Vale approached Eskar at a steady, deliberate pace.
Eskar was leaning casually against the trunk of a tall tree, arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed as though he were half-asleep, or simply uninterested in the world around him. At his feet, Chimera lay sprawled across the forest floor, mirroring Eskar's indifference with only the faintest flick of an ear. A short distance behind Vale, Callum and Caesar stood talking quietly, though their conversation had begun to falter as they noticed where Vale was headed.
With every step forward, Vale felt his nerves tighten.
It wasn't fear, at least, not in the way fear usually felt. He wasn't afraid of Eskar himself. What unsettled him was the possibility of being misunderstood. Eskar was blunt, confident, and unpredictable, and Vale didn't know how a direct challenge would be received. He only hoped Eskar wouldn't take it the wrong way.
Vale exhaled slowly, steadying himself, then took the final step forward.
He stopped several meters away, feet planted firmly in the dirt, and fixed Eskar with a cold, unwavering stare.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then Eskar opened his eyes.
They narrowed immediately, sharp and alert, as though he had been aware of Vale's presence long before now. He tilted his head slightly and spoke, his voice calm but edged with curiosity.
"Is there something you want to ask?"
Vale nodded once. "Yeah."
His voice had sharpened, the uncertainty pushed aside.
Eskar uncrossed his arms just enough to raise an eyebrow. "Then what is it?"
Vale hesitated.
For a brief instant, doubt crept in. Did he really want this? Was he prepared to fight Eskar just to prove what he believed, that the gap between them wasn't as wide as everyone seemed to think? His gaze flicked over Eskar's relaxed posture, his height, his effortless confidence.
Well… better attempt this now, I guess.
Vale drew in a breath, then lifted his head and met Eskar's eyes directly.
"Fight me," Vale said.
His tone was cold. Serious. Unyielding.
Eskar stared at him for a moment, then let out a short, amused chuckle. "No thanks," he replied. "I prefer to leave you alive."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted lazily toward Chimera, who cracked one eye open and regarded them both with mild curiosity.
Vale's expression tightened. His eyes narrowed.
"Do you think you can beat me?" he asked.
Eskar looked back at him and grinned, not arrogantly, but with a confidence so natural it bordered on unsettling. "Of course."
The answer caught Vale off guard. He tilted his head slightly, surprise flickering across his face. He had expected sarcasm, mockery, anything but such straightforward honesty. It didn't feel like pride. If anything, Eskar sounded as though he were stating an obvious fact.
Silence stretched between them.
Then Vale spoke again.
"Well," he said evenly, "why don't we test that?"
Eskar didn't respond immediately. His grin faded as he studied Vale more closely, his gaze sharpening. Something shifted in the air, the casual tone giving way to something heavier, more deliberate.
After a few seconds, Eskar sighed.
"Fine."
Vale felt a small grin tug at the corner of his mouth.
Nice.
Eskar glanced around the forest, scanning the trees and uneven ground. "Where do you want to do this?"
Vale followed his gaze, considering for a moment before shrugging. "Right here."
Eskar let out another sigh. "And weapons?"
Vale shook his head dismissively. "No weapons."
Eskar frowned slightly, confusion flickering across his face.
"Just our fists should do," Vale added.
Eskar studied him for a moment with a strange expression, then shrugged. Without another word, he pushed himself off the tree and walked a short distance toward a wider clearing.
Vale raised an eyebrow, then realized Eskar wasn't retreating, just giving them space. He followed, stopping opposite him a few meters away.
They began to stretch in silence.
Around them, attention shifted. Conversations died down as people began to gather, forming a loose circle at a respectful distance.
Evelyn watched the two with a conflicted expression before glancing at Caesar. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Caesar looked down at her calmly. "Yeah. It should help them get to know each other."
He glanced toward Callum. "Right?"
Callum smiled faintly, arms crossed. "I usually like people more after a spar. I can only hope it's the same for these two."
Evelyn sighed.
Then Cleo appeared behind her, hands clasped behind her back. "Either way, we can stop it if things get out of hand," she said, observing the fighters with mild interest. "They're both still Flickers."
Evelyn nodded slowly. "Yeah. You're right."
She straightened, eyes fixed on Vale and Eskar. "Let's just hope they don't go overboard."
Back in the clearing, Eskar rolled his shoulder as he stretched his arm. "Hey," he said.
Vale looked up from stretching his leg. "What?"
"Let's not use any abilities," Eskar said, eyes narrowing slightly. "Keep it fair."
Vale nodded. "Yeah. I wasn't planning on using any anyway."
Several more moments passed as the two finished stretching. The crowd settled, watching intently.
Vale glanced at Eskar. "You finished?"
Eskar nodded. "Yeah. Wanna start?"
Vale nodded as well. "Yeah."
He dropped into a combat stance, hands raised, weight balanced, feet positioned carefully to avoid being thrown off balance. His posture was disciplined and practiced.
Eskar mirrored him, though his stance was different, hands held slightly lower, legs wider apart, grounded and stable.
Vale noticed immediately.
That's a good stance.
Caesar stepped forward, raising one hand between them. They stood roughly five meters apart now, eyes locked.
"Alright," Caesar said clearly. "Are you both ready?"
Eskar nodded silently.
Vale nodded as well. "Yeah."
Caesar smiled, then slammed his hand downward.
"Then begin."
The instant Caesar gave the signal, Vale exploded into motion.
He surged forward in a powerful leap, closing the distance with startling speed. The ground barely seemed to register beneath his feet as he drove in, twisting his shoulders and throwing a sharp right hook the moment he reached striking range.
Eskar's eyes narrowed.
He shifted his head just enough for the punch to cut through empty air, the movement precise and effortless. In the same breath, Eskar snapped his fist upward in a brutal counter, aiming straight for Vale's jaw.
Vale was already retreating.
He stepped back at the last possible moment, the punch whistling past his face by a hair's breadth. His boots scraped against the dirt as he reset, eyes locked on Eskar.
Eskar pressed forward immediately, taking another step and throwing again, refusing to let Vale regain his footing.
He's playing it smart, Vale realized, his gaze sharpening. No wasted movement. No hesitation.
As Eskar's punch came in, Vale twisted his torso, letting it skim past while repositioning himself. Eskar's face remained unreadable, no frustration, no excitement, not even aggression. Just focus.
Too much focus.
Vale pulled back, widening the distance between them. The two began to circle, feet moving in measured arcs, eyes never leaving each other. Around them, the crowd had gone silent, the forest itself seeming to hold its breath.
Then Eskar struck.
He shot forward suddenly and swung a sharp kick toward Vale's side. Vale reacted instantly, raising his arm to block. The impact landed solidly but dulled, the force dispersing through his guard.
Vale staggered back a step.
Eskar didn't give him time to recover.
He launched into a rapid assault, fists snapping forward in quick succession, each punch light but relentless. There wasn't much raw power behind them, but the speed and volume were overwhelming, forcing Vale onto the defensive.
Too fast. Too controlled.
Vale narrowed his eyes as he ducked, blocked, and twisted away, barely keeping up. Punches grazed past his shoulders, his guard rattled again and again as Eskar maintained pressure without overcommitting.
Seconds passed like this, an unyielding barrage.
Vale gritted his teeth.
Enough.
As another punch shot toward his face, Vale moved inside the strike. He caught Eskar's arm as it passed, fingers locking around the wrist with a firm grip.
Eskar's eyes widened, just for a moment.
Instinct took over. He snapped his opposite leg upward, aiming a kick toward Vale's midsection.
Vale lifted his own leg and planted it, bracing himself. The kick collided, but Vale didn't budge.
For the first time, Eskar hesitated.
Vale stared at him, eyes sharp and unyielding.
Eskar reacted immediately, twisting his body and drawing back his free hand. He threw a heavy punch, putting real force behind it this time, aiming to break Vale's grip and momentum in one strike.
The punch flew.
Vale released Eskar's arm and leaned back just enough for it to miss. In the same motion, he twisted his shoulders, stretched his arm wide, and swung.
There was no finesse.
No technique.
Just raw force.
Pure intent.
Vale wasn't trying to knock Eskar out—he knew better than that. This punch wasn't meant to end the fight. It was meant to wake him up. To shatter the calm, calculated shell and force Eskar to fight with more than just his mind.
The fist tore through the air.
Eskar's eyes widened as he realized what was coming,
And then it hit.