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[1384] - Y06.284 - A Man of Trouble IV
🕑 Added 2025-09-28 17:00:11 +0000 UTC“You may revive her,” Bael said to a baffled Mork, whose head snapped between Bael and Adam.
Mork’s heart thundered within his chest, a chill running through his body at how easily Bael, without batting an eye, killed a woman out of the blue. Mork was unsure if he should revive the young woman, certain the laws of Aswadasad were similar to Aldland in that regard, and he was thankful he didn’t have to make the choice as the half elf dropped to a knee, clutching a diamond in hand.
The Mulazim burst onto the scene, his blade already out, finding a fellow looming over his daughter, the dust of a gem scattering onto the blanket, turning into light as his daughter gasped, her eyes upon the half elf’s face, fear set deep into her eyes. Her heart froze in place, aching deeply, before it began once more, her breath coming to her hard, escaping her lungs easily.
“You!” The Mulazim snarled through gritted teeth, though Bael all but ignored him, his eyes focused on the kneeling Priest.
“She will need to meditate for a season,” Bael said, considering how he didn’t burn his Spark. He would have done so to assist her, but unfortunately he had duties to protect the children. “Once the energies settles within her, it is up to her whether she wishes to reach greater heights.”
Adam remained silent for a long while, his eyes pulsing as he glared at the half dragon. He slowly stood, clenching his fists so hard his knuckles cracked, before he forced his body to relax. “What did you do?”
“I awoke her latent abilities,” Bael replied simply.
“By killing her?”
“I empowered the latent lightning within her, with the influx of my lightning, she was unable to cling to life,” Bael said, motioning a hand towards the Priest, as if to say it was fine.
“Bael, you must think I’m an idiot, huh?” Adam remained as calm as he could, but the fury flared through his body. If Bael hadn’t risked his life in the previous year, the half elf would have already tried to cut him down.
“Over the generations, the latent abilities within her family dampened,” Bael explained calmly. “For the next ten generations, her family will know few equal.”
“Did you need to kill her?”
“There was a chance to survive, and she almost resisted it,” Bael admitted, for she had truly just slipped into death right at the end, an impressive feat.
“You can’t go around killing people, Bael,” Adam warned, his eyes still holding the half dragon’s gaze.
“I did not intend her to remain dead,” Bael said, motioning to Mork once more, who would have brought her back.
“Seriously!” Adam reached up to press his knuckles against his pounding forehead. “Why didn’t you ask me?”
“She wouldn’t have felt comfortable with a Priest of Death.”
Even Adam couldn’t refuse the fact it was a fair point, the half elf still annoyed, his mind racing. ‘Seriously, man…’
“Out of my way at once!” The Mulazim clenched at his blade which shook violently within his hand, the fury in his eyes burning brightly, ready to kill.
“Young lady, what is your name?” Bael all but ignored the Mulazim, who did not act just yet, his body blocked by the pair of Priests ahead, and the Iyrmen beside him, while the clattering of footsteps revealed the small army of guards.
“Zumra.”
“You must meditate for a season, especially all throughout the next season,” Bael informed the woman, as though he hadn’t just killed her. “If you must retire from your word, you should do so, for an opportunity like this will not come again.”
“You can’t expect someone to just retire from their job,” Adam said, narrowing his eyes towards Bael, still considering how heavy he should beat the half dragon.
Bael snorted lightly, reaching into his robes, before holding out a gem worth a hundred gold to the young woman. “That should assist you.”
‘Seriously!’ The half elf’s mind remained focused on how much he should beat the half dragon.
The young woman stared at the gem, still unsure of what had happened, or what was happening. However, she could feel something deep within her, a comforting heat, the kind that fought off the lightning which had cracked her skin, and deep within her was an even greater heat and warmth, a storm within her body.
“Can you feel it?” Bael asked.
“Yes…”
“At least you have some talent,” Bael said, like a noble, causing the half elf to take a half step forward. “You should aim to surpass the Radiant Blade, otherwise I will take offence.”
Zumra stared up at his bored and annoyed face, noticing his colour had changed too. Bael had grown far paler, and his brow was slick with the tiniest layer of sweat, his breath coming to him more awkwardly. It wouldn’t have been noticed by those who were weaker than Experts, but for the warriors around, they could spot how laboured the half dragon acted.
‘Surpass the…’ Zumra was unsure about what the half dragon was talking about, for who could surpass the likes of the Radiant Blade, but she forced herself onto her feet, wrapping the blanket around her. “Thank you, Lord Bael.”
“At least call me Hero Bael.”
“As you say, Hero Bael,” Zumra said, bowing her head, pulling down her scarf to hide her hair, though it had been torn apart. Thankfully Mork offered her a scarf he carried with him, allowing the woman to tie it over her head.
The Mulazim remained frozen still, but his daughter reached for his hand, the older man still ready to kill, but he understood the difference between himself and the half dragon. He grit his teeth, unable to contain the rage within his heart, but what could he do?
As Bael barged past them, he spotted the dozens of guards, each with their blades out. “At least you mortals have courage…”
‘He is definitely a dragon!’ the guards thought, certain they would die if they dared to attack.
“I apologise, Mulazim,” Adam said, reaching up to his forehead. “I didn’t expect him to go so far.”
“Do you think it is so easy to kill my daughter and leave?” The Mulazim clutched his blade tighter, his muscles straining so tightly in hand, he would be unable to wield a blade properly for at least the next week.
“I’m not the kind of guy who will stop you if you want to die, but at the same time…” Adam sighed, having at least the shame to shut his mouth. “Bael, how strong will she become?”
“Not as strong as either of us, but she will be able to grow as powerful as the Radiant Blade if she trains hard.” Bael noted the father was still glaring at him, ready to give up his life. “If she is able to reach the rank of Grandmaster, I will gift her a magical blade.”
“Mulazim, may we speak?” called a voice, the Mo of Black Mountain smiling awkwardly. ‘How is it that someone else is more troublesome than even you, Adam?’
“Father, I am well,” Zumra said, with the understanding that whoever this half dragon was, he was someone they couldn’t touch.
“You should take her to meditate,” Bael said, letting out another sigh, before walking past the guards who dared not make a move without their Mulazim’s word. Just like that, the shadow known as Bael disappeared, heading to the courtyard to watch over Kizwolima once more. ‘I will need to rest for some time.’
Dunes remained with the Mulazim, speaking with him about what had happened, and hoping to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, Adam considered beating Bael so hard that evening turned to morning, but at the same time, although he had killed the woman, it was true enough he intended to bring her back.
“Is dying so easy?” Adam asked, glaring down at Bael.
“It was easy for you,” Bael replied. “If I offered the same to any warrior, they would have accepted even if I did not intend to return them to life.”
“You should have informed her of everything first, so she could make a proper choice,” Adam said.
“Sometimes, it is not for her to choose,” Bael replied simply, before noting the way the half elf tensed up once more, the pair glaring between one another for a long moment.
“If you do that again, don’t blame me for being rude,” Adam warned, turning on his heel and storming off in a rage. Certainly, Bael had at least earned enough that Adam could think twice about cutting an arm off, even after speaking so much like a noble.
“Mister Bael, are you okay?” Kizwolima asked, looking out towards the half elf. “Are you fighting?”
“We had a disagreement,” Bael replied simply, reaching over to rub her head gently.
Kizwolima could feel how cold the half dragon’s hand has become, the girl smiling, enjoying the cool temperature.
‘I will not be able to… encourage the sword for some time,’ Bael thought.
