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“Yeah! Easy Win!”
With a laugh, he did a somersault backwards and then posed victoriously. Estelle praised him for his last strike and was glad that the fight was over without any major injuries. “I envy you Yuri! You are so strong, but soon I will defeat you! You will see!” Karol called out and grinned. Yuri returned the grin and raised his index finger like an old teacher. “You're going to have to train for a loooooong time.” “Oh, these young people,” muttered Raven, while Judith laughed quietly.
After an exhausting day's march and many more battles against smaller and larger monsters, the small group finally reached their destination: the newly built city of Aurnion. Yuri was amazed at how far the work had progressed. The city was almost complete and people were beginning to trade again and populate the streets. It seemed peaceful and Yuri couldn't help but think that his friend hadn't promised too much when he said that this new city will known as city of peace.
He watched the people and saw two young boys playing with wooden swords and pretending to be knights. The sight made him feel melancholy and he thought of Karol's words. A long time ago, he had been in Karol's place and had spoken those words to someone much stronger than him. Yet back then, they were both still powerless against the seemingly overwhelming injustice that reigned in this world.
~*~
The sound of wood striking wood echoed through the alleyways of Zaphia's lower town. Those who had the misfortune to live here had long been accustomed to the sight of the two boys practicing with their wooden swords. The friends trained together every day and even if the outcome of their fight was usually clear from the beginning, they came back the next day to cross swords again.
A black-haired little boy landed roughly on his backside, the wooden sword clattering to the ground. His opponent, a blond-haired boy, grinned triumphantly and held out his hand to help him to get up. “Won again!”
“Hmph!” grumbled the smaller boy and looked to the side, at first unwilling to accept his friend's hand. His sulking didn't last long, his ambition got the better of him. He grabbed his sword and let his friend pull him to his feet. “That was just luck! Now I'm really getting going, Flynn!” “Well, I'm looking forward to it! Come here!” Flynn called teasingly and laughed. Yuri didn't need to be told twice and stormed towards him with a battle cry. Unfortunately, this didn't help him win and he lost the next few rounds against his talented friend.
“Easy Win!” Flynn shouted joyfully, raising the hand holding his sword in the air as Yuri landed on his butt again. The sword a few meters behind him. There was defiance in his gaze as the blond reached out to him again. This time he pulled with all his strengh, causing Flynn to land on the ground next to him. “Yu...ri?!” he shouted in shock and looked at his friend, who began to laugh.
As the sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon, they sat together on the stone edge of the fountain and watched the sky. The streets were slowly emptying and only a few people were still outside. “You win every time. How do you do it?” Flynn raised an index finger playfully, mimicking the voice of an adult. “The result of training and talent, young man!” Yuri snorted, then they both began to laugh.
When the laughter died down, Yuri closed his eyes and began to sigh. “Are you really going to join the knights?” Flynn nodded. “But why! The nobles are stupid! They don't care about us!” Yuri sat up and looked at his friend urgently. He didn't understand why he wanted to leave him because of them. Before he could complain any further, he was stopped by Flynn, who gently placed his hand on his head and began to stroke it. As an orphan, Yuri had not received much physical affection, even though the townspeople were not bad to him. They had cared for him for as long as he could remember, but Flynn had always been something special to him. Like a brother. That's why it hurt him so much when he told him about his plan to join the Knights. “I know, but that's the path I've chosen. I don't believe that only violence can change things, but also hard work.“ They remained silent again.
“Alright!” Yuri stood up and looked down at his friend, who was looking at him questioningly with wide eyes. “I'm coming with you!” “What?” ”What, what!? I'm going with you, of course! Or do you think I'm going to let you be the only hero?” He put his hands on his hips and looked up at the sky benevolently. Flynn had to start laughing immediately. That was so typical of Yuri, he thought to himself. Yuri looked at him in offense, but the blond shook his head apologetically, trying to stop laughing. He also stood up and looked to his friend seriously. “Then let's make a vow!” Yuri nodded and immediately held out his little finger to him, even though he didn't know the vow yet. Flynn returned his gesture and they made a pinky promise.
“We swear to go to the knights together! We swear to make sure that no one is treated unfairly anymore!”
“We swear!” they both shouted together and sank back onto the stones. Yuri closed his eyes contentedly and enjoyed the mild wind while Flynn jumped off the edge. “Then I hope you pass the entrance exam. After all, you can't even beat me!” “What?! Of course I will!” Yuri exclaimed and turned to his friend, who grinned at him teasingly. “Oh yeah? Unlike you, Mr. Alexei has seen me fight and said that if I keep going, I have a good chance of passing.”
Yuri stared wide-eyed at his friend, then puffed out his cheeks and just snorted. “I envy you Flynn, but you will see. Soon I will defeat you!” “But then you'll have to train reeeeeally hard!” “I will!” “Then I'll wait for you.”
With renewed motivation, Yuri grabbed his wooden sword, while he took Flynn's hand with his other hand. Together they ran back home, planning to start training as soon as the sun came up.
~*~
Estelle looked questioningly at the dark-haired swordsman, who had begun to laugh softly as the boys finished their fight and were taken away by their mothers. The group was surprised by Yuri's change of mood. Judith tilted her head and smirked. “Ah~,” she purred, thinking she knew the secret of his thoughts, though in truth she was quite wrong. But Yuri was too lost in his own world to notice. His thoughts were entirely on Flynn and their past. He had initially joined the knights because of their promise, but that was only half the truth. In reality, he didn't want to be left behind.
As an orphan, he had always missed having a family and when Flynn and his father showed up in the slums, he immediately felt a connection to the other boy. They quickly became friends and blood brothers. He cared deeply for Flynn and while he couldn't do anything about the death of his parents, he didn't want to lose someone close to him again. Unfortunately, Yuri had to learn that brotherhood didn't mean being together forever. Life was cruel and when Flynn's father had died, the blonde had slowly changed. The older they got, the clearer their differences became. Their views on the right path ended up diverging to the point where they no longer fit together. Yuri could no longer stay with the knights. Not after all that had happened. He went back to the slums while Flynn made career.
The group didn't get far before they met a familiar face. Yuri's gaze remained neutral while Flynn told them that more and more people were coming to the city to live here. During the conversation, the friends' eyes met, but no one dared to speak first. Karol was surprised, as Yuri was never so reserved with his words before while Raven watched the dissimilar men knowingly. It was Flynn who broke the silence.
"Come to the city exit tonight. Alone."
"Okay."
~
When the sun was low in the sky, Yuri had left the hotel and come to the meeting point alone, as promised. Flynn leaned against the archway and stood up straight when he noticed the newcomer. Together they left the town and walked in silence towards the forest. Only when they came to a halt at the entry of the forest did Flynn break the silence. He confronted his friend as he could not understand his views. He demanded answers, but Yuri remained silent. He didn't know how to explain himself. Hadn't that been their problem from the beginning? His gaze went to the knight's sword. The solution suddenly seemed so simple.
Yuri drew his sword, carelessly tossed the scabbard on the ground next to him and pointed the tip of his blade at his opponent. “Let's settle this. Like we used to!” Flynn met his friend's determined gaze and reached for his sword. A noble, bright sword, appropriate for a knight of his rank. Determined, but more careful than Yuri, he drew it. “If that's what you want! I will not hold back!” „Me neither.“
Scattered leaves were carried across the ground by the wind, dancing between the opponents before gently sliding to the ground and lying motionless. Silence spread and the tension was palpable. No one dared to take the first step to break the fragile balance between them.
Yuri pinched his lips together. So this would be it. The answer to everything. He would speak to him and hold nothing back this time. But it wouldn't be easy. After all, he had never won one of their duels. By now, 15 years had passed and Yuri was ready to face it. It was time to take a step forward and put the past behind him. It was time to prove to him that he was no longer the small, helpless orphan child from back then who longed for the protective arms of his brother. He had grown up and was ready to go his own way and defend it. Yuri hadn't realized how much he had been bound by the desire for recognition. How much he had wanted Flynn to listen to him. He never wanted to separate from him, but he didn't want to give up on himself either. His wish was to stand by his side, as equals. As friends, comrades and brothers. It was time to win and break the chains of the past once and for all!
At the same time, they charged towards each other. Metal struck metal. Worldviews clashed. It quickly became clear that for both of them it was more than just a sword fight, which they had fought countless times before. This went deeper. It was their own personal conversation and each wanted the other to finally understand. Whatever the outcome of their fight, they both agreed on one thing: afterwards, nothing would ever be the same again.
„Flynn…!“
„Yuri…!“
„Demon Fang!“
„Azure Strike!“
The friends gave each other nothing. Attack after attack flowed into a stream of blows. Spells were cast, nobody was holding back. Exhaustion was written all over their faces, but neither of them thought about giving up. Too caught up in the thrill of the fight, their deepest feelings expressed with the blade, no one noticed how much time had passed. The sun had long since set and made way for the starry sky.
It was only when the last of their strength failed for a healing spell and the last regenerating gel was applied that they realized that they could not keep fighting forever. The last reserves of strength were put into the final blow, but in the end there could only be one winner.
Panting, Yuri stood on shaky legs, looking hazily at the person lying on the ground, who was also gasping for air. He had done it. He had actually won!
“E..Easy...win!”
Exhausted, Yuri sank to the ground beside him. They both looked at each other, smiling. No one felt any regret, they had given everything they had and Yuri felt free for the first time. He had given everything and had won. He was exhausted, but incredibly happy. Flynn had been waiting for him, as promised. The system was slowly changing and a transformation could be seen. The new city of Aurnion was proof. The citizens and knights were working together.
“I think it's time for a new promise,” Flynn gasped, wiping the sweat from his brow. Yuri turned his head towards him. “You're right.”
They took each other's hand as they raised their swords with the other.
A new oath was spoken and they both agreed they would keep it.
No matter what may come.
You and me.
We will always be there for each other.
Yuri lowered the sword and closed his eyes. The warm hand of his friend grounded him. He breathed in deeply and felt a sense of peace that he hadn't felt in a long time.
~ Thank you for everything Flynn, my brother, my former comrade and my best friend ~