“I'm going to kill that son of a whore!” Aldhelm roared as he punched holes in Mildrith’s wall.

  He ripped stones out as he pulled his fist back sending debris flying across the room. His anger seemed to only grow as the enchanted structure repaired the shattered stones with each strike.

  “Aldhelm, calm down,” Mildrith pleaded. “What's gotten into you?”

  Aldhelm spun, meeting her eyes with anger she’d never seen before. “Let's talk about what's gotten into you, Little Sister. What have you been letting that Null Road trash do to you?” He advanced forcing her back against the opposite wall until he was so close, she was forced to turn away. “I saw the way you looked at that mud skin bastard like you wanted to spread your legs to bear his mongrel children.”

  Mildrith made a shield flare to life, pushing Aldhelm back. “What the fuck are you talking about!”

  Aldhelm laughed. “And now he's got you talking like a common piece of trash.”

  A Valkyrie appeared in front of Aldhelm, smashing Mildrith’s mage shield to pieces with a sharp punch then disappeared. Aldhelm shot forward, snatching Mildrith by the collar and forcing her close to speak directly into her ear.

  “Is that what you like, some non-human thing? Every man I know is dying for your hand in marriage. Should I tell them you prefer some jötunn or drow or whatever the fuck he is?”

  Mildrith couldn't understand what had gotten into her brother. She'd never seen him angry, let alone seething in rage like he was now. He simply hated non-humans like many nobles she knew, or he could genuinely be concerned, but none of that mattered to the anger steadily building within her chest.

  Mildrith conjured several blades, each pointed at Aldhelm. “Let, me, go,” she said, a clear threat in every word.

  Aldhelm ignored the blades pointed his way and pulled Mildrith closer until their cheeks grazed against each other. “Don't point those blades at me.”

  He kept hold of Mildrith as her determination faltered. How could she even think about harming Aldhelm? He was the only family that truly cared about her. If not for him, she’d have lived as a maid, or worse, like so many of their siblings.

  Mildrith banished her blades. Aldhelm then released her and walked about the destroyed room. “Gods damn it, Mildrith. I’m sorry. It’s just what that bastard did to my Valkyrie. And the way you-.”

  “The way I what?” Mildrith demanded to know.

  Aldhelm looked back at her with a calmer more calculated anger than before. “I can see you want him.”

  “No! I! What are you talking about!?” Mildrith said with obvious discomfort. “Tanya wants him, and he already has a woman, that Akram girl. And, and, I don’t want him.”

  It was the truth, but Mildrith too late that she hadn't denied her brother's claim. But why should she deny anything? What she wanted had nothing to do with Aldhelm, not when he was determined to be a fool.

“And if this is about that Valkyrie," Mildrith continued. "Then it’s your own fault for summoning her to begin with. Brand might be an ass at times, but at least he didn’t try to kill you after what you did to his hand. And if you didn’t notice, he definitely could have.”

  Aldhelm just stared at her for a long saying nothing, then his shoulders slumped, and he released a relaxed breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. It’s just that I promised Osmond to at least bring the idea of marriage to you and it just seemed, well you know.”

  “Well it’s not what you think,” Mildrith said, crossing her arms. “And something like marriage won’t cross my mind until I leave the Hall anyway.”

  Aldhelm seemed to revert back to his usual self soon after their heated discussion. He apologized furiously for destroying Mildrith’s room and was very happy to find out she was moving soon anyway, making his rampage less impactful in the long run.

  After he left, the bit of tension still knotted in Mildrith’s heart relaxed but only by the smallest bit. The anger she’d seen scared her not because she worries for her own safety, but for Brand’s.

****

  Brand had been shouting for the last hour trying to stop people from forcing the name Black Steel Brandy on him. It was all Godric’s fault. He’d been in the audience spreading the nickname like it was his job.

  Despite threats of bodily harm, thanks to the noble, the name had stuck just as well as Brandy the black had years ago in the pits. At least the name didn't just reference his odd features, instead emphasizing his Ironsides spell that he could now channel without attention.

  Brand still felt like the king of the world. With the changes made to his body, he could probably fight as if his sixth gate was open. Still, not having any augments planned was a problem though but one the didn't matter as long as he was strong.

  There was no point in strengthening his muscles or improving his skin if he could throttle his mana and cast Ironsides without end. But for now, such thoughts were far from his mind. All Brand wanted now was to find Azmina and tell her of his newfound strength.

  As he neared the entrance to his room, the door opened. He smiled knowing that Rohaan was attending a mystery of earth, so this had to be Azmina. His good mood fell when Aldhelm walked out of the room.

  Brand almost lunged forward with a conjured spear but held himself back. First, he would see what the man was doing. Consequences be damned if he laid hands on his woman.

  Aldhelm met his eyes then eyed the spear before turning walked away as if speaking to him would be a waste of time, like the weapon pointed at his back wouldn't skewer him.

  Brand walked to the open door banishing a spear as he saw Azmina unharmed. He stepped into the room quickly shutting the door behind him.

  “What are-?” Brand cut Azmina, placing a finger on his lips. He activated mage sight and pushed his perception magic to its limit trying to find any threat or spying magic Aldhelm may have left behind. Finding nothing, he released mage sight but still spoke in a whisper.

  “Why was he here?”

  “Calm down Brandy. He was looking for compensation for almost killing that winged woman of his.”

  Brand felt a bit relieved but was still on edge. “What did he ask for? I bet it’s for me to stay away from Mildrith.”

  “Why would he want that?”

  “Because she might have a thing for me, but he wants her for himself.”

  “A thing for you?” Azmina asked, wearing a look of confusion obviously unsure if she understood what was said.

  “He wants to fuck his sister,” Brand said in the simplest way he could.

  Azmina looked so disgusted Brand thought she would throw up. “Vellians do that, and how do you even know?”

  “No," he said flatly. "And I saw that Valkyrie had the same face as Mildrith. Now if I was a summoner, I’d make the most ferocious beast I could think of or the most beautiful woman possible. By the armor that thing was wearing, which do you think he made?”

  “So, he-?”

  “Probably fucks that thing while screaming her name,” Brand chuckled. He couldn't help but laugh for some time until he remembered the trouble they might be in. “So, what did he want anyway?”

  “It doesn’t matter, I refused him,” Azmina said, removing her clothing. “Now do your duty and take me to bed.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Brand happily obliged, throwing her over his shoulder as she laughed. Soon they were both in each other’s arms, but something was different this time. Azmina seemed to be-.

  “Mina, what are you doing?”

  Azmina guided Brand into her depths pushing herself onto him with a moan of pleasure. “I’m done waiting for the right time to give myself to you. Now let me show how much I have for you.”

****

  Brand found himself almost skipping down the street while thinking back on his long night. He’d been hesitant to Azmina but his gold and beast cores were piling up again so he was forced to place most in safekeeping and the rest with Aleen.

  On his way back from the nasty old woman, Brand saw a group of city guards 30 men strong walking towards him. He quickly got out of their way not wanting to catch their attention but was surprised to see them swerve in his direction. Within seconds, it was clear he was their target bringing thoughts of escape to the forefront of his mind.

  Before making a clear decision, Brand felt a spell dissolve against his fortress aura most likely a body lock spell by the taste of it. He looked over from where the attack came from seeing a city guard in robes instead of the standard armor. The mage seemed shocked that his spell fizzled out and tried again sending three more white balls of energy flying from his wand. They all fizzled out like the first leaving the man with wide eyes and a jaw hanging open in surprise.

  Brand chuckled to himself, realizing that he had nothing to be worried about. With his fortress aura and Ironside's spell, no one here could even hurt him. If these guards did indeed work for Aldhelm, he could easily sky-step back to the Hall.

  With newfound confidence, he gave the guards surrounding him a polite greeting without a hint of worry in his words or posture. “How may I be of service to the city's esteemed guards?”

  An older-looking guard with far more decorated armor than his peers looked towards the mage that had been trying to incapacitate Brand. The mage shrugged silently informing his captain of his failure.

  “Make this easier on everyone and turn yourself in,” the captain said tapping the handle of his sword.

  Brand raised an eyebrow. “And what would I be turning myself in for?”

  “You’ve been blacklisted, boy."

  "Boy?" Brand said with a threat in his eyes. He was getting tired of weaker men calling him anything less than he was, but the guard went on.

"Your patron has abandoned you. Whatever mana you have will be sealed and you’ll be forced from Vellia’s borders.”

  Brand groaned then spoke as if speaking to an idiot. “You couldn’t come up with a better lie? Fine, I'll play along. If my lady has abandoned me, then can I pay for the right to practice magic myself?”

  He could do. with the cores and gold earned over the last few years, he could purchase magic for himself.

  “You don't seem to understand,” the captain said, gripping his sword. “You've been blacklisted, which means you can’t purchase the right to use magic. Neither you nor anyone else can keep you within these walls.”

  “Is there a chance I can speak to my patron before?” Brand asked, but he already knew the answer.

  The guards shook his head. An expected denial, but he had to ask.

  “Then do what you gotta do.”

  The captain gestures his men forward and they moved as one drawing weapon with a pair holing a set of chains. As they moved, Brand exploded with a blinding light followed by a deafening scream. With the guards blinded by the overpowered mage light, Brand jumped above their heads, sky-stepping his way to freedom.

  He honestly didn’t want to fight the city guards. Injuring or killing them would only make clearing his name harder. Now, his only goal was making it back to the Hall where Azmina could clear him of all suspicion.

  To Brand’s surprise, someone overcame their blindness and managed to wrap something around his feet. Before he could act, he was jerked down and slammed into the ground cratering the solid stone street with his body. As he looked up, he saw a man swinging a large mace aimed for his head. Accepting the blow on his forearm, he rolled with the attack and dissolved the ghostly-looking chain around his ankles.

  Three spells slammed into Brand’s back, then nine, then a rainfall of magic he couldn't hope to count. The few that missed exploded on the ground with a rainbow of deadly colors. Debris pelted him with flesh carving stone that may have killed him if not for his steel-like body. Instead, the stones cut through his Ironsides just enough to leave several paper-thin cuts across his body and tearing his Hall uniform to shreds.

  “Well, that’s interesting,” the captain said. “We were told you’d only opened your fourth gate.” His eyes narrowed on as more spells slammed into Brand dissolve into nothingness. “And I have no clue how you’re doing this, but it won’t make a difference.”

  Brand flashed with another mage light using his ever-present magic perception to observe who was affected.

  Only eight of the guards seemed to not be bothered. Three were obvious magi while five were cultivators, one of which was located on a roof armed with a bow.

  “This your last chance,” Brand said, addressing every guard circling him. “Get out of the way or get stepped on.”

  Several of the guards laughed. “You think you're the first to think himself invincible with a little taste of magic,” said one of the guards. “I say we break his legs and drag him to the dungeon,” said another. “Sure thing, as long as I don't have to carry him.”

  “Guardsman!” The captain shouted, silencing his men in an instant. “all non-elite guardsmen withdraw!”

  Brand cursed under his breath as he saw the captain eyeing the spot on his arm the mace had struck. A blow that strong might not have broken a bone, but it should have at least left a painful bruise on his arm. The captain knew he was strong but knowing wouldn't make a difference.

  “Guard magi, stick to physical attacks. I don’t know how he’s doing it but you’re only wasting mana by throwing spells at him.”

  Brand surged towards the guard holding the almost translucent chain, the same one used to stop his escape. Without him, there would be no need to fight, so he would be the first and hopefully only one to be incapacitated.

  Brand’s charge was interrupted when several projectiles entered his perception field. He jumped and twisted narrowly escaping whatever was coming for him.

  Taking a quick glance at the offending mage, he saw him liquefying the stone around him with one hand. With the other, he compressed the dark fluid into a spherical shape to be shot like a crossbow, but then, why should that bother him.

  Why dodge at all. Brand was stronger than simple city guards. With his Ironside, he'd break bones and blade alike with fist alone.

  Ironsides spell fully prepared, Brand accepted the attack letting himself be pelted with the hardened stone. It sent him sprawling, showering the scene in blood that gushed from his mouth along with a garbled scream.

  “I hope you now understand what you’re up against,” the captain said. He walked up to Brand placing a hand on his shoulder to keep him steady. “You’re in pain, but if you come with us, we’ll have you fixed up in no time. That arm might take a few hours though.”

  Brand didn’t understand what the captain was talking about. The pain in his chest and the teeth spilling from his mouth left him no time to worry about his arm. He raised both limbs and screamed when his left forearm dangled like a pouch on his waist.

  “Hey, don’t move it around so much or you’ll make it worse,” the captain said.

  Brand looked up at the man confused, his confidence shattered along with his bones. “How? I don’t understand?”

  “Here’s the thing," the captain stated. "you’re one tough bastard. I bet in the Hall you’re one of the best. If I were in your shoes, I’d be dead from the stoning you just took and I’m wearing armor. But regardless, we’re the fucking guardsmen elite. Did you really think some trick that worked on fledgling magi would work on us?”

  Brand felt like a fool. No, he was a fool. These men left the Hall years ago. It was only natural they’d be several times stronger than Alda. If she could harm him, even slightly, Ironsides meant nothing against these men.

  The captain continued tapping his sword as a warning causing Brand to flinch the slightest bit each time he did so. “So, are you going to do the smart thing?”

  Brand tied his broken bones back together with mana absorbed from the guardsmen’s spells. He still couldn’t use the arm all that well, but at least it would not daggle as he tried to run. Regardless of how powerful the elite guards were, being arrested would still be a death sentence. Getting back to the Hall was his only hope. He just hoped his arrogance would not ensure his capture.

  Hearing the audible pop of Brand’s arm stitching itself back together, the captain drew his sword. “Give me that answer now or I'll cut you down.”

  Brand got to his feet and backed away leaving something unseen on the ground. The captain advanced, walking across where Brand had once been triggering the spell left for him.

  A powerful gust shot him into the air quickly turning into a densely packed whirlwind. The trap cost Brand most of the mana he’d collected thus far but would keep the captain in the air for a minute if he could not fly.

  “You’re first!” Brand shouted at the nearest guard charging towards him.

  As the man took up a defensive stance, Brand kicked off the air with a shock wave towards one of the guard magi. The faint worked on all but one. A guardsman raced into Brand’s path with a great sword drawn determined not to let him pass.

  Brand stabbed a foot into the ground slowing himself enough to avoid a decapitating swing. Before the guardsman could attack again, arrows were sent flying forcing Brand to flip through the air. Despite his agile movements, two arrows found their mark, stabbing into his right thigh and shoulder.

  As soon as his feet stopped moving the chain wielder swung at him with a spiked ball at his weapon's end. Brand jumped back a step to avoid the strike, but the weapon ballooned in size becoming larger than the person it was meant to obliterate.

  With the added volume, the spiked ball slammed into Brand’s side right after he sank several inches into the ground. By adding to his weight with gravity magic and concentrating his aura to one side, he stopped the weapon in its tracks suffering a spike stabbing into his side and shoulder.

  Weighing a literal ton, Brand smacked the spiked ball with an open palm sending it flying into one of the guard magi and his defender. Armor bent, bones broke, and flesh tore as the two men failed to move in time. At the same time, Brand lunged for the chain user who was shocked to see his weapon used against his allies. His hesitation earned him a punch to the gut lanced with a burst of magic that turned his silver armor to a rusty brown that shattered a moment later.

  Brand engulfed the guard with his aura absorbing whatever protections the man had. The ghostly chain disappeared along with the extra volume of the spiked ball. The guardsman threw a punch trying to get this mana leech off him. Brand swotted the attack away with ever-growing superior strength snaking around the man and placing him in a chokehold.

  “Sorry, but this is going to hurt,” Brand said.

  He forced his aura into the man’s body like fire burning through his veins. Every bit of mana not used to sustain his life became Brand’s. Using the influx of power, he cast spell after spell unleashing the stored power at once, blanketing the street in destruction.