One being that he was aloof and didn’t like taking direction from others. A Master had to be obedient in their prior training, had to take orders and follow the instructions given to them, and execute them perfectly. Every failure, no matter how small or minor, was added to a tally. A mark against their name would see them taking longer to rank up, if at all.
Emerie had been told she only had one mark against her name, but it had also aided in her favour. Her sacrifices had made her worthy of ranking up – although the Elders had taken their sweet time about it.
The other reason was because, although he was strong, he had very little else going for him. He could be cunning, but he wasn’t particularly smart.
Emerie, on the other hand, wasn’t overly strong, but she had always been a formidable opponent. She was smart, well-read, swift, and... lost. Lost to be nothing but a slave to the Elders and their wants. She was hollow, Bryce wasn’t.
Many of the other Demonslayers weren’t. They still had hopes, dreams, desires.
Emerie had one need, and it was the death of Demons.
Which aligned perfectly with the guild’s goals.
She was also acutely aware that the reason the position had been offered to her was because the Head Elder had her sights set on Emerie. She was a little too interested in her training, as they were two of the very few who shared certain similarities: a lack of proper identity, and a steely heart – one of which... was a lie on Emerie’s part.
“Look, if you’re still awake when I finish my watch, I’ll finish you off,” Bryce offered, tossing her a grin. “Even if you’re not, I can come wake you with this.” He gripped his junk through his pants, before leaning forward to kiss the right side of her face. “Just leave your door unlocked.”
Bryce had just guaranteed that she’d not only be locking her door, but she also wouldn’t be around to hear him bashing at it. For all she cared, he could release into his own hand.
I might go sleep in the library tonight. The Elders had never cared that she often found peaceful rest there.
Peaceful because she was so fucking exhausted from studying, that she passed out with her head on a table and her nose in the spine of her book.
When he straightened, her eyes flicked side to side as she looked over his attractive face. He was clean shaven, his brows high and masculine, with one sporting a scar through it. He wasn’t the sexiest man she’d ever laid her eyes upon, but he was pleasant.
Why do all my relationships end up like this?
It didn’t help that they all involved guild members.
She clenched her fist. No. I can’t just throw in the towel. I haven’t even sat down with him and told him how I feel. That he made her feel like shit, even if he didn’t mean to – or maybe he did! Who freaking knew? She was making up assumptions, because she hadn’t sat him down and had a proper talk with him.
Then again, chatting between them was limited to while he was either undoing or redoing his fucking pants.
Her insecurities nagged at the nape of her neck. She rubbed it with her palm.
“Hey. Tomorrow, could we sit down and tal–”
An alarm bell echoed down the halls, booming and reverberating against the stone.
Emerie and Bryce shared a look between each other, one where he appeared paler and her own expression was filled with surprise. Rooted to the spot, his mouth opened and closed.
“Move!” she yelled, shoving him through the doorway. She grabbed her sword next to it as she shot through it. “Get to the wall.”
Bryce’s footsteps echoed behind her as they hurried through the fortress before their sounds were drowned out by many others joining them in the halls. Although there was a minor stampede, it wasn’t of panicked civilians.
Instead, they were all heading to the armoury where they would be issued their weapons. They would be free to take a bow or a spear, depending on their preference or availability, and then they would head to those weapons’ allocated starting points.
Archers on top of the wall, and footmen wielding swords or spears at the three gates available.
Most already held a personal sword at their hip, one they either made by hand or hired someone more experienced to make.
They had to fight through a sea of people to reach the armoury doors. Just as she and Bryce reached out for a spear, both likely coming to the decision to fight alongside each other, her shoulder was grabbed.
Emerie halted and faced the Elder, who had been standing nearby.
“Not you,” he said firmly, the outline of his features barely visible through his uniform’s face coverings. “Head Elder Wren wants to see you.”
Moving out of the way so other guildmembers could obtain their weapons, Emerie nodded her head just as Bryce came up beside her.
“What about me?”
Only the Elder’s dark eyes could be seen through the open slit of his mask, and he narrowed them at Bryce. “What about you? Go to the wall with everyone else.”
“The fuck?” Bryce spat as he darted his head towards her. “Why does she get special treatment these days? Everyone is to go to the wall when we’re under attack.”
She squinted at his expression, as well as his tone. She wasn’t particularly fond of jealousy, especially when it came to guild activities. “I’m following my orders, as you should. The reason doesn’t matter.”
“Exactly,” the Elder bit out, his voice cold and unfeeling. “What Wren wants is her business, and as the Head of the eastern sector, her wants are final. Any arguments regarding it will be noted for future reference.” Then, with a hint of humour crinkling the corners of his eyes, he added, “That’s if you don’t die this night.”
A knot of muscle ticked in Bryce’s jaw, his lips firming into a hard line. However, he nodded and stepped back.
Emerie stopped him from retreating by clasping his wrist, ignoring the rush of people moving around them. Despite the negative energy of their night so far, she held his eyes with sincerity.
“Don’t get killed, okay?” she quietly pleaded. “Stay safe.”
His annoyance deflated out of him, and his gaze softened. “Of course, Em. Don’t worry about me. I promise I’ll be okay.”
There was no kiss, hug, or further affection shared between them as they split up – not that they would have done something so public. Their relationship was a secret, by his request, mainly.
Bryce made his way out of the armoury to head to his station, while Emerie climbed a spiralling staircase that led to a higher section of the fortress. The Elder didn’t follow her, likely picking out other guildmembers among the crowd that Wren had given additional orders to.
Zagros Fortress was the Demonslayer stronghold of the eastern part of Austrális. Both the east and the west had the largest area of the Veil cutting through their land, making them far more dangerous than the north or south lands.
From its topmost tower, anyone could see the burnt ruins of Rivenspire. It’d long been destroyed by Demons and panicked people creating fires.
To the south, they traded with the farmlands for food by offering additional protection. The same offer of protection had been given to the mining town who shared their mountain, although much further north.