Chapter 30. Burning Shadows

For the longest time we just stood there waiting to see who would attack first. She had her spear pointing at me and my sword was in front of me pointing down with my dagger pointing away from my chest. She was looking over my weapons and my stance while I was letting the anticipation rise in me. It would help since I don't have much energy and I can't afford to lose this. I didn't want to kill her so I avoided listening to the adrenaline pumping into me. I was starting to have second thoughts. As if she had read my mind she dashed forwards once I first had a second thought and sent he spear forwards with a thrust. Spears are long weapons, you don't need to be very close to deal damage and you can keep people away. However they are very easy to deflect the farther they attack, this was one of those cases. Her spear was aimed for my chest so I spun along the spear and pushed it away with my dagger. I was about to dash forwards but she had already brought the spear back and was about to thrust again. I readied myself for the attack by bringing up my sword however the attack never came. Instead she hit the gem on the bottom of spear against the ground, breaking it open. The fire around us moved towards the gem pieces and reformed it on the bottom. Then with the strings of fire she pointed it at me sending them flying towards me. I dived out of the way of the fire but it just tracked me and followed my movements. I started to dash to keep it away all the while Que was taking random thrusts at my movements either causing me to dive over them or roll. This time she swung upwards causing me to stop, and because I stopped the fire caught up and tied my feet to the ground. I struggled against the fire, it didn't burn but it didn't budge either and I could see Que ready to attack me. She took a step back and held the spear behind her then with one movement she spun once then the second spin she swung sending a wave of fire towards me. With no way to dodge I held my sword and dagger in front of my arms and moved my arms in front of my chest and head. The wave passed through me sending me backwards but since I was tied to the ground I couldn't move forcing me to take the full brunt of the attack. The other effect was a strong pain across my chest. My sword blocked most of the damage but I had a large gash across my chest that felt like it was on fire. After the attack the fire that had me tied down disappeared into the ground and I stumbled backwards. Que noticed this and gave up her fighting attitude for a moment "Do you want to stop? I don't want to hurt you" she said.

All I did was start chuckling then once I was finished with my laughing fit I said "Then why are you fighting".

She stepped back for a moment unsure of what to say but then she took her stance again and replied "Because I must".

I took a step forwards and felt my blood spill out a little as I took my stance "I fight because I can" I said. She had a strange look of surprise and fear all in one, surly she would have assumed I wasn't with the Noxians back at the bandit camp right? She shook the look from her face and readied herself again. I was the first to attack this time as I sent three daggers seemingly out of nowhere at her. She was able to block two but the third hit her in the shoulder. She was about to pull it out but it disappeared in a small cloud of black mist. I moved forwards a few steps "I'm not holding back anymore, my power wont let me" I said "Believe me when I say this, I wasn't always like this. But my past self is dead now leave me be".

She looked at me confused for a moment "I believe there is good in anyone, just because you have a lust for power doesn't mean your a lost cause".

The words stuck to me for a moment, so there are people like that. At first I thought of people like that as kind and forgiving but since the incident at the orphanage I learned they were just people. Since the owner herself was must like Que. "Your wasting your time, I'm going to give you one chance to back down" I said.

I simply replied with her pointing her spear at me a thrusting even though I was to far away to hit. My reply was simple "I'm not holding back now". The adrenaline was pumping in my veins it has been since the fight started but I didn't want to use it. I had no real reason to kill her since all she was is annoying to me. That didn't seem like a reason worth getting my weapons bloodied, it's the same reason why the drunken brutes tonight got away with just a stab wound. The adrenaline the Living Shadow was giving me would make up for my hunger and fatigue. With a smirk and a small chuckle I disappeared leaving a clone of me behind as I moved behind Que. I made the clone make a stupid approach as it charged he with both sword and dagger. She thrusted forwards and the clone ducked under the attack. The clone was almost within weapons reach when she spun around and swung her spear in a wide arch knocking both the clone and me back a little. The clone disappeared and I couldn't capitalize on the opening due to me spitting blood. At first she was unsure of what to do since I just disappeared but she looked towards the sound of me coughing blood. She was wide eyed and I think I could see tears welling up in her eyes but I took that as weakness as I forced myself to my feet. Currently all my energy was adrenaline otherwise I would have passed out already. I could hear my heartbeat in my head and feel it across my body as my damaged body battled a neverending fight with pain and fatigue. I didn't feel the pain of either of the slashes, I had lost too much blood and gone numb. I knew if I didn't get help soon I would die so I wanted to finish this up quickly... Why did I want to avoid her help so much? She's clearly able to handle herself but I have a feeling in my gut that she will be the death of me. No, I had to fight back. My only options are to catch her off guard, head on attacks end with me getting attacked. My other option is to flee but with the amount of blood my losing she could easily find me. I sheathed my dagger and readied my damaged body for an attack. I held my sword across my body as the right side of my body faced her. She simply waited for me to attack spear in hands. I used my familiar attack heartbeat as I dashed past her slashing across her body and landing on the other side of her. The effect happened in this order, First the force of the attack caused my wounds to widen sending blood onto the ground. Second my sword breaks in two pieces with the second piece flying off the cliff of the lookout into the forest. Finally I fall to the ground from my lack of energy. After a moment I force myself to roll onto my back only to see a strange light near Que. She turned to me and I could see it was a large wall of fire. She must have remembered the attack from the dungeon. I couldn't make a comment if I wanted to. I had lost to much blood and in the fight. My vision faded with my last sight being of Que causing her spear to disappear into fire.