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!” 

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-One

Shard stepped into the arena, completely ignoring the injured guards littering the entryway. 

“How’s it going?” Shard asked lightheartedly while she drew her sword and confidently walked toward the two in the middle of the room. 

“Hanna?” Lui asked before smiling brightly. “Yay! Hanna! We’re saved! Let’s get out of here before they send another army after us!” Lui took an eager step forward, but DJ stretched the lance out to halt him.

Lui looked at the lance before turning to DJ quizzically. “What are you doing? She's here to help us.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” DJ’s critical green eyes narrowed as he watched the woman walking toward them. “I saw her make a deal with EO.” 

“What?” Lui turned back to Shard, smile fading. “You didn’t…” Lui’s eyes widened as DJ’s words set in and he remembered the ultimatum. “No… that means… Tell me you didn’t do it,” Lui pleaded. 

Shard offered a light shrug. “What can I say? Negotiations were short.” She smirked, red eyes gleaming. 

“What have you done?” Lui asked softly in disbelief as he took a step back.

“Do I have to spell it out for you?” Shard replied in a bored voice as she stopped not too far from the two. “Honestly, I thought she would have chosen smarter friends. The Hanna you once knew has dissolved in the darkness of her own heart. That puts you in quite the predicament now, doesn’t it?” 

“Why are you talking like that?” Lui asked with suspicion. “What’s going on here? Why are your eyes red?” Lui watched her for a moment. If this was indeed Hanna, something about her was different. The way she talked and held herself was unusual. Something was off. Way off. Lui narrowed his eyes, searching for the answer. 

Shard rolled her eyes. “I already told you,” she started. “Your friend is gone. Evil is all that remains.” DJ’s shoulders sank and he hung his head in defeat. Shard lifted her sword enough to point it at DJ. “At least he gets it. See?” she asked with a sinister smile. “Even you have already given up on your friend.” 

“No,” Lui said with new resolve. “That can’t be right. You can’t be her!” Lui took a couple more steps back and looked all around the room before bringing his hands to his mouth and calling out in a loud voice, “HEY, EDJ! I can tell a fake when I see one! Nice try though!” Lui glared at Shard. “Where’s the real Hanna?!” 

Shard raised a brow and rested the flat of her blade on her shoulder with an amused smile. “Your ignorance amuses me greatly,” she said with a short laugh. “I am the Hanna that has always been, for there is no other. Though she tried to keep me locked up for as long as she could, my release was inevitable. You simply delayed it.” 

“I refuse to believe that!” Lui drew his sword. “Tell us where she-”

“Lui,” DJ interrupted in a sharp tone, head still lowered as his grip tightened around the lance. 

“This isn’t her,” Lui insisted, looking at DJ. “It can’t be her. It’s a trick! She’s a fake or a robot or a clon-”

“Stop pretending.” DJ lifted his head and stared back at Lui with a hurt expression, though his voice was stern. “You know what she’s done…” DJ turned to Shard. “And you know what it is that we must do now.” 

“What are you talking about?” Lui asked, confused. “She’s not-” 

“Listen to me,” DJ interrupted, looking back at Lui. “I need you to focus on reality here. She’s the enemy now. I know you still want to see the good in her-”

“But that’s the thing!” Lui interjected, trying to get his message across. “It can’t be Hanna because there’s no...” Lui stopped. The look of anger in DJ’s eyes cut off Lui’s sentence before the Original’s words did. 

“Lui,” DJ started, placing a hand on Lui’s shoulder and speaking low. “I need you to be brave for me, ok? Let your sword be your guide, not your emotions.”

“O-ok,” Lui responded in a quiet voice. “I’ll try, DJ...” 

DJ nodded. “Don’t let your anger consume you.” DJ let go and turned back to Shard with a glare. 

Lui’s brows furrowed. “But I’m not…” DJ wasn’t listening. DJ’s attention was already entirely on Shard as he took a step toward her. Why aren’t you listening to me? Lui thought to himself with a frown as his shoulders sank. Lui looked back and forth between the two opponents. The same feeling of helplessness he felt back when he was watching the recording of Hanna’s fight came up. Like he was about to see something terrible unfold in front of him and he could do nothing to stop it. No. This is wrong. It’s all wrong. Lui sniffed, feeling the tears threaten to creep up again. No. DJ’s right. I need to focus. 

“Are you quite finished yet?” Shard asked in a loud, impatient voice. She lifted the blade off her shoulder and twirled the sword backward as DJ apprached. Shard’s smug grin returned. “Make this a challenge for me, will you?” 

“I intend to!” DJ spun the lance in front of him and pulled back into a bow stance. “Two against one. Think you can handle both of us attacking together?” 

“I’m sure I could if I wanted to,” Shard replied nonchalantly. Shard stepped away from DJ and toward Lui while still addressing DJ. “Sadly, someone else has already claimed battle with you.” She pointed at something past them. DJ and Lui felt an eerie and foreboding presence behind them. They turned to see EDJ standing in the open doorway. 

The Evil Other entered the room with his sword drawn. “I gave you a chance to leave my home  in peace and you didn’t take it,” EDJ casually voiced while joining the tense arena. DJ inhaled sharply and instantly turned his lance toward the Evil Other. “This means war,” EDJ said in a calm, but grave voice as he stopped in front of DJ. “If it’s a fight you want, I’ll bring the end you’re looking for.” 

“EO,” DJ warned, fury in his eyes and venom in his voice. “What you’ve done here…” DJ briefly gestured at Shard and glanced at Lui. “What you’ve done to her… That was the last straw.” DJ shook his head. “There is no coming back from this.” 

EDJ tilted his head. “Never said I wanted to.” 

“I've had enough of your tricks!” DJ shouted, charging toward the Evil Other.

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty

DJ and Lui finally made it to the exit. As expected with the sirens and lights going off, the door was locked down and could not be opened. The two ran back the way they came, but had to redirect at the sight of the guards headed toward them. They made their way through the castle, trying to navigate as best they could only to get more lost. They went through a series of connected rooms that looked like the inside of an aquarium, which Lui and DJ probably would have stopped to enjoy had they not been in the middle of being chased by security. They somehow ended up in a large room, stopping just long enough to shut the door behind them and catch their breath. About twelve guards entered through the door on the opposite side of the room. 

DJ turned to Lui, “Seems our luck hasn’t changed.” 

“Nope,” Lui confirmed with a wide smile between pants from running. 

“Surrender!” one of the guards shouted as they raised their weapons. Lui instantly lifted his arms in compliance, but realized DJ did not follow suit. Lui leaned over slightly to whisper, “Why aren’t they attacking you?” 

“I’ve got a guess,” DJ whispered back, taking one large step forward. 

“STOP!” the guard shouted again, but did not move. 

DJ took one more exaggerated step forward. The guards yelled again, but did not move.

With a grin, DJ unslung and readied his lance. With one heavy, circular swing from the front to the side, DJ extended the lance in his left hand with enough momentum to slide the weapon to its maximum length. He started on a path toward the guards, walking at first with the spearhead lightly scraping against the ground. DJ picked up pace until he was fully charging at the enemy, the metal end of the spear sparking as it dragged across the floor. DJ stretched out his free hand, grabbed the air, and drew his hand back, using his control of wind magic to pull the guards toward him into range. Accurately judging the distance, DJ pulled the spear up and forward as he twisted. Most of the guards scattered out of the way, but the spear still caught two of them by the time DJ finished his twist and caught the middle of the weapon with his free hand. DJ immediately followed up with a second attack, forcing the guards on the defensive, even though he was outnumbered. 

“Oh, we’re attacking now, ok,” Lui commented to himself as he watched DJ take point. “Great.” Lui was hoping to avoid a conflict, but it didn’t seem like EDJ and his henchmen were going to let them walk away without a fight anyway. At least with DJ going full offensive, Lui had a chance to temporarily hang back until needed. The Original conveniently, consciously, and consistently placed himself between the enemy and Lui. Narrow corridors and small rooms weren’t optimal areas for combat with a lance, but this arena was perfect for it. DJ had all the room he needed to maneuver. “Huh… DJ’s upped his game since I last trained with him,” Lui said absently, watching the Original lunge, weave, and turn while he fought. Nice footwork... And that stance is new… Wow, look at him go! DJ dropped three more guards while he jabbed and stabbed, using the distance and reach of his weapon to his advantage. A slight hum from above caught Lui’s attention. Seeing a drone hovering in the air nearby, Lui threw out a lightning bolt toward it. The magic thunder attack hit the drone, overloading and short circuiting the machine. The drone caught on fire and crashed on the ground. Lui jogged up to the broken drone and leaned over to inspect it. Lui wondered if he could still use it to mess with EDJ’s security systems. Maybe block or redirect a signal. Or even use it to access the network and disable the lockdown. Lui made a face at the melting plastic hardware. Maybe if it wasn’t currently on fire... 

Lui straightened and turned back to see how DJ was faring. That was when Lui noticed the guards starting to group. The guards tried several times to get around DJ, but he kept backing out of their formations. Maybe I can help now, Lui thought as he drew his sword. He watched a little longer, waiting for an opening. If they group like that again, DJ’s gonna dodge left. As soon as he does, I can send an arc bolt that should connect with a few of them! Lui edged closer to the fight. The guards closed in again. There it was! The opening Lui was waiting for. Unfortunately for everyone, DJ dodged right. Lui sent out a lightning bolt before he realized the error in judgment. The bolt hit DJ and arced between two of the guards, dropping all three. 

“Gzzk!” DJ clambered to his feet first and turned around. “LUI!”

“Sorry!” Lui called out with a grimace. 

DJ shook off the unpleasant feeling, muscles still twitching, and turned back in time to narrowly miss a guard swinging for his head. The disruption had allowed the enemy to get within range. DJ blasted the guard away with a jet of wind magic and backed up to Lui. While DJ did not appreciate the friendly fire, he was grateful that Lui always managed to use lightning magic in a non-lethal manner, in spite of it being one of the most dangerous and volatile elements to control. “Why did you hit me?” DJ asked Lui, who was directly behind him now as the guards circled them.

“Why didn’t you go left?” Lui returned as he deflected an incoming attack with his sword. 

“Because I always go left,” DJ answered, using leverage at the back end of the lance to rotate the front of the weapon, fending off attacks. 

“That doesn’t even make sense!” Lui exclaimed. The last few months spent training at separate schools had left them out of sync and it was starting to take a toll. The seven remaining guards surrounded the two. While DJ could keep the ones in front of him at a reasonable distance, Lui did not have the same advantage. As a result, the opposing force was convening more toward Lui than DJ. 

What do you think? DJ sent through mindspeak. Another sunshine?

Don’t wear yourself out, Lui answered. I still have plenty of energy. All I need is one clear shot. 

DJ watched the guards closing in. “I’ll give you an opening,” DJ said, preparing for his next move. “Try not to hit me again.” 

“I’m doing my best here,” Lui uttered wearily, sheathing his sword. DJ charged forward, breaking through the enemy’s circle and sweeping the lance behind him to keep the guards from following. 

With DJ in the clear, Lui clapped his hands together. When he pulled his palms apart, tendrils of blue lightning energy filled the space between his fingers. In an instant, Lui became a living lightning storm. The thunder energy crackled as it wrapped around Lui’s arms and body and his eyes held a pale blue light in them. Lui turned both his hands out toward the guards as they closed the circle around him. With snapping and cracking sounds, lightning shot out, forking into dozens of smaller, crooked branches as they connected with the guards. The burst of magic energy stopped almost as soon as it started, leaving five of the guards stunned and twitching on the floor. The blue lightning around Lui’s body fizzled out as he lowered his arms and his eyes returned to normal. The two remaining guards backed up to the room’s exit. DJ rested his lance against his shoulder as he stepped up to Lui and reached out. The leftover static popped as it zapped DJ again. 

“Sorry,” Lui repeated. 

“It’s fine,” DJ said as he shook out the sting in his hand. DJ patted Lui’s shoulder as he looked over the cleared room. “Good job!” 

“Thanks.” Lui’s response was lackluster as he watched the guards still alive and conscious drag their injured and groaning buddies away. Lui frowned, not feeling great about the whole situation. “Can we get out of here now?” he asked, turning to DJ. 

“I think so,” DJ answered with a nod.

That was when Lui noticed the silence. “Hey...” Lui looked around the room and at the ceiling. “The alarm stopped.” 

The door in the back of the room opened again. Instead of more guards pouring through, one person clad in black entered the arena. 

“Hey, guys,” A familiar female voice called out to them. “How’s it going?”