Chapter 28

I don't know how and why this happened or why did I even agree, but I found myself in a circular room made entirely with blue and white panel-like constructs.

Starfire pressed a button and a weapon rack was revealed, filled with training weapons.

Starfire: If you don't have a preferred weapon or can't find it on the rack, I recommend the staff. It really helps clear the mind.

She casually walked to the rack and picked a bo staff with a smile.

I walked next to her and without hesitation picked up the same weapon. The smile on her face turned to an aggressive smirk.

Widening the gap between us by a few steps we both got into different stances. Hers looked like it balanced offence and defense and I utilized the style of the traditional Nerazim shadow scythe even if my weapon didn't have the bladed parts.

Starfire: Go!

We dashed towards each other and our staves collided. She spun the staff and jabbed forward. I parried to the right and used the motion to sweep at her legs.

Easily jumping over my attack and using the window that my unsuccessful strike gave her, she retaliated with her own wide attack.

I began losing ground since my weapon and my technique didn't match perfectly. Still, she was one of the most formidable and skilled opponents I've faced to date.

At some point, I noticed that her skin glistening from sweat made her even more alluring and it gave me pause.

"What is WRONG with me!?"

Berating myself in my mind, I shook my head to dispel such thoughts and opened my mouth to speak only to close it instantly and block a jab to my face.

Voranis: If you're tired, we can stop.

My only options at this point were to either block or parry her aggressive assault. Still, this is one of the most fun times I've had in a while.

Starfire: What are you talking about? You should be careful not to slip on your sweat.

Voranis: Touchè.

An ideas came to mind so I might as well try it. I stomped my left food forward and as I began to charge, I slipped and lost my balance.

Not one to miss an opportunity, Starfire boldly took advantage of the gap in my defense and thrust forward.

Defeat was imminent but that was all part of my plan. Faking my 'accident', the foot that seemingly slipped became steady as a mountain. Narrowly dodging her all-out thrust, the tip of my staff stopped a few inches from her neck.

She blinked in disbelief but then smiled.

Starfire: You got me, I didn't expect that faint at the end.

Voranis: To be fair, you're much more skilled than me with the staff so I had to do something to even the odds.

Starfire: True, just before victory is the moment most drop their guard.

The last advice my mother gave me came to mind and the smile disappeared from my face.

Starfire: What's wrong?

Voranis: It's nothing, don't mind me.

She looked like she wanted to say something but in the end, Starfire didn't press the issue.

The door opened and an excited Jaime along with Beast Boy barged in.

Jaime: Voranis! Are you that armoured dude from Metropolis? I finally remembered where I've seen your armor before.

He had a tablet in his hand with two pictures on the screen. One of them was of my armor right before I lost consciousness and it disappeared and the other was a random picture of me on Metropolis.

Starfire raised her arm as if to reach them but before she could speak, Beast Boy asked.

Beast Boy: Why did you leave Metropolis? The city is great and even Superman is there!

Starfire's eyes widened and turned to look at me. My head hung low and my mind became a mess.

Voranis: Thank you for the spar but I have to go now.

I had to get out, I needed some air.

I got out of there without turning to look at them.

"Don't think about it, Don't think about it."

In my rush to leave, I got lost and that didn't help one bit.

The spar 'excited' my psionic power and the thought of them didn't help.

Faint bolts of lightning crackled around my body.

Voranis: Ugh!

I stumbled and the pressure made me kneel.

"Come on!"

Voranis: Don't think about it, don't think about it!

Dark scorch marks began appearing on the floor and walls close to me.

"Damn it Jaime!"

As my vision began to blur, the sound of a sliding door reached my ears and then I felt something cold on my back.

It surrounded my body and made my Dark Templar powers flare up.

"This feels familiar"

It WAS familiar. The coldness stabilized me and made both sides of my powers reach an equilibrium.

It was that woman, Raven, but unlike the first time, my Dark Templar powers didn't overload. It was just enough to counteract the out of control High Templar powers.

Raven: Breathe!

I did as was told. I breathed and as I did so, the pressure lessened.

Raven: You're doing good, breathe and relax.

I was so focused on that, that I didn't even notice that the others have also come here.

With her help and a bit of meditation, I pushed back those memories, those scenes and finally regained balance.

The cold feeling disappeared and I opened my eyes.

I was met with the worried faces of Starfire, Jaime and Beast Boy.

"Are they worrying that much for someone whom they just met?"

Voranis: Don't worry, I won't blow up the building.

Beast Boy: Don't worry about it, this place has been destroyed more times than I care to c-OW!

Jaime punched his arm and he stopped talking.

Starfire: Are you alright?

Starfire offered me a hand and pulled me up.

Voranis: Yes I'm fine now.

I turned to look at Raven.

Voranis: Thank you.

She stared at me without talking for an uncomfortable amount of time but then she nodded.