The town was picturesque. Copper-colored streets of cobble curved between buildings of pale sandstone and red roofs. Doors exited onto the path, leading denizens straight to the heart of the town. Kiara could imagine living here and waking for school. She would come out the front door and immediately see her neighbor doing the same. Maybe they would wave at each other and walk together. Maybe their paths would split, one in route to education while the other headed to the market. She couldn’t tell how big the town was, but it felt hard to get lost. She could easily guess why someone would want to live here. There was a palpable peace, and it was so easily broken by the corpses that lay in front of her.

She gulped, and Danson sighed. “I wanted to tell you before! But then those guys came out of nowhere. We helped you but you don’t have to feel obligated to stick with us. If you do though, we’ll be seeing a friend of mine soon. He might be able to tell you how to get home.”

Keigo pulled out their victims' pockets, going through wallets as he dragged them off the road. "They aren't with a guild. We're probably the biggest bounties they ever went for."

Danson sighed again. “It’s always the arrogant ones, isn’t it?”

“Probably thought we’d be weak after the Skirmish.” Keigo shrugged. “I’m more concerned that they found us so quickly. It might be time to go, right? Who knows who else is on the way.” The elf looked at Kiara. She didn’t need the reflection in his eyes to know the look on her face. It lived inside her, recoiling away from the horror. It brought her friends to mind, and the sight of them doing the same.

“How was that so easy for you two?” She found herself saying.

“Keigo was trained to be an assassin since he was small, and my parents were the guardians of my settlement. We were both taught that if people threaten your life, you should show the threat could go either way.” He replied. “It helps that this isn’t the first time that either of us had to kill, too.” He gave her a humorless smile and her heart sunk in understanding. She was ready to kill Feline after all, so who was she to judge.

She lowered her head, and Danson sighed for the third time. “I won’t blame you if you don’t want to stay with us, but it is possible my friend can help. It’s hard to imagine you’re from another world, but he’ll wrap his head around it with ease.” His sincerity made her heart swell a bit, and she swallowed her horror and decided. She would trust the two, as long as she had no reason otherwise.

Kiara was given a moment as they prepared to depart. Danson had just gotten back with her clothes, looking as good as new thanks to something called Spell Silk. Keigo seemed sour that he had to turn it over, but explained that her clothes should be fine for now. The spell silk would repair them after all, closing tears as if they were wounds. When she finished a shower and returned, she looked at the two again. Keigo had a brown satchel now, hanging from a strap crossed over his body. Danson hadn't changed. The elf stood in a pale blue shirt, trimmed with bits of white. Beige slacks seemed no heavier, despite the emptiness of the room. The two didn't say much in response. The action did the talking as they slipped out the building, and through the alley beside it. She followed close and quiet behind, bidding farewell to the picturesque town. Birds chirping. Murmurs of conversation. Laughter in the distance. All were tossed behind as the boys led on. They moved fast like the way was paved, navigating the tight spaces without a moment’s doubt. They moved through yards; and the shadows of buildings, easing closer to the edge of town. A forest swallowed them as they crossed the border, and they laughed as the town disappeared behind the trees.

She watched their backs as their pace slowed down, truly trying to know these boys. They weren't much older than her. At a glance, Keigo looked fifteen or sixteen, and Danson at least a year older. The two could mix well with her friends but definitely couldn't replace them. The weather here was the same as Yravell; an early summer breeze rolling through the leaves. The boys were dressed for the heat, and Kiara could see their arms. What was it that Shin said? That he was no slouch? In comparison to these two, he could be. Their arms were forged from constant use—toned with muscles ready to act. Kiara saw a performance before her; strides smoothly masking the willingness to strike. Her friends were normal students like her, but these two were something animal. She was following the tails of beasts, so confidently wild, that when they suddenly stopped, she felt the danger.

Something was different about the air. It was like the forest was holding its breath, waiting to see what happened.

“We’re being hunted, aren’t we…” Keigo shoved a hand into his bag.

Danson laughed, "Yeah. And it took me too long to notice… So that's what it feels like on the other side of this."

Keigo cocked an eyebrow. “You know who’s on us?”

“I have a good guess.” The elf looked around. “How about we just do this on the road, it’ll make the outcome a lot quicker!” He spoke to the brush. An agreement seemed to be made.

The boys led her out of the forest to the dirt road snaking its way to Copperstone. As they emerged, so did another figure in the corner of her eye. Short blond hair draped down their head, briefly parted by short pointed ears. A white tunic covered their body—its collar pointing down with a sharp gold-V. A green belt buckled a long sword behind their left shoulder, matching the sash around their waist. White pants closed them off, giving off the feeling of a uniform.

“An Enforcer was hunting us? Where do you learn something like that chasing petty thieves through town?”

“Not in a town, right, Rien?” Danson smirked.

“Rien? He must have been at the Skirmish then! How in stolen stars did he catch up to us that fast.”

“I don’t think he was at the Skirmish.”

“I wasn’t.” The stranger replied with a light voice.

“It’s been too long, hasn’t it?” Danson smiled. It was warm—genuine—the animal in his stride tamed. The elves stood as tall as each other, sharing an average height.

“It has.” The boy smiled. “I always hoped this day would come but I never thought it would.”

Keigo raised his hand. “Who fell asleep and let Rien the Hero cross paths with Danson?”

“Someone confident, maybe.” Danson answered. Kiara wondered if he saw what she saw—a look of uncertainty in Rien’s eyes. “I’m glad it was you, if it was someone else, this would have been a problem.” Danson crossed his arms, and Rien shook his head.

“I’m afraid there’s still a problem.” He reached over his shoulder, pulling the long sword free. “Danson the Diamond, Keigo the Many, as a member of the Enforcers, I—Rien Almatt—have come to arrest you.”

Danson paused for a heavy moment. “What are you saying Rien, there’s no need for that. In fact, how about we go back to our real names?” He spread his arms, but the Enforcer shook his head.

“It’s a duty thing, isn’t it?” Keigo asked. “You probably heard about Danson being around here and thought to yourself, ‘I can’t just go back to my old life. That would betray my new one,’.” Keigo hit the mark; Rien gave a solemn nod.

“You know I just can’t turn myself in, right?” Danson smiled.

“I know. Which is why I’m ready to fight.” Rien replied.

“If we beat you then there won’t be any more of this duty business, right?” Keigo said. “It sucks for you, but I have a really good reason to hate the Almatt name." His daggers were in his hands in a swift motion, and in another, he was on the move.

Keigo met Rien with a quick dance of blades. The right dagger struck out; the left one chasing as the blond stepped back. They both carved down and the elf sidestepped, swinging his sword up. Keigo’s arms shot above his head. Rien thrust, piercing the long sword through Keigo’s chest. Except, his body seemed to melt off it as he dropped low. His daggers rose—fangs stabbing for the stomach. Rien twirled aside, swinging his sword down. Keigo melted away from this too, cutting for his legs. A hop carried the elf away this time. As Keigo rose to pursue, a finger came out.

“Wasp shot!” A thin blade of blue energy shot from it, breaking against Keigo’s guard. Rien landed and charged. Keigo lowered his blades to meet him.

"Keigo it's a trick!" Danson called out and called too late. The blade spun back together behind the assassin’s head.

He leaped to the side just fast enough that it only cut his cheek. Blue light sheathed Rien's sword as he came cutting after. The blood leaped from Keigo's body to the ground. Sucking in a breath, he skipped a few paces back. He touched the wound on his face, speaking to Danson with his eyes kept forward.

“What was that?” His glare was intent, watching Rien for any subtle moves.

“Something that makes fighting a Spellsword dangerous. He’s not a normal swordsman, Keigo.” Danson said with a half-smile, and hearing it in his voice, Keigo gave one back.

“That’s fine. I’m not exactly normal either.” He shrugged. Around his feet, the dust began to stir.

What followed was something Kiara never expected to see in real life. Keigo was there for a blink, and behind Rien for the next. The left dagger flew for the back of his neck; the right cutting for the spine. Rien turned fast enough to block, splitting a mirage as Keigo dropped to his back. Both feet rose like a hammer’s upward swing. They crashed into Rien’s chin, sending him reeling back. Rising to his feet, Keigo drove his shoulder forward, slamming into his chest. As the swordsman gasped, the assassin skipped back, swallowing a shining thing whole.

“I don’t think Danson would want me to kill you.” He said.

Kiara saw for the first time, how his magic worked.

His flesh melted like water from luminescent, green crystal arms, and skin changed to polished marble. Brown eyes turned green as a shining diamond grew from his forehead; his dark top peeling from a chest beset with three glowing gems. Wild black hair glowed a mint light, as short glass antlers grew. They lit up brilliantly, forcing her to shield her eyes. A beam fired from between them, sundering the ground where Rien stood. For his part, he had the good sense to dodge. Keigo raised a hand and another beam of light flew. This time Rien swung his sword, knocking the beam away. He charged Keigo next, holding the blade down at his side.

Dragging it along the ground, he tossed dirt up as he drew near. Keigo traced a fast circle in the air, stopping the spray with a pane of light. It shattered as the longsword cut down. Keigo slipped away, striking his foe with two light bubbles. Rien stepped through them all the same; blade thrusting for the chest. Suddenly, light coiled around his arms, pulling his stab awry. Keigo’s fist went forward, bucking against his face. Another punch came around for his cheek, making him stumble back. Keigo spun together a staff, breaking one end on Rien's shoulder. The other side came around, forcing the elf to a knee as it broke against his calf. Keigo swept a glowing leg up. As it landed, the light shattered against a bracer forming on Rien's right arm. Gray metal forged firmly with pale ridges like a spine and ribs. It was strange enough to make Keigo jump back, allowing Rien to his feet.

“A soul forged bracer? Being Almatt gives you some nice connections, huh?”

“It was a gift, actually. I thought I should bring it out against that Light Smith form.”

“I choose not to take offense that you didn’t bring it out sooner.”

“It’s just a bracer. I didn’t want to give you the impression that it was all I needed to win.”

Despite his words, the battle made a drastic change. Rien tried his charge again, and Keigo kept him back with thrashing whips of light. The Enforcer did his best to block, but still, they lashed and beat at his flesh. His clothes were tattered and his body bloodied. His sword stayed in motion, all the same, diverting the worst of the hits. As this slowed down, his blade’s magic grew denser.

“Guillotine Wave.” A blue crescent sliced through air and whip.

Keigo held out his hand, blocking the spell with several layers of light. The wave broke off the last one, but its shards remained alive. He didn’t need to hear it to know what Rien said. Hornet’s Nest. That was the spell, and he was already trapped within it. Thin blades swarmed around him, scratching his porcelain skin, drawing liquid light. The others hit the ground, sweeping up a cloud of dust. Keigo’s light dimmed and Rien dashed and kicked. Kiara almost raised a hand to help, when a ball of ice hit Rien’s side.

“So, you finally decided to act.” His attention pulled from the assassin to Danson. The tan elf shrugged.

“To be honest, I thought Keigo had this, but then I remembered who he was dealing with. You know, dad would be happy to see how strong you became.”

"And mom would be disappointed if I wasn't doing what I was now." Rien replied, and behind him, a pit opened, burying Keigo up to his neck. The assassin was completely unresponsive in return. Buried, he was shaded by nearby brush. She wondered back to Rien’s kick; he was aiming to throw Keigo into the shadows.

"Aen sif Espet." Danson spoke musical words, and an ice sword filled his hand. Rien wrapped his sword with blue energy again. Kiara considered helping Keigo but froze as Danson slid forward.

He was a figure skater with a sword. Ice stretched out from his feet, etching a trail to carry him forward. He met Rien with a horizontal swing. Frost climbed his longsword, adding weight as the blond pulled away. Ice beneath him made his step uncertain; Danson’s sword danced out again. The frigid saber came cutting too close, barely pushed aside as Rien parried. He opened Danson's guard, going for the chest. The ice mage slid around him, bringing his free hand up.

“Aen sif Sisos.” More musical words brought a frozen hand forward. Hairs froze as his fingers brushed them—Rien diving forward lest more be done.

The longsword cut back as he came down. It missed Danson with flagrant ease, glowing brighter as Rien rose to face him. The frost broke from it as he swung an overhead. Guillotine Wave ripped forward with his words, missing as Danson dodged with urgency. Rien held out a hand and Danson swept his up.

“Mantis March!” The wave broke and the pieces cut back.

“Aen sif Paraf.” They cut into an ice wall, rising behind Danson.

Something about the spell called to the Enforcer. He took that moment to race forward—sword ready to impale. Danson slid easily back, and the thrust came up short. A feint! It was too late to dodge! Rien spun, breaking the ice sword, cutting the mage’s stomach. Danson slid sluggishly away. The wound was shallow, but he regarded Rien’s sword.

“I should have expected something like that.” Danson smiled with gritted teeth. “Soul Forged Bracer and an Elfbane Sword? Was that a gift too?”

“More of a joke. The person who gave it to me hopes that I’ll break it.”

“She must really like jokes that drag on.”

“Actually. I think she’s been sending me after dangerous targets in hopes that it’ll end.”

“Do I owe our reunion to her?”

Rien thought about it. "Actually, maybe you do."

“Well,” Danson raised his hands. “Things haven’t really changed. You’re still better than me with a sword.” He smirked, and Rien charged. “Sisos sif Espet!” The mage dropped to the ground, sweeping his hands up. A barrage of blades grew from his trail, launching themselves at the charge. Rien pulled left and they speared through the ice wall. Looking from them to Danson, he found himself sighted between an index finger and a pinky. The ring and middle finger were held down, and he could feel the magic swirling. “Aen sif Efda.” Danson released the flick, wrapping Rien’s knee in ice as a bolt hit it. It went immediately numb. Rien smiled.

“I see you’re still a showman.”

Danson cocked an eyebrow. "Doesn't sound like me." He lifted his foot. "Sisos eoda Nevas." Ripples went forward as he stomped down, freezing Rien to his waist. "I'd say that's a pretty solid victory." Danson smirked. Rien smirked too. In Kiara's watching eyes, they were very much the same.

"Razor Gale!" With one swing he tossed four spinning spiked discs. Danson's hand rose. Kiara could almost hear the words, Aen sif Paraf. However, it was Rien who spoke. "Scorpion Sting." The disc unfolded—tails stretching to pierce, not cut. One ripped through Danson's shoulder; another through his leg. The third one pierced the arm, and the final hit the edge of his stomach. He dropped to his knees and Rien stood tall.

“Elfbane works with magic...got it.” Danson gasped.

“I’m sorry, Danson. Is there anything you want to say before I take you in?”

"I'd love your opinion, actually," The mage held his side. "With all those swords in the wall, doesn't it make a great looking mirror?" He smiled, and Rien's head swiveled. Kiara followed his eyes.

The wall. The swords. The ice trails etched along the ground. All of them caught the light beautifully, working together to shine it one way. Keigo rose like a star from his pit, his horns and arms glowing strong. It struck only now why Danson froze Rien's legs. Keigo aimed, twirling together balls of light. A spectacular bombardment flew, battering the elf as it broke him free. His body shook a tree as it hit, and the battle truly ended as the longsword dropped.

Keigo turned to Danson. “If he was trying to kill us, how much harder would that have been?”

“You’re the one with a grudge against the Almatt name, shouldn’t you know?” Danson shook to his feet.

As exciting as it all was, Kiara let out a breath. Magdalea seemed determined to meet her with a show, and she was relieved this one ended without death. As the boys smiled at each other, she smiled too. Maybe they weren't all bad, and Rien would give her the chance to see it. At that thought, she heard something crack. She turned with the boys toward Rien, where his bracer now lay in two pieces. A gray, diminutive imp stood over him, holding the Elfbane sword. Kiara was sure she heard drums in the air as it swung for Rien's head…