61.

Elai believed that, all this time, Connie had been lying about his own weapons. He had said many times that his tattoo of the two curved blades was blessed by green magic, and that Chay made the weapons real. Elai simply couldn’t believe it.
Not until now, eyes watching as his hands pull out the blades from his back. The tattoo story had been real all along, and Elai feels like a fucking idiot for dismissing it.
“You-“
“Told you you’d have believe me eventually!” Connie’s grin is real and honest, but the words that Elai had said still haunt his mind. Only Cesilia knows of his jealousy towards Arlon, and how he wishes to be as good as him. Only Cesilia has heard him whine about his lack of strength to be able to match up to Arlon, who usually rules the battlefield with ease. Connie was supposed to be the mightiest warrior; his mother would’ve wanted that from both him and his sister. So why is the fucking king of Turi in his way?
Connie doesn’t have sweaty hands, or a heart that is beating out of his chest. No. He is calm. Even the encounter hasn’t stirred him up enough. He was ready for this fight, and if Elai insists on fighting it, who is he to refuse? He has got on his nerves now, anyways.
The two walk in circles, the signal finally given. Elai doesn’t look away from Connie’s eyes for even a second, afraid he might miss whatever move the warrior is planning. “Not so predictable now, am I?” Connie’s grin was filled with cheekiness at first, but now the man looks kind of scary. Elai wants to tell him he’s sorry for bringing up something that wasn’t even his business to begin with, but he’s pretty sure Connie won’t be taking any apologies right now. He has accepted that he has to fight his friend, and so Elai had won the argument. If you can even call it winning; now he has this beast of a man after him.
“I knew you were going to say that!” Elai plays in on the warrior’s words. He doesn’t want to show his fear. That would be too embarrassing. Besides, Connie would never fucking stop talking about it if he even spotted an ounce of fear on the younger man’s face. Elai won’t have that. He attacks first, sword rushing up to Connie. It is no surprise that he blocks it with ease, even though his weapons are probably a lot more lighter. He pushes one of the blades against the sword and can’t help but chuckle when he watches Elai struggle to stay on his feet. “You’re up against the champion, pretty boy. Shouldn’t you be trying a little bit harder?” He’s a lot worse at the common tongue than Cesilia, accent creeping up on him. It happens when he’s concentrated on something else, just like Arlon. In that, they are the same. In strength, though..
Elai bites on his bottom lip and takes the only chance he has, jumping away from the power and letting Connie falter forwards. Of course, he is able to stay on his feet. It makes Elai roll his eyes. Maybe if he sees this as merely another training, he might be able to last a little bit longer. His throat has been crying for rest, and so have his muscles, yet Elai insists on using them to get close to Connie once more. He has to take a few, big steps in order to seem stronger than he is. Connie can easily see that, hands swinging his blades around. He thinks it’s a miracle that Elai ended up here, because the last one he had fought was surely tougher than this. What has been Elai’s secret? How did he get here? He knows it wasn’t Arlon; the king doesn’t like cheaters.
His thoughts almost betray him, his eyes seeing Elai right on time. “No time to think, Connie!” Has that been his opening? Getting his opponents to think? Connie concentrates on fighting Elai’s sword, which attacks him quite a few times. He can’t use his Death Gaze on him. Elai has learned how to manipulate his resistance quite well. It makes Connie smile. If they weren’t in a real fight right now, he would’ve told Elai that he’s proud of him.
The champion’s teeth grit when he feels a familiar grip around the bones in his leg. A frown appears on his face as his hand jumps in to grab what hurts, eyes looking up at Elai. ah. He doesn’t make his opponents think. He thrives on their focus. Elai was able to break Connie’s resistance when the man was fighting the movements of his sword.
Maybe Connie had underestimated him, because for a moment or two, Elai is the one in charge. The boy walks up to Connie with a smirk on his face and his hair falling out of his ponytail. He knows he hasn’t won, but seeing the everlasting champion kneel down for him is quite.. a sight to see. “One leg isn’t enough, Elai!” What Connie does next, is like terror to Elai’s eyes. Connie stands up, turns his hips and kicks the boy right in his face, hands tightening their grip around the blades. His bones luckily don’t break when he steps back. Elai drops his grip; he doesn’t want to hurt Connie like that. The warrior was expecting that, the risk he had taken now getting him back into position.
“That was risky, Connie!”
“Aw..” Connie cocks his head. “Worried about me?” He takes a moment to use nothing but his blades. His feet are fast as the sharp objects attack Elai one by one, over and over again. The boy has got some quick defensive moves, avoiding getting cut with heavy breaths. It gets tougher the longer Connie follows him around with swinging blades, sword getting too heavy to carry with him. He gasps when he feels one cut his cheek. Blood streams down from the wound to his throat, the red now slowly staining the top of Elai’s blouse.
There’s sweat dripping down Elai’s forehead, eyes going from his opponent’s feet to his eyes and back again. Maybe he is a little less predictable than he thought he’d be. Maybe he shouldn’t have relied on what he had seen in training. Connie is much, much more than what he had shown in the dome. He uses his battle intelligence just as much as he uses his strength. It is quite a miracle that Arlon would win from him. “Come! On! Tired already?” Connie squints his eyes and listens to the way Elai’s breath becomes quicker. He won’t be able to hold on much longer. The warrior could easily fight for another hour, if not more. Sure, there is sweat dripping down his chest as well, but he isn’t out of breath like the prince is. He moves with ease and pleasure, muscles nowhere near their limit.
“You wish!” Elai breathes the words out, his chest in constant pain. He needs to lie down and rethink his choices. He knew what was coming for him, but he didn’t know it would be this bad. The boy’s back eventually hits the ground, a cough escaping from his lips. He avoid the blade but is unable to use his resistance when he steadies himself onto his hands, body suddenly unable to move.
“Gotcha.” Connie takes his time, his walk slow and powerful. Elai would absolutely be a fan of his. Maybe he is. Just a little. Connie simply looks too good shirtless, pants biting into his waist and boots holding tightly onto his feet. The blonde feels like he might be drooling a little. “Is that all you were able to give me?” Elai tries to talk himself out of it as his friend’s grip tightens. Just a few more squeezes and he’ll die, that is most certainly not a secret.
“No. That is simply all you were able to take.”
“Ha..” Elai rolls his eyes and decides to take the risk, body fighting the grip. Connie frowns when he feels the way Elai starts wiggling around, back still straightened. He looks down at the struggling boy with confusion filling his eyes. “What are you doing?” Elai doesn’t answer him, his entire existence focusing on getting out of Connie’s grip. Fighting of a Death gaze isn’t impossible, but it sure isn’t easy either. Most people suffocate themselves before they can get out, or they die under the pressure it brings upon them. Elai, though, is quite determined to break through it, no matter the consequences. It isn’t necessarily the thought of his reputation, or his pride. He simply wants to impress Arlon a little more. He can feel it brewing in his stomach. “Elai stop-“ Connie’s eyes widen when he feels the force against his own ability, and it doesn’t take much longer before Elai somersaults his way out of Connie’s grip. He has got no time to grin, no time to respect himself for getting out of Connie’s grip. His body feels like it’s regenerating the power he had already lost.
Connie’s jaw drops as he watches Elai’s eyes glow, their roles now reversed. The warrior’s resistance doesn’t seem to do anything, and thus all he has is his blades. But how is he supposed to use them when Elai has taken a hold of his bones? He can’t fight him, chin tilting. The boy is still close enough to kick, or punch if he had the chance. But it will mean doing the same as Elai did; a very painful process. Connie doesn’t understand how the boy was able to get out of his grip, a grip he had trained for years and years so that he could be the perfect machine out on the battle field. He doesn’t understand why a boy as slim and untrained as Elai could get out of it with ease.
Elai doesn’t have time to be surprised by his own strength. He’s winning this fucking fight right now. A grin grows on his face as he walks up to Connie, grip only halfway through. Hairs stick against his face, the boy out of breath and tired. He wants to finish this, and he can’t believe he’s going to be the one to end it. He crack his neck from left to right and look right into Connie’s eyes. The warrior’ eyes are clouded in worry, but there is something behind the look. If Elai was only fast enough to notice, he would’ve been able to dodge Connie’s attack. It wasn’t meant to come as a surprise, Connie is the strongest warrior after all. He’ been winning these tournaments for years, and Elai surely isn’t the only one who can get out of a Death Gazer’s grip. Connie’s kick brings Elai to his knees. It is followed by a an elbow against the face, and Elai’s ears are once again ringing. If this would’ve happened ten minutes ago, Connie would’ve wanted to apologize. Now his pride has caught op to him. He grabs a fist full of Elai’s hair and lets out a soft huff.
“You had me worried for a moment there.” Connie whispers, lips inches away from the boy’s ear. Elai’s nose is bleeding and he’s pretty sure he’s never been hit this hard before. he can’t move properly, Connie’s grip is useless and unneeded in this situation. The hit was hard enough for Elai to feel paralyzed, eyes trying to look up at Arlon as Connie builds up the tension. The crowd is going wild, but in silence. Everyone is waiting for the finishing blow, however Connie might bring it.
Arlon is, as well. He’s on the edge of his seat, eyes once again filled with no emotions. Elai smiles, blood covering his teeth. He didn’t expect to see anything else. It is quite embarrassing for him to go out this way. The warrior doesn’t need his weapons, or his ability. He can simply punch the boy once more and call it a day. And that in the grand finale, where the ending of a fight should be spectacular and pleasing.
“It has been such a fucking honor fighting you, prince of Lyle.” Connie entertains himself for just a moment longer, to make Elai feel the defeat from deep within. He’s still the cocky warrior, after all. Nothing grinds him better than winning a match he didn’t want to fight.
“The attempt was most surely there.” Those are the last words Elai hears before he loses consciousness. Connie kept it kind and indeed did not use neither his blades or his ability. He simply knocked the breath out of the boy’s lungs and dropped him right into the mud. It felt weird, but he’s not one to show that in his expression. He’s a champion, after all. He should be entertaining the audience with his victory. The crowd goes wild, voices telling Connie how they love him. It is the only time Connie gets properly praised, and so he throws his arms up, smiles and embraces the love he gets.