"Bye!", Ariel saw Archehon off.
Archehon exited his and his sister's new home. The decently-sized legs of the boy moved, travelling through the neighborhood- with lots of green and people. Parks, the sunny weather and the blue sky synthesized together to create a harmonic feeling.
Finally, after achieving his goal, Archehon walked to the black posh car where the same man, who drove them to the estate, waited.
"Welcome back, sir.", the man wearing a suit unlocked the cars back door with a professional smile.
Archehon naturally stepped inside the luxury while the driver started the engine, awaiting his word.
"Where should I take you sir?"
"The slums.", Archehon replied.
"Aha, okay.", the driver was startled by why he'd want to go back.
The engine vroomed silently, and stopped its motion when they reached the slums.
"We're here."
Archehon made his way outside the car and told the driver,
"Wait for me here. I'll be back by tonight. I don't mind you going elsewhere until I come back.", he gave a bunch of different information clumped into one.
"Okay, sir."
'Now, should I see Leonardo?', he thought.
One might say that he may not know his way there but Archehon had a really good memory which allowed him to direct himself to the castle in the middle of a mountain of rocks.
"There it is.", he looked at the giant door with rocks surrounding it.
Creeeeaaaak!-
The magnificent entrance allowed Archehon in. Inside, were the thugs from the last time he visited and the Rulers subordinates standing up, next to the most powerful man in the area.
"There he is. The boy who beat the genius son of the Ruler.", a thug murmured.
Whisper-whisper-
"Silence.", one of the Rulers strongest subordinates quietened the palace with a single word, displaying his position in the hierarchy.
"Archehon, wasn't it?", Leonardo grinned.
"Yes.", Archehon spoke politely, indicating that he was used to this manner, despite hating it deep down.
"Why have you come? From what I remember, there hasn't been a reason for your arrival, even if you beat Xavier.", he acted harshly, domineering towards Archehon.
"I have come because I thought that Xavier may require some of my help since I also have a good amount of experience in Dagger arts."
"Experience? Did you not use a spear the last time you fought?", Leonardo acted as if he was suspicious towards the boy.
"Yes, I did. But I have experience with both weapons."
"Forget about that. Aren't you being way too arrogant? I can also teach him and you're implying that you'd do that instead of me. Are you challenging my authority?"
Many of the crowds whispered after hearing the Rulers words.
"No, it's just like a frog in a well. The frog may try to jump up and almost reach the top but it may never achieve more than that in its life."
"What are you trying to say. I don't like small talk."
"I mean that I can be that rope that helps the frog complete its last steps."
"This still doesn't mean that you're clear. I can kill you at any moment. Are you still not afraid of death?", he attempted to inject fear into Archehon.
"I'm definitely scared, really scared. Scared enough to piss my pants in fact."
Pffft-
A couple of low-ranked thugs spat out from what Archehon said but were shushed by the terrifying gazes of the rest.
"Well, if you really wanted to kill me.."
".. wouldn't you have done it beforehand.", he smiled.
Leonardo's eyes opened wide from shock then his lips curled into a grin.
'Not bad.', he thought on his throne.
"Alright.", he announced, flinching Archehon.
"Just go to my right and follow the hallway and you will reach the training grounds.", he directed the boy.
"Okay.", Archehon left through the door.
"Aldon."
"Yes, My Lord", his subordinate answered.
"How about now. He's got the wits and is pretty strong for his age as he managed to beat our best."
"In my expertise, I think it's too early to judge.", Aldon voices his opinion.
"Alright, let's have something sweet this time.", he lazily walked.
"As you wish, My Lord.", Aldon responded.
* * *
"Ugh..", Archehon laid his hand on his face in embarrassment.
'Why did I have to say that corny dialogue? I've been like this in my past life but not to this extent.'
'I was originally going to ask him to give protection for Ariel but then..'
He thought of how he previously said 'Frog in a well' and immediately pulled his hands to slap himself.
"Why are you slapping yourself?", a voice questioned him.
Archehon looked in front of himself and saw the cloaked boy he fought against the last time he was inside the palace.
"No reason."
"No reason? Are you a masochist?", he gave off a pompous attitude which made Archehon annoyed, but he hid his emotions.
"No, I'm not. How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"Wow, to think I beat someone older than me who ALSO has more experience. But it's probably just luck~", Archehon hid his tease against Xavier.
"Y-you.. Hooo..", he calmed himself.
".. why are you here?"
"Cause, your dad allowed me to teach you in using the dagger."
"What? Why would my father allow someone my own age to teach me?"
"I don't know. Maybe, because I'm really amazing in the spear- I mean the dagger.", Archehon arrogantly shrugged.
"I don't think you're amazing enough.", he glared at him.
Anyone could tell that his expression was of a person not joking around.
"Hm? Really?", Archehon raised his eyebrows as he clearly showed himself thinking.
"Yes. The last time we fought was really just luck."
"Then.."
From a grin, it was shown that his attitude had changed. No respect. Only honour. Only pride. Archehon smirked as if he was superior to Xavier.
"Prove that the last fight wasn't luck."
"Alright. Let's go to a more open space.", Xavier clenched his fists, irritated, as they walked into a new area.
Both regardless of their faces, looked at each other with the intent to win as they stood on each side of the arena- including a stone circle, seats for the spectators surrounding the circle, and weapon stands at the entrance.
"Wow, this place is waaaayyy better than the slums. You must be quite rich.", he eyed at the cloaked boy.
"Stop looking around and get on with the fight.", Xavier hurried him.
"Yeah, yeah.. you're too eager and why do you fight with a hood, covering your face?"
"I. Said. Start. Fighting."
"Jeez, you didn't have to get so mad. I'll start.", Archehon lifted up both his hands.
Archehon grabbed the spear that he held on his back and got into his stance while Xavier did the same.
"Oh- before we start. I'm just saying that the spear is my second best weapon. So, if you lose, know that you lost to me while I wasn't giving it my all."
"How can you be so sure I'll looossseee!!", he charged at the blue eyed boy.
Xavier ducked down and aimed for Archehon's calves but failed when he used his daggers as a spring to jump in the air and diagonally slash down at him.
Luckily, he dodged the spears head by an inch and barely scratched Archehon's arm, consecutively.
"Not bad. You've improved quite a lot from last time."
"Don't get distracted!"
Xavier again committed an X-slash on Archehon but he swapped his hands and legs positions to use his hands as a joint that would give enough momentum to kick Xavier in the lower part of his back.
"Kugh!"
'The way he fights, it's like an expert with lots of experience.'
Skid!-
Xavier tripped but did a handstand flip to regain his footing back to where he was.
'Every time I put him at a disadvantage, he turns the situation around by using weird moves.'
Xavier kept on slashing at Archehon as he used the spears head to deflect and at the same time, they both applied enough force in their weapons to push each other back to the ends of the circle.
Psssshhhh-
'In other words, he's unpredictable!'
'Since that's the case, I'll end this in one blow using my ultimate move.'
Xavier switched stances and held his dagger like he was going to cause a whirlwind. His daggers shone brightly, coloured dark-purple.
Shiiinnng!-
It looked like a type of fire but acted like water. Its properties were mysterious to Archehon but normal to the current era,
'That doesn't look like aura or mana. Then that must mean that it's 'Od'.'
"Good.", his smile escalated.
Both of the boys charged at each other with everything they had- Archehon using 'Aura' and Xavier using 'Od'. One was old and one was new. Naturally, Archehon smiled in excitement to see how powerful Od was for most people to switch.
Boom!-
The blue and purple auras collided, causing an explosion. The wind blew both people away and the smoke blocked their views. Archehon's arms were bruised as he tried to catch his breath.
Cou-cough!-
Archehon covered his mouth with his arms. The smoke cleared up. The shadow turned into a real person.
A cloaked boy could be seen on his knees while he struggled to stand up. It was clear that he was in the same situation as the blue-eyed boy, with bruised arms and hands.
Ah-A-A-A-Ah!-
Xavier tried to stand up but fell back down from the uncontrollable pain he felt in his already numb legs.
"Looks like I won.", Archehon announced in front of the loser.
"..."
"Yeah, well done. You won.", Xavier eventually accepted the fact after four or five seconds of stillness.
"Uhhh..", Archehon looked at his state.
"Don't you need help?"
"No, I can get up- Ow!", he tried for the second time but miserably failed.
"Ha, there's no need to be that stupid.", Archehon lifted him up, wrapping his arm around, allowing him to be supported.
"I have to admit that I almost lost."
"Y-yeah, but a win is still a win.", Xavier looked the other way, where his hood of his cloak was the only thing Archehon could see.
"Hey, shouldn't you take that cloak off. I can't see your face-"
"N-no, it's fine.", he cut him off.
Seeing how hesitant he was, Archehon made an evil grin.
"Oh, really~ I guess I'll have to.."
"Snatch that off!!"
"W-w-wait!!"
Archehon pulled the cloak off.
"Huh?"
When the cloak disappeared. Long purple hair and eyes were revealed. With frail smooth skin akin to a goddess.
Xavier, no, the new person that was in front of his eyes blushed rose red pushing Archehon away.
Kyaaa!-
The person screamed.
"Wait. Don't tell me that.."
Archehon changed his face and opened his eyes wide.
".. You're a girl?!?"