Forging ahead was the only way to escape his past. And because pretending to forget about his past was much better than living with the pain every single day. He found new wonders, ways to entertain himself to bury his pain and tread on to another day.
But dueling with Bryan has awakened that anger within him. Though Bryan wasn't as skilled as him, the movements, words and gaze of the Slayer were evocative of Tomoe's twin. The idea was there, it's like facing off his brother's soul in a differnt body. This made him even angrier.
Seeing Bryan behaved like him made Tomoe want nothing more but to blind the boy's eyes. The rage within the past has seeped into the present. And with that rage engulfing him, Tomoe erupted in blue flames, shocking Baldwin and momentarily worrying Bryan.
Bryan knew from the beginning that this stance would've been the winning move but he wasn't sure until he tested it out. But seeing that the fan had faltered when he had struck a particular spot. The middle part of the fans.
And with Tomoe overlapping his fans so often, Bryan just needed a powerful strike to destroy them both. The impact from the pommel had dented the fans and now it was the best time to strike. But he still needed something else, more force for the thrust to break the fans.
That was why he had to be airborne. But another scene flashed in his mind. What if Tomoe dodged his attack while he was in mid-air? Then all would have been for naught. Bryan saw that after the impact, Tomoe's upper body was away from his lower body, making his legs vulnerable.
The Slayer promptly took care of that problem by breaking Tomoe's legs. Concentrating all his power into the tip of his blade, Bryan jumped up and prepared to deliver the final strike. Under his breath, Bryan mumbled a secret incantation to secure him the win.
"My aim is forever true, my bow is permanently drawn and ready to fire..." murmured Bryan, as the blade's tip got coated with the spell's light.
But the fox thought nothing of it, assuming that it was just the blade's glint from the sun above them.
"Symbol of Chiron, Tutor to many Greek Heroes... Stars Of The Centaur, Saggitarius," chanted Bryan as he got near Tomoe.
Bear in mind that this all happened in under a minute. The flames that emitted from Tomoe only lasted for a split second as the Kitsune conceded defeat. The guilt had put out the flames of rage within the Kitsune's heart.
"What if all I needed to do was to accept him? Would that fight still occur? Would he still be alive? Why couldn't I just swallow my pride then, just like how I am going to now? After all... He was my younger twin and partner in crime."
"If we had switched positions... Would it still have the same outcome? I have tried my best to bury the image that I saw that day... The final time I saw your eyes shine as bright as emerald jewels with that pale complexion of yours. "
"Before they became dull and lifeless when your body got skewered by my sword. The humans were right to call me such names. They were right to throw stones at me and curse me with such horrendous insults. Thinking back, I deserved to be called a monster."
"Why do I see you in this young man's eyes? Is it a chance to make amends? To do the right thing? Because if so... Then I want to change my decision now! I won't make the same mistake twice!"
"Because... All I ever want... Is to see your smiling face again... I'd trade the world to have you in front of me again..."
Though it was subtle, Bryan could pick out a whiff of sadness as Tomoe's flames vanished.
The sound of metal shattering rang throughout the area, declaring the winner of the duel. It produced a ring of wind that covered the entire forest. Mavislin's eyes widened as she felt the wave. Her head turned towards the Old Chapel's direction.
Raiyen was still concentrated on his task but he was well aware of the fans breaking.
"Don't worry... It'll take more than that to kill him," assured Raiyen, eyes fixed on the task.
"I know that well enough. But what we don't know is that what comeback this fox is going to do. Keep in mind that he is still a Kitsune."
"He won't be pulling off any stunts this time. Trust me, I've got him on a tight leash. And besides, he can't die so long as I am alive and wield this dagger of mine. His soul is connected to this."