Haha, sorry for not updating in forever, I forgot. Life is all 'new school travelling options!' for me now and there've been too many meetings about 'em... and yeah, that's my life. Anyways...

Yeah, this isn't much of a chapter... compared to chapter 22 ) I'll try to remember to update sooner (like, 2 days for chapter 22 or something, I dunno). And this chapter's title doesn't make much out of the actual chapter itself... I was stuck on a name.

P.S: Just a note, this is a kinda long F.F and you might think it lost its relevance, but it does have an ending. There is more than one major battle, one is coming up soon but another makes the ending of the story, and it takes a life. So yeah, there is an ending to this and a short one-shot sequel which I may or may not post. Probably will be the last possible chapter instead of a new thing altogether (so that'd make this story... 39 chapters, 38 without the sequel. Yep, long but there are ups and downs with the story).

Anyways, enjoy this short chapter. I'll update quicker next time, I swear!

At sunset, later that day, Darcie planned to meet Eragon in the back building of the castle. She opened the human-sized door quietly and stepped through. She noticed Thorn was gone with Murtagh, and took another step into the large room.

"So how long do we have roughly?"

Darcie jumped; she didn't see Eragon inside already.

"Until the only light left in the sky are the stars."

I still think it is unwise to go against Murtagh's wishes, Saphira said. She stood in a dark corner, looking at Darcie with dark, pensive eyes.

"I have my own life and follow what I want. It's not like I'm married," Darcie pointed out.

Yet, Saphira responded mysteriously.

"Wha...?"

I agree with Saphira - you might hurt yourself, Kazryth inputted, cutting Darcie off.

"You're supposed to be on my side!"

I have my own opinions.

"You will always agree with Saphira," Darcie snapped, glaring at her dragon.

And for a good reason, Saphira injected with a remotely sarcastic tone as she picked out the dirt under her talons.

Eragon chuckled. It was the first time Darcie had even seen him do so; whenever she came to visit Kazryth, Eragon wasn't there. She was about to snap back a comment, but thought better and changed the subject.

"So neither of you will tell Thorn or Murtagh?" Darcie asked the two dragons.

Oh, a secret now? It's been awhile since I've had to keep one, Saphira said with a smile that revealed all of her large, white teeth.

"Well you're keeping one now, right?" Darcie asked.

I'm not so sure... Saphira's 'smile' dropped quickly.

"If not for Darcie, can you keep this a secret for me?" Eragon asked, turning to face her.

Darcie was surprised at what he said.

Alright then. There was a discouraged tone in her voice, but she said nothing more.

"So how long have you been training with a sword?"

"A fortnight at least," Darcie responded, blushing slightly.

"And with sticks?"

"I've lost track of the months. Probably half a year at most."

Eragon chuckled and shook his head. He then pulled out a sword from his sheath; it was a dark sapphire blue that matched Saphira's scales. He muttered a spell, but nothing appeared to be different.

"Can I see your sword?"

Darcie drew her sword from her side.

"Just throw it, I'll catch it."

"If it cuts your hand..."

"Just throw it," Eragon repeated more impatiently. Darcie sighed and threw it to Eragon. He caught it by the hilt easily and muttered the same spell.

"Don't throw it back," Darcie said hastily.

Eragon shrugged and walked up to Darcie and handed the sword back to her. She looked at it closely.

"You blunted the edges, correct?"

Eragon nodded as if it was obviously.

"Now let's see what you know."

Eragon lunged and the two were locked in battle. After twenty seconds, Darcie was on the ground.

"A fair bit, apparently." Eragon removed his blunted sword from Darcie's neck.

Darcie got to her feet. It took her a moment to recover; her vision went blurry and black from getting up too fast. She quickly thought back on what Eragon had done and how to block the moves. She also noticed he was a bit slower to go through forms while fighting compared to Murtagh.

After two hours of talking and practicing, they heard the sound of Thorn returning. The two quickly sheathed their swords and went up to their dragons, who watched the practice, and acted as though nothing happened. Once Thorn landed in the building, Darcie yawned and said to Kazryth, "Well I'll see you tomorrow." She hugged Kazryth's leg, since it was closest to her, and walked away before another was said.