The two Drakhar's faced each other. The young group of Hunters stood on the outskirts of the battlefield, excited to see the Hunter Leader fight.
"When was the last time we saw an actual fight?" One of the Hunters asked.
"I can't help but feel like this will be one-sided." Goraith puffed his chest.
"Wanna bet some silvers?" Vee asked the group around her and Goriath.
"How much?"
"2 silvers on the Leader." Goriath stuck two fingers up. People began to bet and it naturally bended towards Hunter Leader Aloe.
"I think Arin's going to show us something amazing. I'll put two onto him." Vee spoke. This was shocking to everyone around them. She had been the second-most vocal about her dislike for Arin and now was betting on the obvious losing side?
"It seems this fight already has coin involved. Let's see how well you've improved since you've been outside the gates." Aloe smirked. He watched a black little cat run off to the side as his son twirled the blue spear and readied himself. "Count us down, everyone."
"3, 2, 1 go!" The crowd shouted.
Without missing a beat, Arin rushed forward, thrusting his spear straight for Aloe's shoulder. Aloe deflected the attack, quickly thrusting four jabs back at Arin. The two kept their distance, blocking and attacking each other.
Arin jumped backwards, watching his Father charge at him. Aloe flashed forward, driving the training spear into Arin's stomach, sending him backwards. He rolled onto the ground, raising himself with his spear and standing on his feet.
Aloe moved his right foot back and sucked in a breath.
'Drakhar Art: Venom Sting.' Arin recognized the move in an instant. He took his stance with both hands on the spear and watched as his Father closed the distance in an instance. Arin raised his spear, blocking the first string of attacks from Venom Sting. Aloe redirected his second attack straight for Arin's arm, pinging the spot in a numbing blow as he continued with the third and fourth strings of attack.
Despite this, Arin managed to block the third and fourth attack, watching as the fifth and final attack blurred. He cursed, shadow energy billowing off him and warping him behind his Father in an instant.
Gasps erupted from the crowd of Hunters as Arin, reappeared and turned, swinging the bladed edge straight for his Father's neck and stopping just short of it.
A gust of force flew at Aloe as he realized his son had disappeared from his spot. The spearhead touched his neck, nicking at his skin and breaking blood. "Why do you hesitate?" Aloe asked. He turned his head to look at his son over his shoulder. "You should've delivered the final blow."
"You would've died if I did that." Arin pulled his weapon away from his Father's neck. Aloe turned and sent the wooden spear straight into his son's stomach, watching him stumble backwards. He whacked all of his openings in an instant and everything seemed to grow eerily quiet.
"You worry about an injury that hasn't happened. If this was a real battle, I could've—" Aloe replied.
"It's a mock battle, not a death match." Arin cut his Father off. He lifted himself up, forcing himself to ignore the pain radiating across his body.
"You used a new technique, too. Is this all you have to show me?"
Arin held back from his initial reaction to say anything or do anything. He sucked in a breath, pushing the pain to the side before lifting his spear and rushing at Aloe. Three strikes flew out and Aloe blocked each one, retaliating with four attacks of his own. Each strike was precise and powerful, but Aloe was surprised to see his son deflect them.
Arin pushed the last attack back and his body immediately blurred.
'The timing is getting better.' Aloe observed. A strike flew out and Aloe caught it with his hand. He could feel the intensity behind the spear disappear as Arin released it and clawed his right hand and hit Aloe in the side of the stomach.
"He released his spear?" One of the Hunters raised an eyebrow. "Why would he do that? He's at a disadvantage now!"
Aloe slowed to release Arin's spear and attack. His son exchanged four blows across his body before he was able to push Arin back with a whack across the head with the training spear.
Arin's spear clattered against the ground as the strange feelings swelled onto his Father's body. Arin rushed for his spear, watching Aloe's spear come at him. He dodged right, sliding downwards towards his spear.
Arin grabbed his spear and swung it at his Father's legs, missing. Aloe soared through the sky, landing somewhere behind far behind Arin. He turned, getting on his feet and watching as his Father appeared in front of him. Arin blocked the attack, feeling the weight of his Father's attack push down at him.
The exhaustion was starting to grow on Arin's face and his Father knew. He watched his Father smile and pull the spear away, whacking the butt end of the training spear onto Arin's spear, sending it flying.
The training spear's blunt end pointed at Arin, who disappeared from his spot. Aloe turned watching his son materialize, grabbing the spear in the air and watching the spear end turn into the night sky.
Arin moved forward, pushing himself to the fastest he could possibly go and thrusted the spear at his Father.
'I'm not going to make it.' Aloe thought just before Arin stopped the blade from meeting his Father's stomach. A tinge of excitement sprawled throughout Aloe's body before taking a step back.
"You got me." Aloe admitted defeat. He watched the shadows pull away from his son, slightly, revealing the exhaustion painted across his face. "It seems a week outside Thornwood has done you well. It seems everyone is losing their money but Vee today."
Arin shook himself out of his haze and let out a smile. "I guess I have gotten better."
"If only we could get you to switch between the two forms seamlessly." Aloe chuckled. He stepped over to put a hand on his son's shoulder, but hesitated last second.
Arin purposely stepped forward, shielding his Father's hesitation and smiling a little bigger. "I lost many times there. I think you won it. I have much to learn, Father."
"Well, seeing as you all bet coin on that fight, it's only right to continue with your training!" Aloe shouted at the Hunters. "Continue with your training."
A collective groan grew across the courtyard as Aloe headed over to the side. Arin turned and followed his Father off to the side. He turned and looked at Arin, obviously pained by their last conversation. The two stood in silence while the Hunters grew loud, whacking their training spears against each other and practicing blows.
"Arin, about the other day… I…" Aloe paused, thinking about the correct words to say. He looked at his son in the eyes and continued, "I shouldn't have…" He let out another sigh, unable to form the words that raced in the sea that was his mind.
"It's alright, Father." Arin forced a smile. "No need to worry about anything."
"But I—"
"It's fine. No need to sweat about it. I'm going to practice a bit before the remembrance tonight. Excuse me!" Arin rushed off towards the nearest dummy, starting his routine.
'How am I going to say this to you?' Aloe wondered. He shook his head and turned his attention onto the Hunters. 'Focus on the Hunters for now. Let's think about how I'm going to apologize to Arin later.'
The day quickly progressed and soon training was over. Arin wiped the sweat off and got ready for the night.
"Lira!" Vee squealed. She jumped and met Lira with a hug. The two girls embraced each other for a long moment before pulling apart. "When did you get in?"
"I got in a couple hours ago." Lira smiled. She noticed Arin passing and turned. "So you came. I thought you weren't going to show your face here?"
Arin stopped and looked in her direction. "I wanted to beat you here so here I am. First place, again."
Vee looked between them and wondered what was going on.
Lira sneered, rolling her eyes and folding her arms together. "I thought you would feel too bad to come here after what you did."
"Mmm, I wanted the spirits to yell at me for my wrongdoings." Arin let the line out sarcastically. "Don't worry about me. I'll be in the back where you can't see me anyways."
"Grrr, you little—" Lira stopped at Arin walked off. She turned to Vee stating, "He's so annoying. Where does he get off saying all that? What do you think Vee?"
"When did you two get like that?" Vee raised an eyebrow.
Lira grew red. "Get like what? I'm just saying how much I hate him! Ugh! Seeing him makes me not want to eat now!"
"Oh, c'mon, you'll forget about him after we have some of La's skewers. C'mon!"