Your life in the Order of Shadow was everything but boring. You loved to learn new techniques and ways to kill people, do missions and earn gold. You were quickly to learn new things which made you one of the bests among the assassins.
Always competing in who is better in practice or dueling, you almost always won. When it's said almost always it is meant there is one person you simply can't take down so easily. Its fucking frustrating but he just seems like he masters everything just by looking at it.
You need to work ten times harder than him to beat him, but the fact you are the only one among Zed's followers that actually achieved it a few times makes you feel a bit less like a failure.
And when you actually won a duel with Kayn, people around you acknowledged you. Even though it took you almost everything, you felt proud. When a younger pupil came to you, grabbed your bandaged hand and said she wished to be like you one day, you decided to get even better.
At one point there started to appear bets on you and Kayn. Who will win this time, you? Him? Fucking hell, you will win. You need to.
"What you doin' here."
You didn't have a bad relationship with Kayn, it's not like that.
"Just trying to get working my new weapons I created yesterday." You answer, focused on your precise work in your hands, but then it snaps. "Fuck."
Kayn laughs, looking over your shoulder. He leans closer to see the components in your hands and then looks directly at your face.
"Yo, when was the last time you slept, you look terrible."
You look into his eyes filled with concern. It was true you didn't sleep for two days straight, but you needed to do something for Zed last night and you were eager to get back to your own work from yesterday. Which sucks as you can see now.
You smirk.
"I know we are dueling tomorrow, don't worry I'd take you down even if I didn't sleep for weeks."
He laughs till his head tilts back. "No fucking way."
When the day comes you are nervous as always but also confident. You prepared well, had enough energy and felt like you could destroy worlds.
When you enter the dueling area, people are around the edges, watching over you and Kayn appearing on each side of the place. You hear mixed shouts of your name and Kayn's. You smile, this is gonna be your win.
The fight starts good, in neithers favor, but as minutes of colliding blades pass, you start being out of breath. You have good physique, the techniques and moves you use are just too demanding. You try not to show it, but Kayn notices.
"Tired?" He smirks as he stands in a ready-to-fight position a few meters away from you.
"Trying to tilt me? Please." You laugh and dive into the space between you two in incredible speed, your blade ready to pierce his body.
As many times before, he is just too strong. Even though you caused him some wounds and damage, making him try really hard and over the expectations, you failed to take him down completely. At one point he slashes your side with his scythe and disappears for a moment. Well disappears, you know this move, you feel your body aching and then he slashes out of you, making you fall on knees. Your hands stop your body from colliding with the ground.
You are done.
Fuck. Shit. Damn. You really didn't expect him to use his ultimate, not like he ever uses it. You knew this move, but didn't count with it. Your mistake. Fuck.
You refuse to be that pathetic and faint and do everything you can to stay conscious despite the pain and lack of energy. You hear the disappointed shouts along with cheering for Kayn.
Kayn slowly comes to your side. You hate to be seen in this pathetic condition, but what can you do? Shit happens.
He says your name.
"Don't talk to me." You spit out blood. "Was Master Zed watching?"
"Yeah." You hear the joy of winning from his voice.
"For fucks sake." You whisper, tightening your fists with dirt from the ground. You try so hard to be conscious it hurts.
When you a few hours later sit on the bed of the medical room of the Order of Shadows you persuade the medic you are good to go. Despite his convincing you to stay, you don't want to seem that low you need a night in the medical wing just bcs of a duel with Kayn. How pathetic would that be.
So you walk to your room through the outside basement of the Order's grounds. It's late evening and you are still trying to recover even though the healing was done.
"The fuck was that." You hear someone behind you. You sigh and turn.
"We bet a good amount at you and you turn out to be such a disappointment." Another voice says.
"Oh fuck off." You say, annoyed. Not like you don't have to deal with your own letdown.
Then you are pinned to the wall next to you. Pain shots through your whole body again, the wounds making themselves known again.
"You fucking suck."
"Get the fuck out of me." You try to push him away, but your energy is still yet to be regained.
"If you are that weak you might not have a place in the Order." You earn a punch in your stomach.
For real? These fuckers. If you were in full health you would slice their throats in a second and they know it. They are just powered by rage and knowledge you can't do much at this condition. Honestly they wouldn't be even able to touch Kayn a slightest yet you made him limp out of the dueling ground with his arm covering his almost sliced eye. Not mentioning making him use that spell.
"Come at me, shits." You laugh. "I'll take you down with one hand easily." You taunt them, refusing to submit to these fuckers. Even if it cost you your life.
Your neck is grabbed and you are lifted to the air, choking, but still smiling. Pain shots through your exhausted body.
Then it happens fast, but you are freed, falling on the ground leaping for air. You look up and see long dark hair with a signature scythe.
"You better know your place, low ranks." Kayn says with disgust and contempt in his voice. He drops the guy's collar and lets him fall on the ground.
The attackers sport great fear in their eyes, you would laugh if you weren't in such a pathetic position. The one on the ground stands up as fast as possible and with anger and humiliation grabs the other's arm and speed walks away from you and Kayn. They have no chance. At least he knows that much.
Kayn looks at you.
You look at him.
You should thank him, but your pride is making it hard for you.
"Thanks…" You say in the end, with your hand on the wall supporting your body you stand up.
"Honestly you got some nerve." Kayn chuckles.
Even though the events that happened you and Kayn still were good friends and you couldn't hate him. Of course you were upset, but that is just a rivalry and you are mature enough to accept defeat.
You laugh even though it makes your whole body hurt.
"I am just… -" You can't hold any longer. Your mind clouds darkness and you fall unconscious.
Kayn catches you before your body hits the ground.
"...the best." He finishes your sentence even though you can't hear him.
He lifts your body up and carries you to your room.
You really fucking deserve a rest.