Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

yron's eyes were wide with horror.

In the flash of a second before the blade of Zayda's sword stopped his heart from getting stabbed through, he had felt his Sister's 'famed' killing intent and he had felt it directed at him for the first time.

This was nothing like an accidental hit that just happened to be aimed at a major organ...

"You tried to kill me!" he let out as he took multiple breaths to calm himself and let go of the feeling of fear setting in.

Myrine shook her head,

"Oh don't be so dramatic," she said.

"Dramatic? I felt it," Myron insisted, "I could have died!"

"Will you be calm? I knew Dame Zayda would get involved," Myrine said as she dropped her dagger-wielding arm and flexed it a few times to get rid of the numbness that she had been impacted with by making contact with a weapon rather than stabbable flesh.

"No, you didn't," Myron insisted as Zayda dropped her sword and stepped aside.

"Yes, I did," Myrine said with a sigh, "It's the whole reason she was even standing by."

"But there was still a chance... You risked my life on the 'chance' that she get involved?" Myron asked.

"I could have stopped myself even if she didn't," Myrine said and then she looked down at her dagger and added in her mind,

'At least I think I could.'

She knew she had gotten carried away but she would be damned if she admitted that out loud so she did what any 'loving' sister would do- She looked up at Myron, pointed a finger at him...

"Besides, you're certainly one to talk. You stabbed your sword at my face. How is that any different?"

... And went on the vocal offensive.

Myron paused, he would have liked to point out that she dodged that stab but realized that would only make him seem incompetent since he failed to dodge hers. Eventually, he let out a breath, his body much calmer now,

"I guess you're right," he said, "Maybe things got too far?"

"Maybe," Myrine said with a shrug, "Myron, the life I've chosen might not be ideal to you but it's still MY choice. You have to accept that."

Myron just stared.

With how the duel had ended and how, in an actual serious fight, he would likely be bleeding to death, he felt he lacked the Martial high ground to tell his Sister how to live her life.

"Actually," Zayda said as she took a step forward toward Myrine, "From what I've seen, I can't help but agree with Myron."

"What?" Myrine said exasperated, "Not you too!"

Zayda shrugged and then chuckled,

"I apologize Lady Myrine. No one would like to disagree with Myron more than I but he has a point.

"You were bred by the Temple. The way you move, the way you strike, your ferociousness, all are products of the Temple that are a part of you.

Your sons will be leaving Verdelen City soon to join the Martial Temple... Would it not make you feel accomplished to be there to watch them firsthand while serving the Temple and the Kingdom yourself?"

Myrine first ducked her head as she mused and then, her eyes snapped up when a part of Zayda's words caught her attention the most,

"Wait, what do you mean 'Sons'? Evian said No."

Zayda smiled, her voice low so that only those on the stage could hear,

"Well, he might be changing his mind soon. I aim to convince him to enlist as an Outpost Knight. He will be under my command. I believe that's where he could best make use of his -Talents."

Zayda's ulterior motive was simple.

She had been impressed by Evian's display last night and she refused to go away with the thought she would not see it again. She felt she might have found a stable couple in Evian and Ember to watch in their nightly activities. The last time she had that was with her Parents.

Did she worry about how his stares made her feel? A little.

But she was confident that she could rightly ignore that. Her stance had always been observation and she certainly hoped to keep it that way.

The Stygians were murmuring in appreciation of the display and multiple even clapped to exalt Myrine's seeming victory and while that rang out, a select few stepped away from the Arena seats and towards the stage. They were, Lord Stygian -glowing with pride at his capable wife-, Evian -with Ember tagging along- and Adrian.

Lady Myrine turned to eye Evian immediately,

"Is it true you're becoming Outpost Knight?" she asked.

Evian looked from her questioning eyes to Zayda's smile and sighed,

"I am considering it."

"Why?" Myrine asked, "You can join the sects like your Brother. Get the best the Temple has to offer."

Evia shrugged,

"But I don't want that," he said, "If I'll be a part of the Temple at all, it will be like this."

Adrian sniggered,

"Good," he said, "It's best you know-"

"Know what?" Evan interrupted with impatience.

"Best you know your place!" Adrian completed with a mocking grin.

Evian chuckled,

"And where is my place?" he asked.

"Away from me," Adrian said, "Away from people with true talent not relying on a spontaneous and instantaneous increase that so clearly lacks a solid foundation. You're riding the waves of a freak accident and you have tie absolute galls to carry yourself with dignity and talk back to the likes of me *Spits* You disgust me!"

Silence...

... And then,

*Swoosh*

Adrian saw when Evian moved but it was the wind the shaft of Evian's Spear carried as it swung toward his face that caused his eyes to widen and spurred him to react. He raised a hand to accurately grab the Spear before it made an even more impactful contact with his body- A foolish move...

*Wham!*

Somehow the wind that the Spear blew had not warned Adrian accurately of the force behind the weapon and he was blindsided by the sheer strength that backed it.

"Ngh!"

He let out a groan of discomfort as a painful numbing spread all over his arm. Had the force behind the Spear been greater than that, Adrian did not doubt that it would have splintered the bones in his arm.

As he slid a few steps away, he tried his hardest to ignore the numbing pain and quickly retrieved a sword from his Spatial ring to parry the next Spear swing because Evian was not letting up.

"If you have the audacity to run your mouth, then have the audacity to back it up!!" he said in a low superior tone while he stopped himself from smacking his brother with an Eldritch wave in fear that it would attract unnecessary attention from nearby experienced strangers like Zayda and Myron.

"I WILL back it up!" Adrian retorted but when Evian's strike landed with a *Clang* sound of metal against metal, his parry failed, and the sword blade vibrated strongly while the shaft of the Spear still slammed into the top of his head regardless.

Adrian's head stung, his vision got slightly blurry and while he tried to gain a handle on a quickly escalating situation, a kick struck the side of his face and sent him flying away by a few feet only to land and immediately get kicked in the stomach.

*Bam!*

"Ahhh!"

*Bam!*

"Ack!"

Here, Evian gave him some respite by standing a few feet away and twirling his Spear with ease as he grinned wickedly,

"Talk is cheap," he said and laughed, "I mean, just look at you. On the floor, so close to groveling, unable to get a grip on a proper rhythm."

"Ahhh..." Adrian let out a battle cry that was backed with the release of his Pressure as he quickly got back to his feet, took a few steps to the side, and tried to aim a strike at Evian's blindside.

A pointless endeavor.

Evian simply pivoted on the spot and met the sword Jab with a spear parry before rewarding the attempt with a painful smack of the Spear shaft into Adrian's ribs.

*crack*

Adrian heard and felt his fracture and as he doubled over with one hand over his side with the pain setting in and slowly robbing him of strength, he made a discovery that robbed him of his will to continue. Evian noticed and his grin got even more sinister,

"You understand now, don't you?"

Adrian said nothing but he did understand;

only found at _e-mp|y,r

While he continued to meander at the Fourth step of the Third Order, his younger brother, only a month into his Cultivational journey was already at the precipice and aiming to break through into the Next Order.

'FUCK!' Adrian yelled in his head with dispairing rage.

At the moment, it did not matter that Evian might be heading towards the collapse of his Cultivation base due to unnatural increments, all that mattered to Adrian was that he had been met and left behind.

"Alright," Myrine called to the two, unable to stay idle any longer, "That's enough sibling-on-sibling violence for the day."

Evian cast a look at the pathetic state of his brother and then shrugged before sending his Spear into his Spatial ring.

He had made his point.

"Adrian, don't look so sullen," Lord Stygian said with a supportive chuckle, "We should all just begin to accept that your brother is Gifted. Resurrection has done him wonders."

"He's not Gifted," Adrian said defiantly as he then glared at Evian,

"He's a Cheat and one day it's all going to come crashing down. I'll be there and I will make sure there be no one to pick up the pieces."