We sat laughing, until the professors came to get us.
"Now these bananas show up. We could've died and yet they drag their feet. Monkeys" Kainan angrily complained.
"Aye, calm it down. We dont want a second beatdown" breathed Kyle, keeping Kainan in check as always.
We continued talking, jeering about what just happened for about half an hour. Vince just sat there listening, while Kyle and I did most of the talking. Jaden continued examining the traces of the magic left behind by the mysterious woman. Every once in a while Kainan would lash out, but Kyle kept him under control.
This was his usual character. Since his power depends on purification, his energy gets weak after fighting, and his core cant stabilize and purify new energies. New energies rush into him, thus causing a light headed feeling due to the imbalance of these energies. Basically, when he uses his power, he gets drunk.
It turns out, that's also why he drinks so much. Its to get used to the light headed feeling, and he can also use the impure alcohol to further boost his strength. Its that, or he's plain addicted. It honestly might be both.
As we got up, we saw Jaden approaching us. Walking whilst lookin behind him like he was hiding something.
"Guys, I might sound crazy, but you have to give me listen. Only the four of us can know this." Jaden whispered, his voice shaky.
We all huddled together to hear what he had to say. There was an unspoken camaraderie in the air as we got together.
"The traces I looked at, it was strange. The professors ignored it, but I didn't. Like I said, call me crazy, but I know what I felt. Lets face it--that wasn't normal corruption spell. Muna, you felt it right? It might have been a little amount, but its something. Tell me what you felt. Whisper, this might be big."
He kept a serious expression throughout.
"It was really painful, it spread quickly. I am used to internal attacks, but that was in a different league. Like it was in my soul" I replied, softly.
"Exactly. that was soul corrupting magic. You know what that means right? he whispered.
Then, Kyle's eyes lit up. His eyes glowed with rage, his gaze fierce.
"The Demonic faction. Those low-lives." he said, angrily.
I did not understand at the time. The once calm, happy and jovial Kyle I knew disappeared. All I saw was a man ready. Ready for revenge.
I looked at Kyle in shock. Curiously, I asked him, but he declined. He claimed that for his own sake, he wont rehash the details, as it affects his mental health.
"So what do we do now guys?"
Kyle said as he got up, his smile suspiciously returning.
"Come. Lets spar."
We all sat there in shock. Sure, from time to time it was customary to fight amongst ourselves, as brothers. But never once has Kyle initiated a fight against me. The initiator was one way or the other, Kainan or me.
Seeing Kyle be the forerunner was surprising.
Nevertheless, we got to it. Kyle assumed his stance, and I took mine. With Vince as the regulator, we both got ready for his signal to begin. HIs thunderclap would be our bell.
In the corner o my eye, I noticed some of the guards and professors, taking a seat to watch the match.
"Is this a joke to them?"
BOOM
And we were off. He stood still, his eyes piercing through my gaze.
Then, suddenly he rushed to me.
I have read countless manuals on the techniques of the orthodox. The thousand army strike, the sky slash, and many others.
Naturally I counterattacked. My blade struck air.
He was behind me. It was too late for me to realize what was happening to me.
He struck the back of my head with the butt of his sword. A decisive blow. A strong one. But not enough to take me down.
We stood face to face, delivering blow after blow. His movements become more and more seamless as time passed. We seemed on equal footing. On the outside, we seemed as rivals, but I knew, I was losing.
Maybe because I felt the same of hopelessness, I was brought back to my match with Marse. To be fair, I was given massive advantages, and she let me win. This was different. Kyle was not out to win. He was about beating me.
I was being continually pushed back until I was on my back, and his sword at my neck. I lost. Or so I thought.
He sheathed his sword and stretched out his hand.
"Why are you holding back? I said spar. Not play. The senior wont spare you, even if you pull your punches. We're going again, and you're going all out."
"He's right. How do you think you've been defending yourself all this time? Instinct. That's the best way you can fight. You've read the moves, but your fragile body cant take it. What you can do =, is make it yours. Dont think. Just do."
"Back in the day, holding back against your opponent was disrespectful, and in most cases, against the rules. Make sure you give it everything you've got. Or this time, you might have an open neck"
Kyle laughed as he pulled me off the ground. Really, I didn't deserve him.
"How are you going to end me when I'll turn you into a vegetable? Prepare to lose the arms you treasure so much" I cackled.
We both assumed our stances.
"Ready?" I yelled.
"When you are!" he replied.
We both launched at each other. Our swords clashed with a loud bang. By this time, most of the school, even professors were spectators.
Our strikes were complimentary, his perfect moves being deflected by my animalistic nature. Every stroke of his sword was calculated and precise, making it the perfect adversary to my beast-like fighting. Every swing of my blade was filled with the desire to destroy, like a dragon at his prey.
This time, I wasn't getting pushed back. It was in fact the opposite. Kyle was at a disadvantage. His accurate sword was no match for my wild blade. But something was wrong.
Kyle was smiling.
"Are you enjoying this?! You wont be smiling for long!" I screamed as kicked him away.
He spat out blood. For a second I was worried. I was going to ask him if he was okay. But as if he knew he stopped me.
"Dont. I said all out. And I was assessing your abilities. You should be able to take this" he softly spoke.
His smile was gone. His eyes contained no emotion. Only pity.
Then he spoke.
"The soldier steps forward, the army behind him. In unison, their might is feared. their blades risen against the enemy. Victory is near".
He raised his sword high above his head, glowing brightly. That wasn't all. Immediately, many other swords formed in the sky with it. They made up for the dull shine with numbers.
He's actually going to do it. He's aiming for my life. Even the teachers dared not to step in, fearing their own safety. I learned no spells as of yet. I could not defend myself.
"This was an amazing fight. But all good things come to an end. Thank you for not holding back. Thousand army strike"
With that, all the blades rained down on me, their numbers blocking the sun. In a moment, it was upon me. Some went in my skin, others around me. I bled.
"Jaden, heal him" said Kyle as he sheathed his sword.
The crowd began dispersing, and the professors coming to their senses.
"No its not over. He must remember this fight"
"Where are you going. You think you're the only one with flashy moves dont you. I would've stayed down, but to honor today, I must fight to the best of my ability. You may have won, but you will remember this moment".
The professors, students, everybody stopped. It was like something commanded them. Then something came over me, in that moment, I was either talking nonsense, or something controlled me.
"When the dragon soars, nothing defies it. When it moves, the world stands still. By the fierce flame and the strength of stone, make yourself known, let your power unfold, king of old."
The sky went dark.
The students screamed. In the sky. It was something unimaginable. A dragon.
The professor ran around, setting up protection barriers around the students. .
"Do it, I can take it. Brother" he smiled.
"Of course you can. You won. But I wont just sit and let you leave here unscathed after this. Let this spar be a testament to our brotherhood."
It went silent, the audience in suspense. Its like they were waiting, waiting for this. I had doubts, doubts that this could hurt him. I scoffed. "What am I thinking?"
"Dont die, brother. We have many more battles to fight".
I rose my sword high.
"Dragons roar"