When the Duke said Air snake, it rattled in Akisane’s brain, and then the sight of it… How had his father captured such a creature that only exists in the uncharted islands far to the northeast?

It had a red mane about its long jaws; Its scales were pastel blue and green, alternately descending a body longer than a ship. It was untethered from the ground like a cloud. Loops in its body seemed to stand still until it moved away.

Akisane figured it out; these creatures were of such legendary terror that he’d either die—and surprise no one—or thoroughly impress the twelve orders. It would be remembered for generations in Dunaguard and perhaps the realm if he survived.

The only thing he knew about them was that they had been considered a type of dragon by the Empire. Supposedly, an Emperor had had one as a pet by tradition, but it never set foot on the continent.

Kazusuke looked at it with contempt, and though one of his hands was shriveled to a husk, he looked as dangerous as ever. He seemed to waver between the more valuable target, the air snake or Akinsane. His lightning staff orbited around him without being held, and he gripped a two-handed pure sword with his remaining hand. He launched himself up and darted across the arena in a blink.

Akisane knew he was coming for him because the hair on his head stood up. He hadn’t noticed it last time, but it was part of the teleportation. He threw up Darksun and easily deflected the coming blow.

“Before it kills me,” Kazusuke said, “I will have the satisfaction of cutting off your head.”

“That’s not very knightly of you.”

“You privileged little brat!” The sword in Kazusuke's good hand cut the air with a whistle, and the lightning staff hummed and shot forks and sparks. He’d turned himself into an omnipresent attack, a frenzy of steel and magic, with no openings to counter.

If there is no opening, make one.

How? The man was a literal storm. Akisane’s eyes could discern no opening. So he stepped aside, but it didn't help. The whirlwind of death followed him wherever he maneuvered. Perhaps some knights had earned their reputation, no matter how skeptical he was.

He couldn’t shadow or fire walk out of this fight. Nothing he could throw at the man would do any good.

Then Akisane noticed something at his periphery. The necromancer appeared to sit next to the Duke. What followed in her wake was shocking; William, a fully grown version of himself, watched him.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

How did that concern him more than Kazusuke or the air snake? Either could, and probably would, destroy him. But William presided over him like a judge.

Without a care for Kazusuke's frenzy, he struck out with Darksun and stopped every bit of momentum that the knight possessed.

The knight hung his mouth open, ran his eyes down his blade, which stood frozen in place, and then flicked them to meet Akisane's. His face twisted in rage.

William had always been the best teacher. That was because he had known him so well. He had sat sweating after a heavy training bout. “You're so uneven, Richard. Sometimes, you make the stupidest mistakes, but when you're angry to the point that you just don't care, I don't think I could ever beat you.”

It was true. It wasn't that Akisane went berserk and became a better fighter by magic; it was a particular state of mind—like meditation. He had just lost so many times and got so frustrated and angry that he changed and became intensely focused.

Seeing William should have shaken him to his core, but it pushed him into that zone instead. And when Kazusuke's sword came again in a flurry, not only was he ready, but he matched every single strike.

What did he have to lose? He murdered his brother—shoved him from the parapet and splattered below —and was now haunted, and Kazusuke and the great serpent would end him. He didn't have to worry about anything. His blade whistled through the air, and he moved it as if he knew where every strike would come from as if he had prescience. Steel clanged faster and faster.

The knight let his magic vanish. He focused only on the blades. It was two sword masters fighting to the death.

When had the tide turned? When had Kazusuke been put on the defensive? Akisane drove forward, throwing the knight off balance.

The air snake rippled about in the air above their heads. No one could say why it hadn't come down and bit one of them in half.

The knight’s sword skittered across the stone.

Instead of cutting him down, Akisane reached out and grabbed Kazusuke. He didn't know what overcame him, but he drained him as he had his hand. The energy of the knight appeared as the body withered. Rings of power crackled, chimed and snapped as they were obliterated. He drew as much power as he felt was safe, though we really didn't have any idea. Was it the same as using a pure or demon sword to extract energy? It felt the same. He let go of a blackened corpse that hit the ground lightly, as there wasn't much left.

This is all you do? You can do so much more.

He looked at his brother and searched his face for any hint of emotion, but he could not find disgust or anything else there.

He looked up to see the serpent coming for him. He'd been expecting the wide jaws with the dagger teeth to bite into him. There was nothing that could stop it. But he kept the blade up anyway because if it were going to have a meal, it wouldn't enjoy it without a little bit of pain.

The serpent stopped short. Its mane flowed like it was underwater, and its yellow eyes blazed at him.

Henry (Akisane)

Level: 13

Focus: Telekinesis

Secondary focus: Shadow walker, fire walker

Weapons: Darksun Sword - 85% corrupt, decay+12