Dreiki shed the satchel on his hip, rummaging through its contents. Against Vilka, the metal traps and items Tulos had made for them would be useless. He had wanted to take out Vilka before making use of them, but things had not panned out that way. He felt the touch of fabric on his fingers, pulling the cloak his mother gave him from his bag. Would either of them recognize it? Regardless, it allowed him to stand out more. He donned the cloak, and tied his scarf over his face. To think he had lost his magic was not entirely accurate. The gate with which he brought his magic had been closed, but that gate still existed somehow. After all, if it didn’t he would not be afraid of what he was planning to do next. If he could not use his magic, then he would redirect all of his Ux to his body instead. He would trade the magic he could not use for a body that he could. He touched the pendant under his shirt, “This better be worth some extra credit, Grandpa.”
During his first Ux dream, he had learned a very important lesson. Xiozian children enjoyed mimicking the adults. Right down to how their magic destroyed and morphed their environment. However, mimicking is not understanding. A skilled warrior who allows the energy of their strikes to be wasted on anything other than their target is either holding back, or intentionally changing the terrain to their advantage.
This is the essence of the spear technique. A single point, a single focus. Harm reserved only for the enemy. A technique which refused the laws of reality in order to protect it.
“Recuso.”
He traded in the magic he could not use. He did not have long. The stronger the technique was, the more it burned away at his Ux. Yet, for the first time since he came here, Dreiki felt strong.
He moved silent as a shadow. This was the truth behind Savekio’s speed. Ever since the first day they met when Savekio had carried him, it had always bothered him how little the wind had blown in his face despite how fast they had traveled.
There was nothing holding him back now. Not even the world itself.
He crashed into Vilka with silent ferocity. He had been too late to rescue the Tibur captains, but he was not too late to win. All he needed was to make sure she saw him as a threat worth focusing on.
And yet even with all his speed and his silent approach. Even with Recuso, this girl still raised her guard to defend from his strike. Dreiki didn’t know why, but he grinned. It was exhilarating to fight. Maybe that was the xiozian half of him, but he felt as if every part of him was in agreement.
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The surprise on Vilka’s face was something he would not soon forget. He feinted an overhand. Vilka ducked to the side, only to eat his shin bone instead. Even if Dreiki did not have a lot of power in his arms, a kick from anyone would hurt.
He pressed his weight on his leg, feeling a twinge of pain. Had he broken his own shin on her? Recuso allowed him to heal faster and hit harder, but it did not protect his body. He did not have time to trade blows with her, but he had already accomplished his goal. That kick had instilled fear. In Vilka’s mind, she had to take him down. He was a threat now.
Dreiki dashed towards the clearing, meeting Kaara on his way. He did not have enough time to fight her with Vilka chasing him. What could he do?
He saw a soft orange glint in the moonlight. Was that the knife he had given her? He bumped into her, slipping the knife from her waist, “Ah sorry! I’ll be taking this!” He said, showing the copper knife to her.
“Hey! Give that back!”
It was a split second decision, but it paid off. Dreiki was glad she cared about his old knife enough to chase after him for it. He put it in an empty sheath and sprinted with everything he had. He could feel his Ux burning out. He doubted he had even a minute left now, but even a single second was a long time in a fight. The speed Recuso granted him put a good bit of distance. Enough that he could attempt to hide.
That was when the night lit up with brilliant purple light. He watched in horror at the scene before him. Tadios had fallen, Luna was scrambling under Anitus as he rained down brutish blow after brutish blow. Ezo thrashed and convulsed crying out in agony as Amaro sent lethal lightning magic through his body.
Ezo slumped to the ground. Luna had stopped struggling. Dreiki’s heart was in his throat. He had been too late. Just a fraction too slow.
Dreiki pulled the small roll of parchment from his pocket. He wrapped it over the hilt of his ax and walked forward. He thought he needed to read it, but for some reason he knew the words.
He refocused his Ux, and abandoned Recuso. He wanted them to hear him. Instead of refusing to disturb the world, he wanted the world to not disturb him. He wanted to invade his enemy and only his enemy.
“Incursio”
His feet crunched beneath the snow again, a deep breath laced with his wrath rattled in their ears as he spoke, “When spears are shattered, and shields are broken. The greatest danger has yet to pass. From within the ranks of the chosen anticipate the traitor’s blade. Greet it not with your broken tools, but with your open arms.”
Dreiki knew the meaning of those words. Spears and shields were tools of war which could never bring true peace. There would always be someone to betray the peace brought by those broken tools. So the answer was not to greet a traitor’s blade with broken tools, but with kind compassion.
Dreiki squeezed the weapons in his hand as he watched them all fall unconscious. Even if he knew the meaning of those words, right now Dreiki did not want to accept them.