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Treason	By : Dagian Category: +G through L > Lineage 2 Views: 832 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I own nothing, NCSoft regrettably does, I make no profit off of this story that is based on Lineage2.

Chapter List
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Caellia stood stiffly in the center of Nathavin’s private archery range while Nathavin and Shi’nryne stood on the far side conferring quietly with one another. Until this morning she had not set foot in the range since the day Einao had been executed, and the memory of that event still haunted her. Shaking herself, she pushed the memory aside and focused her attention back on the two males standing thirty paces ahead of her.

            She sighed in faint annoyance as she contemplated the new bow that Shi’nryne had handed her for training. It was unlike any other bow she’d ever used. And she hated it. Made from the bones, horns, and skin of a dragon, the bow was an ugly dull red color. Massively oversized and cumbersome, it was hard for her to fire and she longed for the bow that Ariel had gifted her with.

            Movement from the males drew her attention back to them. Curiously she watched as Nathavin walked back to her, wondering what they had discussed. As he made his way to her, her eyes fell on his new bow. It was identical to hers in every way, but he carried it effortlessly and seemed to have no trouble using it.

            Nathavin came to a stop in front of Caellia and silently took in her exhausted stance. She was obviously having difficulty mastering the new bow and disliked it intensely. Reaching into the small pouch at his hip, he withdrew a small vial of the elixir Shi’nryne had given him along with the bow. “Drink this; it will replenish some of your strength.”

            Taking the vial, Caellia looked at its contents skeptically. Removing the cork at the top, she sniffed lightly at the blue colored potion inside. Her eyes immediately began to water at the repulsive smell and she quickly replaced the cork and held the vial back out to Nathavin. “Where’d you get this?” She asked around a cough of disgust.

            “Shi’nryne gave it to me to give to you should you need it.” Nathavin replied as he pushed the vial back toward her, refusing to take it back.

            “Give it back to him. I’m not drinking that.” Caellia stated resolutely.

            Nathavin watched her amusedly, noticing the way her lips and nose curled with distaste as she looked at the vial. “It will help you Caellia.”

            “I don’t care. It reeks.” She cast him a mutinous look. “Besides, I’ve trained before without using something like this. Why should I start to use this now?”

            “While it will not make the bow easier to handle, it will allow you to keep training, and fighting, for longer periods of time.”

            “Then let me use another bow.” Caellia pleaded. Her gaze fell to the bow she held, “I don’t like this one.”

            “Like it or not, you must get used to it.” Nathavin replied evenly. He nodded to the elixir. “And you must get used to that. It is not meant to taste good, it is meant to help.”

            “Nathavin,” Shi’nryne called as he approached them carrying a different bow, “let her fight me alone using this.” Turning his attention to Caellia he asked her, “This is the bow you would prefer to use correct?”

            Caellia nodded and gratefully reached out to take the bow from him while handing the offensive bow and elixir out for Nathavin to take. She looked at Shi’nryne curiously when he didn’t release the weapon to her right away.

            “This bow is inadequate for battle, and I will show you why.” He then turned and walked to the opposite side of the range. “Nathavin, take her to the far wall. I will come to her from the full length of the range.”

            Nathavin nodded and led Caellia from the center of the range to the northern wall. He looked at her when she was in position. “The sun is directly in his eyes, you have the advantage of both that and the fact that he has to run the range’s entire length.”

            Caellia focused on her target, confident that she would win the duel.

            “Caellia, do not underestimate him.” Nathavin warned her, but he already knew that she was not going to defeat Shi’nryne. Stepping away from her, he signaled to Shi’nryne that she was ready and the duel began.

            Caellia gathered her strength and pulled the bowstring back, harnessing her spirit energy and channeling it through the bow. Releasing the string with a snap, she watched the bolt of spirit energy race toward her target and slam into him, stopping him from completing one of his ritual dances of death. Seeing him shake his head slightly, she knew he was slightly dazed and disoriented from the shock of the blow and moved in to capitalize on his moment of weakness. Pulling two arrows from her quiver, she again harnessed her spirit energy and channeled it through the bow and released first one arrow and then the other in rapid succession.

            Shi’nryne saw the golden streamers of energy swirling around her and braced for the impending impacts. The first one grazed his side, causing him to wince slightly while the second one hit him squarely in the chest. Grunting in mild surprise at the force, he charged forward.

            Standing to the side, Nathavin watched as Shi’nryne inevitably closed the distance between himself and Caellia. He forced himself to watch as Shi’nryne skillfully ducked under the bow and thrust both swords toward Caellia’s unprotected belly, scoring direct, though shallow, hits.

            Caellia hissed in pain as the blades bit into her. Using the bow as leverage, she pushed the tips of the golden brown horns against Shi’nryne’s neck and pushed him away from her. She succeeded in pushing him back, but not enough for her bring the bow up for a clean shot.

            Shi’nryne flicked the thin dark legions blade upward and nicked her chin with the tip of it, drawing her eyes to that blade before slamming the other into the bow in her hand. The heavy tallum blade skimmed along the bows edge, creating a sickening sound.

            Unbalanced by the heavy sword, the bow tipped dangerously in Caellia’s hand. Her hand and wrist, still caught in the guard that covered the grip, bent unnaturally and with a cry of pain Caellia dropped the weapon to prevent her wrist from breaking.

            Feeling her drop the bow, Shi’nryne finished the duel by crossing both blades at her throat.

            Silence filled the air, broken only by Caellia’s labored breathing.

            Slowly, Shi’nryne withdrew the swords from against her neck, allowing the blades scrape as they passed each other.

            Caellia winced at the ominous ring the blades created as they passed each other.

            Shi’nryne turned and walked away silently. He’d made his point, now it was up to Nathavin to both comfort and inspire her to change bows.

            Caellia glared at Shi’nryne’s back. What had gone wrong? Why hadn’t she defeated him? She should have defeated him!

            “Wondering why you didn’t defeat him?” Nathavin asked her gently. He took her silence as a yes and continued. Pointing to a nearby target, he instructed her. “Attack that target as if it were a person you wanted to daze and disorient.”

            Caellia cast him a questioning glance before obediently raising the weapon and firing. When she had finished, she turned to look at him with an upraised brow.

            “Good, now fire two arrows in rapid succession using your magic energy to help speed and guide them to their targets.” Nathavin instructed patiently.

            Again, Caellia did as he bade her, silently wondering when he’d get to the point.

            When she had finished, Nathavin reached out and took the bow from her and handed her the heavier red bow. “Now, repeat what you just did. Pay attention to the way your magic energy travels through this bow.”

            Grimacing, Caellia hefted the heavy bow and repeated her earlier actions. To her surprise she noticed a distinct difference between them. Though the red bow was heavier, it was amazingly quicker to draw. Quickly she spun around to face Nathavin. “Why is this one so much faster?”

            “It does not resist magic. Magic energy passes through it much more easily than the other bow, allowing it to be quicker for you to use when you must harness your magic abilities.” Nathavin explained. “The hide, bones, and horns of the bow were made from a more powerful dragon than the other bow. Therefore that bow is better suited for battle since it will provide less resistance to the magic energy you infuse it with.”

            Caellia stared at him and then looked back at the bow. “It’s heavy…”

            “You will become accustomed to it soon enough.” He inclined his head toward her preferred bow, “That will be locked away so that you will use the new one more often.”

            “Nathavin you cannot simply take and then lock away my own bow.” Caellia stated warningly.

            “I can, and I will, if I think it would be better for you to learn to use the new bow.” He fixed her with a hard stare. “Do not argue with me on this.”

            “Nathavin I would much prefer to use my own weapon…” Caellia started.

            “Absolutely not.” He deadpanned, locking his gaze with hers. When she started to reach for the bow he stepped away from her. “What do you think you’re doing?” He asked her in a whispered hiss.

            Caellia drew up short and stared at him with a guarded expression. His eyes were narrowed and his tone indicated that she should stop her actions. Her gaze fell back to the bow he held out of her reach.

            “Caellia…” Nathavin intoned warningly, allowing the rest of his sentence to trail off.

            Looking back at him she sighed in slight irritation as she realized that she was acting rather like a child. Although, in her own defense, so was he, she thought to herself irritably. Locking her own bow away from her! Growling lightly, she turned and stormed away from him, muttering darkly under her breath.

            Sighing, Nathavin watched her go. As she left, his ears caught the faint curses that she was muttering as she left. His lips lifted upward in an amused smile. He’d have to remind her later that his hearing was sharper than she thought. As his thoughts focused on how best to accomplish that, he locked her old bow away in one of the specially designed weapons cabinets and pocketed the key.
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Treason