Premonition of Change

Dodge. Block. Attack.

Read the enemy before you and strike when they are vulnerable. I repeated this thought hundreds of times in my mind. We were both exhausted, and the gap was tightening down to the wire. I can’t really help but think, what would I have done back then?

After jumping back to gain some distance, I took a deep breath. Cleared my mind and assumed my stance.

“Mmmm, I agree, you Ita brat! Let’s bring this performance to a close!!!” He pulled out another knife and imbued it with an alarming amount of flow. He studied me for a second before abruptly slamming the flow imbued knife into the ground and then tossed the original one directly at me. This time, instead of rushing at me, he stayed beside his special knife, holding his hands together.

I went to deflect the knife, but upon contact, a strong explosion of flames set off. Last second, I rushed to get as much water as I could to my defense.

The force sent me flipping backwards, random parts of my body slamming into the floor. Eventually, I came to a sliding stop, and I immediately pushed myself backwards as a blade came down where I just was.

Immediately upon realization, I pushed myself up, rushing to put my arms up.

Ding. The force of that same knife that was piercing the ground knocked my left arm back. At this point, I was scrambling for a moment to breathe, but he kept pressing me!

Ding. Clank. Shing.

A series of me blocking these attacks until my back was against the wall. He quickly raised his knife, grinned like he already won, before screaming out “TOWERING INFERNO!!!”

Out bursts a brilliant, bright and hot flame, piercing the top of the walls.

Dodge? Defend? Attack?

I almost crumbled under the pressure, but I made up my mind on my next action. I gathered the flow into my hand and blasted a jet stream of water to propel me sideways.

“You really think my attack is so simple that I cannot change direction after I activate it!” The flames became more tame. I was over 15 feet away from him, but I could still feel the heat. I started pushing the upward limits of my power and control in response, focusing on a counterattack.

Focus. Sharpen. Observe.

My eyes were focused, not moving from his tall, slender figure. He took a step forward before lunging into a dash that extended the flame. He carried that over into a slash that I ducked under to dodge. Grabbing his arm, I called on all the water I could manifest before sending it at him.

The rushing torrent of water carried him into the air above me. I gathered everything into my right arm, meeting his falling body, and I slammed my fist into his gut.

An explosion of water, followed by the sound of his knife hitting the ground. Soon, he crashed into the walls unconscious from the force.

“Well, Father, it looks like he isn’t a lost cause after all.” My brother looked slightly amused and proud at the outcome; meanwhile, my father wore that same expression of boredom. It was like he was unimpressed with the entire display. “Good job Elpida, but you almost died too many times. Go now, but focus on your combat training seriously.”

Soon after, he was clearing out like he was in a hurry to be somewhere. Normally, I would be annoyed at his lack of joy or anything for that matter when it came to me and my siblings. But I eventually got used to it, honestly, my other life has become more of a distant memory at times. I often forget I used to be called Darius; it is honestly all so surreal.

“Young master, would you like me to escort you home?” Rufus, however, was always there, even if he found my antics tiresome!

“Nah, I got plans with Agapi(Ah-guh-pe) today!” Before I could run off, my brother stopped me. “Ah, the Asteri’s only daughter, well do make sure you are back on time today, mother is making fried flying fish.” He then smiled and walked away with Rufus.

Now the thought of fried flying fish perfectly seasoned won’t leave my mind!

Later that afternoon

“WHAT YOU DID THAT!!!” Agapi sat next to me, shouting in excitement, hearing of my trial today. She was always high in energy, but that made her fun to hang out with.

“Anyways, you wanted to tell me something?” The reason we came out to this obscure spot on a hill just outside the city limits was all because she swore she had something important to say.

Her face suddenly became sad, like I stepped on a landmine. “Wh-whats wrong!” I didn’t mean to make her sad!

“Would you miss me if we suddenly couldn’t hang out like this anymore?” She seemed serious, like she had been running this exact scenario over and over.

“Hey I don’t know whats going on with you, but no matter what happens, we will always be friends. So even if it takes a while to, we will always have another chance to hang out like this!” It was cheesy, I know, but it was just the truth. She laughed almost an embarrassing amount. “Good, that made me feel better, Elpy!”

She stood and turned to me with such a pure smile that it could melt anyone's heart. “The reason I ask is that tomorrow we are going on a test campaign to the neighboring town for a week. Once we return here, we will have a month before I go on my first long travel with dad.” I could see why she was serious when Mr. Asteri goes on his business ventures, he could be gone anywhere from a month to a few years.

That's just how her merchant family operates. “Speaking of which, Elpy, I heard the king is visiting your family today! What's that about!” She was more than a bit nosy when it came to these things.

“I didn’t even know about the visit,” I leaned my head back into the grass, just enjoying the breeze.

“Awww, dang, I thought I would get the juicier details off you!” She leaned over me, giggling, her light brown eyes gazing into mine, the two thick darkish purple braids flowed in the wind, and her dark skin caught most of the light that was hitting my face.

“Let’s just nap here for a bit Agapi!” She laughed and sat next to me.

“Fine fine sleepy heir.” She then lay next to me as we both enjoyed some small talk.

“Hey, do you have a plan for your future if you are not going to pursue being the next in line?” She stared at me curiously, and I shook my head silently, telling her I had not a clue.

“Then, if you don’t figure it out by 16, why don't you join me as my bodyguard. We can go on crazy adventures, and it would be really fun!” She was now brimming with energy and had this radiant aura about her.

“That sounds tempting. Give me some time to consider it.” I started dozing off into a nice dream as the time went by.

When I came to Agapi had left already, so I decided to head home the scenic route. I really love these leisurely walks back home; the city has a mix of modern/fantasy-like architecture. Like if someone mixed medieval with modern infrastructure, there was also a large farmland accompanied by a large lake.

Following the main stone road, I soon arrived at the main entrance to my home. I swung open the door, and as I walked through the door, I was greeted by a tall figure. He was wearing white robes, his face covered by some sort of veil draped down from his head.

He leaned down to shake my hand immediately upon noticing me. “Young Ita pleasure to meet you!” Then he simply left without another word? Huh, what a weird guy.

Later that night, after dinner, I would overhear my brother and father talking.

“Ren, this is serious. If what the king says is true, we need to move everyone in this estate to the Kohaku estate.” My father's face, for the first time, had an expression other than bored. He looked upset, and so did Ren.

Ren sighed and raised his head, leaning against the wall.

Then he gazed over at my father. “What about our citizens?”

“I am still worki-“ abruptly cut off by a loud shout from Ren.

“WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO FIGURE IT OUT IF WHAT HE SAID IS TRUE!!!” Visibly frustrated, Ren was pulling at his hair.

“Ren, get some rest, tomorrow we must prepare for the king's orders.” He walked away before Ren just fell against the wall, sitting there.

Father had seemed tired, like behind the scenes, a bunch of problems the rest of us were not aware of were about to come crumbling down on us.

At this moment in time, I could not have guessed how bad the news from the king was. But thanks to catching this conversation, I could send Agapi out early to avoid whatever the problem was, but since I had no proof, I disguised it as a paid extra adventure. Her father wouldn’t decline because I was a paying customer, and I picked something that would take them at least until tomorrow night to finish.

After sending the request through my mirror to them, I got a notice that they accepted.

I don’t know what has Ren and Father on edge, but I was gonna be ready for any outcome tomorrow could bring!