A while later moon stood before two large metal gates, the metal was rusty and worn out either from the effects of time or just lack of maintenance. When forced open the gates released an unpleasant sound of scraping metal that made moon want to cover his ears.
Atlas, Celeste and Moon walked into the rather large compound, the fog still hung stubbornly in the air but had lessened a bit so moon could make out the building before him and to his dismay, it looked like a school.
Atlas suddenly worked ahead of them, then spun around, his arms spread wide with a grin on his face.
"This is were we begin, what do you think, isn't it exhilarating"
Celeste stood there expressionless at his presentation but a look of horror stood on moon's face.
"Uhh, Mr Atlas, this isn't a school is it"
Atlas simply looked at him and nodded. Moon was mortified, though moon had never attended a school before, he was sure these two weren't meant to be teachers.
Well maybe Atlas but definitely not Celeste.
"Let me take you on a little tour"
Moon almost agreed but then shook his head, he almost forgot his mission from shock, he called out to celeste who was already walking ahead of him.
Celeste turned around, staring at moon and said "is something wrong"
Moon clenched his fist and his eyes met hers, filled with resolve and determination.
At that moment celeste recognised the look in his eyes, she recognised that familiar spark and didn't need an answer to her question.
She knew what he was asking for.
Two metal long swords appeared out of thin air unto the palm of her hands and she handed one to moon.
"I accept"
A look of surprise stood on his face, she understood what he wanted and this was her response to his resolve and determination.
A duel
He gritted his teeth then took the sword, saying "Thank you"
She nodded "Wait a moment"
In a single motion her blade slashed through the air pushing the stubborn fog away with the sheer force of her swing.
Moon frowned, though he knew she always held back during their spars, he didn't expect she was this much stronger than him, he had hoped once he truly awakened he would be on her level but that was a ridiculous dream.
He still had a long way to go.
Celeste assumed a combat stance and moon followed her lead. Atlas stood in the distance shrouded in fog with an unreadable expression.
Moon was weaker, slower and less skilled, but unlike her all he needed was one hit and he had a trump card, he was going to end it all in one move.
In the the next moment celeste sword lunged at him in an upward slash cleaving through the air at an impressive pace, this was what moon had been waiting for.
Before her strike, moon studied her foot work, the placement of her fingers on the hilt of the blade and her body movement, all that studying on the human body had not gone to waste.
Moon breathed in and out, his muscles tensed then in an instant his blade met hers, a deafening sound of clanging metal resounded in the air making his ears ring and as his blade slashed right through her sword.
Celeste blade continued on its path but there was no blade to strike moon, with no hesitation moon's blade changed direction, aiming at her neck.
But he could kill her
Moon instantly banished the thought, it would be foolish to think he would be able to kill one such as her, this was what all of his training was for, he wasn't going to miss this chance because of his ignorance.
But at that moment when moon's blade was just a few inches from her neck, celeste pushed back her head a few inches, a small distance but enough for his blade to miss.
Moon's eyes widened then he felt a powerful kick smash into his ribs sending him flying a distance into the fog.
Moon quickly stood up to his feet, struggling to breathe, he raised his sword into the air but then he realised the duel was over, he had lost.
Moon lowered his sword, a feeling of disappointment washed over him, in that moment he felt like he would never be enough, he tried to console himself by thinking he came close, by thinking next time for sure.
But he still felt like such a failure.
Just then, he felt murderous intent and it was coming right towards him, celeste emerged into the fog bringing down her sword on Moon like a hammer, he quickly raised his sword into air and blocked the ruthless attack.
Moon gritted his teeth as his bones trembled from the force "Wait, wait a sec"
His pleas fell on deaf ears, today she was also determined, determined to break that foolish habit of his.
Her blade work was fierce and precise, overwhelming moon in a barrage of blows and narrowly striking at any openings he naively left open. He didn't have a moment to think, he couldn't even predict her next attact by reading her body language, she was just too damn fast, in desperation his blade lashed out but celeste easily side stepped the attack and her blade hit his side, biting into his flesh.
Moon yelped in pain and quickly stepped back, trying to catch his breath, he glanced at his side then frowned at the wound.
"Damn it, why is she doing this"
Moon tried to figure out the reason but there was no time, celeste was already approaching him, he shivered and quickly stood up to his feet, brandishing his blade.
Then it dawned on him.
He couldn't do it, he couldn't reach their expectations and now they no longer needed him but they can't just let him go, he knows Atlas true identity, his eyes widened.
Celeste was going to kill him.