Tamaran High Temple Patio, Tamaran High Temple, Tamaran, Noon (After the detachment left for Eastern Torrs)

Pattou and the remaining allied officers were gathered awaiting for Quasar and his volunteers who will aid the Blade allied officers in their training for the forthcoming liberation. Pattou was so consumed in his focus that Liger had to snap him out.

Liger: Pattou, relax. I get the nerves but you need to unwind.

Pattou: Liger, you're not the one who was told to not get seriously hurt now. Were you? I need to be stronger, not just for her but for all of you. 

Riff: Milord, I know the feeling. The weight of the world is on your shoulders, the burden ever heavy. But do remember that we are here to lift the load with you. 

Rikkou:  Cousin, you inspire us to pull through any obstacle and circumstance. We all need one another alright? 

Pattou:  - nods - I thank you all. I know I should be more like a leader and have confidence but at this time, I want to improve. We all must for the cause.

Riff: For the cause and our rose garden! 

Gerard: - laughs along -Rose garden? 

Pattou and Liger were nervous. Then arrived Quasar and his volunteers. 

Quasar: Lord Patriarch, we have here your volunteers gathered for your sparring session. 

Volunteer Knight: For you Lord Patriarch, it will be an honor to aid one another in this exchange.

Pattou only replied with respect

Pattou: Same be to you as well 

Solaris then joins the Tamaran contingent

Solaris: You all need not worry, but I am here to inform Lord Patriarch of something about the Legacy Sword that you so wield.

Pattou: Of course, as one of those who have consecrated this sword, you may know of its powers that I have yet to utilize 

Solaris: Not much actually, but that its full strength will be unleashed when the sword wielder's will is pure and one with the wishes of the sword

Pattou: One with the wishes of the sword? This is quite intriguing.

Solaris: I want to see it for myself as never has its power been fully unleashed or written upon on record. Perhaps it will be seen in your sparring against Tamaran's finest.

Quasar: I wish to see the Legacy Sword's power too. Shall we begin here then?

Pattou is shocked by the request that it be done here but Solaris then said

Solaris: I shall allow. For so long as none of the participants deal any mortal wound 

Both parties agreed and the sparring session began between Pattou and the Blade allied officers against Quasar and the Tamaran Acolytes and Shamans. Pattou unsheathed the Legacy sword but allowed Liger to fire an arrow rain and Riff to strum his guitar to conjure energy balls from his guitar. Quasar countered with spirit arrows of his own and the shamans conjuring spirit earth magic. The projectiles from Riff and the Tamaran Shamans bounced into one another and caused a smoke cloud to emerge. From there, Gerard, Rikkou, Zo and Pattou would charge with their weapons already prepared. The Acolytes also followed suit. Solaris was impressed as to how the two forces in a sparring match had read into each other's moves despite only fighting alongside one another as allies only days ago.

Pattou saw a projectile from the Tamaran Shamans head to his direction but he slashed only a few meters away from the spirit ball and an aerial slash-like projectile appeared to hack the spirit ball as if Pattou slashed it himself. He was amazed that the Legacy Sword was capable of doing aerial slashes from afar. Then Pattou signaled for his other melee fighters to continue the advance towards the other acolytes as he would decide to test out his new abilities against one of the acolytes.

Riff stepped forward in an attempt to push back the Tamaran foes, however, the Shamans summoned a gust of wind to blow back Riff, causing him to land on the ground. Liger had to stop firing his arrows, but that led to Quasar to fire more of his spirit arrows from his gauntlet crossbow. Liger had to be nimble to avoid all the projectiles. What Quasar failed to realize was Pattou was able to creep closer and tackle him with a body slam. Quasar was quite shocked with the impact of that charge, thinking to himself, 

Quasar's mind: so this is what stopped Huo Lan that day.

The shamans continued conjuring spirit fire streams to create space for their acolytes to deal with the Blade officers in close quarters combat. Rikkou smashed is fists together to boost his attack and dealt a gut punch to one of the acolytes. Gerard upon reaching one of the acolytes bobbed and weaved like a fist fighter to deal midsection blows to another acolyte, who was trying to parry his blows with his sword. Zo was able to block both fire streams and acolyte sword shots with his shield, and proceeded to push back the acolyte off guard to be able to strike with the blunt end of his halberd to dispatch one of the acolytes. Another acolyte was to charge at Zo but Pattou once again executed an aerial cutter from afar to dispatch the acolyte.

The shamans then switched it up and casted once again a gust of wind, which now was in its tornado form headed towards Rikkou and Gerard. Suddenly, Riff conjured a flurry of sound "walls" to weaken the strength of the tornado. Liger then shot at the shaman to dispatch them for the meantime. The acolytes sparring with Rikkou and Gerard were then downed once Gerard smashed the ground to cause a Magnitude shockwave, which caused the acolytes to go mid air. Rikkou used the newly formed earth spires to hop and then jump midair to punch the acolytes back to the ground.

Quasar then rose up and then fired a barrage of arm and leg shots from his gauntlet crossbow to debilitate the Blade officers. The arrows found their mark eventually on almost everyone but Pattou was able to swat them away with a horizontal aerial cutter slash. This continued on until Pattou saw an opening and executed two downward diagonal aerial cutters forming an X like shape to finally stop Quasar. As soon Quasar tries to stand up, the Legacy Sword's point was near his neck. Quasar would attempt to shoot a spirit arrow at Pattou from this position, but decided against it and put his hands up in surrender.

Solaris was in awe at what he had witnessed. It was disappointing to see that the acolytes still need much to learn in terms of defense but it was with pride to witness a power of the Legacy Sword like that. Pattou then stretched his left hand out to help Quasar up, this time with the Legacy Sword sheathed in the scabbard for the meantime. The two then shook each other's right hands, with Quasar saying, 

Quasar: I can see the conviction in your strikes. But that is not the Legacy Sword's power at its fullest. You will discover its fullest power in time, but for now, you have bested me. The next one will not be so one sided

Pattou: We shall see.

Both parties shook each other's hands as a sign of respect and gratitude for the sparring session that had occurred. Pattou saw it fit, with Gerard's permission, that they celebrate over at the Ceres Inn's tavern.

Tavern, Ceres Inn, Tamaran, Night.

Pattou and his allies sat at the table with a mug of root beer and some legumes already in front of them. Pattou began the celebration

Pattou: Let us drink over that successful sparring session. To us!

Other allies: To us! 

Pattou savored the drink when Liger asked him, 

Liger: Pattou, that aerial slash, did that come in just now? 

Pattou: Even I was not aware of this. At least I know I am not limited to close quarters and can give myself distance. But don't let this stop you from firing arrows, my friend.

Riff: So, with that new ability, do you think you can protect Lady Star?

Rikkou: - laughs along - Oh the bard now asks the toughest questions haha. But really cousin, do you think with your newfound skills, you can protect her?

Pattou: - repeats himself - You do know that I do not want Star to experience what happened to me more than twice. It's enough. Also, this is for all of you so that I will be able to lead us to victory. 

Upon saying this, Rikkou merely replied, 

Rikkou: You truly are an inspiration Cousin.

Zo: - to Pattou - Lord Patriarch, you have done a number on our friends in Tamaran. That aerial cutter will serve us well against our foes. But we still must be wary as we know not what strings will be pulled upon our advance.

Gerard:  - tells Zo -  We have enough resources and stockpile should we need to advance. But I know we have no clear answer as to how we shall proceed from here until our detachment comes back. For now, we relax and we are still in terms of good finances.

Hours after

Liger, Pattou and Riff remained outside of the Tavern for some fresh air. Riff was strumming some notes on his guitar as Liger and Pattou talked. 

Liger: So, by your assessment, do you think you can protect her with your new ability? 

Pattou: I know doubting myself will not help but at this point, I want to see how far the Legacy Sword and I can go to unlock each other's potential.

As he said this, Pattou looked at the Legacy sword in its scabbard

Pattou: Always regarded this sword like a regular sword, only for it to want to show its powers to me when we needed it the most.

Riff: - stops strumming - Milord, you are growing along with the Legacy Sword in its usage. In time, you will not be the sword of just the Liberation but of everyone who wishes to stand and fight for justice and end this era of horrid injustice. 

Pattou:  Why thank you Riff. But I must honestly say, all of us had improved. Maybe it was the battles that we all faced together but our skills have improved from when we all had our first battles together. Perhaps it is by experience? 

Riff: - interrupts Pattou's musings - Perhaps it is our muses that we have to thank?

Pattou and Liger laughed, Liger then stopped and said

Liger: You really had to bring that up? But honestly, Jinzy gave me that extra step when she told me about her. I can't imagine the tragedy and horrors she has already experienced. But her bravery to still fight for another day is what gets me to fight to the hardest that I can. What say the both of you?

Riff: Clara and I may not see eye to eye as I can still find my muses for my art in other women. But Clara, something about her makes me wish to dedicate all my art for her, apart from the singing for my fallen allies. But in all seriousness, should we charge for the East, it will be a return for me. - changes tone - We truly need to liberate the East. The cries of my former allies are calling out to me to return and finally exact justice against Corrvin's men and the Governor that had allowed such inhumanity to befall upon my allies for me to live. For me to sing on and live this life with an elegy dedicated to ensure their voices will still be heard and never be forgotten.

Pattou was surprised but respectfully said, 

Pattou: Never did we see this side of you Riff. Not since our first time crossing paths in the South. But allow me to say that once we charge Eastward, your fallen bretheren shall welcome you back and you will exact justice for them. 

Riff placed a hand on Pattou's right shoulder and nodded. Pattou continued on, 

Pattou: To be honest, this aerial slash might not even be enough. I have yet to see the Legacy Sword in its full power. I wish to tap into it to be able to protect all of us. Maybe at the end of it all, the ultimate power therein the Sword will be the power that will liberate all of Torrs.

Liger: We get your dedication to the cause and we like it. But was this all really just to impress Lady Star? 

Riff: I can tell you do not want to disappoint her. You've been wounded numerous times for her to heal. It eats into you Milord. Is it right? 

Pattou: You both know I can be reckless. But that is something that I must do away in order to retain being a leader. Sayfuro might be in agreement with me when I say that I must think every step through as every decision I make will not only affect myself but everyone who has rallied behind my cause. 

In his mind, Pattou thought, 

Pattou's mind: That and I don't want to cut our time short. We promised that we will make the time to know the other. At least that I can give her.

Refectory, Tamaran Main Temple, Next Day, Noon.

Pattou and his allies were invited by Solaris and Quasar to feast with them. Quasar was still high on seeing the power from yesterday's sparring session. 

Quasar: You truly did a number on me, Lord Patriarch. But your dedication is there. My little sister would be so proud had she seen this. 

Pattou: It was my first time to unleash that power but I know there will be more than just the aerial cutters.

Everyone was almost done with their feast when Sayfuro and Jinzy were able to return from their scouting mission. Sayfuro returned and Jinzy ran towards Liger. Jinzy and Liger hugged it out with Jinzy having tears in her eyes, but needing to wipe them away for not wanting to retell the horrors of their scouting mission.

Sayfuro: Milord, I can explain why only we were able to return...

Pattou was worried then asked, 

Pattou: Where are Star and Clara? 

Sayfuro: Both Lady Star and Lady Clara chose to remain in the East to await for our arrival. We bring good tidings that we have found allies in the East. The dancers in the entertainment district and the templars of the Church are more than willing to commit to our cause. 

Pattou and the rest were glad of the news of new allies. Zo was most excited, 

Zo: So my men have finally put aside the religious and moral differences for you. Lord Patriarch, you sure have an effect to bring people together.

Pattou: Once we find a common cause, it is a call for unity. But I do not see why it is a big deal for this alliance? 

Sayfuro and Jinzy then relayed the results of their information gathering.

Been a long time since updating this but here is Chapter 31. 

Will let this simmer before I upload Chapter 32.

Keep safe and stay awesome!