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. 

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Five

Shard covered Lui’s discarded sword in a layer of ice, gluing it to the floor. “How do you plan to beat me without a weapon?” Shard mocked, raising a brow.

“Easy,” Lui answered lightly with a smile. “Bore you to death with my incessant babbling! Or keep you busy long enough for DJ to do something. Whichever comes first, really.”

“Hang in there, Lui!” DJ shouted from his conflict with Iul. “You can do it!” 

“See?” Lui asked, smile widening. “He’s got it. Besides, I kinda have this thing against beating women.” 

Shard’s superior smirk melted into exasperation. “Then chivalry can die with you.” Shard raised her ice sword, but paused. She narrowed her eyes at Lui, who was still happily smiling back at her. Lui looked as though he knew something she didn’t. Lui’s boot was still stuck in ice, his sword was still frozen to the floor, and yet he knelt there smiling at her as though he didn’t have a care in the world. It irked Shard to no end. 

“Why are you doing that?” Shard asked suspiciously. “Stop it.” 

“Stop what?” Lui blinked at her. “Smiling? Smiling’s my fav-”

“STOP!” Shard shouted. “Just stop. Stop talking. Stop smiling. Stop!” Something was off. Shard gave Lui one more suspicious look. Lui was far from a threat even without being frozen to the floor. Shard frowned and turned to watch the DJs still in combat. 

The fight didn’t look like it was going well for either of them, but it was hard to tell who had the upper hand. “How are you holding up against the slime?” Shard called out to EDJ. 

Shard heard a crack and glanced back at Lui, who hadn’t moved.
“Just fine, although I haven’t gotten anywhere near his armor yet!” A familiar voice responded. 

“Wait,” Shard turned back to the fight in confusion. “Which DJ was it that answered me?” 

“The wrong one,” EDJ answered. He twisted to avoid another lance jab from DJ. “I guess we do sound irritatingly alike, don’t we?” EDJ asked. 

“Sadly, yes,” DJ responded. “The looks aren’t far off either. You could almost pull off being my evil twin.”

“Who says I haven’t?” EDJ answered with a laugh. He looked back at Shard and Lui, realizing they were no longer in combat. “What’s taking so long? Stop procrastinating, apprentice. Kill that rat and be done with it!” 

“I haven’t finished toying with him,” Shard muttered, mostly to herself. In a louder voice she asked, “Do you require assistance, master?” 

EDJ blocked an attack and charged in only to get thrown back. “NO! Now leave me alone! I’m concentrating!”

“Why do you remain loyal to him when he treats you that way?” Lui asked softly, voice heavy with genuine concern. 

Shard glared back at Lui. Lui’s empty hands were around the block of ice encasing his foot, but the ice was still solid enough to hold him in place. Suspicion did not leave Shard’s mind. “I owe him my freedom,” she muttered, turning back to watch the DJs battle. “Once we’re finished with the two of you,” Shard continued, tone threatening. “I’ll destroy everyone my weaker self befriended.” 

“Why would you do that?” Lui asked sincerely, carefully watching her.

Shard smirked. “Consider it recompense for standing in my way.”

“Is that all you are?” Lui questioned. “A bully? A bitter parasite feeding off Hanna’s fears and drowning her light?” 

Shard snapped around. “What did you call me?!” 

The fury in Shard’s red eyes should have intimidated him. Instead, Lui laughed at her response. “Sorry, did I hit a nerve with that one, squeaky?” he asked with a bright smile. 

Shard’s icy claw melted away, but the sword remained. She lifted the weapon and tilted her head. “Are you trying to anger me, weakling?” she asked. 

“Who are you calling weakling, moody?” Lui responded with a grin. “You're the one with the violently swinging emotions that can't stay straight for an hour at a time!” He giggled. 

Shard stepped closer, anger never leaving and tone serious. “I am one move away from ending your life… I could kill you as easily as ripping petals off a flower. The only reason you’re still alive is so that I can cause your friend as much pain as possible.” She gave a sinister smile. “How does killing you in front of him sound?”

“Sounds like fun!” Lui answered, confident smile remaining. “You couldn’t bring yourself to kill me then.” Lui shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll do it now.” 

“Bold words for a coward hiding in the shadow of his Original,” Shard responded with malice. 

“I don’t have to be in his shadow,” Lui said with a knowing look. “I’ve got my own. See?” Lui’s hands, which were closed around the ice on his boot, twisted outward, palms glowing with white light. The act surprised Shard into jumping back. Lui stood, wrenching his foot free of the half-melted ice. Shard lunged at him with the sword, but her opponent rolled out of the way. Lui grabbed his frozen sword’s handle and yanked on it, but could not free it from its icy prison. He kicked the blade, cutting his boot, but the weapon did not budge. Lui looked up in time to narrowly avoid another sword swipe to the face. 

A strong gale pulled at them, knocking Shard and Lui both down. Wind? Where did the wind- Lui turned to the Original and Evil Other battle in time to see a large cyclone of fire form in the center of the room. Oh no. Lui watched the fiery tornado spin, both sides of the battle oblivious to anything or anyone else. The wind whipped around Lui’s head, pulling at anything that wasn’t nailed down. Lui glanced around the room. Lights flickered and paneling started to peel from the walls. They’re going to bring the whole castle down at this rate! Lui glanced at Shard, who was hugging the ground in an effort not to get pulled in. She created a wall of ice between her and the cyclone, granting herself protection. Lui looked back at the battle with a frown. Concentrating, Lui drew a three pointed pattern in the air, raised his hand, and immediately yanked it down with all his strength. A large bolt of lightning exploded in the center of the room.

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Four

Shard attacked Lui outright, swinging her longsword with both hands. Lui protected against the assault with a parry and backed away from her. “I don’t get it,” Lui said, switching to a fool’s guard as he continued walking backward. “How did he do it? Was it brainwashing? Torture? Did he threaten someone?” Lui questioned. 

“What on earth are you babbling about?” Shard asked in a bored voice as she landed and walked toward him. 

“EDJ,” Lui clarified as he continued to step away. “He’s the one that twisted your mind into the shape that created this evil apparition of your former self. I want to know how he did it. Was it this castle? The enemies?” Lui asked. 

Shard tilted her head curiously. “This really bothers you. Why do you care so much?” Shard asked. She threw an icicle at him, but didn’t feel compelled to be accurate about it.

Lui batted away the icicle as he continued backing up. “You used to be my friend, that’s why I care!” Lui’s brow furrowed. “It hurts me to see you like this. I’m trying to help you!” Lui smacked away another loosely thrown icicle. “Why did you join him?” Lui asked, stalling for time as much as he was seeking understanding.

“Because I’m evil. That’s what I do,” Shard answered plainly, continuing to advance at an unbothered pace.

“You weren’t evil when you rescued us,” Lui shot back. “You weren’t evil when you told us to leave! You were normal up until the second you walked in here so what happened?!” 

“Normal,” Shard repeated with a scoff. “I’ve never been normal. Even before I was trapped in my own body.” Shard’s voice grew soft and her gaze drifted. “I wonder if that’s why… huh…” Shard shrugged and refocused on Lui. “Is it really that hard to believe I chose this path myself?” she asked. 

“Yes,” Lui answered. “The Hanna I know wouldn’t have fallen so easily to his schemes.”

“The Hanna you know doesn’t exist,” Shard said, casually swinging her sword in circles with one hand as she walked.

Lui narrowed his eyes. “I don’t believe that.”

“Either way, I was here first.” Shard’s red eyes lit up and her head lifted, as though a pleasant thought occurred to her. “She never told you, did she? That this evil side of her exists?” Shard asked, almost with glee.

Lui watched Shard suspiciously. “No,” he finally answered. “She didn’t.” 

Shard tisked and shook her head. “That’s quite the secret to keep from someone she calls a friend,” she commented. “Wouldn’t you agree? Always fighting the evil within herself,” Shard continued, perfectly comfortable with the sound of her own voice. “Never revealing what it was she struggled with. Trying to keep me locked away forever. Maybe if she had told you, she wouldn’t have snapped. Or maybe she never valued your friendship to begin with…” The corner of her mouth tugged into a little smirk. “Does it hurt, knowing she didn’t trust you with the truth?”

The back of Lui’s foot bumped against the wall, forcing him to stop retreating. Of course it hurt. Lui pursed his lips. Keep it together. Lui’s shoulders lifted as he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I think it was out of greater respect for us that she didn't tell us,” Lui answered thoughtfully. “I think she didn't want to subject us to any trouble. I think…” Lui paused for a second. “In her own way… she was still trying to protect us.” Lui suddenly looked up at Shard with a grin. “Who could blame her with someone as nasty as you in her head?” 

Shard’s smirk was instantly replaced with fury as she lifted her sword and launched toward him. Lui dove out of the way. Shard’s sword impaled the wall. Shard let out a forced laugh and turned to face Lui. 

“Woooow,” Shard started, leaving the sword stuck in the wall behind her. She decided she didn’t need it. “Your friend lied to your face and you’re still willing to defend her?” Shard asked, creating a large claw of ice in one hand and a new sword entirely of ice in the other “You are an optimistic idiot.” Shard drew closer, speaking in an almost singsong taunt. “That’s not respect. That’s mani-pula-tion.”

“I never said it was right,” Lui responded, continuing to retreat in the opposite direction with his sword on guard. “Only that I understand.” 

Shard pressed forward and slashed at him. Lui parried away the ice weapon and jumped back. “We all make mistakes,” Lui continued. “Maybe all the stress did cause her to snap, but that doesn't mean we're still not here for her! Now that we know what she’s up against, we can figure out a way to help her!” 

“I refuse to be trapped again!” Shard shouted, pirouetting with the ice claw aiming for Lui’s face. Lui brought the sword up in time to catch, and chop off, several of the icy talons. Lui gasped and his eyes went wide, fearing he accidentally sliced off his friend’s fingers. The icy claw, being several times larger than Shard’s actual hand, only re-grew the sharp talons back. There was no visible reaction from Shard, aside from mild annoyance. Lui let out a relieved breath and ducked to avoid a jab from the ice sword. 

“Who says you have to stay trapped?” Lui asked, dodging away again. “There are ways she can vent her evil side every once in a while without hurting anyone. Think about it, if you go to the gym at least three times a day, you’ll be too exhausted to do anything evil.” Lui continued dodging away from consecutive claw attacks. “Great for training. We could turn it into a game. You love games!” 

A fireball swooshed past Lui. “Yikes!” Lui turned to see blue and red clashing together as the Original and his Evil Other fought. The distraction was enough for Shard to freeze Lui’s foot to the floor. “Ack!” Lui dropped to a knee, inadvertently also dropping his sword. 

“I do so love games…” Shard responded slowly as she stepped up to Lui. 

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Three

Father, give me strength. DJ launched the lance forward like a pool cue before twisting back and lunging again at a different height.

EDJ grinned sadistically as he sidestepped the first strike and parried the second. “You thought you could land a double strike on me if you initiated combat?!” EDJ laughed. “HAH!” 

“There’s a reason polearms are the superior weapon,” DJ responded. DJ pulled back and flicked the lance forward again with minimal effort, front hand sliding to catch and adjust the weapon to the correct angle as needed. DJ was more than angry. He was furious. One can only be pushed so far before they reach their limit and Iul had surpassed the limit of DJ’s patience a while ago. Even in his anger, DJ remained controlled. DJ's movements were calculated and well practiced. He moved with a fluidity and grace that only comes with years of training. His footwork was steady and his attacks were resolute. DJ was patient with his blocks, quick with his parries, and showed no hint of indecision. Each attack was swift and precise, mimicking a viper strike in its execution. DJ knew his opponent well. He understood the threat and he was prepared to stop it. He had to be. Iul left him no other choice. 

“On what planet?!” EDJ asked, dodging another strike and moving in to attack with his sword. 

“This one,” DJ countered, batting away the sword and jumping back to maintain the distance between them. “Spears are better,” DJ continued between strikes. “Swords are overrated.” 

“That’s not true at all!” EDJ said, dropping low to avoid a jab toward his chest. EDJ sprang forward with an upward slash only to be twisted and redirected as DJ defended. Being DJ’s Evil Other, Iul knew the Original’s attack pattern well. In spite of that, DJ was frequently switching guards, hands, sides, directions, and stances in combat to throw off his opponent. The Original was doing his utmost not to telegraph his attacks and yet Iul was able to keep up with him anyway. As the fight dragged on, Iul’s attacks became more chaotic and sporadic, though no less well practiced. Iul often feigned his attacks in an attempt to catch DJ off guard. After the opening move, Iul was rarely on the defensive. He slashed, stabbed, and twisted, trying to get beyond the spearhead and into close combat range. Iul preferred fighting up close and personal when he had the choice. A choice DJ refused to give him. Iul struck hard and fast, hoping to beat the enemy before the enemy could beat him. Iul’s attacks were fueled with hatred just as much as DJ’s were fed with anger. The primary difference was only one of them was fully in control. Though they started off the fight only using their primary weapons, EDJ still had plenty of tricks up his sleeve to gain the advantage should he need them. 

“It’s a historical fact,” DJ insisted. “You only use swords to look cool and dramatic.” 

EDJ backed up from the fight. “How’s this for dramatic?!” EDJ drew his secondary sword. He slid the blades against each other in a slow, purposeful crosscut with the sound of metal grating against metal. As he did so, both swords glowed with dark red light. EDJ spun both red blades forward with a gloating grin. DJ tilted his head with a face that indicated Iul was only further proving his point. With a moderately annoyed glower, DJ held the center of his lance out horizontally in front of his body. Cerulean light extended from his grip and flowed down the length of the weapon in both directions, lance giving off a slight hum as it radiated with light energy. DJ spun the lance, creating a wide circle of blue light before returning to a low guard. EDJ growled as he launched into another attack. DJ parried and struck twice with his lance. EDJ dodged the strikes and spun with both swords swinging the same direction. EDJ’s intent was to shove the lance away enough to close the distance. It did not work. DJ used a blast of wind magic to throw EDJ back. As EDJ fell back, he activated his mechanical wings. EDJ spun in the air, easily righting himself and regaining his balance. He flew upright midair for a few seconds, looking down on DJ with his twin blades still blazing. 

DJ glared up at EDJ. “Give it up, EO!” DJ called out. “It’s over! Prepare for defeat!” 

“Never!” EDJ smirked down at DJ from his position. “You’ll never be able to outmaneuver me, slime.” EDJ dove at his opponent from above. “All those years of Academy training were wasted on you,” EDJ jeered as he brought both swords down, using gravity to his advantage.

DJ rolled out of the way rather than try to block. “Funny,” DJ answered dryly as he hopped back to his feet. “Here I was trying not to make you look bad.”

EDJ’s attack hit the ground, leaving scorch marks where the blades hit, before he shot back into the air. “What a joke. I thought you made silver knight,” EDJ said as he advanced. “Top of your class.” EDJ twisted with both swords in a diagonal dive toward the Original.

“I did,” DJ answered. He swept the lance to the side with a gust of wind to throw EDJ off course entirely. “Missed you at graduation.”

EDJ righted himself again. He shot a wave of fire toward DJ with the blades. DJ sliced the lance downward to break the fire magic. EDJ used the opportunity to fly over and dive in for a backstab. DJ pulled the lance back and turned, narrowly blocking the blades, before kicking EDJ in the chest and rolling away. EDJ coughed as he flew back. The cough turned into a chortle as the Evil Other stared DJ down with an ominous grin. “No one in their right mind enjoys those stuffy ceremonies.” 

An icicle shot between them, causing DJ and Iul both to turn to the other two combatants in the arena. 

“Hey! Watch it!” EDJ shouted at Shard. 

Out of the corner of his eye, EDJ caught a bright white object speeding toward him. EDJ swerved, narrowly avoiding a javelin entirely of white light zip past his face. He glared back at DJ, who hurled another light javelin. EDJ dove to avoid the projectile, but not before it singed its way through his cape. As EDJ dove, DJ pulled the air around the Evil Other to the ground, smashing his opponent into the floor. DJ approached cautiously as Iul slowly picked himself up off the ground, only holding one of his swords. 

“Sneaky,” EDJ said in a low voice, spitting out blood to the side and wiping his mouth. “I didn’t think you could pull off… sneaky.” Iul glared at DJ, fire in his eyes. “I remember you being a boring, lawful goody two-shoes.”

For the first time through the whole fight, DJ smiled. “You remember wrong.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Two

Father, help me see. Lui watched with narrow, green eyes as Shard approached. While Lui would much rather help DJ with his fight with Iul, he knew he wouldn’t get very far with Hanna in the state she was in. If this menacing presence in front of him was even her. 

“You’re really Hanna?” Lui asked skeptically. 

“Yes,” Shard replied, calmly circling him with wide, confident strides. 

“How do I know you’re not lying?” Lui asked, matching her speed and leading away from DJ’s battle.

Shard laughed in amusement. “Heh, there are many things I would lie about. In this instance, my identity is not one of them.” Shard grinned nefariously. “I want to watch you suffer, knowing exactly who it is who destroys you.” 

“That’s not very nice,” Lui said with a frown. 

“Interesting,” Shard muttered, tilting her head. “You still don’t believe me. Why not?”

Lui tightened the grip on his sword, though he did not raise it from its lowered position at his side. “I could still see the light in Hanna,” Lui answered. “You… you’re something else entirely…” Lui shook his blonde head. “There is no light in you. None at all. That shouldn’t even be possible.”

“Intriguing,” Shard commented, ignoring the sound of battle from the two DJs behind her. “And why not?” she asked. 

“Because there is always good in a person, no matter how small.” Lui stopped circling as he faced her, intently watching. Searching. “There is always a chance that good will prevail. Always some light. Even if it’s faint, I can usually still see it.” Shard continued circling, seemingly content to talk instead of fight for the time being. “All I can see in you is hatred and fear,” Lui finished. 

Shard burst into a shrill cackle. Her laugh turned to a maniacal giggle as she wrinkled her nose and spoke in a condescending tone. “You adorable, naive, little dreamer.” Shard smiled at Lui, but it was the furthest thing from friendly. “So much hope... What I wouldn’t give to see the look on your face when life finally crushes those dreams of yours.”

“What a horrible thing to wish for someone,” Lui said, recoiling with disgust. 

Shard offered a light shrug. “Well, too bad you won’t live long enough for that to happen,” she said pleasantly before launching into an attack. The sudden move caught Lui off guard. He barely lifted his blade in time to block and the force knocked him back. “Pathetic,” Shard said calmly as she stepped back and continued circling. “You don’t even have the courage to stand on your own two feet.” 

“Pfft, I’m standing, aren’t I?” Lui shot back, adjusting his stance. That was close. I dropped my guard. I can’t let that happen again. But if it really is Hanna, I don’t want to attack either... He held his sword in a low guard, ready this time to fend off the next move. 

Shard’s annoying smirk did not leave her face. “Do you even possess the strength to lift that blade, weakling?” 

“You’d be surprised at how well I wield a sword,” Lui answered. “A sword has no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.” Shard snickered. She launched into another attack without warning, aiming high. Lui ducked and parried. As before, Shard disengaged immediately and resumed orbiting him. This wasn’t so much a fight as it was a test and Lui didn’t like tests. 

“You should have left when you had the chance,” Shard chided. 

“I’m not going anywhere,” Lui said in a determined voice. “If Hanna’s still in there, I’ve got to help her.” 

Shard laughed again. “Ha! As if you could possibly help her.” Shard flew up into the air and dove at Lui in an aerial attack. Lui rolled out of the way, quickly getting back on his feet and keeping the blade up enough to guard against a follow up. Shard’s sword hit the ground when she landed in a crouch. She stood up slowly and continued observing Lui. 

“I already told you,” Shard started, her tone almost starting to sound annoyed. “It’s a useless effort! All the good you knew has been consumed by darkness. Such is the nature of evil.” Shard’s red eyes narrowed at him. “Nothing you can do will save her.” 

“Maybe not,” Lui solemnly agreed. “But I still have to try. I refuse to give up on my friend. Deep down, there’s a light that never goes out. As long as I breathe, I will not give up on that light.” 

Shard raised her head and let out another loud cackle. Her evil grin widened as she looked back at Lui. “How profoundly optimistic of you! I really can’t even take you seriously right now.” Shard let the point of her sword rest against the ground as she leaned forward on the pommel. Shard shook her head with a scornful stare. “I almost want to let you live, if only to watch the world chew you up and spit you out with its most valuable lesson.” 

Lui frowned, but kept his guard up. “And what lesson would that be?” he asked warily.

“Hope is a lie.” Shard’s smile disappeared. “Nothing you do matters. Life is chaos, pain, and suffering. Cruelty and treachery are the only ways to get ahead. At its best, humanity is an inconvenience.” Shard straightened, grasping the sword again. “And there is nothing redeemable about humanity at its worst.” All humor in Shard’s voice was gone and there was a cold emptiness in her red eyes. 

Lui’s concern deepened. “What happened to you?” Lui asked softly, desperately trying to understand. 

Shard attacked without warning again. Lui blocked, but this time Shard did not pull away. She went for a high attack, feinting at the last moment and swinging the blade to the side. Lui was so focused on redirecting his block, he didn’t see the leg sweep Shard followed up with. Lui landed on his back, still gripping his sword. Wincing, Lui started to get up only to find the point of Shard’s blade at his throat. Shard kicked the weapon out of Lui’s hand, ignoring the sound of metal scraping stone as it slid out of reach.

“You have failed,” Shard commented without emotion. “You will never bring your friend back to the light. Even if you could, she will never give up the darkness in her heart.” 

“She doesn’t have to,” Lui said cautiously, hands open. “Everyone has some darkness in them. She only needs someone to surround her with light.”

“And you think that someone’s you?” Shard taunted. 

For a split second, Shard’s eyes turned violet. The darkness gave way, if only a little. Hanna’s light was still there. It wavered and flickered, but it was still there. “I can see the conflict in you, Hanna,” Lui said, his hope returning. “I can see the good.”

Shard sneered. “There is no conflict and you will die.” She raised the sword and moved to land the final blow, but halted halfway into her swing. Shard ground her teeth, violet eyes fiercely glaring at nothing. Lui used the opportunity to knock Shard’s feet out from under her and make a move for his discarded sword. Just as Lui was about to reach the fallen weapon, an icicle hit the ground beside him. Lui jumped to the side and turned to face Shard. Shard was in the air, flying at him with incredible speed. Lui dodged as she flew by him, narrowly evading the cryomancer’s sharp blade. 

“Don’t do this, Hanna! Snap out of it!” Lui shouted, sidestepping another attack. “I don’t want to hurt you!”

Shard pulled up and turned to him, blade ready. “If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.” Shard raised her free hand and sent a wave of icicles at Lui, completely ignoring the two DJs still in combat behind him.

Lui dove out of the way again. Catching a glimpse of the fallen sword within reach, Lui huffed as he grabbed it and stood up. “Well then, if it’s a fight you want,” Lui began, raising the sword up close to his head. “I’ll fight. En garde!”