grabbed a hold of a chain that had a blade on the end. Swords began to clash and the men showed off their marital arts. The lady walked over to opposite side of the crowd and started swinging her halberd furiously. People clapped and cheer loudly impressed with their physical strengths. Finally, the man with the chain began twirling the chain in front of her. She was captivated with his movements of the chain. He was quick and flicked the chain back and forth with ease. There was something about his movement that resembles the water swordplay technique Qunor had given her.
Jhan tapped on her shoulder. “Let’s get going my daigon.” Layana nodded and turned around.
“Watch out my daigon,” Kristen saw the blade fly from the chain and turned her body to push Layana to the side. The crowd erupted in a manic scream. “Arghhh,” she recognized the sound of Kristen voice again.
Jhan grabbed her and pulled her back shielding her with his body. “Kristen and Katelyn, protect us. We must get out of her my daigon.” He continued to pull her away.
Layana turn her head back to see the blade had pierced Kristen right shoulder. The crowd was frantic and backed away, hiding behind the booths but didn’t run away. Everyone kept their distance but stayed to see what was happening. It was different compared to Earth, they seem to know they were in no real danger and that this acrobatic troupe was only targeting her.
The men with the swords charged forward at Kristen but Katelyn intercepted them by throwing a few of her three prong shurikens. Katelyn pulled out two small daggers from her hidden sheath while Kristen pulled two sabre strapped on her thighs.
The woman with the halberd swung her weapon at Kristen who managed to parry it quickly but didn’t have the strength to push her off with an injured shoulder. The man released his chain again and again trying to inflict a mortal wound on her but she was managing to dodge but was expending her energy at an accelerated rate. Katelyn wasn’t doing well against the two men, she was quick but was only on the defensive and fatiguing herself.
“They’re going to die Jhan, we have to help them.”
“It’s their job to protect their daigon. They know what they are doing. You must get out of here, we can’t risk your safety. The maids can easily be replaced.”
Jhan continued to pull her away as everyone stared but no one helped. She couldn’t leave them there to die. They were her maids but also friends she never had. She still didn’t understand the culture here and how people were to be replaced so easily.
Layana pulled back against Jhan. “We have to help them.”
“No! My daigon, we must leave!”
“Are you sworn to serve and obey me Jhan.”
Jhan looked at her with hesitant lips. “I’m bound to serve you, my daigon.”
“Then go help Katelyn, I’m going to help Kristen.”
“I lived over five hundred years and never seen a daigon as foolish as you,” Jhan stared at her. She wasn’t sure if he was going to help or leave her. “Yes, my daigon,” Jhan said reluctantly as he pulled out two long thin daggers hidden from his side.
She grabbed her whip sword and looked the skinny man straight in the eye, his gazed met hers and then they both charged. She could feel her heart beating like a loud subwoofer against her ribcage. Her hands were shaking and her palms sweaty. She grasped extra hard on the hilt to get a firm hold. The moisture made it feel as if the sword may slip from her hand. This wasn’t a practice fight, no one would go easy on her.
The skinny man released his blade as she approached, his weapon had a longer range. She quickly turned to the side barely evading the blade. Sweat was dripping from her forehead now and she could feel her body heat up and the fabric clung to her skin. The man pulled his blade back and released it again. She swung her blade to parry it and the force upon impact knock the hilt slightly out of her grasp. She clenched even harder on the handle afraid she might be disarmed. He twirled and swung his chain at her, this time she blocked it but the chain bounced off her blade and whipped her across the face leaving a red mark.
A few more steps and she was within striking distance. The adrenaline in her body had turned to rage now. She was clenching harder and harder on her teeth and all her facial muscle tighten and tensed up her expression but she wasn’t aware of it. She screamed in fury as she whipped her sword at the man. His skinny frame allowed for exaggerated flexibility and he was also very quick. He was able to dodge quickly and counter attack. He struck her again and again with the chain bruising her face, arms, legs and body but wasn’t able to inflict a mortal wound with the blade. After each strike she received, she got more enraged and let her heart take over her movement instead of her brain. She swung wildly desperate to cut him but was leaving herself open. She channeled her energy into the force with every swing but he was able to block it. Her muscles began to ache from pain and from over exertion. Her blade began to feel heavy as did her arms and legs. She was using up her reserve strength like a mad woman.
The masked woman slipped and lost her balance and Kristen was able to kick her back. Kristen was losing and this was her first strike against her, only because she slipped. The mask woman grunted as the foot landed in her crotch region.
The skinny man turned for a second to look at his female accomplice. Layana saw she had an opening for a split second and she unlinked her blade segments and relinked them again. “Forward slice,” she cried and the energy surged forward cutting through his chain then from the top on his shoulder down to his inner thigh. In a moment of distraction, he forgot to strengthen his chain.
Layana stood there panting heavily while looking at her opponent. He looked back at her and then fell to the ground, split into two pieces. The crowded screamed in horror. Layana went towards the woman with the halberd who swung her halberd once more at Kristen knocking her back then giving a loud whistle before fleeing.
The two men heard the whistle and began to flee as well. Kristen, Katelyn and Jhan didn’t give chase. They were all exhausted. Kristen suffered a major wound to her shoulder as well as many bruises and some fractures she was not yet aware of. Katelyn and Jhan both had many cuts with several big black and purple contusions. If they had to flight a moment longer they would have all been dead.
“We need to leave,” Jhan said with great difficulty as he struggled for air.
“Wait,” Layana ordered as she went up to the skinny man to remove his mask. She recognized the pale face of the enduring man.
“We need to leave now my daigon!” Jhan shouted with urgency. He pulled at her and they began to flee.
“Stop!” Someone shouted. A might of around a hundred troops quickly encircled them preventing their escape. “You are under arrest for murder!”
Layana gripped tightly onto Jhan arm. She was too weak, she could feel her heart throbbing to bring oxygen to her tissue. There was a tingling sensation throughout her body which she assumed was a second wave of adrenaline releasing into her body. She wondered if she was going to die today.
“We were only acting under self defence. Everyone here witnessed the event and can vouch for us,” Jhan replied.
“We’ll make a complete investigation but first we must detain you four. Put down your weapons and kneel on the ground with your hand on the back of your head.”
“This is Layana Nito, the Dai…”
“Enough talking if you don’t cooperate, we will restrain you by force.” He waved his hand forward ordering his might to apprehend them.
“Silence!” Layana shouted with a voice that traverse through the street, she didn’t even know that voice came from her. “Who are you to detain me! I am the Daigon of the Watnar district, you have better watch your tongue as you speak to me!”
Jhan and the maids looked at their daigon with astonish
ment. The might was a bit hesitant to move and look back at their commanding officer.
“Kylan Scall was the Daigon of Watnar but after his demise, there has not been anyone sworn into that seat. I do not know you Madame Nito but you have better calm down and follow my instructions. Drop your weapon and get on your knees, now! Arrest them.” The might continue forward surrounding around them.
“If you force my hand I will carve you into pieces as well!” Layana whipped her sword once creating a loud cracking noise and holding her blade out.
“My daigon, this is not wise. We cannot hope to defeat a might as large as this alone. Especially not in our condition, lets surrender and figure it out from there on,” whispered Jhan.
“I’m am a daigon, won’t this look bad on my reputation? I must show my strength,” Layana whispered back.
A group on men from the might charge her. She pulled her sword back and whipped it sideways. “Lateral slice,” she shouted. The men reinforced their swords as the force knocked them back.
“The first dance, water walk, water swordplay. Impressive, you have quite the force.” The man drew his sword and approached.
A rose red light emerged in a great spectacle and a man came out from light. It was Peter Doto. Many more flashes of light appeared as his might arrived. “Greetings Chancellor Visio,” Peter called.
“Chancellor Doto, what are you doing in my region of the city?” He re-sheathed his sword and waved his men to hold their position.
“I’m here to assist Daigon Nito. She seems to be injured. I must help her out of this hostile environment.”