Everything is stressing me out. I made a move against the Hunters and they just sat there and took it. It was too easy. What are they planning?

“How are you going to beat Modesta, Sylvar?” Julie asks.

“Do you even have enough magic?” I ask.

“You should know by now that not everything is decided by magic, my friend Volter.” Sylvar says.

“Sure. We have faced sorcerers, monsters with magic. Our whole Village runs thanks to it… Yes, I am certain that not everything is decided by the one thing that seems to be everywhere.” I respond.

“I trust our Outsider.” Meuko says.

“It all worked out fine for Meuko.” Dariy says.

I nod at Blago, who is with the Villagers. I communicate that I want to talk to him and start walking away from my group.

“Where are you going?” Julie asks.

“Nothing to worry about.” I say.

There is our group, the Villagers, who are watching… And then, there are the Hunters, who are talking with Thando. Why him?

“What?” Blago says.

“My bracers… Do they look like you used Varuna wood?” I ask.

“You have not checked them out yet? What have you been doing these past few days, you sack of dried shit?”

“Let me see… Recuperating, rebuilding, what else- Right, making this move. Why did you tell me to not trust them?”

“Did you ask your fathers about the mines?”

Right…

“About that. I forgot.” I say.

“How can you be so useless at times?”

“At times? Meaning, I am useful at others? I love you as well.”

Sylvar and Modesta start walking towards the broken tree. Meuko outdid herself there.

“I think we should talk.” Blago says.

“After the fight.”

“Now.”

Blago is serious. Too serious. Everyone is acting weird. My dads are ready to fight. Meuko wanted to beat up Eadwald… I guess that is not that weird. But Blago giving me these extraordinary weapons and armor, talking about the past and asking for these weird meetings. Things are happening and I can barely keep track of them.

“Okay, Blago. Just make sure you are not your usual loud self.”

We move inside Sylvar’s house, watching the duel from far away, through a window.

“Just make sure you do not get beat up like you used to.”

“What do you mean?”

“Who do you think is going to be having a duel next? Please tell me you are not such an idiot.”

“How about you start talking...”

“You are. You never thought you would have to fight Alayne.”

“I do now.”

“Listen, kid-”

The sound of magic conjured through air interrupts us for a moment. Sylvar dives behind the broken tree, dodging Modesta’s ice spikes. They shatter against the fallen log. Sylvar is without his bow and arrows. I am almost certain that he wants to avoid any accidental lethal hits.

Sylvar jumps out, axes on the ready, deflecting a stone and running towards Modesta. Why is Sylvar not using his magic? Modesta’s staff flies towards Sylvar, acting as his weapon from a distance. Sylvar is basically having a duel with a magical staff, trading blows with both ends of Modesta’s weapon.

This staff looks terrifying. It is like the perfect combination of metal, wood and another resource that only Modesta knows how to use… A crystal. I have only seen one. The one in Modesta’s staff. The ends are elongated thin sticks of metal, used to stab the staff in the ground… Or in someone else. The crystal runs along the staff, between the pieces of wood and metal.

“This is looking intense.”

“Focus, kid.”

“Okay. What do you want?”

“The Village used to be more than this Village. There were logging grounds and mines. There used to be more people.”

“When?”

“Years ago. After the Abominations appeared, this area kept getting under attack. Unrelated, though.”

“What is happening? Why are you even telling me all this?”

“Just listen for a few minutes.”

“Keep going.”

I look at the duel. Sylvar is having difficulty approaching Modesta. Every time he deflects the staff with an axe, the weapon just flies right back at him. When he dodges it, Modesta shoots multiple magical missiles towards him. Fragments of ice, rock and wood. Modesta even uses broken sticks as ranged weapons.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Sylvar keeps his momentum, using his attacks in order to gain enough speed to dodge strikes. He almost looks like Kezoc. If only he could use magic with his axes. He should be getting tired soon. He lacks his father’s speed but he makes sure that he does not waste any of his movements.

“-Worse and worse.”

Shit. I completely forgot about listening.

“Could you repeat that? I was-”

“I will beat your ass.”

“There is a fight happening and my friend could get hit by ice spikes.”

“I was saying.” Blago says, hopefully not feeling too insulted by me forgetting to listen. “We used to be more people but the Hunters have changed. The Village needs help and I think you are trying to do that. But are you sure the goblins are the right answer?”

What?

“What?” I mumble.

How does he know?

“How do you know?”

“I possess an empowered jewel of enhanced magical sight… I can see everywhere within these mountains.”

“What?”

“I followed you, moron. You should be glad that it was not Eadwald or Alayne.”

“Look, not all goblins want to kill us and I saved some of them. We fought together, they are not monst-”

“I know, I know.” Blago interrupts me. “You are trying to make alliances. You just need to be fast about it.”

“Quick about it… Sylvar has affected me in ways I do not like.”

“Is it that hard for you to focus on anything? Do you want me to beat you again?”

“What is happening, Blago?”

“That metal you heard me banging? It is a beacon.”

“A what?”

“Like pillars that were used to communicate from large distances.”

“So?”

“The Hunters want to use it like a conduit. They want me to create a beacon that they can transfer magic through and a conduit that makes that magic stronger.”

What do they want that for?

“Is it for their invisibility spell?”

“Not exactly. But sure.”

“Why is that bad?”

“Because Alayne changed the project and asked me to keep it a secret. He wants to expand it. I think he wants to declare war against the goblin clans.”

“There are clans?”

“Of course.”

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“I want you to stay vigilant. Things are changing and I need my sack of manure. It might seem completely useless but we need it.”

“You do know manure is vital to our way of life, right? Blago?”

“Shut up. Just be careful out there. I will make you even better armor. Their thing is almost ready.”

“Thanks… I really need it. Being Empty sort of sucks.”

“I bet it does. Empty Ones are more complicated than you think. And if these pieces of shit want to harm you because of your condition… You are not safe.”

“You are worrying me, Blago.”

“Volter… Remember how Varuna wood could be used to transfer magic?”

“Yes.”

“Empty Ones are like that.”

“No, they are not. They lack magic.”

“But you used it. I saw you use it and we heard the tales of you using Sylvar’s magic. You are Empty, true… But you can still use it. It just costs a lot more. They think Empty Ones simply make magic destabilize inside an incompatible core.”

“I am trying to see the fight, Blago. Keep it simple.”

“This is more important. There were experiments.”

“I know. Eadwald said not much is known about them other than the fact that there were experiments and all ended bad.”

“That is not true. We ran the experiments.”

“Say that one more time.”

A loud clanging sound draws our attention.

This fight has been going for some time now, blows exchanged almost constantly. I guess Modesta has plenty of magic left. Sylvar starts retreating but I know him. He must have a plan. The staff flies towards Sylvar, spinning faster and faster as it gains momentum for a strike.

Sylvar suddenly dives in, locking the staff between the axes. Modesta tries waving his hand, a gesture meant to pull the staff towards him but nothing happens. The staff struggles against Sylvar’s grapple. Sylvar pulls the staff down. Why would he do that? Magic starts gathering in one of the axes.

Our swift friend instantly puts his legs on the staff, jumping as far up as he can, as if it was a branch. Modesta sends a rock towards Sylvar. Our elf shatters the stone with the regular axe, spinning on air and throwing the magical axe towards Modesta. I see now. It is the same principle as the bow and the spear. He cannot send waves like Kezoc but he can imbue a throwing weapon with magic.

Modesta raises a magical shield with his hand, feeling threatened for the first time during this duel. The axe lands in front of the dwarf, creating a sudden burst of smoke and rubble. He used the move I thought of when we were climbing away from hordes of enemies.

Eadwald and Alayne step in front of the Villagers, protecting them from the various debris that flies towards them. Alayne slightly raises the ground while Eadwald creates a protective field above it, effectively shielding the Villagers.

While Modesta cannot see what is happening behind the smoke… We can. Sylvar gracefully lands and rolls on the ground, running towards Modesta as soon as the roll is done. Modesta waves his hand, creating a sudden gust of wind that starts clearing the smoke. Sylvar anticipated that, having already thrown his cloak in the air.

At the same time, the elf keeps low and runs from the side of Modesta’s missing arm. Modesta summons his staff back, which swipes at the cloak through the faint smoke that remains. Modesta mistook the flying piece of fabric for a lunging attack. As if by instinct, the dwarf raises the ground from his right side, the side where he lost the arm.

Sylvar jumps back, avoiding the wall that suddenly erupts in front of him. Magic begins gathering in the second axe. This time, the concentration is stronger, green light glowing intensely. Modesta raises his hand and spikes made from wood and rock start forming above him. Both of them know their strengths and weaknesses. Neither side is giving up.

“Enough.” Alayne shouts, surrounding the stone wall in flames.

“What? I had him.” Modesta says.

“The fight was not over.” Sylvar says.

“If this goes on, we will have to repair more damage in this Village. Houses will be destroyed.” Alayne explains.

“But, the duel-”

“Regardless of your feelings.” Alayne interrupts Sylvar. “You have both shown strength. Especially Modesta. It has not been but a few days since his accident and yet… Here he is, showing superiority in magic, as expected.”

I always thought Alayne was strong, intelligent, powerful… A Leader. And now, all I can think is that he is twisting words, lying, omitting… A liar. I wanted to be like him when I was a kid. A part of me still does.

“What are you talking about? Those experiments hurt people.”

“I know, kid. It was a long time ago.”

“You said WE ran… Were you a Hunter?”

“Sort of. They are looking for you. Go.”

“Wait-”

Blago pushes me out of Sylvar’s house. My heart. It is beating so loud. I-I have no idea what I am supposed to do. The experiments? On Empty Ones? Am I an-

“Are you ready for your test, Volter?” Alayne says.

Think. Fast. I cannot beat Alayne. His body alone is tougher than my best weapons. Add the magic and he is able to kill you instantly. But- Got it. I could use that.

“I have spent these last months helping the Village and training under Eadwald’s harsh conditions as best I could. Even that could not possibly bring me close to your level. I am not arrogant enough to believe I stand a chance against you.” I say.

Even the Leader would not suggest he beats me up in front of everyone else. He would appear too cruel. Right? I look at Alayne, who is… Smiling. I think he is, not that I know half dragon physiology and all that. What?

“Of course not. However… I would not feel comfortable sending you out there alone, having everyone worry about you. That is why Thando has agreed being the one testing you.” Alayne says.

Shit. That is why they were talking before. I never thought about that. He is the one training everyone. It makes sense. Why did I not think of that? How can I avoid it? I cannot. I have to fight Thando. Can I even take him on?

“Wooden swords and no magic. I will give you some time to warm up.” Thando says.

“Sure.” I mumble, walking away.

Time for another duel. Here is hoping I gained something new.