"NOOO" the frost giant screamed, dropping the cannon and grabbing the spear stuck in his side, "why?" Looking at the woman that appeared from nowhere.
Allen took advantage of the distraction to throw the direwolf against a wall, if he didn't need to evade the cannon shot then he certainly didn't need that pain in the neck, looking to Shovermatsor he painted the goliaths and stripped them from their weapons and armor giving the elementals an opening they used to smash through the smaller giants, knowing RedFox21 was protecting Kyatha in one of the smaller rooms where giants couldn't attack them, let him focus on this final stand, still, they almost lost, unsure who the stranger was or why a single stab did more damage than his whole arsenal of high tech weapons, even a direct hit from a cannon wasn't enough to topple this monumental avatar.
The giant fell to his knees before the woman, "give me the elixir and I will make this", holding the simple looking staff up, "the most powerful staff in the game", coughing blood, "don't let me die", slapping the ground.
Looking puzzled, the woman scanned her display, "tell me what the elixir does and I will give it to you".
"It gives you a second chance at life", spitting more blood, "please".
Seeming dissatisfied with the answer she handed him a potion, drinking it so fast Allen thought the giant will choke, instead the frost giant despawned, turning into motes of light and streaming to the staff, making it glow for a second before it flew to the woman's hand.
The wolf howled in grief, long ululating cries of pain sounding almost like words as it filled the heart with sorrow.
"I did that", Allen said absently, earning him the woman's glare.
"No!" eyes blazing, "I did it"
"You misunderstand", explaining, "when I became the dragon I also did the same exchange"
"What are you talking about", pointing the very dangerous spear at him.
"Maybe he should explain", adding the human language to the staff's array had the same effect it had with Shoul, immediately adding dozens of other languages he learned through the centuries of life, "what is your name?"
"How can I understand you?", came the sound of snapping branches, "I can talk?", twirling in the woman's hand, "you doused me in an elixir of wisdom?"
"You can talk?" Dropping the staff and jumping back when he started floating in the air.
"Who gave me an elixir of wisdom?" Rustling leaves on a dry road.
"He did something", pointing to Allen with the spear again.
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Lahav knocked the spear from her hand, pushing down with a screech of metal, the sword and spear tangled in twists and curves, jabbing, slashing, cutting and glazing, every other sound was buried in the fast creschendo of the two living weapons.
Adding the Human language to the spear's array brought out moaning sounds interspersed with "oh yes", and "stay right there" in a soft, pleasing staccatto of parade drums, "oh god yessss!" Was followed by the two weapons parting and floating side by side while everyone else stared, the strange woman was blushed from head to neckline.
"Good for you", Kyatha cheered from the balcony, the spear jumped to a javeline pose befor Lahav started to chuckle sounding like a whetstone grinding a blade.
"What?" Drummed from the spear, "aaahh" with an embarassed thrumming before she turned head down and buried herself into the stone floor.
"Don't worry", Lahav clang, "they never care"
Jumping up from her attempt to hide, "I care", twirling around like a baton, "why did I have to marry such a fool?"
"Because I beat you twice a day for a year", ringing like a bell, "and you love my jeweled ass"
"Shut up", bass beat, "what are you doing here anyway?"
"I should ask you the same question", dinging tongs, "I am on a mission for the emperor".
"Slom would never give your chatty face a mission", slow droning beat, "I just performed my mission and should go back to report"
"I want you to meet my new weapon", proud tinge, "RedFox21 come meet my wife"
"Who was stupid enough to callenge you to a duel?" Laughing spatter.
"You could talk all this time?" The woman cried in frustration, "why not talk to me?"
Jumping back when the spear jab in her direction, "you never listened", trackin fractions, "whining and brooding all day"
The staff started vibrating, "you do whine and brood too much", wood chafing.
"How would you know?" Replying in a wounded voice.
"I watched you for three months", sculpting knife shavings.
"Are you Koreimim", staring frightened at the staff in her hand.
Loud coughing from the balcony, "that is a nice reunion you have there", kyatha said quietly, "SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW!', rocking the walls with her command.
Shocked stares and subdued blades turned to her "she killed the frost giant and turned him to the staff", Allen tried to explain everything to Kyatha, "we can leave now".
"Well actually", blackboard smacked by a ruler, "the other giants will storm the keep any minute to get the prize", chalk taps, "for killing the spring bringer and a the human geomancer"
"I am not a geomancer", Kyatha exclaimed.
"What is spring bringer?" Allen asked at the same time.
"Alaska" thumping the woman's head, "killed a frost giant and gained the spring bringer title", more chalk taps, "killing her will get someone the springkiller title", adding, "a goliath can use the title to become a frost giant".
"A living staff of ultimate magic?", hearing the wonder and trepidation in Kyatha's voice made sure Allen knew this was something special, "sell it to me for one hundred thousand gold"
The woman seemed to consider the offer before saying, "I will sell it for five hundred thousand gold and a ticket out of here"
"Two hundred and you can join our party until we leave", was Kyatha's final offer.
"Deal", the woman called.
"Allen give her two hundred grands and I will pay you back later", Kyatha moved her debt to him.
"Two percent friend's interest", he wasnt going to be used like that.
"Fine" taking his counteroffer without negotiating.
Passing two hundred grands to 'Alaska' resulted in the staff shooting through the air to Kyatha's hand.
"Storm the keep?" the words laced with such malice Allen thought he didn't know the woman at all, "ELEMENTAL AVALANCHE" her shout reverbating through the hall, filled with mana and magical manifestations, a whirlwind of snow and ice manifested in its center picking up speed and spawning ice elementals in threes who marched down the stairs like an icy slide of frozen death.