I slowly turned to face the one who’d just spoken to me. I recognized his voice but hoped against hope that it wasn’t who I think it was.

“Myles?” he asked again. “What are you doing here?”

Sam stood a few paces away from me. He was wearing light leather armor too, unlike the soldiers I’d just dealt with. But Sam knew magic, much more than I did anyway. I stood there, frozen, silent. Sam looked at my feet, he saw Alan, swimming in his own blood.

“Did you do that?” he asked.

I didn’t answer. I was thinking of a way to get out of this. Raiya’s protections won’t last after the last spell I endured. I didn’t know what Sam was capable of either. I tightened my grip around the short sword, as if that would help…

Another explosion was heard near the tree house. Sam looked in that direction then turned to me.

“She’s strong,” he said. “But Father Utar will subdue her. He’s forgiven my aunt for her crimes. Thanks to you, we can save her and have the treasure you stole from the Crucible.”

Save her? She’s already gone my dear Sam. And I hoped I could do the same for you too. But I wasn’t confident I could take you on. I didn’t have a choice though. I had to fight. There was nowhere to run either, not against Sam.

My memories of him had come back after my last bout with Agatha. I remembered how we used to be close friends. I remembered how I trusted him, and how he betrayed that trust. I couldn’t forgive him for that. I wouldn’t run. I’d fight and I’d make damn sure I win, even if the odds were against me.

“Willing to fight me M?” he asked. “You do know that sword of yours can’t reach me, don’t you?”

I’d noticed that he didn’t move either. Perhaps the fall had injured him more than he cared to admit. He talked too much too. Last time we met, he didn’t waste time in paralyzing me. He was now trying to scare me with mere words.

I advanced toward him. I made sure I stayed a few paces away from him while I circled around, sword in hand. Sam smirked as his eyes followed my every move. I had about a second to get my plan into motion. I had to get him to drop his guard. The tree trunk in which one of my loose arrows landed was about three steps away (I was out of arrows). I couldn’t let him notice that.

“What makes you certain that Utar will keep his word?” I asked.

Sam wasn’t willing to move yet. He was probably too weak to move, or recovering. Either way, I didn’t want to start a fight I had no hope of winning yet.

“Utar is a man of his word,” Sam said. “He vowed to capture you and the warlock. And here he is, in foreign territory, risking war against Arsalan.”

“You give that Priest too much credit,” I said. Only one more step. He mustn’t see the attack coming. “He won’t save your dear aunt though.” I added then met his smile with a nasty grin of my own. I know how to make an ugly face, especially with the torn eye patch and the scar on the right side of my face.

Sam narrowed his eyes at me. I had his attention. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“Your aunt put a knife into my back,” I said. I was now standing in front of the tree. The arrow was behind me. I only had to reach out for it, and hope he doesn’t react too quickly. “She had to be punished,” I went on. “You have Utar to do the punishing for you, I have her!” I jerked my head toward the tree house.

Another explosion that shook the earth ensued this time…

Sam looked at the tree’s direction, it was my queue. I wrenched the arrow off the tree and then pulled my bow. It’s amazing how fast you could do things when you’re determined. When Sam had looked back at me, his face was contorted in uncontrollable anger. I was counting on that, anger blinds us. I loosened the arrow at his knee but I only hit his thigh.

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Sam winced and let out a painful cry. I grinned at then dashed toward him. He was weak, unable to defend himself properly. I wasn’t going to let that opportunity pass. I reached my ex-best friend and swung my sword, aiming for the head. I didn’t have the time or the energy to elongate the fight.

“Vent!” I heard Sam mutter. The next I know, I was flying backwards. My back slammed onto the ground and I felt the air forcefully burst out through my mouth and nostrils.

“I may have weakened,” he said as I was trying to pull myself up. “But I won’t allow you the satisfaction of landing another blow. Fool me once, M!”

He pulled the arrow away, slowly. I winced at the sight of it, but he didn’t. His fierce eyes fixed me with an unrelenting gaze. He still had some magic in him. Just how much Essence did he have? I couldn’t tell. Mine was very limited. On the other hand, he might not have the same problems I have.

I dashed once more, my head buzzing and my feet almost wobbling. I struggled to keep them steady. I had to finish this fight before I fainted. This time, only my rage kept me sane, kept me from giving up and falling on my knees. I wouldn’t let this bastard get the upper hand. He may be strong, but I’m not backing down, not against him, not against anybody from their damned Church!

“Medea!” Sam muttered after he pulled the arrow away. I made to swing my sword but thrust it instead. He dodged it. I was amazed at his perception. No one could dodge a thrust like that, not after I’d given a slight feint. I felt his boot dig deep into my abdomen. I coughed out, and blood was mixed with the air that left my mouth.

“You overestimate yourself M!” Sam yelled.

I fell on my knees, gasping for air. What the hell was that? A kick? It felt like I was hit by a ram!

“It’s time I showed you what real power looks like!” By that time I could only see his riding boots. “But before that, you’ll tell me what happened to my aunt!”

I felt his hand close in on my throat. I was suffocating already. I didn’t need him to choke me as well. Shit… I’d really underestimated him.

“Father Utar says I’m only on the early stages of development, you see?” he said, his fingers clutching my throat tighter and tighter. The world around me grew silent. I prayed for some help from Eva, but she wouldn’t respond. I was tempted to use the Fragment’s energy, despite the risks. But I was already losing consciousness, I couldn’t concentrate.

Sam let go of me and I slumped back on the ground, coughing, wheezing.

“What’s the matter M?” Sam asked. “Can’t take a little beating?” He kicked me again.

My back hit a tree trunk and my vision became blurry. I watched his silhouette slowly approach me. I tried to take deep inhales, stabilize my breathing. But I couldn’t. My heartbeat was getting fainter. I gasped for air but it seemed as though it had fled my immediate vicinity. I tried to stand but my body complained furiously.

“I’ve been given the gift of power,” Sam said as he knelt beside me. “In the early stages, my strength couldn’t match the warlock’s. I’m confident Father Utar will subdue her though. But meeting you here must’ve been fate.”

My vision cleared and my breathing started regulating. I could see him clearly now. He hadn’t changed his hairstyle ever since I knew him, slick, slightly shaved to the side. He’d grown some sideburns now, which made him look like a bandit from the forgotten cities of the desert. His square jaw was clenched as he tilted his head, observing me with careful eyes.

“What happened to my aunt Stalwart?” he asked. I felt his knuckle in my stomach. This hurt more than the previous kick. I thought I’d burst an intestine there.

“Where is my aunt?” he asked again then brought his hand to my shin, in a chopping motion.

I felt the bone crack and I screamed. I never thought I’d scream like that before. The fracture was sudden, painful, but the punch that came after it, to my face, made me forget about the previous agony. He was talking, probably asking me about Agatha. But I couldn’t hear a word he said. I felt a warm liquid seep down my left ear.

“Where’s Agatha?!” Sam asked again. He’d changed positions. He was standing to my right now, right in my blind spot. He held me by the throat and was about to deliver another punch but a loud crash nearby made us both look sideways.

Sisha, the gigantic demon cat had just fallen a few paces away from us. His fur was painted red. I saw him struggle to stand. The dark energy that enveloped his gray fur was faint now. He hissed as a giant shadow concealed the sky above us. Sam let go of me and got to his feet.

“We’ll talk later M,” he said, “if you get out of this alive.” I saw apprehension and fear in his eyes. Sam looked once more at the sky then ran, toward the warlock and her tree house.

I couldn’t stand. I couldn’t bend my body either to have a better look at the sky. But I heard a strange sound. Wind howled around me and my hair danced about as a strong gale blew past me. Sisha was terribly worn out. His right hind leg had a nasty gash. Purple blood flowed from it abundantly.

I flinched as I willed my body to bend forward and look up. Then I saw it, high above us. It was giant flying lizard, with two legs and a pair of leather wings. It even wore custom made armor, azure blue, which covered its long neck and legs. I squinted at the base of its neck.

There was someone riding it!