In an instant, Adrian opened his eyes again, the remnants of the vision clinging to him like a heavy fog. He blinked several times, the world around him slowly coming into focus.

The first thing he registered was the soft pressure of something warm pressing against his leg. He glanced down to find Mimi, her emerald eyes wide with worry. She pawed at him as a soft whimper escaped her throat.

Looks like I'm back. He reached out, letting his fingers sink into the warmth of Mimi's fur.

Drawing in a deep breath, Adrian lifted his gaze. Kiyara stood a short distance away, her eyes fixed on him with a penetrating intensity. How long has she been watching me?

Adrian shook off the last remnants of disorientation and met Kiyara’s unwavering gaze with a mixture of fatigue and mild irritation. He forced a smirk onto his lips. "Do you plan on just staring at me indefinitely, or is there a point to this?”

Kiyara’s lips curved into a faint smile, her eyes softening as she took a step back. “You’re quite the spectacle, my King, I was simply curious.”

“Curious about what exactly?"

Kiyara’s gaze turned contemplative as she folded her arms across her chest. “You were in some sort of trance. You stood up and moved as if guided by unseen hands, and you didn’t speak a word. I tried to reach you, but it was as if you were somewhere far beyond my grasp.”

Adrian rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a dull ache pulsing at the base of his skull. A trance… walking without realizing it… “Was there anything else you noticed?”

“There is something different about you now, but I can’t quite place it. It’s like a shift in your aura, a change in your essence."

Adrian let her words sink in, turning them over in his mind. A change… what could that even mean?

He closed his eyes, letting himself drift back to the memory of the vision: the titanic bones, the King in Blue’s incantation, the marks that blazed across his skin. The weight of it all pressed on his chest. I really do feel… different.

His breath steadied as a realization struck. He opened his eyes and met Kiyara’s gaze. “I think I've figured out my signature spell.”

Kiyara’s eyes widened, and for the first time, true excitement flashed across her face. “Truly? Did the trance awaken something within you, my King?”

Adrian’s lips twitched into a smile, his tension easing just a little. “Something like that, I don’t have all the answers yet, but… I feel closer. Closer to understanding who I was, and who I am now.”

Kiyara’s eyes sparkled with a mix of warmth and determination. “That is good to hear, because I have an important request for you.”

“What kind of request?”

“A selfish one, I wish to spar with you.”

The words hung in the air, surprising him. Before he could respond, Mimi let out a sharp, distressed trill, her green-flame ears flattening against her head. She pressed closer to Adrian, as if pleading with Kiyara to reconsider.

Her expression softened, and she knelt down as she stroked Mimi’s soft fur. “It’s all right, my little one. This is something I want.”

Adrian crossed his arms, his expression hardening. “I agree with Mimi. Sparring with you, when you only have days left, sounds ridiculous.”

“That is precisely why I said it was selfish."

“Kiyara… you don’t have to do this. You’ve done so much already. This… this isn’t necessary.”

A shadow passed over her face, and she suddenly looked older, wearier. “My King, I have spent too long in idleness, watching and waiting. If my final days are to be spent, then I wish to spend them my way. And right now, what I want is to test you, to see what strength you hold, and to give you what little I can still offer.”

Adrian’s shoulders sagged under the weight of her words. She’s not going to back down.

“If that’s what you really want, then I’ll spar with you. But I have to warn you, it’s not going to be much of a fight. I’m… outclassed.”

Kiyara’s smile returned, this time more playful. “I would be disappointed if you weren’t. But I’m willing to give you a handicap. It should make things more… even.”

Adrian tilted his head, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “A handicap? I’m not sure how much of a difference that will make, but I suppose I’ll take whatever I can get.”

Kiyara straightened as she looked at Adrian with expectant eyes. “Very well, my King, I’ll let you decide what the handicap should be.”

Adrian blinked, surprised by the offer. He had expected her to dictate the terms, not give him control. She’s serious about this, he realized, the weight of the moment settling in his chest. Before he could respond, Kiyara turned her attention to Mimi, who still lingered anxiously at Adrian’s side.

“Mimi,” Kiyara said softly, though her tone left no room for argument. “Hide yourself for now. Things may get… hectic.”

The little spirit fox’s ears drooped, and she let out a plaintive whine. She cast one last worried glance at Adrian before nodding reluctantly. Green embers flickered around her, her form dissolving until she disappeared completely, leaving only a faint warmth behind.

"Is Mimi really going to be fine?" Adrian asked.

"She'll be more than fine, trust me." Kiyara said.

"But is she just invisible? Or has she vanished completely and also become intangible?"

"It's the latter. Mimi can reappear again if you think about her name or call for her out loud."

"Ah, so Mimi is completely safe?"

"For the most part, yes, but enough chatter. What's your handicap of choice, My King?"

Adrian drew in a deep breath and took a few steps back, his mind racing. What handicap should I choose? He needed something that would give him a fighting chance without diminishing the challenge. Anything less would feel hollow, and he doubted Kiyara would respect a half-hearted effort.

He clenched his fists, feeling the familiar surge of blue flames flicker around his fingertips. “I have a request for my handicap. Will you let me prepare my signature spell?”

A smile spread across her face, warm and approving. “Of course, take whatever time you need.”

Adrian nodded, relief mingling with tension. He wasn’t even entirely sure what his signature spell would manifest as, but he felt closer to it than ever. This might be my best shot. He took several steps away, putting distance between them.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

His breath steadied as he spoke the words that resonated deep within him. “The gods have abandoned you, but I shall not. Take from me my flesh and bones, so that the world shall quake in fear forevermore.”

The moment the final syllable left his lips, searing pain erupted in his left hand. Strange marks traced their way across his skin. They etched themselves into his flesh, crawling up his arm with a merciless intensity.

Adrian’s teeth ground together, and his vision blurred as the agony threatened to tear him apart. Stop… please, stop… The thought screamed through his mind, each pulse of pain like a hammer driving into his bones. He willed the marks to cease their relentless march, desperate to end the torment.

As if hearing his plea, the markings halted their spread just above his shoulder. Adrian collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath, sweat slicking his forehead. The marks pulsed with a rhythmic glow, a grim reminder of what he had just unleashed.

He flexed his fingers experimentally, feeling energy surge through his left arm, alien, powerful, and frighteningly familiar. If this spell does what I think it does, things will be very interesting.

“Are you all right, my King?” Kiyara asked.

Adrian forced himself to stand, his breaths still labored. “I’m… fine,” he said, though his voice was rough.

He clenched and unclenched his left hand, marveling at the strange power coursing through it. Energy crackled in his veins, raw and barely contained. Then, he turned his gaze to Kiyara, who stood patiently with an unreadable expression.

“I’ll wait for you to make the first move,” she said calmly.

Adrian barked out a laugh. "Then you should prepare yourself."

He curled his left hand into a fist and thrust it forward, punching the air. The ground beneath him quaked, sending vibrations through the chamber. Blue flames erupted from his outstretched fist, coalescing into the shape of a giant skeletal arm. It mirrored his movements, bones shimmering with ethereal fire. The massive arm shot forward, hurtling toward Kiyara with immense force.

She moved with grace, a smile curving her lips as she dodged the strike. The skeletal arm crashed into the ground, shattering stone and sending a shockwave through the earth, spreading dust and debris everywhere. Then, Kiyara’s voice rang out, light and nostalgic. “This… feels familiar.”

Adrian stumbled back a few steps, his eyes wide as he stared at his left arm. The skeletal construct hovered in the air, responding to his every twitch and flex. He flexed his fingers, and the flaming skeletal arm mirrored the motion, its massive fingers curling and uncurling. So this is what the King in Blue wanted me to learn.

Suddenly, a shout tore through the air like a whip crack. “Watch your back!”

Adrian spun just in time to see Kiyara swinging a blade toward him. Instinct took over as he twisted his body, the rush of displaced air grazing his skin as the blade missed him by a hair’s breadth.

But there was no time to recover. Kiyara’s foot connected with his chest in a swift, precise kick, sending him skidding backward across the ground. Pain flared in his ribs as he forced himself upright, wincing with every breath.

Kiyara stood, unwavering and unyielding. “Is that all you have? I expect a lot more from you.”

Adrian scoffed, more to cover the throbbing pain than anything else. “Putting in an awful lot of effort to fight a child, aren’t you?”

Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “Weren’t you the one who said you weren’t normal?”

Fair point, he thought, exhaling to steady himself.

He forced his focus back to the task at hand, scanning his surroundings for any advantage. His gaze drifted to his left arm. The massive skeletal hand that had manifested earlier was gone, leaving nothing but the faint warmth of residual energy. It disappears when I’m not using it… So, maybe I can only summon one at a time. Makes sense, given the connection to my arm.

His musings were cut short as Kiyara closed the distance with alarming speed. Adrian reacted on instinct. He thrust his left hand forward, making a grasping motion. The ground beneath them rumbled, and blue flames erupted as the skeletal hand reappeared, bursting upward to intercept her.

Kiyara twisted, slipping between the giant flaming bones with breathtaking agility. She landed lightly, eyes glinting with amusement. “You’ll need to do much better than that."

She’s toying with me, Adrian realized, frustration mounting.

He moved his marked hand again, this time pointing a single finger at her. The skeletal hand mimicked the motion, swiping toward her.

However, Kiyara leapt into the air, her form a blur as she pushed off the ceiling, flipping gracefully to avoid the strike. The impact of the hand against the ground sent shards of stone flying, but it met nothing but empty air.

Damn it, she’s too fast. Gritting his teeth, Adrian pressed forward, the skeletal hand moving at his command. He directed it in a series of rapid strikes, each one aimed at pinning her down. But Kiyara's body moved like water around his attacks. With a final twist, she evaded another crushing blow and landed lightly on her feet.

“It’s my turn now."

Green flames flared to life around her, swirling and coalescing into dozens of orbs that hovered in the air. Each one crackled with power, ready to be unleashed at her command.

The green flames hovered around Kiyara, each orb crackling with an intensity that sent a chill down Adrian’s spine. For a brief moment, time seemed to stretch as the orbs hung suspended in the air. Then, with a flick of her wrist, Kiyara sent them hurtling toward him.

Adrian clenched his left hand, commanding the skeletal construct to move. The massive flaming hand surged forward, its fingers outstretched. One by one, the fireballs collided with it, exploding in bursts of light and heat. The skeletal hand absorbed the force, shielding Adrian from the brunt of the impact.

Sparks rained down around him, and he could feel the intensity of each strike vibrating through his arm. This is barely holding… He gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of concentration into maintaining the shield.

But even as he blocked the flames, a shadow moved with deadly precision. Kiyara reappeared behind him, her blade already in motion.

Adrian spun, his instincts screaming a warning. With a desperate motion, he willed the skeletal hand to move, and one of its massive fingers swung upward, catching the blade inches from his back. The clash sent a shockwave through the air, and Kiyara’s eyes glinted with approval.

“Impressive, my King, You’re learning.”

Adrian barely had time to respond before she leapt backward, disappearing into the shadows once more. His eyes tracked her movements, anticipation and adrenaline coursing through him. I can’t lose focus.

He directed the skeletal hand upward, attempting an uppercut to catch her mid-flight. The massive fist tore through the air, but Kiyara twisted gracefully, evading the strike. The hand crashed into the ceiling with a thunderous impact, sending chunks of stone tumbling to the ground.

Kiyara landed lightly, her movements as fluid as water. She raised her hand, and the air around her crackled with energy. “It’s time to end this."

The chamber trembled, stone and earth shifting beneath their feet. Adrian braced himself, pulling the skeletal hand back to shield himself. Whatever she’s about to do… I need to be ready.

Yet, as quickly as the trembling began, it stopped. Kiyara’s form swayed, her energy faltering. The green flames around her flickered and then died. She stumbled, her body folding in on itself as if a great weight had pressed down upon her.

With a soft gasp, she slumped to the ground. Wait, no!

Adrian’s breath caught in his throat. He willed the skeletal hand to dematerialize, the flames dissipating into nothingness. The boy rushed toward her, his boots pounding against the stone.

He dropped to his knees beside her, reaching out with trembling hands. “Kiyara, are you…?”

Her eyes fluttered open, and a weak smile touched her lips. “Do not fret, my King."

Adrian’s jaw tightened, and he shook his head slightly. “You knew this would happen. So why, Kiyara? Why push yourself so far?”

Kiyara’s smile softened, a flicker of warmth that reached her eyes. She rested her hand lightly against his, the touch so light it felt like a whisper of wind. “I did what I did because I knew what was to come."

The weight of her words pressed against him, and he felt a pang of helplessness. All of this was her choice. He wanted to argue, to tell her it was reckless, that she shouldn’t have thrown herself into the fight, but he knew it would do no good.

“I’m not ready to lose you after meeting you not too long ago.” Adrian said, his voice thick, his eyes fixed on hers.

Kiyara’s hand pressed a fraction more firmly against his. “You have always been strong, my King. Stronger than you know. And you will continue to grow, even when I am no longer at your side.”

Her form shimmered, green embers beginning to glow at the edges of her hair and fingertips. The sight of it made Adrian’s breath hitch in his throat. No, not yet…

He leaned closer, gripping her hand tighter, as if he could hold her here through sheer willpower. “There’s so much I don’t know. So much you haven’t told me.”

A faint laugh escaped Kiyara's lips. "We cannot always choose the time we have. What matters is how we spend it. And I spent mine well…"

The embers crawled up her arms, shimmering brighter now, and Adrian felt his grip slacken as her form grew insubstantial. “Kiyara…” he whispered, desperation clawing at him. He wanted to say more, to hold onto her, but his words caught in his throat.

“Farewell, my King, until we meet again."

With those final words, her form dissolved completely, a cascade of green embers swirling upward, carried away by a soft, unseen wind. Adrian watched, frozen, as the last of her light drifted skyward and disappeared.