Capítulo 69: Chapter 69: A Matter of Respect
*It had been over a week since Phina ran away from home after arguing with Dagfinn. The latter hadn't even tried to catch her because according to him it was still a child's whim. Since he was used to it he didn't worry too much about it, at least that's what he claimed. While writing reports in his office he accidentally broke the pen he was writing with, tearing the paper in the process. Shuri, who was standing nearby, observed him*.
-A loss of control? It's happening to you.
-It's nothing... My hand is just... What day is it today? *he asked impatiently*.
-Tuesday why?
-Tuesday.
*He had been tapping the ground with his foot for a while then suddenly stood up*.
-Okay, I can't take it anymore. Go to the docks and ask Ali if Phina's boat has returned.
-So that was it. If they have reached their destination a pigeon will send us their position automatically, don't worry.
-Sorry Shuri but I don't care about your opinion right now.
*He left his office and began to walk nervously in the corridors of his Villa. His bad feeling was felt among the servants*.
-The young master looks out of sorts today.
-It's because he had an argument with Lady Phina. And she hasn't come home since.
-Do you think it's serious this time?
-I hope not. Otherwise who knows what he could do.
*Dagfinn heard all this but he was used to hallway whispers and didn't pay attention to them. As he was heading towards the exit, a carriage followed by an escort slowly approached the Villa. Inside were two women, one middle-aged and another teenage girl who was around 16 years old. The youngest looked at the streets through the window while the woman who was her tutor spoke to her*.
-Don't forget that if your father brought you to the capital it's not for fun. *She said*.
*The girl looked away and looked quite saddened, but said nothing*.
-You are not listening to me, your father is very keen on this alliance so you had better do your best to seduce this young man.
-But... Why is father so keen that I marry him? Plus he has plenty of suitors, nothing says he'll want me.
-IDIOT. *she shouted*. You are the daughter of a Duke, one of the most powerful men in the kingdom. A merchant's son could hope for nothing better than to kneel before you.
*She brought her hand to her face, the young girl was scared but the lady only touched up her locks of hair*.
-And then you are already pretty enough as it is. Believe me, you have everything you need. *She said looking at her chest*.
*The carriage stopped right in front of the house just as the guards opened the gate. Dagfinn was at the entrance with his escort, seeing this the governess smirked*.
-You see he just welcomed you himself.
*The latter took a quick look at the carriage*.
-Cassia is that you? *he asked*.
*She turned towards the window where they could barely see her face*.
-How are you Finn? You look busy to me.
-It's because I'm in the middle of a case. *He replied calmly*. I don't have time to take care of you.
-How dare he speak like that *Said the housekeeper. You are the Duke's daughter.
*But the young girl stopped her with a wave of her hand and resumed the conversation*.
-I see. So I won't bother you more than necessary then. *She says*.
*She signaled to the coachman and the convoy set off again. The governess wanted to protest but she kept a smirk. For his part Dagfinn knew that he was going to have to do him this favor but he wasn't there yet*.
-Go see Ali at the port and ask him if he knows where Phina has gone.
*Shuri vanished and Dagfinn turned to his next destination*.
-We are going to question other people.
*During this time on Adje in the Ydargos region, Dagur found himself in a clearing not far from the village of Ortega, it was the training place for young people whose age range varied from 13 to 18 years old. They were all trained to fight since childhood but among the Killicks we are considered lethal from the age of 10 and fit for combat. The training between young Killicks has nothing to do with that of humans, here we are not afraid to pierce the other's chest or even tear off an arm. What makes Killicks such formidable warriors is that unlike humans, they take their combat seriously both in training and in real situations. That day in the circle there were two young people who were fighting under the gaze of their elders, the smaller one was angry and tried to compensate for his lack of power with precise and decisive attacks. The other in front of him having understood it protected his vital points with his ax and immediately responded with his shield, it had numerous blades frayed on the edges causing violent wounds. The two young people fought until the youngest was exhausted and finally collapsed*.
-Well it was hot. Why did you play it safe som much Kalil? *asked a friend sitting on the rock nearby*.
-I felt he was serious today so I opted for a less expensive strategy.
-By exhausting him with powerful attacks. *Says a voice in the back*.
-I defend with my ax and I attack with my shield. *Replied Kalil*.
-The best defense is attack as they say.
-Yes you see I...
*As he turned around he suddenly faced Dagur who had suddenly appeared in the combat circle. He was smaller than him but he felt like he was suffocating by staying too close. Instinctively Kalil jumped back and left the circle*.
-Wow slow down. I will not eat you.
-Who is that ? *he asked*. I didn't feel him.
-How long has she been here? *asked another*.
-There's no point in messing with my hair if people still think I'm a chick. *he whispered*. No matter, I was just stopping by to say hello.
*The somewhat disconcerted group of young people remained silent for a few moments. Some were in a cold sweat*.
-Uh....Hello. *Said a girl who was on guard*.
-Hey look at his hair color. *Said Kalil*. She's an expert.
-Loud enough to mask its presence from us.
*Dagur began to laugh under his breath then he waved his index finger*.
-No no already first correction. *He struck the ground with his foot and the earth vibrated*. I am a dude. And as I said I was just stopping by to say hello.
-Okay, but get out now, you're interrupting our training.
-And I mean, how long are you going to train? Until mom and dad give you permission to hunt ?
*He flashed a petty smile in their direction*.
-Oh yes it's true. They are dead.
*Kalil rushed at him at full speed but barely reached Dagur, the latter grabbed him by the head and smashed him down the ground. He remained on the ground passed out while Dagur gave them a smile which gave them shivers. You could see a blue glow in his irises*.
-He just put Garune down with his bare hand. *Said Kalil*.
-And without a weapon. *Added the girl*.
-Yes I know that's why I said bare hand. You're really stupid Edna.
-Ohey, do you want me to dislocate your neck?
*Dagur sat up and stared at them as he flicked his wrist*.
-I am much stronger so avoid attacking me without warning, I could kill you by accident. Besides, I have a deal to offer you *Said he*.
-I don't think anyone here wants to discuss with someone who shows up and insults us for free. *Said Kalil*.
-He just had to control himself, I didn't intend to fight you.
-You shouldn't insult him either, you bastard. *Edna said, drawing her blade*.
-Trust me, it's not in your interest to take it out on me.
*While the tension was electric, another young person emerged from the crowd. He was taller than most of them and held a cloth with which he wiped blood in his hands. He wore a classic outfit and a tank top, black skin, red eyes with an Iroquois hairstyle like Sheehan's. Although his hair was just black like that of an average warrior, yet he had the strongest presence after Dagur*.
-Colorhead, I really don't see why we should trust you. *he said*. Especially when you show up in the middle of our exercises, and you don't have the courtesy to tell us your name. Miss.
*Dagur gave an amused smile then curtsied*.
-My name is Dagur. Dagur Hyverson and I am also the prince's advisor at court.
*Everyone else was surprised except the young man*.
-The prince's advisor. Like the prince?
-This monster who massacred everyone in the selection?
-My name is Mathias. *He replied indifferently*. Today's exercise was essentially done to train the youngest, so that they could learn from the older ones. And you, my friend, disturbed us. So I'm going to ask you to leave. If you have any requests to submit, you will do so later.
-I apologize then, far be it from me to taint the progress of the youngest, only it is not by pampering them like this that you will train them.
*Mathias raised an eyebrow and looked at the pools of blood on the floor*.
-I think the training is violent enough as it is.
-Oh but I didn't say otherwise. *he said*. But how many of these kids have already killed? *he asked with a sick smile*.
*The others looked at him uneasily and Mathias looked at him with disgust*.
-Ydargos trains good warriors, it's true, but the problem is that, you're just training. Ultimately what you're doing is playing with swords.
*Mathias dropped the cloth and entered the circle. He and Dagur began to walk in circles*.
-I don't see where you're going with this. Do you want children who aren't ready to be sent into combat?
-At 10 I was already more lethal than all of you gathered here. We're Killicks, not fairground dancers.
-I don't know what image you have of the Killicks but we are warriors not murderers. *Replied Mathias*. War is just a business and most of these kids will become farmers when they grow up.
-If you pamper them too much they won't even survive their first raid. Besides, now that I think about it, how many humans did you kill? Have you even ever been involved in a raid? *he asked, giving a smirk*.
*With a brisk step Mathias arrived directly at Dagur's level, displaying a murderous look*.
-Fast. *he thought*.
-You talk too much colorhead.
*He delivered a violent punch that he barely had time to block, Dagur was thrown to the other end of the circle. Mathias picked up Garin and sent him flying into the arms of Kalil*.
-Hey, be careful.
*Then he stood on guard facing Dagur, clenching his fists*.
-You know what Dagur? I don't like you.
-It's a shame because I'm starting to like you.
*Mathias jumped at him at full speed and their two fists collided. Dagur was surprised to see that he had so much strength, it almost reminded him of Sheehan*.
-Looks like I stumbled upon quite a piece.
-When I'll smash your skull you will apologize to Garin and the others
*Dagur gave an amused smile and almost burst out laughing*.
-I promise as an Elite warrior, if you manage to land even one blow on me, I will apologize to your friends.
-And pretentious at best.
*Mathias delivered another sharp blow but Dagur avoided it. He rushed at him in a close fight like a boxer cornering his prey in the corner of the ring to prevent him from fleeing. Despite the little space there was, Dagur managed to dodge most of the blows while the others he deflected with his claws. From the rocks the other young people watched, encouraging their leader*.
-Go ahead Mathias rip his head off.
-Yes, let's kill with this colorhead.
-Look, he's cornering her. *Said Edna*. He's going to get it.
-You think ? *Said Kalil*. The other doesn't look out of breath at all.
*Mathias accelerated his punches more and more but Dagur didn't land a single one. As powerful as Mathias was, he didn't have the precision of Sheehan's shots*.
-You have a lot of supporters, tell me. *Dagur said smiling*. It's clear that you are an admired leader here.
-Ignore them and focus on our fight.
-What fight? Are you talking about our walk? *he asked mockingly*.
-You speak with a lot of disrespect, it makes me sick.
*Dagur disappeared from his vision and suddenly reappeared behind him*.
-In your opinion, will they still see you with the same eyes when I have broken you into pieces? *he said, whispering in mathias ear*.
*Mathias turned around with a violent kick but Dagur ducked low and leaned back, then he shifted his center of gravity to kick Mathias in the temple. The shock destabilized him, causing him to take several steps back while Dagur followed up with a series of kicks to the torso, breaking his ribs and crushing his right arm. Mathias, out of breath, put one knee on the ground*.
-Mathias. *Edna shouted*.
-Look at them. *Said Dagur*. They look at you with so much pity, even though they are all just as pathetic as you. They would like to help you but...
*Dagur turned around and gave them a murderous look. The pressure that was released was so intense that their entire limbs were paralyzed*.
-They are afraid of me. *he said smilling*. They are afraid to come and help you, their leader, because they are cowards.
*Mathias who got angry and suddenly threw a punch toward Dagur. This one avoided the blow although it was faster than the previous ones*.
-I think he pulled out my eyelashes. *he thought*. No matter I wouldn't let an average warrior land a blow on me.
*Dagur quickly adapted to this new pace, he gave an uppercut which sent Mathias flying a few centimeters above the ground then he crushed him to the ground with a kick to the chest. The shock broke the combat circle*.
-Your friends are cowards but don't worry. I will make real Killicks out of them. Under my supervision of course.
-No one will follow a twisted mind like yours. It must be because you spent time in the capital, but your view of the Killicks... It seems like the way humans have of us.
*Just by Hearing "human", a vein formed on Dagur's temple*.
-Did you say human?
-Yes you have a very *Human* conception of the Killicks.
*Dagur's gaze darkened and he removed his leg from Mathias' chest who he took the opportunity to free himself. The latter took several steps back and took his distance. Dagur was there staring at the ground with a dark look when he suddenly fixed Mathias with a murderous look*.
-Human you said.
*The ground began to vibrate slowly throughout the clearing and the air became heavier as a sort of blue brown escaped from Dagur. Pieces of rock began to fly under the pressure of his aura while his efrat exploded around him, cracking the ground. A column of blue aura rose around the young man into the sky and his eyes did the same. His hair began to fly because the elastic that held it in place had come loose. Dagur's presence had become even more stifling*.
-Hey friend. *He said with a deep voice*. Do I look human to you?
*In the blink of an eye he had covered the few meters that separated him from Mathias and had torn off the right half of his face. He uttered a loud cry of pain while holding his eye. The others barely had time to understand what was happening before Dagur grabbed him by the head before smashing him against a rock*.
-How am I a fucking human?
*He smashed it again and his blood spurted everywhere. Seeing this, Edna wanted to intervene but Garin, who had woken up, grabbed her*.
-Don't go there or you'll be dead.
-But Mathias... He's going to kill him.
*Dagur dug his claws into his chest and pinned him against the rock*.
-I am stronger than them.
*He threw Mathias so violently against the rocks that the shock broke several of them. Then he suddenly appeared and kicked him in the ribs*.
-I'm faster.
*He threw Mathias again who crashed to the other end of the clearing and he caught up with him before crushing him under his boots*.
-I am much more powerful. And above all I am much more terrifying.
-I'm not afraid of you
*Angrily Dagur grabbed him by the neck and threw him violently again. He skimmed the ground as he crossed the clearing. Young Killick lands among his friends*.
-Mathias. *Kalil said worriedly*.
*He was totally bloodied. Regeneration in average warriors was slow so he couldn't take much more. His skull was barely closing when Dagur showed up and grabbed him by the hair*.
-From now on you all work for me. *he announced*. Are there any objections?
-Fuck off you...
*Dagur instantly looked at Edna with his death stare and repeated*.
-Are there any objections?
*Claws and fangs appeared on her and she instinctively moved away from him*.
-I...I'm sorry. *She said scared*.
*Then Dagur turned to Mathis and brought his face closer to his before smiling at him*.
-From now on you belong to me. *he said*.
-Rather die.
*He gave a violent punch charging Efrat which crushed him in a huge pool of blood. He then turned towards the others*.
-Bury that for me. *Said Dagur*. I don't want to see him anymore.
-In... Bury? Did you kill him?! *Garin shouted*. You son of...
*Dagur suddenly appeared in front of him and stared at him with a smile*.
-Come on please, finish this sentence.
*Garin raised his head so as not to meet his gaze*.
-That's what I thought.
*Suddenly Dagur felt a huge pressure on his back. The kind of pressure you feel when you're threatened*.
-No, I just killed him now.
*There he tilted and remembered. During the selection, the only average warrior to have reached the finals. The one the instructors nicknamed the abnormal. Of his 10 fights he fought 7, he won 4 fights against warriors who were stronger than him and the 3 others fighters he lost to were just not in condition to continue the selection. Because of him, group 5 had to reorganize the tests with another warrior while he was taken home. It was that Mathias there, and Dagur had just remembered him*.
-So it was you. Ok I take back what I said.
*Dagur charged the efrat in his fist and rushed towards Mathias who did the same*.
-I'm going to explode you.
*The two fists collided and the shockwave threw the surrounding Killicks into the air*.
-Fuck... *Garin cursed*.
-MATHIAS. *Kalil yelled*.
*They managed to find the cows' board. That said when the dust settled they were surprised to see another Killick between Dagur and Mathias. He had stopped the attack to the great surprise of Dagur and Mathias, black skin, shaved head with tattoos along his arms. He wore the same outfit as the other apprentices but had an animal skin belt at his waist*.
-Juroy? *Mathias was surprised*. What are you doing...
*He started coughing up blood while the other caught him*.
-I came when I saw the column of light in the sky. What the demon possessed to engage an expert kn a fight ? Sorry for the inconvenience, it won't happen again.
*Dagur immediately drew one sword and pointed it at him*.
-Who are you ?
-My name is Juroi, I'm just an average warrior who passed by.
-Don't make fun of me. A man who doesn't have an Efrat wouldn't have been able to stop us.
-And yet. *He said smiling.
*He showed Dagur his arms, they were in pieces and were slowly regenerating. Dagur saw him smile at that and it disturbed him*.
-Don't worry, we won't bother you any further. I'm going to lecture this idiot, he won't bother you anymore.
-No point. I'm going to look elsewhere, I don't care about a weak band.
-In that case I'll leave you.
*Juroi carried his friend who had regenerated part of his legs then they started walking*.
-Hey Dagur.
-What now ?
*As he barely turned around, a bone mass slammed into Dagur's skull at high speed. The blow was so violent that he lost his balance but managed to stay standing. Dagur then look in front of him and what he saw set a fire inside him*.
-Mathiaaaaas.
-Now we can talk. *Said Mathias with a satisfied gaze*. Don't forget your promise, miss.
*Dagur then remembered what he had said recently, "When I smash your skull you will apologize to Garin and the others".*.
-You won. *He said, touching the blood on his temple*. I'm going to apologize. But you, my friend, you catch my interest at best.
*End of chapter**
Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder