Eli pressed himself firmly against the rough bark of an ancient tree, taking in shallow breaths to remain as silent as possible. The subtle symphony of the forest – the rustling leaves, chirping birds, and humming insects – filled the air around him. But amidst its harmonious tune, Eli felt a twinge of impatience, even though he'd only been in hiding for ten minutes. _“Just a bit longer,”_ he thought, trying to quell his impatience. _Patience is key here._

  Suddenly, a peculiar clicking noise caught his attention, a sound he felt he had encountered before, but couldn’t immediately place. A gentle tickle on his ear made him jerk forward instinctively. Whirling around, his eyes settled on a small, pale wood dragon, which had hastily clambered higher up the tree trunk. A rush of nostalgia hit Eli; he remembered chasing and catching these elusive creatures in his childhood, alongside lizards and other small critters. The distinctive clicking noise it made now jogged his memory.

  Taking it as a sign, Eli thought, “If I remain stationary for too long, Demetrius might catch me off-guard.” With renewed energy, he began to move stealthily, examining every tree he passed, hoping to catch a glimpse of his brother before he himself was found.

  However, after circling past their initial meeting point several times, Eli's stealth gave way to frustration. “Where in the world is he?” he muttered under his breath.

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  The sudden crunch of leaves behind him was the only warning he got. Crunch. From behind Eli, leaves jumped up, and a wooden blade sliced through them. Thwack. Demetrius landed the first hit across the back of Eli's neck.

  Eli grunted. The blow left a red line that had been made from the strike, it would definitely bruise. Eli immediately turned to meet his brother's eyes, sword ready. "That really hurt, temper your blows, damn it," shouted Eli!

  "Don't be a pussy. Are you just going to yell at me, or are you going to hit me?" taunted Demetrius, sticking his tongue out.

  Eli lunged forward, aiming his wooden sword's tip at Demetrius's chest, but his brother had seen the move countless times before. Anticipating it, Demetrius sidestepped and landed a firm strike on Eli's exposed knee.

  "Too eager," Demetrius chided. "Overextending leaves you vulnerable. Thought you would've learned that by now." But even as he spoke, Eli's blade swung at his neck.

  Quick on his feet, Demetrius dropped into a crouch, narrowly evading the attack. As Eli's momentum carried him forward, Demetrius retaliated with a low swipe aimed at Eli's hips. Eli, sensing the danger, leapt over the incoming blade, tucking into a roll that carried him past his brother.

  Scrambling back to his feet, Eli faced Demetrius, both young men breathing hard, circling each other with fierce determination in their eyes. Their swords clashed again and again, echoing through the forest.

  Eli's thoughts raced. _Demetrius always seems two steps ahead, reading my moves before I even make them. I might not be able to outmaneuver him mentally, but perhaps I can push my reaction speed to the limit._

  Blow after blow, parry after parry, the two continued their dance. Demetrius displayed an uncanny knack for predicting and countering Eli's strikes, while Eli responded with agile reactions and rapidly adapting tactics.