“We’re gonna be dagger-masters soon, Negan!” Thrakiel spat out between breaths as the two hurdled forwards. “Then I’ll fight some REAL opponents in combat and show them my skill!” and he waved his arms in the air mimicking the movements of dagger-style combat.
“Not if we make a fool of ourselves.” Negan huffed while focusing ahead.
Thrakiel was about to comment, but he quickly had to duck a swinging sandbag on a rope that was meant to catch recruits who did not pay attention. When he recovered his stride, the two briefly made looked at each other and smirked, then rushed onward.
Up ahead they encountered a large wall that they had seen others scrambling up and over. They did not hesitate, and both leapt onto the wall grasping at little holes and flipped over into landing runs continuing onward without losing any speed.
If you did not become the strongest, be the smartest.
This was his favorite sentence and he defeated challenges with ease.
…
The brigade was off and riding fast to reach the ruins. For the newest blademaster recruits, Negan and Thrakiel, the race was just like old times in the academy. This was not only a chance for riches, but for glory. This mission would be the most important mission he had been on since his graduation: finding the Arch Ruin’s gems. Thrakiel did not like being second best and had his own plans.
When they got to the ruins their numbers were only two thousand in size. The blademasters were swift. They located the source of the gems’ aura. It was magnificent, the brilliant glaze reflecting endlessly between the pearls. But soon there was trouble, and monsters by the legion began emerging from tunnels inside the earth and underneath the ruins. The blademasters fought them off easily, but their numbers kept on pressing. Over time they became weary and many had fallen.
“Over there, through this passage!” Thrakiel finally said, pointing to a shaft of light down a rubble filled alley. The survivors in the group turned and retreated to the passage, but were trapped. Some got through the hole, but the monsters attacking shifted the hole entrance into a vertical position so it was now above and difficult to exit without help. Negan stayed below as long as he could, fighting orcs off while his men escaped. Thrakiel was one of the two who stayed at the tunnel pulling survivors up, the rest continued through securing the escape. When it was Negan’s turn to be pulled up and the monster swarm was not ten yards from him and his comrades, he reached upward for a hand through the hole. But there were no hands to hoist him. Kicking an orc in the face and flinging one of his two daggers into another charging him, Negan turned his head towards the hole to see. Thrakiel had sliced the other elf down and looked down at Negan.
“The glory of the Arch ruin will be mine Negan. I will tell them you were masterful. Hah!” And he closed the hole with a large rock.
…
The monsters had taken a small group of the warriors captive and Negan had become one of them. Thrakiel had betrayed him. But Negan was cunning and he began to think of a plan. Though they took his elite daggers, he could still recognize the various types of grass and sharp stones that would do the trick.
…
A fog had begun to roll over the steppe, obscuring the view. A wounded dagger master who had been fleeing from the massacre had reached the end of his efforts. He could no longer continue. Collapsing and trying to drag himself further, his arms gave way. His face hit the tundra and blood dribbled from his lips and shattered legs. His sideways view of the grass in front of him began to waver. Then a large boot stomped down before him, and he tried to look up. The figure kneeled down and placed his fingers under the dark elf’s chin to support his head.
What happened here, blademaster?” the figure asked in a voice that sounded like gravel. The elf’s vision was blurring. He could barely make out the shape of a skull helmet with horns. He was delusional. He coughed blood and choked as he flinched his head. Trying his best to refocus, he heard the voice again. “Speak to me blademaster, who did this?” The dark elf tried to speak, but his lips were so dry and his body too shattered. With his last effort, he pulled a black gem out of his pocket and raised it toward the horned creature and collapsed for good.
Balbazak
leaned forward and picked up the black gem. He raised it to his face and peered at it closely. He then gave it a deep whiff with his nose, nostrils flaring several times as he did so and whisps of energy coming off the gem.
“Monsters.”
…
The escapees were at the edge of the steppe, nearly away from the monsters when Thrakiel caught up to them.
“Where are the others?” another asked.
“They didn’t make it,” Thrakiel replied and then urged, “we must continue and notify the main army we located this under mycommandat once!”
The monsters were slashed through by Balbazak
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…
Negan acted swiftly while his captors were not looking. He scratched the two stones together and sparks emerged. Loud sounds could be heard all around, but the source wasn’t obvious from their position. There was dry grass all around them and throughout the ruins. Negan scratched again, harder this time. It sent sparks shimmering from the stones and onto the grass, igniting them. The fire soon swept through various parts of the ruins and smoke began to emerge to the sky. He freed his bonds on some fire and began to search for a way out as the fire grew behind him.
…
“I have found black gems!”
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There were many monsters at the gem chamber entrance and the space was small. It was a stand-still. Both sides were weary of this passageway of death. But something began to change – smoke. The fire had begun emerging through this side of the ruin chambers. The monsters were forced to break their hold. As they did a warrior appeared leaping through the smoke and rolling through some embers. He spoke to Balbazak at once.
“Thrakiel is right, the gems are here, but he betrayed me and many others; he trapped us to die! We must go back for them!”
Thrakiel pointed his dagger at Negan, but Balbazak’s was already through Thrakiel’s chest.
“This is the true coward and betrayer.” Balbazak growled. Thrakiel slumped to the ground and was trampled by the elites charging over him to help the captured warriors and defeat the monsters through and push them into the fire or flee. The trapped warriors were released and with them the gem chamber was liberated.
The gem hoard was retrieved, and the glory had rightfully been restored to Negan for the Arch Ruins. Negan was once again the best blademaster in the elite legions. His plans and intelligence grew as did his reputation began to spread in the horizons after the passage of days and months of struggle.