The Uneven Duel

Once he was safely outside the city, Felix sat down on a rock and took off his backpack, zipping it open to reveal Velvet. She looked up at him with concern.

“Sorry about all that.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You doing okay?”

“Yes, I’m doing fine.” She got out of the backpack and perched herself next to him. The two sat next to each other, basking in the moonlight and cool night air. After some time, she asked, “So what exactly happened between all of you?”

“Well…” He sighed heavily. “That Alyssa woman, she used to be my girlfriend, fiancee, actually.”

“Your fiancee?” Her voice pitched up, a tinge of jealousy permeating.

“Yeah, I loved her, I mean really loved her. Thought she was my soulmate and everything, but one day,” he paused, “I came home early and found her with another man…”

“What!?” She leaned closer in shock and anger.

“Yeah. I was heartbroken, but I ended things then and there. Or at least tried to.” He looked off into the distance. “See, Alyssa was really close with my mom, so she went to her and lied, saying that I was the one who cheated.”

“Are you serious!?” Velvet had never been more riled up.

“It gets worse. My mom actually believed her. Next time I saw her, she blew up at me, saying she raised me better, that I was a piece of trash, and that she wanted absolutely nothing to do with me. Literally disowned me right then and there.”

Velvet shook with anger, her eyes burning with rage. “How could she!? Your own mother didn’t even believe you!? Listened to some hussy instead!?”

“Yeah… I reacted the same way. After that, I just left.” Felix’s voice grew quiet, and his gaze fell.

“What about Suzie? Couldn’t you have stayed with her?”

“I could’ve, but the reason we had a falling out was over all this. Before I found out she was cheating, Suzie warned me about Alyssa, and I got mad at her, really mad.” Felix bent over and picked up a fistful of sand. “What I said was unforgivable, but I was blinded by my infatuation. I just couldn’t face her after that.” He loosened his fingers and let the sand fall through to the ground.

“I see…” Velvet looked down, taking it all in. “Felix, I’m really sorry that all happened to you. It must’ve been awful.”

“It’s okay, it’s all in the past now. Besides.” He gave Velvet a pat on the head. “If it never happened, I would’ve never met you, so I think it worked out for the best.”

Velvet blushed. She wished he’d touch her and say nice things like that more often.

The two sat in silence some time longer, but there was still one last thing, though.

Nervously, Velvet spoke up, “Felix, about that child…”

“That kid? I don’t know, I just know it isn’t mine. What we did together, it wasn’t enough to make a baby.”

“I see.” Velvet smiled. “That’s good.”

“Anyway, we’d best get going.” Felix was about to get up, only to notice something just out of the corner of his eye.

Vines writhing across the ground, closing in on them.

Without another thought, Felix grabbed Velvet and jumped away just as the vines pounced, barely missing.

As Felix landed, Velvet jumped up and sent out a volley of magical projectiles, destroying the vines.

“Ava!” Velvet cried out.

“I’m sorry, Velvet.” Ava appeared from behind a tree. “I know such tricks are in poor taste, but I need you to return with me.”

“My answer is the same as it was then!”

“Maybe so, but that doesn’t matter. I won’t let you join the Empire, so you can either surrender or fight.”

Without another word, Velvet provided her answer and drew her rapier, ready for combat.

“I figured this is how it would be.” Ava responded in kind.

But before the fight could properly start, Felix piped up, “You came alone didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did.” Ava answered matter-of-factly.

Felix smirked. “A bit arrogant don’t you think. I mean, even against just Velvet you would be rivaled to say the least, but you're not fighting just her… “ He drew his revolver. “Are you?” As he said that final word, he unloaded all six shots into her.

Ava quickly summoned Vinea to use as a shield, but just as the barrage ended, Velvet had closed the distance and delivered a slash right through the vines, just grazing her face. Drawing her own backsword, Ava counterattacked, but as her blade was about to make contact, it was stopped by a barrier, Aegis. Aegis was difficult to counter, but it had a limitation: only one barrier could be deployed at a time. Ava jumped back and fired a continuous series of magic blasts right at Velvet, forcing her to summon Aegis to protect herself. She then sent her vines into the ground, preparing to attack her from the rear. But she had made a critical mistake.

“Over here!”

She heard Felix’s voice taunt her, she turned her head to face him, only to have a fistful of sand thrown into her face. She cried out. It went right into her eyes, painfully blinding her.

With this opportunity, Velvet built up her mana and shot a massive spell at her sister. The magic blast slammed into Ava, sending her careening several yards away. With major damage to her body, Ava smacked hard into a rock, knocking her unconscious.

Felix approached Velvet. “Nice job.”

Velvet’s dress wasn’t even dirty. “Thank you. You weren’t so bad yourself.”

“Now…” Felix looked awkwardly at Ava. The air was heavy, and his intention was clear. It would be wise to finish her off right now.

Velvet stared at her sister’s limp body in the distance. She knew what Felix wanted to do, and she agreed on an intellectual level, but it wasn’t so easy. Ava was still her sister. They were created by the same father, grew up in the same house, carried the same radiance, and killing somebody who was unconscious wouldn’t be called noble by anyone, it was behavior that was completely unbecoming of a Gwehrtain Angel. Ultimately, killing her sister, especially in such a manner, was something she was unable to do.

Finally, her voice hollow, Velvet said, “Let’s go,” as she walked off into the distance.