Bazil lifted the last thing he needed to pack, his xira.
At the creak of a branch, his face lifted slowly, not looking up, yet his eyes sharpened.
The person's breath was light and careful, steadying with dogged determination. A twig fell. Before it could land, he swung around, slicing through it as the person dropped from the tree.
Their foot hit the base of the xira, then they thrust themselves back up, dodging a slash by a split-second.
The person landed in a crouch, pressing on their right knee, the left stretched out. Their eyes were cold, calm, and calculating. They, too, had swung open a xira.
Bazil's eyes lazily traced over, waiting for her.
Salīa's eyes were lit with fervent rims of gold, her dilated pupils narrowing in.
He arched a brow, studying her impassive mien. Then her xira, having swept through the air, a moment from cutting his face.
A swift duck then weave launched him back.
She slashed forth, her steel clashed with his, and spun out of her grip. He'd countered by flipping his wrist behind him while she'd gone for his back.
She clicked her jaw and kicked upwards. His xira slammed down on the shin, the cracking pain rippling through the bone. The spear-end eagerly cut up to her neck. Her breath hitched as her head fell back.
Suddenly, Bazil rolled across the grass.
Her back heel brutally whipped at his head with the last of the force that her leg could carry, before pulsating numbness took over it. She was forced to coil back, while he lifted.
He touched where his face had been hit, his eyes narrowing on her.
No words were said, but his temperament was easily gauged from the snapping crack of his jaw.
Both had their xiras again and charged, clanging in a mutual strike.
Each blow collided with the other, sending them sliding into retreat, having their xiras gouging into the ground to get their footing, before slashing forth again.
Salīa had wanted to test something she noticed about her abilities, but knew she couldn't do so half-heartedly. In a merciless spiral, she struck relentlessly, both barreling her xira and her body.
Bazil riposted each hit, and for those that he couldn't, he'd roll his shoulders to the side and skid back, making her surge at him.
She knew from his unbothered expression and bolting recoils that he was baiting her.
Though she couldn't stop - gouging the xira in the rubble and vaulting forth, not giving him a single gap, knowing he could only dodge so much without seeing behind before he closed himself.
Then she found it – an opening.
He'd been pressed against a tree, his xira too low to hit in time. Hers drove forth at his chest. Then stopped mid-attack, being gripped on by the base tightly by his weapon-yielding hand.
Did he drop the weapon just as I—
His other palm flattened between her chest in a ruthless thrash, sending her soaring, he back-smashing into a tree with a popping smack. A pitiful gasp filled the air as her breath lost all of it.
She inhaled deeply, hurtling up. Though not quick enough. Her eyes widened, breath his beside her.
She stiffened as he shoved her, sending her hurtling into the air.
Her feet firmed and pivoted, though she couldn't parry the strike that disarmed her. Her xira flew several leaps ahead, and she dove for it, only to feint back, knowing she'd have to claim it when he was less aware.
As a reward for her ruthlessness, he, too, lashed forth at a thundering speed. All she could do was skid back and jump branches.
Seeing her mid-air, he plunged for her stomach.
Her eyes locked on, and she had both hands wrap around the base tightly. For a while, they were at a standstill, their breaths jagged as they firmed their grip on it.
She yanked it forth, then he let go. Quick on it in her stumble, she let go too, stopping herself from flying too far back. Yet his fists pummeled forth, and so hers, merely stopped by mere blocks.
Dust sprang up in the air as her legs kicked forth. He hammered each back, neither able to lift their xira.
Then she felt it.
He kicked down into the earth between them, all while twisting to claim his xira.
As if tempering his steel with his flaming ire, he struck forth like the flames and swept up the air with smoky feints that had her bouncing side to side and slipping through the air in a blistering pace.
No mercy was shown as he drew her further and further away from her weapon. She even felt herself slowing, moments from crumpling.
His breath had also drawn out, trying to even. Ready to end it and having encroached her, he shoved it to her chest.
Out in an instant crouch, she dove headfirst into the core of his stomach, jabbing hard into it. He lost breath, yet with a guttural shout, he cleaved through the air to catch her.
She bridged the space between them, twirling back-to-back while he spun round. Just as he thrust it from his back, she charged ahead, elbowing his side.
"Ugh!" he yelled, then struck, but she ducked all the way down and slid back.
He sprang to her, seeing her peek at the xira to her right. She sped for it. He broke her passage to it, but she smirked, already having retreated right.
His muscles tightened, stricken, as he couldn't swirl back in time.
She darted with precision, locked on his opening. He shot a jab from there. Again, she slid back, crunching through the ground, now neck to neck.
His teeth clenched as they locked eyes, and he felt a prickling at his neck. For hoisted up to it was a blade she snuck from her hidden thigh sheath.
In moments, they dropped their weapons and bowed, showing each other an x. Bazil inhaled deeply, observing that new look in her eyes.
At first, he wondered if he was still unwell or if he had weakened. Yet it was undeniable in the end. It was she who strengthened.
He wasn't entirely sure how she got stronger, but he never had any doubts that she would at some point.
"So, it's true," she said to herself.
"I'm proud of you," he told her. "Very proud of you."
She smiled, letting her head sway side to side like a happy child. All of her softened into her gentle nature once again.
"Thank you. It's all because of you. Oh, you've got a leaf in your hair."
She plucked it off. Then wiped some sand from her lips. He looked at her face, shaking his head in amusement.
"Come here," he pulled her close and wiped the rest off. He kept her in his grasp, feeling their breath mingle, their eyes reuniting.
Her heart rose again, tracing too many memories they had stacked of them in such a position. Being able to see his face, she remembered something and shyly turned away, wondering how to go about it.
Feeling her desire, he pulled her chin up, willing her to face him as he faced her. They stared for a while. Then he leaned down for her lips.
They merely brushed theirs together before he swept his up.
A spike of anger was about to find its way back in her chest. Then he pressed his lips against her forehead, letting his essence freely pour through.
She could feel everything he felt in its entirety as he held it there. And suddenly, she was calm.
"Hmm," she nodded. "We don't need to rush."
He held her in an embracing hug, their heartbeats beating in rhythm.
"We don't need to wait too long either, Salīa."
Did he just say my true name?
He smiled as if he could hear her thoughts, and so they hugged for a while longer. That is, until they heard a panicked cough escape from nearby.
Their eyes instantly hawked over to Tawanda, who was beaming brightly, yet also scratching the back of his head nervously. He tried turning away, but Bazil said, "What is it?"
"Uh…right…" he walked over tentatively. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
Bazil lifted his xira impatiently. While he shortened it to pack away, his imposing eyes gave him a side glance that stopped his soft stammering.
"Don't mind him," Salīa said sweetly. "How can we help?"
"Oh…well…I know I've asked a few times, but I was wondering if I could train with Commander Guardian Bazilani and be a guardian to you, Queen Salīa."
He's impressively determined. What an honorable warrior spirit.
"It seems Sibu is quite fond of you," Salīa smiled. "Are you sure he'll let us take you?"
Tawanda nodded shyly.
"I am just as fond of Commander Guardian Sibusiso," he murmured. "He may tease me a lot, but he's always sincere and considerate about others. It was he who encouraged me to ask again.
He told me Commander Guardian Bazilani is one of the greatest teachers to zazi and I'd be best learning from him."
Bazil shook his head.
"I may have taught many zazi, but it's Sibusiso who has raised their ranks.
I first learned from him, as did all the highest-ranking Commander Guardians. His strength is equal to that of the Chiefess, and he'll uncontestably be the next Chief, and not because it's our father.
If you hope to rise to my rank, no one will get you there quicker than him."
"Ah, little brother," Sibu strolled through, in elegant robes, puffing out his naked chest as usual. "It's not like you praise me so unprovoked. Is it that you're still under the influence of…" he made a theatrical drinking gesture, then a smoking one. "Or could it simply be that you didn't want to admit that you just wanted our Queen to yourself?"
Bazil turned his head, exposing the truth. Sibu grinned.
"Ah, I too want this one to myself," he nodded to Tawanda. "But we both had the same mother who taught us how to share, didn't we? He'd be a great guardian to her."
Without having noticed, Tawanda had been nodding along in eager agreement. Despite his shyness around those he reveres, he never once lost his self-assured aura.
Bazil nodded and said, "It's true that he would be. Also, it's true that I don't praise you often, but your head is big enough as it is, don't you think, brother?"
Sibu sulked playfully.
"But I do mean every word, Sibusiso. So, I expect you to have him ready to fight me on my return. If he fails, you've failed."
"I'll take care of him," Sibu nodded earnestly.
Tawanda then kneeled in front of Sibu, his eyes wet.
"I'll not fail you," he told him. "I'll be your best student. And if my words prove false, then you can end me for my life is in your hands."
"You shouldn't give such power to just anybody," Sibu patted his head, and wavered his finger for him to lift. "Don't worry, little zazi, I have a feeling you'll be just fine."
Tawanda then turned to Bazil and said, "When I become a Commander Guardian, you will spar with me."
It wasn't a question, but a statement, albeit one he barely stuttered out. Bazil grunted in approval and made an x.
X