The Challenge

The man grinned, his smile sharp and wicked. “Shadow Six and Seven—take him!” he commanded, and without hesitation, he dropped backward in a trust fall, avoiding Reith’s scythe if he would have swung at him. Two more shadows moved in from each side, Reith made a decision and jumped over the man, laying on the ground still having that wicked slightly amused smile. Reith pressed the upside blade against the shadows stomach pushing him back slightly. The force knocked the air out of him, and before they could recover, Reith delivered a sharp uppercut that sent them staggering still holding on to the scythe as support.

“Go, Reith!” Eira called out, as if she weren’t afraid but deep down she was terrified.

“C’mon Harvester! Take them down like crops!” Corvin shouted despite the blade still pressed to his throat.

Sai sighed loudly. “Really Corvin…Now?” Sai got a slight shrug in response, so he turned to the shadow holding Corvin “Hey, shadow person? Could you maybe shut him up?”

The shadow in front of Corvin rolled her eyes and then delivered a swift kick to his gut. Corvin folded with a grunt, his axe flying from his hands as she swung the sword that held it in place away. She moved in around and the blade at his throat pressed tighter.

“Quiet now, or quiet forever. Your choice,” the shadow said coldly.

Corvin gave a small, defeated nod. Through the pain, he managed to glance sideways and catch Sai looking far too entertained for the situation.

Meanwhile, Reith turned to the second shadow. They were charging with two short swords in hand. With fluid motion, Reith shoved the still-staggering shadow forward causing him to fall backwards, the scythe securely pressed against the shadows stomach. Reith used the momentum to jump over him useing his scythe like a pole landing on the opposite side of the boy he had just fell. He landed in a low crouch and immediately swung at the approaching shadow.

The scythe’s superior reach forced the attacker to step back. Reith reversed his grip and slashed again, this time striking one of the swords and knocking it out of the shadow’s grip. The weapon flew through the air and landed right in front of the other shadows who were still holding the rest of the group hostage.

Reith narrowed his eyes.

“So, do you guys have names, or are you all just numbers?”

The shadow holding Sai groaned. “We are not having your ‘calm discussion’ right now.”

Sai shrugged. “Figured it was worth a shot.”

Reith refocused. His opponent had adapted—no longer stumbling back but blocking and dodging with their remaining weapon. Reith took a step back as he let his scythe rest in his hands for a moment, watching carefully. The shadow raised their sword and reinforced it with their off-hand behind the blade, forming a tight defensive X.

Reith suddenly took some steps back before sprinted forward, yelling as he charged. At the last moment, instead of attacking with the blade, he dropped into a slide on his back. The scythe made contact with the sword just enough to hold it in place, and Reith’s feet slammed into the shadow’s upperbody, sending them stumbling.

The shadow tripped over the man still lying on the ground and crashed backward onto the ground as the man nodded in Approval. Reith approached and before he could rise, pressed the blade of his scythe across the mans throat once again, pinning him to the dirt.

To Reith’s surprise, the man started clapping, his smile widening. “I am most impressed. By you, that is. My students… not so much.”

Reith wasn’t amused. “Let my friends go, or I’ll cut your head off.”

the man wet his lips with his tongue in a slow, unsettling motion. “Shadow One to Four—if this man kills me, kill his friends, then him.”

Reith tightened the scythe slightly. A thin line of blood trickled down the mans throat.

“Okay, okay,” he said quickly, raising a hand. “I’m not an unreasonable man. Surely we can find a better way than bloodshed?”

“I told you already,” Reith growled, “I’m not a fan of discussions.”

“True, true,” Gladius nodded. “But you seem to like your friends. That means you’ll hear me out.”

Reith paused. “Actually, I only met them a few days ago.”

“Eh?” Gladius’s grin faltered.

“And honestly,” Reith continued, “I couldn’t care less about most of them. One of them constantly makes fun of me, and the rest just let it happen.”

Eira and Sai both turned to glare at Corvin. The shadow holding him smacked him lightly on the back of the head, even without being told.

“But…” Reith glanced at his allies. “But they’re also the best group I’ve ever been part of. So maybe, just this once, I’ll hear you out.”

The man chuckled. “Excellent. My proposal a one-on-one duel. If you win, you and your friends walk free. If I win, you and your friends stand trial for breaking into the mill and threatening a villagers life.”

Sai blinked. “Wait—Corvin, you did threaten to kill somone, didn’t you?”

“It was a minor overreaction on my side,” Corvin muttered. “Could’ve happened to anyone.” Sai glared at him awhile longer.

“Okay, fine, my bad,” Corvin muttered. He avoided everyone’s gaze. “In my defense, I thought I said it to Reith…”

Reith rolled his eyes. “Oh and if you don’t accept my students will kill them and you.” The man added quickly. Reith pulled the scythe away from his throat. “Fine. I accept.”

The hostages were lined up along the side, a blade pressed to each of their throats and another across their midsections to prevent any sudden movement. The villagers who had previously just been watching now moved closer to see the duel.

The man rubbed his throat and unsheathed his katana. “So,” he said, stepping forward, “The fight ends when one yields, is knocked unconscious, or dies. No outside help. Any interference, and your friends die. Agreed?”

Reith nodded, spinning his scythe once before planting the blade in the dirt. “Yeah. Whatever.”

the villagers behind the man started whispering and some talking as a man collected money, assumed bets one bucket for Reith and one for the man

The man smiled as he saw the villagers bets being placed seemingly equally, then he held his sword high pointed towards Reith. “I, Gladius—master of the sword, teacher and defender of my village—challenge you.”

Reith rolled his eyes. “Reith. Seventeen-year-old farm boy. No education. Socially awkward… accepts.”