To Fight

There were even more spectators than there were in the hallway when the duel was declared. The crowds surrounded the open field, hardly allowing for any room to walk through.

The duel Malther suggested was the ‘Speed Duel’. Since the duels were always so short, the crowds would amass even before the competitors would arrive. The societal accepted unspoken rule for this type of duel was the shorter the duel, the more qualified the winner is to give orders to the other. The rules were as follows:

1. Any form of swordsmanship is allowed.
2. The sword is the main weapon, but supporting items are allowed. This includes the magic.
3. Once the sword is rendered unusable or out of hand for 5 seconds, the duel is over.
4. The duel will last for 5 minutes at maximum.
5. Involvement from outside parties is not permitted.

Now, Malther was not an opponent to be underestimated. Although he was arrogant, he was praised for his athletic prowess in speed. A similar vein of person to ‘this’ August. If it was the August from before, Malther may have even rivalled his speed.

But that is not how it is anymore. They have a huge gap in skill now.

“Take your stances,” the referee announced. “Ready, START!”

Malther charged in first, sword pointed toward August. A simple attack that August could easily avoid.

August had two directions for the duel. Drag it out, or end it now. Ending it now would mean Malther would be pressured into not interacting with Heilke whatsoever, but August would be deemed Heilke’s lover without her consent. Dragging it out would prevent the weird obsessed image of August, but Malther may believe he still had the right to flirt with Heilke. Both were unideal, but the latter seemed more natural.

Malther went in for another attack, a hint faster than the first.

“Are you only going to dodge!? Are you a pussy?” Malther yelled, frustrated that none of his attacks were connecting.

If what he used was reverse psychology, it worked. August parried his next swing, pushing Malther’s arms away from his body. It was obvious that Malther could not win from pure swordsmanship alone.

So he summoned his mana in the form of a creature.

August’s gaze switched. His stance changed, more on guard and ready to use more energy than before.

Malther swung his sword recklessly. The deep coloured mana behind him followed the swings, making the uncontrolled swings more impactful. Debris would come flying off the floor, hitting everyone within the surroundings.

Not once did August take a step back. He could not afford to move back to where his comrades would be. Like a pawn in chess, forward is the only option, until he reaches the other end of the board. He needed to end it quickly.

And that, he did. Malther now had his butt on the floor, sword out of reach. He must have been in shock, as he did not realise to retrieve his sword even after the five seconds were over.

The moment the animal-like mana dissipated, August’s fierce gaze also vanished. Only then did he realise he was in a ring for a duel, not out in the battlefields.

“Game! The winner is August Vin Gardner!”

There were squeals from the audience, most of which were inaudible. But just a few, just a very few, August heard.

“As expected of Heilke’s No.1 defender!”

“When’s the wedding!?”

…

He took too little time.

*

Heilke pushed him against the wall.

“Look at what you started,” she said. Ironically, August could not look her in the eyes.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get it to this stage.”

“All you do is apologise.” Heilke sighed, and released her grip on the wall. “Although I suppose this time it is my turn to give gratitude.”

August watched as Heilke stepped back to do a curtsy. It was deliberate and elegant, taking up much more time than the other curtsies she had shown him.

“Thank you, August Vin Gardner, for accepting a duel on my behalf.” Just under her breath, she added, “and getting rid of annoying scum.”

It was a much more positive interaction than August thought it would be. He expected a single, cold warning, but instead he received such regard. Maybe he could shoot his shot and invite her as a partner to a ball.

“Lady Crowell,” August started. “You know how we graduate in five months? Would you like to b—”

“No thank you,” Heilke responded immediately.

August froze with his mouth in the shape ready to say the next syllable. Why did he get his hopes up?

Heilke looked at the confounded man pitifully.

“Although, I am going to the ball.”

August’s face lit up. She did not completely shut down their conversation and leave him on a cold note.

“Lady Heilke…!”

Maintaining eye contact, Heilke said fiercely, “If I catch you treating all women like this, just so you know, you’ll be dead.”

*

August could not hold his excitement. The Heilke that very obviously put up walls between them had let one down. This led to him going to town to buy a gift for her as soon as he could—out of excitement.

The store was covered in a mysterious sheen, charming to all who come across it. The walls were a bright white, letting the interior décor gain all the attention. The first thing visible as one enters the store is a display case at the waist level.

In the display case were sparkling jewels of all types. From the left were a collection of emerald bangles, necklaces and rings. From the right were amethysts, embellished into other shiny metals.

“Welcome, sir. How can I help?”

August stared at the jewels, contemplating which would fit her best. The emerald would complement her hair and eyes, though the amethyst would accentuate them. He thought all the jewels would fit her too well and just could not decide.

“If you cannot choose a gem, why don’t you look at our pearls?” asked the staff.

August imagined Heilke in pearls. The shiny—but not too shiny—white, decorating her smooth, luscious hair. A complete match.

The staff gestured to a delicately crafted hair piece.

“This pairs well with a wedding dress.”

August felt the rising temperature in his face. What was that staff insinuating!? He shook his head, then spotted a small hair pin.

There were 5 moderately sized pearls lined in a row. It was exactly what he imagined on Heilke.

“How does this sell?”

The staff looked at the pin.

“Interesting choice. A more casual look, I see?”

The staff picked up the hair pin with two glove hands. At that moment, a familiar voice came from the entrance.

“August?”

August turned around to find Francis outside the shop door.

Francis’ eyes wandered around the store, seeing all the sparkly precious stones. They then landed on the bobby pin in August’s hands.

“A gift for Lady Crowell?”

“Yeah.”

“This early?”

“I got excited. You?”

“I was passing by. About to go to the Gold Café down the road. What was this gift for again?”

“If I had to give a reason, I guess this is a graduation gift?”

As he felt the word ‘graduation’ come out of his mouth, August thought about the event. He never graduated with Francis as August graduated early due to his talents, and was rushing to enlist. 

Enlist. Enlist!?

The enlistment date for this year is in a month from now, but if August enlists now he would not be able to go to the ball and see Heilke. The monsters at this stage were easily handled by military rookies, so there was not too much to worry about. There was always next year, before the first ‘new wave’ where the monsters become more powerful. 

“Francis,” August started.

“Yes?”

“Should I enlist?”

“Now? When you barely have progressed with Lady Crowell?”

“You’re right.”

“Maybe we should enlist together.”

“But we barely progressed.”

“You’re right.”

Yes, he was right. August’s progress had been stagnant. His only lead for the cause of the monsters was the colour of the aura he saw at the crystal, but he could not identify who it belonged to. August observed everyone he could while juggling his school life, talking with his professors, and the friends of his professors, in hopes to see hints of that purple mana. He even spent the time he could’ve at his home for the holidays to clear out the names that were in the capital, but to no avail.