18 It's Over

Clay:

I saw the smug look on Eyvind's face and I could feel my chest tightening. More than anything I wanted to whip that look off of his face. With the swords in my hands, nothing but brute force ahead. I felt right at home. The gawking audience ignited a fire inside of me. I couldn't help but smile. I wanted this fight. I needed it.

I readied my swords, taking a fighting stance as Cecelia stepped forward. She raised her hand, her eyes narrowing as she shifted her gaze between us. "Alright! If you're both ready…"

3

I tensed my muscles, focusing on my opponent. My heart thumped.

2

1

"Fight!"

As the last syllable left her lips, I pushed hard off of the ground and charged towards Eyvind. He waited patiently, loosely, like to him I was moving in slow motion. I didn't overthink it. That was never my forte anyways. Using the momentum of my body, I lifted the sword from off my shoulder and used gravity as well as momentum to make the sword swing with forceful speed.

I saw Eyvind's eyes widened, for only a moment. As soon as his expression shifted, it turned back to that same laxed smirk. He took a small step back, just small enough where the blade barely whisked past his chest. Despite the close call, the move looked like it was all calculated.

The moment the momentum from the heavy sword left me open, Eyvind weaved through the blade. With perfect timing, with a flow like water, a raging wave rushing past the rocks. Using nothing but pure instinct, pure reaction time, I pulled the sword in my other hand across my body to block the blade.

When his blade struck mine, I used its weight to fling Eyvind's blade to the side. However, to my surprise the moment his sword shifted to the side the one in his other hand came baring down on me. It was coming for my neck. I held my breath and kicked his chest. It was enough to throw off his aim, his sword slashing across my bicep.

He slid back from the force of my kick, I stumbled back feeling hot blood run down my arm. The burning sensation was a familiar feeling. The throbbing pain doing nothing but sharpening my senses. I took a few deep breaths as I watched Eyvind stand back up tall and proud.

"You use your foot in a sword fight? You are indeed, a complete brute." Eyvind said, his eyes piercing. Looking down on me.

"Strange… that a bug could manage to push you back like that. Maybe that means you're something smaller than a bug. Dirt, maybe?" I sneered. My words were fueled by poison.

As soon as I said that, something changed in Eyvind. His eyes shifted, from this look of superiority to pure fury. Something overtook him, like I wasn't looking at a student anymore, but a wild animal filled with bloodlust. Yet, prideful. Like a lion, a wild beast but… still the king of beasts.

"It looks like I have to put you in your place, slave boy." Eyvind spat. For the first time, he was the one who went on the offensive. I swallowed my anger so I could keep focused.

He charged at me, but despite knowing he was angry he still had this strange calmness about him. As he charged, I tried to use his momentum against him. I knew he couldn't stop on a dime. This was my chance.

I crossed my arms, the swords cocked upwards. Their weight was crushing, but I knew using gravity in my favour would make their size my advantage. I waited as he approached, one more step. As soon as he was in range, I slashed my swords towards him.

I knew it was a dead hit, with the speed he was running at. I would connect. All I needed was to connect. To my surprise, Eyvind sored through the sky. Jumping over my swords and twisting over my body. I already had so much momentum going forward, the weight of the swords also carrying my body, making it impossible for my legs to stop moving.

I could hear Eyvind land behind me, a thump across the ground. I widened my eyes, I was still off balance but tried to turn around as quickly as I could. As soon as I turned to face him, Eyvind slashed his sword across my chest.

I felt the burning sensation from my right shoulder, all the way down to my left hip. I felt the burning throughout my body, the burn even rising in my throat. When I tried to inhale I gagged on my own blood. For some reason, the weight of the swords suddenly felt a lot heavier.

I could feel my grip slipping, my fingers loosening around the handles as a loud clunk echoed through my ears. As soon as it did, I felt like the energy drained from my body. My legs become weak, my body collapsing onto my knees.

"Just as I expected… You're weak… you are not fit to be part of this academy." Eyvind sneered.

I gripped my chest, feeling the hot blood pouring down my chest and onto my arm. The feeling like I was drowning, my airpipe filled with liquid. I coughed again, seeing the blood splatter onto the ground beneath me. "Damn you…" I choked. "I'm not weak!"

Eyvind took a step closer. His eyes glaring. "Idiot!" He spat, placing his sword against my throat. "Get it through your thick skull! You don't belong here! Lynne should have never taken pity on you."

I glared up at him with as strong a look as I could muster. My vision began to blur, my mind started to scramble. I… didn't want to lose. I couldn't lose. I grabbed the blade that was against my throat. No… I could still fight. I had to still fight.

"Clay!"

I could hear a voice… it sounded like it belonged to Lynne. But it sounded faded, so far away.

"It's over."

//I needed to win.//

"This academy… Isn't for the likes of you."

//This pain…//

"What are you doing!? The fight is over! Cecelia! Call it off! Call it off now!"

//It's so…//

"That look… So, you still haven't given up." The blurred figure in front of me raised his other arm, weapon tightly in hand. "Then I'll make sure this lesson…"

//Familiar…//

"Is engraved //into your soul!"

That man... with short white hair and a dark, commanding voice. Those words… his voice… it blended with Eyvind's.

I was back in the shed. Small... scared... in pain…

In front of me, stood my master.//