blacksmith of a Thousand tales

Chapter 51: Misunderstandings and Clashing Blades

Elric, Selene, and Aiden stood at the edge of the seemingly quiet village, their mission clear: investigate a suspected spy network from the northern region. Reports suggested the spies were stealing new imperial technologies and enslaving people from nearby towns. The information came from an adventurer who had narrowly escaped a monster subjugation quest, stumbling upon the village's suspicious activities.

Selene glanced at the village with her hand resting on Frostveil, her sword infused with the icy spirit Reyn had forged. A thin sheen of frost clung to her blade, chilling the air around her.

"This place is unnatural. Too still."

Aiden adjusted the curved segments of Havok Fang, his powerful blade imbued with a destructive spirit. "You're right. Everyone's watching us, pretending to be busy, but they're hiding something."

Elric, calm as ever, held Blossomshade, his elegant blade housing a spirit of razor-sharp precision. "Stay alert. If they're spies, they'll show their true colors soon enough. But we won't act unless we're sure."

As the knights ventured deeper into the village, the tension snapped. Men and women disguised as simple villagers lunged from hidden spots, armed with knives, poisoned arrows, and crude swords.

"Here they come," Aiden said, a grin spreading as Havok Fang extended and lashed out, its segments whipping through the air.

Selene swung Frostveil with grace, waves of icy mist freezing the ground beneath her attackers, rendering them sluggish before shattering their defenses with a precise strike.

Elric's Blossomshade fragmented into a storm of shining shards, each petal-like piece slicing through enemies with surgical precision. His calm commands directed the other knights, ensuring none were overwhelmed.

The ambush ended as quickly as it began, the spies woefully unprepared for the overwhelming skill and enchanted blades of the Greyhold knights.

On the forested road to Greyhold, Kael and Alarcus traveled in relative quiet. Kael flexed his hands, the absence of his gauntlets—a casualty of their last mission—leaving his arms bare but still dangerous.

"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Kael said, breaking the silence. "No armor, just fists and instinct."

"You've done fine without them," Alarcus replied, his staff in hand. Behind him, Zetsuei, the towering metal golem, followed silently. "I think you're enjoying it."

Kael smirked, but their banter was interrupted by distant screams.

"That's not a monster," Kael said, already moving.

"No, it's worse," Alarcus said, summoning Zetsuei to follow as they rushed toward the source.

When they arrived, Kael froze. What they saw was carnage: knights cutting down what appeared to be unarmed villagers. Screams of terror and pain filled the air as bodies fell.

"They're murdering innocent people!" Kael growled.

Alarcus frowned, gripping his staff. "We have to stop this."

The two charged in without hesitation.

Kael's raw strength and speed allowed him to blitz through the first line of knights, overwhelming them with brutal strikes. His bare fists shattered weapons and armor alike, sending knights reeling.

Alarcus unleashed spells from his staff, bolts of fire and electricity blasting through enemy ranks. Behind him, Zetsuei swung its massive arms, crushing knights with mechanical precision.

The regular knights fell quickly, unprepared for the raw power of the duo and the golem. But their momentum ground to a halt when they faced Elric, Selene, and Aiden.

Kael locked eyes with Elric, who stood motionless, Blossomshade in hand.

"You think you're untouchable? We'll see about that."

Kael surged forward, aiming a powerful strike at Elric's chest. At the last moment, Blossomshade dissolved into a flurry of glowing petals, forming a barrier that absorbed Kael's attack.

"What the—?" Kael stumbled back as the petals swirled around him, cutting shallow wounds into his exposed arms.

"You're strong," Elric said calmly, guiding the petals with a flick of his wrist. "But brute force won't win against precision."

Kael roared in frustration, unleashing a powerful leap punch that scattered the petals briefly. Elric smirked. "Impressive. But not enough "

Alarcus confronted Selene, his spells clashing with the icy power of Frostveil. Each swing of her blade unleashed freezing waves, forcing Alarcus to keep moving.

"Your magic's good," Selene said, her tone icy. "But not good enough."

She raised Frostveil, summoning a jagged wall of ice that cut off Alarcus's retreat.

"Zetsuei!" Alarcus commanded, and the golem responded, slamming a fist into the ice wall, shattering it.

Selene frowned as Zetsuei charged, its massive arm swinging toward her. She dodged, leaving a trail of frost where she landed. With a precise strike, she sent an icy wave toward the golem's legs, freezing them in place.

Alarcus took the opportunity to cast a barrage of fireballs, but Selene countered with an icy shield, the flames extinguished in an instant.

"You'll have to do better," she said, advancing on him.

Seeing Selene gain the upper hand, Kael broke away from Elric to aid Alarcus against Aiden.

Aiden stepped forward, his wide grin unfazed. "Two-on-one? Finally, a challenge."

Havok Fang extended in a whip-like motion, forcing Kael and Alarcus to separate. The sword's segmented length slashed through the air with raw destructive power, carving deep grooves into the ground.

Kael ducked under a swing, closing the gap to land a powerful punch, but Havok Fang snapped back, blocking the blow.

Alarcus tried to flank Aiden, casting a binding spell to hold him in place. Aiden's sword shattered the magical chains with ease, swinging in a wide arc that forced both of them back.

"You're not bad," Aiden said, his voice filled with amusement. "But you're out of your league."

As the battle raged, one of the surviving spies—wounded and desperate—shouted, "You'll never stop us!" She lunged at Selene, but the knight cut her down effortlessly.

Kael paused, his anger faltering. "Wait... spies?"

Selene wiped blood from her blade. "Not villagers. They've been enslaving people and stealing from our empire. You attacked without understanding the situation."

Alarcus's staff lowered slightly, his expression dark. "You could have explained before slaughtering them."

Elric sheathed Blossomshade, the petals reforming into a solid blade. "Would you have listened? Or would you have attacked, as you just did?"

Kael clenched his fists, his frustration evident. "Next time, talk first."

Elric smirked. "And next time, don't assume you're always the hero."

As the knights departed, Kael and Alarcus were left battered, bruised, and questioning their actions.