The scene changed.

It kept changing.

Buildings and skies moved faster than what could be perceived by the human eye.

Luckily, the two observants of this ever changing scene were anything but human.

A regular human observer in the situation, even one with an expertly trained eye. Would only perceive a jumble of colours. Mixing into an absurd image of melting colours and light shifting as if it was made of rubber.

A man wielding a black sword and a woman wearing a white fur mantle were clashing.

Colliding in a mass of blows so quick they created sparks, before immediately separating, each pushing the other away, making them fly away before they shot themselves against each other once again. Over and over.

They were having this battle in an ever shifting place. Constantly moving at such a speed that the scenery around them twisted into incoherent images.

Anyone looking, would probably not even notice them even if they had their battle right beside them.

They moved too quickly to perceive, leaving behind them only the wind, which desperately tried to catch up to their movements.

“That’s right, brother! This is how you should always be! Even in your pitiful human form, i can feel your silent howl!”

Sköll grinned. Despite her slowly losing their duel. Her mantle getting torn up bit by bit, and her claws getting sliced off with almost every clash of Hikaru’s blade, despite them having to grow back each time.

“I don’t have time for you. Fool of a sister. I should have known you would show up at some point, when i fought off those lackeys of yours while making sure Yuri’s fight with Helgi wasn’t interrupted.”

His sword disappeared. reappearing again right next to his sister’s neck.

“Oh yeah. Some guys were supposed to report in a few days ago. But they never did. So that’s what happened to them”

The blade was blocked with the flesh of her arm, with the blade threatening to cut off her hand, the only thing stopping it from accomplishing that were her bones.

Her face was in a motionless grin.

Sköll had long since learned to accept pain and ignore it. She barely had to practice, since she was born with an innate bloodlust and fiery nature. She was born the perfect beast, and her countless years of experience only served to polish up her senses, or lack thereof.

Hikaru’s blade was pushed off, her wounds healing rapidly, leaving only a tiny trail of smoke behind where the cut used to be.

“That isn’t healing magic. What have you done to yourself, sister.”

Stepping back, Hikaru swung his blade down to clean it from blood.

“This..?” Looking down at where her wound used to be. She gave Hikaru a grin and licked the still slightly discoloured patch.

“It might not be as good as the healing of that little girls dagger. But this is just the natural effect of this!”

Pulling away her mantle, she revealed her naked chest.

Hikaru’s eyes gained a disapproving look.

Her chest was covered in vaguely green veins. Concentrated around the area of her heart. A print of a white flower was stuck there, akin to a tattoo.

“...Sister what have you done.”

“I made myself better, This is the holy relic of Eir. Known for being a great healer.”

Clutching at her heart. Sköll gave it a small squeeze. The peculiar veins pumping slightly faster when she did so.

“..But why would you replace your heart with..that.”

“Because. Brother of mine. While you are looking to gather the relics and keep them hidden away buried in your garden. I.. We. Plan to use them.”

“You do realise that even if you acquire all of the relics. The revival of that...monster. It will still not free it from its shackles.”

Hikaru’s eyes seemed sure of this fact, which was something his sister didn’t disagree with.

“It..? Monster..? How dare you call our father that. He was the one that gave us both life and a purpose. He was the one that guided us when the selfish gods threw us out.”

Her eyes narrowed in anger. This was the first time in a long time, that his sister had looked at him with true anger in her eyes.

“Besides..We don’t need all of the relics..we just need to find the correct ones..with the correct relics and the fitting magics. We will have what it takes to break the rusted shackles of our father.”

“....Sister..then..what will you do. If one of the relics you need..Is the one serving as your heart..”

Their eyes met. But this time it was her eyes that were filled with determination rivaling his.

“Then i shall offer father my heart. I will slice it out myself, and offer it to him with my last breath. For father.”

Her words fell like bricks onto Hikaru’s mind.

Although he hated his sister for all the horrible things she had done. Hearing someone this close to him, offering up her life like this. Without any hesitation. It felt wrong. He was unsure why.

It wasn’t because she was offering it to a horrible monster. Or because of the way she was offering it.

But simply the act of offering her life. It felt wrong. It shook his own conviction from the roots.

“Sister..are you sure?”

“The only one unsure. Is you.”

“Very well..Then i will make sure you can offer your life to no one. Especially that creature.”

He prepared himself. He could win. He would win. Despite her advantage in all their previous fights. This time he had a weapon he didn’t have to worry about breaking.

He had the advantage. He would end this once and for all.

The legacy of their father will end with the death of his sister.

He rushed at Sköll. His blade thrusting faster than a bullet, toward her heart.

His blade was blocked by thick steel-like white fur.

Instead of the pretty woman who resembled a wolf. Now was a giant monster. A beast of a wolf, whose size exceeded that of a bear.

--

“There. All better now!.”

Yuri was busy scribbling runes around Helgi, who was now waking up again. His wounds having healed enough that he could move.

“Thank you Yuri..that woman was terrifying. I didn’t know people like that could exist. Who was she?”

Asking this, he looked over the wound on his back, which had left a large scar across his back.

“Also, how come i have a scar and you don’t..?”

“That woman. Is Hikaru’s sister.”

(And i left that scar because you should have some. hah! No plastic surgeons in this world to fix that for you Helgi!)

“I knew siblings hated each other but isn’t this a bit extreme..?” Smiling awkwardly Helgi motioned at the remains of their wounds.

“Well..I can’t say..all i can say is. She is our enemy. and our opponent in finding the relics, and that no one other than Hikaru can face her.”

She was confident. Her words revealing something to Helgi.

“Shouldn’t we go find a hiding place, in case she comes back..?” He tried.

“Better if we just stay here. So Helgi can find us easier”

“You have that much trust in him…?”

Helgi was shocked. Yuri had always been someone who plans every move, every action. So that they best ensured success. For Yuri to choose to just..passively sit and wait. It was unimaginable to Helgi.

“Of course i do. Who else would i trust. After all, he is my partner...and my personal knight.”

--

A knight with a black sword stood against a gigantic white beast.

The yellow eyes of the beast reflected the yellow sands around them.

Finally having stopped moving, they noticed that they had moved far from the city and deep into empty deserts.

Wind blew yellow sand clouds around them.

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“You have defiled your natural beauty sister..”

Hikaru shook his head in disappointment

The snow-like white fur of the beast which was his sister was covered in something else other than fur.

Trailing from the chest area of the wolf, vine-like veins spread across its body, covering the brilliant white with a darker green.

“Hahaha...brother surely you jest. The only one who defiles their natural beauty is you, with that disgusting human visage of yours!”

The beast flung itself at Hikaru, it’s enormous jaw opening wide, wide enough to engulf Hikaru whole.

The black sword was thrust inside the beast's jaw, halting it from closing. When the jaw was to snap around Hikaru, it instead made the sword sink deep into the top of its mouth, threatening to stab through the brain.

Sköll threw a slash at her enemy with her now incredibly elongated claws, that seemed sharper than any normal blade. Forcing Hikaru to abandon his advantageous position, but not before he thoroughly slashed the inside the beast's jaw.

His attempt to do as much damage as possible before dodging had taken away from him a precious moment, which gave Sköll an opportunity to gain a strike at his side. Ripping open his clothes and drawing blood.

He had foreseen that attack and so managed to barely avoid any serious damage to any organs or arteries.

Taking a step back, Sköll rushed him once again.

They continued this exchange of slashes. They were both on an equal level.

Despite that, Helgi was on the losing side.

Skölls borrowed abilities of healing had ensured that her wounds always healed, no matter how severe. It also had the added benefit of her not feeling any fatigue, giving her a near limitless stamina.

Meanwhile, Hikaru was slowly getting worn down with each exchange of blows. He was bloody and covered in wounds. At this rate, he would likely bleed to death before they got to the end of their fight.

“You have no chance of winning brother. I would ask you to join my side, but your insistence on keeping that human form despite your imminent death, somehow tells me that you would refuse.”

Skölls voice sounded less womanly and more gruff in this form. It would be difficult to tell she was female from any of her current characteristics.

Difficult for anyone except someone of the same kind as her.

“Sister of mine..have you forgotten how unladylike it is to ruin your fur with accessories…”

Sköll tilted her head in what equated to a raised eyebrow had she been in human form.

“Ribbon..Forgive me, this might be difficult again. I have no other choice however.”

He spoke to his sword.

Which responded with a reassuring shake and slight tightening around his arm, trying to say something akin to “It’s alright! I can take it, so let’s go!”.

Hikaru breathed in. The ribbon beginning to vibrate slightly. Filling with his mana. It quickly expanded, covering his entire body, except for above his nose. Leaving his eyes and hair open.

Once it covered his entire body, it tightened around him. Safely adding pressure to all his wounds, temporarily stopping the bleeding and granting him an extra layer of armour.

“Clever. But how long can you keep that up. Seems it drains a lot of mana.”

“Long enough to teach you a lesson in how to take care of your fur..!”

With this Hikaru jumped at her, the ribbon covering his entire body, boosting his physical abilities, letting him get onto the giant beast that was Sköll without her managing to react.

“How!?”

“If you keep healing. Then i just have to take care of that first!”

His sword flew around him in a whirlwind, repeatedly slashing through the vine-like veins covering Skölls fur. Disposing of them as one would when gardening

The vines fell to onto the sand. Disappearing into a cloud of green.

“You..! how dare you!”

Sköll roared and shook him off, along with the rest of the cut off vines.

“Now you at least appear presentable.”

He admired her now flawless white fur.

“You…”

Her anger was great enough that she didn’t get to finish her sentence, her jaws immediately trying to crush her enemy when he showed an opening.

Now that they were on a fairly equal level, with Skölls healing significantly weakened. Hikaru fought with all his strength without holding back.

As did Sköll, now that she didn’t have the trump card of her healing abilities, she needed to finish Hikaru off before he could do the same to her.

Their fight was beyond the understanding of what logically made up a fight.

A fight is to overcome an opponent with force or weapons.

This..this was beyond that concept.

They both knew the other was fighting with all their might. Squeezing out as much of their concentration and force, enough that if they made a single mistake in forcing out their power. It might lead to their own hearts stopping, or their limbs breaking due to their own force.

None of them could afford to prolong the fight. Hikaru was running out of mana, due to his use of the full body ribbon. And Sköll was at a loss of confidence in a prolonged fight with her healing gone and Hikaru fighting at full force.

With that, each of their blows had the power and the intent to not kill, but to completely destroy their opponent.

Any single wrong move would end in the other getting a hit in, resulting in a game over, worse than defeat, resulting in complete annihilation.

Each attack was thought through several moves in advance. Both their minds straining all their electrical power to try and predict the movements of the other.

Their concentration on their skill of foresight, combined with their unnaturally precise and invisible attacks and dodges. Made a mirage appear.

A mirage of the two figures fighting. Different variations of their fight, reflecting on the hot flickering air around them. Filling the desert with the mirage of their figures. So that it appeared as though not just two figures were fighting.

But an entire army.

Slowly each mirage began to fade away. Making the desert empty once more. Revealing the true figures of the two opponents.

They wore both battered and bloody.

Hikaru was barely containing his previous injuries within the tight confines of the ribbon bandages, along with his new injuries and broken bones. His body was only kept together thanks to the mana powering the ribbon on his sword. Which was dangerously close to running out.

Sköll was in no better situation herself. Her previously brilliant white fur was now grey with sweat and dirt.

Her body sulked slightly, giving away her injuries of broken bones. Along with the considerable mental fatigue that accompanied her attempting to foresee the attacks of her brother who was much more well versed in this manner of fighting.

She was accustomed to ripping apart her enemies before they knew what was happening. Since opponents on the same level as her are rare and far between. Actually fighting one as strong as her proved incredibly taxing.

The biggest indication to how strangely, surreal and inhuman their fight truly was, was that all their newly sustained injuries, did not come from receiving any manner of blows or attacks.

They were all self inflicted wounds. Caused by them pushing and taxing their bodies beyond their limits. Slowly destroying themselves while continuing to fight.

It was something no human, or other mortal creature with any sense of self preservation could accomplish.

It was the act of those who were beyond life. An act of those who had tasted the fruits of existence beyond the mortal ones.

They could no longer fight. If they would, it is guaranteed that one of them would surely fall. if not from receiving a blow, then from simple fatigue.

“...This fighting style..of battling someone through thinking...how did you master it to such a degree..surely there is no one that could match you in the human world..”

Drops of blood dripped from Skölls mouth as she spoke. Her already rough voice, even rougher than usual.

“It is in the human world that i learned it..I am not like you. I do not simply defeat my opponents as if they were trash. In every fight against every human i have fought so far..i made sure to use only the same amount of power and strength as they did..”

He spoke with difficulty. It was clear most of the bones in his body were broken or shattered. The ribbon successfully aided him in speaking by moving his jaw for him. trying to make sure that their opponent couldn’t see through Hikaru’s weakness.

Alas, both Hikaru and Sköll had already seen through each others injuries and weaknesses.

“You mean to say..every fight you have won so far..you have won by skill alone..?”

Her yellow eyes were wide. She had taken her brother for a fool who had simply wanted to feel superior amongst the inferior humans. Finding out that he had never used his natural strength to his advantage, was..incredibly shocking.

“With every fight. A knight is supposed to take to him valuable lessons and experiences to further his skill. i simply act based on that belief. That every time someone risks their life. It is only honourable to also risk yours...I learned that from a fellow knight.”

Hikaru breathed in and took a step forward.

“Sister..why do you pursue Yuri and the dagger so much. Answer me, i need to know. The reason for our fight, before one of us falls.”

“...I’ll be honest with you. I don’t care enough about this dagger of hers that i would follow you all the way here. I have other more important things to do...It was a mere coincidence that i was here. But coming across the dagger here was lucky. It would prove a very useful piece combined with the relics...and i do dislike that little girl...So it ended up the way it did.”

She explained.

“But do beware. Although i may not actively pursue the little girl and the dagger. I have others who do. And if i ever do come across her again. I will. kill her. So if you want her to live. You should best try and finish me now. Before i finish you first.”

She warned him, her jaw trembling in anticipation., the jagged teeth inside twisting slightly, anxious to stab into soft flesh.

“...Then. before i do. Why do you dislike Yuri so much. Surely, it isn’t because she simply is in the possession of the thing you desire.”

They were both stalling for time. These few seconds of talking were to catch their breaths, which had long since run out during their fight.

“....Do you really not see it brother. Despite you being more powerful than me. Being at an even level in that pathetic form. You still cannot see the things right in front of you. How disappointing brother..I had hoped that maybe. Just maybe. You spending time amongst these inferior mortals would have at the very least opened your eyes to the things around you. That’s why i was in that city to begin with. I figured i might drop by it and see what all the fuss about humans is, which you used to talk about.”

Her deep sigh carried cold air from her lunges, clearly seen in contrast to the hot air around her.

“But as always...It seems you only see what you want to see...you never bother with trying to see things through the eyes of others. Only being concerned with what you think is right.”

Those words cut deeply into Hikaru. Those words, they carried the same meaning.

(The same meaning that Helgi told me…)

His heart shook. He had nothing to retort that with. So he stayed silent. The hot wind moving his oily dark hair, while he avoided eye contact with his opponent. Something he knew was an action only an amateur would do. Yet at this moment..he could not meet her eyes. For they, saw right through him.

“Do you really think anything will be different than before. You abandoned me, and chose to be the companion of humans. Yet despite that. Despite leaving me alone for search of better companions. You never acquired a single true one.”

She spoke with anger. This wasn’t battlefury. It was a simple anger, a weak tired anger.

He was about to say something when she interrupted him.

“Oh but you had companions. Didn’t you? Is that what you were about to say. you had those Knights. Traveling with you for years. You had that priest girl. And now you have the little girl. Is that right? Yes i know of your companions. What do you think i never bothered to make sure you were alright. Is that what you thought all those years.”

She scoffed. Their battle was forgotten. She was full of openings. But he could not take advantage of any of them. It was impossible for him, he could not move.

“Those Knights, Every single one of them. They died while you lived on. And every single one. Did not consider you anything more than a hired mercenary. How could they, if you couldn’t even see past their words. All you saw was your ideals. Driven by self gratifying curiosity and honour. Without actually caring about those around you. They never entered your heart. Even that priestess. I’m sure she gave you her blessing on this new righteous quest of yours.

Idiot. Did you think she did it because she thought it was right…? She is a priestess you fool. The only reason she defied her god by giving up her relic. It was because she hoped that traveling with this little girl. That it would let this little girl into your heart.

That is why i dislike that girl. Because she was expected to get into your heart.

While your own kin couldn’t.

But i see that it was all just pointless worrying. I’m not even sure if you have a heart. Acting based only on your morals. You are no different than a natural disaster. You aren’t even alive.”

Spitting on the ground. Sköll reverted back to her human form. Covering herself with her mantle.

Hikaru stood completely still. Like a statue. Her words, the pained emotion in her words was something he could not take. All these years he had viewed her as an enemy, and not so much as a sister.

Yet now.

Even if she attacked him. He would surely stand still and accept her blow, even if it meant his death.

“....”

But that did not mean he would stay quiet.

“You’re wrong.”

“Huh? Are you a fool. Every word I’ve said is true.”

Breathing out in irritation, she brushed off her dirty mantle without bothering to look at her brother.

“Your words are true. They were true. But as of today, they ceased to be true.”

He had not lost his determination. His eyes, which had been covered by his dark hair, were now visible due to the soft wind.

“I have found my determination. I have finally found what would make me break my own morals. And although i am sorry for abandoning you despite your care for me. I am eternally thankful for it. I am also thankful for your words. For they show me that my new conviction is not misplaced.”

“Is that so..” She glanced at him, her face betraying her not believing in his words.

“...I will prove it to you. To repay your care for me.”

He declared.

“Repay..? How silly...but sure. Prove it how.”

She asked without an ounce of curiosity.

“Myself and Yuri will acquire the relics before you do. And those in your possession, We will retrieve.”

“Isn’t that just you following your empty morals again...brother you are truly a fool.”

“No. It is not. This time i will not be doing it out of concern for my morals. This time. I will be doing it because it is Yuri’s wish. And i want her to accomplish her wish.”

The black ribbon covering his body slowly reverted back to its white colour, retreating back toward the hilt of the blade.

“Is that so. Well..i will have you prove it to me. If you can. Show me whether you really have a heart brother. I can’t wait.”

Saying this. Sköll grabbed hold of the left side of her chest. Pulling out a strand of something green.

“Here.” She threw the strand at Hikaru. “A strand of vine from my relic. use it so you won’t die on your way back. Wouldn’t want you to not be able to repay me.”

He grabbed the strand, which bore itself into his skin and slowly began healing his bones and wounds.

“...Thank you. Sister. Make sure you don’t throw away your life until i do.”

“..Whatever, Just go to that little girl already. Before i decide to kill her.”

Saying bitterly. she disappeared within a whirlwind of sandy wind.

“...Really. Thank you sister.”

A smile broke his serious expression.

“Now i realise what it is i truly have to do..Yuri.”