Eddie lunged at Will, driving his spear toward him with deadly force. Caught off guard, Will barely had time to react—he raised his short sword in haste, blocking the spear's ferocious thrust.
"Eddie! Eddie! It's me—Will! Eddie!" Will cried out, his voice loud and desperate as he parried the assault. He prayed that the sound of his voice might pierce through the darkness that had consumed Eddie. But there was no sign of recognition in Eddie's eyes. He pulled back his spear and struck again with merciless precision.
Without hesitation, Will dropped to a crouch and rolled beneath the spear's arc, swiftly positioning himself behind Eddie. He looped his arm around Eddie's neck, trying to restrain him.
"Eddie, wake up! Please—come back to yourself!" Will shouted in his ear, his voice trembling with hope and despair.
Yet Eddie remained unmoved. He released the spear from his hands, reached behind him, and gripped Will's tunic. Then, with brutal efficiency, he bent low and flung Will over his shoulder.
"Agh!" Will cried out in agony as he hit the ground with a sickening thud. The earlier skirmish had already drained him of strength, and now, bruised and battered, he struggled even to rise.
Eddie picked up his spear again and strode toward Will, gripping the weapon with both hands. He raised it high, then thrust it down toward Will's head. Lying on the floor, too weak to move, Will shut his eyes—ready to greet death.
"Run... run, Wi—ll..." Just as the spear was about to pierce him, it froze in mid-air. A faint voice, weak and trembling, reached Will's ears—a voice he knew intimately.
"E... Eddie?" Will's eyes flew open. Eddie stood over him, motionless, the spear still in his grasp. His body was trembling.
Sensing something was amiss, Will rose to his feet despite his pain.
"Will... kill me... please. I can barely... hold on. My body... it's slipping away..." Eddie's voice was strained, his lips barely forming the words.
"No, I won't! I'll save you, Eddie!" Will cried, his eyes blazing with resolve.
"It's... too late. My body... no longer obeys me. Soon, even this fleeting awareness... will vanish." Eddie's form shook uncontrollably, as if the darkness within threatened to consume him entirely.
"There has to be another way!" Will roared, grasping the spear, trying to wrest it from Eddie's grip—desperate to find a sliver of hope.
But just as he did, Eddie began to move again.
"Eddie?" Will's hands released the spear. He called the name cautiously. Eddie looked up—his eyes glowing crimson.
"Eddie... is that you...?" Seeing a reaction, Will let his guard down, hope blooming in his heart. But in the next moment, Eddie's foot lashed out, striking Will hard and hurling him across the room.
"This... this is the power of the dark?" Will muttered in stunned awe. The force of the blow had left him slumped in a heap against the wall, blood dripping from his lips.
Once again consumed by the shadow, Eddie raised his spear and charged toward Will.
Will staggered to his feet, his body broken and weary. He leaned against the wall for support, barely able to stand. Eddie came at him, spear aimed straight for his heart.
The weapon pierced his abdomen, shattering the marble wall behind him. Blood poured from Will's mouth.
"I... I finally got close to you," he murmured with a weak smile, eyes locked on Eddie.
Eddie tried to wrench the spear free—but it wouldn't budge. Will's hands gripped it tightly, refusing to let go.
"Wake up, Eddie!" Will screamed, tears of pain streaming down his face. Then, with the last of his strength, he released one hand and threw a punch with all his might.
A brilliant golden light burst from his fist—a warmth like the rising sun.
His punch landed squarely on Eddie's face, sending him flying across the room. Eddie collapsed, unmoving, as dark smoke began to seep from his head.
"It's... time to wake up..." Will whispered, and then, overcome by blood loss, he passed out.
...
"Your friend has been swallowed by darkness. You must kill him. You can't save him. If you don't strike him down, he'll be the one to kill you. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him!" A voice echoed through the void.
"No!" Will cried, a scream of anguish and terror, as he jolted awake.
"You're awake, Will?" said a voice—Eddie's voice—calm and gentle. He sat beside Will's bed, a book resting in his hand.
"Where... am I?" Will's voice was a whisper, his mind still clouded.
"This is the Church's restoration chamber. You've been unconscious for two days," Eddie replied.
"Eddie...? You're... you're back?" Will stared in disbelief. His last memory was of the brutal battle between them.
"Yes," Eddie nodded with a rueful smile. "You don't pull your punches, huh?" He pointed to the bandaged side of his face—the spot where Will's final blow had struck and, perhaps, saved him.
Just then, the door opened. Two figures entered—Pope Matthew, whom they had met before, and behind him, a towering man clad in golden armor, radiating power.
"Will Gibson, how do you fare?" Pope Matthew asked with solemn gravity.
"I... I think I'll live," Will replied nervously. This was the first time he had ever been so close to the venerable elder.
"Congratulations, Sir Will Gibson. You and Sir Eddie have completed the Rite of Purification. You are now full-fledged Paladins of the Sacred Church," the Pope said warmly.
Will's mind went blank. The victory felt sudden, almost unreal.
"Sir Gibson, Sir Marshall, rest well today. Tomorrow, we shall hold the Investiture Ceremony," the Pope added before exiting with the armored man.
"Yes, Your Holiness," Will and Eddie said in unison.
"Hey, Will, why the long face? You did it—you're a Paladin now!" Eddie said brightly. But he could see it—Will wasn't truly happy. Eddie knew him too well; Will never hid his feelings.
"No, Eddie... I'm happy. Just... tired," Will replied with a faint smile.
"Well, get some rest. Big day tomorrow," Eddie said, then left the chamber.
"Did I... really succeed?" Will whispered to himself, staring at the ceiling.
Did I really succeed? Is this... truly what I wanted?
The questions echoed in his heart, unanswered.