CHAPTER FOUR: BASTIAN CITY

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Nimue faceclaim: Kaya Scodelario
Morrigan faceclaim: Madelaine Petsch
Pele faceclaim: Jessica Chastain

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Bastian City, Home of the war gifted

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Bastian City, Home of the war gifted

The warriors of the Bastian City watch intently, as two of their finest warriors spar, at an impossibly fast pace, in the middle of the stone courtyard.

Anyone else watching would've assumed that the two girls were in a real battle as every shot and manoeuvre was to kill.

Nimue gasps as her adoptive sister, Morrigan, manages to slice her leg open slightly with her silver large sword as Nimue rolls out of the way, not fast enough it seems as she spots drops of blood falling onto the stone, staining it scarlet. Her familiar, Nox, a large silver wolf whimpers at feeling and seeing Nimue in pain and lays down on the stone courtyard, laying her head on her white paws in defeat.

Morrigan swings again, her blood red curls flying behind her and in the light of the sun, making her look every bit as wild and beautiful as people say she is, but Nimue barely blocks it, stumbling slightly as the strength of the swing, colliding with Nimue's sword, causes a loud echo around the courtyard, earning a few whispers and gasps of awe of several respected warriors, at the strength of Morrigan's war gift, for her family are the leaders of Bastian City and the strongest war gifted family on the island.

It is a credit to Nimue that she is able to block the kill shot at all, but because she has grown strong after being raised alongside Morrigan and her younger siblings, Minerva and Ares, and her mother, Pele Murtra the leader of Bastian and her husband, Malakai, she is one of the only ones who can spar against Morrigan and occasionally win.

Nimue's beaten her once and that was when Morrigan was ill, not at her full strength but it is hard to battle against her at all for Nimue is a naturalist not a born warrior, not born with the power of the war gift like Morrigan was. But nonetheless she is still a skilled warrior as she has been trained by the best.

They both pant, tired. But neither of them concedes, both of their pride and dignity too strong to admit defeat in any way. Nimue's black hair is drenched in sweat and sticking to the back of her neck, Morrigan's dark red hair doing the same, as they circle each other, both predators, waiting for the other to make a fatal mistake.

After a few more minutes, Nimue makes a sloppy, tired shot and Morrigan grins gleefully as she easily deflects it, forcing Nimue to drop her blade and Morrigan stands victorious, the golden ring around her unusual green eyes making it seem as though they are on fire, and points her sword carefully onto Nimue's pale throat.

Nimue immediately bows her head, her blue eyes blinking furiously, admitting defeat. She stands and the two shake hands and then embrace in a hug as they often do as sisters.

None of the warriors clap, congratulating and encouraging people is not the war-gifted way, instead both girls receive looks of admiration - it is the only compliment they will get from the warriors surrounding them.

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