Third party’s PoV
10 minutes ago, outside the tea house.
A sumptuous carriage pulled to the side of the building, with it were 4 horse riders escorting it. The riders, all equipped with top of the line defensive robes, woven from Steel-spitting spiders of the second stage and armed with top grade irons swords descended from their horses. One could see from their face that, despite their posturing and professional demeanor, something was wrong.
“Young master. We have arrived at the mid route Relay. I've heard rumors that The Sister Ai’s company decided to expand here recently. Perhaps some good tea and food could help clear your mind.” A voice came from inside, followed by a grunt of acknowledgment as the door of the blackwood carriage opened. From it came an old yet dynamic looking man, his stance upright and sharp as he looked around, dusting his brown uniform doing so. Behind him came a young teen, a boy dressed with much finer silks of black and gold filigree, his face cold and smooth as a spark of annoyance gleamed in his eyes. His long black hair framed his face in a way that made other’s pause to look at his charming visage and soft traits. Yet, the glint in his eyes talked about a whole different matter.
“Perhaps, old man Yu. But I don’t any kind of tea could erase the insult that bitch threw at me, at my family. How could she break our engagement like that?” The teenager was tired, and oh so frustrated.
“Certainly, young master Bai. But I am afraid there’s more at play than your now ex-fiance has let on. Perhaps using this anger that’s animating you to pursue a higher realm of cultivation could prove beneficial.” Surnamed Yu offered his young ward. Already knowing the answer he would be given.
“Right. But cultivation is dangerous on an unclear mind, perhaps I could some women here to unwind, at this point I won’t even mind taking a somewhat attractive commoner.” The young man spat as he walked toward the entrance, where a crowd had formed, looking in through the windows of the inn. Many peddlers and merchants spoke to one another in hushed voices.
“What do you think is happening?” The noble asks, disdain in his voice as he looks around.
“I think, from what I am hearing, that two fairies came out of secluded cultivation and just arrived on flying sword… and a broom too? Most of them are wondering about potential commercial avenue in flying brooms.”
“Flying brooms? What type of imbecilic cultivators would lower themselves by flying on a broom?” The steward shrugged, his young master’s frown now upside down as he guffawed.
With the dark clouds over his charge's mind momentarily gone, they entered the establishment. While the steward walked to the countertop to order, the youth stayed back, his escort close behind him as he looked around. Curious to spot the mysterious fairies. Yet as his eyes swiped across the half filled room, his gaze stopped upon one of the waitresses. A warm and kind smile on her face and gorgeous figure made it hard for him to take his eyes away. He watched as she brought appetizers and liquor to other patrons.
“Inn master, we will take your best table, food and drinks. And have that woman attend to us.” His voice was loud and clear as he joined his steward.
“Of course, young lord. But I am afraid I cannot serve only your table, we are still understaffed from the recent buy-out, you see?” The woman in question said as she put down her tray on the countertop. She looked at him with a soft smile before adding:” But in exchange I could pour tea for you and your table, on the house for the inconvenience, of course.”
“How about you serve us something more than just tea?” He smiled, walking closer to her.
“Ah, but I am afraid this is not that type of establishment, young lord. Sister Ai’s Compa-” Her words hitched in her throat as his hands wrapped around her waist.
“I don’t really care what type of establishment this is, you see I really enjoy your looks and charms. Consider it an honor to be offered to serve me.” He pulled her up to him.
“P-please let go of me, young lord.” Her voice was small and trembling.
The whole room around them was silent as they looked at the scene. The escorts behind him squared up their shoulders as they looked around.
“Young Mas-”
"You dare refuse me?! Do you even know who my father is?!" The old steward had tried to say something, but the anger and frustration of his charge took the better of him, again.
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Huan’s PoV
“Calm down Iulia. This is not your place to meddle with.” I held her hand as she shot to her feet. I could see her anger, and to be frank, I too didn’t like what was happening. But this type of thing often escalated way worse than one could expect.
“I don’t care. Let go of me. I won’t stay immobile when there’s something like this happening. Not anymore.” I felt her words faster than I could process them. Echoing something deep inside me, it is when I realized that I felt the same way that I let go of her hand.
‘Right, this isn’t the Blood Demon cult…’
“Please be careful. I… I don’t want to see you hurt.” I didn’t expect the words that came out of my mouth, the pit in my stomach too heavy to pay attention.
“Thanks. And I will.” she winked at me before jumping over the railing with a smile.
Following after her, I took the stairs as I watched her walking up the group.
“Hey! Leave the lady alone.” She called out as one of the escorts barred her way, his hand on the handle of his sword. My heart tightened as I saw the man changing his stance, lowering his balance point, arcing his knees: ready to strike. He didn’t move as Iulia walked by him, ignoring the man.
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” The arrogant man turned around, still holding onto the waitress as he did so, sweeping her off her feet.
‘Amateur, that’s not how you do it.’ I batted the stray thought, following after the angry and determined sorceress.
“Someone who will beat your ass if you do not let go of the poor woman. You’ve already disturbed my friend and I’s vacation with your attitude.” Iulia stood firm in front of the taller man, her large mane of curly hair puffed up. If I remember what she had told men this is some kind of quirk she had kept from that night.
‘I won’t lie, but it is really a precious and endearing sight to behold. Such small and delicate woman going POOF’
“What even are you? some kind of mongrel between human and monster lineage? Scram mortal, you don’t have a lick of talent in you to make me consider you an inconvenience, never mind a threat.” He pointed at her triangular ears as he looked down on her, disgust clear on his face.
“Now that I look at you, perhaps I could have you serve me, as exotic pet perhaps. Guards, take her away. Just do not break her before I have a taste of her myself.” He leaned down, his eyes scanning her up and down.
That was when I started seeing red. My Ki was already churning through my body as I was about to throw myself at him when he tried to reach for her. Only for Iulia to bat his hand away.
“How about you shut the fuck up? You come in this place like you own it, and start harassing the staff, then you insult me, call me a mongrel and try to have your guard capture me? threatening to rape me too? You are one disgusting piece of garbage. Let go of the woman. I won’t repeat myself.” The closer I got the more I noticed what she was doing. The guards, all four of them, were immobile, their faces red and struggling. Veins popping in their neck and forehead from their effort to fight back whatever spell was holding them.
Speaking of spell, I noticed that Iulia had become much more careful with her use of them. The energy that used to come off of her like a flood now was like many thin threads connecting the guards bodies’ to her through the floor. Seeing only wisps of the red energy where it connected.
“You dare insult me? You pathetic and uneducated fool! You should kowtow before me right now, and beg for my mercy! Maybe I will impart some truth to your empty mind, but only after having had my men teach you your place. Seize her, do not make me repeat myself.” Yet, nothing happened. I could hear some of the men sitting around us coughing, and stifling their laughter as the man started getting red in the face.
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“OOoooh! So scary~ Perhaps I should be the one teaching you how to behave. You’ve been calling me simple and uneducated, so I am sure you know what this means.” She brought her right hand up to her side as a white glove appeared in her grasp. And with one swift motion, she slapped his face with it, dropping it to the ground afterward.
The whispers turned silent as the sound of the slap echoed through the room. The bewildered man put his hand on his cheek, as if not believing what had just happened.
Before anything could happen, I arrived behind Iulia and crossed my arm.
“YOU DARE HI-”
“Pick.It.Up.” Her voice, despite not screaming, deafened him. ‘Another spell perhaps?’
“What are you even on about, you savage beast?!” The anger and confusion made him let go of the waitress as she ran behind the counter.
“Didn’t you imply you were some kind of intelligent and knowledgeable man? Yet you aren’t even aware of this? No words or action you can do will mend the slight you’ve shown me, either you pick up the glove and accept this duel. Or run away, and be forever shamed at having been unable to protect your honor and that of whatever you stand for.” There was a panache to her and her words, a confidence that was asking to be punched in the face. Yet I couldn’t help but smile at her demeanor.
insert shipping up to boston : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u_r7aLKWi4
“That’s petty Iulia. You can’t expect people from around here to know of your customs.”
“Then he shouldn’t have spoken to me like that: ‘talk shit, get hit’, you know?” She turned her head to look at me, that unbearably smug grin not helping her case. “Go on, choose. Or are you afraid that this feeble and ‘talentless’ woman will kick your butt?”
“There is no need for a duel when all I need to do is educate some bitch.” He pulled a sword from his spatial ring and moved in to strike.
But Iulia moved first, throwing an uppercut to his chin before she even took his fist step.
“A brawl it is!~” She yelled, her voice and face filled with a savage glee as she followed through by grabbing his shirt and pulling him down to her, headbutting him.
Being let go of, he shook his head. His eyes swimming about from the concussion as Iulia walked toward him. He got low and lifted his guard, holding his sword forward, ready to lash out when she got in his range.
“You are nothing but a savage beast! Come and I will show you the sword of the Bai Clan!”
But instead of engaging him she lifted her hand, a dense red mist shot straight forward to her opponent. His eyes widened as he stepped to the side, only for the line to twist and turn, following him.
“NOOOOOO!” it connected with him as he screamed. Then with a pulling motion he flew forward as if dragged by his collar, only to be met with a closed fist to the teeth again.
“What type of mystical art is this?!” An old man dressed like a servant asked. Watching powerless as fight, or rather:a one sided beat down, was happening.
“Sorcery. Think of it like formations. But faster and much more direct and potent.”
“Is she your servant, fairy cultivator?” ‘Servant? Wha-Oh!’
“No, not at all. She is a friend, and a peer.”
“But… She doesn’t have any-”
“And as you can see, she doesn’t need to. Your young master is what? high Ki gathering stage?” His face paled as he nodded. ‘Good, at least he seems to understand fast.’
“I am sure, this will be one of those situations. Your charge can’t go around offending people. He is lucky to have someone as merciful as Iulia reminding him of that fact.” I watched on, seeing how Iulia somehow got used to the speed and danger of a battle at the Ki gathering stage. The man was angry and thus, was burning a lot of ki trying to pin her down and attack, pushing his body to the peak of the second stage to do that.
Yet, as she danced around his blade, throwing but the most regular of punches his way whenever he got close, or was made to get close. She stumbled onto one of many table around.
My heart sank when I saw his blade biting into her right arm and slicing clean through.
“Finally got you, wench. Beg, and I might finish yo-” He paused to brag, yet when he saw that no blood came out of her arm he stopped talking. He finally took the current to look around. His escort still froze over, most of them having long stopped struggling as they waited for whatever effect they were under to end.
“Wow, you did it. One slice and you took my arm, Huh? Damn, alright. Have to be more careful around those weapons. I really can’t take a blow now, can I?” My friend said with troubling nonchalance as she moved over to her cut off limb. As she bent down to pick it up, she saw me, and waved her lopped limb at me with her other.
“I’m fine! Don’t worry, i can just” She shoved the limb back against her shoulder. “Do this and look! Like nothing happened? Pretty neat, right?” She waves at me with it. Like nothing happened…
‘ Weren’t you worried about having to not enough time to react? Why did you think I tried to hold you back? This woman making me worry for her like this…’
“Come on, it's fine. Let me take care of this quick and i will let you chew me out.” She winked at me. Somehow even more amused at seeing me fuming like this. ‘Brat.’
“So? Where were we? Ah. Right, you wanted to finish me off? Yeah, let's end this. As fun as it is to tease my friend, I really shouldn't make her worry like this. Nor should I keep beating you like this. I really should have learned a bit more on hexes… Or i could use that one, It will do for now:” She cleared her throat, as large swath of red energy washed off of her. Coiling around the man like a snake around its prey.
“Blind fool who gave pain and suffering,
for whom the fate is now turning.
For every neglectful step you now take,
misfortune and despair you will rake.”
The air turned heavy as it thrummed with every word she chanted. Her gaze was cold and sharp. Eyes glowing with the same malevolent red light as before, the many eyes that had once sprouted across her skin opened once more. Each glaring at the arrogant man before her, as he starts screaming in horror.
Then, everything stopped. The oppressive atmosphere melted, the red energy entering into his body. The eyes closed as her hair calmed down. And, just like that, it was over. Whatever that was.
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Iulia’s PoV
‘There. Good old misfortune curse. With proper ending criteria too. Hopefully he will manage to open his eyes before too long.’ I look at the slouched body of the arrogant douchebag before me. Passed out on the floor. His nose was bleeding from me repetitively punching it. Right.
Crouching over him, I pull on a sad memory and started a simple healing spell. ‘I really shouldn’t have acted out on impulse like that. For all the big words and advice I give, I really should pay more attention to myself. It might have felt good to lash out like this. But fucker doesn’t deserve to be clowned like this. The misfortune hex is more than enough for that.
“Please get away. He has already lost.” An old man came running to me, looking more panicked and fearful than angry.
“Back off. I am healing him. He might have deserved to have some sense beat into his head. But not like that. There, take him. And tell him that until he starts getting his act straight and stops acting like a spoiled brat. His misfortune will keep on going.” I get up and dust myself. ‘At least I saw how cultivators fight. But I can’t help thinking that I shouldn’t take him as a standard of measure.’
Getting back to Huan’s side. I free the escort of my paralyzing spell, making them drop to the floor as they suddenly regain control of their body.
“What was that? Why did you chant those words?” Huan, not missing a beat, asked me as I got closer to the Inn master. The poor man was trembling behind the counter.
“Later. Hey, is your waitress alright?”
“Y-yes, fairy cultivator. My most gracious thanks.” He cups his hands and bow deep. I can’t help but roll my eyes at the gesture.
“Come on, it’s fine. I made sure you won’t face any repercussions. Do you happen to have any rooms available for the day? I think me and my companion will stay over for the night.”
“Of course. I will have your rooms ready. It might take some time as we are understaffed until this after. There has been an issue east of us, making the staff that was supposed to be here a week ago absent. Which is why we ask for your patience and understanding.”
“That’s alright. I have no bone to pick with you. In the meantime, if something happens, like that ruffian from before, call out to me and I will gladly help.” I smile at him before taking my leave. Looking at Huan’s surprised face.
“You really are impossible. I swear. What was that sentence you said? In Trai, do as the Traian? Isn’t this a proverb about not making waves and adapting to your surroundings?”
“You would be right. But I am not someone to just let things flow. And like I told you, that’s just who I am. Curse at your own mother for my set of values. She was worse than me about it too.” Her eyes shot wide as I reminded her of the conversation we had the morning after we met.
“Right. So I guess you doing more things like this is something that will be a common occurrence?” I nod and she sighs in response.
“Can I ask you to warn me first before jumping in? In case you are about to mess with someone we absolutely cannot afford to take care of?” That is, something I need to work on.
“I will… try my best. Promise.” She rolls her eyes at me as we now walk up the stairs, the room’s atmosphere having calmed down as I feel many eyes looking at us. ‘That was to be expected in a way.’
“So what was that? You never mentioned needing to talk or chant something for this sorcery of yours. So what gives?” She sat back into her chair. Her hand touched the kettle and frowning at it. “Cold.”
Motioning to her to pass it to me, I answer her question.
“You see, sorcery is all about finding the right image and emotion to fuel it. To do that we have many tools at our disposal, and one of the oldest, from a time where we were still called sorcerers or even witches. Was Incantation. It’s easier to picture what you have in mind if you speak of it, and words can be used to give more subtle effects too. But most of all, words are binding: which help to create an inscription on the target's body, making it self-sustaining until the conditions are met.” I say, heating up the water inside the kettle with a frustration filled heating spell.
“That’s what most curses and hexes are, inscriptions attached to the target’s body. The one I made is bound to his blood, and will keep going until the condition: ‘not being a blind fool, and not being neglectful in one’s action’ are met. That plus the theatrics somehow make it more effective too, no idea why though.” I gave the kettle back to her as she looked at me, concerned.
“You might want to be careful about using curses around here. I do not know what type of individuals used them where you and Mina are from. But here, only people of the demonic faction use them. Which is the worst reputation you could ask for.”
“It’s about the same back home, with the addition of cranky old folks who don’t want to be disturbed. It’s not like I cursed him with a soul cutting and 'wish for the sweet release of death' kind of hex. He will just experience more misfortune and bad luck, which will get worse if he keeps going as he is. That’s it.”
“I do not know how you can be both so kind and understanding at one moment, and the next you grin like a vicious and crazed battle-junky.”
“That’s because I have issues. And I am trying my best, thank you very much. And what’s with you letting a petulant arrogant bastard like that one do as he pleases?” We stare in each other’s eyes. Realizing we still don’t really know much of the other.