Liron's heart jumped around in his chest, celebrating like a squirrel who fell into a mug of beer and had to drink its way out. He turned around, coughing up his thanks and hurrying to where she trained. He hated how a smile slipped on his lips when he saw her. They had set up camp near larger rocks, perfect for hiding their presence. Shae had started training in a clearing surrounded by the rocks, far enough from the camp to not wake the rest of the group.
She was a sight to behold. Shae summoned only parts of her Conduit, equipping her hands in the lion's fangs and its storms. Step by step, she performed the same dances Liron had watched during the prayer. But without the costume, he could witness all the elegance and coordination it took to perform the rite. Hours of practice, forging Shae into a nimble creature. But she had adjusted her dance, turning it into a surge of endless attacks. They appeared strange to Liron, standing in harsh contrast to his beloved sword techniques and steps.
His was a system of clear instructions, leaving no room for improvisation. Their beauty lay in the skill required to pull them off and the flow connecting hau with hau in a seamless motion. Where he had to perfect each strike, forging his body into steel, Shae became the wind itself. She never stood still. There was no rigidness to her like with Liron. She twisted her body in whichever way she saw fit. It reminded Liron of Gabriella. But where the mad girl raged towards victory no matter the cost, Shae's dance served another purpose besides fighting and winning.
To dance and express.
As she paused, finishing one sequence, Liron waved at her. "Hello," he said, sounding like a goof.
Shae startled, throwing her hands up. She jerked around, aiming a claw at him. As she recognized him, she dismissed her Conduit, clutching her chest. "Liron, it's you. Fuck, you… you surprised me."
Liron cringed. "Shit, shit, I'm sorry. I… I didn't wanna…"
"All good," she laughed. "Just… don't do that again. So… you're up early."
"Oh, not really. I'm an early riser," Liron said, laughing. It was an awkward one. He regretted it the moment it escaped him.
Shae mirrored his laugh. "So…"
Liron blinked.
"How can I help you?"
"Oh, fuck. Of course. Ehr… Usually, I train in the morning, and our folk told me you'd be up for sparrin'. I heard you're… you know, tough as iron, so I hoped you could help me a bit."
The corner of her lips twitched. "Tough as iron?"
"That's… a compliment. I mean, it was meant as one."
Again, this look she gave him. She seemed amused. Was this a good thing? "Sure, I will spare with you."
There was some hesitation in her still, but as he summoned his black blade, it vanished. His parents had both talked to him once, each on their own, trying to advise him to court a girl his age.
"Be kind, be there for her, and just be yourself," his ma had told him.
"Be arrogant and a bit cocky. Women love this," his pa had told him.
"Don't worry," he said, "I have dulled the edges. It won't cut."
Shae, for the first time, grinned. Liron could feel his heart beating up to his throat. She summoned her claws, taking an open palm stance. "At least you are confident. Come."
Liron coated his back in smoke, sending tiny clouds to his feet. He exploded himself forward. The blast was weak but strong enough to boost his dash, accelerating him. He reached Shae within a second, blade raised high for a downward hau. Liron struggled to comprehend what happened after, but he found himself face-first in the sand.
Unlike him, Shae had mastered using her Magic in subtle ways. She danced around him, knocked him off-balance with her storm, and swept his legs away. Similar to him, she used her wind to strengthen her attacks.
As Liron pulled his face free, Shae had created distance between them. Her feet were coated in her lion's claws, storm wind encircling them. They carried her slightly off the ground, making her hover as she did her footwork. She moved with no clear pattern, darting around the field. Predicting her would be a nightmare.
But he still had his trap.
He dashed after her, his blast carrying him forward. Shae prepared herself for her next counter, but Liron stopped short, clashing with her, using an explosion to shoot sand into her. Her dancer's reflexes allowed her to block the attack in time, the wind clearing the sand cloud. But no storm could block light.
Liron closed his eyes, exploding his flash bomb. It was still a far cry from the ones Angin was using, but it fulfilled its purpose. This close, it was bright enough to blind Shae, making her shriek. Her smile didn't vanish, though.
She took a defensive stance, relying on her hearing alone. Liron split a smoke cloud away from the one on his back, making it explode. The sound distracted Shae, and Liron rushed her from the opposite side. He never saw the kick coming. Shae delivered it to him without turning, her foot crushing into his stomach.
The wind shot him upwards, letting him fly. Liron used up his smoke coat, cushioning his fall. But as he fell on his ass, a single claw was at his throat. Shae had not moved.
She rubbed her eyes, her vision returning to her. "I'm an Initiate, Liron. I can summon my Conduit from whatever resembles the Property of my Gate. And wind is everywhere."
Liron giggled, dismissing his Conduit, accepting defeat. "How did you know from which angle I would strike?"
"First, it is an obvious one," she said, walking towards him. "Second, I surrounded myself in little gusts of wind. As you came closer, I felt it brush against you, telling me where you are."
She stopped in front of him, beaming. Their little fight had freed her from whatever kept her warmth locked up. She offered him a hand. Liron took it, but he immediately wanted to pull her to the ground, using his superior size and weight to win. But she read him like an open book, twisting his arm, putting him in a hold.
Her knee pressed against his neck, she laughed. "Do you yield?"
Liron couldn't help himself, joining her. "I do, I do. You win."
She released him and helped him up for real this time. "That was fantastic," she said. "You are a Wizard for only weeks, and you can use your Conduit and Spell to this extent? You already figured out how to use your Magic to boost your movement."
Liron was taken aback. Gone was the stoic Janloon girl he had met yesterday. Shae smiled, overflowing with passion. She deconstructed Liron's Spells and Magic, analyzing every detail. She was bubblier than Emma when she had nipped on pa's beer.
Liron summoned his black blade, letting Shae examine it. "Transforming the smoke into a longsword. You take the aspects of your Conduit and reconstruct them into a larger object immediately upon becoming a Wizard."
"Ye… yeah, sure. I did intend this."
Shae gave him a mischievous smile. Harras, Liron feared turning red. "But why a knife? Why not just a sword?"
Liron dismissed the blade, summoning his knife back in his hand. He ran his finger over its surface, remembering how flawless it had once looked. "It was the last thing my ma gave me. It was in our family for a few generations. Was meant for my uncle, but he died. My ma gave it to me when I joined a wolf hunt. She wanted to give me fightin' chance should I fuck up. It saved my life then and has done so many times again."
Liron's story knocked the joy out of Shae. She looked down, wringing her hands. "Oh… I… I'm sorry I asked."
"You don't have to be. It's good memories… I guess. It's a reminder of what I once had. I didn't appreciate it then, but it allows me to do so now."
"I get that," she said, her head lowered.
They stood a few feet apart. It felt like continents. Liron chewed his gum. Something troubled her. That he could see. And he wanted nothing else but to continue talking to her. His body cramped at the idea, but he dared to ask either way.
"Your Conduit," he said after a pause. "It's also very special to you, right?"
Shae summoned the mask, shrinking it so it fit into her hands. "Yes. It was meant for something… more," she said. She wanted to brush it but hovered her hands above it. As if her touch would stain it. "We should go back to the others."
Liron closed his eyes, knowing he had fucked up. She hurried past him. Liron rubbed his face, knowing whatever he could say would worsen it.
"Liron?" Shae said.
Now it was Liron's turn to startle. "Y… yeah?"
"We will avenge your parents."
Liron turned to her. Her brilliant eyes had dimmed, storm clouds hiding the vivid starry sky. "I mean it. We will avenge them all. Whatever it takes."