The autumn leaves died, winter came, spring followed and then autumn returned. Another year has passed. Corvus sat in the courtyard. Instead of trees or bushes, the yard had silk decorations and giant leaves/sticks that replaced trees. He looked bigger, almost like an adult man now. His visage had grown as well. Instead of being as big as a fingernail, it was now the size of Corvus' palm.
"I could never get used to this feeling."
The spider was him and he was it. A second body. He could see in front and behind himself, practically immune to ambushes.
"You're always early," a voice said from his blind spot.
Corvus rubbed his forehead. "How do you always sneak up on me?"
Kaelith took a seat on the leaf. The two have gotten a lot more familiar these past months.
"It's easy to sneak up on a simpleton like you."
He handed over some food. They were small caterpillars wrapped in pink silk.
"I'm not eating that."
Kaelith shrugged, "Only a mentally ill spider would eat fruit instead of insects."
"I love fruits!" a voice came from the top of the leaf-tree.
A man dressed elegantly and wearing a fedora landed in front of them.
"Point proven," Kaelith said.
"Do you consider all jumpies to be insane?" he asked.
Kaelith rolled his eyes. "Of course. Especially after what happened a few years ago."
Dravien took off his hat. "Fair enough."
"Can we get started?" Corvus interrupted.
Dravien was a jumping spider. Nowadays they are mostly travelers, spending only a year or two in a kingdom or village. He conjured up three swords made of green silk.
"Honestly Corvus, why do you want to learn such an antique fighting style?" Kaelith said.
Corvus stood up and grabbed one of the swords.
"Just train your poison or web magic," Kaelith continued.
He grabbed the other sword.
"It doesn't hurt to have multiple ways of fighting."
For Corvus it was still his only way to fight. Valerica prevented him from talking to Aurelia at every turn. His chance at magic was fading.
Dravien showed them a technique and they practiced it over and over. Then they moved on to another.
"I learned this one from a huntsman tribe."
Corvus could feel his body getting faster at executing the sword swings.
"Huntsmen?" Kaelith said with a tone of disgust.
"Yep, I stayed with them for a few months. I learned a lot."
"Like eating babies?" Kaelith asked.
Dravien laughed.
"Surprisingly they were one of least weird tribes I've met."
Spider culture was diverse yet according to Corvus, there were three groups: Those that eat their children, those that eat their adults and those that eat other spiders. The last ones were rarer.
"Let's have a duel, Kaelith," Corvus said as he pointed his sword at him.
"So eager to lose?" he said with a chuckle.
Corvus focused his mind. He was using every technique Dravien taught him. A fake swing into a lunge. Kaelith dodged it with ease and returned a strike of his own. He stopped short of Corvus' neck.
"Point for me. Next round," Kaelith said as he pulled his sword back.
They kept on dueling. Corvus' goal was to commit what he learned today to memory and beat Kaelith at least once.
"I've lost track, is it 40-0?"
Corvus was sprawling on the ground.
"41."
Fighting Kaelith frustrated him. How was he still faster than him? It's been months. Months of losing. If it was a magical fight, he'd understand but this was a simple physical fight.
"Let's go again."
Kaelith shook his head. "I've grown bored," he paused, "I can only beat you so much before it becomes mundane."
Corvus grinned, "Think you're going to lose the next round?"
His sword was aimed right at him. Kaelith rolled his eyes.
"Fine. Answer me this though, why do you not use your visage?"
Kaelith's spider was sitting on his shoulder. Its eyes stared at him.
"That's only for magic."
Kaelith burst into laughter. "You're kidding, right?"
He looked over at Dravien who seemed as confused as him.
"You literally close your visage's eyes during our fights," Kaelith said.
Dravien nodded.
"You're not sneaking up behind me. I can see in front of me without my visage," Corvus said.
Dravien opened his mouth but Kaelith stopped him.
"You're more of a weirdo than I thought," Kaelith sighed, "Just use both of your eyes."
Corvus didn't think there'd be a difference but he focused on keeping both sets open. The world felt the same. Then the fight started. Kaelith's swings seemed slower. They were still fast. But it felt like he could react to it. He blocked one. He couldn't block the second. But it was a start.
"You closed your eyes again."
Corvus nodded, "I'll stay focused next round."
Kaelith dropped his sword and stretched his arms.
"Fight Dravien, I'm finished for the day."
Corvus turned to Dravien with eyes that sparkled like a child that found a new toy.
"Sorry Corvus but I got stuff to do," he said.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he added as he walked into the halls.
Corvus frowned.
"Want to head out?" Kaelith asked.
Lyssandra had restricted Corvus' movement to only the palace. She didn't want him in the outside world. He didn't have magic and if he'd die it'd be a waste of time before another son was born.
"I can't," he said.
Kaelith raised his eyebrow. "I'm not allowed to leave the palace."
He chuckled, "I'm also not allowed to yet I still leave."
His friend put his hands on his shoulders.
"We're both sacrifices. They can't punish us anymore than they already do."
Corvus thought about it for a second and made up his mind.
"Besides, you can protect yourself with your fancy sword skills," he joked.
The two didn't sneak past the maids or butlers. They simply walked out. The road was on the wall, they followed it until they reached the main streets. All kinds of spiders roamed the street. Some were carrying boxes, others food and so on. Even a few flower monsters were there. Kaelith guided Corvus to a pub.
"You might want to keep your visage close here," Kaelith said before entering.