Losing to Eric

---Indigo---

Up on stage, Eric snarled at Aaron. "Fine. I used the Lotus Needles, a deadly source of murderous arts, on Reginald. Yes, I cheated. So what? Most fighters are wounded and out of commission. What can you, a little boy, do to me?" Eric pulled two long knives from the folds of his clothing and charged.

"Never underestimate your opponents," Aaron stated simply before dodging Eric's attack and twisting to stab Eric's side. Growling, Eric spun on his heels and swiped his knives at Aaron's neck. Ducking, Aaron slid out from under and stepped to the side. His sword flashing in the torchlight, Aaron and Eric went full-out at each other.

I could tell that Eric had a "screw everything" attitude. He was not going to back down. Since his true intentions were already unmasked, what's another death going to do? He would kill Aaron for standing in his way. He would kill Aaron, in front of all of Goldhedge to make a statement about going against him.

Aaron was attacking just as fiercely, but for a different reason. I knew Aaron. He was fighting for all the fighters Eric have wronged and cheated their victories out of, and for all the people that Eric harmed and killed. Aaron was fighting to avenge his dear cousin Reginald, who was murdered the same way his mum was. Aaron was fighting in his mother's memory.

Lucian jostled me. "Hey, is it just me or is Aaron losing?" he nodded towards the stage. I tried to get closer to see better. The two were a blur of movement. Sounds of metal clashing and grunts filled the air. Eric's eyes were red and filled with the desire to kill. He repeatedly slashed at Aaron, not allowing any time for recovery nor reaction. Aaron was good, but could he keep up with the relentless attacks from a merciless trained fighter almost twice as old as him? Especially one whose specialty was killing and playing dirty?

"Wait! Eric's muttering a spell of some sort!" I suddenly cried out. Lucian stared up the stage. Indeed, Eric's lips were moving, while Aaron seemed to pale and weaken by the minute. Aaron's movements begin to falter. Only a few more people stood between the stage and me. I pushed people aside harder.

A flash of silver. Something was embedded on the wall behind Aaron, who seemed momentarily dazed. In that millisecond, Eric's knives were there. My scream mingled with Aaron's cry of pain. Crimson blood spilled across the wooden floor. Aaron was down on one knee; his sword was plunged deep into the floorboards to keep himself upright. His left hand pressed against his right rib cage, his white cotton shirt staining red. Eric circled near, like a predator stalking prey.

"What a shame; you were a decent fighter," Eric mused, faking sympathy. "At least you and dear Athelia get to die the same way, Aaron Kane."

Aaron's eyes widened. "…It was you!"

Eric's pale blue eyes seemed to glow with evil. He bent down and whispered something in Aaron's ear, smirking all the while. Aaron was shell-shocked. His breathing was labored.

Eric grinned and flicked his wrist. Aaron yelped but failed to move away in time. I knew what it was without seeing it. Another poison-tipped needle. Aaron clutched at his arm, swaying.

"It's a slower poison, but you still get to die the same way as your mum," Eric said. "However, I'll be nice and put you out of your misery." He cackled and lunged forward, his sharpened knife a blinding flash. Aaron clamped his eyes shut, waiting for the deathblow.

Clang! Three swords intercepted the knife with so much force it went flying out of Eric's hand. His eyes widened with surprise. Katherine and I glared back, both having reached Aaron at the exact same time.

"You save Aaron. I'll deal with this bastard," I said to Katherine, not taking my eyes off Eric. Katherine nodded once and retracted her swords. I heard a rustle of clothing and saw out of the corner of my eye that she had pulled Aaron to a safe corner in the stage. She knelt next to him, summoning a ball of glowing power. Rachel was hurrying up the steps, followed closely by Ashley. They would stop the poison in time. I know they will.

On the far side of the stage, the announcer was still diligently doing his job: "Here is Indigo of Roseland, challenging Eric of Shadowville!"

Meanwhile, Eric retreated a few steps and pulled out a new knife. He must really like knives. "You must be Aaron's girlfriend," he purred.

"You must have a death wish," I replied. "You murdered his mum? And they never caught you?!"

"Of course not; I'm skilled. Besides, Athelia and I have…some qualms. The hatred and conflicts of the adult world is something little girls won't understand." Eric shrugged. I felt a surge of anger.

"You're such a weasel," I spat, my sword tip quivering with fury. "Tonight, I will end you."

"Oh, how funny. I'd like to see you try." Eric bared his teeth and pounced. I barely had time to slide to the side before his knives slashed the air where my head used to be. A strand of my light brown hair fluttered to the floor. I stared at him, appalled.

"You're not leaving here alive." Waving my sword, I lunged for Eric's big fat neck.

Eric was a good fighter, like actually really good. But I was driven by anger and the thought that this guy tried to kill Aaron. No one hurts my friends. Especially not Aaron.

I fought harder than I ever did in my life. I had to, in order to avoid being sliced in half by Eric's ever-moving knives. He was fast, but I was agile. My leather boots made squeaking sounds on the polished wooden stage when I moved my feet just right. I dodged, hacked, and moved my sword like how Katherine showed me once long ago. 'Grip your sword firmly. Keep your body balanced. Focus on your attacker and strike with precision. Trust your guts.' Oh, why does it seem so effortless when Katherine does it?

As I found my rhythm, I was able to move with ease and fluidly control my sword. My parents' voices came into my head, coaching me as they did when I was young. Breathing deeply, I launched into the Clay Maneuvers, a set of sword movements passed down in our family. To my surprise and dismay, Eric seemed to recognize it. He had the counterattacks for it. Every single move. I was getting frustrated. My dad taught me thirty-six moves and I was coming to an end. While Eric did not seem flushed or rushed, I was getting tired and panicky.

On my last desperate attempt to defeat Eric, I executed a complicated move that I had barely mastered before I left the Academy. It called for distraction and precision. One would thrust one's sword at one's opponent seemingly to strike one area, but then change tactics right before the sword reaches them to aim and strike somewhere else, while using one's legs to trip and ultimately defeat your enemy.

First part went well. Eric fell for the bait and tried to defend his upper body. Smiling inwardly, I suddenly retracted my sword and aimed for his lower body. Here's the part where I stab him through his stomach. Out of the blue, Eric's knife went right at my face. Ducking my head, I tried to perform a roundhouse kick aimed at his skull. Eric leaned back with practiced ease and his left hand clamped down on my ankle. I lost my balance and tried to stab him at random. Eric used my momentum to lift me off the ground and toss me clear across the stage.

I crashed into the wall at such a high speed I blacked out for a few moments. I thought that Eric would surely be coming after me to finish me off. I'm sorry Aaron. I tried, but I failed.

"You again?!" I heard Eric say incredulously.

"Nobody hurts my friends!" A familiar voice rang out. I forced open my eyes and leaned around a concerned Rachel hovering over me to see someone already locked in a fierce battle with Eric, her jacket tossed aside to allow more ease for moving around: Katherine.