But Riyan’s Dome of Horrors negated all of those benefits. Vir really didn’t know how long they’d last before one of them met with a grievous injury. Maiya was right to fear.
He only hoped Riyan’s Life orbs were up to the task…
25A TALE OF ICE AND WIND
Maiya sat on the edge of the training dome, shivering as she watched Vir trade blows with Riyan in the early morning chill. She felt cold, but she was sure neither of the combatants felt the same. In fact, it was the perfect dueling temperature.
Most of the dome’s sandy floor was covered by Riyan’s monstrous obstacle course, but there was still enough room around it for a duel to take place.
Both Vir and Maiya had grown by leaps and bounds over the past several weeks, but the gap between herself and Vir only continued to widen. Even with a half dozen handicaps, Vir would beat her with ease, while she continued to struggle with even the most basic moves.
The situation was the same on the obstacle course—if she was honest, it was even worse. Her friend had always possessed a knack for moving his body gracefully. His balance and flexibility were far superior to hers, and that gap had widened.
He leaped dauntlessly into swinging scythes and rotating swords while she tiptoed in his footsteps. And that too, only thanks to his endless instruction and advice. ‘Don’t step there, transfer your weight gently, don’t put too much weight on that rope!’
She shouldn’t feel bad—her progress had been immense—but she was always reminded of that saying: Even an aristocrat feels poor when in the company of royalty.
With only Vir and Riyan to compare against—both monsters—it was hard not to feel inferior.
Clang! Ping! Clash!
Maiya could barely follow Vir’s duel with Riyan as they traded blows. She was sure she’d missed at least half of Riyan’s attacks—all of which Vir had blocked. To her eyes, they both looked superhuman. Vir was formidable, and Riyan was in another realm. He was Balar 150 for a reason, a fact that still boggled her mind. At the same time, he was only Balar 150. There were warriors and mejai out there who boasted ranks several times that.
She clenched her fists. What role could she play now? She’d always looked out for Vir. Warded off the village bullies and supported him whenever she could. Now… She wanted to protect her friend, but it was more likely that he’d be the one protecting her. Thanks to Kalari and his chakram arts, he’d become a force to be reckoned with.
Maiya had come to realize she would never beat Vir if she played to his strengths. It was ironic… her friend still couldn’t hold a candle to her in endurance, but it almost didn’t matter anymore. He’d devised so many ways of ending fights quickly that she could never even begin exploiting that weakness of his.
If she wanted to compete, she’d have to play to her strengths. That meant magic. Well, magic and that other thing Riyan was teaching her on the side, but she had to master magic at all costs. Yet no matter how much she pestered the man, he always had the same answer: ‘Patience. Arrangements are being made.’
Though, there had been some progress on that front. After pestering Riyan for the hundredth time, he revealed a date. Two more weeks until Tanya arrived. Then her mejai training would begin in earnest.
Only two more weeks!
Maiya snapped out of her thoughts when Vir was sent tumbling, crashing heavily into a wooden post. She used to panic whenever that happened, but she soon stopped worrying. Her friend was a lot more resilient than she gave him credit for. Or at least, his pain threshold was far higher than hers, and Riyan’s Life orbs always patched him up afterward.
Vir slowly rose to his feet, testing his arms and legs to ensure he hadn’t sustained any major injury. Then he was running again, rushing right back at Riyan to continue the fight. Rather than engage, their instructor held up his palm. “Take these,” he said, tossing some chakrams and chakris at Vir’s feet.
Vir picked them up, a confused look on his face. “These are steel weapons. I can’t use these on you.”
Riyan snorted. “The day when I need you to worry about me is the day I die. You pose no threat to me, boy. Come at me with everything you have. Show me the fruits of your training.”
Vir faced off against the big man, whose only protection was his talwar. Maiya could see the suspicion in Vir’s eyes, as if he was trying to guess Riyan’s intent behind this duel.
Maiya’s heart pumped faster. She desperately wanted to see him go all out, if only to wipe that arrogant smirk off Riyan’s face. He wouldn’t though. It’d be stupid to reveal the full extent of his power here… She held a small hope nonetheless.
“Not attacking? Then I shall!” the Ghost of Godshollow said, Leaping to Vir in an instant. Her friend threw himself aside, barely avoiding Riyan’s wooden sword. Two chakris flew at the man even before Vir landed. Both flew true, but Riyan casually avoided one and blocked the other with his talwar. The small disk embedded itself into the wooden weapon.
Maiya had been wrong all along. Vir didn’t have the luxury of hiding his power from Riyan. He’d have to throw everything he had at the man just to avoid being battered and broken.
Vir launched a chakram and followed up with his katar. Riyan was forced to defend, but he managed to successfully counter both.
Maiya had never seen the big man pressured like this before. Will he actually lose?
It seemed like such an absurd thought, but as Vir relentlessly attacked, forcing him to step back again and again, Maiya’s hope grew.
Down to his last chakram, Vir grasped it with his left hand and sliced at Riyan, but the man used Light Step to gracefully jump away. Vir’s final chakri missed.
And that was when Maiya realized Riyan had been going easy on Vir all along. The man rushed Vir and smashed his stomach with the pommel of his talwar. Her friend was literally sent tumbling.
He rolled to a stop, unconscious. Maiya cried out and ran to his side, turning him over.
“Good,” said Riyan.
“How is this good!” Maiya shrieked. “Heal him!”
“He merely fainted. I ensured he suffered no actual damage. Tend to him. And let him know that I am pleased. He is progressing well. Quite well. His chakram skills are truly something else. I wish I could say the same for you.”
Maiya stared him down, refusing to buckle under the man’s withering gaze. “You know what I need.”
“Two weeks,” Riyan said as he turned and left, leaving her alone with Vir.
Maiya took a deep breath and tended to Vir as best she could.
He came to in a few minutes, his head resting on her lap. “I feel like I just got impaled by an Ash’va.”
“Not too far off, actually,” Maiya said with a wry smirk. “C’mon, let’s get you to the bedroom. I’ll give you a massage.”
Vir frowned. “I don’t think I’ll be able to give you one after, though. Not today.”
“No worries. It’s my treat,” she said with an angelic smile, which, of course, put Vir on high alert.
“What do you want?” he asked. His voice dripped with suspicion.
“Why would you think I want something? Haven’t I done stuff for you before?” She knew full well Vir wouldn’t fall for her tactics.
“This is different. You’re up to something,” he said as she got under his shoulder, helping him limp to the edge of the training dome. Riyan had really done a number on him. But knowing her friend, one massage and a grotto soak later, and he’d be as good as new.