Adelasta felt the weight lift from her arm as Vastarael gently touched the sapphire cast encasing it. The crystal shimmered faintly before dissolving into fine blue dust that scattered into the air. Despite the aching in her body, her orange eyes were drawn to him as he leaned closer, focusing on her broken arm with utmost care.
His curly white hair fell lightly over his forehead, streaked with traces of ash and soot. The flickering remnants of light from the burning city illuminated his bronze skin. His golden eyes were difficult to ignore. Adelasta watched as he worked. His fingers hovered above her arm. The bones in her arm began to knit together. The sensation was more uncomfortable than painful but her focus wasn't on the process. His clothes were singed and torn in multiple places. Soot clung to the curve of his neck and jawline, only enhancing his rugged, battle-worn appearance.
Yet, somehow, even in his disheveled state, he looked impossibly perfect.
A gentle smile graced his lips as he finished with her arm. He checked her wrist with careful precision. His touch was steady. The cold, emotionless mask she always wore felt uncomfortably fragile in that moment.
"You're healing well but you'll need to rest for a while. Your body's been through a lot."
Adelasta didn't respond immediately. For once, her mind wasn't calculating or sharp. It was overwhelmed by the unexpected wave of emotion she felt. Her eyes lingered on him longer than she intended and a faint heat crept up her face. She turned her gaze away, masking the unfamiliar sensation as irritation.
"You look ridiculous."
Vastarael looked surprised by the comment before laughing softly.
"If I look ridiculous, then you should see how you look."
For a fleeting moment, a part of her wanted to smile but she suppressed it, returning to her stoic mask as her eyes closed again. Yet deep down, she knew. That sight of his disheveled beauty amidst the destruction was something she wouldn't easily forget. Vastarael's Boon was active.
"Want some water?"
"..."
Vastarael summoned sapphire essence from his hands before a sphere of water began to materialize above his palm. On his other hand, a crystal glass materialized and he easily levitated the water onto it.
"Mmm. Seems that I've gotten better in making sapphire shapes."
"Sa... pphire?"
"It's what I call my crystal. It's durable but not strong enough, according to my father."
Adelasta took a few sips of the water before gulping it down. Vastarael was already creating more water. The second she finished, he levitated the water onto the glass again. He did this eight more times before Adelasta was fully sated. He didn't need a glass. He easily levitated the water to his lips a few times before he was satisfied. Adelasta looked at the sapphire glass she was holding and tried to break it with her uninjured hand. To her shock, the crystal was so strong that she didn't even dent it, even though she used all her strength and essence onto it.
"Can I... ask you something?"
"Mmm?"
"If you can create this crystal, you could have had an easier way of deflecting my attacks in training."
"..."
"And with the runes and the circles, I'm sure you would have defeated me. So why don't you use these in our duels?"
Vastarael leaned back slightly, resting his hands on his knees. He didn't answer immediately. A small smile appeared on his lips as he finally looked back at her.
"Because our duels aren't about winning for me. They're about growing and learning from you. You're my equal, Adelasta. How could I truly learn from you if I relied on powers you don't use? That wouldn't be a duel. It would just be me hiding behind my abilities. And... I respect you too much for that."
For a moment, the world around her seemed to fade. His expression was so genuine and gentle that it completely shattered the cold wall she had built around herself.
"I lose to you because I want to. There's something beautiful about how you fight. Your focus, your strength, your precision, every loss is a lesson and every lesson makes me stronger. You're helping me in ways you don't even realize."
"You…"
She didn't know what to say. Vastarael added, leaning back with a small laugh.
"And besides, if I used all my Tethers, I'd just win too easily. And where's the fun in that? I'm very cheeky in combat you know. I'd win to you without considering chivalry but I don't want to."
"..."
"I want to win against you using your weapon mastery alone. And when I finally win, our duels will end. Only then will I realize just how to move forward with my weapon training."
That final comment made her glance back at him. Her cold demeanor had cracked and for once, she didn't try to rebuild it. Her hand unconsciously pressed against her chest, as if trying to steady the unfamiliar rhythm of her heart. How can someone be so… sincere?
"Rest now, Adelasta. I'll protect you when you sleep. Fortunately, those monsters haven't found us and it's late evening. You've been unconscious for hours so we have time. Okay?"
For the first time in her life, Adelasta felt something warm blooming within her and she didn't hate it. Adelasta stared at the sapphire glass. Her fingers traced its smooth, tough surface. Vastarael's words replayed in her mind, each syllable resonating more deeply than she expected. The duels, those endless sparring matches, the relentless exchange of blows, the thrill of pushing each other to the brink had become a cornerstone of her life.
If he wins, they'll never duel again.
The idea unsettled her more than she wanted to admit. Her fingers tightened against the sapphire as an unfamiliar feeling surged within her. She never considered what life would be like without their battles.
Adelasta closed her eyes, trying to suppress the growing ache in her chest. She had always prided herself on her composure and ability to remain unaffected. But now, cracks were forming in that icy exterior and she didn't know how to stop them.
'Why does it matter so much? It's just a duel. It's just a victory.'
But she knew that wasn't true.
The duels had become more than that. They were a language they shared, forged through countless hours of combat and mutual respect. And for the first time, she realized how much she would miss it. She didn't want to lose this. She didn't want to lose him.
But how could she admit it?
As Vastarael finished his preparations, he glanced back at her.
"Try to rest, Adelasta. Tomorrow, I'll get us out of this mess. That is... if my plan works. None of us are strong enough to fight that enemy."
She nodded faintly, her usual stoicism returning to her features. But inside, her thoughts swirled in chaos.
'If he wins... what happens to us? What happens to me?'
For the first time, Adelasta wasn't sure she wanted him to win.
°°°°°°°
Vastarael sighed in relief when he saw Adelasta asleep.
"Seriously, she's too resilient. Thanks goodness I placed Sleep Runes too. Let's hope it keeps her asleep for a few hours."
Vastarael's plan was suicidal in his opinion. If it failed, he would die. If it worked, he would be saved. He noticed that the rubble was moving away from him. That's when he remembered Opera's words.
"The city will fix itself by morning..."
And she meant that. Literally.
Every few minutes, the spire they were on began to straighten. It wouldn't be long before the entire spire would stand erect and rebuild itself. And to prevent them from finding them, he drew a few Concealment runes on top of Adelasta. He wasn't sure why the enemy couldn't sense them but he would be glad if he didn't. He straightened his white cloak and mask covered in soot and sighed.
"It's time to put what I learned to practice."
He gently walked out of the almost horizontal spire. The ruins of Rise seemed to stretch endlessly before him.