Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty

Hanna sniffled and wiped her eyes, but the tears did not stop. “I can’t even begin to express how much I regret betraying you two,” she said. She pulled up her knees and hugged them. Hanna continued talking to DJ and Lui, but she did not dare look at either of them. “What kind of despicable person would do that to their friends?” she asked. 

“One that did it for the greater good, as you mentioned,” DJ answered in a matter of fact manner. He looked around the room, somewhat expecting another round of guards to show up or some other person in charge to burst through the door and take over now that EDJ had been dealt with. The room remained quiet. No one entered. No one left. It wasn’t entirely safe, but DJ was also too tired to worry about it. The fight left him injured and exhausted. For the moment, he decided to lie on his back and recover. The least he could do was take a minute to breathe and rest before figuring out what to do next. 

“It’s probably not any of my business,” Lui started in a quiet voice, still sitting beside Hanna. “But I want to know why…”

Hanna absently stared at the frozen form of EDJ, but continued hugging her legs. “Why what?” 

“Why did you hide it? Your evil side?” Lui hesitantly asked. “All this time, you were struggling and we didn’t even know. We would have helped. We would have tried.”

I was afraid, Hanna thought. Instead she muttered, “I didn’t want you to worry.” Hanna rested her head against her knees. “I didn’t want to be a burden.”

Lui frowned in concern. “Sharing a burden doesn’t make you one,” he said. “And it’s easier to carry a burden together than it is to face it alone.”

Hanna sniffed again, tears finally seeming to dry. “You have enough on your hands as it is,” she answered, briefly gesturing to EDJ. “Far be it from me to bring any more evil to your door.” She took a breath and wiped her face. 

“That shouldn’t have mattered,” Lui said, also watching Iul for a moment before turning to her again. “You can talk to me about anything. I’ll listen. No matter what.” Hanna sniffed again, but did not respond. “Any other burdens I should be worried about?” Lui asked with a small smile. 

Hanna did not smile, still preferring to stare off at anything other than look directly at Lui. “She really did want to kill you,” Hanna said softly. Lui was glad the room was quiet. He had to lean in to even hear her. “This evil side of me,” Hanna continued. “She really does want to cause everyone pain and suffering. She’s still me. I can never change that. She’ll always be me.” Hanna buried her head in her knees again. “I know I don’t deserve your friendship after everything I’ve done.” Her voice was slightly louder, but now it was muffled. “I know apologizing for it doesn’t make what I did any less severe. I’m pathetic. You probably hate me and you’d have every right to!” Hanna’s black wings unfolded and wrapped around her frame, as much as the little wings could, as if to shield herself from harm. 

“I could never hate you,” Lui said softly. Quite the opposite. Attempting to lighten the mood, Lui said, “Hey, if anyone’s at fault here for pulling out your evil side it’s EDJ.” Lui pointed to the frosty Evil Other. 

Hanna looked up and smiled a little, wings folding back into place. “It wasn’t all his fault.” She looked sad again. “If I hadn’t left… If I’d have just stayed and waited instead of going off on my own…” Hanna shook her head. “None of this would have happened if I-” 

“Hanna,” Lui interrupted. Hanna finally turned to look at him, her blue eyes wet and glistening in the dim light. “No more what-if games,” Lui continued. “We’ll work on that evil side of yours. We’ll think of some positive outlets for it or something.” Lui shrugged. “You made a mistake. So what? It’s not the end of the world.” Lui smiled at her. “We all make mistakes. The measure of a person is how they move forward after learning from them.” He leaned in and whispered, “Everything’s going to be ok.” Lui nudged Hanna’s shoulder with his before leaning back with an easy grin. 

Hanna took a breath, finally letting go of her knees and relaxing her posture a bit. “Thank you,” she whispered.  

“Ah, don’t sweat it. I’m just happy you’re you again,” Lui answered with a laugh and bright smile. 

Hanna stretched her legs and stood up. As soon as she was up, she wobbled a bit, almost falling over. 

“Are you alright?!” Lui asked, automatically reaching a hand out to catch her if she fell. 

Hanna shook her head. “I’m fine,” she insisted. “I just need a minute to recover.” 

Lui slowly stood up. “You look like death warmed over.” Hanna shot him an incredibly annoyed look. “W-what I mean is, you overdid it again,” Lui quickly rephrased. 

“Heh, all for the greater good,” Hanna responded with a short laugh and nod in DJ’s direction.

“You push yourself too hard,” Lui commented before switching to a more comical tone. “How are you supposed to keep me in line if you’re unconscious?” 

“Troublemaker,” Hanna responded with a soft giggle.

Lui started patting his pockets. “I’ve got some fruit snacks somewhere around here…”

“I’m fine,” Hanna once again insisted, waving a hand. “Go check on DJ.” Hanna shooed Lui off until he relented and went to check on the Original. 

Lui picked up the fallen lance on his way to DJ. The Original was still on his back with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. “Hey.” Lui crouched beside him. “You awake?” Lui asked.

“Yeah,” DJ answered, slowly sitting up and looking at Lui. “We need to figure out where we’re going from here. And what to do with EO.” 

Lui nodded in agreement. “What’s the plan?” Lui asked, handing the lance over. 

DJ took the weapon, retracted it to its travel size and slung it over his back. “Find our way to the control room. Contact the authorities. Wait for backup,” DJ answered. 

Lui nodded again. “Good plan.” He stood and offered a hand to DJ.

DJ grabbed Lui’s arm and the Other pulled him to his feet. “Thanks, buddy.” DJ secured Iul’s swords to his belt, preferring to hold on to them for the time being. He looked around the room and checked his watch. “I don’t know how much resistance we’ll meet so best stay on your guard,” DJ said. “Who knows what other traps EO still has in this crazy place. We should also see what we can salvage from here before moving on.” Lui stood at attention and saluted the Original before breaking out into a wide grin. Lui turned and took off to see what he could find. 

DJ made his way to the two icy Evil Others. Hanna had picked up her own sword and was sliding it back into its scabbard when DJ approached. He knelt next to EDJ and poked the ice. “How long do you think that will hold him?” DJ asked. 

Hanna shrugged. “Few hours maybe?” Hanna answered. “Being a pyromancer should keep him from getting hypothermia or frostbite so the ice might not even hold him that long.” 

DJ nodded and stood again, still staring at the frozen body. “I don’t feel like dragging him around, but I’m also not sure how safe it is to leave him here.” 

“There’s a shortcut to the control room I can show you, so it’s not like we’ll be that far away should something happen,” Hanna offered, crossing her arms and also watching the frozen Evil Other. “I can put a few more layers of ice over him, if that makes you feel better. Or I can stay here with him.” DJ remained silent for a moment in thought, considering all their options. Mistaking his silence for hesitation, Hanna said, “You… probably don’t trust me enough for that.” Her voice held disappointment. Whatever thought DJ was focusing on was interrupted as he turned to her with a raised brow. “Trust doesn’t come easily,” Hanna continued, staring at the human-sized ice cube with a frown. “I took your trust and shattered it. I deserve to be locked up as much as he does…” 

“If it’s a question of trust, it will be a bit harder to trust you now,” DJ admitted. “But I’m willing to give it to you again. I can see that you are truly remorseful for your actions and are willing to make the changes that will prevent something like this from happening again.” 

Hanna looked hopeful, if only for a second. “Do you think you could ever forgive me?” Hanna asked. 

“Well, now if it’s a question of forgiveness,” DJ said, acting as though it were an entirely different topic, because it was. DJ paused, but eventually smiled. “Yeah. You’re forgiven.” Seeing the relief wash over Hanna’s face made him laugh a little. “Lui’s right, you know,” DJ said in reassurance. “We wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble to save you if you weren’t worth saving. I still consider you my friend and we certainly don’t hate you.” 

Hanna smiled, albeit dimly. I should be hated, after everything, she thought. How can Lui still say he trusts me? I crushed him, I put him down, lied to him, even tried to... every time, he got right back up again. He deserves better. Some friend I turned out to be…

Not finding anything of worth among the random items left in the arena, Lui turned back to see Hanna and DJ talking in front of a frozen EDJ. Lui smiled. It’s finally over. We can go home now. Everything’s back to the way it should be. Having a thought, Lui reached into his pocket and pulled out the little string bracelet. He stared down at the green and black keepsake for a moment, still smiling. I got my friend back. Everything’s going to be ok. Just as Lui was about to put the bracelet back where it belonged, something stopped him cold and filled him with dread. Lui’s fingers and hands started to fade in front of his eyes. Lui gasped and dropped the bracelet. He looked up to see Hanna and DJ still ahead of him. Lui reached out. “Ha-” Too late. Lui’s body dissolved into a million particles and disappeared. 

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Forty-Nine

Without warning, EDJ launched into an attack. DJ redirected the assault with his lance, raising his shield and sword arm to stop an incoming hit from Shard. EDJ came back around and Shard had to swerve out of the way to evade swings from both Original and Evil Other. Surprisingly, DJ held his own against both assailants. Even after Shard froze another portion of the floor closer to DJ. 

“Come on, melt faster,” Lui muttered to himself, eyes darting between his hands and the battle. Lui melted through the ice keeping him restrained as quickly as he could with the meager light he had. Once he was free, Lui jumped to his feet and ran for his sword. The ice surrounding his weapon had melted enough on its own that Lui was able to grasp the handle and rip the blade free. Sword in hand, Lui rushed to join the fight and protect his Original. 

Shard flew into the air and dove in for an attack from above, trying to stay out of EDJ’s way. DJ slammed the end of his lance into the floor with pressurized wind magic to shove the attackers away in all directions. With one more swift lance swing, DJ pulled the air around Shard toward the ground before evading a jab from EDJ. Shard was barely able to stop herself from slamming into the floor the way Iul did earlier on in the fight. EDJ kept the Original distracted. As Shard moved to throw a slash at DJ again, Lui stepped in front of her and blocked the attack. Seeing his chance to take the offensive, DJ unleashed a furious assault on his Evil Other, knocking Iul back a few feet. 

“You made a mistake by forgetting about me,” Lui said, parrying Shard’s sword away.

“Grr, I don’t have time to deal with you!” Shard tried to get around to DJ only for Lui to keep intercepting her. The sudden noise of a weapon dropping caught both of their attention. DJ’s lance was on the ground and both he and Iul were locked in a neutral sword bind. EDJ shifted just enough to drop the weight of the sword and go for a grapple, which DJ did not anticipate. 

No! Stop! Just STOP! “I can’t take this anymore!” Shard dropped her sword and shoved past Lui. She threw out a wave of ice magic with both hands, freezing the floor directly beneath both DJs. Both Original and Evil Other slipped on the ice, pulling and wrestling each other for control as they fell. Lui took a step forward. With an icy claw, Shard turned and knocked the sword out of Lui’s hand. Instead of attacking, she held up the frozen hand to halt Lui. “Just wait,” Shard warned. Lui paused, looking from Shard to the two DJs and back in confusion. Shard turned to the two still fighting and asked, “EDJ, you alright?”

With a short blast of light magic to melt the ice floor, DJ was the first one up. He jumped to his feet and held both swords to EDJ’s throat. Panting, DJ looked back at Lui and Shard. “No, I don't think he's alright. Do you?” DJ answered, still emanating snark. He watched Shard with narrow green eyes. 

Shard looked at EDJ then at DJ with a frown. “I suppose this was going to happen sooner or later.” She slowly stepped toward the two. “DJ,” she started, icy claw arm returning to her normal hand. “I have a question for you.” Tension rose with every step.

“Ask it.” DJ helding the blades even closer to EDJ’s neck in warning. A quick glance at Lui revealed the uncertainty on the Other’s face.

Shard paused in her path as she watched DJ. Her eyes turned from red to blue. “Do the ends justify the means?” Hanna asked in a serious tone. 

DJ’s glare turned to surprise as realization flashed across his face. “Of course,” he whispered to himself, mentally piecing things together. “I think… you didn’t actually do it, did you?” he asked, almost in relief. Hanna shook her head. 

EDJ squirmed, blades still uncomfortably close to his throat. “What’s going on?” he looked from DJ to Hanna. As soon as he noticed the color shift, his eyes widened. “Oh no.”

“You made one mistake, EDJ,” Hanna said as she resumed her walk toward the two. “Wanna guess what that was?” 

EDJ attempted to scoot back as Hanna knelt next to him. EDJ yelled and turned in panic to get away, but Hanna grabbed him and did not let go. Layer by frosty layer, Hanna started encasing EDJ in ice. EDJ gasped and struggled to get enough fire to melt the ice, but it was too late. His limbs were already too frozen to move, though he gave off plenty of steam. “I never pressed that button.” Hanna answered her own question as she continued encasing EDJ in ice. 

“I…completely… forgot…” EDJ’s breathing came out short and shallow as the layers of ice around him thickened and the steam stopped. “So… cold…” EDJ glared at her. “Traitor...I...thought...you…” Overcome with cold and exhaustion, EDJ passed out as Hanna finished encasing him in ice. Hanna sat back on the ground and let out a deep breath, all energy completely expended. DJ also plopped down on the ground in exhaustion, though held on to both blades. 

“Wow, that was an awkwardly anticlimactic end for such a spectacular fight,” Lui commented with a nervous chuckle. Lui retrieved his weapon and cautiously approached Hanna. “Is… Is it really you again?” Lui asked quietly. 

“It was always me,” Hanna answered in shame. “From the very beginning.” She looked up at Lui in tears. “I am so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Lui said as he sheathed his sword and sat next to her. He reached out a hand, but, upon remembering how well that went last time, immediately retracted it. “It’s going to be okay. It’s over.” Lui reassured with a smile. Lui turned his attention to DJ and frowned. “You’re bleeding again.” 

“It’s fine,” DJ answered, inspecting the area Iul sliced with a dagger earlier. “He caught between the plates, but didn’t get very far. I don’t think he hit anything vital.” DJ turned back to Lui with a tired smile. “Just a flesh wound,” he finished. DJ looked down at the two swords he recovered from Iul. Black and red were the colors of the hilts while the blades themselves were silver. Etching on the metal near the hilt of one blade demanded a closer look. “The Last Word.” DJ read, holding up the sword to the dim light. He inspected the second blade. “Kindness.” DJ rolled his eyes. 

Seeing DJ was more or less in one piece, Lui turned to the frozen Evil Other. Can he even breathe in there? Would he need to breathe or is he just in stasis? Lui reached out and tapped the ice casing. Tap. Tap. Tap. Solid. Either way, EDJ wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. 

Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Eight

The stalagmite that was Lui’s hiding spot only seconds ago shattered, but he didn’t even flinch. Electricity still coursing around and through Lui, he stared back at Shard with determination. The bits of ice ricocheting off the thunder shield occasionally caused the lightning to flicker and jut away from Lui, but never enough to go anywhere. As the blizzard raging around him increased in density, the blue lightning magic turned an eerie green hue. The few still functional lights left in the arena made the green thunder aura look that much more menacing, if Lui hadn’t been the one wielding it. 

Shard was flying in place a few feet above the floor, the blizzard continuing to spin around her. Her pigtails had come loose again and her black hair whipped around her shoulders like a shredded cloak in the storm. Frostbite was still in her hand. Shard glared back at Lui, the fury in her red eyes almost appearing as if it simmered down into boredom. “Have you finished your little religious rant yet?” she asked. 

Lui could see Hanna’s light nearing the surface, ready to break free if given the chance. He smiled. “I think so,” Lui answered. 

“Good.” Shard raised her free hand. All the ice in the blizzard compacted at once and smashed into Lui, sending him flying. Lui crashed to the ground, the protective electric barrier fizzling out with a zip. Shard gently landed and stepped up to him. “I’m getting tired of our little game. How many more times do I have to knock you down before you stay down?” 

Lui didn’t answer at first. It took a moment for him to regain his senses after the magic impact. Lui rolled onto his stomach with a groan, breathing heavily. “...at least…once more…” he answered weakly, struggling to even push himself up from the floor.

Shard huffed, grip tightening on the hilt of her weapon. “Last chance, maggot. Any final requests before I dispose of you?” 

 “...yeah…” Lui replied, grimacing in pain and leaning on his arm. “...just one… I want my best friend back.”

Shard frowned. “That’s the problem with you do-gooders. You think you can save everyone and you can’t. Darkness always wins.” Shard spun Frostbite backward, readying to strike. Lui let out a small laugh, halting Shard. 

“You’re wrong.” Lui managed to get himself to a sitting position before he turned to Shard with an exhausted exhale. “There is still light, no matter how dark it gets.” Lui offered a soft smile. “All the violence and evil in the world absolutely terrifies me, Hanna…” He looked her straight in the eye. “But your darkness doesn’t scare me.” 

Shard reeled back as though she had been struck, though nothing touched her. The sword dropped from her hand, clattering against the icy floor. In an instant, Hanna’s eyes were blue again as she stared back at Lui in complete shock. All the anger and hatred dissipated. Hanna sank to her knees. Her shoulders lowered as the shock melted into sorrow. “...Lui…” Hanna whispered. 

“Hi, Hanna,” Lui said quietly. For one brief second, time stood still.

“Do you…” Hanna’s voice died as she choked up and looked away. She sniffed before continuing. “...do you still...trust...her?” Hanna asked in a small voice.

“That Hanna, yes,” Lui answered, offering a compassionate smile. This was Lui’s gift, after all. Reaching beyond the surface and pulling out the good in anything. In everything. 

Hanna took a shaky breath. Though she held back the tears and emotions threatening to overwhelm her, the shame on her face was obvious. “...Lu…I…” Before she could say another word, the entire room was flooded with bright, white light. 

It took a moment for Lui’s sight to recover. In the first few seconds, all he could see were white blobs whether his eyes were open or closed. He blinked several times, vision slowly returning. By the time Lui could see across the room again, he realized EDJ was wriggling around on the floor. Hanna had been sitting with her back to the light. Even though she was also blinded initially, she had to turn around to see how the DJ battle was going. Lui smiled when he saw DJ was still standing. “Well, that’s a reli-” Lui was interrupted mid sentence.

“APPRENTICE!” EDJ shouted, blindly clawing in their general direction. “I could use your help!”

Hanna turned ever so slightly with a sidelong glance back at Lui. Her eyes were red. 

Lui’s stomach dropped. Oh no. “Hanna, wait!”

Without a word, Hanna froze Lui’s foot to the floor again, grabbed her sword, and shot into the air straight for DJ. 

“DJ, look out!” Lui called out. 

DJ twisted and pulled his sword up with barely enough time to block Shard’s blade. The force caught DJ off guard, causing him to stagger back. With a shove and blast of wind, DJ pushed the assailant away. DJ activated the collapsible buckler on his arm and stared Shard down. “It seems you still have a shred of loyalty left,” DJ commented wryly. “Pity it’s for the wrong team.” 

Shard smirked. “He requested assistance and I answered. Nothing more to it,” Shard said, spinning her blade forward. “I expect a good fight out of you.” Shard attacked again, going for a downward diagonal cut only for DJ to catch her in an overhead bind and parry to the side. 

“That, I can guarantee, but you won’t like how this ends,” DJ answered, anger returning. “Don’t expect me to hold back just because you used to be my friend!” DJ charged forward, batting away Shard’s blade with his shield while he brought EDJ’s stolen sword in for a slash. 

Shard dropped out from under the direction of the blade. In the same moment, she caused a column of ice to shoot up from the floor and hit DJ, throwing him into the air.

“I don’t,” Shard replied.

“Guys, stop fighting! Please!” Lui’s cries went unheard as he focused on melting the ice holding him in place with the little light from his hands. 

DJ landed on his shoulder, pain shooting down his already injured side, but got back to his feet quickly. The fact that his arm refrained from dislocating could only be attributed to his armor. Battered, bruised, bleeding, burned. None of that mattered. DJ glared at Shard. Wrong. All wrong. Even in EO’s defeated state, he still somehow won. How did it come to this? Why does it always come to this?! Seeing his lance still stuck in the wall close by, DJ threw a javelin of light at Shard and went to retrieve the abandoned weapon. As DJ was about to reach the lance, a fireball swooshed by his face. DJ instinctively raised his shield and twisted, a metallic clang ringing out as EDJ’s sword bounced off the shield. EDJ redirecting his attack, DJ bobbed to the side to avoid getting hewn in two. Reaching back with his free arm, DJ grabbed the lance and yanked it out of the wall. Out of the corner of his eye, DJ saw Shard flying toward him. DJ dove out of the way and faced his opponents, brandishing his lance in one hand and Iul’s sword in the other. Shard flew back and landed next to EDJ, who glared at the Original with bloodshot eyes. 

“You might be able to win against one or the other,” Shard commented sweetly, watching DJ with a sly smile. “But you’ll never win against us both. Why don’t you give up now and save yourself the energy?”

“Hmm, not a bad suggestion,” DJ answered, voice heavy with sarcasm. He mockingly pretended to stop and think it over. “And what would happen if I gave up?” 

Shard’s smile disappeared. “Do not mock me, slime.” EDJ started walking clockwise while Shard mimicked the movement counterclockwise. They circled DJ like two dark scavengers waiting for the final breath before descending on their prey, but DJ would not be taken down so easily. “Let’s put an end to all this fighting,” Shard said in a voice void of feeling. “How do you suggest we finish this, master?” 

“Shoot him in the leg with your ice,” EDJ answered. “Unless you’ve drained all your energy already.” EDJ took on an accusatory tone. “I saw that blizzard you created.”

“There’s no fun in outright disabling someone,” Shard countered with a pout. Lifting a hand, she shot out an icicle that hit the ground near DJ’s feet, freezing a section of the floor on impact. “But I can slip them up a little.” 

DJ cautiously stepped away from the iced floor, trying to keep both Shard and EDJ in his field of view while maintaining distance between them. A task of no little difficulty as it forced DJ back on the defensive. Shard stared DJ down with red eyes, glancing occasionally at EDJ. Come on DJ, you can do this, she thought, eyes momentarily shifting to blue. Even feigned defeat would allow me to stop him. Of course, no one heard her thoughts. 

Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Seven

Lui shook his head and blinked as the dust from the explosion settled. Half the lights in the room no longer worked and the other half flickered. Lui looked up to see DJ on the ground. Oh no. Before Lui even had a chance to fully stand up, an icicle smashed into him, knocking him down again. Lui coughed and groaned in pain, arms hugging his torso. Thankfully, his leather armor prevented the icicle from impaling him, but getting hit with the projectile still hurt considerably. 

“That last bit of light is always the hardest to snuff out,” Shard commented in an empty tone, walking up to Lui with Frostbite in hand. Whether the tornado pulled the sword loose from the wall or if Shard retrieved it herself amidst the chaos, no one could tell. Lui looked up at Shard with a pained grimace.

“Please, Hanna,” Lui weakly pleaded. “I know you’re still in there...”

Shard crouched to his level. “You just don’t get it, do you?” she asked, expressionless face tilted to the side. “You. Can’t. Bring. Her. Back. Give up. You continue to hope when it is obvious none exists.”

Lui chuckled with a wince. “Of course, I do,” he replied, resiliently peering back at her. “Glass half-full is the best way to look at things. If I didn’t have hope… I’d end up like you.” Lui grinned in amusement. “And who’d want that?” 

Anger immediately flooded Shard’s face. She pulled back her sword to attack only for Lui to jolt out of the way. Lui clambered to his feet. The pain prevented him from standing up fully, but it did nothing to deter his positive attitude. “You caught me off guard earlier,” Lui acknowledged, watching Shard. “But my reaction time is still better than yours. On an even playing field, I’m faster than you too.” He shot her a competitive smile. “Can you even keep up?” 

“Then allow me to slow you down,” Shard responded with a glare. Shard spun the blade backward before holding it in front of her. The weapon began glowing with a deep blue light as she charged it up. Lui’s eyes widened as soon as he realized what she was doing. He turned and took off for the closet cover, the ice wall Shard used during the tornado. As it happened back at the Arctic Circle, a globe of blue light exploded from Hanna’s sword, freezing everything in its path as it expanded. Large, jagged stalagmites of ice erupted from the floor and everything the globe touched was covered in a thick layer of frost, accelerating outward until it dissipated. This explosion was much smaller in comparison to the one at the pole, having a much shorter charge up time and only freezing a third of the room. Lui dove behind the wall, avoiding the frost with seconds to spare. Lui remained behind the wall even after the wave of frost died out, hiding quietly. Waiting. Listening. Having no idea that the other side of the arena was being consumed with flame.

“You don’t belong here,” Shard said loudly, meandering through the jagged pillars of ice, looking for her prey. “This is a battle for the elite only.”

“Then why are you here?” Lui automatically quipped back. The stalagmite next to his hiding position shattered into tiny ice chips. Lui cautiously slipped around the frozen wall and behind an ice spike as quietly as he could manage. The floor now having been transformed into an ice rink did not help his situation any.

“You test my patience, whelp,” Shard said as she approached where she thought Lui was hiding. “And you waste my time.” The wall crumbled into small ice chunks, but there was no one behind it. 

“Any extra minutes I have are worth spending on trying to convince you of the error of your ways, squeaky,” Lui’s voice called out from another direction. 

“Stop calling me that!” Shard spun around and sliced through an ice pillar. Nothing behind that one either. 

Lui ducked between two more stalagmites. The opacity of the crystalline structures was enough to distort the view and keep Lui hidden. Surely, all the unnecessary elemental energy had to be getting to Shard by now. All Lui had to do was wait her out. “It’s funny to watch you get so angry, moody,” Lui called out, continuing to intentionally provoke a response. “I wonder what happens when you get really mad.” 

“I told you to stop!” Shard shouted as another ice spike nearby shattered. 

Lui doubled back, staying low to avoid detection. “I’ll stop when you go back to normal,” he responded. “I don’t know what you are, but until then, you're not Hanna to me.”

“So much faith in your friend,” Shard uttered in hatred and disgust. “Your faith in humanity is your weakness.” 

“My faith isn’t in humanity,” Lui answered, as though the statement should have been obvious. “It’s in God.” Another ice column exploded into tiny pieces. Lui was running out of places to hide.

“Ah, I had almost forgotten,” Shard said as she strolled. “You’re one of them. Figures.” She sounded closer. 

Lui peeked around the ice spike he was taking cover behind, but he did not see Shard anywhere. “One of who?” he asked cautiously. 

The cover Lui was hiding behind crumbled and Shard stood in front of him. “A believer,” she answered with contempt. Shard slashed at Lui, an attack he narrowly avoided before he dove behind another ice pillar. Shard shattered that stalagmite as well as the three around it, but Lui still managed to escape. Shard frowned, red eyes livid. 

The piles of shattered ice on the ground lifted into the air and began swirling around the cryomancer, creating a localized blizzard. Shard had no idea which pillar Lui was hiding behind but there were not that many left to check. 

“Does that make things easier?!” Shard asked in a loud, agitated voice over the storm surrounding her. “Pretending some deity out there actually cares about what happens to this miserable planet while watching it implode?!” 

“It’s not pretend,” Lui answered, still hiding. “He does care. That’s the truth. I know Hanna sees it. Why don’t you?” 

Shard raised a hand and shattered two more ice pillars, adding the ice to her storm. No one was hiding behind them. “I’ve outgrown fairytales,” Shard replied, walking toward the last few remaining icicles. “Stories are lies meant to control people. No different than any other tactic. With the correct lies, people can be persuaded to do anything…” She glanced at the DJs still in conflict across the arena. One of them was yelling, but she could not tell which one. “Including murder,” Shard finished.  

The darkness of hatred and fear in Hanna’s heart was rooted deep and would not let go. Father, help her see. “Hanna, listen to me!” Lui called out over the storm. “Whatever is going on here, we can fix it. We can help you, but only if you let us in! You can live free from the grip of your tormentor!” 

“More LIES!” Shard screamed. Another pillar shattered. “Can your puny brain not comprehend the truth?! Or are you that delusional?!” The storm increased as Shard’s fury rose, snow and hail swirling around her at an incredible velocity. Lui covered his head as he crouched behind the last remaining pillar of ice. “There is no King that can save you from my hand,” Shard continued. “There is no Savior that can rescue the world from itself! No one cares! Horrifying things happen to everyone and there is nothing you can do to stop it!”

Lost. Lui blinked and looked up. Lost, the thought repeatedly pulled at him. Sorry, Hanna. I didn't know what you meant then, but I think I get it now… Please... Don't let the darkness win. Acting quickly, Lui brought his hands together, fingers spread as they tapped against each other at right angles. Tendrils of blue lightning wrapped around his body, branching and zigzagging without discernible beginning or end. The chunks of ice from the storm still pelting him started to harmlessly bounce away. Lui stood up from his position, but remained behind the last ice pillar. The flowing lightning current caged around Lui acted as a shield and barrier in the raging storm. It couldn’t protect against everything, but it would at least keep the hail damage to a minimum. 

“You’re right,” Lui answered Shard in a loud voice. “The worst of the worst can still happen and I can’t do anything to change it. You say the world is a cruel and unforgiving place? I already know that!” 

The storm slowed a little, but did not stop. Neither did Lui. “No one else cares so why should I? Why bother caring at all? Right?” Lui took a breath and released it before continuing. “A lot of bad things aren’t in my control, but I still have a choice. I can still choose good in spite of all the bad. Why? Because it makes the world a better place. Because it leaves people better than I found them. Because it’s the right thing to do.” Lui watched as the electricity snaking around his open hand deflected the ice pellets still raining on him. A stray thought in the back of his head wondered if his fingerprints differed from DJ and Iul’s. “Being selfish is easy. It’s a lot harder to be kind. It takes strength to be gentle and selfless and compassionate.” Lui’s voice grew louder as his attention returned to the situation at hand. “Kindness is the response to cruelty! Empathy is the key to hatred! Light is the answer to darkness! All light only has one source, the One True King!” Lui listened for a response. Hearing none, aside from the blizzard still in motion, Lui took another deep breath to steady his nerves. “Being cruel is easy...” Lui stepped out from behind the pillar to face Shard in the open, ignoring the pain from earlier and standing tall. “You’re not special for choosing it.” 

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Six

EDJ threw three fireballs at his Original. With a wave of wind magic, DJ redirected the fireballs into the ceiling. A jet of flames from the Evil Other forced DJ to roll out of the way. When DJ got up again, he threw another light javelin with his free hand toward his opponent. 

EDJ easily twisted out of the way of the projectile. “You must really think you’re something if you think you can pick a fight with me!” EDJ taunted from the air, laying down another barrage of fireballs toward his opponent. 

“I was trying to leave,” DJ reminded him, spinning the spear above him to deflect the attack. “You’re the one who wanted a fight.” 

“I didn’t hear you surrendering when we started,” EDJ shot back, carving through the air with his sword and sending a large wave of fire toward the Original.

“I will never surrender,” DJ countered, slicing through and pushing the flames away from him on either side with a cut of wind magic. “Unlike you, I don’t pick fights I can’t win.” 

EDJ scowled, launching into another aerial assault. Iul attacked in a blur. Using his artificial wings, he attacked from every angle and direction he could manage without getting thrown by DJ’s wind attacks. EDJ had lost one sword when DJ caught him off guard earlier, but that was fine. EDJ used his empty hand to cast fire magic instead. He threw out fireballs, jets of flame, and fiery darts. He didn’t care if the flames hit anyone other than his target. He didn’t care if the whole castle caught on fire, even though the room was built specifically to withstand it. All EDJ cared about was bringing the Original down. Iul was a raging wildfire, set on consuming everything around him and turning it all to ash so long as DJ went down with him. A bombarding, unstoppable force of pure chaos and destruction. 

DJ resumed a defensive position while keeping a wide distance between himself and the enemy. While Iul was trying to knock DJ off his feet, every stance DJ took was secure. Though DJ moved positions, guards, and sides frequently, he himself could not be uprooted. His use of wind magic kept the flames at bay while his use of light magic kept Iul busy. DJ was a living tree, bending and twisting in the storm, but unable to be broken or burned down. He maintained his controlled disposition, despite his anger. Iul would not win this fight. DJ would not let him. Too many lives were at stake, including his own. A persevering, immovable object of self-control and steadfast determination.

Both forces stubbornly attacked and defended against each other with the same amount of ferocity. As hard as the two sides fought, neither could gain the upper hand on the other. EDJ’s sword still glowed with red light and DJ’s lance still shone with blue. Blue and red clashed over and over and over again. Their fight alone was worthy of spectators. 

Throwing his hand out and twisting forward, DJ created a funnel of wind magic, pulling the air in the room into a tornado. EDJ instantly deactivated his wings, landing on the ground and countering with a wall of fire magic to push the funnel away. Fire and wind crashed into each other, creating a cyclone of fire in the center of the room. DJ and Iul stood their respective ground, each forcing more elemental energy into their attack. The fire tornado started out tall and slender as it whipped around. As it gained fuel from each side, the tornado suddenly shrunk into a short and wide cyclone. The orange and red flames turned blue and the whirling vortex seemed to slow down, looking more like a spinning top with a blue glow around it than the fire tornado it was a moment before. Without warning, a mighty bolt of lightning hit the cyclone in the center of the room. The fire tornado exploded and both DJ and Iul were thrown in opposite directions. 

DJ landed on his side and slid across the ground. He coughed as he sat up, trying to reorient himself as quickly as possible. Seeing his lance on the floor not too far away, DJ reached out for it only to find Iul’s blade in front of him. DJ looked up to see the Evil Other smirking down on him, wings out. Iul had activated his flying device to avoid getting knocked down and then to get to DJ before the Original could even retrieve his weapon. EDJ laughed at the predicament DJ now found himself in. 

“It’s the same old story with you,” EDJ mocked, glaring down and shaking his head. “Always gotta be the hero.” 

DJ glowered back. “And you’re always determined to be a problem.” 

“Keeps life interesting,” EDJ said with a smile. The smile faded and he took a more serious tone. “If you’re already on your knees, you might as well beg for your life.”

“I told you once already,” DJ started. “I will never surrender.” DJ blasted Iul with a gust of wind, catching Iul’s open wings and throwing the Evil Other back. “And I refuse to be another one of your casualties,” DJ finished. DJ grabbed his lance and twisted, sending a large stream of air to the side. The attack hit Iul and flung him into the wall with such force it broke the wing device attached to EDJ’s back. Iul’s body slid down the wall as his sword clattered on the ground nearby. DJ ran up to the fallen enemy and grabbed the discarded sword. DJ pointed the lance at Iul as the Evil Other sat slumped against the wall. “You’re done, EO. Give up,” DJ said, keeping the weapon trained on his opponent.

EDJ tried to laugh, his chortles broken between coughs. I don’t think so, EDJ responded to DJ through mindspeak, head still lowered.

Aren’t you listening to me?! Face it! It’s over! DJ narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice. “You should know when you’re beat.”

Iul slowly looked up at DJ with a tired smirk. “Would you?” Iul asked. 

DJ glared back at Iul’s smug, defiant face. There was no doubt in DJ’s mind that the Evil Other was the full embodiment of all the evil, darkness, and negative energy DJ himself possessed. DJ had lost count of all the atrocities Iul had committed and all the people he hurt along the way. And yet, not for the first time, DJ wondered if he wouldn’t have made some of the same decisions if their places had been swapped. Everything Iul had done was everything DJ was capable of doing, but chose not to. DJ wasn’t staring back at an Evil Other, a rogue clone, a corrupt doppelganger, or a broken enemy. He was staring at his own reflection. How had their lives ended up looking so different from each other? DJ was still angry, but the anger was tempered with disappointment and pity. This ends here. DJ pulled back the weapon to strike. He shoved the lance forward. Iul flinched at the sound the weapon made when it struck. EDJ blinked and turned slightly to see the spearhead stuck in the wall, inches away from his face. Iul turned back to stare at DJ with wide eyes. Compassion stayed DJ’s hand, but his face still held frustration as he glared at Iul. I can’t do it… no... I will not. 

Iul’s face lit up with a huge grin. EDJ immediately rushed forward, slicing into DJ’s side with a hidden dagger. DJ dropped the lance, barely lifting the sword in time to block another dagger attack. DJ kicked Iul and backed away, clutching his injured side. 

“What was that?! Mercy?!” EDJ stared at the Original with a wide, chaotic grin as he started to circle him. “You think I want your forgiveness?” 

“No,” DJ answered with a wince and labored breath. “But I was going to give it to you anyway.”

“BWAHAHAHAHA!” EDJ let out a long, maniacal laugh. EDJ’s smile vanished as soon as it appeared. “You think you’re so special, just cause you’re the Original?!”

“No. I don’t,” DJ answered sincerely, still gripping his side. “I have never looked down on you for being my Other, Iul. Not once.” 

“That name means nothing to me,” EDJ said in a low voice. “You mean nothing to me.” EDJ’s empty hand clenched around a ball of fire. The fire grew until it enveloped Iul’s whole body. Being in control of the flames, EDJ had no concern of being consumed by them. “You’re just a mercenary!” Iul blasted a surge of fire toward DJ. The Original gasped and dove out of the way, tucking and rolling to gain distance. “Another soul for sale!” Iul shouted, marching toward DJ while hurling a series of fireballs. “I have a castle!” DJ struggled to redirect the fiery projectiles with sideswipes of wind magic. “I have an army!” EDJ continued, fury and chaotic energy blazing. “I can rule the world! WHAT DO YOU HAVE?!” EDJ rushed in with his dagger. DJ parried the dagger with his sword, but Iul pulled a second hidden blade. DJ grabbed Iul’s wrist with his free hand, the dagger aiming for his throat. In the struggle, Iul noticed DJ’s eyes start to glow. EDJ panicked and tried to pull away, but it was too late. DJ’s entire form shone with blindingly bright light, flooding and illuminating the entire arena. The fire and light both died when Iul dropped his weapons. DJ let go and stepped back while Iul fell to the floor. Iul writhed, shoving the heels of his now empty hands into his temporarily blinded eyes. 

“Hope,” DJ answered quietly, hand returning to his injured side.