the Protolith Excerpt - the Duel
Tfw you learn your mystery client is the most dangerous swordsman in the Empire...
Commander Noble entered the stadium. Unlike the other contenders, his suit had no crest; it was a plain, blazing white like untouched snow. Already, he had adorned his helmet. He kept one gloved hand on the hilt of his sword and the other by his side.
His opponent, Cromwell, made the first move. Noble parried and struck. Despite herself, Charlotte was on the edge of her seat. It was like watching someone trying to waltz with a dog.
Not only were each of Nobles’ moves carefully calculated, the way his body moved from one stance to the next was melodic. Unable to land a hit on him, Cromwell became frustrated. His attacks, though sloppy, contained much strength. In one deafening blow, the crested man held his sword above his head and swung it toward Noble’s face.
The crowd grew quiet.
He stumbled back. There was a massive dent in his helmet. Charlotte could not hear the commotion occurring at the ground level. One of the announcers walked toward the field, but Commander Noble waved him away. Instead, he pulled his helmet off and tossed it to the side.
“Fuck,” Charlotte breathed. Even this far away, Charlotte could faintly make out his features, wavy, black hair and dark eyes. Surely, she thought, she must be mistaken.
“What?” Edith whispered, impatiently.
“Edith, that’s him.” Charlotte’s eyes widened. Despite the distance, she was more sure by the second that this was the perplexing stranger who'd hired her for the last several weeks.
“What are you talking about?”
Charlotte markedly looked between her friend and the men dueling below until Edith made the connection. Below them, Byron shook his head – a move Charlotte found intriguingly primal – ran his fingers through his salt and pepper hair, and wiped the blood from his nose. His opponent tossed away his helmet as well. He was smiling viciously.
“Want to give them a show?” Cromwell shouted to Byron.
“Oh!" Edith exclaimed, approaching the same realization.
“I’d be surprised too if I didn’t know Commander Cromwell,” Marc replied.
“No, it’s –”
“You can’t just tell him,” Charlotte interrupted with a whisper.
“Oh, my hearing hasn't gone yet,” said Marc. Both turned to look at him. His eyes sparkled with amusement. “I’m honestly disappointed I didn’t figure this one out sooner.” He shook his head, laughing under his breath. “That sneaky bastard.”
“This is who Byron’s been talking about?” Rose asked.
But the duel began again before Marc could answer. Each man was reequipped with glimmering steel swords. Charlotte’s heart raced. The dance began again, only this time, Byron struck first. Charlotte had never seen him like this, his eyes sharply focused, his body taunt and fluid. The repartee was interrupted when Byron swung the pommel of his sword into his opponent’s side. Cromwell stumbled backward, holding his sword to the side, easily blocking the next blow. But as Cromwell swung to hit him, Byron feinted to the left and just as quickly tripped his opponent with his sword. In a final move, Byron placed his foot on the other man’s chest and placed the tip of his sword at his throat.
The stadium erupted. Charlotte fell back into her seat.
“What a lively show!” said Rose.
Flushed, Charlotte said, “I just don’t get the appeal.”
...but you pretend like you hated the it because you've been complaining about the duels all day and it would literally kill you to be vulnerable.
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If you guys have been wondering what I have been doing... I've been focusing on growing my YouTube channel. please go watch this video. I promise you'll enjoy it.
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you’re the last thing i wanna lose / you’re the thought i wake up to 💕
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radiator comics is publishing a print edition of my magical girl webcomic UM !
UM is a magical girl comic about Eugenée, a Black, nonbinary, aspiring birth-worker who finds themself mixed up in a millennia-old conflict between the powers that be and a faction of cosmic, shamanic midwives. UM Vol.1 is intended for readers 18+.
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“I am begging you to break my heart so I don’t have to do it myself.”
Charlotte, The Protolith
shamelessly promoting my wip 👀
read more here
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