The blade, however, didn't appear to be steel. Instead, it seemed as if darkness itself had materialized into something that appeared to be a blade.
The blade flared like a burning flame, alive and breathing.
Despite the wriggling aura of the blade, he could feel its sharpness, and something inside him warned him to be aware of the blade.
Without thinking much, he assumed a defensive stance, raising his guard.
However, unlike him, the thing didn't look troubled. Perhaps it was the lack of features that made it difficult to see through its intentions.
"If I win," the shadow said, its voice unfiltered. "You stop fighting me. You let me carry you the rest of the way, and I promise you, Kael — no one will ever again have the power to wound you. Not ever again."
"But what if I win?"
"Then perhaps," the shadow said, almost thoughtfully, "I learn something about restraint. It's been a very long time since anything challenged me enough to teach me anything at all."
