A New Light (The Astral Wanderer Book 1), D'Artagnan Rey [best romantic novels to read .TXT] 📗

by the grip to use it as a support to help him to clamber to his feet. When he managed to stand, he looked at the Templar, breathing deeply. The man’s ragged breaths were as labored as his were, although he stood firm with his arms folded again.

“So…” he began as he removed the blade from the dirt and held the weapon firmly in both hands, “did I pass?”

Wulfsun was silent for a moment before he looked down, his shoulders shaking. Devol could hear him stifle a chuckle before the man dropped the act and released a loud laugh that echoed throughout the arena. “You are certainly something, Devol!” he responded and laughed again. “That wasn’t exactly one of my strongest attacks, but it should have been more than enough to leave a kid like you on the ground for longer than that.”

The young Magi responded with a faint smile. “I can be stubborn, I guess,” he admitted and began to chuckle a little as well.

“Aye, but you are the best kind of stubborn,” the giant replied. He nodded and lowered his arms to reveal a large hole in the chest plate of his armor. With a grimace, he slid his hand under the plate and when he removed it, the fingers were stained with blood.

Thankfully, this seemed like a good time to end the bout. The damage to his majestic had left him drained and a little disoriented, but he’d had years in which to learn how to hide it from his foes and push past it. “I can say this with confidence—had this been a test to join the Templars, you would have a ceremony this very night.”

Devol nodded happily. “Thanks, Wulfsun,” he said before he stumbled and fell heavily. He dragged in a couple of large gasps of air as he smiled warmly, held his majestic firmly, and hoisted it high. “I’m glad I made it.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Well, that was certainly a grand finale,” Jazai said and beamed as he pushed off the railing and folded his arms. “Do you think we should get down there and congratulate him?”

“I would think so,” a deep and appealing voice replied. The two spectators turned to where Vaust stood behind them. “Battling Wulfsun and pushing him that far certainly deserves praise.”

“So you finally caught up?” the apprentice asked and nodded to the mori Templar. “I would have thought you would have had more interest in how this went, given that you brought him in from what I heard.”

“I was optimistic,” the new arrival responded, moved past them, and leaned on the railing. “Plus, I already had a taste of what he is capable of, so my opinion wasn’t that important.”

“You wanted everyone else to have a look?” Zier asked and studied him with interest.

“The boy made an impression on me. I wanted to see if he could do the same with others,” Vaust admitted with a shrug. “I had to make a report anyway.”

“So you went to speak to Nauru?” The scholar nodded as he clasped his hands behind his back. “And how is she? It’s been a while since she’s left her chambers.”

The mori gestured to where the combatants were in conversation. “You can ask her when she’s done.”

“Hmm?” Zier and Jazai returned to the rails and their eyes widened as a figure in flowing blue, white, and silver robes walked into the arena.

“You all right there, Devol?” Wulfsun asked and proffered a hand to help him up.

The boy nodded a little wearily as he accepted the aid, and the Templar hoisted him to his feet. “That was a good match.”

“Hopefully, we can have a few more!” he responded and clapped him cheerfully on the back with sufficient force to almost upend him again.

“You should ask him that after he has properly rested, Commander Wulfsun,” a soothing, airy voice replied. The giant looked toward its source and his eye widened. Devol glanced at what had surprised him and his gaze settled on a feminine figure dressed in elegant robes, but her features caught his attention more than anything else.

Her skin was like the smooth texture of a leaf, the color a light, gleaming blue with streaks and patches of pink around her neck and arms. When she looked from the Templar to the new Magi, her eyes danced with teal-colored embers. She did not seem to have normal lips. Instead, the area around her mouth slanted and protruded from the rest of her face when she spoke, but when she was silent, they flattened to give her face an almost mask-like appearance. Her hair—a dark-blue that changed to a brighter pink at the tips—was like vines twisted together into a large bundle that reached her lower back.

“Grand Mistress Nauru!” Wulfsun stated and bowed his head slightly. “It’s good to see ya after so long.”

Nauru chuckled and her eyes glowed brighter with real mirth. “I need to make rounds more regularly. You act as if I’ve been away on a mission.” She glanced at Devol for a moment before she returned her focus to the giant. “I’ve told you to not be so formal, Commander. I think you’re worrying our new guest.”

He raised his head to fix her with a small frown. “You’re gonna call me by my title, but it’s unnecessary to call you by yours?” he grumbled and shook his head “Right, well, I should at least be civil, I suppose, as befits the Templars.”

“Oh, certainly.” She nodded, focused on the boy, and smiled. “You should have begun by introducing this young Magi.”

“Of course.” He placed his hand on the youngster’s shoulder. “This is Devol…uh…” He darted a glance at the newcomer, who mouthed his last name. “Alouest, right! Devol Alouest. Devol, this is Nauru, the thirty-second leader of the Templars.” He spoke heartily before he patted him on the shoulder, shook him a little, and moved his hand away. “He seeks training with our order.”

“Devol?” Nauru asked and extended a hand. “A pleasure to meet