Chapter 50 - A Fierce Woman
The improvised wooden sword cut through the air with force, a hum that filled the silent, mountainous road. A child, Eris Boreas Greyrat, her hair as red as fire, felt sweat trickling down her forehead as she swung the sword, gritting her teeth in frustration.
Each swing was a muffled cry, an attempt to ease the turmoil boiling within her. Anger at the situation, the strange place they were in, and at herself. She paused for a moment, panting, hands on her knees as she took a deep breath. She glanced to the side, where an enormous stone cart rested. It was so massive it seemed impossible to move, yet there it was, perfectly functional, with solid stone wheels and a blue dragon's corpse inside.
Two days had passed since they left the cave, and her anger and frustration grew daily. She was grateful he had saved them and planned to ask her grandfather to reward him, but he wasn't helping her mood at all. Not that he mistreated her, but he wouldn't give in to her demands and would match her aggression with equal stubbornness. She'd learned the hard way that she had no chance of defeating him.
She had even asked Ghislaine to teach him a lesson once she recovered from her injuries, but she refused!
The thought hit her like a flood. She gripped the sword hilt tightly and looked at the stone transport he had crafted. Besides being so strong, he also had those strange magics. She hadn't found anything he couldn't do with magic; everything seemed so convenient for him. How could someone be so infuriating and impressive at the same time?
When he made that cart, Eris had almost wanted to jump up and scream in excitement. It was just so cool. He said it wasn't difficult, but when he tried to explain... Well, she and Ghislaine had exchanged confused looks. Nothing he said made sense. It was something about forces, levers, and other words she couldn't even pronounce. She wanted to learn magic, but she refused to ask him for help.
She returned to swinging the sword, now with more force, as if the blade could cut through the thoughts tormenting her. Each strike made her emotions clearer.
'He's an amazing mage. According to Ghislaine, he's absurdly skilled with a sword too.' She bit her lip, remembering how she had miserably lost to him when she challenged him. She had even thought for a moment about ambushing him while he slept, but... he had saved her. He had saved Ghislaine too. And that... that made her hesitate.
'He's so arrogant. Always talking about complicated things like it's easy. Like he wants to show off how much smarter he is. I feel stupid every time I talk to him.'
And yet... And yet... She let out a grunt and swung the sword harder, the blade humming louder.
'Why does he have to be so cute?!'