Desecration Chapter103: Whatever You Say, Big Bitch

"Well this is a surprise," Xae said with a smirk. "Did the almighty Yir finally realize she isn't omnipotent? What miracle has blessed us simplistic mortals that you'd achieve such enlightennt?"

I scowled at the girl. "I haven't conceded shit. I'm just more open to hearing about this supposed ho of yours."

"Can't even admit it! Cute," she chuckled.

"I'm three seconds away from seeing how far I can punt you out my window."

"Not very." Xae shrugged. "You're not that strong."

This brat, I was tempted to turn my bluff into reality.

The catharsis would've been monuntal.

Instead I crossed my arms and glared at her.

She leaned back on the edge of my bed and laughed a little more. "You need to co up with sothing other than basic bitch threats. It's getting old."

"I'll consider it."

Xae snickered and plopped herself on my mattress humming sothing light before drowning the room in silence. I was getting impatient but...the World was sending sothing of a warning. Didn't know what it was, but it was there.

So I waited.

For a while.

"You want to know about the Crescent Sword, huh?" she mused. "I don't know if I should feel happy about that, since you're not accusing of being a liar anymore.

"I assu you know a whole lot of jack shit about the clans?"

"Gee, what could've given that impression," I said with a bit of glib.

"Yeah, yeah. Keep being a grumpy bitch and see where that gets you. Anyway! Can't really speak for the other clans since I've never been to 'em, but apparently they're all different flavours of the sa bread.

"Basically, they're just places where everyone pursues a pinnacle of so kind. Usually related to violence. To a degree that surpasses religious."

I raised a brow. "Didn't you say your clan didn't worship any of the pantheon last ti?"

"They don't, dipshit. I was using this fun little trick called a taphor."

"I'm surprised your brain could manage sothing so complicated."

I could practically feel her eyes roll at the comnt.

"Anyway, most clans are old as fuck. Pretty sure mine predates every modern nation on this continent. So that's pretty cool."

Sounded far-fetched. I chose not to say anything.

"We fancy ourselves as blade masters but we're more like essence freaks. Most of the idiots would challenge my ass to a duel for saying so, conveniently ignoring how every warrior spends most of their ti hunting rather than training."

I humd. "So are they so kind of secret super soldiers the empire keeps on reserve?"

Silence.

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Then Xae burst out laughing, sitting back up to look straight in the eye. "The empire doesn't get shit out of the clans."

"What?" I scowled. "That doesn't make any sense, doesn't yours live in the Aori jungle? No sane nation would leave a rogue elent like that alone."

"Oh, they've certainly tried with their wars." Xae's smile was a sharp one.

I let the implications of that sit for a mont.

"This is starting to sound a lot like bullshit again."

The girl shrugged. "We might follow the slower path to power, but there are plenty old monsters who have centuries of killing to their na. Most warriors awaken to mana by their eighties or so too. Though they only consider mana a tool to improve their bladesnship. So it's not the sa elental crap the empire loves. A few of them are a lot like you actually."

"I sincerely doubt that."

Xae gave a look. "Point being, our matriarch's strong enough on her own that Taiman won't risk losing an archmage to her. That's not even including all the bloodlines that've made a na for themselves."

"Okay," I said. "The empire can't be doing nothing though. That just wouldn't make sense."

"Do I look like I'm soone who'd know anything about the politics between my clan and the emperor?"

I grunted, that was fair enough.

Xae chuckled and didn't say anything else.

"So?" I said.

"What?"

"Is that it?"

"Pretty much."

"I feel like you're ignoring sothing pretty important."

Xae stiffened. "The spirits don't matter. Just a guide to help us improve."

"Does everyone get one?"

"Yes."

A whisper. Just a hint.

"You're lying."

She glared at ...only to sigh.

"I'm doing that for a reason."

"I an, cool shit and all that. I respect your boundaries most of the ti, but this sounds like a pretty easy way to get a nice boost in my skills."

Xae raised a brow. "You planning on strolling over and nabbing yourself a spirit?"

"Maybe."

"Don't bother," she snickered. "Those ears of yours are the only reason they'd consider it. Even then you'd have to duel a gambit of warrior-mages."

"I'm sure that's exactly what you did too."

Xae looked in the eye with a complicated expression.

"Can we not talk about this, please?"

"Why not?"

"Because I don't fucking want to."

"Too bad!" I chirped. "I'm not letting you out of here until you spill the beans."

A flash of anger crossed her face.

Then...resignation.

She flopped back onto my bed.

"So, the clan doesn't really do families. Nobody's got the privilege of knowing their parents since we're organized and raised by our respective bloodlines. Or if you don't have one, then you're used to equal out the numbers between them.

"Your family is the clan, otherwise the distraction of relations would be too strong to dedicate ourselves wholly to the blade. Servants who had renounced the way due to a severe case of sanity took care of us as we grew, with each cadre of infants having a proper warrior to train them.

"We trained as soon as we could walk, for as long as our bodies could manage. Eventually that ant every hour of every day, and our skills grew to match that."

She paused.

She exhaled.

"There are tournants. Held irregularly depending on how many of those considered your peers got recomnded. I was sothing of a prodigy, even there. I stood on equal ground with mbers many years my senior. So I was put on the docket, and a few months before turning nine, I was honoured with the opportunity.

"The tournants use real blades. Not the wooden things we used for sparring. It took eight rounds to reach the finals and win, proving myself worthy of my na."

Silence.

For a long while.

"I...I'm sorry."

Xae huffed. "We didn't have to kill one another, but anyone who forfeit would be shunned to the point that many chose to leave.

"It's pretty fucking funny, honestly. Didn't even wait a year before I left and ca here, so I could've just not participated and life wouldn't be all that different."

I struggled with what I could've said at that point, so of course I said one of the dumbest fucking things I could've.

"Well...you said they got mages that're like ?"

Xae sighed. "I'm not taking you there."

"It'll only be for a bit!" I said. "Just need so guidance on how I can grow my magic is all. You don't even need to co with . Just show the path and I'll figure it out from there."

"I'd basically be digging your grave if I did that."

"You were nine when you left," I said. "I think I'll manage."

"I also knew the jungle and mountains like the back of my hand. Knew where the villages were and where I could rest. I studied all the monster territories and how to avoid the common predators before I left. You could walk right into a fucking Jojakim and be none the wiser as they pulp your skull."

I pursed my lips, that was a pretty good point.

Also sounded insanely thorough for a nine year old, so she might've been lying.

I sighed. "Ortium it is then, I guess. Wanna co with when I leave?"

"Dungeon delving? Seriously?"

"It'll be fun!"

Xae scoffed. "Whatever you say, big bitch."