Of Steel and Weave - The last of the Cervantès
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This is a continuation of Lucrecia's background. For more information about her past, see the topic "The Cervantès Lineage" here :
http://www.therealnarfell.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=30176''This is everything I managed to get.''
The carpet used by the Temple attendant to wrap the few artifacts he had gathered from the battlefield gets unrolled easily, revealing a few objects covered with dirt. A couple of cheap rings roll a few feet away when a wave moves the ship up and down. Her arms wrapped around her knees pulled to her chest, the girl lets her emerald eyes fall onto one of the remaining items, ignoring the rest. Following her cold gaze, the man nods slowly, doing his best to sound reassuring.
''Your father's sword. It is yours now, miss Cervantès.''
''Lucrecia.''
She sees him nod again in the corner of her eyes. The name did not have any meaning anymore. Even if she ever passed on her father's bloodline, even if she was to be wed and give birth to a heir, her husband's name would replace hers. She would be the last of the Cervantès. But this wouldn't mean she would give up on their ideal. She stands up and approaches the loot with a disgusted smirk. So this was all that remained from what her father and Mazzic Amascient had fought for, for the last twenty-five years. An old blade and a few magical trinkets. She crouches and lets her long fingers close around the weapon's handle. While she stands slowly back, her eyes run from one of the artifacts to the other. The man nervously digs in his apprentice robe to pull out a cylinder covered with aged leather.
''I'm not sure what the other objects are. I also found these scrolls, but couldn't identify the language either.''
''It's draconic. And all this stuff has no value, you'll hardly get hundred gold pieces at the market when we get there.''
He stops moving, watching her with puzzled eyes, the scroll container still in his hand. She smirks, holding her father's bastard sword in her right hand. Of course the man wouldn't expect her to read draconic. He'd assume that she has no interest but slaughter fiends, just because she was wearing an armor and weilding a sword. But while he was pretending to pray at the Temple, she had been learning. Her father was not always there to take her out for training, he had much to do with his own task. And she wasn't one to just sit and wait for his return, not when there was so much to discover.
''I didn't think you had any interest in magic. I'll take you to a friend of mine as soon as we reach Ilmwatch, he forges enchanted blades there. You really are amazing, Luc. Do you mind if I call you Luc ?''
He slowly leans closer to her with what he believes to be a charming smile, and as his eyes briefly lower to her chest she loses the last trace of kindness she had had for him. She narrows her eyes on the worthless scum, her grip tightening on the handle of her blade.She sighed, listening to her father's words.
''One's life is worthless, until proven otherwise.''
She opened her mouth to ask something, but Arthur shook his head, smiling. This was not a matter to discuss. This was a statement.The thin silhouette falls on the ground with a muted thud. She quickly looks around herself, freezing and listening, making sure nobody had witnessed the event, and finally allows herself to sigh. She recognized the face. Its empty eyes now unfocusing slowly had been staring at her while she was dancing at the tavern. Couldn't she ever enjoy herself without facing such repercussions ?
''This wasn't necessary, you know.''
Lucrecia tenses and turns her head, trying to identify where the words had come from. The slight wind moving her hair behind her makes her realise how terrible her mistake had been. She ducks instinctively, moving her feet to spin and face the one who had sneaked to her back. And she finds a woman with long black hair, smiling, her hands joined behind her back.
''Why do you bear this charm of yours like a curse ?''
The light, bewitching laugh of the Sunite angers the girl almost as much as it confuses her. She turns away, frowning, and walks down the deserted alley of Ilmwatch to return to the forge. The moonlight seems to avoid her blade, as if the shadows were sheltering it. The sun would have revealed its crimson color, but until dawn the blood would appear as black as the girl's mood.
''Use it to your advantage, instead of suffering from it.''
The girl slashes her sword as a reflex when the words are spoken right into her ear, but her father's blade slips through a dancing shadow. The priestess lands softly on her feet, and her dress slowly floating back down is the only trace of the cartwheel she had performed silently. She smiles and winks, which only causes Lucrecia to smirk more.
''The last thing I need is another stalker.''
''You get stalkers because you refuse to use your blessing.''
She frowns, staring angrily at the Sunite who laughs again and passes her right hand through her hair.
''I can teach you.''''One worthy life…''
''...is to be protected at all cost.''
Arthur nodded approvingly as she cut him to finish the sentence. She liked this one, and he knew it. The first statement had brought strength to their lineage over the centuries. The second one had brought pride.The bucket falls on the paved floor with a loud metallic sound that echoes through the whole workshop. She smirks and turns her eyes to the mage, waiting for his reproach that didn't take long to come. Only a slight frown betrays the swordsmith's irritation.
''You're not focused. Each time you fail you become more angry, and being angry won't help you. Get rid of this temper of yours.''
She doesn't object, knowing the man was right. But this wasn't helping her calming any, on the opposite. She stops herself from kicking the bucket before he takes it in both his hands, and just closes her eyes, breathing slowly. Her fists are closed and shaking with frustration, but the mage calmly raises his arms to set the iron bucket back to its place - on her head. He steps back and crosses his arms, watching her. She doesn't move for several more seconds, then raises her own hands and extends her fingers, letting them dance slowly in front of her. Her lips move although no sound comes out of her throat, and she waits for the right moment to finally complete her incantation, letting the draconic words raise from her mouth. Feeling the flames start to errupt from her palms, she quickly turns them both to face the man in front of her. Too quickly. Although not watching the fire that dies between them, swallowed by his sphere of protection, the mage winces nonetheless as the metallic crashing noise resounds again. Lucrecia's eyes are reduced to thin lines when she glares at the bucket in front of her feet. And she kicks it this time, throwing it towards one of the many bookshelves surrounding the room. The man sighs but doesn't lose patience, unlike her.
''Don't forget this. With magic, every single move counts.''Arthur tilted his head, watching the little girl who was sitting on his lap with the tenderness only a father could feel. And he let her speak the third statement.
''To find one worthy life to protect with ours is our purpose.''
His smile widened and she giggled happily at his silent approval.''Every single move counts, you know.''
Lucrecia nods firmly, standing straight, which makes the priestess chuckle amusedly.
''Sensuality is a part of life, and a tool. Just like a blade, it can be used to achieve your purpose, and seduction can be considered a fight.''
''This is not a fight I wish to win. I have no need for its reward.''
With another light laughter, the Sunite crouches and cups her hands around one of the beautiful flowers of the Shrine's garden. She smells it briefly, closing her eyes for a second.
''Life offers many pleasures to whoever accepts to take them. But you don't have to chase them all. There is much more to seduction than what you think.''
She lets go of the flower and raises both her arms to her sides, twirling with a gentle smile into a quiet dance. Lucrecia's emerald eyes are locked on her while she does so, but she doesn't move. She had always loved to dance. She loved flowers and their enchanting smells. But for now she was there to be taught a lesson. Her father had always taught her to keep a strict line between work and leisure.
''What's in it for me then ?''
''Everything you want from it.''
She smirks at the answer. This was giving her no information at all. A waste of time and words. She just stands silently until the priestess stops her dance and smiles to her again.
''A thief uses his talents to get what he wants from another, emptying his pockets without being noticed. A brute uses his strength to intimidate and oblige others to give them what he wants. But you can overpower them all with your gift. With a smile and a wink, you can get a man to give you want you want - willingly. Isn't this great ? One day you will master this art, if you are willing to put some effort into it. And instead of being stalked, you will leave them with a sanctimonious smile and empty pockets.''
Lucrecia stares at her with a severe expression, that finally slowly fades into an amused smile.
''What should I do ?''
''Learn how to master your moves. Get rid of all the unimportant ones and focus and the most suggestive stances. Use them at the right time, without overdoing them. Let me show you.''''Dad ?''
He didn't answer, holding her silently between his strong arms. His contact was as cold as his smile was warm, the full plate hardly concieved to hold a little girl.
''How will I find the one I shall protect ?''
He softly brought her closer to kiss her cheek, his voice calm and reassuring.
''You will travel and see the world, Lucrecia. And you will know him or her when your paths shall cross.''The mage watches her with slightly widened eyes, more impressed than he would mouth it.
''I see my training has been useful to you. Remember, you'll need to have much more control than any other if you keep on refusing to unstrap your armor. If you keep my pointers in mind and remove all the unimportant movements, you'll have more chances of succeeding in your casting.''
She chuckles, leaving his delusions to the man. She didn't mind him overestimating what he had brought to her control. She watches him rub his chin thoughtfully, smiling genuinely. He still had an unconvinced tone as he brought up the topic once more, looking at the white and golden chainmail. The colours that her lineage had always worn.
''I still don't get it though. Some magical protections are just as efficient as any armor, you know.''
''I trust steel much more than I trust the weave, Korben. Don't you use it mostly to improve a sword's power yourself ?''
The man looks around at the enchanted blades he had made, hanging on the walls of the forge, and returns her smile.
''Aye, that I do.''
He laughs and pats her shoulder fondly.
''Do as you wish, Lucrecia. It's crazy, but it's not insane. Some even manage to cast spells without a single move.''
She nods seriously, fully aware of it, and unsheethes her father's one-and-a-half blade, raising it horizontally in front of her, frowning as she studies its features she already knew by heart. The mage smiles and nods to her silent wish, knowing what she expected from him. She watches him closely while he casts the spell on the sword. She would learn it as well. One day she would master this art.