92 92. Duel War-Axes (1/2)

Like a bell being rung in the minds of everyone present, they broke from their own personal reveries. The sight had taken them all off guard.

Tobias and Raelith were the first to recover, followed by Sally. Sally couldn't help but frown. Unlike the rest, Sally had always maintained an understandable distance from Noone. She was a cleric in the Order of Life. She was a healer, and fighting was just something she had to do sometime. She had no desire to get to know Noone or become too involved. In her mind, when she returned to the grand-temple she would leave this whole mission behind her and focus on advancing her status within the order.

In truth, something about Noone made her uncomfortable. Even after he recovered from the seal within the pendant, she felt as though there was something dangerous about Noone. He seemed harmless enough. He did not train in weapons, or even hold any malicious thoughts against them that she could tell. She even believed Noone that he came from a society of peace, unlike anything that existed in the common world.

But being around him always left her with the feeling that she shouldn't turn her back to him. Not because he might attack her, but because she didn't trust herself to not attack him. He put her on edge.

And now, as Noone stood in a pool of blood, as calm as the moon in the night sky, she couldn't help but feel her fear was completely justified.

She was an existence which was meant to heal. Even if she had to fight, her god was one of life – when possible. Noone's existence did not have an ounce of healing light to him. Just under the surface, she couldn't help but feel there was a void waiting to suck in the world around him.

”Are you injured at all?” Tobias asked. Something about his voice betrayed his state of mind. Not a scratch could be seen on Noone. He wasn't even breathing heavy. His clothes weren't torn or even scuffed.

The only blood on him was the tribesman's which pooled onto his bare feet.

When they had given Noone clothes to wear to replace his disintegrating set, they realized that they had no shoes to give him. A change of clothes was a given, an extra pair of shoes though? Hardly necessary in normal situations. However, Noone did not seem to mind and walked on the course stone earth with no problem. It seemed he was completely at home with it.

Noone took a good look at the group. He couldn't help but notice that they had rushed here to assist him. Despite his dominating appearance, a warm smile broke its way onto his face. The whites of his teeth showed a good-natured smile.

”I'm fine. A little shaken from the fight… it's a lot different than I imagined it would be.” Noone scanned the group, noticing every slight scrape and bruise on their bodies, the subtle shiver in the muscles from fatigue. As he walked towards them, a trail of bloody footprints was left in his wake leading back to the corpse like a red string of fate.

Tobias nodded. ”I'm glad you are okay, we can talk about it later if you would like… this is your first time after all.” He nodded towards the corpse. Everyone knew what he meant. As far as they knew, this was Noone's first time killing someone.

Noone didn't say anything, thinking about it for a moment. Did he need to talk about it? He glanced back at the corpse, unsure about his own feelings.

”I'm not sure.” He said honestly. ”The tribesman attacked me, so why should I be worried about it? I was just doing what had to be done.” There was no trace of remorse or dishonesty in his voice, Sally furrowed her brow and the rest shared a look except for Sarah who nodded instinctually as though completely understanding. Tobias said nothing.

”In this surface world, you all fight and train and battle and kill. If I am going to survive…” The words carried off in the wind and his eyes glossed over momentarily as his mind boarded his own train of thought. But the message was clear: This is the world I live in now, so I will survive, and thrive.

Tobias nodded at Noone. Like Sally he devoted his life to the Order of Life. His god was a god of healing and light. Every time he took a life, no matter how ”deserving,” he felt a pain in his chest. But unlike Sally - he was a paladin, a warrior meant to exist on the battlefield. He had seen and encountered many good men and women, most of whom did not share his god or belief. But that did not take away from them being good people. He felt they merely had different paths to follow.