Untold secrets - Nebris Chapter Magics and Hierarchs Chapter 5
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mindcrackloveThe most requested person was Nebris, so here's his chapter. He'll be coming back obviously, so look forward to more characters and probably two separate story arcs. But for now just read, enjoy, and comment on who you want next chapter to be about.
Note: Brick of text later in the chapter, so prepare your eyes (sorry, but no good way to split it apart)
Other Note: sexual concepts named and partially discussed, but nothing graphic or overly descriptive, so it's probably fine, but a warning nonetheless
This is certainly an odd evening, I thought in my nearly unaware state. I could only see the outline of a body in front of me. I couldn’t tell who it was, what color hair they had or even their gender or height. Just an outline really. My head throbbed where I had been struck by the assassin we were supposed to kill. Of course that hadn’t worked, as he had instead struck me down, but I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to get him. I knew I could, and even though I had no knowledge of where I was or what I was being held by, a smirk crept onto my face.
“Rise and shine, Mr. Smiles!” came an overly loud voice from right next to me. I groaned in pain from the volume of the voice. It was like the voice of a god and a lion’s roar had been mixed. I felt more woozy now and I tried to move my arms to my head to massage the area, but they were tied by something behind my back. Damn, I thought. I can’t even get rid of this headache and I’m being held prisoner by the loudest thing in existence. The voice came again, but at a much more reasonable volume now. Must have been my headache making it seem louder. I opened my eyes for a moment before I had to close them again at the uncomfortable light levels. I tried once more, and it was much better. I gazed around the room I was in, taking in the people and things around me. There were two others who I didn’t immediately recognize tied to pillars on either side of me, and five looking down at me and the other two. The one closest to me bent down and looked me in the eyes. Good, I thought. He’ll be the first to go down. And he’s also the one who struck me down before.
“So,” he began. “Who are you and why were you trying to kill me and my friends?” I decided I didn’t need to answer any questions, so I put up a mental shield to keep any overflow power from alerting him or anyone else. I then opened up my mind and began to focus on his. I caressed it and eased some information out of him. Etho was his name. He was the most powerful assassin on our continent. I wonder if he’ll enjoy being thrown around like a ragdoll in a moment. But I felt a push back against me. I knew the feeling of trying to get someone out of their minds, so I withdrew quickly before I became snared in his. He grabbed onto my shirt and moved closely into my face.
“What were you doing just then?” he asked, seemingly very angry. I would be if someone knew how to tamper with my thoughts.
“Nothing,” I replied innocently. “But now I’ll do something if you really want me to.” I pushed my mind into a force around his body and pushed. His eyes grew wide as he first saw my violet eyes begin to shine and just a moment later felt himself being thrown backwards against the wall. He landed with a sharp cracking sound, and I felt his body take a large jolt from the impact. He must’ve been able to throw a shield around himself, or else he would’ve died from that impact, I thought. Shame. I’d have loved to see him splattered onto the wall. I then let out a soft chuckle before another man came up to me. Fine, you’ll suffer the same, I told myself. I put my mind into the force I had used previously and tried to pick the man up. It didn’t work. He remained rooted to the ground. I looked up into his eyes sharply and gasped at whom I saw. Paul? My commander had told me he was dead after retiring from the army almost thirty years ago. How was he still alive, here standing in front of me?
“Hello soldier. I take it you know who I am from the look on your face. So, why don’t you and I have a chat without any magical influence. Doc, give me the potions I asked for.” A man next to him in a white lab coat complied with his command and he was given three bottles.
“Drink up,” he said, pushing the head of the fist into my mouth and letting the bitter potion hit my tongue and forced me to swallow. I sat there for a moment, gasping at the effects. I no longer felt my connection to the sphere of power all mages had. I felt weak and alone without it.
“What did you do to me?” I asked, in pain and anger at what he had done. He simply thrust another bottle into my mouth and forced me to drink this one as well.
“Well,” he started once my mouth was once again empty of the contents of the bottle. “The first was a blinding potion, but I had it modified to keep you unaware of your magical connection. The one I just gave you is a pain killer, because this one might hurt a little.” And he shoved the uncorked bottle into my mouth. And he was right. It hurt like hell! The fiery liquid ran down my throat and into my stomach, filling me with a burning sensation in every limb and extremity. I felt it soak into my mind and keep me from thinking straight. I just felt numb all over, so I just accepted what was happening. Not like it can get worse, I thought.
“So,” Paul’s voice rang out again. “That was a truth serum. You’re going to tell me anything I want, right?”
“Of course,” I replied without hesitation. Wait, what did I just agree to? I tried to fight back against the haze, but it just burned against my mind, so I fell back into silence. I cursed in my mind, but even that hurt.
“What is your name?” Paul asked this and what seemed to be an almost endless amount of questions about me and about my mission. I answered almost immediately every time. At each new correct answer I gave, my head began to clear slightly. By the time he had to stop for a moment to catch his breath, the potion was almost entirely gone. But I felt no need to fight back anymore. Secrets were what kept me going. I now had none to keep, all of them revealed. I had no willpower to fight back. I felt completely subdued, only a fraction of who I was. Then Paul turned back, a pitying look on his face.
“Why do you not fight back, Nebris? I know the elixir is now worn off, so what is your reason to keep restrained like this?”
“I have no more need to. All of my secrets have been ousted and I have no more lies that hold against the real information I gave you. I have nothing else to hide or fight back for.” He cursed and when he turned back to face me, I saw the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes. He seemed genuinely sorry for what he did. He took me into an embrace, muttering his apologies. I simply took it and looked on the other faces around the room and scanned them for names. Etho, the leader obviously, Pause, his assistant, Doc M, the one who made the potions, and one other mage I couldn’t break through. He had a devious smile and a terrifying light to his eyes. I decided to keep clear of him as much as possible. He was dangerous and powerful and there was a hidden darkness with him as well. I turned my gaze to Paul, who had broken away from me, and he began to talk.
“I am so sorry to have done this to you Nebris. I know I can’t ever make this right again, but I’ll try.” He motioned the other four over and asked them an odd question, but I realized he was doing it for my sake.
“Please, all of you. Tell Nebris your most valued and most well hidden secret. I know he was an enemy, but I have ruined him and I cannot live with knowing that.” He then whispered into my ear, saying something I never would have expected, a confession.
“I left the army because I had a relationship with a female soldier and I made her pregnant. I felt guilty at leaving her, so I left the army, with a note saying I had gone off to face a group of enemy assassins, and they assumed I was dead.” He then got up and motioned for the rest to do the same as what he had. I was shocked. Paul was sharing with me a secret like that? And he knew what it would do to his reputation if I told someone. But I felt something inside of me grow larger with the information. It was something I was not accustomed to and I felt an immense amount of pleasure at what he shared with me. A secret of unparalleled value, one that he trusted me with. I knew I then had to do something. I needed to change my loyalties. Before Etho leaned down to tell me something as well, I looked over to Baj and said something he must’ve been expecting from his disapproving look.
“Sorry, but I am not going to stay loyal to someone like you, Council Member Baj. Tell Pyro and Milbee that they need a new mage to help them with experiments.” He just shook his head in anger and turned away. Paul looked at me with happy eyes, and I smiled up at him and nodded my thanks. It wasn’t a smirk, but one of actual happiness. But I soon switched back to a smirk because it definitely wasn’t in my nature to be sappy and sweet. Etho then leaned in to tell me something.
“Well, this is going to sound odd, but I think you can handle it. I would love to see some of the interesting things you talked about for hobbies before. Maybe you should tell me more about your ribbons and pole dancing?” I gaped at his request and then we both began to blush. He continued.
“But for a secret, I have a collection of knives that have been painted to look like butterflies. They were from my childhood, when I wanted some butterfly knives, but my friends played a joke on me and gave me those. I keep them sharp and on occasion, I have used them on solo missions.” I nodded my understanding, and replied, saying, “Why don’t you bring those when I show you my ribbons?” He just blushed again and pulled up his mask, turning to leave. Then Doc took his place.
“I sometimes have conversations with the herb plants I work with, simply because I have no one else to talk to. I make conversations with them, using my own information, but I give them personalities and I have often come up with ideas from my one-sided conversations.” I nodded again, and then Pause leaned in.
“Well, I suppose my secretive… thing is that I really respect Etho, but I try to make it look like I’m a badass and play it off. He deserves the titles he’s gotten and I’m jealous, but supportive of him. I’d die for him in a heartbeat.” I nodded, saying, “Your secret will be safe with me. Lips are sealed.” He thanked me and stood to leave. Then the last man kneeled down in front of me. He took off his hood and goggles, and looked me in the eyes with an intense stare. And his eyes. They were wonderful and strange at the same time. For a few moments after he had taken off his goggles, his eyes were deep black orbs, no white around the pupils and irises, but they changed into a clear blue just a moment later. The blue was so pure and bright that I could see a hint of my reflection in them. I held his gaze, trying to figure him out the entirety of the time he was talking.
“I don’t just think of Aureylian as a younger sibling. She is so kind and sweet, but I love her in a way that I hope she finally gets to see my feelings for her. I want to propose later this year, but only if she is completely ready. And as for who she is, you’ll meet her soon.” And he stood up and spoke a few words of power, and the restraints broke. His eyes had changed again when he cast the spell, and I made note of it. I knew from his secrecy when guarding his mind that he had shown me his eyes intentionally.
“Since we’re done with Nebris here, why don’t you, Doc, Vechs and Nebris go back to our base to heal her,” Paul told Etho. He nodded and Paul continued. “It would be more useful to do both things at once. Just wait for a few minutes while Doc makes enough truth serum for the other two.” So Doc and Paul went off to make more potions, Pause and Vechs went over to talk in one part of the room, so it was just Etho and I over with the prisoners. I began to blush, but I got out what I wanted to say.
“So, I’m going to go get my pack from my quarters. Do you want to do the same and meet up on the roof?” He nodded and went out the doors in the direction of the leaders’ building. I ran off to the troops’ quarters and grabbed all of my supplies. I looked down at the deep violet ribbons in my hands and laid them gently on top of my clothes and few other belongings. I rushed back into the building and up to the roof to see Etho there already.
“Took you a while,” he called out to me tauntingly. I chuckled and ran over to him. We sat there for a minute in silence before Etho spoke up.
“So was there a reason you wanted to meet on the roof?” he asked, seeming intrigued.
Yeah… I know you wanted to see me dance with my ribbons, so I thought we could dance together.” He looked confused for a moment, and I leaned in close to his face. I saw his eyes widen in surprise, but he relaxed a moment later. I then thrust nine inches of icy cold steel into his throat. He backed up slightly and leapt up. He then realized what I meant to do.
“Well, I hope you know the steps to my dance, because I won’t hold back on you in the slightest. I simply smirked at him, exuding an aura of confidence. I had replaced my dagger in its sheath and drew my rapier with its amethyst encrusted hand-guard. I was trying to influence his mind, as was my specialty. He seemed to waver for a moment at the pressure of my presence. It was then that I rushed the shorter ninja. I lunged with my rapier fully extended and out for the blood of my opponent. Etho narrowly dodged to the side of my blow and came at me with a kunai knife aimed at my throat. I simply adjusted the crosspiece of a parrying dagger that I had drawn to intercept his attack. We continued on for nearly a half hour, my purple flowing ribbons trailing behind me at every lunge, parry and dodge. Etho looked comfortable, but needed to work for any real breathing room. I continued a constant onslaught of attacks, only dodging and parrying when absolutely necessary. I finally decided to finish any toying nature still in my mind and focused everything onto the battlefield. No mind-games, no tricks, simple skill in combat taking over every muscle in my body. I felt a flow of fiery strength in my veins and moments before I lost myself, the image of a violet and black dragon soared through my mind. I rushed Etho with newfound strength and willpower and soon afterwards, I felt a change in my style, unconsciously shifting to counter Etho. I took a moment to reflect, and looked at it as my mind adapting, given that’s how I usually did things. I felt my moves flow more easily now and I focused on a more mixed offensive and defensive technique. I blocked more, wearing out Etho, who needed more power to break through my more powerful defenses. In five minutes, Etho was standing almost across the roof from me, panting and breathing heavily. I saw the perfect chance then and took it. I took a step backwards, and leapt as far as I could in Etho’s direction. He readied himself, but I moved my rapier in a distracting way, cuasing him to take his eyes off of my other hand, which held a dagger cloaked in an icy darkness, and I threw it. It flew at his left hand and the unexpected blow caused the knife to fly from his hands. I landed, my silk ribbons flying behind me, and rushed at Etho, right hand extended with a long, curved dagger. I made contact with his only remaining defense and after a power struggle that took most of my energy to break through, his knife flew from his hand and off of the roof. His eyes followed the dagger until it fell out of sight, and he looked back to me. I leaned in close once again and dropped my rapier and dagger. I took his left cheek into my hand and moved one hand to drop his bluish mask down off of his face. He began to blush once more and I leaned in to kiss him gently on the lips. He returned the kiss, but I broke away, leaving him wanting more. I then danced away to the other side of the roof where my pack was, replaced the ribbons into the pack, and lifted it to my shoulders. I looked back to Etho, who still hadn’t moved, and blew him a kiss before moving to the stairwell and going down. I knew I had captured the man’s feelings and even though I had tried to avoid it, he had taken mine for him and grown them to a point where it nearly hurt to think about him. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and went back down to see how everyone else was doing. It was good to finally fit with a group that respected me as well as find a caring person to fight and have a nice time with. I made a point to do that again. It was enjoyable to have that kind of interaction. Once over to Vechs, he asked him about their plans to go back to their home.
“We’ll go in a few hours, once everyone gets some rest. That okay?”
“Of course,” he replied, and smiled to himself. Plenty of time to work Etho to the edge and keep him there, wanting. He chuckled as he walked back to Etho, the only one he knew really mattered.
Note: Brick of text later in the chapter, so prepare your eyes (sorry, but no good way to split it apart)
Other Note: sexual concepts named and partially discussed, but nothing graphic or overly descriptive, so it's probably fine, but a warning nonetheless
This is certainly an odd evening, I thought in my nearly unaware state. I could only see the outline of a body in front of me. I couldn’t tell who it was, what color hair they had or even their gender or height. Just an outline really. My head throbbed where I had been struck by the assassin we were supposed to kill. Of course that hadn’t worked, as he had instead struck me down, but I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to get him. I knew I could, and even though I had no knowledge of where I was or what I was being held by, a smirk crept onto my face.
“Rise and shine, Mr. Smiles!” came an overly loud voice from right next to me. I groaned in pain from the volume of the voice. It was like the voice of a god and a lion’s roar had been mixed. I felt more woozy now and I tried to move my arms to my head to massage the area, but they were tied by something behind my back. Damn, I thought. I can’t even get rid of this headache and I’m being held prisoner by the loudest thing in existence. The voice came again, but at a much more reasonable volume now. Must have been my headache making it seem louder. I opened my eyes for a moment before I had to close them again at the uncomfortable light levels. I tried once more, and it was much better. I gazed around the room I was in, taking in the people and things around me. There were two others who I didn’t immediately recognize tied to pillars on either side of me, and five looking down at me and the other two. The one closest to me bent down and looked me in the eyes. Good, I thought. He’ll be the first to go down. And he’s also the one who struck me down before.
“So,” he began. “Who are you and why were you trying to kill me and my friends?” I decided I didn’t need to answer any questions, so I put up a mental shield to keep any overflow power from alerting him or anyone else. I then opened up my mind and began to focus on his. I caressed it and eased some information out of him. Etho was his name. He was the most powerful assassin on our continent. I wonder if he’ll enjoy being thrown around like a ragdoll in a moment. But I felt a push back against me. I knew the feeling of trying to get someone out of their minds, so I withdrew quickly before I became snared in his. He grabbed onto my shirt and moved closely into my face.
“What were you doing just then?” he asked, seemingly very angry. I would be if someone knew how to tamper with my thoughts.
“Nothing,” I replied innocently. “But now I’ll do something if you really want me to.” I pushed my mind into a force around his body and pushed. His eyes grew wide as he first saw my violet eyes begin to shine and just a moment later felt himself being thrown backwards against the wall. He landed with a sharp cracking sound, and I felt his body take a large jolt from the impact. He must’ve been able to throw a shield around himself, or else he would’ve died from that impact, I thought. Shame. I’d have loved to see him splattered onto the wall. I then let out a soft chuckle before another man came up to me. Fine, you’ll suffer the same, I told myself. I put my mind into the force I had used previously and tried to pick the man up. It didn’t work. He remained rooted to the ground. I looked up into his eyes sharply and gasped at whom I saw. Paul? My commander had told me he was dead after retiring from the army almost thirty years ago. How was he still alive, here standing in front of me?
“Hello soldier. I take it you know who I am from the look on your face. So, why don’t you and I have a chat without any magical influence. Doc, give me the potions I asked for.” A man next to him in a white lab coat complied with his command and he was given three bottles.
“Drink up,” he said, pushing the head of the fist into my mouth and letting the bitter potion hit my tongue and forced me to swallow. I sat there for a moment, gasping at the effects. I no longer felt my connection to the sphere of power all mages had. I felt weak and alone without it.
“What did you do to me?” I asked, in pain and anger at what he had done. He simply thrust another bottle into my mouth and forced me to drink this one as well.
“Well,” he started once my mouth was once again empty of the contents of the bottle. “The first was a blinding potion, but I had it modified to keep you unaware of your magical connection. The one I just gave you is a pain killer, because this one might hurt a little.” And he shoved the uncorked bottle into my mouth. And he was right. It hurt like hell! The fiery liquid ran down my throat and into my stomach, filling me with a burning sensation in every limb and extremity. I felt it soak into my mind and keep me from thinking straight. I just felt numb all over, so I just accepted what was happening. Not like it can get worse, I thought.
“So,” Paul’s voice rang out again. “That was a truth serum. You’re going to tell me anything I want, right?”
“Of course,” I replied without hesitation. Wait, what did I just agree to? I tried to fight back against the haze, but it just burned against my mind, so I fell back into silence. I cursed in my mind, but even that hurt.
“What is your name?” Paul asked this and what seemed to be an almost endless amount of questions about me and about my mission. I answered almost immediately every time. At each new correct answer I gave, my head began to clear slightly. By the time he had to stop for a moment to catch his breath, the potion was almost entirely gone. But I felt no need to fight back anymore. Secrets were what kept me going. I now had none to keep, all of them revealed. I had no willpower to fight back. I felt completely subdued, only a fraction of who I was. Then Paul turned back, a pitying look on his face.
“Why do you not fight back, Nebris? I know the elixir is now worn off, so what is your reason to keep restrained like this?”
“I have no more need to. All of my secrets have been ousted and I have no more lies that hold against the real information I gave you. I have nothing else to hide or fight back for.” He cursed and when he turned back to face me, I saw the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes. He seemed genuinely sorry for what he did. He took me into an embrace, muttering his apologies. I simply took it and looked on the other faces around the room and scanned them for names. Etho, the leader obviously, Pause, his assistant, Doc M, the one who made the potions, and one other mage I couldn’t break through. He had a devious smile and a terrifying light to his eyes. I decided to keep clear of him as much as possible. He was dangerous and powerful and there was a hidden darkness with him as well. I turned my gaze to Paul, who had broken away from me, and he began to talk.
“I am so sorry to have done this to you Nebris. I know I can’t ever make this right again, but I’ll try.” He motioned the other four over and asked them an odd question, but I realized he was doing it for my sake.
“Please, all of you. Tell Nebris your most valued and most well hidden secret. I know he was an enemy, but I have ruined him and I cannot live with knowing that.” He then whispered into my ear, saying something I never would have expected, a confession.
“I left the army because I had a relationship with a female soldier and I made her pregnant. I felt guilty at leaving her, so I left the army, with a note saying I had gone off to face a group of enemy assassins, and they assumed I was dead.” He then got up and motioned for the rest to do the same as what he had. I was shocked. Paul was sharing with me a secret like that? And he knew what it would do to his reputation if I told someone. But I felt something inside of me grow larger with the information. It was something I was not accustomed to and I felt an immense amount of pleasure at what he shared with me. A secret of unparalleled value, one that he trusted me with. I knew I then had to do something. I needed to change my loyalties. Before Etho leaned down to tell me something as well, I looked over to Baj and said something he must’ve been expecting from his disapproving look.
“Sorry, but I am not going to stay loyal to someone like you, Council Member Baj. Tell Pyro and Milbee that they need a new mage to help them with experiments.” He just shook his head in anger and turned away. Paul looked at me with happy eyes, and I smiled up at him and nodded my thanks. It wasn’t a smirk, but one of actual happiness. But I soon switched back to a smirk because it definitely wasn’t in my nature to be sappy and sweet. Etho then leaned in to tell me something.
“Well, this is going to sound odd, but I think you can handle it. I would love to see some of the interesting things you talked about for hobbies before. Maybe you should tell me more about your ribbons and pole dancing?” I gaped at his request and then we both began to blush. He continued.
“But for a secret, I have a collection of knives that have been painted to look like butterflies. They were from my childhood, when I wanted some butterfly knives, but my friends played a joke on me and gave me those. I keep them sharp and on occasion, I have used them on solo missions.” I nodded my understanding, and replied, saying, “Why don’t you bring those when I show you my ribbons?” He just blushed again and pulled up his mask, turning to leave. Then Doc took his place.
“I sometimes have conversations with the herb plants I work with, simply because I have no one else to talk to. I make conversations with them, using my own information, but I give them personalities and I have often come up with ideas from my one-sided conversations.” I nodded again, and then Pause leaned in.
“Well, I suppose my secretive… thing is that I really respect Etho, but I try to make it look like I’m a badass and play it off. He deserves the titles he’s gotten and I’m jealous, but supportive of him. I’d die for him in a heartbeat.” I nodded, saying, “Your secret will be safe with me. Lips are sealed.” He thanked me and stood to leave. Then the last man kneeled down in front of me. He took off his hood and goggles, and looked me in the eyes with an intense stare. And his eyes. They were wonderful and strange at the same time. For a few moments after he had taken off his goggles, his eyes were deep black orbs, no white around the pupils and irises, but they changed into a clear blue just a moment later. The blue was so pure and bright that I could see a hint of my reflection in them. I held his gaze, trying to figure him out the entirety of the time he was talking.
“I don’t just think of Aureylian as a younger sibling. She is so kind and sweet, but I love her in a way that I hope she finally gets to see my feelings for her. I want to propose later this year, but only if she is completely ready. And as for who she is, you’ll meet her soon.” And he stood up and spoke a few words of power, and the restraints broke. His eyes had changed again when he cast the spell, and I made note of it. I knew from his secrecy when guarding his mind that he had shown me his eyes intentionally.
“Since we’re done with Nebris here, why don’t you, Doc, Vechs and Nebris go back to our base to heal her,” Paul told Etho. He nodded and Paul continued. “It would be more useful to do both things at once. Just wait for a few minutes while Doc makes enough truth serum for the other two.” So Doc and Paul went off to make more potions, Pause and Vechs went over to talk in one part of the room, so it was just Etho and I over with the prisoners. I began to blush, but I got out what I wanted to say.
“So, I’m going to go get my pack from my quarters. Do you want to do the same and meet up on the roof?” He nodded and went out the doors in the direction of the leaders’ building. I ran off to the troops’ quarters and grabbed all of my supplies. I looked down at the deep violet ribbons in my hands and laid them gently on top of my clothes and few other belongings. I rushed back into the building and up to the roof to see Etho there already.
“Took you a while,” he called out to me tauntingly. I chuckled and ran over to him. We sat there for a minute in silence before Etho spoke up.
“So was there a reason you wanted to meet on the roof?” he asked, seeming intrigued.
Yeah… I know you wanted to see me dance with my ribbons, so I thought we could dance together.” He looked confused for a moment, and I leaned in close to his face. I saw his eyes widen in surprise, but he relaxed a moment later. I then thrust nine inches of icy cold steel into his throat. He backed up slightly and leapt up. He then realized what I meant to do.
“Well, I hope you know the steps to my dance, because I won’t hold back on you in the slightest. I simply smirked at him, exuding an aura of confidence. I had replaced my dagger in its sheath and drew my rapier with its amethyst encrusted hand-guard. I was trying to influence his mind, as was my specialty. He seemed to waver for a moment at the pressure of my presence. It was then that I rushed the shorter ninja. I lunged with my rapier fully extended and out for the blood of my opponent. Etho narrowly dodged to the side of my blow and came at me with a kunai knife aimed at my throat. I simply adjusted the crosspiece of a parrying dagger that I had drawn to intercept his attack. We continued on for nearly a half hour, my purple flowing ribbons trailing behind me at every lunge, parry and dodge. Etho looked comfortable, but needed to work for any real breathing room. I continued a constant onslaught of attacks, only dodging and parrying when absolutely necessary. I finally decided to finish any toying nature still in my mind and focused everything onto the battlefield. No mind-games, no tricks, simple skill in combat taking over every muscle in my body. I felt a flow of fiery strength in my veins and moments before I lost myself, the image of a violet and black dragon soared through my mind. I rushed Etho with newfound strength and willpower and soon afterwards, I felt a change in my style, unconsciously shifting to counter Etho. I took a moment to reflect, and looked at it as my mind adapting, given that’s how I usually did things. I felt my moves flow more easily now and I focused on a more mixed offensive and defensive technique. I blocked more, wearing out Etho, who needed more power to break through my more powerful defenses. In five minutes, Etho was standing almost across the roof from me, panting and breathing heavily. I saw the perfect chance then and took it. I took a step backwards, and leapt as far as I could in Etho’s direction. He readied himself, but I moved my rapier in a distracting way, cuasing him to take his eyes off of my other hand, which held a dagger cloaked in an icy darkness, and I threw it. It flew at his left hand and the unexpected blow caused the knife to fly from his hands. I landed, my silk ribbons flying behind me, and rushed at Etho, right hand extended with a long, curved dagger. I made contact with his only remaining defense and after a power struggle that took most of my energy to break through, his knife flew from his hand and off of the roof. His eyes followed the dagger until it fell out of sight, and he looked back to me. I leaned in close once again and dropped my rapier and dagger. I took his left cheek into my hand and moved one hand to drop his bluish mask down off of his face. He began to blush once more and I leaned in to kiss him gently on the lips. He returned the kiss, but I broke away, leaving him wanting more. I then danced away to the other side of the roof where my pack was, replaced the ribbons into the pack, and lifted it to my shoulders. I looked back to Etho, who still hadn’t moved, and blew him a kiss before moving to the stairwell and going down. I knew I had captured the man’s feelings and even though I had tried to avoid it, he had taken mine for him and grown them to a point where it nearly hurt to think about him. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and went back down to see how everyone else was doing. It was good to finally fit with a group that respected me as well as find a caring person to fight and have a nice time with. I made a point to do that again. It was enjoyable to have that kind of interaction. Once over to Vechs, he asked him about their plans to go back to their home.
“We’ll go in a few hours, once everyone gets some rest. That okay?”
“Of course,” he replied, and smiled to himself. Plenty of time to work Etho to the edge and keep him there, wanting. He chuckled as he walked back to Etho, the only one he knew really mattered.
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Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 04:25 am (UTC)You moved pretty fast into the Nebtho... not sure how I feel about it (the speed of the move), but meh.
Also, I like that Vechs is a significantly stronger mage than Nebs, as nebs has melee ability.
I'm not sure how I feel about Nebs being able to beat Etho(in a pure melee fight), as Etho is pure melee (up until now), and Nebs also has magic. I think it would be best if they had a re-match and etho won, showing that even with Neb's abilities aiding him slightly, Etho is a better Melee (/mundane) fight, as thats what he dedicated his life to.
I like the secret idea, though I am slightly surprised say, Pause, listened, as they were asked to give their greatest secret away to someone they hadn't met, by someone they had barely met, but whatever.
If you are going to make Nebtho a teasing relationship, I think that Etho should also be able to do some of the teasing. I always thought of them as equals in power (or its equivalent)in well, everything (that they do together), so the way you have the Nebtho going right now is a little
off-kilter for me.
Also, you forgot the Nebris tag ;)
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Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 05:01 am (UTC)I am planning on doing a rematch between the two, but it might not come until after the initial chapters. Don't worry, Etho won't be left on the bottom of the relationship. He'll be back with some vicious tricks during his next chapter.
And for the secrets, I didn't explain anything for any disagreement because of a. everyone else's respect for Paul and b. Pause seeing the genuine issue at hand.
The whole fighting thing will pan out, with the power levels of everyone growing and developing in different ways. Etho might not have won either of the fights at this point, but he hasn't had any chance to use his magic before, whereas Nebris and Vechs have, with Nebris also using his magic to strengthen his fighting abilities.
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Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 05:35 am (UTC)Yeah, I guess the fighting bit makes sense. I'm still miffed about that fight though, as Ehto HAS had time to learn normal fighting, but was still beat. How about a no-magic rematch (pretty soon), that Etho (might) win, to show that if Neb's wasnt using his magic to augment himself, that Etho is better at the mundane stuff?
The closest thing I have to an explatino is someting slight off topic, but hope full you will understand.
IF all of them have had the same amount of time to train, then they (over all) shoudl have the same amount of skill in each area right? Lets say (incoming arbitrary number) 10 points. Vechs almost solely magic based would have say, 9 in magic and one in mundane, letting him win most one on one magic battles. Etho however, having no training in(and barely ever using)his magic would be the reverse, say 9 mundane and 1 magic. I think of Nebris as a balance, equal parts mage and mundane, with 5 points in each. As such, (even if he is using his magic to augment his mundane as if it is a 1 to 1 (which is what it would have to be for Nebs to win) thats slightly silly) his 5 beating Etho's 9 level in training is a bit of a stretch in my mind, unless he is somehow either significantly more powerful or better trained than anyone else in the group.
I know the analogy doesnt fit perfectly, as being able to use his magic for his melee might be Neb's specialty, but I hope I've managed to get at least some of my point across.
Either way, I hope I've managed to help at least somewhat, and I hope you continue writing and having fun at the same time!
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Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 06:10 am (UTC)Perhaps have Etho jump him assassin-style a few times (and the no-magic fight as well)? just something to show that Etho is just as strong (or stronger) than Nebs, just in different areas (including normal mundane sword combat(hopefully)).
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Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 12:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 12:07 pm (UTC)>/////<
I'm purely excited to see/read the next chapter cause just seeing the comments on dis Imma be a happy lil fan girl
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Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 04:27 am (UTC)If we decide Email, I suggest PMing it to me, so that it isnt out there for the whole world to see.
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Date: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 04:44 am (UTC)(It's way to late for me to have coherent thoughts)
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Date: Thursday, July 3rd, 2014 02:18 am (UTC)