Silence filled the atmosphere, they stared deep into each other's eyes with faces devoid of any expression. Their hair fluttered; danced along with the wind.
After a long pause, Damian opened his mouth.
"You can charge at me if you like."
"..."
However, Alexander did not answer and just stared at him.
"Then I'll go first."
Damian ran and raised his sword at Alexander.
–Bang!
Alexander easily blocked his attack and their swords bound. Damian's lips tugged up.
"Why brother? You always come at me when we spar. Why are you hesitating now?"
"..."
Sparks of metal were created as their blades ground against each other. Alexander twisted his wrist to change the surface of the blade and pushed Damian's weapon away.
"Urg!"
He groaned as he stumbled backward a few times. Alexander dashed and wielded his sword. Seeing the blade approach him, Damian immediately brandished his weapon.
–Bang!
Their blade collided and bounced off. They quickly recovered and then swung their swords once again.
–Bang! –Bang! –Bang!
This action repeated itself and flickering fires appeared every time their blades clashed. In contrast to Alexander who was expressionless and relaxed, Damian was filled with anxiety and panic.
–Bang!
And when their swords kicked away each other, Damian hastily hopped backward. Yet, Alexander just stood there and peeked at the boy's hand holding the weapon; his hand trembling.
Damian raised his other hand and five fireballs darted at Alexander from the magic circle on his palm.
His golden eyes watched how all of them flew at him uninterestedly. When they entered his range, Alexander lifted his sword. He cut, slashed, sliced, chopped, and severed the fireballs effortlessly.
–Boom! –Boom! –Boom!
"Tsk."
Damian clucked his tongue in annoyance when his attacks failed to leave a scratch on his brother's skin. They exchanged stares for quite some time.
'From the looks of it, I can grasp that Alexander is far more superior to Damian in that world.'
Even after exchanging blows, Alexander still looked energetic and perfectly fine. Contrary to his brother, Damian was short of breath.
And just by looking at his expression, it seemed the white-haired boy was racking his brains on how to beat Alexander right now.
I couldn't help but facepalm, I mean–if he knew that he had no chance to win against Alexander, then why challenge him in the first place?
As Damian remained motionless, Alexander decided to rush forward. Seeing he ran to him, Damian formed a magic circle on his extended hand and three bolts shot out.
Alexander zigzagged to avoid the lightning bullets.
–Boom! –Boom! –Boom!
Three mini holes were created as they landed on the wall.
Damian's expression hardened as their distance continued to decrease. He shot another bolt but Alexander easily dodged it by tilting his head.
The moment he arrived in front of his little brother, Alexander swung his sword, and Damian immediately raised his weapon.
–Bang!
Their blades collided and bound, however, this time Damian was pushed.
Realizing that his sword edge was moving closer to his neck, Damian twisted his wrist to change the surface of the blade to the flat.
He raised his other hand and pushed the center of the sword to add more strength. Alexander's golden eyes stretched wide upon seeing Damian doing a half-swording.
Blood dripped from his hand and Alexander immediately shoved his weapon away.
"It seems you really have gone mad!"
–Clank!
His sword spun on the floor as it fell and Damian stumbled backward. He raised his head and a fist flung entered his view.
–Whack!
Damian's face threw sideways and his body fell near the parapet. A hand clutched his collar and forced him to face the doer.
His blue eyes locked with a pair of golden eyes. Nevertheless, he hastily shut his eyelids when another fist came.
"..."
However, after a few seconds passed, the anticipated punch never landed. Damian slowly opened his eyes and Alexander's fist hovered a few centimeters away from his face.
Alexander's fist shook and grief vividly dyed his face. He pulled the boy's collar and hugged him tightly.
"Please don't leave."
Alexander's shaken voice pierced his ears, yet Damian remained silent and he continued.
"You are the only one I have in the Palace… you know how I hate my mother… and I don't want to sit on the throne too."
Damian drooped his head.
"I'm sorry."
Now that I think about it, did Alexander in that universe kill Damian as the novel dictates too? Seeing how he loved his little brother dearly, it was almost impossible for Alexander to murder Damian in my opinion.
–Rattle –Rattle –Rattle
The clattering of armor was heard and Alexander let go of Damian.
"Haa… it seemed I couldn't stop you."
Alexander gazed at the pair of blue gems present before him.
"Promise me that you will call me from time to time and if you ever need anything just say it to me. Remember?"
The corners of Damian's lips lifted.
"Yes, I–"
However, he was unable to continue and his eyes widened once he saw a crossbow bolt approach, aiming at Alexander's back.
Without thinking much, Damian immediately shoved him away.
"Ian what are–"
–Thwack!
Alexander's golden eyes wide opened when he saw blood splattered in the air; a bolt pierced through Damian's left shoulder.
The boy's body flung backward as the bolt was way too powerful to control and Damian's mind went blank when he realized that his feet had left the ground.
"No!!!"
He saw how Alexander extended his hand as he tried reaching out to him behind the parapet, yet it was too late, he had fallen too far from him.
"Ian!!!"
When Alexander was ready to jump, Knights pulled and dragged him away from the parapet.
"What are you doing?! Let me go!! Let me go!! Ian!!!"
Alexander's voice faded as he fell and somehow his vision darkened, it seemed the bolt contained poison too.
A few seconds before he lost consciousness, someone wearing a black robe caught him, and the screen blacked out.
Th𝓮 most uptodate nov𝑒ls are published on freew(e)bnove(l).𝓬𝓸𝓶