When we face death with strength, we scream into the void…

False, David thought as he pushed back, moving away from a lance of earth and fire. Sweat ran down his back, chest and face. He wiped some off his face quickly, losing sight of Oluk for a moment. The Fang appeared in front of him, lance falling from above in a heavy strike. David swerved left, swung his sword and Oluk twisted gently, as if being carried by wind. His lance disappeared from his right hand and appeared in his left, curving backward.

David cursed. That was the second time Oluk did that. He braced himself, preparing for the strike that was sure to come. The lance flicked, flexible and fast. It slammed into David, pushing him back. David caught himself faster and leapt forward, but Oluk was already moving forward, coming at him again.

He is not letting up. No space to attack.

And yet, David could tell that Oluk was still testing him, trying to see what he had. As if the Fang was asking him: Is all you have to offer? What do you plan to conquer the tower with? David cursed, leaping out of the way just as Oluk’s lance smashed into the ground, cracking up the stone floor.

Golden arrows whistled in the air, crackling like fireworks as they exploded. The hall was large, but so many battles in one place should have shattered the place. Yet, it was whole still. The ground Oluk shattered seemed to heal, as if something sealed it back slowly.

David spared a quick glance at Chloe. She was the most surprising one of them all. She hopped slowly, dodging Felur’s attacks. The Fang’s halberd seemed to miss every time David looked, only by a hair’s width. As if Chloe was doing it on purpose.

Like a serpent, Oluk appeared beside David, his lance of fire gone, replaced by two daggers, straight and sharp tipped. He moved faster now. David pushed essence to his limbs, feeling the strain on them, but the exhaustion he felt a second ago vanished. He caught Oluk’s swing, noted the shock on the Fang’s face and twirled on one foot to give a fast kick.

Oluk jumped back. The daggers disappeared and a spear formed in his hand. He stabbed it into the ground and David leapt off the ground quickly, instinct pushing him. Sharp ice shards protruded out of the ground where he’d stood.

David’s mind raced as he dropped. He cursed, realizing how little he had in his arsenal. He pushed essence down his legs, resigning himself to taking some damage. Something swept through the air and pushed him to the side, changing his course. He hit the ground beside ice shards, had a little moment to see Elisha’s shadow rush back to him and then turned to see Oluk coming for him again.

Calm down…think.

He spied Chloe again, saw that she was bleeding, but she was still playing her lute. Her dodges were a tad slower. David groaned, blocked an overhead strike from Oluk and caught a kick to the chest that tossed him against a pillar. The roughness dug into his back and essence rushed through him to soothe his wounds.

Think!

Oluk rushed at him, silent as ever. His robe, dark as night, flowed behind and around him. He was superb, definitely the strongest David had ever fought. David knew his father would lose here. In seconds. Then it hit him suddenly that he was perhaps stronger than his father.

That distraction cost him time. He ducked too late, reading Oluk’s attack poorly. Oluk’s kick caught his face, tossing his head up. David swung his sword frantically, knowing Oluk would rush in to finish him. He’d been surviving the Fang’s attack with the basic sword fight lessons he’d gotten from Specter, his father and the rough fight he’d had with Nurend.

There was something he wasn’t doing. Something he was missing. He caught Zoey leap high in the air and let loose her arrows. They flew down, and then they scattered as if at random. Then something happened that he didn’t expect. One arrow snapped against the butt of another, a thin thread of essence attracting it, it shot forward, diverting and then something snagged it, changing its direction again.

It was so fast, almost too fast to see.

David’s world blurred as Oluk’s kick slammed into his side. For a moment he felt his organs would lurch out his throat. He wanted to breathe, but couldn’t. He skidded on the rough ground and crashed into a wall. His body hurt, even with essence healing him, he was getting more damage than he could keep up with. What was he missing?

“Why are you not using your power?” Oluk asked. He sounded confused. He was surprisingly clean, walking slowly to him. His ice spear was gone, now a silver bladed sword was in his hand. “Do you think I won’t kill you?”

David frowned. He hadn’t been using his power? What exactly was his power? He could use fire. But so far he’d been able to use a strong flame only with the World Tilter or Ignis’ power. What was his own power? World Tilter only came to him when he was about to die. Ignis too. What could he do?

Oluk’s form flickered, and David raised his word in panic. Their swords clashed and David heard a roar in his head. Ignis. He pushed the dragon away, knowing that with Ignis’s power he might be able to fight Oluk properly. He didn’t want to. At the moment, he felt like a cripple, leaning and begging for help every time.

Then he recalled how Nurend had used Gale Slash. It was a simple slashing spell. David wondered, as he parried Oluk’s attacks, if it was possible to do something like that. The more he thought about it, the clearer he felt he could see it.

You are master of all...

That was what Nurend had said. Understanding filled David’s mind. As if something had clicked into place. He could finally see why Oluk was confused. He’d been using essence for boosting and support so far. He shoved the Fang back, commanded the essence in him to extend through his hand to his sword. The air around his sword rippled and David felt confidence fill him up. It was nourishing, exciting, but nothing close to what he felt when Ignis controlled him.

Spell created: A Thousand Torments

Essence consumption: Minimal

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Damage: Will burn through single ring protection spell and armor.

The flames engulfed Oluk. David saw the Fang’s shock just before he was consumed. Black smoke floated toward the roof as the fire flared. David staggered. He’d used too much essence there, but something was clear. He could use all elements, perhaps even their deviant forms. That was something he would have to explore later. For now, fire was the one he was more familiar with.

Chloe’s tune was low, and she was sweating profusely. David worried for her, until he caught a movement in the fire. Oluk walked through the raging flames. Once he was out, the fire hissed out. He gave David a small nod.

“I acknowledge your craft, but if that is all you have to offer, allow me to kill you,” he said. “A mercy others in the tower will not show you—a swift death.” He flicked his sword and the silver seemed to dim, as if whatever shine had been there before was fading. Oluk waited, looking at David. It took him a moment to realize the Fang was waiting for his answer.

“I will have to refuse your kindness,” David said, staring into the stoic, dark eyes. Oluk nodded, genuine sympathy marring his otherwise handsome face.

“Watch clearly,” Oluk said. “You will not see it.”

Oluk took a step. David was sure it was just one step, but in the next moment he was standing in front of David, sword stabbing swiftly. David caught the blade with his left hand, cursing as it sliced his palm. He swung his own sword carelessly to buy time to leap back, but Oluk was already behind him.

There was that smile on his face again, as if the Oluk that spoke to him before was gone. This new Fang, this man was terrible, frightening. David's hand throbbed, but he ignored it, willing essence to the wound halfheartedly. He couldn’t take his eyes off Oluk.

Panic flooded David. He couldn’t see the others, couldn’t tell if they were alright. Oluk was doing something, David could tell. This couldn’t be a normal speed. Perhaps he could step through space, contracting it so much that it seemed like they were close when they were not.

It didn’t make sense.

And it doesn’t matter, Ignis said in his mind. A gash appeared on his back, followed by the pain. David cursed. Distractions were going to get him killed. And there was something about that sword.

All you have to do is to bear the pain, boy. Ignis sounded infuriated.

“Shut up!” David screamed. Oluk stumbled and David swung his sword for the Fang’s neck, but he was a tad slow. Oluk appeared just after the blade and swung his. David went low and quickly swung again, but Oluk had moved again. Whatever he was doing, it was annoying.

Because you can’t see it, Ignis said. David growled.

“Show me then?” He thought to Ignis. The dragon chuckled. David felt nothing. He hissed, recalling how devious Ignis was. The dragon was not one to give gifts freely, instead he tried to do something like what he’d done before.

Spell Formed: Fiery Slash

Essence consumption: Minimal

Damage: Will burn through single ring protection spell and armor.

A thin arch of bright flame sparked from his swing. It rushed at Oluk, catching the Fang but hissed and faded. Oluk looked disappointed, as if he had hoped it would be something better. David groaned, tried to imagine something else, something stronger.

He leapt back, but Oluk had already moved. David twisted at the ultimate moment, catching Oluk’s sword with his.

Spell Formed: Thorin’s Storm

Essence consumption: Minimal

Damage: Will burn through single ring protection spell and armor.

His attack speed increased, catching Oluk as he moved. Still the Fang moved freely, leading the flow of the battle. David could see nothing else but the blur of sword and the flow of Oluk’s robe. It was like being swarmed on all sides. His speed climbed, essence gushing through him. He felt stings from many cuts, shallow because Oluk could cut deeper with the speed of the attacks.

More speed, less strength, David realized.

Sounds like you have noticed, Ignis growled. David ignored the dragon. He could see what he wanted to do now. It was clear. He stopped the rush of essence throughout his body and a force of pain shot through him. Oluk saw an opening for a real attack and rushed in.

David waited, his heart racing. He twisted, moved slightly so the sword sliced through his right shoulder—into tough leather armor and flesh. The pain was a wolf’s howl in his head, but David gritted through it, catching Oluk’s arm before he could move away.

He flicked his sword, tip pushed in from below his chest and coming out his shoulder. Oluk’s eyes bulged. Shock widening his beautifully sad eyes. David took a step forward and the Fang grunted, blood pooling out his mouth and out the wound. David felt the warmth of blood on his fingers. The Fang’s sword fell and he tried to pull away, but David held him in place.

Oluk’s mouth moved, but no words came out. He was dying and that seemed to shock him.

“Enough,” Jaresh’s voice thundered through the hall. David looked past Oluk’s head, at the dragon on his throne. Jaresh still had his eyes closed. His hair flickered indifferently, as if nothing was happening before him.

The others had stopped fighting. The other Fangs stared at David and Oluk in surprise, but only briefly. They walked back to their places on the steps and sat back looking down at David and his siblings.

David felt Oluk’s hold on his tighten and slowly the Fang undid David’s hold on him, and pulled himself off David’s sword with a sickening wet sound. Before them all, his wounds healed, blood sliding back up into the wound and flesh sealing as if time had simply been reversed.

Oluk stared at David for a moment and then gave a curt nod. He walked back to the steps while David looked at his siblings. They seemed ragged like him. His back and shoulder hurt because of the wounds, but it was the many tiny cuts on the rest of his body that made standing unbearable. Zoey looked better, but even she was bent over. Chloe sat on the floor, resting against Elisha. Her chest heaved heavily, but she was alive. They were all alive.

“You will go to my sister immediately,” Jaresh said. David thought about refusing, asking to rest, but so far he hadn’t been able to get a read on this dragon. He was different from Nurend and Hilga. Unlikeable and harsh.

“Of course,” David said, bowing. Jaresh stared at him for a moment and then nodded.

“I have no interest in what you learned from that, but by my judgment you lot are not ready for the tower. My siblings will either kill you or help you. Whatever your luck fetches you,” Jaresh said and then he waved for them to leave. “Ars will guide you out.”

Ars stood up, sober already. He walked down to them, picking Chloe from Elisha’s arms. He grinned at Zoey and called for them to follow. Outside the hall, just after the stone door came to a groaning close, he erupted in laughter.

“Sorry,” he said when he saw how startled they were. “That was fun! Enough to cure our boredom. Oluk will be suffering the most, but even Felur couldn’t kill this little one. How interesting!” Then he started humming again, jumping now and then as he led them out.

Arg was waiting at the lip of the cave. The bird was larger than David remembered. David hesitated, feeling a bit of guilt as he stepped on its wings and climbed atop, settling himself for flight.

“I am sorry about the blood, Arg,” David muttered. The bird’s neck flexed, turning to look at him. Its eye held David for a moment and then it looked away.

Ars laughed again, but not as much as before.

Arg pushed off the edge of the cave, dropping and then its wings were beating wind, pushing it up. Behind them Ars’s laughter echoed. Beneath them, all David could see was golden sand.