Then it was there. A lightning-fast succession of blows crashed down on him, and his spear trembled under the force. He tried to equalize the pressure, but Viviana's attacks were merciless. She was different today. He usually had the opportunity to launch counterattacks. But today she was merciless. It reminded him of the fight in the old marketplace.
One blow.
Another one.
Then there was a crack. The shaft broke in two. Corin staggered back a step, the useless weapon in his hand.
Viviana made the final thrust.
Something dark stirred. A caw cut through the night. The ravens, which had been waiting silently in the shadows, suddenly tore free. Their wings whirled through the air like a dark storm.
Viviana froze.
It was only a split second, but it was enough.
Corin moved instinctively. He took advantage of the distraction, stepped to the side, whirled around her. Viviana turned, but she had lost sight of him for a moment, a mistake she usually never allowed herself to make. Corin was already there.
He grabbed her arm, pulling her slightly off balance. She dodged backwards, but the floor was slippery. Her balance tipped. She fell, but he caught her.
An unexpected moment of silence.
Viviana blinked, her face only centimeters away from his. Her breathing was calm, but her eyes sparkled, not angry, not surprised, but... amused.
Corin felt the light pressure of her hand on his chest. No attempt to disengage. No immediate counterattack.
Just a smile.
"Did you actually just throw me off balance?" Her voice was soft, amused.
Corin swallowed, still under the impression of the ravens.
"Maybe."
Viviana regarded him for a moment, then tilted her head.
"Interesting."
She made no move to get up immediately.
Then, in one fluid motion, she pushed away from him and stood again.
"Not bad, Corin." She wiped a loose strand of hair from her face. "But that was more luck than skill."
He said nothing, his heart still beating wildly.
Viviana looked at him for a moment longer. Then she turned around.
"The ravens.... you seem to have a connection to them. That was to be expected as a path bearer of the raven. However, you seem to go beyond that."
'She's right. It was the same at the market'
Since the ruin incident, ravens have been acting differently around him. There were more of them. A lot more. It seemed like they were always waiting for something. For him
Corin crouched down and picked up a broken splinter from his spear. The fight with Viviana was over, but the ravens... they had remained. He felt their eyes on him.
"So?" Viviana's voice broke the silence. She leaned against a pillar, her rapier loose at her hip.
"Any explanations?"
Corin hesitated.
"I don't know." His fingers twirled the sliver of wood between his thumb and forefinger.
"But it's been happening since I was in the ruins."
Viviana raised an eyebrow.
"Ruin?"
"The day before I saw you at the market.... I came across an old ruin outside of town. I'm not sure exactly what happened there....."
He dropped the shard and stood up. His gaze traveled upwards, to where dark silhouettes had gathered on the ledges of the buildings.
"Before, there were only a few. One or two, sometimes a small flock. But after the ruins..."
He faltered.
Viviana followed his gaze. Dozens of pairs of eyes stared back.
"After the ruin, they never left," Corin finished quietly.
"There have been more and more of them. And they... wait."
Viviana crossed her arms, her gaze sharpening.
He flinched almost imperceptibly. She stepped closer, circling him slowly, as if looking at him with new eyes.
"I think this is your personal Blessing."
Corin looked at her questioningly.
"Personal Blessings don't manifest until achieving the second rank of a Path," she explained calmly.
"They are unique to everyone. Sometimes strong, sometimes insignificant. But almost always uncontrollable, at least at first."
He thought about that for a moment.
"You mentioned I was a rank 2 Path Ambassador....so I have them, but I can't control them?"
Viviana stopped. She eyed him as if pondering an unspoken question.
"If I had to guess? No." Her gaze became thoughtful.
"But you're on the verge."
'On the verge?'
He pressed his lips together. That meant he hadn't crossed the line yet, that there was still something separating him from it.
"What do you think my Blessing is?" he finally asked.
Viviana smirked.
"Something to do with ravens, apparently."
"Very helpful."
She laughed softly.
"Let me guess, you haven't tried to consciously control them yet?"
Corin shook her head.
"Not really. I didn't even know it was possible."
Viviana stepped past him, turning to face him as she walked.
"Then you should find out soon."
He looked at her, unsure.
"And if I can't?"
She stopped, tilting her head slightly. Her gaze was playful.
"Then we will just have to find a way"