Chain the Wild Pawn 4

(Just breathe Chain. Take in the details and breathe.)

Taking her own advice and a deep breath Chain studied Elliot as she sought the best grip on her sword. The most important thing she had to note was that he had not removed his left hand from his scabbard which meant he was not exploiting the two-handed grip of his sword.

(So he really is holding back just like he said. Such a shame he’s still way stronger than me which will be problematic if I manage to draw this out. That same strength will also offset the weight of his sword reducing the speed difference between a two-handed grip and his current single-handed grip against an opponent of my level to inconsequential. The only weakness is his left side but his speed should more than cover that.)

“Why do Heroes have to be so annoying?”

The question spoken aloud by Chain expressed her irritation at the absurdity of the opponent who had challenged her but she expected no answer and was not surprised when none came. She did however receive encouragement from the crowd as she heard Melody shout out cheerfully.

“Go get him Link!”

Following Melody’s example the entire crowd erupted into raucous cheers for Chain to best the Hero who stood before her.

“Honestly you idiots, he’s the challenger so he should make the first move…”

A bitter smile played at Chain’s lips as she criticized the cheering crowds but her moment of distraction did not go unnoticed. Chain recognized her folly as she noticed Elliot open his mouth to exhale.

“Crap!”

Chain’s oath barely left her lips before Elliot disappeared from sight, taking the maid’s back and placing his blade on her neck. The speed and precision of the Hero’s movements instantly silenced the crowd by the sheer force of their surprise. Melody found her voice before anyone else in the audience but could only find one thing to say.

“Wow…”

The harpy’s sentiments were quickly shared likewise by the rest of the crowd but it was not Elliot who had impressed them. The speed and precision of the Hero was only to be expected even as it was surprising but the ring of metal that preceded the crowd’s reaction as Chain had managed to block the strike was what had taken their breath away. Amazed as the crowd was however Chain felt naught but overwhelmed.

(Fast. Unbelievably fast.)

Numbness tore through Chain’s arms from the force of the impact and she could feel her stomach turn from the pressure. She felt as though all of the strength she had left her body just from that one strike and surprised herself as she somehow managed to turn to begin her counterattack.

The arms of the cross-guard of Chain’s sword were fairly uniquely designed in that they could serve as one-handed grips each allowing for a drastically different style of combat with the weapon. It was the flare at where the joined the orb at the center of the cross-guard though which hinted at an additional functionality. If the blade of an opponent’s sword were to get caught in the gap behind that flare it would be a simple matter of twisting the sword to break it. In her current position it was the only option Chain saw open to her and so as she turned to face Elliot her counter attack was not a strike but a false preparation for one. Combining the motion for thrusting upward with that of bringing her sword over her left shoulder for a powerful swing Chain attempted to force the blade of Elliot’s sword into the gap behind the flare of the arm of the quillon. As speed was another of the Hero’s advantages against the young maid her counter attack was doomed to failure as he simply pulled his sword away and back out to his side.

Trusting in his speed or perhaps being arrogant about it Elliot stepped back as he withdrew his sword and then stepped forward as he unleashed a horizontal swing. Chain was well prepared for the attack this time however and dropped her arms smashing Elliot’s sword with the pommel of hers. Making sure to step into Elliot as she did Chain twisted her wrists so that if Elliot tried to withdraw again the cross-guard of his sword would catch on her blade disarming the young Hero. Elliot was at the disadvantage for he could neither step forward nor withdraw and Chain’s smash had taken the strength behind his last attack out of it. In that moment, though the strain on Chain’s face spoke otherwise, Elliot realized that the chainmail clad maid was his better at swordplay. A smile brightened the young Hero’s face at the recognition and he changed his strategy.

Once more relying on his speed Elliot demonstrated what the power of a Hero looked like and released his sword. Free of the grip of its owner, Elliot’s sword lost all of its tension and fell free of Chain’s trap. Chain’s eyes widened as she recognized what just happened and she charged Elliot knowing it was her only chance to stay in the fight. Elliot was unconcerned by Chain’s charge and freed his left hand from his scabbard as he moved to step forward with the matching foot. With a tremendous force the Hero stepped into a clockwise spin and caught his sword in his left hand while simultaneously bringing it around in a powerful strike. Chain was not unprepared for the strike however and had used her charge to reposition her sword to catch Elliot’s spinning slash. To everyone’s surprise, though she blocked it, the strike threw Chain across the courtyard and a portion of the crowd was forced to make room for her to land. While Chain was airborne Elliot took the opportunity to switch his sword back to his right hand while returning his left back to his scabbard. Then he charged anew.

As Elliot came into striking range Chain attacked the path his sword would have to travel for its next strike. Chain’s attempt to preempt the Hero came up short as he spun around her attack and slid past her before unleashing another sweeping slash at her flank. Throwing herself behind her attack Chain tucked into a roll and let her cape come into being and flare out behind her. With the view of her blocked by her cape Chain followed her roll up with a handstand vault and as she left the ground she snapped the fingers of her left hand releasing a most distinctive ring from the chainmail clad hand as a light formed within it.

“~ Winds of the Fourth Well, rush forth to my call ~
~ Gather storm and lightning as my fury aligns with the heavens ~
~ Tri Bolt! ~”

Elliot with his speed could have easily interrupted Chain’s incantation but the way her cape flared out around her with her twisting acrobatics made it impossible to predict her sword movement. Not intending to wound Chain in a friendly duel Elliot chose to let her finish her spell having a counter of his own already at the ready. Watching Chain turn over in the air from her vault he watched the light in Chain’s left hand crackle with electricity which she unleashed as she threw her hand down in conjecture with calling out the spell name. Three bolts of lightning tore through air and ground alike as the spell rushed towards him and Elliot took his sword in both hands.

♪~ As stars, land, sea, and storm ~♪
♪~ Held in Cardinal eyes are all the same ~♪
♪~ By her grace his dream made truth ~♪

A cocky smile found its way to Chain’s face as she heard the familiar voice of the Builders’ Song rise up in verse as Elliot faced her spell.

“EQUALIZER~!!!!!”

Shouting out the name of the verse that swirled around him the metal of Elliot’s sword dissolved into nothingness revealing a brilliant blade of pure blue light. Bringing his sword up high Elliot held it for only a moment before bringing it down upon the lightning that tore towards him. In a dramatic explosion of light Chain’s spell washed away leaving Elliot unharmed and surrounded by motes of harmless light that drifted harmlessly into the sky. With her own feet back on the ground Chain watched the sight a moment longer with a smile on her face before returning her sword to its scabbard.

“I yield. If you’re going to start bringing out verses I won’t last even a second longer.”

“Ah!”

Surprise and embarrassment replaced Elliot’s battle face as he realized that the maid who stood before him had forced him to go beyond relying on just his sword. Though he intended to apologize his efforts went unheard as the crowds erupted into cheer.

“No wonder she survived against the Bandit King!”

“Good show lass! Pushing that pompous Hero to have to go all out against you!

“What a fighter! She’s amazing!

“That was amazing Link!~♪”

Melody may not have been the first to praise Chain’s efforts but she was the first to rush the maid in congratulations. Following the harpy’s lead the entire crowd collapsed in on itself as everyone who comprised it desired to congratulate the maid despite her admitting defeat. A knowing smile adorned Elliot’s face as he lost sight of Chain within the crowd. Sheathing his sword Elliot smiled more earnestly as he looked towards the sky.

“I’ll gladly play the villain today Chain. Making you a hero that they can accept is worth it and all I can do for you now…”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater