Legends of Ancient Astillia: The Sephian

Chapter 9

Months had gone by since the treaty of passage meeting, and I am responsible for all travel in the forest, so my life had become hectic as of late. Adlen and I had made good friends since, and he ended up being posted at the path for the humankind's passage. Rhaphel and his family had remained in close ties with me, and the celebrations for Noctem Caelo Varia Celestium were being prepared. Adlen, Minari, Orivyre, and Saisho had planned to meet me at the forest centre to help prepare for the festivities later that night. For now, Tavmyndi had called me out on a spar at ground level.

"You think this is enough room? Things could get out of hand," I shouted across the clearing.

"It'll have to be! Who's going first?" He yelled back.

I smiled and gestured at him, "You go, there's a shield technique I want to try out!"

He nodded, as he raised his hands and spinning seeds whirled towards me at a dangerous speed. I ran my hands along the grass, sensing for the position of roots beneath. As the seeds came within a foot of me, I slammed my fist into my palm, and closed my hand around it. A wall of tree roots shot up from the ground, closing around me like a dome. The seeds hitting the wood all at once made a sound like shattering clay, and once it was silent, I opened a gap in the wall, just wide enough for me to see through.

Several attacks went by like this before Tavmyndi began advancing on me. He drew his scimitar and took a whack at the gap. A sharp wind with a cutting edge made its way through. I dodged just in time for it to scratch my cheek.

Tavmyndi smirked at his first blood, and that was my opening. I directed the root dome as though it was a part of my body, swinging a trunk at his legs. I knocked him to the ground, face first. I dropped the shield dome and drew my bow, diving to dig my knee into his back. I drew an arrow, and aimed it at the back of his head.

"That is completely unfair! How can you be that fast?" He exclaimed, rolling his head to the side.

"Do you tap out?" I asked, tightening my bowstring.

"I surrender! You're tougher than you look."

I stood and slid my bow back into its sheath. Extending my hand to help Tavmyndi get up, I asked, "Will you be partaking in any of the preparation for the festivities tomorrow?"

"I'll be with Rhaphel and some other councillors decorating the forums and preparing the plazas," He said, raising himself, refusing my help.

We parted ways, and I arrived in the clearing early, so I set about preparing tables. Saisho, Rhaphel's sister, joined me halfway through. When the sun started to wane, Orivyre and Adlen came. Me and Orivyre put ourselves to work hanging the tapestries. This would be the hundredth year since we made Noctem Caelo Varia Celestium an official holiday on Ithshomar.