Miki Takeo had been born in 1721, when Emperor Nakamikado had ruled. Now two hundred and thirty-nine years old, he had far more experience in combat than Cormac possibly could have. He had fought on the Surface, he had fought in the Deep and as far as he was concerned there was no better combatant than he, there was no better mage than he and yet, Ronemun had defeated him many times as had Sheth in a magic duel. He had been able to take Ronemun's left hand in one fight, but he had yet to be able to so much as cripple that purple-eyed freak Sheth! Now Ronemun had that new hand of his, that magical water hand bestowed to him by Moryana… A breastplate and a dagger-axe from Yu the Great, a magical hand made of water from Moryana, both inferior to Acclaimed Avatar Phmyn, Paterfamilias Ikne and Materfamilias Sutec and yet constantly did he Takeo know defeat!
But here was someone else, someone less experienced, someone of lesser strength, a mere Child of the Storm whose transformation rendered him unable to be outside of the water for more than five minutes. Cormac would be an easy opponent to defeat, once he had tired of toying with the boy.
His completely white eyes studying the brand in Cormac's hand, Takeo recognized it as merrow work. Those merrows knew how to make swords well, just as Pacificans knew how to make armour well, but the beasts that Takeo led were equally as good as making armour and weapons. Cormac's sword and armour may have been good, but he was still inexperienced. What harm could he possibly be?
Clutching his staff tightly in his left hand, the Would-Be Deep Lord smiled arrogantly. He knew perfectly well what he would do. It was so simple that even a brainless Arab or equally brainless Irishman could figure it out.
When the brands met, an impressed look appeared on Takeo's countenance as Cormac fought like someone who had received training. Perhaps the Mage who would be Deep Lord had underestimated the Young Egan.
Perhaps, he had underestimated the boy too much.
With a swing of his brand, Cormac severed the right horn from Takeo's helmet. It was this that ultimately caused the mage to lift his staff and thus did the Young Egan find himself immobilized. It was as if he was frozen, what was he to do?
Staring at the horn from his helmet, Takeo then looked Cormac in the eye, his unclosing eyes having an expression that seemed to say "If only I could still glare." Tapping the flat side of his blade against the Young Egan's head, the Would-Be Deep Lord uttered: "You interest me, but not enough to spare you." Releasing the boy from the spell that held him, Takeo then said: "Come now, let us resume the duel!"
Though once again able to move, Cormac was hesitant to act immediately. Between Takeo's brand and his staff that he used to cast his spell of immobilization the Young Egan knew what to focus on. Destroying the staff would hopefully mean nothing for the Would-Be Deep Lord to cast spells with, unless he was basically using a crutch due to his magic not being powerful enough without it… He hoped it was the former.
Lunging forward to slice Takeo's staff in two, Cormac suddenly found the Would-Be Deep Lord swinging his brand at him, require the Young Egan to dodge the blade. As the blade scratched his breastplate, Cormac took another chance to destroy the staff of his opponent, only for things to repeat with him having to dodge the blade again, this time scratching his manica. If he didn't manage to get the staff with the third attempt, it was entirely possible that Takeo's blade would come into contact with flesh rather than armour.
Going for the attack once more, Cormac found his blade coming into contact with Takeo's multiple times. When he finally managed to slice his opponent's staff in two, Cormac found that at the most the Would-Be Deep Lord seemed somewhat annoyed by this. Swinging his brand at his opponent once more, Cormac found that rather than blocking the blade with his own, Takeo simply raised his left hand and once more did Cormac find himself immobilized.
Somewhat.
While armed with that staff, Takeo's spell seemed to completely freeze Cormac. With simply his hand, the spell seemed to merely hold the Young Egan back.
"What's the matter, Takeo?" asked Cormac mockingly. "Not a good enough swordsman that you have to rely on magic?"
Lowering his hand, Takeo replied: "If you want to die so badly, then so be it!"
Battle resumed and Cormac suddenly found himself having to avoid any strike that Takeo made. His armour was only seeing use today, but if he survived this it would have seemed like it had seen a decade of use. Takeo struck with such speed and strength that Cormac only barely was able to avoid the strikes of his brand and was wondering how long it was going to be until his sword finally broke.
Thankfully, Takeo began to tire and thus, did Cormac find that he was given a chance to strike, leaving the Would-Be Deep Lord to be the one on the defensive! Be it blocking with his own brand or simply moving out of the way, Takeo began to become annoyed, more so when Cormac outright punched him in the face.
This heathen savage dared to punch him? The gall! Swinging his brand with all his might, a smile came to the Would-be Deep Lord's countenance when the blade of the Young Egan's brand broke, leaving the boy defenseless.
Having stayed out of the way with the brands swinging around, Melusine's covered her mouth with her right hand in shock. She had to do something, but it wasn't like she could just hit Takeo over the head with a rock. His helmet would prevent him from receiving a head injury. What could she do? She couldn't just let Takeo kill Cormac, he friend, her companion, the other half of her soul! She had to do something! She just had to!
Raising his weapon, Takeo smiled with the joy he always felt when he slew an opponent. He only wished he was the type to spare someone, otherwise he might be able to face Cormac once again when he had more experience.
The moment Ronemun appeared before him, Takeo lowered his brand and stared into the eyes of his archenemy. That fabulous dagger-axe of his that allowed him to teleport, fire bolts of lightning, manipulate the weather, water, create ice from nothing, fly, that a god, even a deity inferior to the Trinity, had given such a weapon to the son of a heathen savage, an Arab, was an insult! Wherefore had Acclaimed Avatar Phmyn, Paterfamilias Ikne or Materfamilias Sutec never granted him such a weapon! He was Miki Takeo! He would be Deep Lord! Such a weapon should have been his!
But on the other hand, a weapon gifted to someone by a deity that did not belong to the Trinity was dangerous. That dagger-axe had to be destroyed!
"If you want to finally be repaid for taking my left hand, this might just be the day." Growled Ronemun, tightening his grip upon the pole of his dagger-axe.
Keeping his brand raised, Takeo thought about finally putting an end to his centuries' old enemy. He could have done it right now, but the fact was he was tired. He was so close to victory, but at the same time close to the possibility of being slain and his ambition never being realized.
Sheathing his brand, Takeo proceeded to swim away as he said: "Another time then and next time blood will be filling the water."
Watching as Takeo departed, Ronemun thought of his enemy's forces. They were already fleeing by now, making the Would-Be Deep Lord the last in the retreat. How long would it be until this long war between him and Takeo finally ended? Alas, Ronemun knew not. A year? A decade? A century? He could do so many wonderous things with the dagger-axe that Yu had granted him and the breastplate protected him from magic, but otherwise he could not see the future.
Looking at Cormac, the Sea King said to his first cousin once removed: "Conn told me what happened and when I got down to the vaults, the Councillor Esomha told me what happened, told me he saw Takeo go down a hole that must have led down here." Placing a hand upon Cormac's shoulder he then said: "Come on, we best get you and Melusine back up to the city."
Nodding, Cormac felt Melusine take him by the left hand. Looking her in the eye, her saw her gazing back at him proudly with a smile. All he could do was smile back. His brand may have been broken, but in the end everything was alright.
Was this the moment for a love confession? Maybe not, maybe later when it was just the two of them and Cormac didn't have his paternal cousin once removed present. What could he say? Would he just say "I love you?" No, no, it had to be something more than that, it had to—
Closing her eyes, Melusine leaned and kissed Cormac on the lips. Closing his eyes as well, Cormac returned the kiss, while thinking maybe a love confession wasn't needed. They knew how they felt about one another without having to tell each other.
Smiling, Ronemun kept his hand upon Cormac's shoulder and raised his dagger-axe, returning the three of them to the palace.