Capítulo 15: A Duel With The Old Man
The path to the garden was something out of a dream. Small streams of water trickled beside the walkway, their gentle murmurs harmonizing with the rustling leaves. Trees with multi-colored blossoms framed the path like an elaborate cage, their petals swaying and tumbling to the ground with every breeze. It felt serene—unnervingly so.
I inhaled deeply, the floral aroma almost masking the lingering tension from the sparring match ahead. "Your garden is beautiful," I said, my voice cutting through the quiet. "The flowers smell… fresh, vibrant. Like they're happy to be here."
Alexander grunted. "It was a place my children and their mother loved," he said. "It used to be even more beautiful. Lush."
That got my attention. "Used to be? What happened?"
Alexander stopped mid-step, his back stiffening. "The children are still asleep. It's barely dawn."
"And their mother?"
His shoulders tensed, and I knew I'd overstepped.
"…You ask too many questions," he muttered.
I bit back a retort, letting the silence hang awkwardly between us as we continued. His pace quickened, and I followed, watching his stiff gait as though it might offer me answers he refused to give.
When we reached the training area, I had to admit, it was worth the walk. The place was expansive, a wide circle paved with smooth, weathered stone. Fallen petals blanketed the ground, giving it an ethereal, almost sacred feel. Massive trees towered over us, their thick foliage allowing sunlight to filter through in scattered rays. Fountains dotted the edges, their soft splashes adding to the atmosphere. A few targets and dummies were set to the side, like afterthoughts in a space that didn't need them.
"I'm jealous," I said, taking it all in. "Training under a place like this? Meanwhile, I had nothing but gnarled branches and mosquito bites for company."
Alexander said nothing, his silence as deliberate as ever. He slipped off his gloves and grabbed a wooden sword, tossing one my way.
I caught it, the weight solid and familiar in my hands. "No words, huh? Guess the scenery's doing all the talking for you."
"You talk too much," he said flatly.
"Don't forget the rules, old man," I said, taking a stance.
He grunted. "I know what you said. One: the first to leave the circle loses. Two: no killing. Three: no permanent injuries."
I smirked, twirling the sword. "Got it. You can't back out now, you know."
"You were the one who asked for this," Alexander said, stepping into position. "I won't hold back just because this is a spar."
"Wouldn't expect you to."
He flipped a coin. It spun in the air, catching the sunlight before clattering to the stone floor.
No sooner had it hit the ground than Alexander lunged, closing the gap between us with startling speed. He stayed low, his wooden sword cutting an upward arc aimed squarely at my ribs.
I barely managed to parry, bracing the blade downward and redirecting the force. The impact rattled my arm, the vibration lingering in my hand. Before I could counter, he jumped back, avoiding the kick I'd sent his way.
"Hell of a hit there, old man," I said, shaking out my hand.
Alexander didn't waste the opening. He closed in again, his wooden sword coming down in a heavy arc aimed for my shoulder.
I grinned. "Cute."
Two of my [Construct] energy balls snapped to life, hurtling toward him. He raised his sword to block, the force sending him spiraling backward. He stumbled, his boots skidding against the stone, but quickly regained his footing.
His glare was icy as he took stock of the glowing orbs hovering around me.
"Ten," I said casually, gesturing to the energy balls. My Origin reserves ticked down to 900. "Don't look so shocked, old man. If I were you, I'd start using those emblem skills of yours."
Alexander's lips curled into a wry smile. "So be it."
He swung his wooden sword down sharply, murmuring, "Combustion."
Flames roared to life, engulfing the blade.
"Seriously?" I grimaced, shifting my stance. Great. A sword of fire. Because dealing with his raw strength wasn't enough.
I shot two energy balls his way as a test, darting forward behind them. He dodged the first, burned the second to a crisp, and batted the third aside with infuriating ease.
"Predictable," he mocked.
The next moment, he was above me, his sword crashing down like a meteor.
I twisted away, the fiery blade narrowly missing my shoulder and slamming into the stone with a deafening crack. Sparks flew as the impact scorched the ground.
"You're slow," he said, eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction. "Your energy balls are only as good as your concentration. This will be over soon."
"Oh, now you've done it," I muttered, feeling the sting of his words.
I kept five energy balls close for defense, sending the other three at him with staggered timing. His blade flashed, cutting one in half, while the others exploded against the ground near him, kicking up clouds of dust and smoke.
I charged through the obscuring haze, aiming for his blind spot. My wooden sword arced toward the back of his neck, victory so close I could taste it.
Then, heat flared to life—a wall of fire erupting between us.
"Shit!" I swore, my energy balls slamming into the flames just in time to shield me from the worst of it. The force sent me tumbling backward, landing hard against one of the surrounding trees.
The impact knocked the air from my lungs, pain radiating through my back.
"It appears I've won," Alexander said, his tone maddeningly smug.
"You almost killed me, old man," I said, forcing a grin through gritted teeth.
"What? I thought you wanted me to use my emblem skills," he said, stepping out of the circle.
I couldn't argue with that.
He extended a hand to help me up, his smile surprisingly warm.
"I won't lose next time," I said, accepting his hand. My legs wobbled as I stood, leaning against the tree for support.
Alexander tossed me a napkin, which I caught clumsily.
"What the hell was that fire barrier?" I asked, dabbing at the sweat on my face.
He smirked. "A little something I picked up in my younger days. Looks like my skills haven't gotten rusty after all."
Cocky bastard. But he'd earned it.
Presentes
-- Presente
recebido Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder