Chronicles of The God Slayer of Shadows-Chapter 38 - Thirty Eight

The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting golden streaks across the Ironbrand Guild's stone courtyard. The clang of steel and the crackle of sparring magic echoed through the air, mixing with grunts and barked commands. Adrien sat on the low wall overlooking the dueling circles, a blade resting across his knees—elegant, dark, and runed. Damien stood a few paces away, stretching out his arms with the loose energy of a man always ready for a challenge.

"Still brooding over that poster?" Damien asked, nodding toward a fluttering parchment tacked to a nearby board. "The Evermoon Tournament. Biggest one this side of the ocean. You know, if you're not entering, you're officially the most boring God-touched warrior I've ever met." Adrien glanced up, lips twitching. "God-touched? That what they're calling it now? I liked 'mysterious rogue with a shady past' better." Damien chuckled. "That title's taken. You looking at him."

Adrien exhaled and ran a thumb along the edge of his sword. "A tournament sounds... public."

"Yeah, it's a tournament, not a funeral. You don't have to bring a eulogy." Adrien smirked. "That's a shame. I was really hoping to eulogize someone's pride in the finals."

Damien tossed him a waterskin and leaned back against the wall. "Look, I get it. You're not one for crowds or attention. But this isn't just sport. There'll be high nobles, traveling warlords, maybe even a few recruiters from the Orders. If you're trying to get somewhere... this is one way to carve a path." Adrien stared at the training ground, watching two young swordsmen clashing in quick, vicious arcs. "And what happens if someone recognizes me for what I am?"

Damien shrugged. "Then we blame me. Say I dragged you into it for coin and glory. Not the worst crime."

There was a pause. Adrien's voice dropped a note. "I've had enough of being someone else's weapon. I'm not keen on being a spectacle." Damien straightened, more serious now. "Then don't be. Go in there, and remind them that even shadows can stand in the light." Adrien stood slowly, gaze distant. "You talk too much, you know." "You think too much," Damien replied.

A beat passed. Adrien slid the blade back into its scabbard and slung it across his back. "Fine. But if this ends with me fighting a ten-foot lizard knight or something, I'm blaming you." Damien grinned. "Oh, you'll love the lizard. He's got a great sense of humor." They walked back toward the guild, the tournament poster rustling behind them in the breeze.