The deafening clang of metal against metal erupted as his dagger met my greatshield.
I instantly sent Kyros a stern glare. His bloodshot black eyes stared back at me as he lowered his dagger and assumed his fighting stance. My gaze didn't waver; in fact, it grew stronger, telling him that if he wanted to get serious, we could, but remember, I'm the leader.
I had known Kyros for a long time; he understood what my eyes told him, and he responded with a faint nod.
"Sheesh, man, you might hurt someone!" I joked with him. I honestly couldn't guess who would win in a real duel between us. Sure, I was a tank, but if I lowered my defenses for even a second, he could land a killing blow. It would never happen, of course, we were unspoken brothers, but it was fun to imagine.
"That's the point, jackass." He responded, still in his fighting stance, ready to kill at any moment. "Let's see if this novice can out-heal my attacks."
Ah, so that's what he wants to do. He could have warned me at least.
I looked towards Tia, and he was still shaking slightly, but the soft shades of pink had returned to his porcelain skin. Suddenly, an expression of bravery overtook him, and he opened his pretty lips to speak, only stuttering a few times to get the words out.
"I-I'm not afraid of you! I can out-heal your a-attacks easily, stupid!" His eyes glittered like snowflakes, and he poked his flat chest out proudly. I believed that he could.
"Show me." The tip of his blade glistened as he thrust it at my neck.
"Wait!" I bellowed out at the top of my lungs. Kyros froze, his dagger just a few inches from penetrating my throat. The whole guild froze in silence and stared directly at me.
Maybe I was a little too loud.
"Uh… sorry, everyone! Just party affairs, everything is fine."
"Oh nooo now everyone's staring at me, hehe" Amethyst chimed in, acting in distress. Somehow, she had found time to undo the top button of her shirt, revealing her cleavage to the onlookers.
Tia looked too, with a jealous expression on his face.
"Gross, you're like a 1000 years old, grandma." Kyros taunted, his blade still dangerously close to me.
Just great, now Amethyst wants to kill Kyros, who wants to kill me. Tia hasn't even known us for 10 minutes; he must think we're crazy!
"God, everyone, calm down!" It was like I was a single father raising 2 children. "You're not in the party just yet, Tia. We will let Kyros test your abilities first. Let's take it outside."
"I understand, Daven sir! I know I can become a great healer, let me prove myself!" Tia proudly rang out. He stared up at me with puppy eyes and held his dainty hands tightly in fists, grabbing the bottom of his skirt.
Every little thing he did made my heart beat faster. I need to think rationally. I can't be falling for someone I just met, especially a potential party member… especially if that someone is a boy.
"Good, I believe in you, Tia," I assured him, staring back into his frozen eyes. "And you can just call me Draven."
"Thank you… Draven." His face once again burst out into a deep red blush, and he looked down, smiling. He loosened his fists and let go of his skirt before straightening it back out; his thighs jiggled as he did so.
"Let's meet out back in the guild's training grounds."
The sun was still high in the sky as we made our way outside, forcing the autumn weather to exist only in the shade and breeze. Behind the Adventurers Guild was an expansive training ground complete with target dummies, made of wood and goblin leather, archery targets, duel arenas, and enough weapons to supply a small army.
I now stood facing Kyro's, with Tia behind me, in one of the duel arenas, which was more or less just a small field with enough space around it to keep any audience safe from battle. Right now, our only audience was Amethyst, who was cheering Tia and me on.
"Boooo Kyros!"
"Tsk, does she ever shut up?" Kyros hissed.
We were all fully prepared for a fight now. I was wearing my half-set of plate armor, and had my shield and mace drawn. I turn behind me to look at Tia. His pale skin was glittering in the daylight, revealing more freckles across his sun-kissed cheeks. He stood in an awkward stance with his knees touching, showing the gap between his thighs, and holding a small book of holy scripture, which was used to cast miracles.
I gave him a reassuring smile. I could tell he was nervous, but he was showing his bravery now. He responded with a nod that said, "I'm ready." I returned my focus to the assassin before me.
"Hey, Kyros? How exactly are we doing this?" I implored. I could actually get some good training if we took it seriously, but I didn't want Tia getting caught up in that fight; he could get seriously hurt.
"Simple, I'm going to try to slit Tia's throat."
Huh?... What???
"Hey, Kyros… You're not being serious, right?" I let out a nervous laugh.
Kyros grinned.
His shadow leapt across the arena in an instant, covering the ground between us before I could react. He was fast. If he went for an attack on Tia right now, I wouldn't make it in time to shield it. I had to respond with an attack of my own.
I raised my great mace above my head and slammed it down in front of Tia just before the assassin's attack reached him. Kyros rolled to dodge the slam, but at least he didn't reach Tia. He was quickly back on his feet, with a wry grin that emanated bloodlust.
Not even a second had passed before he lunged again with his twin daggers, piercing the air in front of him. I raised my shield to absorb the blow. The loud clash of steel rang out, and I could feel the power in his attack pushing me back.
"Not fast enough." Kyros disappeared from behind my shield, and I felt the cold black steel of his dagger penetrate my abdomen, just below my chest plate.
Blood gushed out from the wound as he removed his dagger, running his finger across the bloodied blade. I spat out the blood that pooled in my mouth; the taste of iron was almost overwhelming.
"My blade was coated in a paralysis poison. You won't be able to move a single muscle in about a minute, Draven." He smirked, letting out an evil-sounding laugh.
This was bad. I knew he wasn't lying; I could feel my fingers going numb already, and Kyros was only ever this happy when he was playing with poisons. It was almost scary seeing him this joyful.
I need to act fast before the poison's effect takes over my body. I needed to keep him away from Tia, but he was almost too fast, and my movements were only getting slower thanks to his devious tactics. I have to attack first.
"A minute? Ha, that's all I'll need to stop you." I charged directly at Kyros shield first, hoping to knock him down, or at least stun him for long enough to finish it with a heavy attack from my mace.
I felt the impact for only an instant; my shield charge missed, causing me to almost fall on my face from the force I put into it. Fuck I only grazed him; he somehow dodged just in time.
Where did he go? I don't see him at all.
Again, the stinging pain of his dagger took over my senses. He had landed another attack; his blade reached deep into my left shoulder, right between my armor. Kyros knew all my weak spots and was taking advantage of it.
"Hmph, more like 20 seconds now."
Even more poison was sent coursing through my veins. I could feel myself losing control of my body as he ripped the blade from my shoulder. I couldn't even hold my shield up due to the injury and paralysis, I dropped it, making a loud thud as it hit the ground.
This was bad. I couldn't keep up like this; I needed my healer.
"Tia!!" I scream out, blood spraying from my mouth as I do so. "I need you… Now's the time to prove yourself, Tia!"
He stood there frozen in fear. Kyros slowly walked towards him with both of his daggers drawn, causing him to tremble as he held his holy scripture to his chest. His short, green skirt waved in the wind.
"Looks like you really weren't special after all."
Kyros inched closer and closer to Tia, a dagger pointed directly at his pretty throat.
I refused to believe it. I knew Tia was special. I knew he had the power to become a great healer, to become my healer. He possessed natural talent that was unimaginable as a dual-class healer; he just needed experience, he needed to overcome his fear right now, and prove it to us all.
"Tia! I need you to heal me now! I promise I will protect you, I promise I won't let him hurt you." I stared directly into his eyes as I spoke. I needed him to know I was telling him the truth, I would always protect him, no one would ever hurt my healer if I was there to tank.
Tia gave me an assuring smile and the cutest nod before lowering his holy scripture in front of him in his left hand, and raising his right hand towards me. A calm expression overtook his typical nervousness as he began to chant.
"God above, please heed my call now. Angels of health and holy light, grant me your presence in glory to our lord. Cure Poison! Greater Heal!"
Golden light glittered delicately from his hand and enveloped me in a warm and comforting sensation. Almost instantly, my wounds closed and the steady flow of blood ceased. The pain and numbness from the poison were replaced with a sweet sensation that rivaled the ecstasy of sex. I had never felt better in my life.
I couldn't help but smile.
"Good job." I praised Tia, and almost instantly, his shyness returned, his freckles disappearing in his blushing cheeks.
"Th-thank you, sir.. I mean Draven!"
The assassin wasn't done just yet, though. He continued his villainous walk towards Tia.
"Not bad healer, but you've already been defeated."
Kyros lunged for the killing blow, almost disappearing from the speed at which he was moving. The bloodlust was tangible. My shield was still on the ground; I wouldn't have time to pick it up and block.
I promised Tia I would keep him safe, and I had no intention of breaking that promise.
My body took over, my instincts overpowered my rational thinking. I was again holding my great mace above my head to attack.
"May Boreas bear unto us an everlasting winter, Minor Freeze!" The warmth of the sun froze in rays of light around me as my mace was engulfed in blazing icicles. I swung directly at the assassin, sending a torrent of frost through the air.
The attack landed, and Kyros was frozen instantaneously; his legs and arms were covered in thick blocks of ice, preventing even the slightest movement. His dagger was mere inches from piercing through Tia's smooth skin.
"I yield." Kyros surrendered.
"I think Tia has proven his strength, don't you agree? I would've been dead without him."
"Hmph, he would've been dead without you," he looked down in defeat, "but I concur, he'll do."
Tia's gorgeous features radiated from the praise and the victory over Kyros. He tilted his head up towards me to meet my eyes, his cute expression teeming with childish joy. I was probably even happier than he was. Not only did I now know his true healing capabilities, but I was thrilled to know I would be seeing more of his pretty face… and his perfect body.
"Welcome to the party, Tia."