Chapter 19

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"Run for it!" James shouted as he raised his sword to block Aisa's strike.

Tobias hesitated only a moment before he took off, dashing away from the conflict. He wasn't a coward. He wasn't. He was using guns, and needed some distance. Once he got far enough away, he would turn around and provide James with backup. They had done this before, in video games. James always played a tank class, keeping the enemy attention focused on him and freeing Tobias to fight unhindered. It was fine. Just because their lives were on the line, didn't mean Tobias was going to save his own skin. At least, that's what Tobias kept telling himself as he got further and further away.

No...it's always been this way, a voice echoed in Tobias's head, taunting him. You've always cowered behind him, ever since he saved you in high school. You knew you could never be like him, so you gave up on trying. No matter how much you idolize him, you only care about your own skin.

Suddenly the air in front of him split, then parted into a gash that hung in space. Tobias caught a brief glimpse of James on the other side as he passed through. He nearly collided right into him, and he turned just in time to see the strange portal blink back out of existence. Aisa stood just beyond, branding his sword and circling the two in preparation to attack. It was clear he wouldn't let either of them escape so easily.

"What do we do now?" Tobias groaned, pulling his pistols free from his belt.

"Improvise," James answered, holding his sword out to the side, ready to intercept the next attack.

"We've been improvising!" Tobias said, raising his pistols and firing at the golden man.

Aisa slashed at the air, rending it with his sword. The gash he left behind looked just like the one Tobias had run through a moment before. This time Tobias could see himself, as though looking down from above, and he had just enough time to look up and see the second gash in the air above them before his own shots hit his guns, knocking them from his hands.

"We don't want the blade, Aisa!" James shouted. "Just let us go!"

"You have no choice," Aisa answered, walking towards them with his blade held ready. "I am bound to fight until the chosen wielder is revealed. I see the potential that flows between you two, but without this trial, my task cannot end."

James raised his sword, preparing for the second round. "If killing is what you expect, then I will reject you with everything I've got," he said, defiance written on every inch of his posture.

"Then you will die," Aisa answered flatly.

"So be it."

The two clashed again, while Tobias scrambled to find another weapon. His guns were badly damaged, and the area had been cleared by the blast from Aisa's arrival. He would have to go pretty far before he could find anything useful. James wouldn't last that long against Aisa's superior strength, no matter how confident he was.

There's nothing I can do, Tobias realized. I am weaponless. I am powerless. What's the point in fighting if the outcome is already set in stone?

James was knocked backwards, falling to the ground in front of him. Their eyes met briefly, and Tobias saw the raw fear in James's face for the first time since he'd known him.

It was a jarring glimpse of reality.

All those times he had been bullied, and James intervened on his behalf, he had never seen him afraid. But then, he had only ever seen James's back. James...had always been just as scared as Tobias was. All this time, Tobias had let his own fear keep him trapped, forever a victim.

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