I was the one they had hope in. Hope to help stop Rainbow. Because I… unlike the others, hadn't lost my powers.
So I run as fast as I can, through the forest.
But Wyrom and Leo… they were the ones expected to end it. Each of THEM. One after the other. But I… I had to fight, even when I couldn't cause such harm.
The bottom of my foot turns hard, to make it easier for me… and not feel the pain waiting at the forest floor.
I wanted to push everyone… but now having the spotlight, I could tell how it felt. The pressure wasn't exterior, it was caused by my own mind.
Yet I swing my axe while jumping, and land it into my enemy's hand.
"Strong form," Wyrom praises me, while not really struggling too much to hold me off. "If not for my gauntlets, I'd surely be bleeding."
Everybody else would be using weapons, so Raigo forged him such heavy duty gauntlets for the job. Not like the weight would be anything to him. He wasn't invincible at least, so he needed these.
I try to lose his grip, even when I knew I couldn't. So while attempting the stupid plot, I swing the handle of the axe to his face, somehow, and he loses his grip.
Taking the opportunity I swing the axe towards his throat, but he moves sideways while holding the handle of my axe with one hand, and punches its head, sideways, dismantling the two.
I take a quick step back, to avoid getting hit by the separated head of the axe.
"You fucker," I say.
"We did get close, but can we not?"
As Wyrom taps his fists towards me, I wear his own fists and block – yet, be was wearing gauntlets to the effect, so it was hard. Understanding my difficulty, he switches to light taps instead. And we go hand-in-hand, where he still keeps his speed and tests mine.
"So," I say, using my knee to push him away. "What do you think that vision was?"
Wyrom tries to stomp my foot – but I evade, so he punches me from his arm's side – basically pushing me away.
"I thought we agreed on not talking about it."
"We did?" I ask, ducking. "That was so free for a punch in your balls, just so you know."
"Didn't you see my thighs blocking such a thing?" Wyrom asks, trying to catch me by my leg.
"We both can clearly multitask, so let's talk. We never talk otherwise, anyway," I say, placing my leg to his neck, while smirking. He backs away, accepting that it'd be his defeat.
"Well," Wyrom says, signalling me to start another round – and I push towards him. "Could be just a threat. A trap of the mind. We can't say he has future sight or whatever, that's like having powers of time."
"True," I say, punching his chest – while he backs away. "So you think it was just a fake?"
"Either way… We need to keep Skyto away from that guy. We… because I can't just do it alone," Wyrom holds my hand and twisting it ever-so-slightly, he kicks me from my back.
"But letting him handle a sword like Trapzedrun's… wouldn't that give ideas to face someone with similarities?" I ask, after kicking him away from behind me too – while escaping his grip.
"Good thinking. But can be a fair fight. That's the hope, at least. You with me?"
"Done," I say, and he holds my leg, and holds me upside down. "You should've helped with Skyto's training I feel. Give him a better idea. Did you see the vision deeper?"
"I don't know… weapons aren't my thing. I think his teacher is… fine. Skyto is a good learner."
"Okay," I say. "Now put me down. I won't hold back from punching your balls."
Wyrom places me down carefully. "Don't you want me to have kids?"
"Oh, you planning on having kids?"
"Aren't you?"
I pause and stare at him, feeling a little heat and a frown take over the sides of my face.
"N-no," Wyrom says, backing away with his hands in front of his chest. "I don't mean that way."
"Oh… okay. I thought you… mistook the… hug." Like Spythun.
"Oh… yes… what was that about?"
I look at him, and watch the little kid he was… he still was that little kid. But he was too hard on himself, just like I was on him.
"I realised I was hard on you. So felt sorry. Felt like a bad friend."
"Well," Wyrom chuckles after some silence. "We are sparring, right? How better can the friendship get?"
"Aw…" I say. "Don't get your hopes high, enemy… I'm punching you."
"I'd like you to try," Wyrom makes a determined smirk.
***
The forest chips and whistles a beautiful song, as grunts and groans fill my surrounding.
"Leg," Szen calls, while chopping towards my leg. I evade with a hair's breadth.
Szen looks towards me, sweaty and tired – breathing for the life of me. And he pauses the spar.
"I'm sorry," I say.
Szen holds his sword to the ground, in front of him – and bows a little to me.
"We could take a little break. Have you eaten today?"
That makes me sigh loudly, and Szen looks taken aback.
"I'm sorry," Szen bows again. "That should've been my initial question."
"You wanted to test me. Not everybody out there would duel in a mannerly way."
"I thank you for understanding, sire."
"Wyrom asked you to, didn't he?" I ask, and look at Szen frown a little. "Not too hard to guess. Besides, I don't blame you."
"It is not about blame, dear Skyto," Szen says, and looks at the tree behind me. "The sun provides its rays to the tree. But if a tree grew in shade, it'd never get it."
I try to make sense of it… it makes sense even… but I was confused of how that applied here.
"You do not need to think of somebody doing this or that to you. Worried people will be worried. Kind people will be kind. Just don't stand away, in the shade."
"But is that all?" I ask, feeling a little frustrated. "They… they did good. Good people. They deserve something for the goodness."
"The tree can't really do too much for the sun," Szen looks at the tree, and then back at me. "Lucky you… you aren't just a tree. But being the Primeval that you are… don't chase after the sun. Let it be as is. Don't greed for more than what is to be given."
I nod understandingly. And then I pick my sword up again.
As I go sword-in-sword with Szen, I realise… how wrong the world is. I'm sure the want for powers… powers are so powerful. They make you so powerful, give you such importance. But we ignore the aspects which everyone has.
Szen was a Shrouder. An outcast. Living among the Born-sos – the Reptile-evolved, the peaceful creatures. He wasn't alone, so many were thrown out for not being… dragons. For being born this way.
Yet Szen had talent. He was such a good warrior. He really could use this weapon. That wasn't all, he was kind. He didn't show me respect for being some prince. Well, he may deep-down… but he was nice to all of us.
He helped me learn how to lift the weapon, how to swing it around. How to find the strength, the grip – it was all about putting you chest and gut into it. He made me understand that the weapon was slow, so each swing mattered.
"Alright," Szen says, holding his sword's blade towards the ground. "You win… again."
And I had… learnt from him.
"You are great," I lower my sword and bow and deep bow. "Thank you for teaching me."
"Knowledge is everywhere, like sunlight. Reflecting through the moon, even at night. You just have to see it," Szen says, and smiles to me. "I'm happy for you have indeed not been blind and observed it. Used it better than the sun."
"If it won't be a weird question…" I ponder, while looking at his reaction.
"Ah, yes, it is funny with the names and a streamed set of phrases, right? I'm glad it twitched your ears, as it was supposed to. But it is more than sattire."
I nod. "I guessed that. But my pondering didn't help for an answer."
"It is nice to look at the whole spectrum, but… have you thought of how the sunrays could burn us if it were streamed?"
"Ah…" I think to myself, trying to understand that. "You mean it'd make life better to have a linear path."
Szen shrugs. "It's boring. Everyone chooses what they want. Choosing a linear helps me find my goal easier. Not choosing one means you could reach so many. But a simplified stream of thoughts help, yes. That is what all the Born-sos believe, and so us."
"And what is your goal?"
Szen stares at me, while parting his lips slightly… and then smiles for a good moment. "Do you wish to know it… for it might inspire your goal?"
I don't say a word, and wonder if he meant it'd be a good or a bad thing.
"You can look at other trees do as they do with the sunlight… but then you'd be limited to be that tree."
"Can't I at least gaze at its solution to the sunlight?"
"You can… but I'm afraid only my novice skills can be of any help. I do not wish to go on a path of Rahambose."
"I'm sorry."
"Oh no… honestly, none of us could blame Lithin. We relate to him. And I'm afraid that the universe does not wish for you to relate with Rahambose, like us."
"You know of my parents?"
"Doesn't everyone?" Szen smiles. "I wish… for how you mastered the skill like I myself never did… you master thoughts different than us. Beyond our comprehension. And I'm sorry to expect it from you."
I just wear a wry smile, as Szen takes his leave.