Drip, drip, drip.

Daelein pressed his lean frame against the wall framing the doorway. Soon, soon he would have his revenge against his brother. Soon the house would see his worth and he would receive his due when he ascends to the rank of weaponmaster.

Drip, drip, drip.

A frown creases Daelein’s brow in annoyance.  That leak is starting to annoy him. Where in the world was it coming from anyway? He vows that one of the first thing he would do, as the new weaponmaster, was have that annoying leak fix.

Seeing a tall shadow fall across the doorway, Daelein raises his dagger and prepares to leap.

Drip, drip, drip.


***

“Is, is that a…?”

“mmhh,” Nym looked up in the direction young Tsabrak pointed and scowled when he saw what had gotten his pupil’s attention “it’s that idiot Daelein.”

Surprised at the unhappy tone in his master’s normally calm voice, Tsabrak risked punishment to ask. “Who?”

“Second born son of the house, three generations past. Talented with the blade, unfortunately his brain is full of cobwebs. It would not have been an issue if not for his foolish ambition.”

“Foolish ambition? We are DROW, the pursuit of rank is our lifeblood.” Tsabrak waved a blue clad arm at Daelein, the former's white hair flew everywhere as he shook his head in surprise.

Nym’s mouth curled into a cruel smile. “Ambition that has not chance of success AND gets one kill is foolish. Daelein had aspired to be weapon master, a position held by his elder brother. Unfortunately for him, his elder brother was none other than Relonor.”

Tsabrak’s mouth dropped in shock. “R…Relonor?! That’s insane! That drow is one of the most cunning ever-born in this city. His writings on strategy are compulsory reading at the Academy.”

“Indeed, Relonor thought Daelein was amusing and took every opportunity to turn Daelein’s attempts on his life into a humiliating experience for the younger.
Finally, Daelein decided to ambush Relonor when the latter enter the training room.”

“…the training room?”

“Aye.”

“But isn’t it dangerous to approach any warrior during a training session as the trainee tends to strike first without looking?”

“Yes, well we have a prime example of why not to. Even moreso with weaponmasters.”

Both master and student turn to regard the white translucent figure couching at the doorway, attention narrowing on a horrible gapping wound where silvery blood drip in drops and vanish as it hit the floor.

Tsabrak stared. “So now…”

Nym tapped his lips with a finger. “Well, what is not so well known about Relonor  is that his strikes were said to be faster than the divine wind itself. It was said that Relonor sliced through Daelein so fast that the younger didn’t realized his own death even when the idiot’s body fell on the floor, almost split into two. Obviously, there must be some truth in that- cause Daelein’s ghost started haunting the training room ever since, leaping to attack any male it mistakes for Relonor.”

There was silence in the room for a few minutes.

“But, why is it still here?”

“Relonor told the priestesses to leave the ghost be as he thought that his younger brother will be useful in keeping the trainees on their toes."

Nym leaned down close to one of Tsabrak's ear and whispered.  

"Although, house lore is that he kept Daelein around as it amuses him to no end.”

Here, master and apprentice spared a glance at poor Daelein before breaking out in laughter of cruel amusement.