Resolve

A lone small shadow stood on the edge of a forest as if outcasted by it. It calmly watched as the slow black impeding waves washed against the shore, creeping closer towards the forest. It was only a short while until the stagnant shadow was submerged entirely.

Unfazed, Machia looked far off into the distance at the shadow's location. Once again, he sat comfortably atop a cliff, each day nearing his destination. The huge drop below him hardly warranted his attention, but there was a hint of nervousness that outlined his figure.

"It won't be too long now, Circe."

"So, what do you intend to do when we arrive."

Turning to face the voice behind him, he paid it his full undivided attention. A severe, tense expression was revealed to Circe, one she had never seen.

"Whatever it takes."

Circe stood close behind him and smiled wryly at his response.

"I know that. What I want to know is your plan here. Your power is immense, and because of you, I've started to feel a genuine possibility of us surviving this thing.

"Us?"

"I know I haven't done that much to aid you yet. I was simply referring to the kingdom as a whole. So many have died fending off these, fiends. I was convinced fleeing was my only option before."

Machia looked at her ominously as his listless, radiant eyes stared into hers.

"Circe, what are you getting at? Really, I mean it. I would much prefer you just speak your mind."

Circe looked down uncomfortably before returning her gaze with a strict, determined resolve.

"You're being slowly exhausted. Magic is unreliable, and we don't know how long it will be before Perses can help lighten the burden. It could be years were talking if you could just man up and request her help".

As if to reflect the intensity and volume of Circe's words, a thundering of mass could be heard. Circe's face paled. Spinning around and raising her arms to fend off the attacker, Circe could only watch helplessly as a large black creature leapt out from the forest's undergrowth.

Lunging towards her with a fierce, intelligent howl, a giant wide maw opened up to reveal hundreds of teeth inside the beast's triangular pointed mouth. Staring at her with thick, pale, soulless eyes, the beast clenched its teeth.

"Seems like you were a little too loud witch."

Before Circe was torn apart, two thin vines of black pried the mouth open, allowing her to see deep within the creature's body as it was apprehended. She was forced to watch as the beast whimpered intensely, thrashing as its maw was slowly opened further and further by the two thin tendrils. Only a high-pitched squeal could be heard before a cluster of thin black shapes entered the beast's body.

The beast could no longer create any sound, only watching in horror as its jaw opened wider and was filled with an inky black mass. Eventually, its jaw snapped open unnaturally as if broken off its hinges. Its body followed suit as it was ripped in half slowly from its head.

Already in shock, Circe was soon covered head to toe in thick black blood that endlessly rained down on her. The unrecognisable silhouette of the beast fell beside her in two disfigured parts.

Machia watched with an agitated expression from nearby. Completely overwhelmed, Circe turned to look at him, dripping with the beast's disgusting remains. Fear coated her youthful, short figure as she resisted the urge to yell.

"Circe, I don't need her help, don't you understand?"

With that, Machia turned back towards the cliff he sat on, his eyes hollow, yet driven.

##################

Despite the audacious gleam of his smile, Mars failed to hide a hazy concern seeping out from his eyes. Shaking his head as if to dispel these feelings, he approached Perses slowly. Rather than lash out and exploit his speed, Mars took a cautious course. With a tense gaze, he captured Perses.

Lugh looked up in surprise. Switching his focus from his drink, he stared at Mars with thick anticipation. Feeling out of his depth, Perses could only watch as Mars approached. The uncertainty that clawed at him bore down on his mind.

'He knows I'm a novice, so he wants to provoke me into attacking first. What happened to that nice kid from the other day?'

Perses watched him quizzically, confident in his assumption. When it came to mundane everyday things like reading people, Perses was already an expert. He considered this his greatest strength, and soon, he'd be better with the sword than anyone, but that had yet to occur.

As if to concede this detail, Mars continued towards him. However, with only a small space now between them, Perse's nerves had become unreliable.

'If I let him get any closer, it's gonna be really awkward.'

Mars stared at him with a balanced intensity, unyielding since the start. Perses couldn't help but relieve himself from the intense gaze for just a moment. Noticing this, Mars, with just one short motion, stamped the ground.

In a panic, Perses swung his sword at Mars with ample technique despite his startled state. The strength of the swing was even greater and let out an audible whistle that rang out across the courtyard, much to the amazement of the gathered crowd that received the repercussions of the blow.

Rather than share in their shock, Mars casually slipped under the wooden blade gently. Splitting his legs at what looked like a painful angle, Mars flexibly ducked the blow. Instantly clutching the sword to his chest, he used both arms to propel the blade away from his body.

One hand pushed the base of the handle whilst the other held it like normal. In one fierce motion, the tip of the sword dove towards Perse's chest with immense speed.

Shocked, Perses could only attempt to block the tip with his bare hands.

"Crack"

With baited breaths, the audience could only watch, unable to match the pace of the two fighters. That was why it was surprising that the audience gasped unanimously at the result.

What they saw was Perse's bare hand separating himself and the blade. The tip of the wooden sword crumbled to the sandy ground as cracks etched themselves into the blade's remains.

With a fiercely downtrodden expression, Mars looked at his blade with conflicted feelings. Some distance away, Lugh had lost interest and returned to drinking with a deeply morose face for whatever reason. Perses reluctantly basked in the sensation of victory and decided to face the devil girl to show his appreciation, turning his back to Mars as if it were only natural.

'I didn't realise before, but it isn't just strength; my reactions are superhuman. That wasn't even hard. I guess it's all thanks to her.'

For the first time, Perses shared a grin of his own with the girl. He felt powerful. The girl, however, didn't return the favour. Instead, she watched something behind him with an air of concern and uncharacteristic silence.

A little peeved, Perses turned back to follow her gaze. Mars hadn't moved in the slightest. His face, however, was now drowned by a layer of tears. Though they had ceased pouring a moment ago, his face was still wet with emotion despite his contradictorily stoic expression.

A few of the rowdiest members of the audience let out jeers of mockery. What was most confusing was that Lugh had now stood up with a rejuvenated spirit, which he used to yell out.

"Don't be such a sore loser son."

What appeared to be heckling from his own father's mouth caused Mars to move, waking him from his stupor. Wiping his face, any traces of tears were erased. Locking his eyes back onto Perses, rather than say something like usual, he selected a battle posture and pointed his busted blade at Perses in silence. With a shallow look of hatred, he waited.

Perses, taken aback by Mars's strange reaction, started to feel bad.

'So I didn't win yet, I didn't realise winning was so important to him. Maybe its because I'm a novice, but after that last interaction he must see that I'm at least pretty decent.'

Feeling sympathy for Mars, he spoke up. "Hey, look, I'm stronger, have better reactions, and learn quick... To be honest, I don't really get it either, but it's not your fault, ok? You can just give up, it's alright."

Mars accepted his arrogant yet honest words with a solemn nod. He responded by raising and then dramatically lowering his sword at Perses in provocation. Perses tilted his head. He was unfamiliar with what currently drove Mars's desire to keep fighting.

'What could he possibly have to gain? Hmm, I only came here because I thought Lugh might know something interesting. Even with the devil at this range, that was far too easy.'

Thinking back to the fight with the beast the day before, Perses could feel a little hatred towards it, but not to the extent that he would seek out another fight. The sentiment was just lost on him.

Shrugging, Perses lifted his sword once more.

'Well, while I'm at it, I guess I might as well become an expert.'