The Fire

Chapter Two: I Get Drowned By A Hot Chick

Emerson and I followed Nick outside to the battleground. People were attacking each other left and right. They seemed to have no hesitation and never held back. All around us, fire, rocks, water, and gusts of wind blew through like it was nothing. Nick ducked and jumped accordingly. His agility was incredible. I watched as a man wearing all grey approached Nick, a sword in his hand. Nick reached inside his overcoat, pulling out a black sword that radiated purple energy. The other man's sword seemed to radiate a yellow energy. As they stood off, I began observing the battleground. The layout was strategic. It appeared to have boulders and other things to take shelter behind or use as vantage points in a fight. Why am I thinking like this? I questioned. It's probably just my instincts.

Soon, my attention was drawn back to Nick and his unknown opponent. Nick dived and rolled as the man in grey jabbed at him. Nick then did a backflip, kicking his foe in the jaw and knocking him onto his back. The man in grey proceeded to stand up and attack as Nick landed.

"You think you can beat me this time, Nick?" The man in grey asked as their swords collided with blunt force.

"As always, Silver, you're a formidable opponent," Nick replied, blocking a strike and kicking the man in the chest. "But, as usual, I have been training day in and day out to prepare for this."

Nick proceeded to use speed to deliver multiple strikes in a matter of seconds. Soon, their fight had gotten to the point that all the other people on the battleground had stopped their duels to watch. Nick rolled and landed. His sword radiated more and more. The other man attacked again, however, Nick's power immediately knocked him back. Suddenly, a black cloud of darkness surrounded the two men. It got to the point where no one could see inside the cloud. The ground began to shake beneath all of us. Soon within the cloud, beams of yellow light collided with beams of purple energy. They grew to be quicker and quicker as the fight progressed.

Holy fuck, I thought. These guys are going hard. Emerson seemed to be in shock. He couldn't believe that all this was happening in front of him. Then, not too long later, the man in grey came flying out of the cloud of darkness and into one of the boulders on the battleground. Nick jumped after him, relentlessly dishing out attacks.

"Would someone mind explaining why these guys are going so hard at this?" I asked. "This seems like more than just a training drill. I feel like I can feel Nick's rage and energy. And I feel his desire to have that other kid in shreds. I don't know what it is. I could never tell someone's emotions before."

"This would be an inevitable duel between brothers," Vicky said, walking up beside me. "Much like our headmaster and Xorale, these two brothers have an uncanny hate for one another. Except, the only issue is that Nick and his brother, Silver, are both good people. Nick just feels like he has something to prove. Silver has bested Nick at almost everything. Nick is tired of living in that shadow."

"I can't blame him," I replied. "I've been there myself. After so long, it drives you insane."

Emerson nodded in agreement. Vicky's partner, Seven, watched Nick and Silver closely. We all lunged apart as Silver flew backwards into another boulder. Nick still shot after him. Nick then proceeded to jump in the air and land an attack right on Silver. A black and purple cloud of energy surrounded them. The ground around them cracked and split apart. All of us got shaken to our asses. When the cloud cleared, Nick stood over his brother, seeming to enjoy the fact that his brother lay immobile.

"There," Nick whispered. "Beat that, asshole."

Silver lay motionless on the ground, with cuts and bruises all about him. He had a black eye, bloody nose, and a cut down his cheek. He had a stab wound to the shoulder and a blunt bruise throughout his chest. Nick had barely taken a scratch. I took to my feet slowly.