Lucian nodded, a hint of apology in his voice. "I'm sorry, sister. But there's no need to wait till tomorrow. Let's start training from today." He knew better than to argue when Leora's voice took on that edge.
He also recognized the truth in her words – his old habits were a liability, a weakness which no longer belonged to him but to old Lucian who was long dead.
Leora turned and walked to a wooden basket. She pulled out a sword, its surface smooth and clean, as if newly made. Shlick! The sound was crisp and final, like the closing of a new doors.
She tossed the sword to him. "We'll have a practice battle. Get ready." Her eyes, though still carrying a hint of weariness, burned with a fierce determination. This wasn't just about training her body; it was about forging her spirit.
Lucian caught the wooden sword. He gripped it, testing its balance and weight in his hand. He took a fighting stance, his posture fluid and balanced, a stark contrast to the slouched figure he often presented. "I'm ready," he replied, his voice steady and devoid of any hesitation.
Leora exploded forward, her feet pounding the earth Thump! Thump! Thump! She brought the wooden sword down in a vicious diagonal slash, the air whistling as it cut through the air.
Whoosh!
The force behind the blow was enough to make the very air vibrate. Lucian, his eyes calm and assessing, tracked the trajectory of the blade with an almost preternatural focus. He easily intercepted the blow with a flick of his wrist.
Clang!
The sound of wood meeting wood echoed through the training area. Back on Earth, Lucian (Kai) had been one of the greatest assassins; to lose to Leora would be a disgrace to his hard-earned experience.
Leora's eyes widened in surprise, mixed with frustration. "You blocked it, huh? Now try this!" She thrust the wooden sword towards Lucian's stomach. Stab! The movement was lightning-fast, a testament to her honed reflexes.
Lucian sidestepped. Swish! His movements were quick and perfect, a dance of evasion honed over years of training and life-or-death encounters.
Lucian countered, thrusting his sword towards Leora's heart. Thrust! Leora blocked it, but with difficulty. Clang! The force of the counter-attack reverberated through her arms; a stark reminder of the power Lucian held in check.
Her frustration grew, her anger rising, threatening to boil over.
To anyone watching, it would seem Lucian was the trainer, and Leora the student. Even though they appeared evenly matched, Lucian's movements, the way he moved his sword, were deliberate and precise.
He was holding back very much, subtly guiding her, testing her limits, and imparting lessons in a way she wouldn't even realize.
This was the opposite of Leora's memories. The Lucian she remembered was lazy and weak. He never trained properly. She always had to force him. She had easily beaten him many times. But from her battle experience and instinct, she could tell the person before her was not the Lucian she remembered.
He felt like a dark presence, someone who had killed many. The weight of that realization settled heavily on her shoulders.
The battle continued. Clang! Swish! Thump! Leora became more and more irritated and frustrated. Then, she made a mistake, a slight opening in her defense, a momentary lapse in concentration.
Clang!
Lucian thought, it's time to end this. Otherwise, her anger might cause real damage. He could feel the shift in her, the barely suppressed rage that threatened to consume her.
He spun, and kicked Leora's leg. Crack! He aimed carefully, not trying to seriously injure her, but enough to disrupt her balance.
Her footing gave way. Slip!
She gasped, startled, as she fell. Whoosh! Thud!
A cloud of dust rose where she landed, her silver hair spread across the dirt like a fallen banner.
Lucian didn't hesitate.
Before she could react, Lucian pointed the sword at her neck. Leora was shocked. Gasp! She had lost to her brother, easily.
That was impossible. She always trained hard, and Lucian always slacked off and was lazy. A mix of anger and irritation filled her, along with a growing sense of unease. Who was this person in front of her? Was it truly Lucian?
Lucian thought, this will hurt her confidence. I should pretend it was a fluke. He helped Leora up. "I didn't mean to kick you," he apologized, his voice panicked and stuttering. "It was an accident, sister. Are you hurt?"
Leora shook her head, her gaze sharp and intense. "Let's go for another match." Crack! She cracked her neck, her anger clear. Losing to someone like Lucian was beneath her, a bitter pill her pride refused to swallow. Losing to loser like Lucian was unacceptable.
A sharp hiss sounded in her mind. Hiss! A voice was laughing wildly. "Losing to your own lazy brother? How low have you fallen?"
The voice said again "And he's the one who saved you during the chase and you are trying to escape this situation by comforting yourself by saying that he is not your brother. You don't deserve to live. Let's die together! Leora, I am the only one who can bring you salvation. Let's free your brother from the burden like you!!"
Leora shook her head. "Shut up. I won't listen to you and abandon Lucian, like I did before."
The voice laughed. "Everyone who chooses the pathway of magic will meet me and die with me in the end."
Lucian only heard Leora mumbling. "What's wrong, sis?" he asked, concern etching lines on his face.
Leora shook her head. "Nothing."
She lunged at Lucian with all her strength.
Lunge!
She ran straight at Lucian and swung her sword at his stomach. Slash! But this time, the sword had a faint, glowing aura. Shimmer! A visible distortion in the air accompanied the strike, a sign of the raw magic she was channeling.
When Lucian blocked it, Clang! his wooden sword shattered. Crack! Splinters flew through the air like deadly needles. He was thrown backward, and crashed into some bushes. Crash! Thud!
Even though it was simple sparring session.
This simple fight left a storm of emotions raging within Leora. Crash! She grappled with a sense of shame. How could I be so consumed by anger, just because I lost? Am I truly this awful? Why did I resort to using magic, like some desperate child throwing a tantrum? What am I trying to prove? Is my pride so fragile that it shatters at the slightest blow?
Was that voice, right? Am I becoming a burden to Lucian, the very person I swore to protect? The questions swirled in her mind, a vortex of self-doubt and recrimination.
The voice returned, full of mockery. "Yes, you're a burden, and nothing more. A loser with a huge ego."
It laughed. "Yes, your pride reaches the sky, even though you think you're humble and always train hard. You've always been arrogant, blind to your own failings."
It reminded her, "But I'll help you find peace. And the path to peace is for us to die together. Let's die, Leora. Let's die and be free forever. If we die, there's no need for revenge, no need to think about survival, no need to face the consequences of our weakness. Oh! Leora Death is the boon only mortals can grasp. Haha off course no one is immortal."
The voice grew fainter. "Let's die..."
What was this voice tormenting Leora?