PARADOX: The Hidden History

      I stayed back to cool off due to Achlys's order. I was still mad at her. But she was still my elder sister and the Queen. I have to obey her words. And I really do need to cool myself. After what that guy did? Ugh. Why does sister have such friends in the first place? 3rd prince of Italia and her right hand man for what? Geez.

The dark shadows hit the targets as if they had their own minds. I sigh and sit down, making mindless weapons with my shadows in my hand. Maybe I should head back to Achlys... am cooled up enough.

Was what I thought until- "Fight me" Cielo, my sister's best friend as she calls him. Blessed me with his unpleasant presence.n
"Excuse me?" I frown at the light wielder.
"You heard me. I am here to fight you" he repeated. Clutching his fists beside him.

I stood there, unwavering as he looked at me to speak. To say something. But all I could see was red as my brain told me to slash his throat open.

"No thanks. Who knows what you'll do" I roll my eyes.
"Sacred?"
.........

But since he seemed like he really wanted it. And I really wanted to get his ass kicked.

"My pleasure" With no further words, I grin in excitement and waste no time in aiming my shadows at him.

Cielo was quick to use his domain. Light. Everything about us is the opposite. He was the last prince of Italia. I was the only prince of Aryavarta. He, was the aimless wanderer. And I was a goal oriented achiever. He was light. And I was the darkness. It's not much of a ownder that I hate him.

My shadows engulfed around him, consuming his light as a whole. I sigh and was about to walk away until the light around my feet burned my skin making me hiss and cover my feet with my shadows. Cielo took this moment to break my shadow shield and aim the physical light at me.
I underestimated him. And I am so mad for that.

A shadow blocks his arrow of light. And he smiles
"Now you're taking me seriously"
"You seem to know what you're doing here" I shrug while my shadows wrapped around him. But that didn't last as he had already emitted out tiny spears of light on his skin. Piercing through the layers of my shadows. Magnificent.

The lights and shadows entangle in the arena. Creating a whole set of expressions on this rugged walls. Even the sand felt our feet dance. I was out of breath. He was fully composed. Except for the sweat that occasionally dripped off his chin to the dry sand beneath us.

  One moment I had the gain on him. The other he proved me wrong. Almost like Achlys. I bet he loved how he was actually making me struggle. I still remember how happy I was just to have make Achlys out of breath when we sparred last time. Though she won. I felt that feeling spread in my chest again. After a long while. Only. This time. There was something else pushing it far more than hat it should. Was it the thrill? Or was it how I felt I had more steps to cross?

Or was I just scared?

Either way. I wanted to this to last forever. In this light show where shadows and lights touched. He truly was my opposite. A true sparring partner I've longed for. Sure Achlys teaches me a lot. But this? I could only imagine. And now am loving it.

His light cut my cheek and he apologised lightly. He was going easy huh? Just like me.
"How about we both stop going easy? And all out" I suggest. Almost out of breath. Almost.

He simply chuckled. "I doubt your sister would like that"
He had a point.
"True. She'd miss you" I smirk, blocking his kick and tugging him downward to the sand. Covering his face with the particles. He shrugged it off and roll his eyes.
"You wish"

I didn't know how long that went on. Until the guards came to remind me that I need to go attend the soldier training. They left even. I was supposed to be training them after all. Which means Sister is also done with her session. But I didn't want to stop, not until I conquer the light.

"Looks lie we have to make it quick" the light wielder smirked for the first time. Before he blinded my eyes with his light. I didn't know he could do that. However. Thanks to Achlys. Blindness wasn't a weakness I held. I could feel the darkness the light created after all.

Which was now covering his light. This beautiful dance will have to come to an end. It seems he had though the same. As I gripped my shadows around his neck and heart. His light solidified around me. A tie.

But I'll accept well. He was a challenge I'll conquer. One day. It won't be a tie.

With a mutual nod we let go before letting our breath catch up to our minds. I was a bit upset now that the adrenaline rush disappeared from my body. I just had a tie with someone I thought was a unserious jester.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" I ask, wiping the trail of sweat that dropped down my chin.
"Myself. And well your sister helped. You know how skilled she is" he shrugged, wiping his own eyebrow.
"Of course it's her...." I grumbled. She taught to everyone but me.
"Yeah man. I expected more from you from how highly she speaks of you...but.." he frowned. That burnt the dull spark of jealousy within me.
"But what? Am a disappointment? Huh?" I glare at him, turning on my heel to walk away.

But before I could. He grabbed my wrist tenderly. But enough to tug me back to him.

"Excuse me? Hands off me!" I slap his hand away.
"Am sorry. I didn't mean to disrespect you" he ignored my words. His hands were on my shoulders now. Making me stand and listen to him.
"Yes of course, you were praising me" I roll my eyes.
"Yes, exactly"
"Do you understand the phrase 'it's called sarcasm'?, because I feel I need to educate you about that as well" I scoff.

"Yeah I do. But I really was just giving you a compliment. You're the second one to whom she denied of full training because she believed you'd be the strongest version of yourself on your own" he explained.
"How is that supposed to make sense" I frown.
"Well. Looks like you don't know your sister as well as you think. Or maybe you do but don't wanna see how she actually recognises your strength" he chuckled. As if he just didn't beat the crap out of me.

I scoff and look away, crossing my arms on my chest, "she doesn't! She thinks am not strong enough to fully rule on her behalf"
"Oh? That's what you're on about? Well am sorry" he shrugged.
"What? Don't be sorry for me! There's nothing that in this that involved you"
"No. I mean I don't feel bad for you, Avan. Because Achlys does trust you. More than me I doubt. And who told you she doesn't let you rule? Who do you think you are in charge of? And who's decisions actually run in the kingdom and it's people here?" He sighed as he walked ahead of me.

That....somehow clicked. Every time in court. My opinion is taken. If I wasn't present or away on other important matters. She never made her decisions. And I was the one who was sent to deal with matters which needs immediate attention. She trusted me?

"You should be smiling more. Just saying- umm it's good..like I meant it's healthy- ugh.." Cielo looked away. And here I didn't even realise I was smiling. He was quite shy for someone who has amazing skills and understanding of the world. I guess... I see why sister befriended him. Or maybe it was the other way around.

"Don't be embarrassed. I know you mean good now. I'll try to smile more to be 'healthy ' alright?" A small harmless tease right?

"Uhhh yeah...yep. I'll get going... lots of work...pending.." he mumbled and walked away.

"Humble but chaotic. Interesting." I mumbled under my breath before letting out a sigh. Of relief or unease. I didn't know. Or maybe it ain't either. Well. Time to go find Achlys..