Getting beaten to a pulp together seemed to indeed be the absolute best way to grow closer. No matter what they tried, they could not land more than a scratch on Scarlet’s clothes.The biggest contributor to the fight by far had been Taron, showing that he was far more deadly now than when he had been controlled by the crazed Heart of Darkness. Every move he made in a fight was calculated and careful, together with his natural arsenal that him a true terror.
Puck, together with Zephyrian and his ideal, hadn’t been useless either. Whether helping from afar by pushing against Scarlet with the ideal of the wind or fighting at Taron’s side with Zephyrian in hand and his power coursing through his veins, he had given it his all.At the start, Scarlet had truly been pushed back—but only because she hampered herself. From the moment onward she decided it was time to marshal her bloodline, only a beatdown remained.
After the sparring match, Scarlet gave Puck her feedback. Hesitant at first, Puck was surprised when she admitted that she thought she wouldn’t be able to match Taron without superior power.Sitting against a wall only a few feet to Pucks left Taron licked a wounded paw while Puck got his second lecture from the sword on his lap.“The moment you decided to head into the melee together with Taron was crucial for this fight. If this had been a real death battle, it would have been a grave mistake. Having to look out for each other and lacking sufficient understanding of each other’s movements, you hampered each other more than you helped. For training purposes, though, it was just right. That is exactly what you and the others need to train. And by ‘others,’ I also mean Scarlet.”
Looking over at Scarlet as she prepared a meal over a small fire with the last of their wood, Puck gave his opinion: “Scarlet never seems to make any mistakes in combat. What would she need to train?”Laughing dryly through their connection, Puck even felt Zephyrian vibrate slightly on his lap. By now, little remained of the old rusty sword that had barely been recognizable as sentient.“You’re not completely wrong, Scarlet is talented in combat like few I’ve ever seen in my long life. But she’s still young, inexperienced and flawed in her abilities. Since I’ve started reclaiming more and more of my old memories, abilities and knowledge have also come back. By now, I’m far beyond her again.”
Looking doubtfully at Zephyrian, Puck wasn’t sure if he should believe him.“Bring me over to Scarlet. I’ve decided to help her too from now on anyway.”Doing as he was told, Puck pushed himself up with a suppressed groan and lumbered toward Scarlet, getting a questioning gaze from her in return. Asking Zephyrian what to do exactly, Puck turned the sword around and held its pommel toward Scarlet.
Understanding what Puck wanted, Scarlet reached for the pommel. This was not the first time she had needed to talk to Zephyrian directly, and the simplest way was direct contact.Wanting to listen in on their conversation, Puck was disappointed. The instant Scarlet touched Zephyrian, the sword cut the connection to Puck.For a moment, Puck simply stood there. Waiting, expecting. As nothing happened though, Scarlet remaining frozen in place, her gaze fixed on something only she could see. It became awkward, and Puck decided to simply let the two do their thing.
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Looking over at Scarlet while they walked, Puck had to admit he was growing more and more jealous. It had only been a week since Zephyrian started teaching Scarlet, but since then, the two had been nearly inseparable, leaving Puck alone with Taron.Only now did Puck realize how normal it had become to have Zephyrian with him all the time, talking to him or simply sharing feelings. It was disconcerting.
Deciding not to dwell on it further, Puck threw a look over at Taron, whose playful gaze reminded him that at least he was still with him. Swinging his head to the side, Taron somehow managed to convey a message with it.Nodding, Puck gave Scarlet a short explanation of what they were about to do before heading off.Taron had managed to sniff out the first Orc village ahead, and together they decided it would be more fun to scout the first few houses without the others.
The danger at least seemed negligible. Since their first meeting with the Orc squad, they’d encountered two more groups, one of them earlier that very day. Every time, Taron’s presence validated them and even earned signs of respect from some Orcs.
Rushing forward, Puck momentarily eyed the spot on Taron’s back, but a grave look warned him not to even think about it. Running through the winding tunnels, Puck couldn’t keep up with Taron, especially not with his baggage. Thankfully, the feline had no intention of leaving him behind.
Having underestimated the distance to the village, Puck was shown just how far Taron’s sense of smell could reach. If Puck could make out the village by sound five minutes before arriving, Taron had sensed it from thirty minutes away.
Finally reaching the end of the tunnel that opened into the cavern with the village, Puck felt both excited and a little fearful. Was it really a good idea to do this without Scarlet? Then, though, his curiosity took over as he inspected the scene before him.
The village wasn’t shrouded in complete darkness like Gremlin settlements sometimes were. Instead, a great light source illuminated the cavern from above. The homes and small abodes of the Orcs were not only many times larger than those of the Gremlins but also much more refined, belying the vision of dumb brutes Puck had started to form of the Orcs.
The cavern was likely about a mile across, but only a few lonely houses dotted an otherwise empty area. It seemed like a nearly deserted outpost, and Puck could see little activity.Not far from them, however, leaning against a rough wall, a seemingly drunken Orc sat. He appeared to have been woken by their arrival.