VI. Old Friends; Old Challenges

Breakfast that morning was a good one.

Ryder was having his favorite dark brown Khenealm coffee which had the same color of his hair, making him love it more.

Seyin was back to his old self. It was like nothing happened last night. He teased, laughed, and forked everyone's food with Keyanne the only exception as she was so cautious. Rhed was pitiful since he just stays quiet no matter how many times Seyin got food from him. Aura and Nique were chit chatting and they growled in unison every time Seyin attempted.

Deep within his dull expression, Ryder was smiling. How could he not? He was home. 

The usual buzz at the breakfast table warmed his heart and he was sure that it was not just because he was drinking coffee. Having something to return despite what the war has done to them was something that he was thankful for the heavens for. 

Ryder was so focused on the past that he occasionally forgot that he still had a present family. He should treat them with something. They haven’t been bonding much these days either.

Some other time, when all of this is completely over, Ryder thought. 

There were still a lot of things that they had to solve. The conjurers were still roaming around Khenealm, plotting whatever they could to have their vengeance against the government. The influx of the sightings of the Shadows was a clear sign of it. They were somewhere out there, controlling things from afar knowing that they have just been reduced to a mere group of vagabonds.

Had their secret not been found, there would have been no war. Hearth would still be a proud city. Maybe the merry atmosphere in front of Ryder right now would have been more complete with their original numbers. 

Still, Ryder had to be grateful, even if it's just for this moment because no one knew when Hearth would come for them.

Only one thing was missing that morning–Raeya.

Leison was awake but he couldn't move a muscle. Rhed had already fed him earlier, inciting the others to take pictures of their mighty and great manager being spoon fed in an awkward position. Ryder had hoped that Raeya would have woken up already since she received less grave wounds. But she was still sleeping.

Other than that, he didn't know if he would share it to them that Raeya was dreaming strangely last night, though he knows that 'dreaming' was not really the right word.

Ryder knew that Jin had visited her again in her sleep as he often did before. He had his doubts but when Raeya suddenly smiled after she muttered 'Jin' in her sleep, Ryder already knew it.

The three of them were childhood friends. He knew that Jin had the ability to talk to people through the white void from a distance. Meaning, Jin was patrolling nearby. Although he knew that there wasn’t really anything wrong with it, he just felt unwanted seeing that Jin never talked to him for years despite them literally going through thick and thin when they were kids.

Does Jin still hold a grudge against me?, he thought, although Ryder knew he really did something wrong to him, just not directly. Jin and Raeya were bound to be partners but it was Ryder who was wearing Raeya’s sigil on his left hand. It shouldn’t have been that much of a problem actually. But Jin liked Raeya and that was what complicated things.

He suddenly didn't want to think about it. Whoever Raeya wanted to talk with was not really his business. As long as his sigil is still burned on her hand, that assurance was all he needed. He shouldn’t be someone so dense to be affected by such a small issue. 

"Ryder, are you listening?"

Ryder went back to reality and saw Seyin grinning at him like Ryder had just missed a joke.

"Uh, sorry. What?"

"Aura, tell him. It's always better with you,” Seyin gestured at Aura.

Aura's expression was horrified. It was obvious she didn’t want to talk about it.

"Me? Don't you dare drag me into this," she said and looked at Ryder. "It's nothing. Just his usual… challenges."

"Well, if it's usual, then tell him. C'mon, Aura, what could possibly go wrong?" Seyin insisted.

"The challenge itself is a wrong one, Seyin. Let's just eat.” Aura shoved food into her mouth like she didn’t want to say anything anymore.

Challenge. The word brought Ryder back to the old days. It was a game where they protect their Aegis symbols located on their right hand as they force their opponent to show theirs. They would pocket their right hands and fight with their left. The winner would be the one who was able to successfully show their opponent's right hand or the classic way-- submission by force.

How many times did he and Seyin play-fighted in the past?

As far as he knows, Seyin never won in a fair way. He always carried tricks like spray gas or bitter powders. Their friends would always object to Seyin's victories but he knew how to justify his actions. Either way, Ryder didn't care much about winning because he just wants to play along with his friend. Ryder didn't really care how Seyin wins because for him, he was winning in his own way and for Ryder, a loss is a loss. No excuses.

"What are the stakes?" Ryder finally asked. Aura was clearly nervous at his question. She looked at the girls for help. Keyanne just stared at her while Nique smirked in approval.

"Seyin said that if he loses, he will not meddle with your business anymore, whether you will come home or not. It's really very unreasonable---"

"And if I lose?"

"You won't like it. I doubt that you would accept anyway. Because if you lose... If you lose---"

Seyin cut her off.

"Raeya is mine."

A strong wind rushed inside, making the curtains lash at the air. They ballooned and the force tousled their hair and their clothes. For a while, the only sound was the whipping of wind against cloth. Only when the curtains settled down did Ryder give a chuckle for an answer.

"Hey, Seyin. Don't you think you're ten years too early for that challenge?"

"Ha-ha. Being early is far better than being late."

That word hit Ryder hard. He knew what Seyin was doing. He was provoking him. Ryder didn’t know what caused him to suddenly feel competitive but one thing was for sure, he wouldn’t back out of this challenge. The last time that they played, there were lots of jesters but not like this.

"Then doesn't that put you at a disadvantage?" Ryder provoked back.

"Doesn't matter if I win,” Seyin boldly said. He wasn’t just speaking. He was already standing, ready to go anytime.

"You forgot that you lose more often than you win,” Ryder reminded him.

"Then now's the best time to settle the score. I am serious."

"So am I."

The others had stopped moving. All of them sensed the seriousness in the atmosphere. Ryder and Seyin slowly inserted their right hands into their pockets. The table was round and they were facing each other diagonally. Seyin forked his last meat and plumped it into his mouth, chewing in anticipation while Ryder sipped his coffee.

It should have been obvious---Ryder's eyes on the knife on top of Keyanne's plate, his foot slightly elevating, even his holding of his breath. He doesn't rely on deception. Ryder would always let his opponents know of his next action but beat them to it by power. That was always his style.

He knew that Seyin didn't like waiting. He also knew what Seyin would do. Seyin's grip on his fork was very obvious, too. So when Seyin had gulped down his meat and before he could fling the fork at him, Ryder threw his cup towards him--- the chocolate coffee tracing the cup's trajectory in a straight line.

"Hey, watch the food!" Aura pulled away her plate.

Seyin grabbed his knife and sliced the cup neatly in two but he had closed his eyes as the coffee splashed on him.

Everything happened fast. He was late to realize that Ryder had jumped and was upon him the second that he had opened his eyes with Keyanne's knife an inch from his right eye.

Ryder hoped Seyin would immediately use his right hand to protect his eye.

But if Seyin had a secret weapon on par with Ryder, it was his astounding ability to cope up.

Seyin smirked.

In a heartbeat, Ryder’s eyes went round. Instead of parrying, Seyin let himself fall off his chair so the blade didn't reach him. Ryder couldn't believe it.

He didn't read my attack, he was just sharp enough to react.

Sensing that it would be his turn to be attacked, Ryder tried to withdraw and land on his sides but he had already bent too much.

Seyin grabbed the opportunity and twisted a hard kick into Ryder's gut, pushing him mid-air and sending him diving into the sofa nearby.

Rhed sneered in disgust while Nique just nodded like she was pleased and even Keyanne's attention was on them. Aura stood in shock.

"I...I can't believe it. For the first time, Ryder was the first to attack but Seyin the first to land a hit."

"They're just being idiots, Aura. What could they hope to prove with this old game of theirs? What do you think, Nique?"

"Shut up and just watch, Rhed. It has only begun."

***

Raeya woke up to the sound of something crashing downstairs in the kitchen. She abruptly woke up and a sharp pain erupted on her shoulder that was wrapped up in bandages. She gritted her teeth and waited for it to recede. She sat motionless on the bed. When the pain finally calmed down, she was again surprised at the sound of a voice.

"Don't worry about it. It's just Ryder and Seyin challenging each other."

"Oh."

Challenges, huh?

It made her think of the good old days-- when Aegis was complete and Absinthe was nothing more than another company of ordinary warriors. Those were the days when Hearth was still at its peak, not until the conjurers showed themselves.

Nique sat by her side and fixed the bandage on her shoulder. They sat in silence. The only sound was the ruckus that Ryder and Seyin were making.

"You were awake last night. You heard what happened here. Why did you stay silent?"

Raeya flexed her left hand that Ryder held. It seemed to itch.

"I was not ready to face him. And I don't know why. I've waited for how many days for him and now that he's here, I just suddenly feel like I don't want to talk with him."

She was already conscious by the time that she was getting bandaged. But sensing Ryder’s presence made her fake herself that she was asleep just so she wouldn’t face him. Although she had been waiting for him for a long time, his sudden appearance caused her determination to die, in fear that her talking with him will not go well as what has happened to her past attempts.

"In short, you're avoiding him. Raeya, you're running away from your problem again."

Upon hearing that, Raeya wanted to get angry. It's not her fault that she's being ignored. And it's not her fault either that she's always the one adjusting since the other won't even notice. She's doing her best to fix the problem and being told that she was running away was enough to flare her up.

But the sincerity of her friend's eyes pierced through her and made her reflect on herself.

"Yeah", she finally admitted. "I'm still playing this shut-up-and-let-time-fix-it game. Just as I had been doing ever since the war."

Nique smiled, happy that her friend acknowledged her own feelings. "But now you know that you're not kids anymore who would fight and then get over it with just a smile. Raeya, both of you have to admit it already. Talk."

Nique held her hand. Raeya returned her smile and noticed that she had braided her caramel-colored hair elegantly like a hair band. It brought out the beauty of her dark brown eyes since she usually wore her hair side-swept, covering almost half of her face. That's when she realized the reason why Nique had styled herself.

Nique wasn’t someone with a lot of words but it was what made her special when she does. People avoided her as if she wasn’t an existing member of Aegis due to her lack of social skills but she valued the security of the people more than any of them due to her past. Although her body was full of visible scars thanks to her childhood experience, her heart was soft.

She was someone Raeya considered as a sister, not only because they are both Aegis members but because of the bond that they forged through time. Nique saved her countless times but never once did she ask for Raeya something in exchange. She was that pure.

"Oh, shoot! We'll be going to headquarters today, right?"

"Oh sorry, I almost forgot to remind you. That's why I came here, actually. I know it would be hard for you to get changed with your bandages."

She had the nerve to laugh and Raeya just sighed. Nique held her hand out, gesturing to Raeya to stand. As soon as she was on her feet, they suddenly heard piano playing.

It was Nique's phone.

A troubled look passed on her friend's face and she showed it to Raeya. It was an unknown number. Raeya encouraged her to still answer it. It was not unusual. All of the numbers of the Aegis members were public for the people to easier contact if ever anyone needed serious help. It was just that not many rang Nique’s number. Usually it was Ryder or Leison and that was understandable since they were prominent members.

"Hello. Who is... Oh. Yes sir? How may I help you?"

After that, when the call ended, Nique let her hand down fast. The phone slipped out of her hand and it skittered on the floor. She turned to Raeya and the color on her face was drained.

"Is everything okay? Who was that?" Raeya asked.

"N-no one in particular. Just...just a concerned citizen."

Well, they always get calls from the locals. A thief to catch, a drug lord to corner, or a fire to be put out. What was wrong with a normal call?

"Okay, so what's the request?"

Nique shook her head.

"It's not a request. It's intel."

"Then that's good news, atleast. What's it all about?"

Nique locked eyes with her. It signaled Raeya to prepare herself because it was not good news. Raeya felt chills in her body. It was rare for Nique to be shaken by a simple call.

The last time that they received grave news through a rush phone call was when the government ordered for the destruction of Hearth and anything that stood in their way. That day was a traumatic one, something that Raeya wished was a dream. 

Raeya suddenly began to worry. Was it about her Rigiddin family? Or about their mission yesterday? Were Shadows being sighted again?

"A local hunter saw a warrior pass through the woods---a member of Aegis, based on her tattoo. She had grey eyes, he said. And bright...blonde hair. She was looking for Ryder."