The giant brought its head down. Its fires had grown faint. Its breathing was gentle but labored. He slowly bent himself and moved his remaining arm. He placed his open palm in front of me.

I was surprised. I moved onto his hand, and it lifted me to its face. I could see the pore of its skins, blazing with fire, seemingly burning his insides, but relaxed in its movements. While I think I should’ve been burned by the force of its heat, a barrier seemed to have been set between me and the giant.

Not a barrier of separation, no, but one of purification, where the air was warm and gentle. My skin tingled with this sensation and I felt once more in bliss.

My wounds have been mended indeed, and my mind calmed. I must apologize for my carelessness and wrath. Your master obliged that I put on a farce to push you to your limits. But my expectations were dashed when you called forth the power of the lord of thunder! Not only had you crashed me to the ground, but the strike of that element sent such pains through my body, that I remembered the days of our toil when we were cast from the Heavens! That is no excuse for me to have fallen to rage, and I must indeed ask for your forgiveness. Our race is a prideful one; not many will admit to their faults, but I know better. Even if the object of the malice be a mere child, even they are deserving of our gentle demeanor than our wrath.

I shook my head. “I don’t fault you, O Grahuvizatan of fire! I too, in my zeal, sought your death. When the fear of death had left, I also had lost control of myself, and even with the hope of my teacher, I sought at that moment to slay you, rather than stay your rage. And so I fear for your arm, your leg, and the organs that spilled. Have your insides been fully mended. And what of your arm and leg, will they return?”

The giant laughed at my concern and said:

A strange child you are. My insides are as they once were. As for my limbs, they will return in time, depending on my resolve to harvest the elements to restore it. Yet I must say, you would have been in the right to have slain me. While it takes a certain fortitude to resist the urge to kill, you fought in defense against me, the one who was instructed by your teacher to test you. You had not the skill nor power to overcome me, so how then can you say that you must control yourself?

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Because I felt the power used against you was not my own,” I said, with surety of my conclusion. “There were indeed forces that enabled me to use the lightning when I hadn’t the skill to produce it on its own, and the ability to push my body past its very limits must’ve, in normal circumstances, lead to my own death. How else can I say I’m alive other than those external powers aiding me in my battle against you?”

The giant didn’t need to think, and answered:

Your eyes are fired with determination. External force or not, when one’s conviction holds so strong, especially toward the edge of death, then their senses become elevated, their bodies become fortified against all things that could assail them, and their minds become as sharp as a razor with maintained focus one would think only reserved for the Highest. I can speak on this, for I, as like many others, even including your father, have mastered that level of control over ourselves and our environment.

But you have not.

So, even if you unconsciously asked for the power that was beyond your means, your use of the power does not mean you have mastered its control. I saw in our battle how your body was torn and gashed from your overexertion of the elements, and I guided that destruction of self so that you may meet your doom. We beings see things in greater light than even our feeble brethren stuck to the soil.

Understand that while you may have halted your advance toward my death, that you are not at fault for having fought against one who was clearly greater than you in might. A sin you, or rather your master, would have incurred, but not as great as it may seem, for we kill beings by our very existence, from every step we take, to every breath we inhale, to any food we may absorb. My death would be no different from those. Such is my opinion.

I reflected on the words of the giant, and said, “So be it then. Let whatever thoughts or actions this foolish prince can think or perform be given to you in forgiveness.”

I folded my hands and bowed to my former adversary.

The giant was glad. He slowly lowered me to the ground. Then, he prostrated before me.

I am in your debt, child of the Marhan. My gratitude to you. I, the Grahuvizatan of fire, Vrizhra—One who moves sacrifices—will strive to do right by you so that this debt may be paid. Call to me when you should need it. I will not be far.

His form slowly dissolved into the air, returning to whence he came.

I supposed, at the time, I had made an ally, and a very powerful one at that. I looked to the sage and commander, who looked to me with smiles. I smiled in return, now feeling that this day of toil had rendered fruitful results.

With some rest, I would be ready for the tourney. At last, I would be able to see my friends from the south!