No Such Thing as Good and Evil

The next day and a half went by with no real incidents, as Faylen spent the time practicing with her new weapons and skills, shopping with her new found money, and asking Lilah various questions. Shade spent the time doing his favorite past time, drinking. Finally, the night of the full moon and the auction came.

Shade walked up to Faylens door at the inn and knocked. “You’ve had almost two whole days to get ready for this, what’s taking so long?” he yelled in.

He could hear footsteps make their way to the door and unlock it. “I’m almost ready, just give me a minute!” Faylen yelled from the other side of the door, as the footsteps stomped back away.

Shade opened the door to find Faylen sat on the bed, putting on her socks and shoes, already wearing her leather armor with the bow around her shoulder. He slowly looked her over up and down, as he did, she looked up from her shoes and noticed him checking her out. She shook her head. “Could you not be a perverted predator for one day?” she asked as she went back to tying her shoes.

“What? I’m not doing anything, just looking.” He replied.

“Looking at women like their objects is doing something, and I’m not sure how much faith I put in the words of a rapist.” She said as she finished tying her shoes.

“Wow, harsh.”

“Yea, well, the truth hurts.” She said as she got up from the bed and went to walk over to him, only to notice he was still checking her out. “Seriously?” She scoffed crossing her arms.

His eyes slowly worked their way back up her body and met her gaze. “Where’s the staff?” He asked.

“I’m not using the staff tonight; I’m using the bow.” She replied.

“Why?” he asked suspiciously.

“It’s only been a day and a half; I haven’t had enough time to practice using the staff or…”

He cut her off. “And how much practice with a bow do you have? I don’t remember you using a bow in training.”

“At least it’s a light weapon unlike the staff, I’ve had no practice with using dark echos.”

He looked at her waist and sighed. “At least you have the dagger sheathed. Well then, come on slutty archer, you’ve got people to kill.” He said as he turned back around and started to head out the door.

She stood there for a moment rather shocked. Even with how shitty and dark his sense of humor was, or how little he cared about what he said or did, this was all rather much, even for him. She then sniffed a few times, frowned and ran up behind him, then grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. “Why do you smell like booze?” She snarled.

“Good question. I would say the most likely reason is because I’ve been drinking all day.”

“And why have you been drinking all day?”

“That’s a rather deep and philosophical question.” He replied with a burp while he stared at her cleavage that was now mere inches away from him.

“No, it’s not.” she snarled as she pushed him away. “I’m not sure how you manage it, but somehow you’re an even bigger piece of shit when drunk.”

“Thank you.” He said with a genuine smile.

“It wasn’t a compliment!” She yelled as she shook with anger. “Tonight’s a big night for me, one I’ve looked forward to since being freed. And you’re black out drunk? you couldn’t manage to control yourself for one day?”

“I’ll have you know there have been many days over the last 6 months I haven’t drank. Sometimes multiple days in a row even. And it’s a big night for you, but not for me. I’ve killed many slavers before; this is nothing new.” He said with a wave.

“UGH! You’re a perverted, rapist, selfish, alcoholic, and you wonder why nobody likes you!” She huffed as she stormed past him and down the stairs.

“Someone’s in a bad mood.” He whispered to himself as he stumbled after her.

May I suggest after we finish here tonight, you seek out a new partner to travel with? Lilah said.

She ignored both of them and mumbled to herself as she stomped out of the inn, down the streets and toward the hotel.

When the two arrived at the hotel, they quickly made their way past the carriages, past the fountains and past the same dwarven valet as they headed straight for the main lobby. “Where to now?” She asked as they walked in.

He looked to the back of the hotel and found Greg was stood by the same door he had been the previous time. “Guess Aerith was right.” He mumbled to himself as he made his way past the indoor fountain and to the front counter, where the same female elf as last time stood. “How’s it going, long time no see!” he said as he approached the counter and leaned onto it.

“What can I do for you sir, do you have a reservation?” She gulped nervously.

He got in even closer and whispered virtually right into her pointed ear. “Remember last time how you ran back into that their office and hid? You might want to do that again.”

The hostess took a step back from the counter, wide eyed. She looked past Shade to Faylen, who was clearly decked out for a fight, then over to Greg, then back to Shade. She nodded, turned and quickly walked back to the office, closing and locking the door behind her.

He smiled, turned to Faylen and pointed over towards Greg. She nodded and the two of them began to make their way over to him. As they approached, Shade opened his arms out wide. “Greg, my man, how have you been!”

Greg looked over and actually let out a slight smile. “Trying to buy your way in again? It’ll cost you the same amount, unless you got an invite this time.” He said tapping on his clipboard.

Shade stopped before he got to Greg, which caused Faylen to stop as well. He shook his head. “No invite and no money, we’re actually here for a different reason.”

“Oh, and what is that?” Greg asked as the smile left his face and was replaced with narrowed eyes.

“You see this girl here?” Shade said as he motioned toward Faylen. “She’s who I bought here last time. Let’s just say she’s less then enthused about how she was treated by those people down there. So, she’s come here to kill all of them.”

Faylen came up next to him, and looked angrily at him as she whispered. “What the hell? I thought you were going to buy your way in again.”

“Is that so?” Greg said as he looked at Faylen and slowly placed his hand on the hilt of his weapon strapped to his back, before he peered back to Shade. “And what of you?”

“Me?” Shade laughed as he turned and started walking away, back towards the front counter. “I’m just here to watch, a spectator. Don’t mind me.” Faylen turned for a moment to say something to him, but before she could, a large double sided battle axe came crashing down toward her. She launched herself backwards a few times, dodging the attack while creating a large amount of space between the two.

“A new weapon? I like it.” Shade said as he sat on the counter, crossed legged, watching the potential fight to the death like it was a spectator sport.

“So do I.” Greg said as he picked the axe out of the large gash in the carpet it had left.

“I’m going to kill you later.” Faylen snarled as she looked over at Shade.

“Not if he kills you first.” He replied.

She scoffed and pulled the bow off from around her shoulders. Then an arrow of light appeared on the string, she pulled it back and released. Greg readied himself to deflect it, but watched confused as the arrow soared and missed him by a good 5 feet to his left, as it hit and dissipated into the wall, where it created a small hole. Shade began to laugh hysterically. “What was that? I knew you couldn’t use a bow.”

She sneered at him again, created another arrow of light, pulled it back, and released. This arrow missed by a good five feet again, but this time, to the right. Shade continued laughing. “Hey, don’t worry, if you combine those 2 shots into one, it might have hit him!”

She grunted frustrated. Would you like me help? Lilah asked.

No!

“Here, I’ll show you how to use projectiles!” Greg shouted as he lifted his axe over his head with both hands, then threw it end over end at Faylen. She easily dodged to her right and watched as it stuck into the ground a few feet behind her.

Watch out! Lilah screamed inside her head.

Faylen turned back around to see Greg charging her with his head down. She couldn’t dodge in time and put her arms out in front of her in an x to block. Greg barreled into her, his headbutt sending her flying across the room, back toward the front door. She barely missed the fountain in the center of the lobby and crashed into the wall. Cracks formed and bricks chipped and crashed down to the floor alongside her.

“Oh, come on!” Shade yelled annoyed. “How many times did Elmyra use that same move while sparring, and you fell for it again? Not only that, but you could have changed your gravity to lessen the force with which you hit the wall.”

“No comments from the peanut gallery please.” Greg said as he peered toward Shade.

“Agreed.” Faylen said as she scrapped herself off the ground, and dusted herself off.

Shade put his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, I’ll just be here watching quietly then.” What he was actually watching, and watching intently, was Greg. Greg slowly walked up to his axe, as he did, he rubbed and looked down confused at his own arm. The armor must only double direct damage someone does. That would be why he’s feeling his arm, and not his back from her crashing into the wall. He thought to himself.

Are you sure you don’t want my help? Lilah asked concerned.

“No!” Faylen responded, out loud this time, which caused both Shade and Greg to raise a confused eyebrow. She created 3 light arrows next to one another in the bow, pulled back, and released all 3 at once. One of the arrows actually flew toward Greg, but he swatted the arrow away with his axe, which caused the arrow to fly into one of the diamond chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. The chandelier crashed down to the ground, making a loud bang. Shade jumped down from the counter, walked over to it, looked to see if either of them were looking at him, then stuffed it into his magic bag before he returned to his seat on the counter.

Faylen clicked her tongue and readied another 3 arrows. She aimed them lower this time, at his knees. She pulled back, and released, sending the arrows flying. In some small miracle, all 3 whistled toward Greg. He though, jumped into the air, over the arrows with the grace a man his size shouldn’t have. He flipped head over tail in the air to create more power, then threw his axe down at her. She dodged to her right as the axe slammed into the floor again. She then jumped a few dozen feet away from where the axe had landed as she tried to maintain a safe distance between herself and Greg. As she jumped, she noticed Greg was falling out of the air, and was going to land perfectly back onto his axe. She quickly knocked 3 more arrows, and launched them at the axe.

In one perfect motion, Greg landed at the axe, grabbed it, barrel rolled over the arrows, then while he spun in the air, threw the axe sideways this time at her. Faylen easily ducked under it, turned and watched it stick into the wall behind her. She smiled as she turned back to Greg, but he was smiling as well.

“GET DOWN!!” Lilah screamed in her head.

Faylen turned to see the axe had come out of the wall and was now flying back toward her. She threw herself to the ground and watched the axe soar back over her head. But when she looked back to Greg, he had started to charge her. Again, in one fluid motion, he grabbed the axe out of midair, then in a lunge, he raised it high over his head.

She didn’t have time to dodge. She closed her eyes, put her arm in front of her head and grimaced as she braced for death. But it didn’t come. She felt nothing. She opened her eyes again and they went wide when she saw a golden hue of light had surrounded her, as Greg grunted while his axe struggled to break through.

“I…can’t…hold…on…much…longer.” Lilah said.

Faylen snapped back to the fight and stuck her arm out. A torrent of air came out and sent Greg flying back. He smashed into the large marble statue above the fountain. It held for a moment, but then shattered, as Greg and hundreds of stone pieces dropped into the fountain below.

Greg got up, and stepped out of the fountain, now dripping wet as smoke poured out of his snout. A fireball then formed in his hand. He slowly moved it around his body, dried himself off a bit, then without hesitation, threw it at her. She rolled out of the way as the fireball exploded on the carpet, leaving a large black burn mark. She shot back to her feet, knocked 3 more arrows and released them. She hadn’t noticed though that her hands were still shaking with nervousness from almost dying, and the arrows all missed the mark by a large margin.

Greg didn’t even watch the arrows this time, and instead fireball after fireball began to form around him. Eventually hundreds of fireballs engulfed him, and he roared as they all flew off in various directions. One of them even flew at Shade, who let it him in right in the chest. The fireball exploded on his shirt and left a large hole with burn marks all around it. “Fucking lying ass Warrior piece of shit shirt.” He mumbled. He looked around the hotel lobby expecting to see it engulfed in flame, to his surprise all of the fireballs had exploded, but not caught anything on fire. He then turned back to the fight to see Faylen had surrounded herself in a ball of holy water with none of the fireballs hitting her.

Greg sneered. “So, you aren’t just a one trick pony after all. Fine, then let me show you some of my tricks as well.” He turned back around to the fountain; his eyes began to radiate a bluish purple as he put his hands to the sky. The broken marble stones that made up the statue began to rumble, before levitating up and towards the stand, putting themselves back together. The eyes of the statue then began to glow bluish purple as well. The head of the statue slowly looked down into the fountain then jumped, creating a huge splash. It then stepped out of the fountain and stood next to Greg.

Shade stared at the 8-foot-tall white marble statue of a wolf. “A golem! Wow, I can see why they put you in charge of security for this event!”

Greg motioned for the golem to attack Faylen, while he himself ran off to his right. Faylen watched Greg out of the corner of her eyes for a moment, then stared down the Golem. It took a few cautionary steps towards her, then broke out into a full sprint. Faylen held out her hand, and a cannonball of ice, the size of a horse formed in front of her. She released it and it soared through the air and right into the wolf golem. Both exploded into a thousand pieces, creating a snow shower of white marble and ice.

She then peered back over to Greg, who had thrown another fire ball at her. She threw a wall of water in front of herself to block it, but when she dropped the wall, she saw his axe was flying right at her. She dropped to the ground and watched as the axe whizzed over her head. When she dropped to the ground, Greg began to charge at her, but she waited on the floor patiently. The axe then flew back over her head and into Gregs charging hands. She jumped back to her feet and went to ready another arrow, when Greg stopped his charge and began to smile manically.

“GET DOWN!” Lilah yelled.

Faylen turned around. She hadn’t noticed that when the axe flew back over her head, it was only half the axe. The battle axe had split in two down the center, creating two one handed axes. She tried to duck out of the way of the second axe, but was too slow. It cut into her forearm, but more importantly it careened into her bow, sending it tumbling across the floor as it landed right in front of Greg. Greg caught the second axe, then he looked down at her bow, and punted it high into the air, over the fountain.

He then looked back to Faylen as he began to slowly walk toward her, his two axes dragging on the ground, tearing up the velvet carpets. “Now what little girl? Have any more tricks up your sleeve?”

Faylen grimaced as she stood up and readied herself for hand-to-hand combat. She began to put her hand on the dagger sheathed to her waist, when a female voice rang through the lobby.

“Faylen, run!” Everybody turned and saw the bow, floating on its own giving off a bright golden hue.

“And there it is.” Shade said smiling.

A light arrow formed in the bow, and it shot out at Greg. But then another, and another. Hundreds of light arrows shot at him in rapid succession. Greg threw himself to the ground, and crawled behind the remains of the fountain for cover, while Faylen ran past the fountain and grabbed her floating bow and the arrows stopped.

Shade jumped down from his seat on the counter and began to clap his hands together. “All right then, lets wrap this up.”

Greg peeled himself off the floor and stood up from behind the fountain. He peered over at Shade. “I thought you were only going to be a spectator.”

“Yea, well, I saw what I wanted to see.” He replied. “So, let’s hurry this up now.”

“What you wanted to see?” Faylen asked.

Shade looked over to her. “Later.” He then put his hands on his hips and looked at her like a disappointed parent. “Faylen, what the hell have I been watching? I’m embarrassed, not just as a spectator but as your teacher and former owner as well. This fight should’ve lasted no more than 30 seconds, you should’ve been able to blow him away in an instant.”

She crossed her arms in defiance. “I was trying not to kill him. Not all of us are murderous maniacs like you.”

“That’s weird.” He replied sarcastically. “Here I was thinking you were here to go into that basement and murder dozens of people. And why don’t you want to kill him? You think he doesn’t know what’s going on down there? How much has Aerith infected you? You know what, fine, you don’t want to kill him, fine. The fight still should’ve lasted only 30 seconds.

She scoffed and began to sarcastically throw her hands around in the air. “Oh, please oh great black devil, please enlighten me on how I could’ve done better.”

Greg peered back to Shade wide eyed. “Black devil?”

“I will.” Shade replied. “Faylen, tell me, what are you?”

“What am I?” She asked. “Are you trying to set up some sort of shitty joke right now?”

“No.” he responded. “I’m being dead serious. Nothing could be funnier than that travesty of a fight attempt I witnessed.” He looked up to the 15-foot-tall ceiling. “Literally, what are you, what can you do?”

She grunted in frustration, and rainbow wings popped out of her back as she jumped into the air. “Rainbow?” Greg said as his wide eyes stared at Faylen now.

Faylen crossed her arms in defiance again while she floated at the ceiling. “It’s not like there a ton of room up here, it’s only slightly taller than a normal room.”

“Maybe.” Shade responded. “But adding another thing Greg has to account for when throwing and retrieving his axe, like say verticality, would make a huge difference. But that’s not even the worst of what you were doing. I could drone on all day about how you just tried shooting light arrow after light arrow at him even though you are clearly completely dog shit at it. I could drone on about how little creativity or ingenuity you showed in that fight, only using one real type of attack. But I won’t. You don’t want to kill him? Fine. Think about the tools you have, the weapons in your arsenal. Didn’t Aerith give you some of her teeth milk?”

“Teeth milk?” Greg asked.

“Yea, but how am I supposed to use it here?” Faylen countered.

“For god’s sake.” Shade facepalmed. “I knew you weren’t ready to go out and take on real fights. The dagger! Do I have to spell it out for you, the dagger, think of the dagger.”

Faylen growled as she realized what he wanted her to do, and what she hadn’t thought of. She unsheathed the dagger, then took a small vial of a purple liquid out of a compartment in her belt. She coated the blade of the dagger in it, then put the vial back. She then looked at Greg who looked right back at her. She threw the dagger down at him, and it flew past the fountain and a few feet past and to the left of him.

Greg looked back at the dagger and laughed. “I have no idea what you put on that knife, but it doesn’t matter if you can’t…” he stopped as he turned back around to see Faylen wasn’t there anymore. His head raced left and right as he searched for her, finally, he spun around, but was too late. Faylen had teleported to the dagger. She plunged it into his chest and he stumbled back, almost falling back into the fountain. He went down to one knee and put his hand to his head. “Poison?”

“Wow, you are quite strong.” Shade said as he walked over to the pair and put his hand on Greg's shoulder. “I’ve seen that stuff knock people out instantly. Don’t worry, it’s not deadly poison, you’re just going to sleep for a while.” Greg then began to wobble on his knee, before he keeled over to the ground and fell unconscious.

“You see how easy that should’ve been? You have more echos than almost everybody and stronger gear than almost anybody, and yet you’re here with a bow and arrow playing a game of miss the minotaur.” She clenched her fists in frustration. She wanted to answer, to say something back, but she knew he was right. She should have used the dagger, and the sleep poison to her advantage a lot more than she did. Shade then sat down on the crumbling edges of the fountain and crossed his legs. “Anyway, you have a long time to practice fighting techniques, now’s not the time for that. I said I would tell you what I wanted to see later, well, now its later. So, tell me Faylen, what, or should I say who, is that bow?”