As the two siblings circled each other under the night sky in the backyard of the Tonelico mansion, an awkward silence settled between them. Both seemed uncertain about what to say before their battle began. Finally, Fenris broke the silence with an annoyed tone.
"Couldn't you have waited until morning for this, Damian? Then again, patience was never your strong suit."
Damian's face twisted in anger at Fenris's mocking words and he shouted back at him. "When did you start conspiring against me?"
Up above on a balcony overlooking the scene, Marcos, Maria, Lilianna, and Sophia watched with concern but didn't intervene, knowing that stepping into this heated confrontation would only complicate matters further.
Fenris shook his head as he replied defensively to Damian's accusation. "I wasn't conspiring against you! I just wanted to attend Lodonea like any other aspiring mage!"
Sneering confidently while tightening his grip on his blade, Damian retorted: "Well that's not going to happen." In response, smiling almost defiantly as if unfazed by his brother's bold proclamation—Fenris echoed similar sentiments aloud saying:
"It'll be you who has to leave home—and maybe it'll do you some good!" With those words still hanging heavily in air around them both tightened respective grips upon swords held firmly clenched within their hands; anticipation building palpably among all present there tonight amidst growing tension felt increasingly everywhere alike.
Unable to contain frustration any longer following the latest exchange of barbs traded off one another throughout this encounter thus far, Damian hastily declared terms by which they'd settle the dispute definitively once for all stating simply yet clearly enough so none could misinterpret the intent behind such a proposal either: "The first one who draws blood wins!"
Feeling confident in himself now too having been spurred onward fueled partly by adrenaline surging through veins coursing alongside deeply ingrained desire finally releasing years' worth of pent-up anger alongside resentment harbored within his heart all this time, Fenris readily agreed to terms set forth by the adversary standing across from him right there beneath the moonlit sky overhead.
As they prepared to engage in battle, Fenris and Damian each assumed their respective fighting stances. Fenris, having studied the art of swordplay under Gly's watchful eye, opted for a stance that emphasized agility and speed; his feet positioned shoulder-width apart with knees slightly bent while the blade poised at an angle ready to strike or defend as needed on a moment's notice.
In contrast, Damian adopted a more aggressive posture reflecting inherent confidence apparent throughout his demeanor displayed consistently so far; legs spread wider granting the stability necessary to support powerful blows intended to inflict damage upon whoever dared stand against him like his sibling did now.
With both combatants primed for action, they locked eyes one final time before launching into what promised to be a decisive duel unlike any other either had ever experienced previously up until then.
Damian lunged at Fenris with incredible speed, using his magic to enhance his attack. However, Fenris was not caught off guard and countered with his own swift strike. The clash of their blades revealed the difference in physical strength between the two brothers.
"Beginner's luck," Damian muttered in disbelief, unwilling to accept that Fenris had grown stronger.
To compensate for this disadvantage, he once again used his magic to enhance himself and attacked from different angles. But Fenris was too skilled and managed to block every attack with ease.
Feeling confident now, Fenris decided to switch to one-handed swordplay and went on the offensive, striking downward at Damian. Their blades met once more, causing vibrations that made Damian's sword tremble uncontrollably within his grasp before being knocked back several feet away.
Fenris spat out sharp words with a venomous tone, "Already losing your steam? I thought you were supposed to be superior. What a load of bull!"
With rising anger evident in his voice, Fenris lunged towards Damian yet again, seemingly teleporting and appearing beside him before delivering a powerful blow aimed squarely against his rival brother. Caught off guard and taken aback, Damian was unable to track Fenris's movements as he tried desperately to keep up with the pace of the ongoing duel.
"What kind of freak are you?" Damian shouted incredulously, realizing that the effort required to win this fight was far greater than anticipated. He was determined to emerge victorious, even if it meant breaking the agreed-upon conditions established beforehand stipulating no use of magic allowed throughout the duration of the battle waged between them tonight, right here outside the Tonelico mansion where it all began long ago when they were children growing up together blissfully unaware of the events that would eventually lead up to this very moment in time.
In response, Fenris backed away and leaped into the air, reaching speeds approaching the speed of sound. He decided to attack from above rather than on the ground, making it even more challenging for Damian to counter his moves.
As he continued his relentless assault from all directions, Fenris vented his pent-up anger towards his brother with every strike. "You always thought you were better! You never cared about me or my feelings! We used to be family!"
Damian struggled under this onslaught both physically and emotionally, parrying each ferocious blow while trying not to let the pain show on his face. Tears began to well up within his eyes, threatening to spill over at any second, giving way to an overwhelming mixture of emotions raging inside him amidst the chaos unfolding rapidly around them without warning or reprieve offered to either party involved here tonight.
Locked in an eternal struggle seemingly destined to remain unresolved until one falls defeated, permanently vanquishing the other, they continued to fight, each determined to prove their superiority beyond a shadow of a doubt, forevermore.
"You think I never cared about you?" Damian retorted; his voice filled with anguish. "I had to be tough on you to prepare you for the world! You were always weak and vulnerable, and I had to make sure you could protect yourself!"
Fenris's eyes narrowed with rage as he listened to his brother's words. "You were never tough on me, Damian. You were cruel and heartless. You enjoyed making me suffer, and you never cared about anything else!"
The brothers continued to exchange blows, each one fueled by years of resentment and anger towards the other. They were both determined to emerge victorious, to prove once and for all who was the better warrior.
As the moon shone down on them, casting eerie shadows across the lawn, their battle raged on. The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the night, the intensity of their fight increasing with each passing moment.
Finally, Fenris saw an opening and struck, drawing blood from Damian's arm. The older brother stumbled back, his face contorted with pain and defeat.
"Tell Marcos you're forfeiting tomorrow," Fenris spoke in an unusually cold tone. He pointed his blade towards Damian's neck, knowing that he'd have no choice but to give in. The two were unaware that their family was watching from above.
Damian glared at him with a mix of anger and frustration; however, still holding onto his honor, he sighed in resignation. "Fine," he admitted defeat begrudgingly. Using healing magic to patch up the wounds sustained during their battle, Damian stood up and dusted himself off—casting one last sidelong glance at Fenris before storming back into the mansion towards his room. As he walked away, a few teardrops fell silently to the ground.
Feeling both relieved and satisfied with this outcome—he had finally bested his elder brother. Fenris leaped back through his window into the now disheveled bedroom caused by earlier wind spell, and he began cleaning up.
Afterwards, he laid down on his bed, reflecting upon the recent turn of events. Marcos and Sophia entered the room, expressing both surprise and approval simultaneously, given the unexpected yet welcome news they had received just moments prior regarding the outcome of the duel.
Fenris was proud of his victory, but he also felt a sense of relief that he had finally bested his elder brother. He knew that his place in Lodonea Academy was now guaranteed, and he took comfort in the fact that he had taken a significant step towards pursuing his dreams and proving himself worthy within the Tonelico household, where the story began unfolding long ago. This moment marked a turning point in his life, forever changing the family dynamics.
Marcos spoke first, his voice filled with warmth and pride. "Fenris, I'm amazed at your strength and determination! You deserve the opportunity to attend Lodonea Academy."
Sophia, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she looked at Fenris, added her own words of gratitude and congratulations. "You did it! Congratulations on your victory!"
Their voices echoed through the room, a testament to family bonds that could weather even fierce rivalries. Fenris knew he had taken a significant step towards not only pursuing his dreams but also proving himself worthy within the Tonelico household.
As the conversation continued, Marcos and Sophia offered to support Fenris in any way possible as he prepared for his upcoming studies at Lodonea Academy. They discussed strategies for training, studying, and preparing for the challenges ahead.
Later, as he drifted off to sleep that night, Fenris felt grateful for the love and support of his family. He knew that with their backing behind him every step of the way, nothing could stop him from reaching his goals and achieving greatness as a mage.