Kaelen steadied himself.
He prepared himself mentally.
Their movement, those stances, he knew they had enough experience under their belt.
But he was ready.
One lunged from the right — mistake. Kaelen weaved — smooth as wind, dragging his sword smoothly across his abdomen,,guts falling onto the floor. The man crumpled to the floor, kneeling on his own mess.
The other guards watches in shock as Kaelen delivered the final blow.
Kaelen stepped in front of the kneeling man, sent a sword through his neck and watched the life leave his body.
*This isn't a boy, he's something else — something deadly* One of the guards thought, as he watched in shock the sight before him.
"We can't underestimate him" The other guard said, voice tight.
"I did warn you not to hold back" Kaelen said smirking, sword blood stained. "Now...Give me a good fight".
The mercenaries attacked together, combining their attacks — fluid, beautiful chemistry in their attacks.
The first guard lunged low, blade sweeping for Kaelen's legs—a clear attempt to trip him, force him off balance.
Kaelen stepped back—
—but the second guard was already there, bringing his sword down in a savage overhead cleave meant to split Kaelen's skull.
Kaelen didn't retreat. He moved forward, twisting into a low summer saulting spin beneath the crashing blade—fast and tight.
But they weren't done.
One guard feinted left, a blade went for Kaelen's ribs—only for the second to lunge from behind, driving his sword straight for Kaelen's spine—silent, perfect teamwork.
Kaelen felt the killing blow coming.
As he came out of his spin, he dropped to a knee and pivoted hard, the tip of the sword slicing past his face—missing by inches, the blade sang past his face — so close he could see his reflection in the blade.
Kaelen cleaved his sword upwards through the air, knocking the blade wide. An opening, Kaelen chased after it.
The guard recovered fast, parrying Kaelen's slash. He quickly sent a kick. Kaelen side stepped,met the second guard spinning sword.
Steel met steel — a block from him.
Good, a real fight Kaelen said to himself.
Kaelen shifted his body weight, immediately going on offense.
A quick spin creates space. A downward slash,blocked by the guard.
The first guard swung his blade, aiming for the neck.
Kaelen ducked, lunging forward immediately,to close the gap. He quickly sent a sword to the man's gut. The man stepped back last moment — not enough. Kaelen's sword caught him, drawing blood and a cry.
Kaelen went for the finisher.
"Not so fast,boy". The second guard, quickly came to the rescue,sword swinging with a mission — death.
"Don't call me that". Kaelen said coldly,a hint of pain in his voice.
The first guard swung wild, hoping to catch him off guard.Kaelen ducked, drove his elbow into the man's gut. A cough burst from his mouth — Kaelen pivoted and slammed his sword into the man's throat.
Crack.
Down.
The last guard yelled and charged.
Kaelen sidestepped clean, dragged his sword across the man's side — a wet line of red. The guard gasped, swung weak — Kaelen batted the blade aside, grabbed his head — and drove his knee into his face. Bone broke.
The man crumpled.
Kaelen stood still.
Breathing slow.
Sword steady.
Blood soaking the floor.
They were dead. He looked down at the sword dripping red.
It was beginning to feel right to him—taking a life. It felt normal. He was good at it,he knew that. And he felt good,being stronger.
He wasn't supposed to be okay with taking a life.
But now it was growing in him—a bloodlust, slowly but it was growing.
"Satisfied" Kaelen said looking at Thavarel,who has been observing very closely from the watch chamber.
" I'll take him" Thavarel said to Kaelven.