Okay, so now I'm supposed to fight the girl who just wanted to kill me.
Rekill?
What's even the right term?
Anyway, it was about ending my existence as it is right now.
And that one is now basically commanded to take a swing at me.
The fact that Relia is watching us for this doesn't really inspire any confidence that this is going to end without casualties.

I don't really want to hurt her.
Not someone who's younger than me.
Isn't this unfair?
I was occupied with my own stuff and could barely observe how well she did in training before.
I'm older than her, so I should have more general experience.
Also, she got just recently beaten up by Relia and afterwards drained by me.
This hardly seems fair.
The frown on her face tells me that she doesn't really want this as well.

Yet Commander Relia rallies us to attention, before we can further engage with each other.

 

"Before we get started, it's time for a safety measure. I wanted to wait a little bit with this, to prove my trust in you, Yomi, but the situation just now pretty much proved that I shouldn't." (R)

 

What is she saying?
She got a box there, and out of it... an amulet? A stone on a string?

 

"As brittle as they are, preparing this took quite an effort. But hopefully this will work-" (R)

 

Work?
What will work?

She puts it on, and comes closer in a very threatening manner.

 

"Yomi, you now got a very simple task." (R)

"Y-yes?" (Y)

"Drain me." (R)

 

What!?

 

"No staring, just do as I say. You can break up afterwards." (R)

 

Why would she want this?

 

"Get started! That's an order!" (R)

 

I don't understand, but I guess I have no choice.
At least, I know now how to stop if whatever she's planning goes horribly wrong.

I focus on her and concentrate on that feeling of lack I am constantly experiencing.
That need for life I can't have.
That soothing feeling of warmth and energy.

 

"Whooooooooh"

 

My maw opens, eager to devour just the slightest taste of this feeling.
I want it, even though I know it's wrong.
I want it all!

.
.
.

Huh!?
I, I can't!?

I don't get the slightest bit from her.
There's nobody else close by I could direct my need towards.
It's like trying to breathe, but there's no air sucked in, even if nothing obstructs the process.
This is beyond frustrating, it's torture!
I feel like I'm even losing air, because I opened my mouth where there is none!
As if... the magic I'm grasping with was lost.

 

"Hah, given your look, I take it this works. Not particularly fashionable an accessory, but can't complain about the effect." (R)

 

The amulet?
Such a tiny thing can prevent my drain?
That's... quite the big thing.

 

"Ehm, what is this?" (Y)

"You seriously don't know voidstone? Your all-so-great army even uses it as an orc-repellant." (E)

 

Voidstone?
Wait, I’ve heard about it.
It's supposed to be some kind of ore that is known to negate magic.
Like mine...
Hah.

 

"It was quite the request to commission this to be made. Yet I guess the result speaks for itself. Elin, put that on!" (R)

 

She frees her neck of it and holds it towards her.

 

"Oh my, for me? It's not even my birthday." (E)

"Make sure to take it off afterwards. It could be an issue that constant exposure to voidstone is bad for one's personal lifeforce. In particular, as you are trying to build your magic up. But you win some, you lose some. For this duel, it's just what we need." (R)

 

Huh, now that she says it, there could've been this one event when a peddler tried to sell those in Akaras, claiming it would ward off monsters.
Didn't a lot of people get sick back then?

 

"Sure. I won't complain about avoiding another draining. One brush with literal death was enough." (E)

 

I guess that is a good argument for them, as it makes it safer to spar with me.
It should even make it safe to be around me in general, which should put people at ease.
Although, it also means that with those amulets people can rather safely deal with me if they have to.
... Gulp.
Okay, let's focus on something different.

Elin puts the stone amulet on, and we are made to take position in the arena.

 

"So, as you should know, this is a sparring match. No deadly attacks. Though, that goes only for one of you. You, Elin, can go for the throat. Just no heart stabbing, I’m warning you." (R)

 

Heart?
Wait, does that mean she knows?!

 

"Don't look at me like that. Your chest flares up in violet when you use magic. It's hardly a secret. Also, you keep on touching that spot. It's quite the giveaway." (R)

 

Do I?
Well, sorry that I got to witness my heart being torn out from that spot.

Though I doubt that she's going to use that against me.
She'd probably be able to do me in without targeting that place.
The question is whether Elin will do the same.

 

"Alright. Get into position." (R)

 

Elin takes a low stance.
One blade held in my direction, the other behind her back.
Is this how you're supposed to do it?
Well, maybe this child just thinks it looks cool.
Meanwhile, I keep both of my blades in front of my chest.
Acutely aware now that this is my weak spot, and everyone knows this.

 

"Don't start crying, kiddo." (E)

 

Kiddo!?

 

"Begin!" (R)

 

The first slash comes far too fast.
I can barely intercept it with both my blades.
Nowhere even close to as hard as Relia's strikes, but the speed is difficult to adapt to.
Which is why the second blade jabs me in the shoulder when it comes.
I want to get back at her, and swing inside out, but there she has already jumped backwards.

 

"I kinda feel bad about roughing up a little girl like you." (E)

"Excuse me?! You are the girl! I'm already an adult!" (Y)

"Seriously? Do you really believe this? You're smaller than I am! And I'm not on the tall side, you half-portion!" (E)

"Okay! I was about to go easy on you, but that's over now!" (Y)

"Sure you were! Let's see how that's going to turn out for you!" (E)

 

Argh!
She's frustrating me!
Time to get serious!

I strike at her.

 

"Clank"

 

Countless bouts with Relia honed my strikes.
I won't let go of the blade anymore, or get stunned at the sensation of the impact.

Yet, right after she managed to block my attack, there comes already a swing from the side.
I manage not to get hit this time, but have to jerk quite awkwardly into the attack.
There comes already another stab with the left dagger.
I manage to throw myself backwards, but subsequently stumble and fall on the ground.
Yet even that is something I practiced.
Once I hit the ground, I roll further backwards and rush back to my feet, while flailing wildly with my daggers.
Of course, I learned to do this the hard way.
Relia is the kind who keeps hitting you, even if you're already down.
I actually manage to surprise her enough to escape her attempt to finish me, but she recovers quickly and dives in again.

The next strikes are just as fierce.
I thought I'd have an advantage, but there's a certain 'ruthlessness' to her strikes.
Usually, in this kind of match, people would pull their strikes.
I certainly would.
Even though Relia said otherwise, comrades don't fight to injure each other.
This Elin, however, seems pretty intent on stabbing me.
I don't notice in the slightest that she's measuring her strikes, or avoiding striking something that would be vital to others.

It doesn't take long, and her first attack goes through.
She happens to weave around my blade and stab me in the upper arm.
I try to hit back, but feel that the pierced arm isn't as responsive as I'd like it to be.
Meanwhile, my other dagger gets blocked, as she retreats.
What I noticed by now is that she prefers to deliver a hit and then retreat to avoid retaliation.
It's a strange way of playing it safe, coupled with her aggressive way of diving in.

Yet with me, this is more of a disadvantage.
I am already healing by the time she retreated.
And also pretty topped off on energy.

 

"Hey, healing's unfair!" (E)

"Who says so?!" (Y)

 

As if I'd abandon my only advantage.

 

"Tsk, as you say." (E)

 

Oh no, I don't like that look.
Abruptly, my opponent charges forward.
I try to anticipate her attack, but before I'm ready, her left blade comes flying.
I can awkwardly block it with my blades, receiving minor cuts during the process.
Yet there she is already, a dagger rushing straight for my face.

I try to block this as well, and kinda manage to, but suddenly, I feel a grip on my hands.
Then there's a jerking sensation in my hand, and next thing I know is that there's a dagger embedded in my neck.

I panic at this, but this girl forces me still.
While sitting on top of me, she seizes my arms.
Not long after this, I have no weapons left, and she got them all.
Is Relia going to stop this?!

 

"Hey, Elin! Remember what I told you about going too far?" (R)

"Tsk, fine. But I won? Is that clear?!" (E)

"Sure, I think you made that pretty clear. Now get up again. You too, Yomi. You're still alive, right?" (R)

 

Now you're asking?!
That's something you shouldn't confirm after it happened.

 

"Seems fine. Quite positive that you're not complaining, Yomi." (R)

 

I'm only not speaking because my throat got blocked by metal!

 

"Well, then, pull that out there, Yomi, and then you two get ready for round two." (R)

 

That literally spells trouble.

 

"Why the heck do I need to confirm beyond that match that I'm better?!" (E)

"I thought you wanted something decisive? As motivated as you are, I guess you can do four more of these!" (R)

 

Four more!
I've got a fricking weapon stuck in my throat!

 

"See? Yomi concurs as well." (R)

 

What?!
I really should have just buried myself.
Maybe I could ask Elin?
She seems pretty set on bringing me under the earth.