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"Maybe I shouldn't have accepted."
That thought a gnawed at me the instant I stepped into the training area. Why was it that every time I agreed to something, regret followed like a shadow, magnified by my own anticipation? I honestly despised myself in moments like this.
Crack, crack—
The sound of my joints stretching echoed through the air, sharp and satisfying. I could feel the tension in my muscles unwind with each motion. The Second Elder's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed me, his expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"Why did you tell me to accept this duel?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"This old man didn't tell you, Davis. You accepted yourself," he replied, voice calm, teasing even.
"You suggested it in the first place," I countered, "and it's partly your fault that you didn't stop me—rather, you seemed to enjoy this whole mess."
A faint laugh escaped the Second Elder at my retort. "Right! This old man bears some of the blame, I suppose."
