We were led to a staging area with over twenty weapon racks, where each weapon still held the stories of battle past; like the souls of the fallen were still encased within them. The benches, also constructed out of the same material, were well-worn from countless cycles of use.
"There are a few things to note before you fight; rules, if you will, that ensure the fairness of your trial," Kalia began, snapping me out of my apparent daze. "What do you mean, my lady?" I asked, turning to look at her. "Since your opponent is unable to use mana, the restriction placed upon those entering the trial means that the challenger cannot use mana either," she began to explain.
"We can't use mana?" I asked, making sure I'd heard her correctly. "Only the strong survive here," Ysevel said, quoting Kalia from her challenge in the tavern, earning her a respectful nod from Kalia for her powers of deduction.
"Fuuuuck," I muttered under my breath.
"Since you already have your own weapons, I will not force you to choose another. Unless, of course, you want to learn the secrets they hold," she said wryly. "Are you saying these weapons hold knowledge from their previous owners, my lady?" I asked, trying to figure out what she meant. "Let's just say that these are not conventional weapons like you have. Here, give this one a try," she said, handing me a gently curved blade not unlike the one Maikell made for me.
As I extended my hand out to grab it, I could feel something within the blade calling out to me as if it were begging me to be its master. Giving Kalia a look of confusion, she nodded her head to urge me on. "Take it," she said invitingly. I wrapped my fingers around the hilt of the blade which immediately began to morph into a strange, viscous liquid that crawled up my arm.
"What the f-f-fuuuck?" I said aloud, reeling from the strange, amorphous, dark gray liquid. I felt it wash over me as if I had just stuck my entire arm into a sphere of pure mana. It raced across my entire body, leaving no part behind, and then reformed itself back in my hand as if nothing had happened.
The reformed blade was nearly identical in both shape and weight to the one I already had at my hip, but I could feel every centimeter of the blade as if it were an extension of my body. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked. "I have no idea what it is, but it's incredible!" I said, not bothering to hide my amazement.
"I'll explain in a moment. Now that you've felt it move around your entire body, I want you to think about how it felt when it was at your wrist," she said, confusing Ysevel and I both. "What do you mean, my lady?" I asked. "Like with mana, I want you to tell it where to condense," she explained briefly.
As if reacting to my thoughts, it immediately returned to its viscous form and condensed into a thick, blackened band around my wrist, catching me entirely off-guard.
"Wh-what the fuck was that? What just happened?" I asked between a stammering chuckle, my amazement evident on my face.
"It's called Gurafe katakieshe, the warrior's form in your tongue," Kalia began to explain. "This weapon, like the others here, is made of kataki, a material we, of the Iron Plume clan, produce naturally. However, those who are not of our ilk cannot wield it unless it chooses one who has been acknowledged by a member of the clan," she explained briefly.
"So, because you've openly stated that you acknowledged Thoma back in the Tavern, this kataki recognizes that and is now a part of him, my lady?" Ysevel asked. "That's putting it rather simply, but yes. Just like how Irun's daemonic arm was embedded onto him by force, this blade is now a part of Thoma through merit," she said.
"Th-thank you, Lady Kalia," I said with a deep, respectful bow, feeling absolutely floored with humility at hearing her words. She gave me a nod, and gestured for me to rise.
"Ysevel's strength has also already been acknowledged, as we saw how well she handled my disciple when you first arrived," Kalia said wryly. "You mean I get one, too, Lady Kalia?" she asked, not bothering to hide her excitement. Kalia chuckled just loudly enough for me to hear it from beneath her face plate and pulled another weapon off the rack.
Ysevel's eyes glistened as she grabbed the hilt, feeling the kataki flowing around her body, morphing into a sword that was also very similar to the one she had. "Maikell really knows his craft, huh?" I said, admiring the sword she held aloft. I could tell she was suppressing a childish giggle borne from her excitement, but she quickly got herself under control and formed the kataki around her wrist just as I did. She allowed herself a small chuckle of amazement before giving Kalia a respectful bow. "Thank you for this precious gift, Lady Kalia," she said.
"I already told you that you don't need to bow to me, Princess," she said with a small sigh, lowering her head. "As for my disciple," she began, walking up to Irun. He stood up straight, like a soldier from the Warrior's Guild would when receiving orders.
"I have put you through many trials and tribulations during our training, and you have proven your worth every time without fail. I hope this weapon serves you well," she said, producing some of the kataki from her own armor. "Lady Kalia," he said breathlessly.
"You've told me of your time in the Synners and of your troubled past in Harut. I have seen that strength for myself, time and time again, during our training. While I give you some of my own kataki now, only after you succeed today will I call you an honorary member of the Iron Plume Clan," she said with a proud look in her eyes. "Thank you, my lady," he said humbly, graciously accepting the weapon.
I'll admit that I even felt proud of him at that moment, though I figured it was best to keep that feeling to myself.
Ysevel, of course, noticed the weak smile on my face and jabbed me with her elbow.
Within a few moments, the kataki reformed into a jagged, black blade that was about as long as the distance from the floor to the base of his shoulder. He took in a deep breath as he admired the blade in his hand.
While I couldn't exactly tell what was happening in his head, it was more than obvious he was extremely moved by her gesture.
"Thank you, Lady Kalia," he said humbly, condensing the blade to his wrist and bowing just as deeply as we did. "You three can thank me by completing your trials with these blades. Let them serve you and trust in them as they have put their trust in you," she replied, looking at the three of us seriously.
A heavy drum began to sound in the depths of the halls we'd come from. Kalia turned her head to listen more intently, then immediately turned back to us. "It's time to go. You're up first, Irun. Do not disappoint me," she said in a forceful yet motherly tone as a guard led him out of the staging room.
"You two, come with me. It would be wise for you to know what you're up against," she said as she began to move down another hallway on the opposite side of the room. "After you, Lady Kalia," I said. I gave Ysevel a glance of uncertainty since neither of us fully knew what was going to happen, but like when we'd fallen through the portal, she gave me the same reassuring nod.
I, of course, returned the gesture and followed the two out of the room.
After going down a few more of the halls and up a flight of sharp stairs, I realized that we were in what could be called the private viewing area. Inside the area, there were a few tables and chairs that were all facing the same direction, though staggered enough to allow for a clear view of the arena. Kalia gestured for Ysevel and I to sit in the ones just off to her left as she seated herself in the largest one in the center.
That must have been Lord Gravar's seat, Ysevel sent me, nodding in its general direction. How can you tell? I asked, not knowing much about this kind of thing. It's not so different from the seating arrangement when we hold tournaments in Soule, she replied. I never really got the chance to go, I sent with a mental shrug. We'll go together when we make it home, she said warmly.
Gods, she's amazing, I thought to myself.
The drums halted as soon as Kalia raised her hand, prompting the crowd to immediately become deathly silent.
That's a lot of power in a single gesture, I thought, noticing just how quickly they all calmed down.
"I am speaking in the common tongue so that our guests can understand what I am about to say," she began, using mana to amplify her voice. "Today, we will witness the Davu dugo Guva of not only my disciple but of two others I have acknowledged," she announced clearly and eloquently.
While there were no audible challenges to her statement, I could feel a near-infinite amount of eyes digging into the sides of my face, making Ysevel and I a little uncomfortable.
"Today is also a day where we honor Lord Gravar's death, and as tradition states, the wishes of the ruling Kerra must be honored as forcefully as though they were his own," she said, quelling any questions before they could even begin to form in my head.
"The first of our guests is Irun Mothac, whom many of you know is my disciple," she said, receiving a few cheers of support. "Today, he will fight in the Davu dugo Guva for his right to become an honorary member of the Iron Plume clan," she said, getting even more cheers than before.
I guess he's more famous here than we thought, I mentally noted as the gate opened on the left side of the arena, bringing the crowd to cheer fiercely while he stepped out.
"As per tradition, the use of mana will be prohibited during combat. No healing or casting of spells may be used, as only the strength of the one in question will be tested. Bring out the opponent!" she shouted, prompting the gate on the far side to open, revealing an abhorrent pair of eyes underlined by a gangly, unnerving smile.
Seeing the creature step out into the light of the arena, I noticed it looked a lot like Irun, but stood a bit more crookedly and beastly, like a glick crossed with a daemon.
"What is that… thing?" Ysevel asked, trying to hold back her disgust. "That is Irun's alternate. A coreless creature that was spawned into this realm the moment he was born in yours," Kalia replied with audible disgust. "I think I've seen one of those before," I said, recalling the creature I'd seen in the Draukar Forest.
"It's very likely, but like Irun, you two will have to fight your own," she began. "Watch and learn how they fight as carefully as you can, for while they may look weak, they make up for it with cunning," she said, raising her hand once more. "Begin!" she called out.