Chapter 31

Crack, crack

CRASH

The ice covering Ferdinand shattered everywhere. Claire cried out in fear, "no! I can't face him without my magic, please give it back!" She clung to agnir's dress and clawed at her. Agnir ignored her.

Ferdinand fell to his knees. His eyes were closed and he had a facial expression like he just stepped into a warm spa. "Ah.... To think I had been tricked by my own daughter... Hahahah I guessed I raised you well." He chuckled to himself as he barely opened an eye to look at Claire. "And who are these people? Your friends?" He stood up and brushed himself off. Then he opened and closed his fist. "Come to me Iseld!" He called out. A frozen sword appeared in his hand. "Hmm? But where is she?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Iseld should be free from Claire now yes? But why can't I hear her?" He looked at me. "Ha.... Haha.. hahahahaha Iseld you fool! You thought you could hide within that boy!? What,.. does he seem nice and caring compared to me? Oh well it matters not, I shall take you back by force then!"

Ferdinand was staring at me when he said it. Then I felt a cold magic rise up within me. I instinctively said out loud, "Iseld?" Then a shimmering sword, the same as ferdinands appeared in my hand.

It spoke, "Torin, agnir! Save me!" It was the voice of a girl crying desperately. In my mind, I felt like she was hiding behind us seeking protection.

Another fairy?

Agnir had a devastated look on her face, "hey get out of there!" She said. She looked at me. I shrugged.

Ferdinand interrupted, "I'll make it quick and painless boy!" Suddenly Ferdinand's figure disappeared then reappeared in front of me slashing down.

I brace for death. I couldn't respond in time.

Clang!

"hello torin, long time no see." A red haired man stood between Ferdinand and I. His kingly raiment fluttered from his sudden movement. Ice still melted off his clothes. "Brother... Our fight is not over..." He swiftly used agnir's blade to parry Ferdinand.

Ferdinand stepped back and growled, "brother... How are you still standing with that wound? Surely you should've died by now!"

I looked at Tristan and noticed a gaping hole in his chest.

Agnir cried with tears in her eyes, "dad!"

Tristan gave a weak smile, "you look so beautiful, agnir." He turned to Ferdinand, "I shall use the last of my strength to protect these children, and end our feud once and for all!" He prepared himself with the same stance I saw my father do.

Ferdinand readied himself. "so be it!" He spat.

There was no magic involved. Both of them had sacrificed their magics to birth their fairies. But the pressure and intimidating aura they gave off were intense. Agnir, Claire, and I backed away instinctively. Though I'm sure agnir probably could obliterate all of them in one strike.

Neither of them moved for what seemed like 30 minutes.

Then Tristan shifted agnirs blade in a diagonal slash. Ferdinand disappeared and reappeared in front of Tristan. Their blades clashed again making a loud ringing sound. While Ferdinand was moving quickly trying to exploit weak points in Tristan's defence, Tristan was standing still and twirling is great sword around himself. Each attack that Ferdinand made was deflected.

Tristan's movements were complex, but it seemed like he knew where Ferdinand would strike before even Ferdinand did.

"give up Tristan, you won't be able to stand much longer and when you fail to predict my strike, you shall fall!" Ferdinand kept attacking ferociously.

Tristan remained silent and focused. He never blinked. His eyes moved rapidly.

Agnir whispered to me, "torin... Do you know what my father is doing? How is able to block all of Ferdinand's attacks?"

I shook my head. "How?"

She responded, "he's just guessing... And he gets it right every single time."

I looked at Tristan in awe. Hearing the stories of Tristan from my dad, agnir, Fireheart, arthur and others, it was surreal to see him in person.

As their swords clashed Tristan's movement seemed to slow down.

Tristan coughed and bent over briefly. Blood spewed out from his wound. Ferdinand paused his onslaught, "see? You can barely stand now. You should've instead used your last moments to embrace your daughter." Ferdinand suddenly realized that agnir was indeed a person, "wait a minute. That's agnir?"

As he carelessly looked away from Tristan, Tristan took that opportunity to plunge agnir's blade into his brothers chest.

Silence.

Ferdinand started to bleed from his mouth, he smiled though, "together then? I suppose I can live with that..."

Tristan spoke with a raspy voice, "we will approach the gates together, brother. We will be judged for our deeds and there, they will see our souls are only a half portion, they shall not bid us enter. Is this really the reward you wanted when you decided to kill me?"

Ferdinand grabbed his brother, "well atleast we won't be alone in the void." He laughed then coughed.

Tristan dissolved agnir's blade, "you can still change brother. You can lead a better life than this..." Tristan fell to the ground.

Agnir ran to him and held him, "dad, it's me dad! I'm here!" Agnir held him tightly.

Tristan whispered in her ear one final thing. Then peacefully closed his eyes with a smile.

Ferdinand stood there holding his chest in pain, gasping for air.

Claire looked horrified at the sight of her father. "Are you... Dying?" She cautiously asked. Her eyes were wide.

Ferdinand scowled, "not if you could heal me... Though I suppose that isn't possible anymore."

Claire erupted, "is that all I was to you!? Just a tool!" She suddenly had an angry expression. "Well I'm nothing now dad! I'm nothing! I'm just a normal girl! Will you toss me away now?" She walked up to him.

Ferdinand stared into her eyes, "you couldn't even beat that one? He's just as worthless as you are now." He nodded towards me.

I suddenly remembered that I was also magicless. Without agnir I felt like a nobody, worthless, and powerless.

Iseld spoke, "all I've ever known are these people... Is the world truly as cruel as this?" She had a soft innocent voice.

I watched Claire angrily beraid her father. Then I watched agnir silently mourn her father. "I... I don't know..." What has become of my own father? I didn't know what to tell Iseld.

The door to the room swung open, welcoming friendly faces.

My dad walked in, followed by thena and Byron who were holding an injured Arthur. Behind them was a dragonkind.

I smiled in relief, "you're all alive?... I guess the world isn't quite as cruel as I thought Iseld."