Chapter 63: Chapter 63 - The Duel
Chapter Sixty Three
"Which one do you like?"
My eyes lingered over the table, a spread that looked more like a museum of history than a training rack.
Seax, Shamshir, Falcata, Katana, Saber, Cutlass, Scimitar, Dao, Wakizashi, Rapier... it was an obsessive collection.
My fingers traced the curve of a Falcata, feeling the forward-heavy balance meant for cleaving through bone, before finally settling on a simple Shortsword as I picked it up, admiring the work of art.
"Did you make these all out of wood? By yourself?"
"Every single one," Kaelen replied, a faint, proud smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
He walked up to the table and picked up a slender Rapier, the wooden "blade" so thin it looked like it might snap.
"It’s not like I had anything else to do," he admitted, his eyes softening as he looked over his handiwork. "I spent my nights carving. I wanted to see if the designs mentioned in the Old Library’s archives actually held the balance they claimed using wood."
Swish. Swish.
I gave the Shortsword a few experimental swings. It lacked the reach of his Rapier or the brutal weight of the Falcata sitting nearby, but it felt right.
It felt right for a sewer rat that used to fight in the back alley everyday to simply survive just another day.
"It’s good," I said, my thumb tracing the smooth finish of the crossguard. "Almost too good to break. There’s a reason these sword designs are made from metals."
"There’s a reason for that too."
Kaelen’s smile widened slightly. "If you want to do the duel using one of my beauties, I suggest you keep your aura flow consistent. If your focus breaks, the wood will follow. It becomes brittle the moment the aura you’re chanelling through it wavers."
Interesting guy...
"What do you say, My Liege. Still wish to fight?"
Rsssshhh.
The sound of rustling leaves came from the perimeter. I didn’t even have to look to know the treeline was infested with my own men.
"Are they going to stay there behind the bushes the entire time?" I asked, flatly.
"I suppose..." Kaelen didn’t even blink. "They have placed bets. It’s only fair that they get to watch the spectacle they’ve gambled their wages on."
The bushes weren’t exactly soundproof as I closed my eyes, hoping to at least hear some praises.
"Captain... isn’t it a given that Sir Kaelen will win? Why did that kid Zein place money on His Liege?"
"He’s so stupid, Captain."
"He’s our Duke. Stop it, you guys." Eatassh’s voice was the only one that stood out to me from all the murmurs.
Haah... Looks like the entire Second Order is there.
"Putting that aside, Sir Kaelen and His Grace look so handsome."
"Haah... Sir Kaelen said that he turns into an ugly monster when there’s talk about money."
"Damn!"
"Pff-ough!"
My eyes snapped open as they narrowed at Kaelen who was trying his best to hold his laughter before staring at the patch of greenery where a dozen helmets were poorly concealed. "Do they know we can hear them?"
"Probably not," Kaelen said, his posture never wavering but his shoulders still trembling. "They are far enough to not be noticed by a normal person. But, I don’t they know Master is a swordmaster now."
"Wow. That’s the bunch of rats I’ve employed. Just wow."
"Just ignore them, Master." Kaelen shrugged as he entered the field.
"Haah. Come." I sighed, following him as I channelled my mana into the shortsword.
"Pardon me then, My Liege."
Kaelen didn’t bother with a formal stance. Neither did I. The moment his foot slid across the dirt, I raised the shortsword.
Swish.
The Rapier shot forward, a straight thrust aimed at my throat.
Clack.
The impact travelled up my arm in a sharp tremor as I blocked his rapier, his aura humming faintly through the contact.
Haah... Definitely SSS Class Potential.
I tilted my wrist just enough to guide the Rapier aside, let its edge slide along my shortsword, then returned to stillness.
Again. And, again. And, again.
Kaelen circled, light on his feet as he heaved, confusion etched on his brows.
Pfft. What a kid. It’s written on his face that he’s wondering how I can defend all his attacks.
Minutes passed. Hours passed. The sun shifting just enough to cast longer shadows across the clearing.
"Is... is His Liege even fighting?"
"When is he going to attack?"
"I think he knows no attacking moves."
"Yeah, he’s just... blocking."
"This is boring."
"When is it going to be over?"
Well, they aren’t wrong. I really don’t know any attacking moves. I’m just trying to defend and run. That’s all I ever did as a child in my past life.
Hide whatever I begged in my pockets and run. Everyday. Sun went up. Sun went down. It was the same for 18 years... Till I met her.
That scammer.
Kaelen lunged harder this time, snapping me out of my thoughts as his aura flared faintly along the Rapier’s edge.
Looks like he’s starting to feel the desperate, huh.
The pressure increased, the air whining as the wooden blade cut through it with lethal intent.
Clack.
My feet shifted half a step back as I let the impact of his blow roll through my shoulders, down my spine, and into the ground.
Kaelen clicked his tongue. "You know," he said casually, circling again, though his chest was starting to heave, "people usually try to win duels."
"I am," I replied, my voice as flat as I tried to suppress my smile.
God! He really wants to know how we teleported, huh? For a knight to retort to ragebaiting he’s definitely desperate to win.
Swish. Clack.
"No, you are not even focusing on the duel. Your mind is somewhere else. It’s. An. Insult. Stop. Acting. Like. A. Fucking. Rat."
Hahaha. I guess this is a good method to get my mind off of Sysi, huh.
"It’s a duel. I can fight however I want, Kaely~. Catch me if you can."
Clack.
"God! Captain, I could’ve finished lunch by now."
"Is this some kind of high-level strategy we’re too poor to understand?"
Kaelen exhaled through his nose, his patience finally fraying. "Stop. Running. Like. Some. Sewer. Rat. Master."
He’s calling me master even while ragebaiting me. Haha. What a wonderful discipline I have.
Kaelen’s smile vanished while I tried to hold back mine. It was clear from his facial expressions that he was losing it.
Sweat began to bead at his temple, dripping onto the dry sand as I kept on defending, relaxed as if I was on a vacation not fighting a duel.
"Come on," Kaelen said, his breath sharpening into ragged stabs. "Show me that confidence you were wearing earlier. Or was that just for the audience?"
"I’m still wearing it. But, it seems that yours is fading, Kaely~ What can’t even catch a sewer rat?" My smile widened as Kaelen’s eyebrows narrowed in irritated.
His blood is all vapours by now, probably.
"Sir Kaelen’s moving slower... right? Or, are my eyes getting weaker?"
"Why does Sir Kaelen look tired? His Grace still looks as fresh as he did when the duel started."
"What’s happening?"
"Everybody stay calm! Stay calm, everybody!"
It was barely perceptible, a micro-second of lag in the wrist, a dragging heel in the dirt. But, it was real.
Kaelen’s footwork lost its spring. His thrusts recovered a hair slower. The aura around the Rapier flickered like a candle caught in a draft, then steadied, then flickered again.
Looks like it’s soon going to be my turn, huh. I just need to hold on a little longer.
"Still not attacking?" Kaelen snapped while my smile only widened at my dear knight’s attempt to make me deliver a blow. "Do you plan to die of old age out here?"
"Huff... No," I heaved softly, my eyes locking onto the center of his chest. "Just... Puff... Waiting."
"For what?"
Rsssshh—
Kaelen’s aura faltered just for a breath, giving me the chance I had been waiting for.
Kek.
The shortsword slid along the Rapier’s shaft as my shoulder drove forward.
Crack.