Steel Thorns - Part 1

I never saw a map of Kaleis Island, but I surely had one in my head.

In the center of the island, there was the Glass Castle and the main school facilities, as expected. It isn’t very far away from everything else since the island is so small, but anyone would have to walk a little bit from the castle to any other spot. Should never be over ten minutes, but it’s still a good distance.

South of it, there were the dormitories and its facilities, which ended up a bit isolated, but that would be an advantage. It was the biggest concentration of buildings in the area since each noble has too big of a lodging and there are many of them. The place also has to house all the servants, places for the students to eat, and everything needed to upkeep the living standards.

At the same time, these facilities have to be supplied, which is where the Castle Town comes to on the north. In it, all the shops and facilities sponsored by the director or owned by nobles are. The place is mostly to supply students with items and amenities from the kingdom without having to leave Kaleis. It’s also there to help control everything and everyone that goes in and out the island since the port is in there.

Oddly enough, there isn’t anything to the east of the castle. Just a big forest with some ruins that would be useful later. Odd to be there, but not my problem.

But last, there’s a single spot that doesn’t exactly fit with the others. A big colosseum-like place surrounded by a pavilion, all meant for big events and exhibitions. It’s said that it was built to make school events more impressive, but it was a little too much in my opinion.

And right now, I’m crouching on the floor of one of the waiting rooms of this same colosseum while waiting for the duel. Fixing some tools here and there and getting ready.

“It’s time.” A known voice called me curtly from behind the waiting room’s door, so I got up and reached for the door in front of me. “Move out, Roselia.”

The fact it was Emma who was waiting when I opened the door did surprise me a little, but I suppose they would want to be sure I’m not fleeing. It isn’t as if the princess has a lot of trustworthy allies right now, so her bodyguard would be the proper choice. She stepped back as the door opened out, so I went on with some greetings.

“Good morning, Ms Emma.” I gave her a nod, which made me remember that I should curtsy in these situations, so I did one instead. Some bottles almost fell off, the purple liquid one, in particular, but I managed to perform it well enough. “Lead the way.”

My upbeat greetings seemed to surprise the tall girl a little. Made me smile further at that reaction. Maybe she was assuming I had some surefire way to win or a lot of confidence here, but it was more of a matter of ‘do or die’.

I did all I could already, so no point worrying more. I wasted all my panicking on the past week already anyway.

“Good morning, yes.” Emma eventually answered me with a bow, which was interesting, but then turned to the corridor and started to walk. “The arena’s entrance is over there, Roselia.”

Talking some more would be nice, but all I could do now was follow. The waiting rooms were at the lowest floor of the construction. The underground ring connected to the entrances of the arena where the participants waited for their time. A place just with waiting and storage rooms that was the smallest of the rings, for obvious reasons.

A bit of a maze if considering all the rooms and corridors built seemingly at random, but easy to navigate for anyone just using the main path.

It was a very short walk, but I suppose the point is being sure I won’t be running away or doing anything weird in this small slab of time. One that got me in front of the due waiting by the next stop: the small tunnel leading inside the arena.

“Desperoux…” The usual righteous glare met me right as I saw the princess, but how she was alone did worry me a bit. I did a lot of work to make sure she would keep an eye on her party while I’m fighting, so I hope she’s just here to gloat a bit. “I’m impressed you really came.”

“I would rather not, but you didn’t want to haggle.” I shrugged. “Did you consider any of my warnings?”

“Your threats are meaningless now. The negotiations broke down already.” Felicia answered with a scoff, so I just shrugged again. Every time we met, I tried to warn her about the future, but I never expected it to work. I don’t have the credibility for it. “I’m just here to make sure you walk inside.”

She was probably talking about Seline’s observations, which was fine for me. Since that day she got into a fight, her surveillance got stronger, and she got in a few extra fights, but this time, I made sure to stay close to where her brother would be. With the commoner getting infamy for being stronger than nobles around, no one messed with her too much.

“I see you’re not scared, but can you really? What will you do if your little knight gets beaten there and I call for some outside help?” I put on a scary smirk that I don’t like but comes very naturally to me. “Have you never heard of not being overconfident?”

Her expression did waver a bit, but that wouldn’t be enough to make Felicia panic. Again, I don’t have the credibility to cause that sort of reaction. Not yet. It should be enough to make her any small bit more vigilant, though. Maybe just enough to make my job easier.

“It’s good to be confident. I’ll even copy it and give you a hint.” I smirked at the display and threw the hooded guy’s drawing towards her before turning to the arena. “Just don’t sing victory before it happens, Your Highness. As I said before, some people have ways to make your fake knight lose without fighting… Keep your eyes open.”

Felicia shouted out something while I was leaving, but I ignored her and kept walking. And, as I walked, I left some threatening words that would, with some luck, keep them at attention even if I started to lose.

Luck is all about making enough opportunities anyway.

But I cleared my head of these thoughts for the time being and entered the arena. As I did, I pulled my equipment and set them on my hands. Two very different gloves now, but the mismatch looked pretty nice. On the left side, the red and black set of gems in a rose motif, modified by having all the gems I had left attached to it. And on the right, a steel half gauntlet with black plates of void steel attached to the palm.

One for attacking and one for defense.

Everything else was my normal uniform. I removed as many ornaments as I could and shortened the skirt a bit, but it was the same as usual. I don’t have that many options to begin with.

If I could, I would be wearing different weapons and actual armor, though. I somewhat know how to use several of them, but a simple trial made it clear that wouldn’t work. Knowledge doesn’t translate to muscle memory. Trying to swing a sword now would just make me weaker. Relying on spells and alchemy was the right way to go.

My steps were surrounded by the cheers and jeers of the audience. The arena wasn’t as crowded as it could be. This wasn’t an official event, so only students and workers from the city could be here. There was a respectable number of people waiting to see me get beaten, even if they could only fill the lower seats and VIP areas. Most of the first and second years, I believe. And all I could do was take a deep breath and take my position.

Waiting for me as I did so, there was Graham with his full knight set. He was wearing the uniform, mostly, but without the blazer and tie, instead having a chestplate of carbonized steel on top of the shirt.

Add that to the greaves and leather gloves, he would be considered heavily armored for a duel. Armor is less efficient than barriers, even if heavily enchanted, so they’re usually considered a bother. Focusing on avoiding attacks and mastering barriers is better for defense. That, and the cloth used for the student’s uniform is already made of rainbow silk, which is a very strong alchemic material made with enchanted silk threads and steel.

Heavy armor on top of that would be overkill in most situations.

He was also wielding a longsword that my head was adamant on calling an arming sword, also of the same material as the chestplate, but filled with runes. An enchanted sword sourced by Felicia herself, even if she had to compromise on the materials and enchantments since she lacked the fund. Still, a very good weapon. One that would be constantly upgraded if Graham wished to keep using it later.

“Are you sure about this, Roselia? You can surrender…” Graham softly asked me as I got into position. Seeing his expression and lack of killing intent, all I could do was think that this guy was too soft for his own good. That would change, but not now.

“Too late for that, but I would be fine if you surrendered instead. I would like to avoid having to use my tricks here.”

“I see…” He closed his stance with this comment, but gave me some last words before giving the ready signal to the announcer. “At first, I planned to give you the same treatment you gave other people before, but since you helped my sister, I’ll try to finish it quickly.”

“Don’t underestimate me too much, knight.” I answered with a veiled compliment before raising my catalyst-equipped hand in front of me before signalling the announcer too. “I’m planning to win as much as you.”

Not sure if it was my comment or my posture, but Graham nodded in answer. We both stopped then. Something like fifty meters between the two of us. Just a packed dirt ground without cover or anything else.

I looked around, noticing the princess and her followers taking position at the VIP box. All five of the current companions for the Pretender Knight are there. Seline, in particular, I’m very happy to be in the middle of them. That group has to stay close together for everything to work as planned.

Close to them, there was also the director, acting as witness and referee, and some other important people, some of whom I couldn’t even recognize. They were less of a factor. Most, if not all, of them, would conveniently leave before anything big happens or be busy in other areas. Useless folk.

But it is not the time to think about it.

“The champions are ready! And the witness for the judgement is here too.” The voice of the announcer boomed out from his stand and the director, waiting by his side, nodded. “Now, we shall start the duel for Roselia Perchant Desperoux’ right of divine justice. If the heavens are with her, reparations will be given, if they are not, the accusing party shall see her punished. A fight until one side surrenders or is unable to use magic.”

He says that, but it’s just a simple ‘who wins can order the other’. The scale of which is based on what the witness finds to be fair, but that’s beyond the point. The rules of the match are more important.

“On the accusing side, ranked tenth on physical competence, backed by Your Highness herself, and with a record of ten victories in ten duels… Graham Brothier, the Pretender Knight!” The audience cheered at his words, though how they used a mockery nickname as his official alias did annoy me a little. Very unfair, but the announcer continued. “And on the defending side, representing herself for some reason, the Withered Rose. Roselia Desperoux!”

My name got a reaction too, but it wasn’t a very welcoming cheer. The expected, of course, but it does sting a bit. Also, don’t use ‘withered’, at least use ‘fallen’. Withered has such a bad sound to it. If you’re going to give me a silly nickname, at least make it sound cool.

All I could do was sigh until the announcer decided to quiet everyone down and finally start the match properly.

“Well then, on our esteemed director’s signal…” He pointed to the old mage by his side and waited until the director fired a bolt of energy to the sky. “Start!”