Blunt Steel VS. Sharp Spells (Arclite&Eruraina)

[Arclite]

The sun cast down upon the kingdom of Salerno, the morning birds humming their songs and the people being stirred from their slumbers to start the day, life wasn't easy in this realm especially with corrupt Anarchy's littered throughout the lands. The sea lay to the South and East of the capital of Epsilon and the forest and lands lay to the North-West and North of it. It was a prosperous city though lately the king of this kingdom, had began acting strangely. The land was beautiful even though knights and brigades began massing to the Kings request. His knights were those whom led many of the charges, both skilled and able for battle. His most recent Knight though was born of Humble lineage, making many of the other Knights whom were of 'Noble Birth' on edge to have someone they considered a street rat among their ranks, especially one who hadn't been trained by -them-, for -them-. His name was Ethan Reignhart, a young knight to be considered though that wasn't what made him what he was to this date. No..it was the talent he had with a blade.

Ethan stirred in his bed, letting out a sigh, reluctant to get up. Though he did manage to get up, moving his dark red locks out of his, making it so he could see. With a rub of his eyes, the groaning young knight got up. He couldn't believe he had that same dream again, Where the soldiers and knights came for his town and how he fought them off, fighting his way to being surrounded. Ethan had been captured and taken into custody, thrown into a dungeon and hung up by a horrid looking large man whom seemed to hold a sadistic expression. Though he had only been there a day before being dragged off of the hook and brought before the king. His humble lineage shown though when he was forced down before the king, even fighting to kneel. He scoffed at the Knights whom pushed him down until he heard a deep voice speak out.
"You are the man of which my men speak of? -This- boy? Sir Dante..you surely jest." The king looked over to the older Knight as he stepped forward, Sir Dante shook his head.
"Nay sire..This is him." The kings eyes fell before the battered and dirty looking boy, staring at him for a moment. "I hold a desire to see his skill, if he is as..talented, as your words suggest..He could prove to be quite..useful."
Ethan growled at how they put him up for show, like he were some jester or painting. "I'm not one of yer knights!" He said in a fierce tone, though he was dragged away toward an arena. They weren't going to wait for anything apparently. Throwing him in an arena, The king sat down at his main chair. He normally came here for bloodshed, so why not a test? Within the arena, Three knights had stepped in wearing battle provisions, all were talented in the way of the blade or else they wouldn't be apart of the kings right hand.

Ethan's hazel eyes fell down on them, growling. The 'street rat' had no clue of what to do, if he killed them that was a capital offense and if he resisted the king would surely have him killed, same with sitting idle and allowing them to do whatever they wanted. When they charged at him, Ethan had no choice but to react. So the boy ran at them, running up the body of the first knight, grabbing his face and slamming him down in an instant, grabbing the blade he dropped, spinning it in his hands to get a quick feel for the weight. It wasn't as heavy as a broad sword, though it did have a certain clang to it. The other two ran at him before Ethan ducked down, slamming his blade into both of theirs in a blink before spinning and slamming his elbow into one, wrapping his spare arm around the knights neck, flipping him on top of the first knight. Ethan jumped back to stare at the first knight, a grin upon the boys lips.
"Last one eh?..Haha that be all?..I expected so much more!" Running forward, Ethan actually ran up the wall, side leaping into the knight, bringing his sword up in the jump only to meet the blade of the knight, knocking the knight back but held the clash. Ethan's grin borderlined one of sadistic behavior and confidence in himself, as if he knew the fate of the man he was fighting against. Ethan didn't keep the clash though, bringing the sword down the length of the knights actually causing sparks to fly off the blade, kicking the Knight away.
As the Knight staggered back, Ethan spun his sword in a fashion that shown his skill, doing it behind his back and bringing it to the front before tossing it up, catching the hilt with the sword face down now before charging the knight.
"Aye..time we ended this!" The boy moved quick enough to drop down on both knee's, sliding in a blink and cutting the knights legs, making him fall foward. Ethan flipped himself back up, grabbing his hair, bringing the sword at his throat, leaning down and whispering to him.
"Next time..I won't be easy on yah.." He kicked the knight down, wiping his mouth.

The King stared astonished that he managed to dispatch them so quickly and use a blade he wasn't use to like that. This was a common street rat? Far from.
From then on Ethan would be a Knight, humble born. All it took was impressing the king and falling in line whenever it was required of him. However, he's been having the dream of being a knight consistently since he became one. It felt as though he didn't belong, but didn't let that show to anyone else. After all his life before that was tending to his fathers blacksmiths shop and the farm he and his family lived on with a hay bed. Nothing like what they had offered him here.

Moving over to a closet that came with being in the barracks for Knights, he opened it up, pulling out a black shirt and his grey pants, pulling them on and pulling the double belt around them, buckling into it. He then pulled out his dark red armored shoulder pads, strapping them on, sighing. Being a knight was difficult, always had to be dressed and look proper. Once he was suited up, his boots on and all. He headed to the door, leaving. His sword was not the same from his dream, instead it was a slightly thinner blade but the craftsmanship looked immense, It held a black leather grip handle and the handguard on it had a dark looking steel skull with black wings moving out of it. The blade itself was a black itself as well.

From there he headed to the King whom no doubt would want him around as he normally would. He's been doing this for a few weeks and still felt odd being summoned at the brightest hour of the day in full battle provision.

[Eruraina]

Sir Gabriella Roseite was a minority among the king's court. A knighted woman. Lady knights were rare, but weren't entirely unheard of. In fact there were two others in the kingdom aside from her. Briella took after her mother in looks, and her father in spirit and drive. She had followed in her father's footsteps, working her way through page and squire to finally be knighted. And now she was one of King Breadon's best knights, a champion in her own right.

And she had watched the trial the King had put the man named Ethan through. Briella watched with a surprised admiration for the man. He was skilled with a sword but didn't depend solely on bronze but utilized leverage and force of momentum. But that didn't change her opinion that she didn't agree with have a street rat be knighted. It was against tradition and regulation. Knights were nobles, given pieces of land to watch over. Her own bit of land she watched over for the king had been handed down to her by her father when she became a knight. Or more so the king had handed down her father's land to her since her father had been long dead. But a street rat becoming a knight? Was he to get land and servants too? It would all go to his head and he would get cocky, Briella was sure.

But it didn't matter. The king had made his choice and knighted the man and none of the noble knights were happy about it. Aside from maybe Sir Dante who had found him and seen what he could do before bringing him infront of the king. Briella had confronted Dante about this, but he only gave one answer. "Once upon a time women were not allowed to be knights. But the rules changed and thus you were allowed to be knighted. Why can't the rules change again?" Briella had nothing to say to that.


As always, Briella rose with the sun from her room in the knight's barracks. The king had requested her presence early that day, which made Briella curious as to why. Usually it meant a mission or quest or new duty for her. Which was fine by her, she had sat idle for too long now. She pulled on dark green leggings, a blue sleeveless tunic that went to her knees, a laced vest over top of that, and an arm guard and gauntlet. The gauntlet had more sentimental value more than anything and that was why she wore it. A belt was strapped around her waist sporting a dagger, and across her back she attached her sword, a simple thing, really. It was a great sword, not quite the size of a claymore, but double edged and heavy. The pommel sported a triangle shaped ruby held in by silver metal, and there was another on the guard. She finished but pulling on her armored thigh high boots, attaching the buckles together nice and tight.

After dressing she left her rooms, walking through the stone halls towards the main castle and to the throne room. The guards at the doors recognized Briella immediately and let her in without questions. She walked down the long room to stand infront of the dias with the throne, bowing low infront of her king before standing.

"Ah, Sir Roseite, good to see you here early. We just have one more to wait for and I will begin and tell you why I wanted you here so early," Breadon spoke.

[Arclite]

As far as Ethan was concerned, he had no indication that he owned land, nor did he really want to, or servants for that matter. In truth he didn't even want this life. Could one blame him though? The life of a 'street rat' was a tedious and hard one, full of labor for nothing more than being able to survive. Unlike Knights whom were guaranteed a meal every day, many of those on the streets had to fight for their meals and the newly reformed Knight couldn't see himself telling someone else what to do and how to do it, simply for the purpose to serve and please him.
"I hold such doubts as to if they even are capable of dressing themselves." He said, his eyes dropping to the floor as he walked, Even the Knights barracks were adorned with fancy and rich decor. Something Ethan was far from use to, it was no wonder the boy felt like he didn't belong in such a place because he didn't. His farm and store were just that, made of wood and stone like many of the homes on the outskirts of the capital. Of course the Nobles had their own homes, politics always ruled in favor of wealth and easy living as it seemed which is another reason why Ethan felt odd being in the castle.

Entering the room where Breadon always seemed to be when he summoned his Knights, Ethan walked in to see a bowing woman, smirking at her. From the angle he was at he could easily see her ass.
"King Breadon, if you had summoned me for this..you did not disappoint." The 'Street Rat' said with a bit of a chuckle in his voice, doing a very faint bow. It was obvious by the look on his face that he loathed bowing before the King, that he felt the King deserved no respect nor loyalty, though what he offered Ethan was his family's well being.
The Crest on Ethan's blade was unique. Runic letters were down the black blade, this was no military issue nor a blade that had been seen before, it must've been one of his own creations. Though his gaze did flick back to the woman Knight beside him. Her hair as well as her clothing gave it away, he heard of her. The Champion that served the king well and was considered to be one of the best, both in the field and politically. All the more reason for the man to scoff at her, like she had any idea what it was like to suffer. That is what Ethan believed anyway, if you were to deliver pain effectively, one must know it. Though he'd never go so deep to say it outloud.

There were no other actual Knights in the room, just Militia whom all seemed ready. All but Sir Dante anyway, he seemed to always be near the Kings side whenever he required him. Though a faint chuckle could be heard coming from him when Ethan said that about Gabriella, looking at him.
"Mind what you say lad, That woman nay takes lightly of what others say of her." He said, eyeing Ethan playfully. Ethan just shrugged, stretching. "Oh well..ehh, I can't say I really care." He said, looking at him. He too knew of Dante, he was an elder Knight, one whom was seasoned in battle and more so strong at heart. You could easily trust him at first glance which could be a good or a bad thing. Though Ethan in a way resented for bringing him in as he did. The soldiers should've either died or killed him in turn, why bring him in like a criminal when he wasn't. Though..Alright, He did steal from time to time, but that wasn't for anything but to eat.

"So, King..What have you summoned us for? It can't be to gaze upon Sir Roseite..though I wouldn't mind such a thing.." The 'Street Rat' exclaimed, looking over at her with a wink. "So..You be the one eh? The one they all say has control over creatures that help you in conflicts?..Sounds hot..though honestly I prefer a blade by my side." Ethan said, his tone didn't come off as arrogant though he couldn't help the way it sounded. That and it was improper to speak freely in front of the king while you are being summoned, though it appeared Ethan didn't care at all whether or not it was good or bad, in fact he didn't seem to have any regard for the King at all. Of course when one is born of humble birth in a barn, your manners as well as regulations as a 'supposed noble', The way you react and act in situations like this tended to be varied, and it seemed Sir Dante happened to get a kick out of it.

[Eruraina]

Briella stood up as Ethan came forward towards the throne. She didn't give him even a sideway glance, not appreciating his comment as he came up. After what Dante had told her, she had managed to come to some terms of a commoner being a knight, but that had nothing to do with how cold she now acted towards him. Briella did not acknowledge his presence in anyway, instead finding her right hand more interesting. It had a clean bandage wrapped around the palm, something that was always present. It wasn't there because of a wound or anything, but more so to cover a particular blemish, and also be easy to remove should the need arise. She had several such 'blemishes', more like tattoos. Seven to be exact, but the other six were in easier to hide places. And right now she was adjusting the bandage around the one on her palm, choosing to use it as an excuse to not reply or react to Ethan's crude comment.

Briella did not appreciate his continual disrespect. First his comment about her, then his only slight bow to the king. And it all just amuse Dante, she could tell from the light chuckle that escaped him. Briella glared up at Dante, who just ignored it. He knew how she could be, but of course, the two had known each other for a long time. (Here I will change Dante's background a bit so he can still be a seasoned knight as you had him be. I think it works better that way for the rp) He had been a squire to Briella's father before passing away. In fact it was Dante who helped Briella convince the king to allow another female knight. So it wasn't beyond Dante to bring in a commoner.

But Dante was right, Briella's fists were clenched and she was doing all she could to not punch Ethan square on the jaw. And she held back because they were in the presence of the king.

Oh, but when he mentioned being summoned just to gaze at her, she snapped. He barely managed to get to the end of his sentence 'blade by my side' when her fist met his face. Briella wasn't big, being average height, but she was pure muscle. She worked hard, trained hard, to make sure she stayed to be at least an even match for a man in a fight. Her thought process was that she was in a man's world, she should have a man's strength.

"Fool! Your banter had better stop. We are in the presence of the king, and your disrespectful words will be the end of you in the court. I suggest you learn some manners or crawl back to whatever hole you came from or I swear I will-"

"Roseite, that's enough!" the King bellowed, silencing her. Briella turned away from him, bowing her head to the king.

"Forgive me," she told the man that now stood infront of his throne. Through it all he had just sat there with an emotionless face, watching and waiting. Now his eyes pierced into the two knights standing infront of him.

"Get yourselves in line and listen up! I have a mission for you two, and it will require your full cooperation," here the king sat back down. "In the North, there have been scattered reports of the dead rising and attacking innocent people. At first it was thought to be child's tales and tricks. But the reports have become more and more frequent, all centering in one area. The reports come from between the northern tip of the Lore Mountains and Rivertown. You two, accompanied by this group of militia put together for you, will go and investigate and if possible end whatever it is creating the disruption. Am I understood?"

Briella paused a moment, it was obvious she was thinking it over, but after a moment, she nodded. Of course she understood and would take the mission. If she was anything, she was the king's loyal dog.

[Arclite]

Ethan felt the hit and only stumbled back a step, feeling his lip start bleeding. His eyes turned dark, moving his thumb over his lip, licking the blood off his digit.
"Haha this kitten has claws..Let me make this clear -harlot-...I respect those whom deserve such a thing, that and I am willing to bet you'd rather have me crawl somewhere else." Ethan said, winking at her before continuing. "..First one was free, touch me again and they shant find your body, for it will be in far too many pieces.." His tone was dark and threatening, it seemed he didn't care whom was in the room, respect meant little to him unless you earned it and very few had. He already enjoyed Dante's company but the king and this woman? Hah he hadn't even known them until just recently! Though his eyes held that same fire and interest that it had since he walked in. Truthfully nothing enticed him more than a woman who could fight back, he too agreed it being a mans world made things incredibly boring. Which is probably why he fought back against the knights. All he wants is a thrill in this life, and if he didn't find it in this one, he was damn sure to find it in the next.

Ethan didn't bow when the king raised his voice, he didn't care enough to. The way he thought he figured neither the king nor any other knight deserved a bow. Political power meant nothing of who you are, only what you did meant something. Which would more than likely get him into trouble.
Feeling the warmth of his blood with his tongue only made him chuckle, nodding to the mission that was brought up. "Aye, Though I lack the knowledge of how to -end- something that is already fallen..I will become creative with the task." said Ethan with a hint of humor in his voice, he could only imagine what it was like for them. Though he already knew what he would have to do to silence any undead for good, to keep them from groaning from their eternal slumber.
Instead of another word, he turned to look over at his new partner, smirking.
"So 'Gabbie', Shall we? Or are ya gonna try and hit me again.." Ethan said in a playful tone, actually kind've wanting her to. He didn't believe in sexism and from the stories he's heard of her, fighting would be an amazing experience. That and he was interested in cutting off some of that leather to see what was underneath.

Without a word from her though, he turned to leave and the Militia didn't follow. No, instead they too felt the same as most of the Knights. They felt that a commoner didn't belong to the table or at the Kings side. So they waited for Briella and they would follow in her stead instead of his. Heading outside, Ethan wiped his lip again, smirking before getting on his Horse that they provided him. Sadly he would have preferred his own, but he couldn't take a horse from his fathers stable. They had so few and were lucky to have them. Life in the lower class was terrible, if you were lucky enough to survive birth from disease, You were bred to work.
Waiting for Briella to follow, he looked at her with amusement. She acted as if she had something to prove which in itself was hilarious to him. Ethan never let something someone said influence him, only impulse and desire led his actions, fighting the Knights and actually following the king all were impulse.

"Well Gabbie, Do ya have a plan for when we encounter the undead?" He asked, riding next to her. The 'Street Rats' tone didn't really imply he was going to listen and that he only wanted to know what she had in mind.

[Eruraina]

Briella ignored all of what Ethan said to her. She had no reason to respond, in fact she figured a response would only encourage him to continue. In fact, it seemed he was more worried about bantering on and disrespecting everyone in the room and if anything making a fool of himself than he was on the mission. Briella knew that if she was told to get involved, then it was something important and rather dangerous, but then again how was this commoner to know that? Of course, now she questioned the importance of the mission if the king assigned this man to it as well as he continued on. She nearly bit her tongue in attempt to keep from throwing retorts back at him in a verbal fight. Or even to punch him again since punching him the first time have been oh so satisfying.

She wanted to gauge his eyes out for calling her a harlot, to rip out his spine for insinuating something. And then to threaten her? She wanted to scoff at him. Sure he could swing a sword, but he wouldn't be able to get close enough with it to do anything before he was dead or permanently injured. But she kept these back, instead watching the king for any reaction. She almost hoped he would get mad at the man's disrespect and order his death. He had ordered a noble's beheading once for lesser acts, yet this commoner was still alive? But the king did not give the reaction Briella was hoping for. Instead his expression remained emotionless, though she sword he had a sparkle of amusement in his eyes. That only made things worst in Briella's mind. She was a champion of knights, she should not have to put up with the likes of Ethan.

Ethan, who apparently saw the mission as a game. She sighed, then told the king. "I will report back when I have something to report," she told him, and when Ethan turned to her to go or to punch him, she finally looked at him again. Glaring at him as he glared at her. "No, I won't punch you, you would enjoy it too much," she said to him, turning away and heading back towards the door about the same time as Ethan. Only she stopped when he kept walking. She waited till he was out the door before turning back to the king.

"I hope you know what you're doing, you'r majesty. Because if he continues like that, I hold no promise of him coming back," Briella told the king, getting an amused smirk from Dante. The king simply gave a hand signal for her to leave. Briella nodded, saluted, and walked out, the armed forces following at her heels. Outside in the courtyard, it was only midmorning. But servants, having already been commanded by the king, had already gotten the horses ready for the knights and the militia accompanying them. One servant came up to Briella, holding a tray. There was a bit of dried fruit, jerky, and a mug. As she waited for their group to mount she ate the food and quickly swallowed down the drink, thanking the servant before mounting her own horse.

Getting in formation, they started off riding out of the city. And to Briella's annoyance, Ethan came to ride right up next to her with that annoying look of his. And it grinded on her nerves how he kept calling her Gabbie. But at least the question was a bit more about the mission, though in a voice that held no seriousness to it. But she would entertain him and answer, maybe just this once. Maybe he would enjoy her answer.
"Simple. Burn them. Ashes cannot come back to life unless it is a phoenix," Briella said simply.

[Arclite]

Ethan hadn't heard what 'Gabbie' said to the king, though then again even if he did, he'd most likely challenge her. Really she nor the King knew of all he could do with a blade. Carrying a blade you're unfamiliar with could mean death in a conflict and despite everything he had shown them, he could do more with a sword he was meant for, than with one that was foreign to him. Though once outside and preparing his horse for travel, he looked over at his female partner just laughing to himself.
"Yer right ya know, Sir Gabbie. I'd -love- ya to hit me if ya want to." He said, getting onto his horse like everyone else. For one who could use momentum as he could, it seemed he did things normally.
"Though, Can't say ya would like the effect, I did give ya a fair heed, aye?" With that, he rode off with her.

When she said burn them, this made Ethan shuffle on his saddle before flipping himself so his back was toward the front of the horse, facing her with that same smirk he always seem to wear, looking at her.
"Burn them? You gonna use those spells of yours or are we doin' the deed the normal way?" He asked, looking at her as if him flipping on a horse was normal.
"Care to take a wager with me, Sir Gabbie?" The 'Street Rat' asked, moving his eyes over her features before continuing. "I wage, If I manage to end more of these foul wretches than you, than you gotta sit and have a drink with me when we are to return." He said, grinning. Ethan clearly didn't care of the consequences of anything nor did he seem to mind the fact this Knight hated him. As if he were hunting something to end his own boredom.
"Have you hunted a Phoenix before, Sir Gabbie?" He asked, genuinely curious. His hunting record would pale in comparison to hers. After all he wasn't a killer like most of the knights, He hadn't gone to search for evil-doers and instead mostly worked on a blade or two for his father, or worked on the farm. One would question how he managed to become so skilled with a sword to begin with if they knew how little he fought others.

"Well, even if that event occurred, I will not lose this specific wager." The smirk on his face was somewhat maddening, this man came off so self assured as if he knew the outcome of everything he'd partake in. He wasn't without confidence.
Their ride had taken them most of the day until they had began to close the distance of the corrupt town, once they drew within a few miles the air turned foul and difficult to breath, the skies were darkened in this section of the land and the grass a shade of grey instead of it's usual flush green.
Ethan was back facing the proper way on his horse, staring in the distance at shambling creatures, leaning forward with his eyes narrowed.
"Cleanse who we can, find the one responsible and deal with him. Haha think the king would appreciate a trophy?" He said shrugging. "Who do I jest..I hold no concern for that!" With that, he pushed his horse forward, sending the steed into a furious charge toward the town, taking out his sword in one swift motion, spinning the blade in his hand before the horse trampled into the street of town. The undead shambled at the sound of the horse and surprisingly the roads were covered in them, making the Horse push through them until Ethan leaped off the horse, cutting one of the undead in half in his wake before making his landing.
Standing up right, The undead immediately came at him, only making Ethan turn and press his back into the first oncoming one, using his foot he leaped forward, knocking the body down as he began slashing into the crowd. Using the dull edge of his blade to knock down two, bringing up his sword, cutting their heads off, only to catch them in mid air and leap off them, lunging forward into the next, slamming the tip of his blade into the skull of another. With that, he rolled off the one he stabbed, cutting his blade out of the head of this undead, shambling to his knee's before rushing at the next, slashing him in the mid section. The undead seemed far too slow to catch up to the momentum use of the 'Street Rat'
"4!" "5!" "6!" "10! 12!" Ethan counted as he smirked, slamming into two of the undead hard enough to knock them over, kicking the heads clean off of their bodies.

As he continued to carve through the undead, he couldn't tell or see where 'Gabbie' was, but decided to continue his counting and cutting. His blade was beginning to shake from the continued slashing and the handle became bare against his hand until the road was clear enough for him to look around, the Necromancer whom summoned them didn't seem to show his face, making Ethan growl. He hated hunting for people who just hid whenever something came up. Always made things so much more difficult. Spinning his blade to get some of the blood off, he leaned down, wiping his sword to clean off the coagulated blood and decaying flesh.
"Wonder where 'Sir' serious went..oh dear, I hope she didn't find some flower and decide to parade around it." He said, moving toward his horse, patting it.

[Eruraina]

Briella found herself forcing herself to just look ahead. Not looking at Ethan and his annoying smirk made her anger lessen. Just not looking at him did part of the trick, though from the corner of her eye she was aware that he had turned in his saddle. That motion right there didn't bother her, in fact she used to do it all the time when she was younger. And the idea came to her as to why this man acted the way he did. He had yet to mature. His actions, his words, were all very immature, like a spoiled child that had never been disciplined. She imagined him with some baby fat and in a dipper, though she couldn't help but find her mental image of him shirtless included a well muscled and tanned chest. Though the mental image only made Briella's respect level for the man sink lower than it already was. She realized the only redeeming quality he had was the bit of swordsmanship she had witnessed in the ring before he had been knighted.

"Traditional fire, magical fire, they'll both get the job done well enough. Though maybe a blade severing the head from the body will do the job. Just pray these undead don't move after getting their head chopped off," she said, though the way she said 'these undead' almost made it sound like she had faced such forces before. But of course she didn't go further into detail on it.

The lady knight listened to Ethan's proposal, and an idea came to her.
"I'll wager, only if you stop calling me Gabbie. If you must shorten my name, use Briella. If you win, I will sit and have a drink with you. If I win... you have to give Dante a nice slug on the face for me. But something tells me you would be willing to do that anyway," Briella said.

Then he asked about hunting a phoenix, and she shook her head. "No, I have not hunted one. They are too rare to be hunted. But I have seen one before. They are very beautiful creatures."

"We'll have to see," Briella replied at Ethan's insistance that he would win this wager. She couldn't help but feel a bit competitive all of a sudden. She couldn't let this sorry excuse for a knight show her up, she who was the king's champion!

Briella noticed the change in scenery, though it was gradual. The color seemed to suck itself from the land as if it was all dying. A foul smell filled the air, and the redhead found herself more on edge and alert. It had nothing to do with her travel companion, and more to do with the fact that they were closing in on their destination. The men behind them and the horses felt the change, too. The horses became restless, tossing their heads impatiently and champing at their bits.

Then the town came in sight as they went over a hill and looked down upon it. The streets were crowded with ambling figure, and a horrible moaning reaching their ears. The city was a gruesome sight to behold, with many of the buildings collapsing in on themselves and just as many dead bodies littering the ground as walked around.

Briella had halted her horse, taking in the scene, looking at streets and layout, as well as positions and where the undead were more populated. She looked at things with a more strategic eye. While, she noticed, Ethan just spurred his horse and engaged the enemy. Technically the undead wasn't their true enemy, but simply a wall in their way. But the thing was, they seemed to be in an unlimited number. As she watched Ethan slaughter enemies impressively, more figures shambled towards the town from the countryside all around.

"I suppose we should go help him," Briella called to her men, charging forward, pulling out her curved knives that were her primary weapon aside from the sword on her back and her magic. As they rode closer, she chanted under her breath. Glowing runes appeared around her, and a flaming figure came to form, flying next to her. The flames blasted into the wall of undead. Briella jumped off into the crowd, her attacks more like a dance with spins and flips. Dropping and kicking a leg out to trip the enemy only to punch down with the knife, crushing a head. Kicking back and enemy, and whistling. The fire elemental separated into two and encompassed her weapons but did not burn her. She attacked with flaming weapons. Turns out the undead were highly flammable, and if she caught one on fire, it would in turn catch another on fire until they fell down, ligaments scorched beyond use.

After taking out several more undead, the flames flickered and faded, the summoning time ending. Briella didn't call another summon, because there was no need. With a few more felled by her hand, not entirely easy, but possible, the street was cleared. She had ended up a block over from Ethan, and the rest of the troops on yet another street.

Of course, Briella had not kept count, and many bodies ended up reduced to ashes. But with the street cleared, she got a chance to glance around. She found that her horse had not made it through the fray. It had been gained up on by many of the vile beasts and devoured, though luckily Briella had managed to slay those that killed the horse.

The knight shook her head, cleaning her blades on her cloak before sheathing them.

[Arclite]

Ethan just chuckled at demand, he only started calling her Gabbie to ignite a flame of annoyance within her, so with a shrug and a nod, he agreed. Though 'street rat' had to shake his head when she assumed she'd strike Dante. That wasn't at all how he was, even if he acted arrogant.
"I hold nothing but great respect for that man, he may have led the charge but when he brought me here..He did not see me as filth, or let me be tossed aside in some dungeon the good 'king' makes. I would sooner strike the king haha." And he would, he had no respect for the current king nor could he. He wasn't just in the streets, but the slums as well. How some Knights came and did what they pleased and then left. How they butchered any whom couldn't pay the taxes of the land which were absurdly high, especially for the way the people in the slums lived. It seemed the brat knight did know some loyalty, even if it was a simple ounce of respect.
Ethan only nodded to her when she mentioned the phoenix. He hadn't fought many mythical beasts though had some experience under his belt, but of course would never tell her that. After all she'd just scoff, or so he thought.

"Aye, we shall! Hope you drink well lass!"
After everyone had engaged the undead, Ethan was already leaving a trail of corpses behind him, Even if they moved after being decapitated, there were so few parts of them able to move it hardly didn't matter. Once he began getting surrounded, the new Knight only smirked, the smell was foul and the threat was high but that seemed to only drive him further. Once he was backed up against one of the few remaining buildings, Ethan rested his left foot on the wall, leaning forward. The groaning began to fill his ears and just as they were about to lunge at him, he quickly turned, running up the wall with three steps, immediately turning back around, cutting into the one that lunged at him, cutting it's face in half. But he didn't stop there, as soon as his knee touched the ground, he ran forward, running up a zombie's falling body from the force of the last attack, leaping over them. His eyes flashed as he grinned. "It is time I ended this!" With that, he brought his sword up, slashing downward as a wave of power blasted through his path, ridding it of the undead before he landed, spinning his blade before taking out a cloth to wipe it. As he walked away, the corpses were torn to shreds and the power of his attack could be heard throughout the city. His horse panted and ran over to him, unscathed.

Leaning on his mount, he just let out a sigh, rubbing his eyes. "What say you, think I won?" Ethan asked with a bit of a cocky tone as always, looking back at the undead he left. There were quite a few of them butchered and beaten.
"I had lost count around fifty-two.." The 'street rat' said with a smirk, Moving over to one of his dismembered undead, stabbing a dagger into it to keep it still, staring. There were no bite marks, nothing to show sign of infection. Could the Necromancer have done all of this with just his own power? There were tales of these horrid creatures spreading their own infection but these were not like that. Instead there were wounds made by mortal weapon.
"A spear here..Long sword there, and a meat cleaver." Getting up, he just growled, turning to move toward the center of the city, whistling for the Horse to follow but only slowly. If trouble began to stir he would force the steed away and deal with it accordingly. His cocky grin was still there but a look in his eyes faltered the boyish attitude he had, as if he had a fire within him that was burning bright.

As he walked, he counted off the numbers he ended. It was true he lost count but he wanted to win this wager with a fair streak. The Kings champion was said to be an impressive fighter, and little was known of Ethan himself but if he could out-do her? That would make this all worth it. Once he had finished counting, he ended around 98 undead, if not a bit more with that blast that most likely got the attention of every Undead and knight within the vicinity. Once he turned toward the towns square, there was a huge horde of the undead all encircled around the main building, making the 'street rat' chuckle more. If their target was anywhere, he was within there.
He turned the horse around, patting his backside to get him moving in the other direction, making the quick clacking noises of his shoed feet draw the attention of the horde. Ethan withdrew his blade, moving it up to his eyes, smirking at them.
"None of you hold any knowledge of whom you deal with.." With that said, he ran forward, laughing as he did before slashing at the air, a wave of power shot forward in a horizontal line, but once it hit the undead, blasts of wind flew up their frames before their bodies began to break and fall apart. This attack was powerful and it seemed to thin the numbers before he charged in, flipping his sword around so the blade was facing down.

[Eruraina]

Gabriella had to scoff when Ethan said he had nothing but complete respect for Dante, and then wasn't sure whether to laugh or be offended by Ethan saying he would rather strike the king. The part of Gabriella that was blind loyalty wanted to punch Ethan for saying such a thing. But the human in Briella wanted to punch the king herself for some of how he acted, looking down on all. In a way, Briella was like a child trying to get approval. The king saw everyone below him, even Dante and Briella, two of his best knights. But then again, he was the king. So in the end, she did not say anything to Ethan on the matter.

Nothing else could be said as they launched into battle, destroying all things moving as best as possible. Once the street had been cleared, Briella cried for her troops to regroup to her. The yelling not only brought the troops, but the undead. Briella managed to form the men into a defensive line and plow through the moving corpses like they were nothing. Like Ethan, a block over, they made their way to the center of town to find the moaning crowd more dense around the city hall.

A cry from behind them alerted Briella that more undead had followed them, but she was sure they cleared them all out. The lady knight had to take a guess that the undead would keep coming as long as the necromancer was alive, in which case he, or she, had to be stopped. Getting through the crowd of bodies would be interesting, and Briella didn't want to go all out, because a necromancer was not easy to kill and she would need her strength for it. But instead of taking them one at a time with a sword, she could dare to cast another spell.

With the guards watching her back, and seeing that the main hoard was distracted by the whirlwind that was Ethan, Briella took the moment to paust and chant words. A circle of runes appeared infront of her, glowing like fire. In the center of the circle, a portal appeared, and from the portal emerged a massive blood red bull with flaming eyes and smoke billowing from it's nostrils. It stood twice as tall as a horse, and three times as wide. With a great cry, it charged head long into the crowd of undead, in a straight line, trampling anything in it's path.

Briella followed close behind, making sure all the undead that were trampled were for certain dead. The bull had cleared a path straight to the main building, where it crashed into the wall, making a hole, and disappeared in a billow of smoke. Briella ran to the hole, and stood there for a while, picking off undead as they came near her, drawn by the crashing noise. The soldiers had tried to follow Briella, but the path that had been made by the bull was quickly covered by undead. So they backed off, regrouped, and took on a defensive formation, wedging into the crowd to have the start of an escape route for Briella should she need one. The way they worked, it was like they had done this before.

Gabriella dared a glance toward Ethan, and quickly became grudgingly impressed. He was holding himself very well amidst the crowd. She should utilize him, Briella thought. The king had given her an asset, so she aught to use it.
"Kill the head, the rest will fall," she called to him, before stepping inside the town hall. She hoped he would get the hint. Once the necromancer was killed, the rest of the undead would fall easily, so whoever killed the necromancer killed the remaining undead, and thus would win the bet.