Trojian Horse
Chapter 54

Despite his infinitely sharp focus on the job at hand, Arien felt everything before that moment was a blur. He felt like he had stepped into another dimension and stepped back again to return as a better version of himself. The thrill of the power flowing through his veins was addictive. From the moment, he stepped onto that bank he found himself surrounded by a sea of hostile faces with a mixture of joy and shock radiating from the Vulpeculae in attendance. It was a strange sensation returning from the place beyond. One moment he was certain he was never going to see them all again and the next he is standing before them in a new body. He eased the wave of thoughts flooding his mind back and reminded himself he needed to be one with himself. There was work to be done, and he could not be distracted.

“Reeger, your tyranny ends here,” Arien proclaimed holding his palm up to Reeger.

Hethios and his companions could only stand in stunned silence as Arien took one step forward then another and another approaching Reeger slowly and cautiously. Reeger tightened the grip on his battle axe still failing to comprehend what he was seeing.

“What sort of apparition is this?” he demanded. “I watched you die, I plunged the blade in you and watched the life drain out of you.”

“Yes, that was your first mistake,” Arien remarked.

“Don’t try to be smart with me boy,” said Reeger. “I did it once before, I’ll put you down again.”

With that Reeger attempted to rush him and finish it with one mighty swing of his axe but Arien adroitly jumped to one side and watched the axe swing harmlessly away from him. He pushed Reeger slightly and the force of the swinging axe knocked Reeger off balance, and caused him to roll of the bank into the water. The Dracien soldiers were not sure what to do in the present situation and most continued to stand in silence confident that their master would vanquish his foes yet again. One of the Dracien stepped forward to attack but a glaring look from Arien was enough to repel him back to his previous position.

It wasn’t just the power, it was the confidence he felt in himself. He had a level of focus that felt as if he were occupying someone else’ body and he was just a by-stander in this battle. Every time he flexed his arms, took a step forward, ran, jumped he felt as if he was only beginning to tap into the reserves of power in his body. His reactions were much faster than he could have imagined, his vision sharper, his mind clearer and more capable than ever before. Somehow Reeger seemed to be slower, or he was faster he wasn’t sure. It was indeed a new him that made it out of the cave, and to think he had this power had been buried inside of him the entire time. Reeger crept back onto the bank with aplomb, cutting the head off one the Dracien unlucky enough to be standing in his path on, clearly a show of his strength meant to intimidate Arien.

“I don’t know how you did it but I will ensure it doesn’t happen again,” Reeger said approaching Arien more cautiously this time.

“I need you to know that I take no pleasure in being your enemy today. Apart from what I’ve been shown I don’t feel you are my enemy. I wish you could see reason and leave. There is no good ending for either one of us here. I will have to live with your death on my conscience or you will be forced to keep creating enemies for the rest of your existence.”

“You think speaking in riddles will confuse me boy?” Reeger asked, visibly annoyed. “What do you know of my existence, boy?!”

“It is not a riddle. One of us will die today. That is the price of peace I see. I, of course, cannot let you hurt my family for your own sadistic pleasure.”

Reeger charged Arien again swinging his axe as he had done before though with less force and far more awareness. Arien floated to one side and moved further away from the bank. The bystanders had slowly managed to separate themselves, the Vulpeculae standing on one side while the Dracien stood on the other leaving Arien and Reeger between them. Reeger swung his axe again, screaming how victory would be his, pouring all the hatred he could muster into every swing of his axe. He knew he was fast, much faster than most beings and yet none of his blows met their target and Arien had made no attempt to attack him.

“I am the chosen one, you hear me?!” Reeger said, swinging his axe yet again only for Arien to make it seem a tame effort by dodging it with such little effort.

“No, you are not. You have been deceived Reeger, to what end I do not know.”

“Don’t pretend to understand me boy, you know nothing!” Another swing of the axe which only managed to slice loudly through the air. Reeger got angrier with each missed swing till he was foaming at the mouth. And still Arien made no attempt to attack Reeger.

“Give me the sword Turo,” Arien said just as he ducked another attempt at beheading him. Turo stepped forward and at an opportune moment tossed the sword at Arien who grabbed it with both hands. The sword glowed with a bluish hue when Arien held it. Now that he was armed he wasted no time in blocking the swings of Reeger’s axe.

“Die, you insolent pest, die!” Reeger yelled.