The cool night air brushed against my skin as I tightened the laces on my running shoes. The land behind the hotel stretched out in open, quiet vastness—perfect for what we had in mind. The moon hung low in the sky, casting faint silver light over the grass as Zach, Amir, and I stood in a loose triangle, all clad in athletic gear.
Amir spun one of his pistols, a grin plastered across his face. "You know, Ron, it's been way too long since we've done this. But tonight? I'm going all out. No holding back."
I smirked, drawing one sword from its sheath. Unlike my usual three, tonight it was just me and the sleek blade. The simplicity of it had Amir practically bouncing with excitement.
"Finally!" Amir exclaimed. "No three-sword nonsense. Just one blade versus the best arsenal money can buy. This is going to be fun."
Zach stood off to the side, his stance calm but ready. His hands were wrapped tightly, and his sharp gaze flicked between us. "You two can swing your toys all you want. I'm here to remind you what happens when you underestimate me."
Amir rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, Mr. Martial Arts Prodigy. Let's see if you can keep up."
We all stepped into position, forming a loose circle. A moment passed in silence, the tension building until—
Amir made the first move, launching a non-lethal round from his pistol. I sidestepped easily, closing the distance in a flash. My sword moved with precision, deflecting the next round with a sharp clang.
"Too slow," I said, smirking as I slashed toward his leg. Amir blocked with a baton, spinning to bring another toward my ribs.
Zach darted in from the side, faster than I'd anticipated, delivering a low kick aimed at my ankle. I barely managed to dodge, pivoting to deflect Amir's follow-up strike.
"You've gotten faster," I admitted, parrying another of Amir's swings.
"You've gotten predictable," Zach countered, landing a light jab on my shoulder before flipping back out of range.
Amir swapped weapons mid-movement, pulling out a staff from seemingly nowhere and spinning it like a whirlwind. "How's this for unpredictable?" he said, thrusting it toward me.
I raised my sword, letting it graze the edge before twisting it away and using the flat of the blade to knock Amir's staff from his hands. Before he could recover, I swung toward his torso, stopping just short.
"Point," I said, grinning.
Amir groaned, already drawing throwing knives. "Lucky shot."
Zach, meanwhile, stepped in without missing a beat. His movements were fluid, calculated—a textbook mix of speed and precision. His punches came in rapid combinations, each one forcing me to stay on the defensive.
I couldn't help but admire his skill. "Hand-to-hand really is your thing, huh?"
"That and this," Zach replied, his voice steady. Then, with a faint glow, his domain activated.
It was subtle—a faint distortion in the air around him, like heat waves rising off pavement. His strikes grew heavier, more precise, as if the very air was bending to guide his attacks.
"Level 2," I muttered, narrowly avoiding a hit to the ribs. "Impressive."
"Enough talk," Zach said, landing a grazing kick against my hip.
I activated my own domain in response, the energy surging around me like a low hum. The world slowed just slightly as my senses sharpened, my movements growing even smoother.
Amir whistled, tossing a smoke grenade into the air. "Oh, it's a domain party now? Don't mind if I join!"
The smoke spread quickly, obscuring our vision. But I didn't need sight. My domain allowed me to feel the shifts in essence around me. Amir's playful energy flared to my right, while Zach's steady and slightly overpowering presence moved in close.
I pivoted, striking upward and knocking a pistol from Amir's grip. A quick twist brought me face-to-face with Zach, my sword stopping inches from his throat.
"Point," I said again, breathing hard but grinning.
The intensity of the fight was building again, Zach charging with a renewed ferocity while Amir cycled through weapons as fast as he could. I ducked, blocked, and parried, each move becoming more instinctive as we pushed each other harder.
Then, a sharp voice cut through the haze. "What the hell is going on out here?"
We turned to see Nel and Deya standing at the edge of the field, both dressed in loose shirts and sweatpants. Nel's sharp gaze took in the scene, her hand hovering near the hilt of her weapon.
Deya crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "You're either fighting or throwing a party. Either way, I want in."
Nel sighed, lowering her hand but still looking unimpressed. "You idiots really decided to have a sparring match in the middle of the night? You do realize we have an actual mission tomorrow, right?"
Amir grinned sheepishly. "Just a little friendly free-for-all. You know, keeping the skills sharp."
Nel shook her head but didn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. "I'll admit, I'm impressed. Watching you three go at it, I can tell you've been doing this for years. Your coordination, your instincts—they're good. Damn good."
She paused, her tone growing more serious. "But don't let it go to your heads. None of you can beat me one-on-one, not yet. However," she added, her gaze sweeping over us, "if you work together, I have no doubt you could take out anyone who hasn't mastered their skills."
Deya nodded in agreement. "It's rare to see this level of teamwork. You're a solid unit."
Zach rolled his shoulders, his cufflinks glowing faintly in the dim light. "Appreciate the compliment. But you're right—we've got work to do."
Nel gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Now, get some rest. You'll need it."
As she and Deya turned to head back inside, Amir chuckled, clapping me on the shoulder. "Well, Captain, looks like we can't finish tonight."
I un-sheathed my 2nd sword, glancing between them. "We're not done yet. This was just the warm-up."
We shared a knowing grin before wrapping up with a few final rounds, our bond stronger than ever as we headed back inside, ready for what lay ahead.