Fighting Sword Against Sword

The tension in the air was palpable, and all eyes were fixed on me, filled with curiosity and expectation. The blonde elf noble's accusing tone hung heavily in the atmosphere, making the situation increasingly daunting.

Cedric and Eugeo positioned themselves on either side of me, their expressions a mix of concern and determination. It was clear they were ready to support me, no matter what trouble might be brewing.

"Is there a problem, sir?" I asked, trying to maintain a steady tone despite the knot of anxiety in my chest.

The noble's brows furrowed, and his lips curled into a sneer, dripping with contempt. "A problem? You dare to ask if there's a problem, you ragged mess of a girl? You humiliated me and my guards in front of the entire street!"

Hearing his somewhat valid accusation made me feel guilty, even though I had no memories of doing it. To appease this elf noble's anger, I decided to offer an apology and an explanation.

"I apologize if my earlier actions offended you, sir," I said, striving to maintain composure. "It wasn't my intention to cause a scene. I was simply not in the best mood at that time."

"Fuhahaha!" The elf noble laughed mockingly, his voice laced with scorn and bitterness. "Spare me your pitiful excuses, damn brat. You'll pay for your insolence."

He then turned to his muscular swordswoman, who unsheathed her blade with a menacing glint in her eyes. It was evident that a challenge was imminent.

Seeing this, I leaned towards my two male companions and whispered, "Cedric, Eugeo, could you two kindly fetch my swords really quick?"

In response to my request, both of my companions looked at me with a mixture of surprise and concern, as if they couldn't believe what I had just said.

Not only that, the elf noble caught me whispering, which irritated him badly, "Hey, you! What the heck are you murmuring over there?!"

"Ah, I'm just telling my companions to get my swords for this fight," I answered his question calmly, "So, please kindly wait for a bit, if you may."

The elf noble was frustrated by my request, but he has some decency to comply, although grudgingly. "Tch, fine. Just make it quick, you damn rascals."

"Hold on, don't tell me you're going to fight that woman, aren't you?" Cedric asked, his voice tinged with worry.

I turn my attention back to him, nodding affirmatively. "Yup, that's the plan."

"But Reine, fighting someone formidable like her is dangerous," Eugeo interjected, voicing his concern.

"He's right, should we just defuse the situation instead?" Cedric added.

Hearing their genuine worry about my safety was heartwarming, especially considering I was a total stranger to them.

So, I shook my head gently, thankful for their worries. "I appreciate your concern, you two, but I've got this."

They furrowed their brows apprehensively, struggling to comply. "But Reine...."

"Trust me, I've dealt with people like her before," I reassured them both.

Reluctantly, Cedric and Eugeo complied and dashed off to retrieve my swords. As I watched those two boys go, I couldn't help but feel grateful for their support.

----------------------------------------------

Turning my attention back to the elf noble, I could see his patience growing thinner. On the other hand, his swordswoman remained poised, her eyes sharp and focused.

While waiting for my sword to arrive, I decided to strike up a conversation, attempting to get to know my opponents better. "So, um, would you be so kind as to tell me your name, sir? Mine is Reine Greyrat."

The elf noble huffed defiantly at my question, showing no interest in polite conversation. "Hmph, you may address me as Lord Oberon Fairwind, a name you shall remember well after you lose in today's duel."

"A-alright then, duly noted," I nodded nervously, acknowledging the name of the person I had just offended. I then turned my attention to the swordswoman, hoping to learn her identity. "And how about you, ma'am? What's your name?"

"Hrmm," the swordswoman simply grunted in response, displaying no inclination to answer my question.

This made Oberon laugh, relishing my discomfort as I was ignored by my opponent. "You fool, can't you see? You're fighting against the mighty Sword King, Barghest."

A Sword King, huh? So, she's just like Ghislaine then. Remembering my own mentor filled me with a sense of nostalgia and a longing for the people I had left behind.

"Reine, we're back!" I heard Cedric call out. Turning around, I saw him and Eugeo carrying not only my broadsword but also my rapier.

Cedric handed me Night Sky, while Eugeo held out Lambent Light. I took both swords, feeling the familiar weight of the blades in my hands. It was reassuring to have my weapons at my side, so I secured them well on my person.

"Thanks, you two," I said, giving them a grateful smile.

Cedric nodded, reassuring me. "You're welcome. Now go out there and defeat your opponent."

"Yeah, good luck, Reine," Eugeo chimed in, showing his support.

Hearing my companions' encouragement, I nodded and turned back to Oberon and Barghest, adopting a more focused expression. 

"Now that you have your pitiful swords, are you ready to face your punishment, brat?" the elf noble taunted, a smug grin on his face.

I didn't bother reacting to his provocation and answered his question politely. "Well, I suppose there's no room for peaceful negotiation, is there, mister Oberon?"

"It's Lord Oberon to you, imbecile," he grunted, clearly annoyed by my response. "And there's no such thing as 'peaceful negotiation'. You shall duel with Barghest, whether you like it or not."

I sighed at his stubborn declaration. It was clear that words wouldn't sway them, and I had no choice but to prepare myself for the duel ahead.

Thus, I unsheathed my broadsword, assuming a ready stance. In response to that, the muscular swordswoman also took her own stance, mirroring mine.

Meanwhile, the onlookers began to gossip with each other, discussing the impending battle. It was clear these people were expecting a spectacle.

The tension between me and my opponent was almost suffocating. Judging from her stern expression, I can tell that she was experienced, and couldn't afford myself to underestimate her.

"I, Barghest Wolfclaw, sword king, challenge you to a duel," the swordswoman finally spoke to me, declaring a duel steadfastly.

Hearing that, I responded accordingly. "I, Reine Greyrat, advanced sword practitioner, shall accept the challenge."

-------------------------------------------

The stage was set for a duel between me and a formidable adversary, both of us gripping our swords in readiness.

The gathered crowd in the town's streets watched in breathless anticipation, their excitement hanging in the air like electricity.

Oberon Fairwind, the elf noble nursing his earlier humiliation, stood at the sidelines, eagerly awaiting the outcome of the confrontation. He seemed confident that this would be a swift victory for his champion.

I tightened my grip on my broadsword, Night Sky, my knuckles turning white from the pressure. My eyes remained locked on my opponent, Barghest, who was equally focused, her muscles tense and primed for action.

With no preamble or formalities, my opponent struck first. She lunged forward with remarkable speed, her broadsword slicing through the air with deadly intent.

In the nick of time, I instinctively raised my own blade, blocking her strike before it hits me. The clash of metal rang out, echoing through the street as we pushed against each other.

Barghest widened her eyes in surprise, clearly taken aback by the fact that someone had managed to block her quick strike. "Hmm, you're quite fast, Greyrat," she commented.

In response, I offered her a wry smile and replied, "You too, miss Wolfclaw. Your strike was impressively quick."

Hearing my compliment caused Barghest's eyes to gleam with a newfound determination. She swiftly disengaged, creating some distance between us, before lunging at me once again, this time with a series of rapid slashes.

I met each strike with equal precision and agility, using Water God Style to parry and counter with calculated movements. The clash of our blades filled the air, resonating through the silent tension of the street.

The spectators watched in fascinated attention, their murmurs fading into the background as they became entranced by the dance of swords before them.

Barghest's attacks were relentless, displaying a remarkable blend of speed and strength. However, with every strike, I could sense a pattern emerging. A slight hesitation before a particular move, a moment of vulnerability.

Exploiting these openings, I gradually gained the upper hand. I deflected one of her strikes and used the momentum to spin around.

With Night Sky in my hand, I executed a precise counterattack, a quick slash that cut through my opponent's defenses and grazed the side of her cheek.

A gasp of surprise rippled through the whole crowd as Barghest staggered back, a thin line of blood marking the successful strike. Even Oberon, the noble who had challenged me, wore a look of disbelief.

"What are you doing, you idiot?!" he shouted, his voice tinged with frustration. "Quit screwing around and finish her already!"

Hearing her employer's demands, Barghest took a step back and tried to regain her composure, wiping the blood from her cheek with the back of her hand. Her eyes bore into mine with focused determination, acknowledging me as a worthy opponent.

She then took an offensive stance, preparing to strike again. However, something about it doesn't feel right, and I readied my sword to steel myself on what's to come.

In an instant, Barghest lunged at me with lightning-fast speed. Recognizing the attack, I realized it was the Longsword of Light. But with little time to react, I was left uncertain about what to do next.

Suddenly, my vision blurred, and I lost control of my body, plunging into a dark void.

And there, emerging from the darkness, stood the person with the crimson red eyes who looks exactly like me. "Give me control of the body if you want to live," she said, insisting that I comply.

Before I could respond or asked about what's happening, she impatiently disappeared, leaving me alone inside the dark void.

--------------------------------------------

[Cedric POV, earlier]

Watching Reine engage in a fierce battle with the muscular swordswoman, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe wash over me. The way she wielded her sword against her formidable opponent was nothing short of astonishing.

"Hey, big brother," a soft voice called out to me, pulling my attention away from the intense duel.

I turned to see my adoptive elf sister, Leafa, standing beside me and Eugeo, her eyes fixed on the ongoing battle. Furrowing my brow, I became curious about what was troubling her.

"What's wrong, Leafa?" I asked, concerned about the worry in her expression.

She looked up at me with a concerned gaze and replied, "Do you think that girl will be winning in this fight?"

Her concern was apparent, and I pondered on her question. Despite Reine being a total stranger to us, something about her presence and her skill with a sword gave me a sense of confidence that she would win this battle.

"Don't worry, Leafa," Eugeo jumped in, reassuring my sister. "I'm sure Reine will stand a chance against that muscular swordswoman."

I nodded in agreement with his words, wanting to alleviate Leafa's worry. "He's right. Reine has displayed impressive skill, and she's handled herself well so far."

Leafa offered a faint smile, appreciating our attempts to comfort her. She then returned her gaze to the duel, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and anxiety.

Meanwhile, the battle raged on in the street, each clash of swords resonating through the tense air. The two sword combatants moved with incredible speed and precision, their blades dancing in a mesmerizing display of skill.

It was evident that Reine was able to hold on her own, even against the formidable opponent's attacks. Her ability to deflect and counter the strikes seemed to be effective in keeping the swordswoman at bay.

As we continued to watch, it became clear that Reine had found an opening in the swordswoman's defenses. She executed a precise counterattack, and her blade grazed the opponent's cheek.

Seeing that, the spectators gasped in surprise. They were likely not expecting Reine to actually land a hit on her opponent. Even the elf noble appeared livid upon witnessing the strike, demanding the swordswoman to finish the job, which was concerning.

As the swordswoman assumed a stance, something about it troubled me, causing me to furrow my brows in apprehension.

"What's wrong, Cedric?" Eugeo asked, noticing my skepticism.

I paused my contemplation and turned my attention to my friend, voicing my uncertainty. "I don't know, but there's something off with the swordswoman's stance."

"What do you mean, brother?" Leafa added, her curiosity piqued.

Looking back at the battlefield, I tried to explain it succinctly, "I'm not sure, but I feel like Eugeo and I have seen that stance before."

"Now that you mention it, the stance does seem familiar," Eugeo agreed, "Isn't that the one Reine used when we were-"

Before Eugeo could finished his sentence, the muscular swordswoman lunges at a lightning speed, catching us off guard. 

Not only that, for some strange reason, Reine looks like she was about to pass out in the middle of the fight. However, just as the muscular swordswoman was about to strike her, something truly inexplicable occurred.

The moment when the opponent's blade was going to hit Reine, she instantly blocked with her own blade in the nick of time.

"Phew, that was a close one," I said with a sigh of relief. But as I looked at Eugeo and Leafa, they seemed more worried than relieved, prompting me to ask, "Hey, what's with the long faces?"

"Her eyes..." Eugeo muttered nervously while sweating profusely. "They're red..."

Hearing that, as well as seeing Leafa's anxious expression, I looked back and observed Reine has crimson red eyes. Her expression was dead serious, a stark contrast to the calm and gentle look she had just moments ago.