Chapter 4: My Fight

The morning I woke without Razel's persistent nagging in my ear I knew that this was the day. The day that I went against him. The day I would make him pledge his undying loyalty to me as his master. I didn't care that he was the proud Magician of Black Chaos. I knew that I was going to enjoy this day.

I dressed quickly in black leggings and a denim shirt and went to our usual training field. It was quiet-too quiet. Razel was nowhere to be seen. Shutting my eyes I searched for him. My projection took me back to my house, and deep into the forest. Nothing. He had vanished completely. No, that's too easy. Razel is not that obvious, I thought. I readied my Energy for attack.

"You think you can challenge me?" Came his voice.

I darted my eyes around. His voice faded into the air.

I smirked and said defiantly, "No. I think I'll defeat you."

Razel's proud and haughty laughter filled the training area. "You can try. But, you'll have to find me first."

No sooner did he finish, a blast of blue light struck my back. I was thrust forward, my chest jutting out achingly far. I grunted from the blow but regained my feet fast.

"You bastard! You could have broken my spine doing that!" I yelled.

"The element of surprise. That jolt was not enough to severely wound you, though it has weakened you visibly. This leaves me with the advantage."

Another blast from a different direction came at me. The sound of whirling energy announced its arrival and I quickly made to block it. My shield deflected the blast but took a lot of strength. My loss of power worried me. I had spent all of my time working on my attacks and not my defense. I cursed myself for that.

"Until you can defeat me I shall be your Duel Spirit only in title. Now, let us end this pathetic charade."

When the third blast came, I knew that if I didn't do anything this time I would lose. As it drew nearer, I recalled the maple tree and the promise I made to defeat him. I let out a scream and threw all I had into the openness of the field. Sinking towards the ground, I watched as my energy rumbled in the field. It scorched the grass and left a vast fissure in the earth behind it. I watched as it swallowed up Razel's blast and obliterated his sudden visible defense shield. After moments of silence, he appeared when the attack had dissipated. His full battle regalia was torn and roughed up. The black leather was dirtied and his horned headdress was damaged. He was not smirking at me this time. He looked shaken, though not from fear. I chuckled inside, bet he wasn't expecting that. The Chaos Mage approached me steadily, his ruby pools fixed onto me. When he was an arm's length away, he dropped to one knee. He lowered his head, staring at the diamond shaped knee guard. I waited as he collected his words. The sight of this powerful mage bowing to me filled me with many emotions.

I had won. But there was something else inside me. I felt a bit sad for him in a way. It might have been the way he regarded his knee and nothing more, but it seemed that he did not truly wish to pledge himself to me. I tilted my head sideways. I was not offended, mind you. It just saddened me that no matter what the circumstance, this being had to be my Duel Spirit. I think that's when I really began to realize what all of this meant to me. I realized what Razel was, and I felt ashamed that I had treated him so rudely. He was another living creature as I was. It was not his choice that he be my Duel Spirit, these things are decided before birth. When Razel began to speak, I found that I had a new sense of…respect for him? And yes, one's emotions can change that swiftly.

"The battle to decide the fealty of the Duel Spirit has ended. I Razel, the Magician of Black Chaos, submit myself to thee my Mistress. Under the laws set forth by the cosmos, I am hereby bound to thee. I pledge myself to protect, serve, and fight for thee. Therefore, I Razel, recognize thee as my Mistress and Master. Will you have me as your Duel Spirit?"

Razel looked into my eyes then. I stared back into those eyes for the first time without defiance. I wondered if every person felt humbled the way I did when their Duel Spirit asked this. To this day, I cannot really say what passed between us. The thing I equate it to is that we understood one another. Human and Duel Spirit met and respected each other. I saw Razel that day, not just his blue skin and black garb; I really saw him. Then, I smiled at him. I smiled because I felt privileged and honored to be regarded as his Mistress. I remember that my smile became so wide that my eyes teared.

"Yes, I accept you as my Duel Spirit."

Razel nodded and continued. "It has been spoken. Now Duel Spirit and Master must engage in the sacred act of Energy Exchange. Once this is complete, the ties between Duel Spirit and Master will be solidified."

Motioning to rise, I followed his gesture and stood. I looked up at him with new eyes. Razel and I focused our energy and opened the pathways for exchange. Our hands grasped and we glowed together in a soft blue light, signifying the Energy connection. I was so warm and safe in that light. It tingled in my hands and feet. It was then that Razel reached down and took my right hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed my knuckles. For him, this was probably to seal the deal. But for me it made my cheeks burn. When the Exchange was finished he placed my hand down.

"It is done. Let us return home, my Mistress."