Chapter Text
“Ingressus!”
Ingressus stopped in his tracks and whirled around to the familiar voice that called to him with such intensity that it made his hair stand on end, the echo bouncing off the surrounding mountains. He reached for his sword on his back, the flames igniting the blade, ready for the challenge. He scanned his environment for the Nestoris fisher.
He had gone uninterrupted for days, but he had not been fruitful with his time and was already frustrated by his lack of success. The last thing he needed was the sound of Achillean in the distance, distracting him further.
The Tidesinger stood poised and ready to strike, despite being a considerable distance away from him. Ingressus allowed himself a small smile at the sight of Achillean. He knew he wouldn’t see it.
“You took your time!” he responded, standing up straight and trying to maintain the same intensity.
“Indeed, I have, Ingressus! Just for you!”
Ingressus chuckled as Achillean slowly walked towards him, the vibrancy of his Nestoris colours making him nauseous. He had a love-hate relationship with the colour yellow.
He thought for a moment as Achillean continued making headway, seemingly unphased – what would it take to eliminate him right here, right now?
“Turn away, now, Achillean! I do not need you interfering with my plans!”
Achillean had spent days chasing Ingressus down and to find him alone was more of a worry than finding him at all, but he was not willing to let him go again. Not this time.
Both Ardoni gripped their weapons and Achillean was the first to charge, determined to stop Ingressus and put a stop to their nightmare. Ingressus charged back in retaliation, determined not to let Achillean stop him from achieving his goal.
Just like old times, the pair fought back and forth, each countering the other’s attack, jumping around each other, their blades clanging with every hit, both of them tanking every punch and every kick with grunts as they bounced off rocks and rolled on the ground. They appeared evenly matched.
Ingressus, however, had one advantage over the Tidesinger – a clear motive. He may have always been the superior fighter for having twice the experience, but Achillean’s mind was clouded for he was unsure of his own intentions against the Deathsinger and engaged without a proper plan. He knew what the other clans wanted, but it certainly wasn’t what he wanted, yet he could think of no other way.
In all his thoughts as he fatigued against the Deathsinger, Achillean stumbled and tripped over his own footing, opening himself to a kick in the side from Ingressus’ foot, causing his staff to come flying out of his hands as he fell backwards onto the ground.
Not too far from the two opposing Ardoni, another warrior of familiar markings had spotted the duel and noticed as the Tidesinger stumbled under the pressure of the Deathsinger. Without a second thought, he turned and bolted towards them as fast as his horse would carry him.
The Deathsinger walked towards Achillean as he propped himself up on his elbows, his sword pointing at his chest. He looked at the Nestoris fighter panting and he chuckled.
“You never learn, do you?” he said. Then he narrowed his eyes. “You are the last thing I need, right now, Achillean…” Ingressus inched closer until his sword made contact with Achillean’s chest and he pushed it against his body.
The other Ardoni had made significant ground towards the Deathsinger and the Tidesinger, but he knew that despite his best efforts, he wasn’t going to make it completely unaided. Without stopping, he leaped off his horse and continued on-foot, reaching for his sword on his back and his blue markings lighting up bright as he dug deep to charge his Mobillium Song.
Achillean didn’t say anything. There was nothing for him to say as Ingressus stood frozen, eyeing the tip of his blade touching Achillean’s chest, and then looking Achillean directly in his eyes. There was no fear in them. Similarly, Achillean saw no malice in Ingressus’ eyes. They both knew one was not stronger than the other – there was always a reason to hold back.
But Ingressus blinked away and his markings illuminated with the aura of his Aggressium Song charging. Achillean would be lying if he said he didn’t somewhat fear Ingressus, but after everything they’d been through, he had hoped of so much more from the Voltaris leader.
As he closed his eyes in preparation for Ingressus’ Shotgun Song, a thundering echo sounded and, before they had time to establish where the sound had come from, a Sendaris Ardoni had thrust himself into the Deathsinger and knocked him completely off his feet and he landed in a heap on some rocks, the Shotgun Song blasting just past Achillean.
“Thalleous?” Achillean prompted as the Sendaris warrior turned to face him, catching his breath with Timber only a few feet away, having caught up.
Thalleous holstered his sword and extended his arm to Achillean to help him to his feet. He didn’t say anything as he brushed past to retrieve the Tidesinger’s staff from the floor.
As Achillean brushed himself down, he held his hand to his chest where the Deathsinger had his sword only moments ago, feeling the small wound left behind and he sighed. Close call… He didn’t think it would ever come that close…
He looked up as Thalleous also placed his hand on his chest and pushed him into the cliffside with purpose, his face unamused by what had just transpired. He stared intensely at Achillean. He felt his back hit the cliff hard and he grunted against the Sendaris champion’s weight as he still leant into him.
“What was that!? You could have gotten yourself killed!”
Achillean was breathless trying to work out why Thalleous had him pinned against the wall. There was no way he was willing to fight him to escape, but he could see that Thalleous wasn’t going to let him go, unanswered. He was without an answer – at least, not an answer that Thalleous would be happy with.
“I have spent days chasing Ingressus, Thalleous, and today I found him. What else was I supposed to do?” His response had a bit more ground in his head, but as it escaped his lips, his voice couldn’t project it as much as he’d hoped. Instead, it came out as a meek tremble. Thalleous was far more intimidating this up close.
“Never engage in a battle without a clear head.” Thalleous leaned closer into the Tidesinger, still pushing his weight against him, holding him against the rocks.
Achillean challengingly leant back into Thalleous’ face, matching his gaze, their breath crossing each other and heating the air between their faces as they stood a hair’s breadth from one another. Achillean was trying to show him that he wasn’t intimidated and maintained a straight face, but Thalleous had noticed the Tidesinger’s body shaking lightly with uncertainty.
“What are you even doing here, Thalleous?” Achillean said, trying to stop himself from shouting back at the Sendaris champion.
Thalleous pressed harder against Achillean’s chest, pushing him back against the wall to shake his composure and testing his patience, but he found himself gripping the Tidesinger’s hand underneath his own as he felt the Nestoris’ heartbeat pounding hard and pounding fast. He couldn’t tell if that was nervousness or anticipation. He clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth trying to find the words he wanted to say – only the words that he wanted Achillean to hear. He couldn’t tell him why he was really there.
Eventually, he bailed.
“Does it matter? Just count yourself lucky…” He had started with a growl, but his voice trailed off as he stood up straight and released the Tidesinger, slowly letting go of his hand and watching as it fell to his side. He knew he needed to regain his assertiveness if he was to avoid suspicion.
He handed Achillean back his staff and turned to look at where the Deathsinger had landed when he countered him.
Gone. No sign of him anywhere.