Author’s Note: Hey everyone! Here is the Work in Progress for Chapter 172 I hope you guys enjoy! :D
The Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts. Hall of Champions. Victor’s Square. Local Time 1245 Hours.
Thalmin
There was something behind that door that drew me forwards without hesitation — a power so tempting and an aura so intoxicating that I found myself hastening my stride; my hand grasping for the handlebars with an impatient grip.
CREEEAAAKKKKK! THOOM!
I was right.
I was… more than right.
“Oh. Oh wow…” I managed out under a stuttering breath. “She… she truly is a sight to behold.” I continued, awestruck, swooped up by a wave of inexplicable infatuation.
“In all my years as a warrior, a commander, a… collector and appraiser of all matters exotic, striking, and exceptional… none could come close— nay. None can even compare with what lies before us today, Emma.” I beamed brightly, gesturing, smiling, practically pouring my heart over a sight so tantilizing… it rivalled any I’d ever laid my eyes — or hands — on.
It was in times such as these that I wished for the absence of Emma’s faceplate. As I yearned to see her expression, her first impressions of this spectacular sight.
“I have to say… I never thought you’d be drawn to something with so much heft, Thalmin.” She finally spoke, but eventually shrugged. “Not judging, of course. You’re clearly strong enough to handle it. And I’d be lying if I didn’t agree with you. She truly is quite stunning.” Emma whistled out, reaching out to grab her by the hilt, only to be swatted away by my own hands.
“Allow me to show you how it’s done…” I growled out in a playful display of dominance, reaching into the platform and grasping her thick hilt gently.
I could feel the surge of power the instant my fingertips graced the tightly-wrapped leather, the beautifully bound lace, and the ribbon at its tip. My whole body bristled with a primal sort of excitement, as my fur stood up on edge from tailtip to eartip.
I breathed in deeply, my breath unsteady, but my eyes never once lost sight of the scene in front of me.
It was almost like she was made for me.
And indeed, that was probably the intent behind this whole affair.
I grinned, eyeing the contraption beside her pedestal with a wild grin.
Then, I turned to Emma, who simply shrugged in my direction.
“So are you going to do this or not?” She urged, testing my convictions, and my physical fortitude.
“Yes.” I responded resolutely, lifting the hilt up high above my head, before finally—
Thwwoooooooooooooooshhhhhhhh!
THWACK!
DING DING DING DING DING!!!!!
“HAHA! YES! SEE?! I TOLD YOU I COULD MASTER ITS STRENGTH!”
Emma looked on with that same muted ‘expression’, though her body language spoke leagues in my favor, as she’d watched and tracked the moment the warhammer struck the base of the tower, sending the impossible weight higher and higher still, until finally… it struck the second highest bell.
“Impressive.” Emma nodded slowly. “Though I still don’t buy its claims.”
“What?”
“Well… forgive me if I’m just a biiiit skeptical when an artifact claims to be, and I quote: The Breaker of 40,000 Chains.” She made an effort to kneel down to the plaque next to the pedestal, one of many flanking the red carpeted entrance into the Victor’s Hall proper.
“Oh, its raw potential has most certainly been muted for purposes of interaction and display, Emma.” I chuckled. “But suffice it to say, this warhammer is truly an artifact of legend; I have read as such in my forays into the subject! Some scholars even say that in the right hands, it has the power to crack open whole continents. And some would even claim that its title — the breaker of 40,000 chains — carries more weight than it does bluster.”
“In the words of many of my superiors and professors back home: citation desperately needed.” The earthrealmer countered, garnering but a dismissive chuckle from me.
“I accept your challenge.” I grinned back cheekily, garnering a cock of Emma’s armored head. “Consider it an exchange of records. Your presentation on earthrealm weaponry, for a sight-seer documenting the fullest potential of these legendary weapons!”
“That… is certainly a fair trade. I accept the amended conditions.” Emma nodded, prompting me to quickly drag her to the next artifact on display.
“In any case, let us make haste! The professors have provided us with a veritable feast of artifacts with which to admire and test! Had I been informed earlier, I would have absconded breakfast, lunch, and even that debriefing just to have more time with all of these incredible feats of artificing!” I practically blurted out, as I raced around what amounted to a museum’s worth of wonders dotting the expansive gallery of weapons clustered near the entrance of the Victor’s Corner.
Indeed, my attention had not once shifted to the inhabitants of the room, instead remaining fixated on the great many artifacts belonging to either former questors, or brought back as spoils from the wilds.
I sprinted immediately towards the next weapon on display, my gaze bouncing between the legendary article in question, and the inextricably linked shooting gallery next to it; just begging to be used.
“A bow?” Emma questioned unenthusiastically.
“Not just any mere bow.” I countered, pointing at the plaque beneath the plinth.
“The Will of the Bowman… this unique weapon, employed by the legendary 1st Year Artificer Y’Loris Raltier, was forged with a unique series of complex enchantments… jargon jargon jargon… the effects of it are as follows: the user need not require arrows, as the bow itself will provide the ammunition, formed from the user’s own will, and condensed into spells whose energies will reflect the emotional state of the user.” Emma read… then subsequently paraphrased the plaque’s contents, turning to me with an expectant cock of her hip. “Try it.”
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Cynthis
…
A warhammer?
And a bejeweled bow?!
That’s what he was immediately drawn to?!
THAT’S what he leaped to, along with his… sycophant of a partner?!
No.
No no.
Calm down, Lady Cynthis.
He is a simple man after all.
An exquisite specimen by all measures, yes.
But simple-mindedness truly does overrule all measures of his roguish and princely aura.
My smile returned, as a barely perceptible breath left my lips.
Yes. This is a good sign. If the lupinor truly is that simple-minded, then he will be as clay is to a seasoned potter. This is excellent. This is ideal. This will come into play when the vows are exchanged and our hands are crossed in eternal matrimony.
But I couldn’t wait any longer.
There comes a time where patience becomes inaction, and that time is fast arriving.
DING DING DING!
So I moved to draw his attention, motioning for my attendants to fetch both perfume and refreshments to my palanquin, and moving ever so slightly to lounge across it, causing the bells attached all along my tail to jingle with the call of a siren.
And it worked.
The lupinor’s gaze shifted to my presence, his eyes devouring my very being, right before he let that arrow fly, the once fiery projectile quickly turned into this cold, brittle shaft that shattered on impact on the target it was aimed for.
I smiled.
Yes.
I’d managed to — if only momentarily — affect the prince’s inner desires.
I had curtailed his warrior’s fire, tempered it with a cooling gale, and soothed the savage wildman with nothing but the frigid look of a beauty unmatched.
I had, in no uncertain terms, caught his attention… and ensnared his wild heart.
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Thalmin
“Erm, Thalmin, you okay there?” Emma inquired, just as I snapped out of that disappointing shot with a frustrated growl. “It really looked like you were gearing for an explosive shot there, why’d you shift to an ice one?”
“Something sent chills up my spine Emma.” I answered plainly, before gesturing at the offending party. “Or more specifically, someone managed to shake me to my core.”
“Ah.” Came Emma’s reply, though thankfully, her helmet hid whatever prying eyes were currently landing on the frankly overdressed party. “Think you can manage another one though?” She urged, prompting the bow within my hands to once more glow with the flames of a phoenix reborn.
“Yeah.” I nodded slowly, my confidence and resolve returning in short order. “I think that can be arranged.”
=====
Cynthis
No.
Did that newrealmer just—