– Ooooh, you're finally back, Kopi! Let's go, or I have nothing to do. - Raven began, seeing Kopii.
– I wasn't gone that long, – he waved him off, changing into his combat gear.
– Not that long? Two hours is not that long for you, Kopi? – Raven blurted out in surprise. – Is that little for you?
– Two hours is still normal, Raven. You know where the orphanage is. And stop shortening my name! My name is Kopii, not Kopi. – Kopii replied, watching as Raven walked up to him and put his hands on his shoulders.
Looking with the most serious gaze he was capable of, Raven declared:
– No, Kopi, I've decided now that I will only call you that.
– What, when did you decide? – he objected. He did not like being called that; it embarrassed him. There had been only one person who called him that, and that was the caretaker, and even then he pouted at her a lot because of it. And Raven became the second.
– Come on, Kopi, – Raven waved him off, walking to his equipment in the corner. – Well, let's not waste any more time, we've already spent too much of it, so let's hurry. – Raven declared, leaving the basement. He had no choice but to follow him.
– Alright, Kopi, this place will do, – Raven said, looking around the spot.
– Yes, I think this will work well, – Kopii agreed with Raven, starting to undress. – As we agreed, I'm without equipment. But I'll repeat the rules, in case you forgot: you just need to touch me once, draw even a drop of blood, and you win. – examining Raven, he saw that he was fully ready and simply waiting for the signal to start the sparring. He smirked. – What are you standing for? Come on, attack!
Kopii did not know how Raven had talked him into a sparring match. For him, it was pointless, since the difference in strength was significant, even if Kopii was only one level higher. But however much he explained to Raven, he simply ignored him and stood his ground to the end. Because of this, he had made up the rules.
Kopii watched Raven's attacks; they seemed slowed down to him. Taking a step back, Kopii looked at his reflection in the sword – just a little more, and he would have hit. But Kopii decided to fight seriously; he wanted to show Raven the difference between them; if he did not understand words, then he would prove it with actions. And of course, he would punish him for such behavior. After all, when would he get such a chance?
– Kh, kh.
Striking Raven in the stomach, he watched as he fell to his knees, doubled over in a fit of coughing. He was about to say that was enough, but he had to leap back from Raven's lunge.
– A distraction maneuver – that's very good! You almost caught me, Raven, – he praised Raven. But in truth, there was nothing surprising about it; that incident with the slavers had taught him that the strong could be overcome by the weak for two reasons: tactics and numbers. The slavers had used both on him. So he was ready for any trick from Raven.
– See, Kopi, I already made you jump back, so I'm one step closer to victory! – Raven taunted, closing the distance between them. Kopii smirked at his remark.
– Look at yourself, sweat is already pouring off you.
But he ignored him, fully focusing on his attack.
Running up quite close, Raven threw sand into Kopii's eyes. Kopii's eyes widened for a moment; he leaned back, seeing part of his hair cut by Raven's sword. He realized that Raven had picked up the sand when he had doubled over from his blow. Quickly regrouping, he struck Raven in the stomach, a little higher.
Kopii watched as Raven lost the ability to breathe for a couple of seconds. But he did not stop there, kneeing him in the face, thereby sending him flying.
– That's it, you lost, Raven. Your tactic is very good, you even managed to cut off a few strands of my hair, – Kopii said, coming closer. – But it won't happen again. I won't hold back anymore. You just need to say "I surrender." That's all. – He watched as Raven got up, took his sword with trembling hands, his face bloodied and his eyes full of determination and thirst for more.
– No! Kopii, heroes never surrender! – he exclaimed, starting a new attack on him.
– Well, if that's what you want, – sighing, Kopii whispered, preparing for Raven's next attack. But whatever Raven did, he could no longer put up a worthy fight. With every second, he grew weaker and weaker, and his body became covered with more and more bruises and contusions.
He watched Raven's pitiful attempts. Tired of looking at the exhausted Raven, he decided to end the fight. Grabbing him by the neck and tightening his grip more and more, he watched as Raven's eyes rolled back, but Kopii did not stop there. And only when his eyes had already closed did he release Raven.
He would never have done this before, simply because he did not know how. But those slavers had done the same to him, to make him lose consciousness. So why not use it?
– You did well, – taking Raven in his arms, he whispered. Laying him in the shade, he began gathering their things and noticed a small scratch on his wrist. At first, Kopii had not noticed it because his hand was covered in Raven's blood.
– So I lost.
---
Opening his eyes, Raven first of all felt pain, as if every cell was being torn apart.
– You're already awake? I thought you'd lie unconscious for a whole day, – Kopii said, walking up to the lying Raven. – You fought quite well; you wouldn't even say you've only recently picked up a sword, – he sincerely praised Raven.
– I lost, – Raven whispered, turning his gaze to him.
– No, you won. – Kopii replied, watching Raven's reaction. His eyes widened in surprise and disbelief.
– What? How? – Raven asked without understanding. He clearly remembered how Kopii's hands had squeezed his neck, and it was something he never wanted to feel again. Involuntarily, he touched his neck.
– What, Raven, did you forget the rules of the sparring? I would lose if you could spill my blood, and you managed it, so… – Kopii hesitated.
– Now I have one wish, – Raven continued for him.
– Yes, you do. What do you want? – he asked, listening attentively to what Raven would say.
– Let's leave it for tomorrow; my body hasn't recovered from the blows yet.
– Alright, let's sleep, – Kopii agreed with Raven, lying down in bed.
Opening his eyes, he immediately saw Raven's joyful face in front of him.
– What? Get away from me, – Kopii mumbled, getting up and getting dressed.
– That's it, come on, I know my wish, here, hold it, – Raven began, holding out some sheet of paper.
– What is this? – Kopii said, carefully examining the sheet. There was a lot written on it, but there was one nuance. – What is this? – he asked, turning the sheet towards Raven's face in confusion.
– What's wrong, Kopi? – Raven said without understanding, looking questioningly at Kopii. But a moment later, his face lit up with understanding. – You don't understand the language? Now it's clear.
– What language even is this? – he asked, starting to peer more closely at the sheet, not understanding a single written word. He had never seen this language before in his life. However hard he tried, he could not even guess what language it was.
– Elvish. – Raven replied, as if there was nothing special about it. – You just need to learn it, and then read this, that's all, nothing complicated, Kopi, – he continued in the same tone that had begun to irritate Kopii.
– Elvish?
– Yes, Kopii, Elvish, – Raven confirmed, taking the sheet back from Kopii. – I'm sure, Kopi, you'll learn it… Only, Kopi, you must read it yourself, not ask other elves, understood? If, of course, you don't want problems, – he added, handing the sheet back to Kopii.
– Are you mocking me, Raven?
– No, Kopii. You just need to learn the language, and then read and fulfill my wish on the sheet, that's all.
– And can't you just tell me now?
– No, Kopii, then all the fun would be lost.
– I see I didn't beat you hard enough back then.
– Ahaha.