A week passed quickly by. I spent it in the verdant depths of the Garden, focusing on my recovery. It had become much easier to control my body and its metabolism with the newly recovered fragment of my being. With a bit of concentration I could consciously take over the processes of even a single cell.

I repaired and fortified my bones, weaved novel blood vessels and renewed my organs. I purged myself from the traces of the Mother’s authority and bled the golden hue upon the ground. I cleaned up my ichor from resentment and hate and its poisoned colour grew softer.

On the seventh day I stood up. The forest trembled as I did, and the beasts surrounding me shivered. I gazed beyond the fronds of the trees and laid my eyes upon Faye, Hector and the Gardener.

The recovery of the latter was going well. The Thorn embedded in his chest was becoming his cure, the very source from which his lost limbs were being remade. It was quite the spectacle to see plant matter mimic so perfectly archuman parts. My deceased enemy had been unable to make the most of that reliable instrument.

It would still take time for him to return to active duty. The damage he had incurred should have been fatal, his life prolonged only thanks to Faye’s efforts. I didn’t want to disturb her, as she already knew what my plans were.

I lightly tapped my feet against the ground and glided across the land. All the surroundings, previously verdant, became a charred mess as I cut through the atmosphere like a comet. The violet hue of the flaming air accompanied me through my journey, vitrified dirt and sand left behind as the only trace of my passage.

Soon enough I found myself a couple of kilometres from the Alpha. Tobias stood on its edge, welcoming me with an amused grin. He wore a simple attire made of low-quality fabric and had an ivory longsword strapped to his back. I flexed my calves and cut the distance separating us. The gale that followed my movements uncovered the roofs of a few buildings.

Alarm spread through the citizens at my sudden arrival, but silence returned as soon as notice of my identity travelled across the people. Even while shivering, they pretended they had seen nothing and returned to their daily life. My gaze crossed Tobias’ and we silently exchanged formalities.

We turned away from the Perimeter. We had to distance ourselves from it or else it would be swept away in our skirmish. As we were about to depart, Lily’s shrill voice broke the unnatural silence.

“Wait a moment! Please!”

I relaxed my leg muscles and turned to face her. Tobias frowned. I raised my hand to signal him to stand still. I addressed Lily directly.

“What do you want?” I asked politely but with a hint of annoyance.

Although at the time I understood her decision rationally, still I was displeased with her and her refusal to stand beside me against my enemy. It wasn’t my intention to keep it against her, but I still did inside my heart.

“Can’t you rethink all of this? Dad has helped you out so much over the course of these years. Please, don’t fight,” she earnestly pleaded with me.

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I frowned and sighed.

“What you are saying is true…”

“Then…”

“... but I promised him I would tear off one of his limbs and I won’t go back on my word”

She stared at me speechless.

“What the f**k?! Are you insane?!” she exclaimed incredulously.

“Lily Miller,” Tobias’ monotone thunderous voice exploded outwards. The ground beneath our feet trembled and broke and several people, including Lily, winced in pain. He continued in a lower authoritative tone.

“I already told you”

“... Yes father,” Lily shily answered Tobias’ words.

“It doesn’t concern you. Return at once. You should be reflecting upon your wrongdoings”

“... Yes father,” she answered defeated. Her lowered gaze alternated between the two of us before she turned around and made her way back into the Perimeter.

Tobias turned to face me and addressed me apologetically.

“I apologise for my daughter's behaviour. Her filiality made her blind and rash”

I continued to stare at her as she walked away completely deflated. She turned around a few times to gaze at me. Sadness and guilt hid behind her eyes.

“It’s fine,” I answered him curtly.

We finally kicked the ground and left the area. We only stopped once we were deep in the wastelands, far away from anything and anyone. As usual, the landscape was completely void and barren. The only upside I could find in such a boring sight was the beautiful turquoise sky and the warm midday sun.

“This is a delightful day,” Tobias’ words distracted me from sightseeing.

“Were you waiting for the day you would be crippled?” I raised an eyebrow.

He unsheathed his weapon. It was an extremely well-built artefact, made of bone materials of different origins, carefully processed and interlocked together. The edge of the blade was mostly well-sharpened, although it had dulled in a few portions.

Tobias grabbed it at both ends, admiring it like it was an old friend.

“The ending is inconsequential. Wielding my favourite blade against a mighty friend: that will make this day worthwhile”

“Were you bored?”I chuckled.

“Extremely so. Child rearing was never my preferred pastime,” his voice sounded serious.

He pointed his weapon at me.

“I do not possess what you are looking for. The descendants of The Blue inherited the echo of authority, not its source. But a link may still exists and through our exchange, you may draw it to you”

I tilted my head and then nodded.

“It’s reasonable. If you had the source, you wouldn’t be here today. But the link does indeed exists”

Just by looking at him, I could affirm as such. Simly by standing there, preparing his strength to fight me, his entire existence appeared to scream a whisper telling me to find myself.

“Should we begin then?” I spoke again.

“I see no reason for any further delay”

“I will grant you the courtesy of the first move,” I gave him a smile.

Although my main reason for being here today was to honour the word I had given, it was still true I felt extremely thrilled at confronting him. After all, it was through a spar that the capabilities of our bodies could fully shine. It was the most exciting game of all, a fierce fight with no hate and a lot of violence.

“I will take up your offer,” he nodded with a smile.

He raised his sword and the sky turned dark blue.