🔥 The Path of Fire (Path of Light and Fire Book #1)(Completed) 🔥

Chapter 1.2: The Hero Price

Sabin could only hope a sword was still there.

"You don't have to do this," Kaita pleaded. "I'm sure if I talk to Lord Dopal..."

"You're not the first," Sabin spat. "And Dopal has done nothing so far. I will not let this pile of Guan's piss lay a hand on you."

That got silence, something Sabin never got from her.

Other villagers dropped their tasks and trailed them to the field. Sabin hoped they realized the seriousness of what was happening.

This won't be another exhibition.

The young lord opened the gate and sauntered inside. Sabin closed the gate as he entered, nodding to Kaita then looking around for anything to help.

He spotted two wooden branches the children used to mimic Sabin and Aegis's training sessions. One had begun to split down the middle and was barely held together. The other was bent at the center.

He focused on his hand forms, knowing that he could fight bare-handed if needed. It wasn't his strength, but then again, he was no slouch either.

"Choose your weapon." Takuya fingered the hilt of the katana at his waist.

"The only reason you challenged me is that I was unarmed." Sabin smirked as he looked around. That ought to piss him off. There! Another wooden branch leaned against the fence. He hefted it, nice weight, and in good enough condition. He made a note to thank the children later.

Takuya snickered. "A stick. You're going to fight me with that? Have you no pride?"

A few of Lord Dopal's guards had arrived, but they were not looking to jump in. That's all I need. "You've been afraid to challenge me since our first meeting. Yet I sit here unarmed and now you challenge me? What a coward."

The crowd hooted and Takuya's face contorted with rage.

"Quiet!" Takuya yelled. The people responded, their sounds dying down. He approached Sabin, speaking softly so that only Sabin could hear. "Very well, you Yuan dog. First I shall have your head, and then I will drag Kaita here and have her right beside your corpse." He retreated to the other side of the field, drew his sword and a dagger from his back and charged Sabin.

Takuya came at Sabin with his sword followed with the dagger and Sabin dodged them both. He's gotten quicker. Seeing an opening, Sabin swung quickly, but Takuya blocked with the flat of his blade.

Much better.

Sabin wasn't quick enough to avoid the next swipe and the tip of Takuya's dagger caught him in the shoulder.

As the blood trickled down Sabin's arm, Takuya appeared less tentative than before. "I have you now!"

Sabin studied his moves. Overhand slash to dagger thrust. Horizontal swipe. I'll give him his due; he'd practiced long and hard since our last fight. But I won't die today. Sabin knew that his shadow strike could end it, but he didn't want word to spread of a Yuan Incomplete with a minor skill. That would all but end his campaign to be general before it started. As Sabin saw Takuya overextend on a sword thrust, he knew he wouldn't have to use it.

Sabin quickly dropped the stick and grabbed Takuya's wrist. Sabin twisted it, causing Takuya to cry in pain and drop the hilt. He awkwardly struck his with his dagger in retaliation.

Sabin easily dodged the weak attempt and caught Takuya's hand during the second stroke. Sabin deftly took the dagger, sweeping Takuya with his foot and holding the dagger to his throat in one full motion as Takuya lay on the ground.