[Jon's POV]
The fight kept going!
We didn't give Iron-Fist a chance to take a breath and kept toying with him left and right.
I normally left all the attacks for Jullanar but when he noticed that I am only fainting my strikes, he ignored me and tried to target her.
Well, that was not hard. I only had to stab his legs few times anyway.
Compared to him, we were much faster. He had no way of stopping us with his brute strength. Of course I can put up a show against him if it came to brute strength but Jull can't so I gave him the illusion that he can come after both of us as long as he tries.
Of course he couldn't. Jullanar was frantic in her strikes and he started to fear her attacks. I know he recognized her since the time she removed her hood and he knew she is after his head.
The people stopped cheering long ago as they sensed the immense degree of hostility in the match. Most of them already guessed this was a death match.
Benkum, the arena manager, was already trying to move his men to stop the match before Iron-Fist gets killed. Apparently, a money maker like Iron-Fist was important to him and getting him killed will cause him a big loss.
Also being fooled by me sure left a bad taste in his mouth. Now, I am not sure if we can get out of the arena the peaceful way.
"Let's just hurry up and kill the scum." I said to Jull who was stabbing at him nonstop.
He looked like a bloody rag from how much stabs he suffered.
It has been long since he switched from offense to complete defense, he took most of the blows by his vambracers without one counter attack.
His moves started to be slower but was still steady, I thought he became tired but I caught a glimpse of his eyes shining brightly as he was looking at Jullanar.
He had a vulgar smile behind his guard, chills ran in my spine as I thought he might do something and certainly he was about to.
Jull approached him and was trying to get another sure stab at him but he launched a punch at her lightning speed.
This is dangerous!
"Watch out!"
I threw the spear in my hand away and grabbed what I could reach from her then pulled her back as fast as I could.
His punch missed but he saw the opportunity and switched targets at me.
His punch was speeding towards me but my reflexes were ready and I kicked his knee stopping his advance before he reaches me.
He was also an experienced fighter so this kick wasn't enough to make him stop or retreat but instead of punching, he tried grabbing me and mostly succeeded.
From the beginning I was in a tight spot after pulling Jull and using a leg to kick. If I was him I would have targeted the leg I am standing on but he hugged directly at me and performed the ribs crushing technique, The Bear Hug!
"Hahaha! Girl, throw your weapon or I will crush the insides of this guy."
He spoke like the hooligan he is and was truly trying to crush my ribs.
Jull was glaring at him and calculating where to strike next.
"Hey, don't ignore me!"
I managed to free my left arm and evoked 'Sparks' on it.
Just as Iron-Fist saw magic on my hand, his face changed color and tried to evade but he was at zero distance from me.
I put my palm on his head and casted the lightning 'Sparks'.
I felt the electricity tickling me through him as we were stuck to each other. The feeling started to get unpleasant as he refused to let go of me.
Just as he couldn't take it anymore, he let go of me and retreated hastily.
My sides were hurting a bit but nothing serious, not even a purse will be left.
The match already was no more when I started using magic.
Benkum signaled the other fighters to go to the pit and drag us out.
Okay, this has to end.
Iron-Fist on the other hand was furious and looked at me hatefully. "You fucker. I will kill you. Then I will break her legs and sell her in a whorehouse."
"Okay, I will just kill you myself then! Jull, leave the killing to me. We are running out of time."
"Fine! I don't care!"
I evoked 'Thunder Cookie' in both my right and left, this spell is an expert spell but has no range or accuracy so its Magicks cost was very low compared to the damage it deals.
After getting ready. I put on a serious face and shouted at him.
"Come at me!"
Iron-Fist roared and charged at me giving his best punch. He was sure that if he couldn't overpower with his strength, he and the other fighter will overpower me with numbers.
To the punch he threw with his right, I also punched the 'Thunder Cookie' in my right.
'KABOOM!' The outcome was simple. Not even Iron-Fist with his fame in throwing punches can take the half assed 'Thunder Cookie'.
[A/N: not even the immortal iron fist himself I tell you.]
'Thunder Cookie' tend to make a thunder clap every time it strikes. The strike was enough to deafen the entire pit.
Iron-Fist looked at his arm to see that everything has turned to a scenario he couldn't predict. His arm was missing. Behind him was a trail of bone and flesh fragments all over the place.
"AAH! AAAAARRHGH.. gufu!"
He was about to start wailing from the pain but I granted him the other 'Thunder Cookie' in my left. It carried him in the air and broke him into two destroyed halves.
It was splendid no matter how I think about it.
I turned to Jull and tried to check on her but she was absent minded for some reason.
"Jull... Jull!"
"...Yes!"
"We are about to go through those brutes! ... You okay?"
"Yes, yes! It is just... thank you!"
"You welcome! conjure a Frost Atronach and hide behind it."
She nodded and started casting!
"You! You are not getting out of here! The man you killed is worth a 100 Gold. Pay up!" Benkum the arena manager was huffing and buffing at me between his men.
Hehe! Let's see if you can stop me!
I have already finished up conjuring four Frost Atronaches. It may be no match for this number of fighters but I am going to escape anyway.
"Now!" I gave a command and Jullanar followed.
"Stop them!" The fighters lined up to block the way but that's not the trick.
"FUCK OFF!" I performed a 'Battle Cry!' just a second before the clash.
The result was devastating.
We passed like a hot knife through butter.
I had no plan anyway but it will work until we reach 'Candlehearth Hall'.
From there, we will take Nefertiti and escape town before the guards notice.
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[Ralof's POV]
We received a report that someone caused a big ruckus in 'The Pit'.
I don't like the place to begin with but when I went to check I saw men as big as walls collapsing on the ground and weeping.
From what I could understand, someone shouted a 'Battle Cry' at them.
There was also a corpse broken in a horrible way. Eye witnesses said that it was a man called 'Darth Vader' killed that broken man as his fists made the sound of thunder.
By Talos! For such a thing to exist. To break a man like this with punches made of thunder is something I don't want to fight. More than being a strong fighter, the killer is also a strong mage that summoned many Walking Ice Monsters.
Magic and its people are always troublesome. But to perform a 'Battle Cry' on top of that is a scary feat. Someone so strong came in town?
I must definitely report this! If this man is not acting against us then Jarl Ulfric will try badly to rope him in.
"Capt..tain! Captain Ralof! *huff* *huff*" One of my subordinates came running for me. He was supposed to be guarding on the gate.
"What? Take your breath then speak!"
"Yes! *huff* *huff* just *cough* just a minute ago! One man passed the gate with force on top speed! He was riding a horse made of fire! We couldn't stop him!"
Horse made of fire? What is that?
The Jarl can wait few more minutes.
I followed the guard to the gate and listened to the witnesses. They all confirmed the story.
More than that! The description matched that of Darth Vader.
What is going on today?
I guess this should be reported!
I ran to my superior, Commander Galmar Stone-Fist, Jarl Ulfric's housecarl.
"All that happened?" He said.
"Yes! He is confirmed to be young and a very capable warrior!" I said my opinion on the accident.
"Fine! Follow me to the Jarl."
It wasn't long since we saw Jarl Ulfric.
"Galmar! I told you to fini... Oh! You're bringing Ralof, huh?" The Jarl was looking up some map.
"Yes, there is something interesting that happened in the city Ulfric, it's like this..." Gulmar said all he learned from me to the Jarl.
"Hmmm! A Thunder Fist, huh! That's a new one. Are you sure it was not magic?" The Jarl asked me.
"The people saw him punching, Jarl. I don't know what kind of a mage punches with magic if he can just cowardly throw magic like the rest of his kind but he was also confirmed to be a mage." I said.
"Strange! Something new is happening! He killed a fighter I was planning to recruit so he must compensate me for that." Jarl Ulfric seemed to be interested.
"Pass my order." He said, "That Darth Vader is to be considered a criminal and wanted only alive! Reward any tip about him."
Wha! What is the Jarl thinking?
Jarl Ulfric values talents so much so he would do anything to get his hands on one.
But I feel like we are missing something.
There was a Dunmer girl with Darth Vader, there was also a Dunmer girl with Jon Dare three days ago.
Can it be... No, Jon won't do things this way. I am just overthinking it.
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[Jon's POV]
I managed to tell Jullanar to go outside the city before me as her control over a Falme Atronach Horse is not that great, so I had to go take our things back alone.
Just as I could rode outside the bridge, I saw Jull who already summoned her horse and was waiting for me.
"Where are we going now?" She asked me and looked a bit exited.
"Helgen!"
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[Alina's POV]
Just another boring day at the College.
Well, it is less boring than staying in the clan and staring at the snow or waving a sword all day.
I came to the College after I nagged the whole clan for a day. I sealed of the ancestral hall until they agreed to let me out.
Finally! Freedom!
Or so I thought!
Steward Thurek had to follow me to the College!
I also took Skywalker Svakin with me. If he could broaden his understanding of the sword during this stay out, he may achieve a breakthrough and become a Skyrunner.
But things are not waiting for a person in place to reap them.
In my path of Mysticism, my talents of truth seeking and telling the future are not enough! I need to understand Magicka to its deep aspects. That's why I requested to follow Arch-Wizard Nurina Aren. A legendary figure and the person who revived the School of Mysticism in the College.
But that idiot of a steward had to interfere and make a direct appeal to the Arch-Mage of the College to make me a personal apprentice to Arch-Wizard Nurina.
Was his head made of fart?
I said I only would attend her classes. Not that I need to be anyone's personal apprentice.
I am afraid I was forced on Arch-Wizard Nurina and may have caused her some inconvenience.
I tried to go and apologize but when I went to her private quarters, I saw teacher Faralda and teacher Laaneth flying out of the door.
They said it was some experiment went wrong and I don't have to worry as I was invited in.
I just don't want to remember the rest of that day, but in the evening, Arch-Wizard Nurina talked to me and she was unlike her mad wizard self just a second ago. She complimented my understanding for a bit then said she has a legacy disciple and I don't have to bother proving myself.
Those words made me get more fired up and I started asking about that disciple who later seemed to be the same gifted businessman who changed the town greatly.
I was a bit triggered and I issued a challenge against him. Alas he was in an indoor studying and can't be called out. He maybe a good theorist and business man but he can't be a match against me in combat magic. Only that man Darth Vader is someone I can't defeat, but he seems to be not a person who settles in one place.
Few weaks passed and I heard some news about his appearance in Windhelm, punching like thunder, and riding a fire horse. That is him.
The horse seemed to be something that was recreated from an ancient spell by Arch-Wizard Nurina and her disciple. It was contributed to the rest of the College and I could acquire it just a week ago. It also made me more than sure that Darth Vader is a College student.
Anyway! I can't seem to get a hold on both Jon Dare or Darth Vader. I was told that Jon Dare will come out later by the end of the year to take his last exam and become a 'Scholar'. I guess I'll have to waste my time around and learn new things other than swordsmanship or Destruction Magic.
I am sure that the world of magic has new ways of magic I may find out on my own. Something like that book 'Wind and Sand' that Master Nurina told me to research.
I am sure I will give her a surprise.
{End of the Volume!}
{Next Vol: Firemane Clan}