" Then get ready to defend your path."
" I'll be your first challenge. "
The word echoed through the room as the intensity of the force increased. The air in the room was thick with tension. His fists were still clenched, his body rigid, and the anger in him never seemed to fade. Even
with his grandfather imposing arcane aura ,He understood that there was no
going back from his statement.
His grandfather's eyes looked down on him , strict and stern. He showed no emotion other than disappointment from Sen's response. For a few seconds silence took the stage with Sen not daring to talk.
Then suddenly a knock at the door broke the silence. It was followed by a cheery and energetic female voice.
" Knock, knock princess , we're coming in."
The door slowly opened as a boy and a girl entered the room hardly knowing the atmosphere of the room.
The walls of the medic halls were made such that no arcane could enter nor leave the room. This was thanks to the permanent rune inscription on the walls. They managed to suppress the arcane power thus
patients were hardly exposed to outside forces. So when the two entered the
room they hardly knew nor anticipated the animosity that aired.
The first to enter was the girl. On entry she froze. Her hands trembled as she slowly dropped to her knees her energy sapping out from the oppressive arcane. Her face was horrified, covering her mouth as she gazed at the face off between grandfather and grandson.
The boy entered next and even before he turned after closing the door he could feel the surging power that filed the room. His hands trembled slightly slowly undoing the bandages on them. In his head an image of the two figures that faced of behind him and another on the floor. The most fearsome and scary image came from the smaller figure. He had felt it before and had already placed a name to it. One question beckoned
in his mind as he turned to face the atrocity that was his friend.
" Why does Sen air so much bloodlust?" he thought puzzled by his friend's forming arcane energy.
Sen was the only one in the room who had not noticed of the bloodlust that he was letting out. The others in the room felt it or rather seen it in the way Sen gritted his teeth, breathing in aggressive bursts, as
though growling at his grandfather. The manifestation of his arcane to them looked like a scarlet swirling body raging with nothing but anger and hate. His grandfather saw something more than just his hate and anger manifestation, he understood that something else drove Sen to act as he did. And that's what he feared, to lose his only grandson.
Sen's grandfather slowly lifted his hand the pressure shifting with him. Sen perceived it an attack and tried to jump back. Suddenly he felt a hand grab him by the head then walls of the room turned to an expanse of green with a few trees in the distance.
Back in the room Neil was shocked.
" So fast, what was that?" he thought.
He had barely seen what had happened. First ,was Sen trying to jump back and the other a blur and they were gone.
Mira who was still on the floor was more confused. She rose up fast then asked Neil frantically.
" Where did they go… , what happened to Sen?" her voice rising.
Neil was still pondering and barely heard her. Then suddenly as though he knew he said.
" Orsree fields?!"
" Are you sure? Orsree is on the other side of Laptove." Mira hurriedly asked , not even caring of how he made the guess.
" I don't know how but … yeah, they're there."
" Let's go then." She said as they exited the room.
…
In Orsree fields Sen was a few steps from his grandfather . He was on the ground still puzzled of how they got there. His grandfather was standing in front of him his back turned to him.
With a single motion, his grandfather raised his hand, and steel began to move, as if alive—shifting, bending, and forming. A short blade of gleaming, polished metal appeared in his grasp. With grace and dexterity he twisted it around fingers then threw it to Sen's side planting it to the ground.
" Use that. " said as he moved further as Sen rose up and wielded the short blade.
Sen's anger grew his grandfather already taking shots at his pride.
Through arcane, individuals
were able to manifest elements. Most of the elements were hereditary and family based. Sen's family, or more specifically he and his grandfather, had the metal element.
But for Sen things were a little different. Non like his grandfather who was limited to only the steel element he wasn't limited to only one type of metal. Even so it came with the drawback that he couldn't manifest or make it out of thin air like others could. He had to be in contact with the metal in question to uses it and his metal arcane. That meant he couldn't fight using arcane without a
metal object in hand or close enough to him.
The two stood facing each other, the tension so thick it felt as though it could snap. Sen's steel short blade flickered in the morning sun. He could feel his heart beating faster, his thoughts narrowing to one single point—revenge.
"Show me your resolve," his grandfather said, his voice a command now, carrying the weight of years of experience. The energy around him flared, and Sen could feel it press against him, a wave of crushing pressure.
Sen didn't hesitate. With a battle cry, he lunged forward, swinging his blade at his grandfather. He had dueled his grandfather before during practice so he wasn't scared to charge forward. Rage lit his screams as
he charged to his motionless grandfather. Back then he came to the conclusion that
striking first and striking fast were the keys to scoring a victory on his grandfather.
But that was practice.
With a single, fluid motion, Sen's grandfather blocked Sen's attack effortlessly. His bare hand met Sen's sword with a clang, and the force of the impact sent shockwaves through Sen's arms. The steel blade he wielded felt weak in comparison, as if it couldn't possibly stand against the power
that his grandfather commanded.
Sen's grandfather clenched the blade then pulled him closer delivering a blow to Sen's stomach with his left hand. Sen was sent across the field with every turn feeling the
force of the blow. He stopped and tried to stand up only to drop to one knee. He
clenched to his stomach which was now flaring with pain. His grandfather's gaze
never shifted from him.
" Is that all? " he asked.
Sen rose slowly with his short blade in his hand and with a cold stare he looked at his grandfather then said.
"No , am just g… ."
Suddenly he was interrupted by a blow to his stomach.
" Always keep your eyes on your opponent. " Sen heard his grandfather say.
Sen was knocked a distance away from his grandfather. His belly was sore and hot. All he felt was the pain that shot from his body. Tears formed yet they didn't fall. He rose again his hands looking as though they were hanging of his shoulders then looked at his grandfather, his vision doubled. He held to his blade tighter then slowly raised his hand. His silver eyes now colder narrowed
as he felt his arcane energy surge. He let out a sharp breath through gritted his teeth and with a burst launched forward.
His grandfather blocked effortlessly throwing Sen back.
" He's gotten faster." Sen's grandfather thought as his eyes followed Sen who was now circling him.
For every swing Sen made, his grandfather countered. For every strike Sen attempted, his grandfather parried with ease. The disparity between their abilities was staggering—Sen was no match for the sheer strength and skill of his grandfather.
His body was already sore from the first few exchanges, but Sen wasn't about to give up. With a roar, he gathered the unstable energy
within him, forcing it into his blade. He swung again, this time with all his might.
" Stop this." his grandfather said catching the swing mid air. Sen's eyes wavered on seeing his attack get caught.
" I understand your pain and what you must have gone through. " he said letting go of Sen's hand.
Sen quickly backed away.
" That's why I won't let you choose the path you want . Your blinded by hate such that you can't see what's in front of you. You can't even see what your are right now. "
" I don't care … I'll make them pay … I'll make them pay. " his voice hoarse with obvious detest.
"… Even if it means killing you." Sen said looking at his grandfather. His eyes
full of rage with murderous intent now spiking from his Arcane as he stood from
the ground.
His grandfather looked at the death glare from Sen's eyes.
He sighed deeply then said.
" So be it."
Suddenly Sen started trembling. His legs muscle tightened. His gaze softened after being met another stronger and more viscous gaze. He froze, rooted to the spot. The blade in his hands jittering. His heart raced with a heavy feeling of danger fueling it.
Suddenly he sensed a punch coming from his right. He didn't have time to dodge. The blow landed Sen feeling his rib crack yet he wasn't pushed away. Then another blow delivered to his left causing him to cough up blood. Then he felt a knee to his mid section.
The world went dark then from a distance a figure shrouded in blood appeared. It was the same height as him ,same eyes and
the same hair. On closer inspection Sen realized something.
" That's me. " he said surprised still frozen to the ground.
A shiver ran up his spine as it came closer. Sen understood it's purpose to clear. It was the same to what he had just a few seconds ago but now towards him. It was for his life.
Clang!!
Was the sound of Sen's blade falling to the ground. His hands had lost their strength as he stared at the looming figure come closer
and closer.
" Why do you fear?" he heard his grandfathers voice say through the space.
" Why do you fear the look from your very on eyes?" Sen's grandfather said appearing behind Sen as the figure drew nearer.
Sen had dropped to the ground his legs lacking the will to stand. He was silent looking down to the ground. His then walked in front of then said.
" The stare of death is easy to the eyes. But … " he stopped the figure disappearing.
" Don't stare at another while you still fear the same eyes looking at you." He said his tone stern as ever before.
Sen's eyes lifted seeing his grandfather stand in front of him. His face was no longer as stern as before. It had softened. Sen's eyes pooled with tears as the darkness faded. Past the light stood Neil , Mira and
in a wheelchair Miss Chin.