Chapter 267 (2/2)

Then a spark of fury arrived, setting Shal on fire. “Do you think…”

Shal took his time, drawing out the words, as he slowly stood. “Do you think this makes up for it all? All the time- every hour where we needed you and you just… weren’t there…?”

With a speed born of anger, Shal struck. This time, he moved with the sinuous grace of him and Pronto’s Twin Fang Style, but combining that with the principles of the Spear Phantom Style. What he lost in inevitability, Shal gained back in an unrelenting, adaptable offensive Style that seemed to give even Aemont trouble.

Once again Shal’s and Aemont’s spear entered a dance, but this time Shal was ready. This was a dance he had prepared for all his life. And at the cost of taking a spear to the thigh, his spear once again shot towards Aemont’s heart.

A deep sadness, a deep fear, a deep wariness like a dead pool of salt water, eroding his will every day.

“I can take both the boys,” My old friend Haelthing said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“No….”

Resolution.

“I don’t want that thing… anywhere near my son.” My eyes hardened, and I turned to go.

Shal fell to his knees. He remembered very vividly being sent away to stay with family friends, while Pronto stayed with Haelthing, learning the spear in a much more direct manner. Sure, Pronto was the first born son, so it made sense, but…

“That…. Thing…?” Shal whispered. He was just a boy when it all happened. Why… why….? The deep fears of his childhood came surging back. Everyday where he wondered whether there was something wrong with him, something different, something cursed that had him so far away from everyone… was it fucking true? Did you really take out your anger on a child….?

Aemont looked at him silently. Then he raised his spear, his face widening in a smile.

****

Randidly was smashed into the ground for the third time, the wind completely knocked out of him. Azriel nodded, as if pleased.

“Really, it’s shocking. I would think that training like this would stop being effective, after a time. But you recover quickly, and learn even quicker. You are probably the most talented person I’ve ever seen… aside from Drak and myself, of course.”

“Of course,” Randidly grumbled, staggering to his feet.

Azriel gave him a searching look. “...but I still sense no tenacity from you in these fights. Which is understandable, because of my level of control…”

Randidly’s heart dropped out of his chest. This psycho murderer, who actively moved her spear towards his heart to follow when he dodged, was talking about her control!?!?

She continued to speak. “...but also… you are holding a few things back. I can sense it.”

Scratching his head, Randidly shrugged. Sure, there were some other skills he could use, specifically Inspiration, but he couldn’t use it now, obviously, since he had burned it to survive against Black Spear. But it was a card that he could use in the fight.

But Azriel seemed to accept this, nodding to herself. “This is probably for the best… a man without any secrets will not long keep the attention of a woman. Let’s go again.”

Her whole body blurred, and Randidly scrambled to throw up his guard.