Fool's Gold | God Tamer x Tiso

Chapter 13 - In Which Tiso and Quirrel Settle Their Differences

"I feel like we're never going to come to an agreement on this. I told you before, it's for honor. The honor of being a fool."

Quirrel teaches Tiso everything he knows. Tiso refuses to learn the most important lesson of all.

-

There's a shout as Tiso charges in for another attack. The clang of metal hitting metal ringing in the bugs ears. Just as the contact is made, Tiso swipes a foot at Quirrel's ankles, only to find that there's no effect. The bug's stance remains solid.

"Your opponent will never fall for the same trick twice," Quirrel chuckled and sent out an attack of his own. "It's honestly rather insulting that you would think otherwise."

Tiso only smiled. "Don't be so sure," he said in between blows.

Neither bug had wanted to return to Kingdom's Edge, so the two had decided to stay up in the city instead. There were enough abandoned homes for the two bugs to have shelter during the night, and the city was large enough that there was always enough space to spar.

Quirrel's nail slashed the air right next to Tiso's cheek. "You should be quicker with your dodges," Quirrel commented. "You always cut it so close."

"Uh huh," Tiso just goes in for another blow, not paying much mind to Quirrel's critiques.

Tiso wasn't too fond of the ever present rain that drenched him whenever the two sparred, but then again, he hardly noticed it whenever he was in the middle of a fight. In a previous match, Quirrel had told him to be more aware of his surroundings, and Tiso was ecstatic to do just that.

Tiso made another attempt to swipe at Quirrel's feet. Again, the blue bug didn't budge. "And there you are, not listening to my advice," Quirrel tsked. "You do know training is pointless if you refuse to learn from it?"

"Whatever you say, man," Tiso turns up the heat, spinning the blades in his weapon. His attacks become faster, and a few of them nick Quirrel's shell. There had been a no contact rule before, but after Tiso's continuous disregard for it, it had been forgotten. Quirrel is quick to put some space between them in response.

Tiso is quick to close the distance, attacking closer to Quirrel's face. Quirrel starts to step back again, and the second his foot splashes in a puddle, Tiso trips him. His once solid stance is broken by the slippery ground, and as he groans from hitting the solid floor, Tiso points his weapon at Quirrel's face.

"What was that you were saying earlier?" Tiso asked. "Something about the same trick never working twice?"

"Alright, I may have spoken a little too soon," Quirrel groaned, rubbing where he hit his back. "Come on, help me up, and don't look so smug," he quickly added as he caught Tiso start to laugh.

"Let me rephrase my statement," Quirrel said once he was upright. "You should never expect your opponent to fall for the same trick twice."

"Of course," Tiso smiled, already getting into position to go again.

-

"It's beautiful, is it not?" Quirrel said as he placed a hand to the cold glass.

Tiso walked up to it, looking unimpressed. "I'm not sure what's so beautiful about an abandoned city."

After a lot of convincing, Quirrel had gotten Tiso to accompany him in sightseeing around the city. Though the ant had dragged his feet at first, complaining about how boring it was, he had eventually stopped. Now they were in a building high up with a wonderful view of the city, and Quirrel just had to show off the sight.