A Duel

Stretching before Koel and Lyrea was not a bridge of light but a vast white expanse, one that had been painstakingly shaped, it was easily large enough to contain hundreds. Sat upon this expanse of light was a figure, young and muscled but with an aura that spoke of violence and blood, of a beast that had fed upon savagery and gored the remains.

"You have made me wait for this challenge... Asmonon."

Sparks flew as the man's hand slid down the side of a sword in his grasp, sharpening it ready for the duel to come.

Gently, with absolute care Koel placed Lyrea down upon the path where the door had just closed.

"Will you be okay my dear?"

"Yes. I have nowhere else to go."

"My quarrel is with you Asmonon, not of those you carry."

Turning around Koel faced the man as he sharpened his sword, never once had his gaze left the figure of Koel.

"Your journey takes its toll on you."

"It was not the journey but the results of my own actions."

"Indeed we all have a price to pay for what has been done. I looked into the worlds below, all stagnant and still, their orders misplaced and chaotic. We deserve far worse."

"Then will you let me pass…"

"...No."

Standing tall the man levelled his sword towards Koel, "Can you not speak my name Asmonon, does it guilt you still? Were we not allies who stood against entire worlds as they rained their armies down upon us."

"I am Asmonon no longer."

"I care not for your titles. You are his shadow and legacy and therefore you owe as does Asmonon. Defeat me and you shall pass… lose and remain here forever."

"You would condemn all the worlds for a sword?"

"I would condemn more for the one thing I desire."

"Your sword means that much to you? Even after all of this?"

"I live for the sword, why is it so hard for you to understand that Asmonon. You who can peer through any secret, could not understand such a simple thing as devotion."

"And you who live for one thing cannot comprehend the importance of another."

With a swish the sword was thrown.

"Enough talk. Prepare yourself Asmonon."

His right hand raised Koel reached forward and pried the sword from the floor in which it lay.

"Come then Wolff, let us dance between worlds, to settle the fate of all on nothing but selfish desires."

His feet rushing forward Wolff drew another sword from his wast as he swung for Asmonon. Raising his sword to meet Koel stood still as the figure of Wolff too was stopped in its track.

"Aren't all decisions made that way, balanced upon the blades that men call fair."

"I thought you had no more words."

"Then I shall let my blade to the talking."

Frenzied cuts fell around Koel's figures as he ducked and twirled the blows he could not block. Even the light around grew dim and struggled to maintain its form as Wolff's sword was swung.

"What happened to your power Asmonon. Where is the ferocity in your blows, have you been tempered by time or cracked by it?"

"Not all of us only have a single burden to bare."

"You think I am not weighed."

With a kick Wolff interrupted Koel's swing of a sword and sent him careening backwards.

"You were able to sit at the bottom and look up whilst I remained here, forever waiting and looking down, watching the misery of damnation expand through world after world. Why do you think Garus sealed himself within that world, why do you think Berick descended. Why do you think Vena stayed so close to you, yet far from me."

Thrusting his sword forward Koel's strike was easily redirected as Wolff kicked again, shattering one of Koel's ribs.

"No!"

Her cries and shouts unheard Lyrea was unable to help as these two ancient beings of power clashed again and again.

"Then why did you help them strike me down Wolff? Why stop me now?"

"You ceded them the power they desired, whilst all I wanted was to experience yours fully. You owe me that Asmonon, you broke your word, the word that you gave to me time and time again."

"IT WAS A WORD I COULD NOT KEEP!"

The swords crashed together as sparks covered the figures, the skeleton who raised a sword to fix all and the man who stood in the way to fill his own desire.

"LIES! You slew entire armies that descended from worlds above, hundreds, thousands even millions fell to you in your desire to protect that cursed map. Tell me you do not have the power to grant me a challenge, to fulfil my desire."

"The power I wield is not what you seek."

"Then why give me your word."

"Because I needed you. I, Asmonon needed your help to protect the map, to prevent all of this from happening."

Separating again Wolff stood strong, barely fazed from the blows exchanged as Koel stood still, his left arm missing, ribs shattered and sword nicked.

"If I show you the power you wish to see will you let me pass?"

Plunging his sword into the white light beneath his foot Wolff crossed his arms, his head raised high.

"Show me deceiver, prove to me what you speak now is true. Strike me down with your greatest and wield it against me or you will never pass."

"So be it."

The sword tossed to his side Koel raised his hand high as two dim lights lit up inside of his skull.

His chest barely moving Koel lowered his hand and pushed it through the white pth below, letting the spilt light wash over his skeletal form and illuminate it, framing every minute crack that extended over his form.

"Are you ready?"

"Do it."

With a pull Koel's bones stretched and creaked like old wood as the bridge of light swayed beneath Wolff.

"I am sorry… I could not keep my word."

With a titanic pull the wide expanse of white on which Wolff stood was severed, separated from the expanse of light that Koel and Lyrea stood upon still.

Jumping backwards Koel retreated leaving Wolff behind, stuck on the other side as an inky black began to spread and devour the broken bridge that stood alone, no longer part of the bridge of light.

"LIAR," his sword drawn again Wolff's body shook with rage as he had been denied again, "DECEIVER."

"RUN ASMONON! Flee from me again, Lie to me again. I will carve my way free of this void and come for you, I will cut anything that dares to block me."

"No… you won't."

With a sad shake of his head Koel pressed his hand forward, motioning for the expanse that now trapped Wolff to float further away, deeper into the dark expanse that was consuming it still.

"AS….MOOO….NOOOON!"

Swinging his sword Wolff mustered every part of his strength as even the nothingness that threatened to contain him shook from his blows.

With a final push the broken segment was sent careening through the darkness as the bridge of light began to seal itself, leaving Wolff beyond its boundaries.

"I am sorry for lying to you again my friend, but your desire pales in comparison to mine."

Lowering his head Koel shrugged off his guilt and shame for the ill he had done to Wolff, there was more at stake than his pride and honour.

"Koel?"

Scooping Lyrea into his arms again Koel spoke.

"Let this journey be over."