Angel's Virtue

Silver Blood

Each swing felt like my last knowing how much of a threat I once was with a sword. I continued to fight my fake self, but as we continued to fight, the more I was pushed back. I can't surrender, not now. I clashed my spear with the sword I once wielded. The crossbow on the sword fired and hit my shoulder. I staggered back and blocked another incoming swing, but the force of the hit was enough to make my arms and shoulder cry in pain and exhaustion. How long have I been fighting? Could be a mere ten minutes or a whole hour for all I know. I leapt back but lost my balance and rolled over. I pulled the bolt out of my shoulder as dark essence poured out of my body. The pain was draining me, but I have to keep going. I got up quickly causing my head to wobble and feel dizzy. I charged forward with a yell for a stab. Right when I was about to hit, the fake became a shadow like I could and I felt a slash from behind and I was kicked forward. I landed face flat. I struggled to get myself up as if I were doing push ups. I crawled forward then once I found my strength I spread my wings. I have to find someway to win, any way.

I knew that my fake can also fly of course, but I have to switch tactics and try in any angle I can to reveal any weakness. My opponent came for me and I decided to use the air and glide quickly and strike. The fake however flew fast, probably faster than I am if I were to drop. We both struck. I thought I got him, but I got nothing except for a searing pain at my back.
Wait, why am I not getting up? Before I knew I was facing the floor. I smashed into the rock ground and my injured arm and body writhed in pain. An object dropped silently on the ground and my eyes couldn't believe the truth.
I lost a wing.
"No. . ." I thought to myself that this was all just a dream, a test. When I get back, I'll be perfectly fine. However, in the back of my mind, I knew that wasn't true.

I got up ever so slowly as my other self stood there, waiting.
I looked at him, myself.
"Is that all you got?" I heard him say in my voice. Those words matched his eyes that were watching me.
I felt something coming from my eyes, but nothing came out.
"You know, it's hard to watch a nothing like yourself accomplish far more than others only to reach up to this point. . ."
I clenched my fists and teeth to the point where I can taste and feel my essence. I then unclenched and punched the ground.
"How can you stand up for yourself? Aren't you doing this for your friends?"
"I am. . ."
"Then PROVE it!" He said in a readied stance.
"I. . . will! I have to. . . ! I must!" I said to myself. I stabbed the ground to get myself off the ground. I can felt that I can barely walk. But, if I have to beat this test, I'll have to give it everything I've got! Even at the cost of my life.
I charged forward again. The fake was prepared as well as he deflected my strike. I stomped on the ground and ducked from a strike then front flipped to a strike with the tip of my Halberd. I merely scratched his shoulder, but that is proof that this is beatable and that I can do this.
The opponent charged at me this time and went for a wide swing. I blocked, then the fake punched my face. I responded with a hit with the force of my head to his. He fell back from the shock. My head was pounding as well, but I ran for him and jumped ready to stab him. He turned into a shadow once again. He appeared behind me. I side stepped from his stab attempt. I grabbed his hands and punched his face then gut and disarmed him. I fired the crossbow at his neck as he was pushed back then stabbed him. My fake dropped onto his knees and bled out the memories I had.

I dropped to my knees in exhaustion and my lungs burned as did my injuries.
"You've completed the trial," the light said. The scion took form and I saw a mature girl with white hair and plain white dress. You could say she looked like a Goddess.
"I am sorry about your wing. . ."
I looked back and sighed.
"Well, now I am able to help you and your friends restore peace. I also have interesting information about yourself."
"Myself?" I then recalled her explaining that after the trial, I might learn something about myself. "What about it? I am a shadow, am I not?"
"Actually, no. You were just placed and mistakened as one."
"Mistakened?"
"Yes. You see, in between angels and shadows lie humans and all other races, but mostly humans. You are a rare type. Some would call it a dark angel, or an angel reaper."
"Dark angel? Angel. . . reaper? Wait, is Rade then a-"
"Yes, you realized too. He too is in between and misplaced. That explains how you two were able to detach your spawn points easily."
"It wasn't easy."
"Easier than forced into order," the scion explained.
"I. . . see. . ."
"Angels and shadows themselves can never back down an order unless they were told. They are practically chained to the orders and just another number to their mass."
"So. . . I actually have a life?"
"You are a true living being. Do you remember seeing silver blood?"
"Silver blood. . . I remember seeing a dying angel when I was leaving the shadows that had silver blood. Strangely after that though, I didn't see it anymore."
"I believe the reason for that would be that you still thought of yourself as a shadow, up until that moment."
"Belief that I am a shadow?" I then looked at my injuries and my dark essence was replaced with silver blood.
"It seems that that would be the case. Void, the Dark Angel. Allow me to send you back."
"Can I. . ." I looked at the sword on the ground from a distance.
"Unfortunately everything here is just a memory other than your injuries. That cannot be taken. . ."
I sighed and nodded.
"Let us go."
A bright light flashed and I was transported back to where the scion slumbered.