The whiplash was instant. It felt like being hit by a hammer, his head pounding and spinning as he stood up, struggling to keep his balance.
"Well, you look fine."
Blood dripped from his nose as he grabbed a wooden potion bottle and downed it.
"Could be worse."
At that moment, Fin barged in.
"You're not even listen…ing… Hey Zeniph, who is this?"
"This is your student?"
Floke circled Fin, inspecting him. First just looking, then testing.
"He has been training his body, but I don't know how effective that is," commented Zeniph as he threw Fin a potion.
"Drink that. It will help you get your strength back."
Fin stared at the blue liquid inside for a long moment before deciding there wasn't much of an alternative and chugging the mixture.
"Floke, introduce yourself, I'm going to get some sleep."
"Hm? You sure?"
"I meant with words, not a duel. You'll kill him."
"This short woman? Kill me? Ahh, Zeniph. I know you have little faith in me but come on!"
Simply shrugging, he walked out, returning to his shack, and collapsed on the bed. It was still only midday, but he could see the moon through the window.
Outside, he could hear Fin screaming and decided that finishing up his diary entries was a good pastime.
"You traitor. Couldn't you have at least warned me?"
Sighing, he got up, stretching his back and arms. The sin was already setting, with its orange and red rays burning across the horizon like flame.
"You picked the fight. Even I wouldn't do that to someone like her."
Entering the room, Floke sat on Zeniphs bed, playing with the dagger he had given to Fin previously.
"You got beaten up and robbed? Where is the promised silver lining?"
"Anyway, Floke, how did he do?"
"He did pretty well for someone with no experience or training. Held out for a while."
Putting on his vambrace, he continued talking.
"What about his potential? Do you think he will be useful?"
"Sure. He has an affinity for flame runes, so that something. But why are you putting on armour?"
"Oh, well I also wanted to check what your capable of," replied Zeniph as he strapped on his sword. "don't worry, it's just a light spar."
"Ha, you are the one who should be worried. What are the rules? Just first to surrender?"
"Sure, let's do that. Fin, there are bandages and some medicines in the cupboard."
As he was walking out, Fin grabbed him by the shoulder, as spoke into his ear.
"Avenge me, will you?"
Zeniph just nodded before continuing into the clearing.
"So… just start now?"
"Yup, but mak…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Floke's fist was inches from his face.
He leaned back, swinging his foot, missing Floke's torso by a hair. She barely touched the ground before rebounding straight at him again.
Taking up a stance, he blocked her overhead kick with his arm and drew his sword with his other, swinging it at her neck.
The arcing blade went straight through, but it was just an afterimage. He felt the ground give as he stepped forward into a second stance, his boot sinking into what felt like quicksand.
Around him, an array had already been formed, purple characters pulsing as they hovered.
"Underestimating me much, no?"
Aura enveloping his blade, Zeniph severed the array before it exploded, stopping the quicksand. But his feet were already shin deep in the ground.
"Nah, not by much," replied Floke, as light faded around them.
"Oh, I remember this one!"
Zeniph stabbed the ground, sinking his blade deep before letting go of the mana. The explosion sent debris everywhere, freeing his legs.
Just as he did, Floke's cast finished, forming a humanoid golem of stone and mud.
She stood silently behind it, staring at Zeniph, daring him to continue.
Enhancing his body with aura, he pointed his sword at her, returning the challenge. The scene held for a long second before they both lunged at each other, their blurs barely visible to the human eye.
Zeniph swung hard, but the golem blocked the strike with his arms, the ground cracking from the pressure beneath its feet. With its arms busy, Zeniph kicked it in its torso, his heel sinking deep into the body.
Then, he flipped his sword round to his side, holding it by the flat of the blade, just in time to stop Floke's punch.
It sent him skidding back, and before he even stopped, she was behind him again.
He twisted round, grabbing her fist with his hand, and threw her at the golem, sending them both flying against a wall.
His entire arm went numb from shoulder to his fingers; the nerves burnt from the shock of her strike.
Landing against the wall on her feet, she leapt back at him, drawing the dagger as she did. It burst into flames, growing into a sword just as it neared him.
He lunged to the side, the flame burning the tips of his hair as it passed where his head was a fraction of a second ago.
But before Floke could land, Zeniph grabbed her leg, swinging her over his head before slamming her into the ground.
"Bitch."
"You deserved it."
On his glove, there was a fading rune. He clasped his hand shut, shattering it. But the felling didn't return, his arm still numb.
"So, do you want to continue?"
"Well, I would, but I think this body will fall apart before you do, so nah. Have you got any more potions?"
Zeniph motioned toward the storehouse, and Floke limped away toward it.
Zeniph gazed at the setting sin, its beauty mesmerising him. As he sat on a boulder, he wondered if it was the right thing to do, setting Floke free. It wasn't a taboo, but it wasn't right to set a past enemy free, was it?
There wasn't a guidebook for this, and the confused feeling was uncomfortable for him.
But before he could get much deeper into his thoughts, Fin came over, handing him a steaming mug of homemade tea.
"Thanks for avenging me. So, what now?"
"We set out tomorrow for the south," replied Zeniph, getting up. "The journey to the holy empire from here will be about half a year, so the earlier we go the better."
"Well, I guess. Can I say goodbye to my father?"
Silence hung in the air for an uncomfortable moment before Zeniph spoke again.
"Sure."
"You thought my parents were dead, didn't you?"
"I assumed, yes"
"You fuck."
"It was a logical assumption."
Fin sighted as he turned to go back inside.
"Well, there alive, and they live in a village to the west of here. So I'll meet you at the crossroads to the south road tomorrow noon."
"Good luck. Don't die on your way home."
"Wasn't planning to. Well, see you later."
They shook hands before Zeniph returned to the shack, sitting down again to finish his records.