Chapter 16


    Outskirts of Scarlet Cove


    Seshwan arrived at the set point for the group to meet up. As he approached, he saw Xerxes lying upon a rock, chewing on a reed and humming a tune that seemed best suited for the choirs of the damned.


    Vanessa and old man Grey were checking over gear and packs in a small covered cart. The party would be traveling for three days by cart to the edge of the Midland swamps, then embark on foot to the demonic forest region to search for Master Kubard.


    Xerxes sat up quickly as Seshwan approached. "Oh, the fearless leader arrives at last. What are you wearing? That''s imperial armour! Do you want us to get killed in midland?"


    Seshwan shrugged as Xerxes questioned him. "It is indeed! I was a noble in the city after all. Of course, I''d have a set of armour like this. As for getting us killed, not likely most people will avoid trouble with us. While we’re on the subject of armours, where did you get yours?"


    Xerxes looked down at his black leather armour. He wore a set of fitted leather and hide armour designed for assassins or scouts that required mobility and stealth over defence. The chest was tightly fit with three straps on either side, covering his ribs. Unlike traditional armour, this had no sleeves; his arms were exposed. Xerxes had equipped a set of black and white leather bracers with an archer''s guard on both arms.


    Xerxes shrugged "When we move through Midland, I''ll be ready to deal with whatever comes. Don''t worry."


    Vanessa finished her check and approached the two having their discussion. "Now boys, I''m sure what you''re wearing is just fine. Can you two check your gear and get in the wagon? I''d like to avoid trading by night as much as possible let''s get a move on."


    Seshwan took a quick look over Vanessa''s gear as he nodded and walked with Xerxes to the cart. She wore a form fitted suit of assassin’s armor. It looked as if it hardly had any thickness to it though it most likely looked weak so opponents would let their guard down or underestimate her. This armour defined the curves of her slender figure, making her even more irresistible to mortal men.


    Seshwan felt a familiar buzz in his head as he heard Xerxes speak. "Sesh, that girl is gorgeous. How do I get a girl that good-looking indebted to me?"


    Xerxes spoke without moving his lips; no one would even know he had transmitted his voice. He had been refining this ventriloquism technique while sparring with Colm for the last week. Seshwan had only just learned how to transmit his voice so he couldn''t risk incurring the wrath of a beauty like Vanessa just to humour a demon like Xerxes.


    Seshwan stowed his kit into the wagon. "Grey, I''ll need you to stay in the city. I need you to wait for the arrival of the two nobles coming from the Cloaked and Warden halls. Collect what you can on these two and whoever''s accompanying them. Send any new information to me via Runner. We will travel to Bivio and wait there till we receive word."


    Grey nodded. "Understood."


    Seshwan spoke again. "Very well. Now that that''s settled, let''s set out. Xerxes, you’re driving first for what you said earlier."


    The three loaded up and set out. Xerxes scowled as he took the reins to get the journey set off. In the wagon, Seshwan sat cross-legged meditating and chanting the [Tectonic Shell] he would use this time to reach level four. Vanessa also used this time to train.


    As Vanessa circulated her essence, small wisps of cloud formed around her body, floating and swirling around as if they had taken on their own will. This was the manifestation of the Mistform Real Guard when not concentrated to an effective use; its natural beauty would be considered a dazzling sight. Fitting for Vanessa.


    Seshwan felt dazed as he sat and watched. The heavy armour made his training more difficult. During their time in the wagon, till they arrived in Midland, he removed the top portion of his armour.


    Seshwan broke himself free from the spell that had drawn his gaze as he dumped out three bags of sand onto the floor around himself.


    He had taken a new approach to his training. He still would chant the phrases of the [Tectonic Shell] as he circulated his essence but he wanted to attempt what others said was impossible. He would train both essences without resistance or backlash on his body.


    For this, he poured out a bag of refined iron flakes and mixed them into each pile of sand. Three equal piles of sand and iron sat within his field of view. He concentrated on forming the sand around him into three pillars of swirling and shifting sand. Miniature sand storms raged trapped within the boundary he controlled with his earth essence.


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    The sand flowed fluidly within the pillars collecting the iron to one central point. From this Seshwan injected his lightning essence into the pillars, though a small amount for now.


    Once he was certain the charge was contained and could be controlled, he slowly used his essence to guide the lightning to the second pillar, Then the third. Finally, after going one full cycle it returned to the tip of his right finger. And reformed his real guard.


    ''Hmm, interesting. The charge did not build or deplete in the transfer. Yes!'' Seshwan rejoiced after his experiment had worked in his favour.


    ''Now I''ll need to find a way to build the charge and transfer it more quickly.'' Seshwan''s results for first-time manipulation boosted his spirits especially since he was manifesting two essences at once. And two that were complete opposites and were known to cause backlash.


    He continued to train through the day. Eight hours passed before Xerxes switched out his seat with Vanessa. He watched Seshwan in amazement as he could see the sand piles take shape and begin to transfer an electrical current in a circuit fluidly. Seshwan even appeared to be hardly focusing on the miniature experiment as it rotated and hummed with energy.


    Though he was controlling the current’s direction and strength now, he continued to circulate slowly and at low power. He had begun to read as he was training.


    Xerxes was extremely jealous of this natural talent. "Do you have to show off?" He asked.


    Seshwan looked up and smiled, but didn''t reply as he returned to his novel.


    Disgruntled by the lack of reply, Xerxes sat on the floor cross legged and arranged his hands into a four-layer folding pattern. As he circulated his lightning through his body the air became heavy. Black and red lighting surged across his skin. Small bolts ran across his shoulders to his hands.


    Xerxes had recently achieved apprentice level five and was on the doorstep of the journeyman''s stage. Though his demonic nether essence was boosting his cultivation, he still primarily focused on achieving a higher level for his human essence.


    Though Xerxes joked around frequently, something fundamental was apparent to everyone around him. He may act harsh and like he doesn''t give a damn but under that grim scowl he normally sports, he wants to try his hardest to compete with Seshwan and the others. He has started down a road that only hard work and determination will help him on.


    They travelled long into the afternoon, the sun was low as the party approached the border of the Jade Empire. Without warning the wagon came to an abrupt halt, causing Seshwan to lose focus and his sand pillars collapsed.


    Vanessa called into the back of the covered wagon. "Sesh! Xerxes! Get out here!"


    A deep and rough voice shouted outside. "Woman, shout your mouth and give us your cargo!"


    Xerxes and Seshwan exploded out of the back of the wagon. It was late day and the sun had begun to set.


    All around them were men dressed in rags and some shabby pieces of armour, numbering close to twenty-five in total. A few had swords that looked as if they hadn''t seen the touch of a Smith in a decade. Others wielded makeshift clubs and poorly crafted bows.


    "Bandits! Great, just what we need!" Xerxes sighed heavily. "Sesh, let me take care of these jesters."


    Xerxes stepped forward.


    "No there are too many for just you." Seshwan countered as he finished buckling the clasps on his cuirass. He had not equipped his shoulder pauldrons before climbing out of the wagon.


    Vanessa moved toward the pair, daggers drawn and looking ready for a fight. "Uh guys, these bandits demanded our surrender. What''s your take on that?"


    Seshwan paused and spoke aloud to the bandits surrounding them. "Gentlemen! We mean you no harm. Though if you continue to bar our path, I cannot promise my companions will continue to show you mercy. You have till the sun sets to be gone. Trust me, it''s in your best interest to listen."


    One bandit stepped up. This bandit wore the most complete set of armor and had a great sword. He stood a full two meters and was built with a large frame.


    "My name is Grackus, Leader of the Silver Moon Bandits. Pay the toll and give up supplies or you will die."


    Xerxes smiled at Grackus. "Unfortunate."


    Seshwan felt a warm buzz in his ear as Xerxes relayed his voice to Seshwan. "These guys are all essence-less trash. Grackus is the only user in this group and he only feels like a level three apprentice. I can take them. If you want, support me. Regardless, I''m going to take action if they do."


    Seshwan nodded in agreement. He had no other choice. Surrender wasn''t an option.


    Grackus shrugged. "Well, fuck it. Get them, boys!"


    "Dibs on the woman!" One of the bandits shouted.


    "I saw her first!"


    "No way, she''s mine"


    Seshwan laughed when he heard their squabbles as they charged. ''Xerxes better hurry and attack or Vanessa will kill them all first.''


    The three activated their essences. Seshwan took up a front-line position with his shield and longsword. Xerxes drew his bow as he underwent his physical change. The air became thick with blood lust behind Seshwan. Xerxes’ irises became demonic slits as red lightning enveloped his body and surged through his arms into his bow.


    A bolt of arc light formed around the first arrow. Upon releasing the shot, the arrow launched like a bolt of black and red lightning into the attacking group, exploding and scattering limbs and bodies around the impact zone for three meters. Five men were either killed or badly maimed.


    A second shot was released followed by a third and a fourth. By the time the first fighter reached Seshwan only ten opponents were still standing.


    Seshwan allowed the first strikes to land on his shield before answering with a crushing counterattack enhanced by his training and heavy-weighted real guard. The long sword in his hand struck with the force of two-handed mauls, cleaving the closest bandit in two.


    Seshwan continued to block and counter as Xerxes switched to a knife and backward-gripped dagger. Using his energy to enhance his movements he engaged the remaining bandits. Three teamed up but met their fate as he sidestepped, dodged, or parried their strikes. He was delivering swift counter attacks after each motion, aiming for vitals with deadly precision. In a matter of seconds, twenty-five men had become five.


    Three bowmen had retreated to try and attack from a distance. Once they had sufficient distance from the danger, they dropped their guards and drew back their arrows. Before the first could release the missile, his bowstring snapped and blood trickled down his chest soaking his cloth tunic. The other two, confused by what they had only barely seen, quickly blinked to try and focus their vision. They turned to see their comrade choking on his blood from a slash across his throat.


    Almost as if materializing out of the air a blade appeared and ended another archer. The third fell to his knees in terror. "Don''t kill me!" he cried.


    Vanessa''s silhouette appeared standing before him. She knelt and grabbed the man by the throat. She raised his head and applied pressure to his windpipe. "I believe you claimed dibs on the woman? Here is am. I''m all yours." She smiled while increasing her grip on his throat. Within minutes the man went limp. "Huh, I guess you couldn''t handle me. Your loss."


    Grackus was soon standing all alone in a sea of blood and limbs. As his men bled and clawed to keep the life that was slipping away from them.


    ''I''ve made a huge mistake and the boss will be mad I lost so many guys. I better get out of here!'' Grackus thought.


    Xerxes stepped slowly toward the lone survivor. "Hey, mate. You''re next."


    As Xerxes increased his steps Grackus broke out in a cold sweat. To save himself now was the time to run. Grackus turned tail and sprinted off toward the woods.


    "Should I chase that guy?" Xerxes asked.


    "No, let him go. Let him warn the other bandits to not mess with us. Let''s put some of these guys out of their misery. Collect anything that we can fence at the next city." Seshwan commanded as he cleaned the blood off his equipment.


    ''Well, that could have been worse. A good start to this new quest of ours.'' Seshwan thought as he collected his effects.