A match between the renowned knight, Donos, who bears the Zeal of the Venerable Twin, and Tereus who bears the Zeal of the Savage Goat was about to unfold. Aeneas couldn't contain his excitement. His eyes sparkled as he waited for them to start. Then, Tiriara appeared behind him. She startled the boy, poking both sides of his belly while screaming.
Tiriara let out a loud laugh as she witnessed Aeneas wiggling. Pissed, Aeneas caught the girl and pinched both of her cheeks.
"I'm sor—" Tiriara's voice sounded gibberish as Aeneas pulled harder. "Please let me go, it hurts," she continued. Tears fell from her eyes.
With a sigh, Aeneas let go of her and returned his gaze towards the upcoming sparring between Donos and Tereus. He didn't even notice Konon behind Tiriara.
"What's going on?" Tiriara asked.
Aeneas shushed her.
Tiriara saw the excitement leaking from Aeneas's expression. She smiled and didn't say a word while also waiting for the match.
Arsen stood as the mediator. He turned to Tereus and asked him if he was set, to which the tall knight responded with a nod as he assumed his stance. Tereus placed his left foot forward, he drew the wooden sword up and to the outside with the end aimed at his opponent's face.
Then, Arsen turned to Donos and asked the same thing. Donos was standing straight when he responded with a, "Yes, lord." His wooden sword rests at the back of his neck. It was the same initial stance he had when he was training Aeneas and Tiriara.
To Aeneas and Tiriara, it appears as if Donos thought that his opponent did not pose a good enough challenge for him to be serious. But, the knights, including Tereus, knew that it wasn't the case. They know that part of the reason for such a lax stance is to annoy the prideful. Luring them into charging without thinking, and getting their power copied by Donos.
"Begin!"
Everyone watched as a keen observer, waiting to see a magnificent fight. Yet, seconds after Arsen announced the start of the spar, Tereus and Donos haven't moved and are still staring at each other.
Donos began tapping his wooden sword to his neck, "Aren't you going to attack, Sir Tereus?" he asked with a smile, and his tone was taunting.
Tereus dashed in a flash. The Zeal of the Savage Goat located on the left side of his right leg glowed. He was fast. Like all of Capricorn's Zeal-bearers, Tereus was gifted the ability of superspeed. Tereus tried to attack the renowned knight with a thrust to his head.
But, Donos knew that he would behave in such a way. The Zeal of the Venerable Twin located at the right side of his face glowed, its light passed through his black beard and showed the entire mark. As soon as he saw Tereus's feet twitch, Donos cast a gust of wind towards him.
"They could use magic?" Aeneas asked. Beside him was Rhene, who explained that sparring among knights has no set of rules like the matches in a coliseum since its purpose is to simulate a real fight. And in a real one, where your life is at stake, you must use everything at your disposal to win.
Tiraira made a taunting chuckle, "Come on Aenie, even I knew that. I thought you were smart," she said.
Aeneas glanced at Tiriara with a frown. He didn't say anything to her before he looked straight, and muttered, "I see," as a response to Rhene.
The tall knight stopped his advances, he blocked the gust by crossing his arms, but, the wind was strong enough to push him back. When Tereus opened his eyes, he saw Donos already close to him, grinning, as he tried to hit him in the abdomen.
Tereus used his Zeal again, this time casting earth magic that erected a tall and thick block of stone in front of him. But, he didn't hear any sound of contact. It made him nervous, then, as he looked up, he saw Donos, with the same grin, descending from the sky.
The renowned knight stopped his attack and manipulated the air to jump above the block of stone.
Without wasting a second, Tereus used his Zeal to cast another earth magic. Stone spikes emerged from the ground, he threw them at Donos at great speed. And again, by manipulating the air around him, Donos dodged everything in midair.
Donos cast another gust of wind, this time at his feet and pointing behind him. It gave him a boost and was about to hit Tereus when he used his superspeed to get away and create distance between them.
The renowned knight's grin was bigger, "Great improvement," he said.
"Thank you, sir," Tereus said. His face was more serious. He focused more, thinking of ways to land a hit and win against Donos.
Then, great surprise visited Tereus's and most of the viewers' faces when Donos used the venerable Twin's Zeal and dashed towards him at great speed. Unbeknownst to them, the renowned knight was successful at his previous attack. Although he didn't hit him, he managed to touch him and copy his superspeed the moment he activated his Zeal to escape.
Startled, Tereus attacked with a slash. As soon as his opponent parried his attack, he tried to go for a punch, which Donos evaded. They exchange blows with their wooden sword with the occasional use of elemental magic against each other.
It was a marvelous fight, to an even greater extent for Aeneas and Tiriara whose eyes were widened. The other knights were also excited, cheering for the underdog.
As their battle grew longer, Donos's movements became faster in a gradual manner. Spectators could see how the focused expression of Tereus turned to a face of worry as their fight went on. It was then that it became apparent that Donos had full control of the spar.
Exhausted, Tereus made the ground shake as he planned for his last attempt to win. The quake he produced made Donos leap away from him. The tall knight expected his reaction and with his top speed, he dashed towards his opponent and struck him with all his might while he was still in the air.
But, Donos managed to dodge. Using his air magic, he cast a pocket of air from below and blew it to the ground to suspend him higher. Then, he touched Tereus's head, landed behind him and pressed his wooden sword at his back.
Tereus smiled, he dropped his wooden sword and raised his hands, "I lost," he said.
Arsen announced that it was Donos's victory. Although it was expected, the knights cheered and congratulated Tereus for the amazing prowess he's shown. Well, Haemon laughed at him and said that Sir Donos was just toying with him.
Aeneas and Tiriara enjoyed the match. They were both amazed by how it went. It was the first time Tiriara saw Donos fight without holding back. The last time Aeneas witnessed it was years ago and he didn't pay as much attention back then.
Donos's way of fighting was more appealing to the boy, as he also enjoys dodging and thinks that for a Zeal-less fighter like him, it is of utmost importance.
Among Zeal-bearers of Gods with the element of air, Donos was known as one of the best warriors in all of the continent of Nusterra. It wasn't because of his pure strength, rather, it was due to his unpredictable way of fighting which highlights his great control of his powers. Rumor has it that Donos could win a fight without landing his feet on the ground, putting shame on the Zeal-bearers of Libra who could adjust their weight to be the same as a leaf or even lighter. And over time, people who were entranced by his way of fighting gave him the moniker, "Dancing Gale."
After winning the spar against Tereus, Donos continued to fight some of the other knights. Most of them lost to him much faster. Then, after defeating more than half of the knights under Arsen, their captain decided to be the one to spar with the remaining ones.
The last time Aeneas saw his brother fight seriously against someone was when he was five. Arsen was thirteen at the time. It was when he participated in the tournaments. Although Aeneas couldn't remember who he fought, how he fought, and even where he fought, the sensation of seeing his brother knock his opponent and the loud cheers of the people around him lingered in his mind and became one of his core memories as a child.
Arsen stood at the center. He asked Donos to act as the mediator for his sparring.
"So, who wants to spar with me," Arsen said.
At the back of his head, Aeneas had the urge to ask to spar with Arsen. But, his insecurity yells at him, saying that there was no way he would win against his brother who was known as the greatest Panteran knight of his generation. And so, his defeat was already carved in the stone of destiny. The boy shook his head, "I wouldn't even land a hit, maybe when I become stronger" he muttered to himself.
Tiriara heard him. She looked at Aeneas before turning to Arsen and raising her hand, "Me! Pick me please! Please!?" she said with a loud voice.
Arsen stared at her. He was left out of words since even his knights were looking at each other to see who would be the first one to get knocked out.
After a sigh, Arsen smiled, "Okay, go with Aeneas," he said.
Confused, Aeneas pointed at himself, "Me?" he mouthed.
Arsen answered with a nod. But, Aeneas disagreed and said that he was fine just watching the spars.
Tiriara reached his hand, pulled him to the center, and with a smile, "Come on, we can beat him!" she said.