The Beast Within

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

A week passed by in such a manner, a strange sort of tranquility in the pattern they had begun to create for themselves.

They preferred to meet at the rocky slope, Ceraun and Adrik continuing their usual tradition of going to collect water together.

But instead, Haneul met them at the top of the rocky slope where they would in turn race down to the river bank.

As usual Haneul won the races, Adrik coming up right behind him but Ceraun also had his little victories to keep close everyday.

Each day the distance between them drew shorter and shorter, he could almost always keep them in his sights now even if that meant he would not be able to do anything with his exhausted limbs for several moments after they got to the river bank.

The faint taste of impending victory was enough to keep him going.

Adrik had pointed out all the flaws in his reasoning, that Haneul was simply being nice seeing as Ceraun could barely keep up but the Wind Magic User would definitely try harder if he noted that Ceraun was coming close to surpassing him.

It was simple deductive reasoning.

So there was the highest chance that Ceraun would never be able to surpass them, not in time before enlistments as he had sworn to do.

It was less than a week more to that and Adrik had to admit, he rather liked seeing Feyrer lose for at least once.

"Why don't we try to spar?' Adrik suggested after their first break of the day, sipping from their leather flasks as they caught their breaths and rested against boulders.

Ceraun was shocked at this, Adrik had never mentioned it and he had chosen to keep quiet about it knowing how dangerous his magic could be when used on the offense or in a sparse.

He had not expected Adrik to bring it up at all, much less now that they had an addition to the group or perhaps he intended to only spar with Haneul.

"You are thinking so loud that I can practically hear you, listen for a bit more, won't you, Feyrer?" He nodded his head at the other in a scolding manner. "Before you go jumping into conclusions. "

Haneul just watched on quietly, curious at how things were all going to turn out in the end.

"Well then, get on with whatever you have to say." Ceraun prompted impatiently, miffed. "Perhaps I would not have been taken off guard if you had given some kind of warning or preparation beforehand." He fired back.

"Why does it matter if I said it beforehand or not?" Adrik made a face. "Besides, it is much better as a surprise, I did not plan for this either." He added, taking another small drink from his water flask. "If it is any consolation, I am just as ignorant of this as you both are." He admitted.

"What?" Ceraun spluttered, sharing a bewildered glance with Haneul

"That makes no sense." Haneul mumbled bluntly.

Adrik shrugged away their disbelief, looking away from their bewildered and questioning gazes. "I just thought of it right now and it seemed like a particularly great idea. " he continued with importance.

"There will be no usage of magic though." He said with all the authority of a high-ranking official, giving them both suspicious looks. "I can not imagine how disastrous that would be."

"Wait, what?" Ceraun cut in, disbelief clearly written on his features as Adrik's words sank in. "We can not use magic?" He demanded indignantly.

"Precisely what you heard me say, moronic Feyrer." Adrik waved him away. "I however will be the only exception as my magic is neither harmful or endangering. " he self crowned himself smugly.

Words of protest were already forming on Ceraun's lips even before he could blink. "That is highly unfair, Adrik…"

"Then make your own activity, Feyrer." Adrik taunted mockingly, getting to his feet.

"We do not have to start a fight to herald planning for a spar, it's ridiculous." Haneul tried to pacify them.

Ceraun was no longer listening, getting to his feet as well in a short burst. "Fine! I will spar with you but I will come at you alone." He accepted dramatically.

Adrik snorted at this. "What are you? Suicidal?" He demanded glaring at him. "The situation with both of your magic being inherently lethal and my not being that is that, it could be a simple two against one person battle…"

"You think you can take on Haneul and I, two against one?" Ceraun demanded unhappily still miffed about the entire matter.

"Without using magic, it might be a bit of a hassle but I should do just fine with my magic backing me up on this one." He said easily.

Haneul just watched their back and forth, it was almost like the enjoyed their bantering.

All he wanted was a little bit of sparring, so much talk shouldn't be involved.

Finally, they made a move to start off the spar, considering how often they broke down hard rocks only to leave behind rumbles and piles of the jagged remains, it was not so difficult to find a flat, open ground.

Most likely a benefit of the area being located so close to a water body.

He and Ceraun were on similar sides of the battle but Haneul almost felt like perhaps he was not needed.

Ceraun was at his dramatic best, long hair tied up from his face to help him see better.

His tunic had been taken off, for no reason other than Ceraun wanted to come off as intimidating.

Adrik on the other hand didn't even seem bothered, always unruffled and collected as usual, this should be an indeed fun fight.

Haneul was quick to backtrack on that thought at the savage light in their eyes, anyone walking in on the mock spar would not believe that they were both friends, not when Ceraun looked like he would like to stake Adrik's head on a stake and Adrik looking just the same.