Insensitive reunion

And if Sheno still had any doubt about the presence of this terrible being with his crushing and icy power, he would have none when he saw the wave of winged beings shaking in all directions before running to hide behind Miron, even the imposing creature with a thousand shades of green came as close to his master as possible. None of them went to run away, nor did they even think of doing so for a second, because they quickly understood that the young mage present was the safest place in the whole city. Besides, at no time had he betrayed any kind of fear, perhaps astonishment, even amazement, but no fear at all, and Sheno had already stopped feeling it too.

Miron, his body straight and defiant, turned towards the place where the mage or whatever the stranger might be, and waited quietly for him to emerge from those dark veils that in spite of himself, he loved so much.

"Oh, so you had finally accepted the fact that you only love the night."

"As you see, or anyone else, it's as clear as day. But you, I see that you too, have changed your appearance. The last time I saw you, you were so tiny, a bleary-eyed shadow form that was shedding all its blood, so incomplete. And now, look at you, you are even more gigantic than most beings I have ever seen, and I have seen so many."

"You recognized me. I am not surprised. Only prodigies are capable of such a recognition ability. And yours even manages to tell you everything in such a short time. It's simply incredible."

"Thank you. But I wish you would have told me all this at another time."

"When, for example?"

"Never."

Udariv couldn't help but laugh. Then, he shrugged his shoulders and snidely tossed.

"Still as insensitive and satirical as ever, I see. Well, anyway, that's the way you are. And speaking of which, I don't suppose you're at all interested yet in why I came here."

Miron didn't need to respond with words to confirm this.

Udariv gave a short, sarcastic laugh again, then sighed.

"I see. And I wonder, besides the night, these so original houses of Idiom, and these two people so diurnal that it is blinding, what could be capable of awakening empathy in you.

Miron shook his head, letting out a bitter moan.

"Why? Why does it matter so much!"

"I already told you. It's because I envy them all so much, quite simply. I envy everything that is capable of arousing feelings in you, despite my unwavering and eternal loyalty to my greatest master. Look at your majesty, all the creatures that are here right now, who a minute before I popped up were frolicking freely everywhere as if their lives had no end, and now they are taking refuge behind you, without exception because they know by their entire being that you are the greatest refuge there will ever be in all this immense and excessive kingdom."

"That is the obvious, these beings may be foolish and weak, but they know how to recognize greatness."

Udariv would never know if the young mage meant what he had just said or not, but that was not what had led him to find him.

"Majesty...despite your irritation at my coming as well as your deep dislike of my existence, I have come to warn you."

"Of what?"

"Of what my one and only beloved master intends to orchestrate against you.

"So, to sum up, this master who rules in your heart is interested in me in a way that is just as unhealthy as you are?"

"In a way, even more so. He understood long before I did the incomparable potential you possessed, as well as the unfathomable soul that contained it. And he loves the demesnes powers as much as he envies them. So he decided to send you something that would bring out all that unimaginable power. He will do it in the next few days."

Miron was silent for a moment, not knowing what to think before resuming.

"I see. It's always useful to know, I suppose. And in your case, you went to the trouble of coming in person to tell me because...?"

"So you finally want to know? Have I succeeded in making a mark on you in some way by arousing your interest in my purposes?"

"I am delighted to make you so happy. So the reason, will I finally hear it? I am interested!" He added falsely serious and kindly.

The giant mage frowned and then smiled slyly.

"What will I gain by telling you? Because you really want to know, don't you?

Miron considered his enemy for a moment, if he could really consider him so, then jumped off Sheno's back, and walked quietly, proudly towards the familiar stranger. And the latter, in deference, did the same.

They stopped when they were at less than two meters of distance.

"Tell me because you too, despite the ineffable darkness of which you are made, were able to love me."

"Yes. And I will continue to do so. So as for the truth, I came to tell you in person because you had let me accomplish again what I wished to do the most and at every moment of my whole existence. Come back to him."

When Udariv finally revealed the one thing he wanted to know about him, Miron began to glow.

"Now that everything is said, I will once again make sure to get you to leave, for it is obvious that if I am not even able to do that, I will never be able to defeat this unknown thing that your revered master has decided to send me to satisfy his mind."

And then Miron took a majestic fighting stance.

"En garde..."

"Udariv. My name is Udariv. Which means immortal faithful."

"The name suits you well," Miron admitted with amusement but using his magical voice.

"Mine is Miron."

"A name that means nothing," the General mage guessed at once. "Nothing could be more perfect for you."

And then he turned to fire.

Their first shot cracked the ground through and through. Followed by magical shots and phenomenal barrier collisions that destroyed all around them. Fortunately, they had both thought to install an inviolable barrier that prevented their devastating exchanges from spreading over the entire park, and especially to be able to confront each other in peace.