The wind carried dust and silence along the plains. Morning light glimmered faintly on the steel of drawn blades. Ammon stood at the edge of the campfire ashes. He had faced beasts, shadows and despair itself but standing before Prince Simon mocking grin stirred something inside of him.
He hadn't asked for it. He hated it, but turning away from it now mean accepting all the insults the world has thrown at him- "the powerless prince."
Prince Simon rested his blades at his shoulder, a mocking grin curling in his lips. "Come, Ammon of Dravencia ravecia, show us that you are more than a King's mistake."
Ayden's flame sparked at those words. Careful, he muttered , eyes narrowing. "You are playing with flame, you can't control."
Simon laughed, "then let it burn".
The Tension that filled the air became electric. The kind that preceed after storm and bloodshed.
Ammon's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, just one hit, that's all I need.
The duel began with a blur movement, Simon lunging forward with his sword gleaming with imbued light. The sound of steel against steel tore through the air. Ammon met the strike but the impact sent tremors across his arm. Simon pressed forward, his blows swift and relentless, each step moved with arrogance.
"You fight like the shadow of your title!", Simon said, slamming his sword down.
Ammon barely dodged, dirt exploding beneath his boots. Sweat rolled down his neck as he searched for an opening.
Simon came again- a spinning slash met to overwhelm. But this time Ammon stepped into it. He parried down, twisted his wrist and with the faintest flick of motion, he let Simon's weight betray him. Their blades screamed against each other, and Ammon's sword traced a burning line across Simon's shoulder before halting below his jaw.
Silence fell.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
A crimson bead rolled down Simon's neck. His disbelief twisted to fury."No...You cheated. That doesn't_"
Before, he could finish, a wave of flame erupted between them. Ayden's stood, his eyes glowing with restrained power, say one more word and I'll turn that arrogance to ash.
"Stand down", Ayden, Ammon's voice cut through the tension, calm but commanding. But, Ayden didn't lower his hand, until Simon stepped back, face burning with anger and shame.
Adler's voice boomed through the clearing ending the confrontation. "Enough!". Our enemy waits beyond the border not before us. If we can't stand together, then we'll fall alone.
Simon turned away, muttering under his breath, his pride wounded more than his shoulder. The forest grew quiet again, the air thickened with unspoken grudges.
When the others began to settle, Ammon found himself staring into the flickering campfire.
Ayden sat beside him, silent at first, then finally said, you did well today.
Ammon shook his head, smiling.
The night deepened, stars glimmering faintly along the plains. Somewhere far ahead- the road to Elarion, the kingdom of abundance awaits them- where the fate of nations was gathering like storm at the horizon.