Chapter 83: Unexpected encounter 1.5
Malenia stood before him, a majestic vision that seemed to defy logic itself. Her natural way of moving was an art form, each step a dance that resonated with the force of the wind. The sun illuminated her reddish hair, which shimmered like dancing flames, and her skin glowed with an almost ethereal radiance.
Aldril watched her, caught between admiration and fear. Those golden-pupiled eyes shone like two blazing suns, capable of intimidating even the bravest. In her presence, he felt insignificant, like a shadow barely able to grasp the essence of her magnificence.
Only someone with the power to bring down the divine had faced her, the first and last defeat the unbeatable demigoddess had suffered. Now, that woman who once held the title of the strongest had come to teach him. He wouldn't lie; he felt excited, exhilarated, torrents of emotions surged through his entire being, and who wouldn't feel the same? Only a fool wouldn't desire to learn from the strongest and wisest.
"Raise your stance," she said with a gentle tap of her hand. "Maintain the speed and fleeting power that will prevail with the thrust." Her towering figure made her seem like a mother teaching her small child how to wield a sword.
The lack of physical conditioning when using those lethal and elegant moves was nowhere to be found; his heightened stats had significantly increased his physical and mental condition.
"You're too clumsy with your footwork," Malenia added, her eyes fixed seriously on Aldril's stoic face. "Remember, you need to be fast. Don't hesitate in your movements, no matter how pathetic they may look, what matters is that they are deadly to your opponents."
He didn't speak; he didn't feel he had the right to at that moment. He had opted to follow all her recommendations to the letter. Aldril knew it—this was no time for distractions. A confrontation was approaching, and he had to be ready.
"Your concentration is admirable," Malenia nodded, satisfied. Her beautiful features were striking, with no sign of the rot's curse anywhere. "Now pay attention," she said as Aldril stopped shadowing with his sword, focusing entirely on Malenia's next move.
As if the concept of gravity didn't apply to her, Malenia floated a few meters into the air, her body curved into a dance-like position, one arm raised to her chest, her sword held beside her neck.
"Slash," "Slash," "Slash."
That deadly dance was displayed in all its glory, more beautiful, more powerful, more lethal. Everything indicated that the recovery of her limbs and the elimination of her curse had allowed her to showcase her true strength.
Those wind blades spread in a fleeting circle, and any innocent caught in that dance would be sliced into thin layers. The dance continued with another sweep of her body, her movements as graceful as a butterfly fluttering in the delicate wind, yet as dangerous as a hurricane wind, one that would destroy everything in its path.
"This dance was inherited from my master," she said, turning as she landed softly. The flowers around remained unmoved, as if those wind blades were nothing more than a gentle breeze stirring them.
"This dance has my personal touch," she continued, walking slowly towards Aldril. "Now, you will inherit it," she said. "It will be up to you whether you incorporate your own style into it."
Everything around them began to blur, a fervent sign that the dream was ending. Aware of this, Aldril bowed respectfully, taking calm steps toward her. Gently, he took her hand in his, and with a chivalrous gesture, he brought it to his lips, giving it a soft kiss.
"Thank you, my lady," he said respectfully. He wouldn't joke, she was the only person who had stirred such feelings of admiration and respect in him.
Malenia clearly accepted Aldril's gesture. After all, he would be her pupil, and she would be his master. "This won't be the last time we meet," she added, causing Aldril to look up in surprise, only to be mesmerized by her smile. "You are still too weak; there are many more things I need to teach you," she finished.
Her figure began to gradually fade, and Aldril stepped back, admiring her towering presence. This was undoubtedly the strongest master he had ever had, and he reflected that only now, with his newfound strength, was he worthy of being guided by someone like Malenia.
Her piercing golden eyes locked onto his, and with a fleeting voice filled with seriousness, she spoke the words that would mark him for the rest of his journey.
"The title of the Unbeatable, the one who has never been defeated, will fall upon you. Do not disappoint me."
-With Tauriel-
It was not the best moment for the elven beauty. No matter her grace, she couldn't escape the dream world that tormented her. What had started peacefully, like a natural dream—if such a thing existed for elves—soon took a darker turn. Like humans, they too possessed the gift of dreams, but oh! What a cruel surprise when those dreams could become premonitions.
Just like now, as she found herself in Lake-Town, the dreary city of worn wood and fog that obscured everything in its path. But this time, the town wasn't as she had seen it before—no, now it was engulfed in flames.
Charred bodies were piled everywhere, the once cold city now a burning hell. Fire devoured everything in its path, the oppressive heat crashing against her face. She could hear the screams of the few survivors begging for help.
"Boom!"
A deafening sound erupted near her, lifting clouds of ash that momentarily blurred her vision. The flames in the area of the impact extinguished, snuffed out by the force of the blast.
She watched in horror as a massive figure rose slowly from the destruction. Reflected in her pupils was the enormous form of a reptilian beast emerging from the chaos, its reddish, scaly skin smeared with ash and blood dripping from its body. The beast's wings, which should have carried it majestically through the air, were tattered and torn.
"You miserable wretch! I will burn you until nothing remains!"
She heard the beast roar. She recognized him from the paintings, this was none other than the abominable dragon, Smaug.
'But... who was he talking to?' she wondered.
"Try if you can, you pathetic lizard," she heard another voice in the distance. Tauriel turned in its direction, and there, atop the bell tower, was the man who made her heart race. Aldril stood with blood streaming down his head, a grin, one of madness? No, it wasn't that, a grin of pure exhilaration on his face.
"I hope you don't run like a coward this time, like you did with my mother," Aldril added.
Tauriel took a step back, stunned by the scene before her. It would forever be etched in her subconscious, the fearsome Smaug, his reptilian face contorted in palpable rage, towering over the town. The sheer pressure emanating from both combatants crushed her. She could barely breathe, feeling utterly insignificant. One thought crossed her mind as she witnessed the scene:
"I would only be in the way of this fight."
"I will kill you, you wretched inferior being!" she heard the dragon roar, hurling his enormous bulk toward Aldril. In response, Aldril leaped into the air, both swords gleaming under the starry night. A clash was imminent.
Yet, the next scene faded, the tormenting dream beginning to blur. Tauriel awoke with a start, cold sweat tracing the curves of her beautiful body, her heart racing.
"I must save the people of this town," she murmured. The dream had been a sign, "a prophetic dream" as her mother used to say, a gift possessed by only a few elves.
This was a message. She had to save as many lives as possible. She would need to speak to Aldril, inform Legolas, they would have to move the people of this town.
The town that would become Aldril's battlefield.
**
Nasty orcs! here you have the chapter, Webnovel is failing me, the chapter was supposed to be uploaded yesterday, but it didn't upload so I have to do everything manually haha.
"15 Chapters in p@treon.com/Mrnevercry"