Fire and ice met in a barrage as the 'General' and I fought fiercely. I had seen in his eyes when I landed my first hit that he hadn't been expecting my strength, let alone my odd fighting style. My mouth twisted down sourly when I realised it was similar to his own; practiced to be used solo. Dont understand? Well think back to my sparring lessons. With only my physical strength to strike with I was ineffective, outmatched by people bigger and with more skill. Yet, had I only used magic, I would have been easily dealt with as I would be a sitting duck. Our fighting style was a combination of both; using low to mid-level magic to enhance and aid physical prowess. His was obviously more effective at first. After all, fire is a wild magic and can't be contained by ice without a high level of concentration that, at the moment, I couldn't afford. If I paid my magic the time it would need to overpower his own I would be dealt with in a manner of seconds.

So instead we fought sword to sword, sparks flying in the midst of our battle and nearby objects paying the price for our brutality. First it was tables and chairs, either demolished by wayward strikes or simply crushed under the growing pressure of the magic that emanated from us. As the force of our magic grew the damage became larger, shattering the floor and making the building rumble unsafely. Admist the fight people ran, crying out but not displaying the bravery to try and interfere. Wise, given that anybody without proper training would no doubt injure themselves more than either of us.

While my face was a twisted snarl of hatred his seemed truly delighted, lit up with a strange intensity. I was confused, not understanding the meaning of his happiness until he yelled out over the roar of the magic, "Your fighting is splendid!"

I felt sick with the knowledge. He wasn't just doing this for a cause, he was enjoying it. He enjoyed the violence that came with my anger, which only increased the happier he became. This monster should be writhing in guilt and agony, repenting endlessly for his crimes. Instead he fought, laughing all the while in earnest glee. I wanted nothing more at that moment than to rip his very face off, to prevent it ever showing happiness again. But I reigned myself in, trying to pull the calmness around myself as I fought, mentally playing back every sparring session I had ever had.

You're too stubborn, Seriphs voice floated through my consciousness, reminding me of the hundreds of times he had beaten me easily. Everytime he would say the same thing, face devoid of all emotion. Until I had talked with him properly I had always thought he had been mocking me, flaunting his obvious superiority over me. I had always fought like a rock, not budging or giving way to my opponent for a second. Seriph had always been like a river, moving around the obstacles I set with ease. This was his true nature, after all. He wasn't mocking at all, rather he was always trying to help in his own way.

I breathed deeply and retreated a few steps, pushing my shoes off as I did, and running my feet along the ground. With every strike he would try to deal I would glide backward, deflecting his blows rather than countering them. Soon I saw an anger begin to dwindle behind his eyes and he spat, "Fight properly!"

I didn't answer, focusing my magic on my feet and making the ground infront of me slick as I slid back. He barged forward obstanantly, slipping as he did so. He didn't lose face however, simply gathering even more of the fire element around himself.

"Caelan!" Brothers voice had been calling out from the sidelines as he tried to push his way close, held back by the force of the magic clashing. Somewhere in the distance I could hear more voices joining him, several calling out my name as I fought to remain calm. I had hoped that they wouldn't come, and that I would be able to resolve the matter quietly before they interfered. In the end I knew it must have been Seriph who had brought them here, using his freaky accurate judging ability. My knights have such a good leader, I thought quietly to myself, praying that he would continue to be a good leader.

"Join me," The general hissed, fire dancing around him as we continued to fight, "I can give you power, money, you name it. Yous could both be elite fighters with my guidance."

"No," I said coldly, not meeting his eyes as I struck at him with the back of my sword.

His face twisted and, as our two blades met and stayed locked in stalemate, he leant forward and whispered in a taunting voice, "Just as disobedient as your parents, to the very end," My calm demeanour cracked slightly and I struck at him wildly with ice magic, face contorting in rage as he laughed to himself, "Your temper is just as hot as your mothers, you know?! Despite the attitude her primary element was ice too," His lips curled into a cruel smile, "Like mother like daughter, eh?" I didn't reply, instead slamming my bare foot onto the ground and sending a wave of ice around me, which he melted easily before continuing in am irritated voice, "If those two had just stayed obediently I wouldn't have had to gone through all this fuss!" He gripped his sword so tightly his knuckles whitened as he swung it at me, "Two of my best agents wanting to leave just to protect their stupid little family ideals!" He growled, looking at me with hatred, "Now I can't use them or their son and you're here for some pitiful attempt at revenge," He kicked me in the stomach hard, sending me flying through one of the walls and into the street.

I stood shakily as he approached, readying my magic and sword as I yelled out, "This isn't revenge! Revenge is what you're good at. This," I swung my sword widely, sending icicles arcing into the air, "Is the price of peace!"

"Peace is for delusional fools," He shouted, caught unaware as an icicle embedded itself deep into his shoulder, smaller shards speckling the rest of him and twinkling slightly, melting gradually under the heat of his flames. In the end the effort only amounted in tiny, pin sized wounds and a larger one on his shoulder. In a casual manner he reached up and pulled the icicle out, carelessly tossing it aside as he continued, "I guess that parts genetic too, huh? Must have gotten that little gem from your arrogant parents," He covered his blade with fire menacingly, "Always thwarting my authority!" He jumped forward and tried to strike me, his blow landing onto the cobblestones as I jumped aside, "Always calling for peace!" He swung again, his blow missing my by a few inches, "They were assassins who didn't seem to realise they were assassins!"

I stopped, dropping my sword and smiling as I raised my hands high either side of me, "No. They knew what they were. But they were good people," I clenched my hands tightly, ice element radiating all around me as I focused, "And in the end you're the one," I glared at him with a triumphant smile, "A dead man... who doesn't realise he's a dead man!"

As I shouted the last sentence I began to morph the icicles I had embedded into him earlier. I had let him think he had melted them, but all along I had been breathing life into the minuscule specks to keep them from melting. Now, as he stood looking confused... I let them bloom.

All over his body icicles began to grow, weaving out and taking form around him. They expanded, dealing him with crippling injury but not killing him. That I saved, walking toward him with my eyes filled rage and tears. I stopped infront of him, watching as he writhed helplessly on the ground. In his eyes was terror as I reached into my uniform and withdrew a long, thin dagger and held it out infront of him, "It seems only fitting that you be killed by their blade," I said loudly, gripiping it tightly with both hands to plunge into his chest. As expected, now that the magic wasn't keeping others entering the area, Seriph darted forward, stopping me from landing the blow. I turned to him angrily, "Let go!"

He shook his head firmly, staring down at me with his dark eyes, "This isn't justice. He has to face a proper trial."

My hands shook as I lowered the blade, stepping back and nodding without meeting his gaze. The general snorted loudly, "The same! The lot of you! Always following your stupid little rules and living for your self-righteous duties! In the end where did it get them, though? Dead!"

I clenched my teeth and turned, shaking off Seriph and stabbing the blade deep into his uninjured left shoulder, hearing him cry out in pain as I turned and strode away sharply. My feet slapped against the cold ground as I walked to where brother stood, shaking and with his head hung. He didn't lift it as I approached, but instead I heard him mumble to me, "What have I done, Caelan? All these years I've spent tainting myself while working for the very people that killed mother and father..."

He sobbed, fists clenched tightly. I shook my head and wrapped my arms around him, smiling sadly as I did so. In a soft voice I whispered to him, "I told you to believe in me, didn't I? I promised I'd bring you peace, and I will."

I heard a shout from behind me and turned my head, not letting go of brother as I looked for the distraction. The general had somehow managed to throw Seriph away, and was currently reaching out to us with a confused expression. His left arm lifted and I I took a startled breath as we were engulfed in raging flames.

This was not the story of how I, the unlikely Sun-Knight in training, became the Sun Knight. This is the story of how I, Caelan Avick, together with my brother... Died.

Sorry for how short this chapter was! I didn't want to delay their fight any more, but I still wanted to end this chapter with a flare. (Get it? Cause of the fire? Haha... I suck at puns) Stay tuned for the next chapter (Yes there will be a next chapter, and this time from Seriph's POV) and thankyou for reading this chapter, and the ones before it! I hope you have, and will continue, to enjoy this mini-series as it reaches the climax of this arc.

I often look at the traffic charts of this story, and even if you don't realise it, I can see that you people have been reading, and it makes me super duper happy! If your shy I can understand, but I'd love to hear your opinions, ideas and thoughts on the plot so far!