The fallen God

Evolis leaned against the cool stone wall of the training courtyard, his dark hair catching the stray beams of afternoon sunlight, making his golden eyes flicker with an almost otherworldly gleam. At sixteen, most boys were still trying to figure out the simplest tricks of mortal combat—but Evolis had an aura about him, a hint that there was something far greater buried beneath his nonchalant, witty exterior.

"You're slacking again, Evolis!" a voice called out from across the courtyard. Lyris, a spirited girl with fierce determination and a smile that could melt even the hardest hearts, jogged over. She had known him since childhood, and over the years, their banter had become legendary. Today, her tone was equal parts playful scolding and genuine concern.

Rolling his eyes with a grin, Evolis replied, "Oh come on, Lyris, you know I pace myself. Not everyone can be running at full tilt every moment—some of us need to let our genius simmer."

Lyris crossed her arms and giggled, the sound bright and infectious. "Simmering genius or not, if you don't show up for today's sparring match, you'll never learn to channel that 'inner fire' you always boast about."

Before Evolis could retort with one of his trademark quips, a sudden commotion near the training grounds caught their attention. A small group of older students had gathered, their voices laced with challenge and mischief. One of them, a lanky youth, called Karam, with a sneer as sharp as a blade, stepped forward. 

"Hey, Evolis," the Karam taunted, "I heard you're so full of yourself that you think the world owes you a second chance. Care to prove it in a duel?"

Evolis raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Prove what? That my wit is as quick as my blade? Or that even your insults are as weak as your technique?" His words danced in the air, laced with that unyielding arrogance and charm that always left opponents scrambling for a comeback.

Lyris watched intently, her eyes narrowing in concern as the onlookers' excitement built. Evolis was more than just a talented fighter—there was an air about him, a subtle aura that hinted at a history far beyond this mundane training ground. It was as if the very atmosphere around him whispered of ancient secrets and divine origins, though he, himself, remained blissfully unaware.

Evolis's duel with Karam erupted into a whirlwind of motion. The lanky bully—Karam, known for his sharp tongue as well as his crude fighting style—lunged forward with a spear in hand, his sneer twisting into a snarl.

"Karam's spear sliced through the air with deadly intent," the narrator might say, as the first clash of metal rang out. Evolis met the thrust with a swift parry of his gleaming sword. The clang echoed in the courtyard—BOOM!—as sparks danced between their blades.

Karam pressed his assault relentlessly, his spear carving arcs of furious energy. With every strike, the air quivered like a charged storm. Evolis, agile and composed, sidestepped each attack with an ease that belied his age. At one point, Karam's spear whistled past, grazing Evolis's shoulder and sending a jolt of pain through him—SWOOSH! Yet even as he felt the sting, Evolis's eyes sparked brighter for a heartbeat, as if recalling a secret legacy.

The duel escalated. Karam roared and launched a rapid series of thrusts, each swing accompanied by the heavy thud of his aggression. Evolis countered with fluid precision—one moment his sword clashed against the spear in a ringing collision (CLANG! CLANG!), and the next he spun gracefully, drawing his secondary weapon—a slender, razor-sharp spear that gleamed with latent promise.

In a particularly breathtaking moment, as Karam thrust forward with a wild, almost desperate strike, Evolis anticipated the move. With a flash of his golden eyes and a deft pivot, he redirected the momentum of the attack. His counter was swift and decisive: a clean, arcing strike that sent Karam's spear clattering to the ground—CRASH! The force of the move stirred a dust cloud that swirled around them, obscuring the onlookers' view for a split second.

When the haze cleared, Karam staggered backwards, visibly shaken by the unexpected brilliance of his opponent. Evolis spoke with a playful smirk, "I'd say that was a move worthy of a proper lesson—try not to overdo it next time, alright?"

The duel, though still fierce, gradually became a display of Evolis's remarkable skill and unyielding confidence. Each parry and riposte hinted at something deeper, a hidden reservoir of power and memories waiting to be unlocked. Even as Karam struggled to regain his composure, Evolis's measured, witty retorts and effortless grace made it clear that this was no ordinary sparring match.

By the time the duel wound down, with onlookers murmuring in awe, Karam's arrogance was thoroughly deflated. Meanwhile, as Evolis wiped a small smear of sweat from his brow, a strange, subtle warmth radiated from him—a hint of the divine aura that had begun to awaken. And though he'd ignored it, deep inside, he sensed that this confrontation was more than just a test of skill—it was the spark of something extraordinary.

Later, as the courtyard quieted and Lyris approached with concern, Evolis's mind churned with unanswered questions. That duel, that fleeting flash of memory—it all pointed to a destiny far beyond the mortal realm. And with every step he took, the universe seemed to murmur his forgotten name, urging him onward toward a truth he had yet to fully grasp.

"You alright?" she asked, her tone softening as she noticed the distant look in his eyes.

Evolis offered a half-smile, brushing off her concern with a casual shrug. "I'm fine Lyris. Just... feeling a slight headache, that's all." He chuckled, though even he felt that his words didn't fully capture the gravity of what he'd experienced.

Lyris, ever perceptive, pressed gently, "You look like you've seen a ghost, or like you've seen something extraordinary. You've been quiet since the duel. What happened?"

Evolis hesitated. He wasn't ready to share the vision of forgotten divinity that had brushed his mind. Instead, he tilted his head, eyes dancing with mischief. "Maybe I caught a glimpse of our future, I'm pretty sure I saw some kids running around that looked like us. Fufufu~, there isn't perhaps a confession that you would like to make any time soon Lyris is there?"

Her cheeks momentarily flushed, but she ignored it, her eyes reflecting both amusement and longing. "As if, Hmph! Like I would want someone who was peeking at me while I was in the shower."

Evolis' face heated up, *Cough* "HEY, I already told you I thought it was empty, and we were five get over it!"

As the two kept bickering, the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the training grounds, Evolis couldn't shake the sensation that this duel was more than a simple sparring match. It was the spark that ignited the first flame of his awakening—a prelude to a journey that would lead him far beyond the confines of this mortal realm, back to a destiny he had long forgotten.

In that quiet moment, with Lyris by his side and the cosmos silently watching, Evolis embraced the challenge ahead. His charm, wit, and unyielding confidence masked the turbulent storm of memories and powers that lay dormant within him. And though the road to reclaiming his true self would be fraught with danger and divine intrigue, he couldn't help but feel—if only for a fleeting moment—that the universe had already begun to sing his name.

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Thus begins the tale of Evolis, a mortal on the cusp of awakening, whose journey to reclaim a lost divinity promises not only epic battles and cosmic revelations but also the forging of bonds that might one day transcend time itself.