4 Mischief

After a fun evening with the demons, in the lounge cave, Kita was able to return to the shack without issue.

That night was like the last few she had. She would toss and turn for an hour or two, but eventually doze off. Then, she'd wake up at an early hour. It wasn't optimal, but in comparison to the way her nights were in Sybilius, they actually felt pleasant.

The next morning, things were quick to get going. Seyber responded to last night's discussion about training by inviting her back into the fortress. There, Kita could take notes on the way they fought, just to get an idea.

Although now, things were getting a bit out of hand.

She, as well as every demon but the twins, were in the training cave. It was a large, circular area. One large exit led to a tunnel, while at the back of the room, there was a downward-sloped trail that turned into a descending staircase about halfway down. Weapon racks and dummies lined the walls.

Kita was on the sidelines, while Jem was angrily muttering next to her. Apparently, she was the only one who didn't like this. Kita, however, couldn't help watching with a sense of both worry and excitement, but mainly curiosity.

'Out of all the times I've watched them train, I've never seen this.'

Timbur stood at the center of the room, while Seyber, Scorch, and Zin surrounded him, their weapons unsheathed. Scorch was the only one different than usual, as a firearm was unsuitable for sparring. Instead, he held a basic silver sword. He clearly didn't enjoy it, but didn't say anything to complain.

This idea came after Zin started joking, as he always did, but then decided to dig his heels in and taunt harder. Timbur, ever-angry and quick to retort, couldn't help taking that as a challenge.

"How is Seyber involved, and I'm not?" Jem muttered. "I'm telling you all right now, it's impossible! You're a tough one, Timbur, but even you couldn't do that much."

"Watch me," Timbur taunted. "Now it's a matter of defending my title, anyways."

"You don't even like your title!" Jem argued. "Whenever anyone calls you 'lord,' you smack them! Just cut it out before you embarrass yourself, will you? I don't think Leiytning could manage this, much less his tiny apprentice."

"Shut it; my size is irrelevant!" Timbur snapped. "And now you made it a fight to defend my master, so hell no! For the record, if you're really so nervous, why the hell would you recommend it?!"

"I didn't!" Jem insisted. "This was Zin's dumb idea!"

Naturally, Zin was giddy. "It's not dumb! This is genuine fun!"

Surprisingly, Seyber agreed, "I honestly think he could do it. Even his free time is just more training. I'm not doing this because I'm a cruel prankster, like you, but I am really curious about how far he's come."

Jem rolled her eyes. "Fine, but don't blame me if you accidentally kill our beta."

Timbur sneered, "I'm more afraid of this going the other way around."

"Cocky demon," Jem muttered. "You're going to get yourself killed."

"I think it may be possible," Kita remarked. "Timbur's surprised me, so far."

"Overruled, Jem!" Zin chimed. "This is happening!"

That being said, the challenge finally began, with the moment they had been waiting for. Timbur covered his seafoam-green eyes with a blindfold, then unsheathed his machete and tucked one arm behind his back. Jem only rolled her eyes, confident that he would lose.

Zin made a few gestures, some vulgar, but Timbur didn't acknowledge them in the slightest.

Jem crossed her arms, muttering, "'I could fight you blind with one arm,' he said. Maybe one, but not four of us at once."

Seyber looked uneasy. "I guess, now that I'm actually looking at this, it's beginning to seem like a bad idea."

"This is a matter of redeeming honor, now," Timbur argued. "Don't start a fight you can't finish, cowards! Also, don't underestimate me in the field of combat; if there's one thing I can do right, it's that. For four's sake, I'm a beta with Leiytning as a mentor!"

Zin flipped his golden sword in hand. "Then let's test it, shall we?"

"Go ahead," said Timbur.

At first, no one made a move. Kita couldn't blame them. Even though she wanted to watch this, if she had to attack a handicapped warrior without hurting him, she would also find it nerve-wracking.

After a moment, though, it began for good.

Zin launched the first attack. He charged, sword aimed at Timbur's throat. This was only sparring, of course, so he would stop before the blade came too close. However, he was surprised by the result.

Timbur's ear twitched once, then he actually met Zin's attack perfectly and thrust him back. As he heard something else, he spun back just in time to block a strike from Scorch. Seyber got close with her daggers, but he dodged that, and then met Scorch's next attack.

Even though it was sparring, and the beta had no vision and one arm, the fight was intense. Timbur was incredibly fast and agile, and wasn't slowed down at all. Often, an attack would come close to striking, but he would always find a way around it.

Kita thought, 'Incredible! Although he's not striking back. I guess he does have to be more careful; he has to strike perfectly, without really hurting anyone.'

Timbur flipped back, kicking Zin in the process. That made him wheeze and gasp.

Kita laughed. 'I bet he was happy to do that, though!'

Zin attempted a jumping strike, but Timbur was too fast and moved out of the way. As he dodged another attack from Seyber, he thrust his blade out to the side.

The blade's end was pointed at Scorch's neck, making the ginger demon freeze. Even though he lost, Scorch's good nature got the best of him. He stepped aside with a happy look.

"Well played, T," he remarked.

Kita gasped, "He's actually winning!"

"Idiot," Jem muttered, but couldn't resist her slight smirk.

Zin attempted to move as silently as possible, but as soon as he swung his sword down, Timbur blocked it without even having to turn to face him. While he was distracted, Seyber attacked, but Timbur shoved Zin back, moved out of Seyber's way, then swung the blade at Zin's throat before he could recover.

Zin glared at the sight of the sword being held just in front of his neck, and slowly stepped aside.

"I know I hit you, idiot," Timbur spoke. "You can at least do this fairly."

Zin muttered something under his breath, but retreated without arguing.

Seyber was the only one left, which made sense. She would be a much tougher opponent in this situation, which was ironic given her usual disadvantages in battle. She was fast and quiet, so he would have trouble hearing her. She also had dual weapons, while he only had one available arm. Even so, Timbur refused to give up, impatiently flipping his machete.

"Are you sure you want to keep this up?" Asked Seyber. "Zin and Scorch are easy for you, but I'm a lot tougher."

Timbur smirked. "Then prove it."

Seyber sighed, then rushed forward like a quiet, icy breeze.

Timbur didn't detect her until the last moment, when he just barely stopped her attack. It was another arduous round of sparring. Seyber was clearly using her advantages the best she could, and they were proving effective. Timbur was coming closer to getting hit, but still barely managed to avoid the fake attacks.

Timbur attempted a counterattack, aiming for the neck, but Seyber easily dodged, then attacked from the side.

However, she panicked; she had almost grazed his arm. As she fell back, scared, Timbur detected it. He tripped Seyber, kept her arms pinned on the ground with one leg, and held the machete to her neck. Seyber dropped her weapons in the process, leaving her completely disarmed.

"You were saying?" Asked Timbur.

Seyber only grunted, then freed herself and picked up the two daggers.

Zin sighed, "I'll admit it! That was pretty impressive."

"Impressive?" Asked Scorch. "That was incredible!"

"I got distracted because I almost hit him," Seyber insisted. "Regardless, I will admit that was very well-fought." She tousled Timbur's hair. "Our lil' guy had some tricks, after all."

Timbur growled angrily, "So help me, Seyber..."

Kita thought it was over, but evidently not. She watched Jem leave her position, creeping very silently across the room. When in range, she unsheathed her blade-tipped mace.

When Timbur was right in front of her, still fighting with Seyber, she braced herself for a silent -though very fake- attack. She readied herself, then swung up hard.

However, the mace suddenly bounced back, cracking her wrist.

A double-take showed that Timbur had his machete aimed at an awkward angle, blocking the attack.

"Nice try," he spoke. "I'll assume this is Zin?"

Jem sneered, sheathing her mace. "Try again, Lord Timbur."

"Better luck next time, Jem!" Kita remarked.

"I thought you said it was dumb to do this," Zin taunted.

"Yes, but-"

"What are you idiots doing?"

Timbur removed his blindfold, far more alert. He knew the familiar voice was Leiytning's. Just as expected, the leader had just entered the room.

Zin flinched. "When the hell did you get here?! Stop sneaking around, weasel!"

Scorch stepped up. "Leiyt, what the hell do you teach your apprentice? He managed to fight three -er, four of us. No vision, one arm behind him, and he actually won!"

Zin gained a childish smirk, clicking his tongue. "I could do that."

Scorch rolled his eyes. "Zin, you can hardly beat me in sparring, and I was first out of this recent match." He seemed unsure. "Although, I'm terrible with stealth, so maybe that's why."

"What do you expect?" Zin remarked. "You're a giant fire elemental that doesn't know how to whisper. Anyways, is this turning into a bet?"

Timbur ignored his mischievous siblings, speaking more discreetly to his master. "Is something the matter?"

"Not much," Leiytning replied. "Simply, I need to know if the two informants told you anything else. I'm meeting with another one on that matter, and I need to know any details."

"I think I told you everything," Timbur responded. "If there was more, they were hiding it. Although, why don't I come with you, just in case?"

"Something tells me you won't enjoy that," Leiytning replied. "Whatever, though. I'm leaving now, if you really want."

Timbur nodded. "Of course, I'm not doing anything worthwhile here, anyway." He muttered, "And neither are they."

"I heard you were the head of this altercation," Leiytning replied.

"That's different," Timbur insisted. "I was defending my title. Both our titles, actually."

"Whatever, as long as their training stays up to date. The rest of..." Leiytning just facepalmed. "Four have mercy."

Zin was blindfolded, arguing with Scorch, who held a sword's blade at Zin's throat. Jem was caught up in the argument, but they all froze by now.

"Scorch started it!" Zin cried.

"Oh, that's hilarious!" Scorch retorted.

"You both did, moron!" Jem snapped.

As they argued, Leiytning's ear twitched. "See what happens when you encourage them?"

Timbur grunted. "Noted."

"Zin's acting cocky again," Scorch remarked. "In other words, he needs his ass kicked. C'mon, Leiyt, chip in a little."

"Really?" Zin retorted, removing the blindfold. "You're not going to stand with me?"

"Hell no, you just sold me out!" Scorch argued.

Leiytning just muttered, "Of all the demons to be stuck with..."

"Watch it!" Zin snapped. "Alright, siblings, let's gang up. For vengeance, we can all take on this tyrannical leader!"

Jem sneered, "You can go ahead. I like my limbs where they are."

Zin laughed arrogantly. "I'd like to see the old man try anything. He'll probably throw out a joint before he does any real damage."

Leiytning's eye narrowed. "Excuse me?"

Timbur gained a sly look. "This is going to be good."

"Old man!" Zin taunted, but was clearly somewhat nervous.

Leiytning cracked his knuckles. "If you're so confident, why are you still standing there?"

As soon as he said that, Zin acted casual for a moment, then suddenly rushed forward with his sword.

However, Leiytning blocked the attack with his bare arm, faster than anyone could blink. Zin squealed, disgusted, then was shot back far by a well-delivered palm strike. He collapsed, breathless.

Scorch clapped some. "Alright, I like this."

"Traitor!" Zin yelled.

Scorch shrugged his shoulders. "I always have a neutral stance, Zin, I-" His ears pricked. "Wait, you're the one who betrayed me, a minute ago!"

"Nevermind!" Zin cried.

He shook it off and retrieved his sword. He tried to strike again, but Leiytning grabbed the blade with his metal hand, tripped Zin, and held one claw in his neck; the only thing keeping him from totally collapsing as he dangled helplessly. Scorch and Jem immediately started laughing.

"AH, stop!" Zin cried, writhing and flailing.

"Are you going to stop acting like an imperious dumbass?" Asked Leiytning, bluntly as ever.

Zin sneered, "Maybe."

Leiytning sighed, "Why do you like pain?"

Zin chuckled, obviously thinking perverted, but he stopped when Leiytning pinched some nerve that made him painfully paralyzed while his ears vibrated madly.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop!"

Zin immediately collapsed as Leiytning released him. He just stayed on the ground, groaning and rubbing where he'd been clawed.

Jem burst out laughing. "You look like a cat that just got scruffed!"

"Can't let them think too much of themselves, eh?" Timbur remarked.

Zin sat up. "That did nothing but make me shut up for now!"

"That so?" Asked Leiytning.

Zin shot up, cowering behind Scorch.

"Stop hiding behind me," Scorch argued, shoving him forward. "This is your fight, not mine."

Zin looked irate. "Thanks a lot, so glad you have my back."

"Not when it involves other siblings," Scorch insisted.

Leiytning ignored them, glancing at a nearby clock. "If you three idiots weren't so busy doing nothing, then you'd realize it's well past eight a.m."

"What?!" Jem exclaimed. "Meadow patrol, now!"

"Hopeless," Leiytning muttered, as the three rushed past him. "Seyber, you're free for now, but be sure to take the mortal back out when you're finished."

"I was just about to," said Seyber. "Should I check on Thundur, too? It's been a while."

Leiytning nodded. "Make sure she's alright, update me when possible."

"No problem," Seyber replied, while Leiytning left with Timbur. She then turned to Kita, who was still laughing from everything that happened.

"Who says demons don't have a sense of humor, huh?" Seyber teased.

Kita chuckled, "That's what I want to know."

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