Fan art Story (ZNathan Animations): The Eternal Conflict Prequel

Chapter 10: Derek

The way Daemon looked at him. Derek knew Daemon well enough to know that Daemon knew Derek was off. Derek's secret. Secret. No way Daemon would figure it out. It was a one in several hundred chance. But still...

Derek stiffened. He glanced at Daemon, who was fidgeting with his sword. Daemon's soft blue hair glimmered in the sunlight. Daemon had always said that his hair was rather unnatural, but he didn't mind.

Derek sighed. If only Daemon knew.

"Well then," Derek said. "We've all been paired. What are you waiting for?"

Orion grinned and turned to Vlad, who growled in annoyance. Meanwhile, Tefuel and Nathan stood where they were, both still red-faced.

Derek held back laughter. It was quite entertaining.

Orion and Vlad were sent to one part of the field, where they both almost immediately started bashing at each other.

Tefuel regained her senses and yelled at Nathan to snap back to reality. Her scythe appeared out of nowhere and nearly impaled Nathan, who dodged it and drew his sword. The two started sparring, leading away from Derek and Daemon.

Derek faced Daemon. Daemon's face was unreadable, but Derek could see the glint in his eyes. Familiarity.

Again, Derek could feel the prickly sensation. Derek cursed under his breath. Not now. Not right now.

Fortunately, the tingling sensation disappeared, along with Derek's nervousness.

"So, are we going to start or not?" Daemon asked.

Derek looked up to see Daemon looking at him in an amused way.

So this is how you want to play it, Derek thought. He drew his sword slowly. He could see Daemon's eyes narrow. Derek's sword stopped halfway out of the sheath. Daemon tensed, raising his sword in alarming speed. Fast. But not fast enough.

Derek pulled his sword out in a way which would be fast and efficient. He took two long strides and sent a strong hit to Daemon's sword, knocking it out of Daemon's hands cleanly.

Daemon reacted fast, rolling away as Derek's sword swung right where he was a moment before. Daemon summoned several swords and manipulated them towards Derek at lightning speed. Derek dodged every one of them gracefully and used his speed to send another strike at Daemon.

To Derek's surprise, Daemon's swords formed a shield in front of him to block the attack, then unfolded them to strike at Derek, nearly impaling Derek, but he clattered the swords away.

Derek looked up to see Daemon nearly on top of him. So he does still know how to use time and advantage, Derek thought.

Derek and Daemon's sword collided with a spark, and the two men lept back. They continued sparring, and Daemon cleared a clean swipe of Derek sword, rolling back to make distance. Derek rolled his shoulders. He knew Daemon still remembered the way Derek fought. But so did Derek. He smiled, thinking about how they both knew each other but didn't at the same time.

Daemon was panting. "Geez, Derek. Give me a break."

Derek smiled again and shook his head. "Barely in the fight and you're already tired. You've gotten weaker."

Daemon laughed and said, "I still would be decent if I hadn't been stuck taking care of paperwork and students. After all, I can't delay my work for something I don't really do anymore." Daemon's smile faded.

Derek's eyebrows went up. Something he didn't really do anymore? What was that supposed to mean?

As Derek was standing there like a fool, Daemon struck.