>>6196404“They won’t, but we must spar, and my mansion is not large enough. Best leave no room for argument. Would anyone else care to go before the two of us? I’m thinking, Emíl and Lukas first, then Eva against Soren?”
“Just me against her?” Soren says, gesturing towards Eva. “I can only wrestle so many bears, you know.”
“I’m sure you’ll manage a fair few. Unless, of course, your protégé wishes to participate as well?”
You almost had not thought to ask her at all, but Senna appears unexpectedly sanguine at the prospect of stabbing something, and wears a faint smile as she runs her thumb over the hilt of a long dagger. “I’ll do it,” she states tersely, eyes narrowed.
“And Eva?”
“I don’t mind some training.”
It occurs to you as Lukas and Emíl ready themselves that you’re still dressed in the blue silk dress you Fabricated last night, which is nothing suited for battle, and Eva still has your Shiftweave, which you’ll probably have to make another set of at some point. But while you’re lacking in formal garments, you do have some proper coats and trousers and boots, durable and capable of stitching themselves back together when torn, although without any other enhancements. A simple Minor Illusion cantrip up against a wall and a bit of vigilance on Eva’s part is enough to provide you and Anya with a moment of privacy.
When Emíl and Lukas enter the yard, all eyes are on them. Other training bouts soon come to a halt and excited murmurs fly. The two men face off, then draw their side-swords and take their bows, and with one last moment’s pause, they’re off. The first flurry of blows is slow to your eyes; they’re only playing, testing one another’s abilities. Back and forth they dance across the muddy yard, sun gleaming and flashing off slender blades.
The real fight begins in their third bout when Emíl starts to sing. Not the common song of voice is this, but like the bladesong that resounds through the unseen, a power felt in the air and earth and in one’s very spirit, a music that heals and kills and bewitches the mind. It is not strong enough to affect you directly, but the echoes of hope and courage and clarity suggest a song of greatness, a potent form of self-strengthening. Shortly after his song begins, Emíl also vanishes from sight as Greater Invisibility takes effect, much to the crowd’s shock.
