"I'm afraid that's not possible," Solvane said firmly, his voice steady, echoing the command of a prince trained to lead. He crossed his arms, his lean frame towering over Walden, his presence filling the space like a shadow from the wastelands.
"Then the fight is off," Walden replied without hesitation, his voice calm but unyielding, his red curls swaying slightly in the breeze. He met Solvane's gaze with those starlit God's Eyes, their unique shimmer holding a quiet defiance that made the air feel thicker.
Solvane tilted his head, his smile thinning. "You're making all these conditions," he said, his tone laced with frustration and amusement. "What makes you even think you can beat me? You talk like I'm the one who should be worried."
Walden's gaze sharpened, the starlight in his eyes flaring briefly, casting faint reflections on the lake's surface. "I never said it was to prevent me from killing you," he said, his voice low and steady, each word measured like a step on thin ice. "A fight can go both ways. One mistake, and I'll be the one lying dead on the floor. It's to keep me safe as much as it is you. I can only imagine the strength of the crown prince—it's no joke."
Solvane almost scoffed, the sound catching in his throat as he recognized the tactic instantly. It was a clever ploy—making yourself sound average to raise your opponent's hopes, a subtle game of the mind designed to lure them into overconfidence. But Solvane wasn't just trained in the way of the sword; he was trained in the way of the mind, schooled in the palaces of Avallah where words could cut deeper than blades. He knew Walden's words were a mask, sounding like humility but hiding a sharp edge. His golden fur prickled slightly, as if sensing the challenge, and he felt his rapid healing pulse faintly, ready for whatever came next.
"You think that's going to work on me?" Solvane said, his voice light but probing, a grin tugging at his lips despite the irritation. "Acting all humble, like you're the underdog? Come on, Walden. I've seen that trick before. What's your real game here?"
Walden's expression remained unchanged, his God's Eyes holding steady, the starlight within them glowing softly against the fading sun. "No game, Your Majesty," he said quietly. "Just the truth. I've heard the stories of Golden Aspers—your kind heals faster than wounds can form, your strength crushes bones like twigs. Why would I risk that without safeguards?"
Solvane chuckled, the sound echoing across the lake, but it lacked real humor. "What if I assure you I can find someone strong enough to stop the fight before it gets out of hand?" he pressed, stepping closer, his boots sinking slightly into the soft mud at the water's edge. The boys watched, their breaths shallow, the air thick with anticipation.
"I still refuse," Walden answered coldly, his voice like a chill wind off the lake, his red curls unmoving as he stood firm. "In battle, it takes no more than a second to kill a man. No one can stop that—not even you."
Solvane's eyes narrowed, his frustration bubbling up, though he kept his smile in place. "You said it yourself—you might be weaker, you might be stronger," he said, his voice rising slightly, challenging. "So… are you saying there can be a Yellow Asper as strong as a Golden Asper? Is that what you believe?"
The boys around them froze, their faces pale with shock, the words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. A few gasped, their whispers starting up again, soft and urgent. "Is… is that not blasphemy?" one whispered, his voice trembling as he glanced at Solvane. "Talking about Golden Aspers like that? He's crossing a line." Another nodded, his eyes wide. "The prince could have him arrested for less," he muttered.
Walden finally stopped walking, his boots halting on the pebbly shore, the sound crunching softly. His God's Eyes locked with Solvane's, the starlight within them steady, unflinching. "Very well then," he said, his voice softening but still firm. "I'll agree—after the prince signs a Binding Declaration."
The Binding Declaration. The words sent a hush over the group, the lake's gentle lapping the only sound for a moment. It was a cursed parchment, whispered about in hushed tones across Avallah, a relic of ancient laws sealed in blood and spirit. Once signed, it became an unbreakable law, binding names to protection—even beyond death. Not even the king himself could undo its weight; it marked families, ensuring vengeance for any harm, dragging bloodlines into ruin if a protected soul fell. To demand such a thing from the crown prince was more than arrogance. It was heresy wrapped in courage, a challenge that could shake the foundations of the Asper races' fragile peace.
The boys stiffened at the words, their eyes darting between the two, the air growing heavier with the implication. A Binding Declaration was sacred law, a tool of the powerful, used to shield allies or curse enemies. Once signed, it ensured that even after a royal's death, no harm would ever befall those named within it. "He's asking for that?" one boy whispered, his voice barely audible. "That's not just bold—it's suicide." Another nodded, his face ashen. "The prince could call the guards for this. What is Walden thinking?"
Solvane's patience thinned, the cool breeze off the lake doing little to ease the frustration burning in his chest. This back-and-forth was becoming a nuisance, each refusal like a wall he had to climb. He exhaled sharply, his blue eyes locking onto Walden's starlit gaze, his golden fur standing slightly on end as if responding to the challenge. "You're really pushing this, aren't you?" he said, his voice firm but with a hint of admiration hidden beneath. "A Binding Declaration? That's no small ask. You know what that means—blood and spirit, no turning back."
Walden's lips curved into the faintest of smirks, his God's Eyes gleaming with a mix of resolve and quiet amusement. "I know," he said simply, his voice low, the words carrying across the lake like a promise. "But if you want this spar, that's the price. Protection for my people, no matter what happens. Can you agree to that, Your Majesty?"
Solvane paused, the weight of the demand settling over him like the twin suns' heat. The boys watched, their breaths held, the lake's surface still as if waiting for his answer. He felt his rapid healing pulse faintly, a reminder of his Golden Asper strength, but Walden's words echoed in his mind until the words left his mouth "Fine. I agree."