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A Hymn of Blades [AN EPIC PROGRESSION FANTASY]
Chapter 6: You just triggered my fight or flight response

Chapter 6: You just triggered my fight or flight response

Erend shifted his attention to the spell impression that Elísitrá had imprinted on him.

He focused on the imprint, finding that it radiated a pulse of source at a set frequency. He focused on the pulsing, and to his surprise he could replicate it before long. Replicating the frequency of the pulses was another matter altogether, however. He sat there, minute after minute, trying to get a feel of how many pulses the skill radiated per set amount of time.

At last, after more than half an hour, he had an epiphany. The pulses were greatly slowed down when he focused on the imprint, in real time they were vibrations. Elísitrá had dumbed it down for him. He mimicked the thrumming of source, feeling himself vibrate in tune with the skill. The vibrations spread until he noticed a disturbance in the space in front of him. A dim blue circle appeared; it looked like the rippling surface of water.

Erend looked around, on the nightstand stood an alarm clock. He picked it up, had a look at the time, placed it inside the rippling circle, and canceled the skill. He waited, counting the seconds in his head. After a minute had passed, he activated the skill again and reached his arm into the circle, it felt like reaching his arm into a bowl of thick soup, he couldn’t manage to feel the clock.

Where is the damn thing – oh.

As if summoned by his thoughts, he felt the solid clock appear in his hand, he pulled it out and had a look at the time. As he had suspected, the clock showed the same time as it had when he’d placed it inside the space ripple.

That’s so cool. But enough playing around, the others are probably waiting.

Erend got up and walked out of the room, leisurely taking in the sights. He really was rich, that old Bernard. The house was decorated to the teeth, with fancy vases and paintings lining the walls. Even the wallpapers were an annoyingly fancy dark red color with golden patterns making out some sort of flower.

Tacky.

He walked down a large spiraling staircase, fashioned of the same polished volcanic brick that the nobles preferred. Downstairs, in the living room, sat Charles’s parents; Peter and Mary, along with Bernard, Thomas, and Elle.

“Erend! I’m so glad you’re alright dear,” Mary exclaimed. She immediately walked up to pull him into a bear hug.

“Likewise!” Erend exclaimed in relief and returned the hug. Mary had been the closest thing Erend had to a mother since Therese disappeared. She was a stocky woman, with a warm personality. Somehow, she always managed to smell like cinnamon buns – and home. “How’d you make it out? Dad told me Charles brought you all here.”

“Yes dear, he ran back home to get us as soon as the rest of you were safe in this here house. A useless baker he is, my son, but a reliable young man otherwise. How’s your head?”

“It’s alright, thank you. After awakening my constitution increased by a bit, so the pain subsided pretty quickly.”

“Oho, awakened, have we? Have you given any thought to your future?”

“I’ll train to become a warrior and adventure. Charles said he thought I’d make a kick-ass one.”

“True enough. I think you’ll be a wonderful little warrior!” Mary said and pinched his cheek. “Come dear, let’s get you something to eat! Charles and Cordelia should be waking up any second now, so I’ve prepared a hot stew for us all, to celebrate.”

“Pfft, celebrating in these circumstances,” scoffed Bernard in the distance, sneakily peeking at the streets behind the covers of a curtain.

“Oh, shut it you. I’ve had just about enough of your complaining. The circumstances may not be ideal, but that’s all the more reason to celebrate, we have to see the positives in this damned day,” she said while staring daggers at the old man, instantly shifting her mood when she turned to Erend. It was quite scary she could flip her mood like that, “Come now dear, this way. Don’t let the gloomy Gus sour your mood.”

Erend threw Bernard an understanding glance before he followed Mary to the dining room. Sometimes she could be loving to a fault, just like his own mother had been, his real mother, not the pale woman – though she seemed alright.

“Here, sit,” Mary said and patted the seat of a lavish chair. Erend did as he was told and sat down with a grateful smile.

“Thank you, you didn’t have to do all this,” he said.

“Nonsense, what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t?!”

“Someone like my mother,” Cordelia announced as she entered the room. “Mind if I have a seat too?” she looked crestfallen. The long day must have gotten to her, and it was still barely lunchtime.

“Of course! Come, come. Pretty girls like you need to eat, otherwise you’ll freeze come winter.”

Cordelia laughed at Mary’s antics, “I suppose that may be true enough, now that I’ve lost my house and all.”

“Aw, my sweet girl, it’s just temporary. Here, warm your mood with some food.”

With a nod, Cordelia accepted the bowl of hot stew. As she felt the first spoonful enter her mouth, a content smile spread across her lips, reaching to her eyes. “You’re a cook?”

“Best in town, honey!” Mary said with a wink and flashed her biceps. Quite the strange pose for a cook.

“It’s delicious, thank you.”

“Thanks for helping me get here,” Erend said after downing a few mouthfuls, assuming she’d helped carry his unconscious body to safety.

“Oh, it was nothing. Charles did most of the heavy lifting. I was mostly useless... I’m glad you’re okay though.”

“Yeah... for what it’s worth I don’t think you were useless. It was rough out there.”

“I suppose.”

“So, what do you plan on doing now? Are you going to look for your parents?”

Erend felt a pinch in his side. He jumped in surprise and looked for the culprit, standing there was Mary, her strained smile did little to hide the bulging vein almost bursting from her forehead.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Erend, dear. Let’s think before we speak.”

“What?” Oh, right. The nobles’ district was the first to fall. “Oh... I’m sorry, my head’s still a bit of a mess.”

“It’s alright. I’m sure they’re okay, somewhere. For now, I think I’ll stick with you guys. Going to the fort seems like the most sensible thing to do. Maybe my parents made it there too.”

You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Although she said she was alright, she was obviously anxious about the whole thing, who wouldn’t be? Thankfully Charles made his appearance just in time to keep Erend from making any more social blunders.

“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in,” he said as he regarded Erend with a haughty sneer.

“Didn’t you drag me in?”

“Well then. Me-ow.”

“...”

The room fell into a silence, even denser than before.

“No? Yeesh, tough crowd...”

“...Well. I’ll go tell the others you’ve all woken up. Take a seat for now Charles,” said Mary, excusing herself. Erend noticed that her neck was turning red; blushing in place of her son.

Charles sat down next to Erend, whispering; “I thought that would be funny... Couldn’t you have at least faked a laugh? Now I look like an idiot!”

“In retrospect, I probably should have. Didn’t think the mood could get any more strained,” Erend whispered back.

Before they could continue bickering, Cordelia cut them off, “You know I can hear you both, right?”

Charles sat up straight and clapped his hands together before exclaiming; “Oh! Cordelia! I didn’t see you there. How was your nap?”

“We’ve not known each other long enough for you to behave like this. It’s unbecoming of you. But yes, it was nice. How was yours?”

“Very fruitful!” Charles said with a smile. “I’ll start training with the scouts as soon as I can. Do you have anything planned?”

“Yeah, Dad’s had me train to become a wizard for as long as I can remember.”

“Woah! Can you throw fireballs and stuff now?” Charles asked with wide eyes.

Cordelia covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide a chuckle, “No, at least not yet. Maybe in time. For now, I should be able to throw a bit of source around though.”

“Sounds useful enough!” said Erend, showing his most earnest smile. Cordelia had grown in his eyes, maybe he’d gotten the wrong impression of her initially.

“Man... I wish I’d been trained to use to source too... But I shouldn’t complain! I’m still going to be a scout! The coolest adventurer of them all,” Charles said with a large grin, “What about you Erend?”

“Coolest adventurer of them all sounds good to me. Guess I’ll join you, Charles.”

“I knew you’d come around!” Charles exclaimed and pulled Erend into a hug.

“Yeah, I think I always knew I would too. Besides, it seems a waste to not use my spell impression to travel.”

“What, spell impression? You can cast?” Cordelia interjected. “... I’ve never heard of someone who’s not a noble being naturally able to cast. You are a commoner, right?” she asked, the skepticism in her eyes practically glowing.

“I am,” Erend responded instantly. Well, I guess I do have some sort of watered-down royal blood.

When she noticed the two boys nodding along, intently she quickly added, “Don’t take my words at face value, it’s all based on hearsay.”

As the discussion died down the others entered the dining room. Mary walked in front, seemingly arguing with Bernard over something – they apparently did that a lot. Peter and Thomas cooperated in carrying a large box, filled with bottles of wine, atop the box sat Elle, laughing manically.

“Faster, faster!” she twittered.

They all sat down around the large oak table. Thomas picked up one of the bottles and tried to make out the text on the etiquette.

While Mary was busy lecturing the old man about something, Bernard casually looked over to Thomas and said, “It’s a good one, fifty years old or so. Normally I wouldn’t drink it for a few years but seems a waste to leave it wasting away here,” then he turned his eyes to the people around the table and asked, “Shouldn’t someone stand guard?”

“And what would that help? We’re unarmed anyway and wouldn’t get far by running. We’ll have to place our hopes in the town guard,” responded Mary, his not listening to her had visibly irritated her. Erend half expected to see steam shooting out of her nostrils as she breathed.

Thomas sat silently, in thought, then he nodded along, “She’s right. Hopefully, Albert returns with news soon.”

“And what if he doesn’t?” Bernard snapped back; he seemed on edge.

The room fell silent for a few seconds.

“Then we do the best we can with what we have.” Erend voiced his opinion. “Staying here is no better than going to the harbor.”

Mary slammed her fist into the table, “Enough about all that!” she shouted.

Bernard tried to voice his disapproval but was silenced by just a look from the stout woman.

“First, we enjoy the food, then we plan.” She turned her attention to the three teenagers. “Children, congratulations! Welcome to adulthood, may your awakening be a blessing. We are all very proud of you!”

Bernard muttered something under his breath but raised his glass along with the others.

The clinking of glasses was a pleasant sound. It signaled the start of lunch, for Erend and Cordelia, it would be their second lunch, but they didn’t complain. They all drank, and let the food silence them.

Minutes passed before Charles couldn’t bear it any longer, “So, Dad, Mom. Can you believe it?”

“Oh yes, barely! My wee lad, a blossoming scout. Hopefully, you fare better in the adventurer line of profession than you would in mine!” Peter laughed heartily and gave Charles a pat on the back. That seemed to ease the solemn mood in the room.

“Peter, Charles told me you’re a baker?” Cordelia said, her noble mannerisms shone through when she tried to act properly. It made her look haughty more than anything.

“Proud owner of the Hoven Bakery at your service milady,” Peter answered and didn’t seem to mind her tone.

Instantly, her mannerisms fell away, “Oh! Charles never told me he was a Hoven! My family orders cake from you at least once a month, I’m Cordelia Carlyle.”

“Aah, a Carlyle! One of the best customers I’ve got,” Peter said, explaining to the table. “Thanks for the patronage. I’ll bake something for you and your family when we meet them at the fort,” Peter added reassuringly.

“I think we’d all very much like that. Thank you.”

Bernard let out a whistle as he sloshed around the wine in his glass, “Maybe with three new awoken we’ll make it out without too many accidents,” Bernard’s comment resulted in a sharp glance from Mary. “Sorry, not the time,” he added meekly and continued to make love with his wine.

The rest of the lunch went on under a small chatter. The mood had turned merry, despite their dire situation.

While they were cleaning up, the creaking noise of the large wooden door at the entrance alerted them to someone entering the house.

Thomas went to see who had entered with Erend, Charles, and Cordelia in tow.

At the entrance stood Albert, breathing heavily, his hair disheveled.

“Man am I glad to see you guys,” he managed to blurt out between ragged breaths. “There’s absolute mayhem in town. I’ve managed to find four other guards who’ll help us get to the fort, but there’ll be more civilians as well.”

“Can we do anything to help?” Cordelia asked.

“They’ve all awakened,” Thomas added.

“In that case, yes. Just make sure to stay behind us trained guards. First, we’ll need to find you all some gear. I only have my one axe. There should be some to spare. For now, we’ll go to meet the others. Are you all ready to move right away or do you need more time to prepare?”

“No, we’re ready,” Bernard said as he emerged from the dining room. He wore a backpack and a sturdy pair of boots that he hadn’t worn before.

Did he have those stashed away in the dining room?

“Alright, follow me,” Albert said and beckoned them outside.

The market square was eerily silent, the stalls devoid of any activity. Normally the market would be jam-packed at this hour. Erend couldn’t remember ever seeing it this empty. In a few stalls, produce sat neatly stacked into pyramids, in others, they littered the ground. It seemed the merchants had been underway preparing for the day when the city was attacked.

As Erend soaked in the stillness, he caught sight of a pair of eyes, peeking at him from inside a house.

“There are people in the buildings!” he exclaimed. “Shouldn’t we bring them?”

“We’ve got enough to deal with as is. If they haven’t tried to make contact with anyone yet they’re probably content with waiting out the attack in their homes,” Albert explained.

“There’s no way they’ll make it out unscathed! They massacred hundreds of innocents down at the harbor,” Erend protested.

“I know, and they know too. It’s not our decision to make. I and a few other guards asked around in the district when you were knocked out, they’ve made up their minds.”

“Can’t we do anything to change their minds?” asked Cordelia.

“Maybe, if we had the time. But the sad reality of things is that we don’t.”

“Bu–” Cordelia started.

Albert interrupted her with a bark, “Enough! Both of you. The others are just up ahead, let’s go.”