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Chapter 5

At First Light

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Sylvarra Village Outskirts
We settle it. Properly.
What are we doing...?
A duel...
He had no right.
If he really wants to settle this...
Then I’ll settle it.
What am I doing...?
Good.
So do I.
Yesterday, she was just Selene.
Darius was just Darius.
Control begins before the body moves.
Not now.
I can’t lose control now.
...No. Darius wasn’t trying to hurt me.
Of course! I'm such an idiot...
This is how we keep it from getting worse.
Already...?
I really sat here all day...
Alright.
Tomorrow, we end this properly.
That evening, Kaze finally came home.
You’re just in time. Spiced meat flatbread, fresh from the oven.
Try not to devour the whole tray at once.
Kaze...?
Eat up.
Kaze.
You haven’t touched your food.
No, I will.
It's my favorite.
Oh no...
I know that look...
This is about a girl, isn’t it?
No...
Well...
maybe...
Who is it?
Selene.
Ahh...
Selene... Does she know?
I don’t know. But Darius does.
He feels the same way.
Oh.
I see.
We thought... maybe we could settle it.
Settle it... how?
A duel.
Kaze... what happens when it's over?
The one who loses...
Steps aside.
And what does she want?
Selene isn’t something to be won.
It’s not about winning her.
Then what is it about?
I love Darius like a brother...
If one of us just backs down... it’ll stay between us forever.
I know it will...
What do you mean?
But if we settle it honestly... Then one of us can step aside without pretending it doesn’t hurt.
And maybe...
Maybe we can still be brothers when it’s over.
I think I understand...
Even if I wish you’d found another way.
Now, Eat.
The next day, before dawn.
When did you know?
Know what?
That you’re not afraid of losing to me.
You’re afraid of what she’ll choose.
You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Do I not?
He doesn’t understand…
And what does she want?
He doesn’t get to ask that...
There you are.
AHHH!
Ghk—!
He’s right.
I know he’s right.
I can't walk away.
Not without knowing.
Not without trying.
What are you doing?!
I had to be sure.
That this wasn’t just pride.
Pick up your bokken and finish this!
No.
Does he think this is a joke?!
No... I won’t let it end like this.
What... what’s happening to me?!
Kaze?!
My body’s moving on its own...
I can’t stop it!
No... please stop...
Oh shit!
Darius!
*cough cough*
Darius, please... don’t do this...
What... happened?
Thank the Divine...
What is that...?
I don’t know.
Careful...
Strange...
It looks like it’s on fire, but it’s cold...
What is it?
I don't know...
Kaze, what did you do?!
I didn't do anything!
I just touched it!
It’s like you woke it up.
The mountain... this chamber... And now that thing won’t stop glowing in your hands.
What do you mean?
It’s like I can feel it...
Like it’s calling to me.
Alright... now you’ve lost me.
Should I give you two a moment?
Cut it out, this is serious!
We need to get out of here — now! This mountain could come down on us!
We need to get off this mountain before anything else wakes up.
Neither of them spoke much on the way down.