63 Underdressed?

HAELAN POV

I stared at my bare hands shaking like a leaf. Looking down from the tower I gaped in disbelief. Once again, I proved to myself that I can things on my own without relying on my powers. And for some reason, I find the rain no longer a burden little by little.

My mother's right.

There will be times that I won't be able to use them, and so my world shouldn't stop turning whenever the wind doesn't answer to the flick of my hand, or when the greens don't answer my call.

We were so high as if we could get easily fried by lightning. Completing these tasks are so self-fulfilling. Atrius and Jacomus went on their way to the healing spring. Jac tried to convince me several times to join them but gladly, Atrius made him go without me.

Atrius continued to act odd today. He kept staying by my side and treated me with extra care. Wondering if friends are supposed to be that way. He's Freya to me, only he's brotherly.

Feeling sore and numb, I dragged my feet to our chambers as I hear my drenched boots squish in every step. Despite the rain have finally stopped, the wind continued to blow heavily. It felt like a great storm is coming in. Walking through the corridors with burning torches on the walls, I stopped at the open arched window to peer at the blue skies as they turn dark. After a long strenous day, it still ends with such beauty. Thinking about it, another day has come by and I'm still here.

With my wet brocade hanging over my shoulder, I walked further through the covered parapet walk going to our chambers. However, at the end of the hallway near the entrance of the warriors' quarters, I saw Stellan standing closeby wearing his black armor. Looking around, I wondered if I missed something. Seems to me, my training isn't over.

"Since you're a Paladin, you can get all three weapons.", he said as he threw a bow and a quiver with three arrows, a metal sword and a small axe. "The goal is easy. Win a fight against me", Stellan added.

"Any rules?", I asked as I drop down my brocade. Using axes isn't something I can excel with. Drawing an arrow is a so-so.

"As long as one of us gets knocked out, or could no longer fight… ", he said as he walk closer.

"Aren't I too underdressed?", I said as the metal of his armor clink while he walk.

"All enemies come in prepared, at your most vulnerable state", he uttered. He is completely protected from neck to feet, with only his head and joints being the most vulnerable points.

With no helm on, Stellan drew his sword as it glow in golden yellow. There's this blaze coming out of his sword that's mesmerizing. It's like a burning piece of metal without the flame. And for the first time, I'll be witnessing Stellan's power however, and unfortunately, it will be used against me.

I had so many fights and sparring ever since I arrived in Nether. I even feared for my life when I was up against Yiannis. Nevertheless, this swordfight with Stellan is quite different. Despite Stellan is pointing his sword against me, I neither felt danger or get the clause of being threatened by his presence.

He charged at me and in a blink of an eye, he disappeared. Next thing I knew, he's already inches from me. I've never seen such impressive velocity. How much power should be needed to gain such speed? Startled with his sudden appearance, I swung away as I fall on my back. He vanished again as I stood back up, then I sprinted all the way to the center to grab the sword Stellan left. However, Stellan hit it with an arrow beam as it slid away. Then, he attacked me with his glowing blade that forced me to shield myself with a blast of the wind. Stellan repelled few feet from me, his armor dented as I hit him.

"Nice", he smirked as the beam of his sword got bigger and longer. Does he have plans to kill me?

While he's taken aback, it gave me so much time to grab the sword and hold it against him. As I held the sword up, I was filled with fear that in one wrong move I may hurt him.

As he lunge again, I intercepted my metal blade against his. Blocking his sword with mine, I tried to nudge him away as I step forward. However, he didn't even budged an inch or sweat a little. I guess he's trying to measure how hard I hold the blade.

Stellan swiped his sword on me so many times. I tried to block them as hard as I can. As he lunge at me again, I blocked his sword with mine that started to glow. He backed up and gazed at my energy sword's radiance that's slowly glowing in blue. "This can't be", he said clearly.

Dodging his attacks as I keep a strong grip on my sword, I swerved away as I run on the walls. Then, he swiped his sword in the air, that sent a strong moving force that hit me. I dropped my sword as I flew against the wall across the hall. Spitting some blood as I struggle to get back on my feet, I took my sword and faced the mighty paladin. I guess he won't stop until he knocks me out, through all possible means.

Then once again, he vanished as he swiftly attacked me. As I turn where I expect him to appear, I held my sword nearing his face where my blade was about to lacerate his skin. Quickly, I twisted my wrist as I spin down my blade. Then, I tried to sprint out but he caught up right behind me. With his arm across my chest and his sword on my neck, I can feel is warm breaths on my right ear. "What are you doing?", Stellan said as if he noticed I never initiate any attack.

"Sword fighting", I said as I gasp.

"It's boring", he asked as he lower his sword and pushed me away. "Fight like a man", he ordered.

Then, I suddenly forced a windblast that pushed Stellan all the way back. In one swift move he stood up and nonchalantly walk towards me as he fire up his arrow beams. With the sword on my hand, I flourished the blade to block all the arrows coming to my direction. They were so strong, I can feel it's heavy weight and incredible depth.

Then, I lifted one hand to control the wind, as it violently swirl around the hallway. With one flick, I put out all the flames of the torches that dimmed the hallway. Stellan stopped firing, as I stopped spinning my sword. No lights to illuminate the place, just the sound of the whirldwinds rotating.

Sensing Stellan's aura, I approached him carefully. I could hear his rapid breaths, and the dissonance of his metal armor as he turn frequently. He even blasted several arrows all around, three to five arrows in every pull. Crouching on the floor, I waited for the perfect timing. Then, I jumped on him from behind startling Stellan.

"I win", I whispered in his ear as I wrap my arms around his shoulders.