The Silver Seer

Chapter 22: Why Do You Care?

Reyes twirls his rapier in his right hand before shouting and throwing it towards the dummy in the barracks. "Antænde!" The blade soars through the air in a beautiful white streak of flame before it hits its target, with enough force so the tip pokes out of the other side of the still figure's head.

The boy walks towards the dummy, grabbing the handle of the rapier and inspecting its position before pulling it out with a frustrated sigh. "Patetisk." He whips back around, yet catches a figure outlined against the wall of the barracks just before the flame dies away. "Så du vil have mig til at stikke dig?"

The figure against the wall steps out of the shadows, and his eyes brighten as if they were dimmed. "Vain jos voit."

Though the young man does not know what the mechanical being says, his mocking tone and stance- his chef's knife pulled from its sheath and in his left hand- speak for themselves.

Without hesitation, Reyes takes calculated steps forward, his feet ready to propel him towards the target before him or allow him to jump backward. But his opponent doesn't move- his eyes stay trained on him as if trying to predict his next move.

The rapier-wielding teenager makes the first move, thrusting his sword forward. Reko jumps back and spins, and Reyes ducks out of the way as the knife flies over his head- just missing his black cavalier hat. He regains his position but blocks a silver dagger before it has a chance to enter his abdomen. He spins his sword, causing the officer to take a few steps back before Reyes can land a cut across his chest.

Before he can position his sword to block another hit, he watches as Reko jumps and throws two daggers- one high and one low- in Reyes' direction.

The boy leaps up into the air to avoid a dagger flying for his leg, but misjudges his jump, and feels a pain in his left shoulder. There, lodged in his shoulder, is Reko's chef's knife. Reyes yells out in pain, stumbles backward and crashes to the floor, sending his rapier flying from his hand.

Reko is above him in an instant, and pulls his knife out of Reyes's shoulder, smiling as the boy yells again. "Haha! Minä voitan." The officer holds the knife to Reyes' neck, yet all he does is match his opponent's expression.

"Tror du virkelig, du har vundet? Kom til mig! Antænde!" Reyes raises his left hand and calls out into the darkness.

His rapier, now ignited with a white flame, comes flying back into his hand, and he tries bringing it across Reko's neck, but the soldier, as he expects, blocks it with his knife.

Knowing he's distracted, Reyes brings his foot up underneath Reko before kneeing him in the stomach. The soldier cries out and stumbles back, giving Reyes enough time to jump back up and rush towards Reko. And though Reko summons two knives, Reyes easily disarms him and sweeps his foot underneath the soldier, causing him to fall onto his back with another cry, though there is a bit of static to it.

Reyes points his rapier right at Reko's forehead, his frown unchanging when he screams in pain as the white flame just barely makes contact with his skin.

Reko squirms under Reyes' pinning, yet all the young man does is laugh and speak in his native language. "Din tur."

Raising his rapier, Reko gasps for breath, but it is quickly broken by a glitchy scream as Reyes pierces straight through the soldier's left shoulder.

Satisfied after several seconds, Reyes draws his sword from Reko's shoulder, admiring the golden oil that stains the blade before stepping off of Reko and sheathing his sword as the officer regains his breath.

"Dammit. I was so close." Reko mutters, and Reyes can't help but feel a sense of pride quickly overtake him before he pushes it back down and forces himself to reply casually.