The Path to Redemption

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒯𝓌𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓎-𝒯𝓌𝑜

↞･:*✵*:･↠

The ball was tomorrow, and Gale was still having issues with one technique I had tried to help him learn.

The movement was simple, but it was the concentration that—when combined with the movement—was difficult. Standing across from Gale, my fingers flexing with anticipation, I bent my knees, preparing myself for if he actually got the sequence correct this time.

Gale watched me for a moment, making sure I was ready for the blow he was meant to send me, and I nodded, awaiting what would come next. Once he was prepared, Gale took in a deep breath before stepping forwards, now placing himself six feet from me. Sweat dripped down the royal's forehead as he concentrated, latching onto whatever nearby source he could find, then stomping his foot on the ground. A large rock, the size of my body, emerged from the ground at his movements.

This was new. We'd discovered Gale could control boulders, along with wood, when one day he'd accidentally hit me in the stomach with a rock the size of his fist which got in the way as he was trying to attack a tree with it's own branch—which he'd elongated and molded into a sort of weapon that hovered at his command. We'd been pretending the tree was a target, though it did little to prepare Gale for real combat since the sapling didn't move as real as people would.

A large boulder now facing me, I readied myself, preparing just in case Gale got the movement correct. The royal took another deep breath, closing his eyes before reopening them and throwing his fist forward. Before his hand could make contact with the boulder, the large rock flew forwards, aimed right at me. In one simple movement, I leapt over the rock, before lowering myself on the other side, watching behind me as the stone flew into a nearby tree.

Grinning as I turned back around to face Gale, I found a reassured smile across his face as he stared at where the rock had crashed. He'd actually done it! A sort of pride swelled within me at his success. His forest-green eyes were filled with relief as he let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

"That was a start," Gale said airily, wiping a layer of sweat off of his face.

"That it was," I nodded, just as relieved as he that he had gotten the move down. "Ready to try it again?" The response I earned was a groan from the exhausted royal.

By the end of the next five practices, Gale had mastered the movement although at times he appeared to be struggling with controlling the direction the stone moved in. That didn't faze me much, though, seeing as it could have to do with his dwindling energy. Once sure Gale would not have a problem summoning this technique if he ever needed to, I nodded, watching him wipe more sweat from his face. The royal took a moment, looking out towards the palace as he breathed in the crisp night air before turning back to me.

"Are we done for today?" he asked, causing me to frown.

"Trying to escape so soon? We still have a few minutes left." I wittily remarked, although I was serious.

"Fine, fine, a few more minutes. What are we going to do now?" Gale murmured, awaiting another sequence that he was sure would come, though what he got was something far different.

"A duel."

"A duel? Between whom?"

"You—" I stated casually, before continuing, "—and me."

"What?" Gale argued. "That's unfair; you'd win within a matter of seconds."

"Oh come on, I'll go easy on you," I offered, causing Gale's brows to furrow with thought before he finally nodded uneasily.

"Fine. One duel, and then bed."

"Sounds good to me."

The two of us prepared ourselves, readying our stances as Gale stood with countless acres of trees behind him and I with the lights of the palace in the distance. I didn't need anything besides the air around me. I drew my source from the energy, not anything that could be seen.

"Ready?" I asked, a sly grin across my face as I watched Gale roll his eyes.

"Why are you asking me that? You know that even if I say no, you'll still start the fight."

"True," I admitted, before balling my fists, eager to begin. "Start!" I proclaimed, leaping into the air before spinning and throwing my foot out into a kick that sent a wave of air flying right at Gale. He responded quite thoroughly, as he flexed his fingers, a wall of wood creating a shield that would protect him from being pushed back by my blow.

Landing on the ground softly, I stood, ready to counter whatever he had to offer, my eyes gleaming with energy. I hadn't practiced with anyone—any person—in, well, forever. And even if I had when I was in the lab, I didn't remember it.

Gale took a few minutes to prepare whatever technique he was going to use on me, and I allowed him the time although if this were a real fight, I'd have blasted through that wooden wall of his by now. I knew it was thin, and, therefore, I knew it was easily breakable, but I wouldn't tell him that.

I listened around me, hearing a low humming sound emitting from the ground below. Leaping to the side, I somersaulted on the earth, watching as a large boulder flew up from the ground next to where I had been standing moments before. By now, Gale had lowered his little protection wall, and I decided it was my turn.

Stepping firmly, I threw both of my hands out. Tunnels of air channeled around the royal as he was lifted from the ground, soaring high in the air. Seeing Gale's face go pale with horror, I withdrew the currents. Hurdling towards the ground at an alarming rate, Gale extended his arm. Branches obeyed his command as they snaked from trees, circling around his body until he was fully supported by them. He masterfully lowered himself to the ground, unharmed.

"That-" Gale panted, clearly still in a fright, "-was not funny."

"I knew you'd survive. See, you're fine," I brushed off his frantics with a smile, placing my hands on my hips.

In response, Gale shot his elbow to the side, causing a boulder to separate from the earth and slide towards me at an alarming rate. I merely leapt over the stone, hoisting myself over the very top by compressing the air below me before falling to the ground with a well-practiced precision.

"Very clever," Gale muttered, causing me to smile.

"You really think so?" I asked, pretending to be excited by his sarcasm. "I worked real hard on the move, y'know, took me a while to-"

I was cut off as a branch wrapped around my arm, yanking me towards the many trees on Gale's side of the fight. In the midst of being dragged by a piece of wood—which was only attached to one of my arms—I grabbed the branch with my other hand, igniting sparks upon it and watching as the wood began to burn under my touch. The piece was soon cut in half by my hand, pieces of the branch now dispersed across the grass.

"Nice try," I commented, before dodging other pieces of wood, sparking them with my touch, and sending them either recoiling back to their tree or blown into pieces.

Staring at Gale, I twirled my hand in front of me, watching him get swept up by gusts of wind and twirl before being placed back on the ground, stumbling backwards. I watched him try and regain his bearings before I pushed my hand forwards, the air around me forcing him to the ground as it listened to what I asked it to do. Pinning him there, I walked over to Gale, smiling.

Leaning over the royal, I held out a hand, offering him a help up.

"Good match, you fight pretty well," I stated, allowing the currents to retreat, watching Gale's body loosen without the impact. Taking my hand, Gale laughed slightly, allowing me to pull him up.

"Yeah, all thanks to you. I'd be dead if I didn't have you as a guide," he started. "You scared me with some of those stunts, to be completely honest. And killing my branches? Not cool," he joked, causing me to laugh.

"Well then, don't let them touch me next time," I replied, humor present in my tone as the two of us started off back towards the palace, neither prepared for whatever tomorrow would bring.