Climbing down from Everett’s back she shot him a soft, warm smile and a pat on the shoulder. It was a surprisingly kind reaction considering how she was going to tear my throat out only hours ago.

Everett shrank into his... more accurately my cloak to help him blend into the crowd as if he hadn’t already been a part of my grandmother's marvellous entrance.

“Finally, a competent leader has arrived,” the captain’s voice deepened in a scornful remark.

Ignoring the Captain’s words, my grandmother began hobbling toward us at a pace that was slow even for her—even for an old lady. She limped not on one leg but with every step as if her whole body ached.

She didn't get far before all the nearby villagers who had cleared a path for her began holding out various sticks, poles, and even sword sheaths, pleading that she accept them as crutches or canes.

Considering the prideful grin on her lips I already knew her next move. With her neat materialisation trick, she held out her hand as time and space began to fluctuate much like that weird pathway leading out from the forest. Amidst a red-Ish pink light, her staff slowly formed out of thin air.

The staff had a dark and enchanting bark texture and at its top, the wooden branch curved into a perfect circle. Small purple gemstones hung within its spiral frame their energy hummed softly in the air. At the heart of the spiral, a formless wisp of zoi levitates endlessly as if the weapon had a life force of its own.

‘Well, she certainly looks the part,’ I cackled internally. Old and frail with long grey-white hair and overlapping wrinkles. ‘She already looked like an old mage. But with a slight hunch and a dazzling staff she’s just like every stereotypical witch in the book,’ My laughter continued.

As my grandmother drew closer a cold and ominous aura filled the air halting even the captain’s bitter words. Her eyes were stern and only half open however, despite her apparent fatigue she showed no signs of weakness.

“Elder we demand that you turn over any foreign travellers at once,” the masculine woman from earlier stepped forward breaking the silence.

“Hmmm Exousia huh,” my grandmother emphasises as she hunched over grabbing and inspecting the badge on the woman's chest. Sweat rolled down the once strong-looking Arbitrator as the elder continued to invade her personal space.

“And to send a Captain no less,” she chirped. Turning in my direction she gave me a quick half smile before her menacing demeanour returned once more. It was a reassuring expression. Frightening, but it was as if she was saying “Don’t worry,” or “everything will be fine.”

Planting her staff firmly in the ground before the Arbitrators she continued to captivate their attention as the powerful weapon stood tall. A sense of warning I suppose. And judging by their reaction it was almost as if a twelve-foot Giant stood in front of them not a simple old lady. Although there is far more behind her eyes than that of a fragile elder.

“And what would the Lord Commander want with these... foreigners you speak of,” her voice lowered dramatically as she walked out from behind her staff with her hands clasped behind her back.

“That is not your concern,” the Captain rumbled. “If you will not present us with the travellers you are hiding, then we will not be leaving until we have thoroughly searched this place,” the Captain pressed, as he raised the tip of his dazzling sword before pointing it at my grandmother.

“How can you be so sure that the people you are looking for are here of all places,” my grandmother pressed. Her tone was calm and calculating.

“ENOUGH,” the burly woman finally cracked. “We are under no obligation to answer the questions of a prideful hag,” she growled before giving a knowing nod to her Captain. A moment later the small group of Arbitrators began walking off to the side. I could only assume to begin their search although they didn't make it far.

After they had made it barely a few feet from their original position a deepening crackling sound hurdled across the sky. A snippet later a monumental bolt of lightning struck the ground only meters ahead of their Captain.

The booming of thunder fizzled into a light hum as the flashing of pink light faded into a harmless but large mass of zoi that drifted like cherry petals towards the ground.

Out of the nearly hundred people present, not a single word or even a squeal escaped from one’s lips. Jaws dropped and the Captain stumbled backwards. I even caught a glimpse of what I could only conjecture to be Everett deep within the crowd. His near-glowing emerald eyes gleamed in delight.

‘The battle-hungry Idiot,’ I sighed inaudibly.

“By the grace of Chronos,” the Captain snapped back into reality. “You dare attack servants of the Monarchy.”

The Arbitrators knelt into a synchronised battle stance ready to attack my grandmother. But unfazed as she was her only reaction was simply taking her hand off of her staff that was still planted in the ground before clasping her hands behind her back once more.

“Is it not my job as elder to protect this village?” her voice trailed across the village as nothing more than a soft zephyr.

“If you choose to fight us now then everyone who shares your blood will be slaughtered for treason,” he warned spitefully.

“Then tell me...”

“Does Exousia’s current Lord Commander have the power to erase house Dragemyre?”

“Of course not. House Dragemyre is one of the five great houses known for their influence during the Great War,” The Captain shot back.

“Even if you can defeat us here, the Monarchy will erase you from the face of Ravaryn,” the now enraged woman beside him pressed on.”

“You flatter me,” my grandmother smiled. “for I am old and frail, fighting you will take too great a toll on my weak bones.” I was becoming increasingly tempted to step in. With my help and even Ezra and Everett too, we would easily be able to defeat a group as small as theirs, but every time I came close to saying something I couldn’t shake the simple smile that she gave me. Although my nerves were growing it was clear that she had something up her sleeve. Some way to resolve this with her strength alone.

“I can assure you, if you don’t put an end to this madness there will be much more pressing matters awaiting you than a simple village elder,” my grandmother warned sternly.

“In that case, I’ll make this quick,” the other woman screamed as she began darting towards us.

Trusting my grandmother to handle the situation I leapt backwards a few steps out of mere caution. I knew I would be able to doge the Arbitrator woman if she decided to randomly attack me so straightforwardly like this, but truthfully I was only actually worried as to what on earth my grandmother was going to do.

The Arbitrator’s blade lit up with a bright white glow. However, it was far greater than that which I have seen from the warriors in our village. Along with the glowing aura torrents of pale green flew around her sword taking the form of small tornados as she sprinted towards my grandmother.

‘Elemental infused zoi,’ I exalted in surprise. I was right to be wary of her. She is by far the strongest of their group and it’s rare even among Arbitrators to harness the nature of the cardinal elements. She’s probably Eldritch rank, maybe even higher I shuddered as doubt slowly crept over me.

“Solvaris,” my grandmother’s frigid voice numbed the air.

Time slowed as a singular thought raced through the peoples’ minds. Only Draconic and higher-ranked elder beasts have a Solvaris or Awakening stage and the moment the word left my grandmother’s mouth the Arbitrator’s prideful demeanors completely shattered.

She tripped over her footing and faltered in her charge if only for a brief second it was obvious that she knew the gravity of her situation but commendably she did not back down. As was the nature of the Arbitrator. If she did she would likely be stripped of her rank and lose her nobility to forever be marked as a disgrace. Something our family knows far too well.

“Awaken...”

“Spirit of the echoing clouds...”

The arbitrator screamed as she lunged forward at the grandmother. However, the moment her hand connected with her staff once more the air filled with a dense thick aura. My eyes seemed to gaze through a pink lens and crackles of lightning tingled as it travelled up my arms.

“Raiju,” my grandmother bellowed.

A moment later, the abundant pink zoi that filled the air began to take the shape of a giant toothy mouth arching over my grandmother’s head as it travelled forward. Tassels of zoi took the form of cat-like ears and blazing sharp eyes that were silhouetted floating in the air over my grandmother’s head.

In all the years that I have been alive. I never knew that my grandmother was bonded to a legendary spirit. And to use a Solvaris technique at her age, I emphasised. Considering its refined and pure form she appears to have completely mastered it as well.

While my previous doubt had completely subsided, I was still not sure what her intentions were. Will she fight or does she have something else up her sleeve? Especially considering that she could easily kill all of the Arbitrators in this one attack.

At the very moment when the Arbitrator’s sword reached within mere feet of my grandmother, the large leopard-looking spirit’s mouth snapped shut.

Closing my eyes, I braced myself. Preparing for the sight of splattered blood and the strong woman’s body lying lifeless and torn apart across the mucky ground. But when my eyes finally peeled open the Arbitrator was completely whole. Instead of a pasty red splattered into the soil was a glimmering sparkle of fragmented metal.

The bright pink aura that filled the atmosphere was sucked up into the glowing mass within my grandmother’s Staff and the Arbitrator fell to her knees as if to pick up the pieces of her broken blade.

Turning her back to the Arbitrator my grandmother finally spoke once more. Her voice was void of emotion and deep enough to sound more akin to an abrupt rumble.

“In the name of the banished, Helga Dragemyre, you will leave this instant, or your flesh will forever rot in our soil.”