Strikes came in rapid succession — kunai cutting through the air in arcs of flames. Each new one forcing Naren back a step. His sluggish body barely able to keep up. Thankfully, it seemed like Cairo was facing the same debilitating air as him. But now wasn't the time for relief.
Cairo feinted a high swing, Naren bit, stepping to the side. Immediately a low strike came — kunai driving right for his thighs.
Cairo followed through, but his kunai bit nothing. It rolled right through thin air. A foot away, Naren stood unscathed by the blade. It was a good thing that this cavern was made up of those tiny reflections, though with how tiny they were, they required way more concentration than a bigger one. What a bummer, he couldn't help but find it annoying.
He drove his fist into Cairo's liver with devastating force. This time it landed clean. Naren knew, from experience, no matter how tough you were, a shot to the liver was a shot to the liver. He hoped this was enough to get the ravenous man to step down, but he was gravely mistaken.
Cairo spun back, pivoting off his foot, driving his kunai into Naren's thigh. He used the damn momentum from the punch to drive his kunai with more force.
Naren crumbled. His body seemed to forget after the rush of adrenaline, but he was still injured. The fight with Soren never truly ran its course, only a small band aid placed on top. Well, Naren had never seen a band aid before, but from what Maren said the concept made sense to him.
Barely standing his ground, Naren was limping. Cairo was similarly not in the best shape, but definitely better. If only he also had a fight with a shaman right before. It wasn't fair. Even though, he clutched his stomach, Cairo still had the same devilish grin enveloping his face. If anything it got worse.
"You...smile way too much pal."
They came together again. Cairo's combinations were tighter now, less flourish, more intention — he'd clocked that Naren was fading and was pushing the pace to finish it. A high slash forced Naren's guard up. The follow through came low, dragging the kunai across his forearm.
Naren grabbed Cairo's wrist before he could pull back. Yanked him in. Too close for the kunai to matter. He threw a kick, right to Cairo's skull.
At the same time, Cairo threw his kunai to his other hand and dragged it at Naren's throat. They locked together, both burning through reserves neither of them had. A kunai to Naren's throat, barely out of reach, and a leg hovering over Cairo's skull.
Naren's vision was starting to spot at the edges. Cairo's breathing had gone ragged against his ear. Neither of them could finish it. Neither of them could let go. He could teleport now, use reflections to try and move away, but either way he was trapped. He felt it, the moment he let his body breath for even a second he would fall.
Then a dagger flew past Cairo's ear.
The sound of it was small. Just a whisper of air and then the distant clatter of it hitting the cavern wall somewhere behind him. Cairo went still. Naren went still. The lock between them held for one more second before both of them just — stopped. Too tired to keep going. Too tired to decide anything.
Cairo's eyes moved to Vera. Letting go of Naren after seeing what was in her hand.
Vera was standing there with a katana in her hand. It had a hilt reminiscent of flower petals and a blade that was...broken. Naren couldn't help but sigh. Talk about being useless. A failed surprise attack and now a broken weapon.
He heard her contemplating before. Deciding what was a better weapon, but was this really the answer she came up with?
However, his thoughts were interrupted by heat. Looking down Naren's crimson scarf was engulfed in flames. Quickly, he unwrapped it and stomped out the flames as best he could. It was evident that Naren never took good care of the scarf. It was torn and dirty. However, this one act had hinged on him. There was no longer thoughts of safety or rationale.
Naren quietly wrapped his scarf around him, his face dark. How damaged his body didn't matter anymore, the pain was gone. He lost all interest in it. His muscles fired to their full potential despite the heavy air and adamant protest.
A blur shot out connected with Cairo's knee sending him stumbling. His balance breaking for the first time. Following suit, boxing combinations flowed instinctively. Jab. Cross. Hook. Each one fast, precise, aimed at gaps in Cairo's defense.
Cairo blocked the first two. The hook caught him in the ribs. He exhaled sharply, flames flickering for a moment. But he didn't go down.
He dropped one kunai, grabbed Naren's wrist mid-punch, and yanked him forward. His forehead slammed into Naren's. Stars burst in Naren's vision. His ears rang. But he didn't let out.
As soon as Cairo backed off even slightly, three swift kicks fired off: Legs, body, and neck. Each consecutive one throwing Naren more and more off balance, hurting him just as much. At the same time, Cairo lashed out with his one kunai, slashing across Naren's forearm.
They both stumbled back breathing heavily. But Cairo's attention was facing elsewhere. He was fixed on Vera.
"Put it away. Or else I'll drop you next."
Naren pushed forward, but his foot caught. his exhaustion caught up to him as he stood their, heaving. His golden eyes were fixed on Cairo, a murderous glee that was never present before. Something about that scarf was enough to set him off.
This katana meant something to the man. That much Vera understood. That means she had something here, some way to be of use.
"I-I'm really strong."
"Like I give a damn."
Vera had to think of something. Something to say to get these two to stop fighting. Something to get this situation under control. She tried thinking but nothing stuck. The broken katana in her hand was all she had.
She hovered the katana over the flames of the burning worm. Examining Cairo face, she could see his grin losing it's hold.
"I'll burn this."
The edge of the blade grew closer to the flames. Vera's hand quivering from the heat.
"P-promise you won't kill me."
The embers flickered off Cairo's eyes. Sure he could kill the girl right now, but he couldn't risk the katana falling into the flames. Not without the scabbard protecting it. He raised his hands in defeat.
"Fine, I give."
Vera finally relaxed a little, before clenching the katana tighter. Now what though. There was no telling if he would really follow through. But as if reading her mind, Cairo spoke again.
"Don't believe me? I'd rather slit my throat than lie."
She couldn't help but have to believe him. There was no other choice. She finally removed the sword from the flames.
Though Naren was having completely different thoughts. If it wasn't for the damage done to his body he would be at Cairo's throat by now. Instead he stood there, watching him, estimating his next moves.
Cairo turned his attention to him reflecting those golden pupils.
"We got a problem?"
To hell with it. Naren took another step forward, disregarding the pain in his body. Every inch of his being screaming at him to stop. He stared at Cairo with disdain. Following his gaze right to his burned scarf.
"That's a wicked scarf. I didn't realize it before."
Suddenly, his previous persona dissipated. Simple words.
"Yeah it's neat isn't it."
"Woah dawg, that color is so nice. With the ragged look it looks so cool."
They both fell to the ground right next to each other by the fire. Naren wincing from pain.
"I was right about you pal, you're not a bad dude at all."
"Nah man, we musta really been brothers in another life."
The tension between them had completely disappeared as Vera looked on dumbfounded. The same two who were at each other's throats were now best friends, as if nothing at all happened. She couldn't help but feel a little stupid, seeing how easily the tone had shifted, as she sat next to Naren.
Naren gave her head a chop with his hands. Landing a soft but still slightly painful blow. He's been holding onto this the whole time.
Vera held her head looking at Naren with the same dumbfound expression as before.
"Ow! Why—"
Naren spoke in a mocking tone, pitching his voice lower while rocking his head. Clearly annoyed.
"Sir, I wasn't trying to trick you."
Vera gazed at Naren for a little. She always took him to be the kind that didn't care about anything. She never expected him to get mad at that.
Cairo pulled another clump of meat from the corpse which was pretty much burned by now and threw it Naren. Then another to Vera. Vera immediately dropped hers from the heat, but Naren continued to juggle his like playing hot potato.
"Take another bite, it's nasty, but it's food."
"We have to get some better food."
"I'm saying. That's gotta be first up."
"I'm so glad we met. This cold was really getting to me."
The two bantered on like long lost friends. Completely oblivious to what was happening above ground.
Slowly light returned to the fog stained world, bringing about a dim new day. With it, several figures in masks walked along the surface. Some rode beast of their own while others walked. They all surrounded one especially large creature in the middle, carrying a wagon on it's back. Behind them, one of the worm creatures were being dragged through the snow. Each of them were female.
"I can feel it. There's a tainted near."
The one who spoke turned to a woman beside her.
"What should we do?"
"Isn't it obvious? We sacrifice him to the lord."