Language of the Blind
It had been a week since Enrique and Moegi had announced that they were having their first child. The opening ceremony ball was just two weeks away and Vyse had spent most of the last week helping out with the restructure of the new Valuan Armada. He had found it ironic that the corrupt armada that he, Aika and Fina had fought against a year ago was now being redeveloped under his instructions as well as those of Enrique, King Diego and Sendaria with help from Mao and Tao the new heads of the Yafutoman fleet.
Vyse, Aika and Fina had spent a good amount of time together since he had gotten to Valua but unlike before he felt somewhat alienated from his two best friends. They had taken too often leaving him out of things and hiding more from him than before. It seemed as if they were getting closer again and he was getting left out. In order to try and distract himself from this he had found himself spending more free time around Enrique who was almost always escorted by Eric and Sendaria.
He gotten to know the mysterious duo better in this time. From what he had seen of them they acted like siblings. Each being protective of the other while still patronizing each other when the opportunity arose. Enrique described them as brother and sister but Vyse couldn't really make similarities as Sendaria was completely covered.
At one point in the week Fina and Aika had pulled him aside, Aika asking about Eric and if he had mentioned her. Vyse decided to keep that card closer to his heart for later and decided to keep his childhood friend in the dark this time because of how she and Fina were acting toward him. Fina on the other hand told him to stay away from Sendaria, she described from her extended time in Valua that even though Enrique trusts her, there was just something about her that made it hard for the Silvite to trust her.
Vyse felt annoyed by her intrusion, especially because of how they had treated him since he got back to Valua. Sendaria may have hidden herself in more than one way but her actions towards the people of Valua seemed pure and that was the job she was there to do. In what seemed that a desperate plea to get him to leave her Fina had pulled him close before he was able to leave. Her arms around his chest and her forehead against his back, Vyse could feel his heartbeat rising, and the breath taken from his lungs, but something had happened since he had seen her again, the want had left him and he only felt empty even now that she was so close. Could this mean he was getting over her? or was he just mad at her for intervening when she and Aika had left him out of so much lately?
Whilst she held him close she described that he should be careful at least Despite Eric's and Sendaria interactions there is a layer beneath it that she has picked up on. Eric yielded to Sendaria more often than not, as if she had some kind of power over him. It was this comment that Vyse could not shake as he separated from her and Aika, no more words were uttered as he began to follow the path the other trio had taken.
An hour later Vyse found himself in the training with Enrique, Eric and Sendaria. He hadn't spoken to Sendaria since he had rejoined the group as Fina's comment had thrown him off and he wasn't sure how or if to approach it with her.
The large training room was about half the size of the grand entrance room of the palace and located on the far reaches of the east wing. It was spacious yet not in the least way grand, it was basically a large box with high ceiling to allow for proper sparring battles. Enrique and Eric had already taken to the floor and had been duelling for several minutes and from the look of how quickly Enrique was becoming exhausted it was clear Eric was winning.
"Want to give up yet Enrique?" spoke Eric, seemingly unfazed by the fight so far. Enrique hung his head before smiling "It seems you're just a class above me Eric. How many wins does that make it now?" Eric laughed "A few but at it's my job to be muscle, your country needs more of you than just a soldier" he said outstretching his hand to his friend. Enrique smiled again his fatigue clear on his face before he took Eric's hand as the larger gentleman helped him to his feet.
"Sir Eric" Vyse turned to see Moegi, Aika and Fina enter the hall. "Please be gentle with Enrique he's far too tired to be sparring." Eric grinned "Don't worry it was just a quick spar Moegi." The empress smiled before walking toward the bench where Enrique was heading. Vyse leaned back in his seat his head against the wall, Aika, Fina and Sendaria were all standing in the doorway and showed no sign of moving at that time.
Eric certainly seemed like a formidable opponent. Vyse hadn't been training much in the last six months but he knew his strength had increased with all the manual work he had done back on crescent isle. However Eric had beaten Enrique one of the known strongest men in Arcadia without even breaking a sweat. He couldn't help but think that even if he knew Enrique's move and weaknesses to defeat him so easy was discomforting.
"So Vyse" spoke Eric turning to face him "fancy a spar?" he said punching his fists together. "Eric..." began Sendaria "Are you sure that is wise?" This comment only made his grin grow more "Why not Sen? Vyse should be able to handle himself don't you think?" Vyse got to his feet "Why not" he responded turning briefly to look at Sendaria, her lips quivered as if she was concerned for one of him. Surely Vyse thought turning to face Eric he should be able to match his strength if not beat him.
Walking toward him, Eric diverted his gaze to Sendaria his grin disappearing, turning his gaze to her he felt a chill run up his spine, he couldn't see her face yet it felt as if something eerie emanated from her. Was it some kind of warning or just a draft. Either way Vyse began to see some truth in what Fina had said earlier.
"Hand to hand? or do you want a weapon?" asked Eric diverting his gaze back to gaze. "I'd prefer to use my cutlasses" answered Vyse beginning to smirk himself, he hoped that Eric would be a worthy opponent. "Fine, Enrique kept one of your old pairs from the Delphinus, it's in the cabinet over there" he said pointing to a wooden cabinet near where Sendaria was now standing, her motions seemingly showing that she was staring at him through her clothed eyes. Eric sighed as he moved away before pulling a pair of black leather gloves out of his pockets , a single thick metal plate covering the knuckles of each glove, seemingly as a his primary form of defence against Vyse's upcoming attacks.
As Vyse approached the cabinet he saw Sendaria's lips curl into a smile as she extended her hands "I believe these are what you want". The coldness that seemed to emanate from her was gone but from how forced her smile seemed she seemed worried. "Thank you Sendaria" he smiled taking the weapons from her.
"Be careful Vyse" she uttered before he walked away. Returning to his spot in front of Eric he drew his cutlasses "Let's go then!" he cheered grinning, the adrenaline beginning to pump through his body in the anticipation of a good fight.
Eric smirked before taking on a battle stance "Sen. If you would?". Sendaria stepped forward, the icy aura that seemed to have emanated from her before returning. "On three. " she spoke calmly raising one gloved hand "Two." Vyse tightened his grip around his cutlasses. "One..." she uttered before pausing slightly longer than she should. "GO!" she called before jumping back toward the group. Vyse was slightly distracted by her sudden fluent movement that he missed Eric's opening move, the larger man charging toward him at a pace that he wouldn't have expected from someone of his size.
Leaning back Vyse barely managed to dodge Eric's attack but the sheer force of his fist moved the air around him with tremendous vigour causing Vyse to stumble backward. Regaining his balance he looked up to see Eric grinning manically "Not what you expected Vyse the legend?" his low tone seemed to have been implied merely taunt him. "Eric!" Vyse heard Sendaria yell but he didn't take his eyes of his target.
Eric was definitely not going to be easy to defeat, he didn't want to think of that damage that attack could have done to his chest if it had reached its mark. The weapon he had chosen to use was simply his fists, yet the power behind them was immense and he now knew that he was both fast and strong he needed to attack as his own defence would not be his forte against the larger mans swings.
Taking stance Vyse charged forward, Eric's fist went swinging up toward his right side while his other hand rose to defend against his attack. Noting his movements Vyse raised his shorter cutlass to parry his hit, neither of their attacks landing on their opponent. Eric laughed "Not bad!" he said before pushing Vyse back and pursuing him with a barrage of attacks that Vyse found himself barely able to defend against. This round continued for several minutes neither Eric or Vyse showing any sign of giving in.
Eric threw in one final powerful punch to end his assault of attacks, Vyse raised his smaller cutlass barely in time to stop his fist connecting with his shoulder. Grunting in pain his cutlass dropping to floor "Vyse!" he heard Aika and Fina call panic and worry evident in their voices. "Eric stop!" begged Sendaria. Vyse's looked up his eyes connected with Eric's, he wore that same smirk on his face. Vyse felt the anger intensifying inside him, he felt as if Eric was just playing with him. Swiftly he raised his fist which Eric hadn't anticipated as Vyse's fist connected with his jaw. He stumbled backward his grin dropping momentarily as he wiped some blood from his lips, his teeth stained with his own blood.
Eric's breathing had increased, the recent barrage obviously tiring him more than he would like to admit. Vyse however was worse off, he was panting and his left wrist seemed to be dislocated. Looking up, what started off as a harmless duel now seemed to be developing into something much more malicious.
Vyse refused to give up, Eric may have been one of his most formidable opponents to date but he had never backed down in combat and that wasn't going to change either. Standing up straight he tried to control his breathing, his single cutlass in his right hand. Eric grinned "I'm glad you don't give up so easily" he added before cracking his knuckles. Without his second cutlass Vyse knew he would be able to fend off another barrage of Eric's attack without taking several more blows. He knew he needed to end here or he would fall soon.
Drawing his sword in front of him he took on a different battle stance, grunting against the pain shooting up his left arm. Eric in turn raised his fists in front of his face. Vyse relaxed his body pulling all the remaining strength he had left as he leapt toward Eric slashing at his opponent. Eric defended each of his blow, his body being forced back slightly with each attack. With one final attack Vyse drew his cutlass back behind head and stuck down at "Cutlass Fury!". It may not have been the complete attack but there was enough force and anger put into it to knock Eric back and to his knees. Grunting he quickly regained composure "So this is what you can do when you put your heart into a fight" his grin spread. "I'll stop holding back then. Vyse stumbled back in surprise. Eric had been holding back? He couldn't believe it, it must be a trick to knock him of course and it was working.
Eric took stance again "Turbulence!" he yelled the ground starting to shake around them. "ERIC STOP!" yelled Sendaria but to no avail, as he leapt forward his body disappearing briefly before he re-appeared in front of Vyse his fist plummeting into his chest before erupting in a massive crash of air surrounding their bodies and spreading out to the edges of the room.
Vyse fell to the floor defeated his eyes locked onto Eric's who towered above him the grin on his face disappearing. "Shit.." he heard him whisper before a fist connected with his jaw the same eruption of air causing him to fly back towards the top of the training room. The room around Vyse was spinning, he couldn't believe he had been defeated, nor could he believe what had happened right now in front of his eyes.
"Vyse!" he heard a muffled cry, the ringing in his ears beginning to drown out everything in the room. At that moment he felt skin meet with his cheek and a soothing feeling begin to flow over his body. The pain began to fade and the ringing disperse. Looking up he could make out the woman above him as Sendaria. Had she been the one to knock Eric away? Why did Eric curse when he had won? and what was this magic that Sendaria was using? It was much more effective than that of the green moon. "Sen..." he uttered. He now had an idea why she had tried to stop them from fighting "Don't speak Vyse. Please just lie back and relax." Closing his eyes he could see images in his mind. What was going on? He could see a dark city but it didn't look like Valua, there were so many people in the streets it must have been a festival. The view changed and he could see someone in front of him, his piercing blue eyes and malevolent grin spreading on his face. Whoever he was he felt such hate and rage he didn't believe he could feel towards another person.
"Get off him!" he heard Fina yell. "What are you doing?" she pushed Sendaria away from him the images disappearing as his eyes were forced open from the pain now rushing back through his body. The ringing feeling returning and he looked around to see Fina, Enrique and Moegi near his feet "Fina... calm dow.." began Enrique trying to hold her back. This was a side to Fina he had never seen, she was angry, despite everything that happened during the Crystal Wars Fina had chosen now to show such an emotion. Turning his head to the side he could feel the room spinning. To his right in the distance he could see Aika kneeling in front of Eric who was collapsed against the wall, a large dent present where his body had collided against it. Vyse diverted his eyes to Sendaria the ringing feeling in his ears now overriding all of their voices, he could see that each time she tried to get close to him Fina would fight against Enrique's grip obviously determined to not let her near him.
The room was now spinning uncontrollably, Vyse closed his eyes the last thought on his mind was the malevolent grin and piercing blue eyes. Who was he? and why did he feel he knew him? These were the last questions on his mind before Vyse slipped into the darkness.
