69 Why We Figh (2/2)

He pushed down hard on his glaive and forced my shadowblade closer to my chest.

”What's your name, young commander?” he asked.

I gripped my sword hilt tightly with both hands and exerted as much force as I could to push him back but his polearm just wouldn't budge.

”Dean Dapper,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

”Good name. Sounds like a superhero's name.” He nodded approvingly like he was having no difficulty keeping me locked in place. ”Like Peter Parker or Miles Morales or Scott Summers... Yes, it's a good name. I'm Jimmy Jonas by the way.”

He grinned widely at me. Then he loosened the pressure on his polearm, giving me a chance to breathe.

”Um, thanks..?” I said while feeling slightly bewildered. ”You know, there usually isn't this much talking in a fight.”

No harm in it.” Jimmy raised an eyebrow. ”It's not like either of us would stop fighting. I'm sure whatever brought you here isn't something so small you'd give in just by learning a guy's name?”

I shook my head. He was right. The weight I carried on my shoulders wasn't that light.

”Alright,” he said. ”Let's continue!”

Suddenly, with a strength he'd been hiding all along, Jimmy pushed his polearm forward. The power he exerted nearly blasted me away. It certainly left me stumbling backward.

”So, what brings you to the Fayne, Dean Dapper!” he asked at the same time as he swung his glaive forward.

I was barely able to block it with my falchion. Still, his blow nearly threw me sideways.

”Are you really going to keep interrogating me right now?” I asked while I parried the charred edge of his glaive before it could skewer me.

”Sure, why not!” He raised his glaive high with one hand, readying it for another downward strike. ”I would love to know your origin story. Learn your motivations.”

I dodged left as his blade came crashing down. Then I ducked as he swung his polearm sideward again.

Fool's Insight was beginning to see a pattern in his attacks. However, its constant use was really starting to hurt my eyes now. The stinging sensation doubled, nearly comparable to rubbing chili powder over my eyelids.

I blinked once. Twice. Three times. Then I pulled back to avoid the glaive thrust I'd nearly missed seeing.

”You want to know what motivates me...” I repeated. ”Well, you first!”

I pushed forward and sent my falchion slithering down to his legs.

Jimmy smashed his falchion butt-first onto the ground to repel my attack. Then he launched another palm strike aimed at my face.

As I pulled back, he yelled, ”Okay. Me first then!”

In my head, I wondered if I wasn't up against someone even crazier than Azuma. But the origin story he gave me as we continued our fight left me imagining that he might have been a really good guy—and that was worse.

”I didn't come to the Fayne for fame or riches!” he admitted while he sent glaive strike after glaive strike at me. All of which I was barely dodging even with the aid of Fool's Insight . ”No... I came for the other thing.”

”You came for power,” I guessed.

Jimmy nodded quickly. Then he pulled back to avoid my falchion snaking up his torso.

In the widening of his eyes, I saw the understanding that he knew I was finally catching up with his technique. In the midst of this battle, I was learning and getting stronger. Only, instead of fear taking hold of him, I saw genuine enthusiasm plastered on his face.

”You're really good, Dean Dapper,” he said appreciatively. ”And you're also right. I did come here for power. But I promise I didn't want it for some selfish reason.”

”What, then?” I asked curiously. I couldn't help it. I was a curious guy.

”I sought power so I could make our world better,” he admitted.

I looked skeptically back at him. ”Seriously?!”

”Seriously,” he answered back.