The Names We Shed

Chapter 15- I'm trying

Chapter Playlist- When you are alone- Kris Bowers

Kalan-

Recently, Helen has got it in her head that I need to use my bond with Khalid to sense her more. I stand between Valerie and Makasha, trying to feel where she is.

"I don't know."

"You do. Maybe not exactly, but you do. Just tell me what you feel."

I reach for the bond. "It feels.. Cold."

"Kalan I'm going to need a little more than that."

I reach deeper into the bond. "Cold.. and annoyed?" I say, looking at Helen.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

She lets out a long sigh. "It's going to be a long day."

Gwyn-

I fly back with Fenca, who uses this as an opportunity to annoy me.

She reaches and touches my wings. I let out a growl and she put her hands back.

We land and I promptly drop her on the ground. "Don't touch my wings."

Helen gives Kalan an odd look, but I brush it off.

"Helen, Fenca is back and would like to speak with you. I'll work with them while you two talk."

They walk into the house.

I face the apprentices.

"Let's work on combat." I pass them some swords and then launch into the air. They follow me.

"Nothing is off limits. You can fly around, hit with your sword or your power. Doesn't matter. I'll call it when the fight's over."

They all look at me like they've never done this before.

I let out a sigh and pull my sword off of my back.

I swing it, hitting Kalan's sword. He returns and soon we're fighting.

I feel him using his power to try and suck the air out from my lungs and I use my power to bite back. He gasps as the air leaves his lungs.

"Fight." I yell, looking over at Valerie and Makasha. They take my place and I fly above them, watching their form and style.

Kalan rubs his throat as he waits for his turn to spar with the twins.

"Kalan you can't just wait around for the battle to get started- jump in there!"

"But-"

Before he can get the words out, my blade is hitting against his. I slow down to match his pace, keeping my steps timed exactly to make sure that he doesn't get bored or overwhelmed.

After a few minutes he pulls his blade away from the series of hits we were going through and sheaths it.

"What are you doing?"

He points to my feet. "You look like you're dancing when you fight."

"Fighting is a dance. It's the same combination, balance, and physical strength. It's why I was taught ballet and martial arts side by side."

"So all of that footwork that you and Helen are making us learn is just dance steps?"

"More or less. There are a few differences but the majority of it is the same."

He scoffs. "I can't believe that all this time all I had to do was learn a few measly dance steps."

In a flash my blade is at his throat. "Do you think this is easy?"

He raises an eyebrow and unsheaths his sword. "I think that you're holding back on me and that I want to see you really fight, all out."

I motion to the air around us. "Who here is going to be able to match me in a fight?"

"I don't know. Figure it out yourself."

I roll my eyes but create an illusion of myself, set to perfectly mirror every movement of mine.

Time seems to freeze as I fight. My blade is clashing with the illusion of myself's own blade. Over and over again. I work through every combination, every blade, every single thing I've ever been taught.

I finish on the ground, in the courtyard.

Sweat runs into my eyes, but I don't bother to wipe it out.

Kalan claps. "That was impressive."

"How long was I up there?" I peer into the sky, trying to gauge how long I was gone.

"About four hours." Helen comments drily.

"What did you think, Mistress Helen?"

"I think that your form would be a lot better if you had a proper training partner but we don't have that... So I want you to do that, with the illusion, at least once every two days, if not more often."

Three days later, I stalk across the courtyard looking for Helen.

"HELEN!" I yell, to no avail.

It isn't until I reach the old and crumbling stables that I sense him and his foul stench.

"Duka." I hiss.