Chapter 13: The duel

After a few minutes of the announcement. Mikaela is seen walking towards the platform.

She is wearing a white with golden stripped tight bodysuit which shows her curves to the fullest. Her hair tied in a ponytail. The crowd yells in excitement where the boy's side is producing majority of sound.

In the suite Ian turn towards Andressa. "I am going down there to delay further. You run towards Leo's dorm and try to find him. Call me if you get anything." Andressa nods.

Ian goes towards the sofa and sees a black briefcase. He puts his thumb on the briefcase and it opens. Reveling a beautiful rapier. It is 130 cm long and weights around 1.2 kg. It also has various carvings on it. But a symbol of wing which is on the hilt of the blade stands out the most. Ian carefully takes it in his hand.

"It's a beautiful blade." Andressa says from the back. Ian sheathes the blade in and carries it around his waist. Then, Ian and Andressa steps out of the suite. Andressa runs towards the exit.

On the platform the teacher calls out Karl's name. "Leonard Avaritia. Please appear on the platform." There is dead silence in the colosseum. Everybody waiting for the underdog to show up.

But even after waiting for few minutes nobody shows up. "If nobody shows up for the duel then the present participant will be declared as the winner." Just as the announcement ends, Ian is seen walking towards the platform.

"Is he the one who assaulted a knight in her own dorm?" someone from the crowd asks.

"You idiot. Keep your voice down. It's the heir of the Phirsecots."

"That knighthood who was recently abandoned by their Sentinel family?"

Ian who is standing on the platform hears such comments but does not pay them any attention. The only thought which is going through Ian's mind is to delay the duel for some time.

The teacher looks at Ian. "You are not the participant. You are not allowed to be here."

Ian looks at Mikaela in the eye and says in a loud voice. "I didn't know that Lumineux knighthood would go this low and attempt to hurt their opponent even before the match begins."

"What are you talking about?" Mikaela asks genuinely.

"But this all is under observation of the higher ups and under their order I, Ian Desouza Phirsecot shall be your new opponent." Ian declares in front everyone.

"What? Is this even allowed?" Mikaela asks the teacher in panic. Even the teacher is confused after Ian mentioned the higher ups. Crowd goes crazy at Ian's bold declaration.

That's when a yellow lighting strikes and the sky turns darker. A woman appears to be floating on top of the colosseum. She looks in her later 20s. Dark yellow hair, light brown eyes, a fair skin with a lean figure. She is wearing a black suit with black tie. "It is the principal Estha."

"What is she even doing here?" A student from the crowd questions.

"Silence." Principal Estha says in a very small voice. But then lighting strikes very loudly, silencing everyone in the colosseum. She glances at everybody and slowly floats towards the platform.

"Master!" Mikaela greets the principal.

'She is the disciple of the principal? This makes things worst for us.' Ian states.

Principal Estha nods at Mikaela and looks at Ian. "Heir of the Phirsecot, what brings you here?"

"I am acting as a substitute for my friend." Ian tells the truth.

"The duel was agreed by the will of two individuals. If one fails to fulfill the criteria. Then, the present individual is the winner by default."

"Allow me to speak." Ian asks in a very respectful tone. The principal nods.

"My friend Leonard Avaritia was falsely accused by the Lumineux knighthood. Him not being here must be one for their schemes." Ian boldly accuses.

"How could you say that?" Mikaela snaps. Hearing Ian's statement, the crowd starts to make their own theories regarding Lumineux Knighthood.

Principal Estha raises her hand and the colosseum becomes dead silent.

"Ian Desouza Phirsecot. I can assure you that Lumineux knighthood hasn't done anything regarding your friend's absence. Currently, you are accusing an entire knighthood of kidnapping. This could turn really ugly for your father if you don't choose your words wisely, Heir of Phirsecots."

Ian's throat goes dry at the mention of his father. 'She is trying to shake my resolve with her authority. If only she wasn't an intermediate-knight.' Ian tries to think of an excuse.

"This duel was a very important event for my disciple. I planned to officially declare her as my disciple in public." The crowd starts to murmur about this piece of information.

"An intermediate knight taking a student under their wing?"

"I guess princess of light is very talented."

"Hah! What do you know? There are rumors that she defeated a white dwarf ranked monster on her own. She even learned two spells only in 3 years. She is a genius." A student from the crowd says with a lot of pride.

"Oh, that explains her being disciple of our principal." Another student clarifies.

On the platform, principal Estha continues in a small voice "For this occasion, I called few respected knights and representatives." Every hair on Ian's body stands up as he turns back.

Just above Ian's suite. There is another private compartment. It is reserved for any outside guests. In that compartment, Ian sees two blond haired men. The one who is sitting has moustache and long braided hairs. He is wearing a very expensive white suit with a golden watch. There is another man standing beside him. He has short hair with a clean shaved face. He is wearing a corset on top of a white shirt and black trousers.

'That's the Lumineux knighthood's head.' Ian recognizes the man who is sitting as he heard about him from his father.

The crowd still murmuring non-stop, unaware of the presence of a high-knight.

The principal continues "Tell me, Heir of Phirsecots. How can I compensate that man because of your friend's idiocy." Ian knows offending a high-knight is equal to challenging an entire country. It is a great crime, punishable to not only you but to your entire bloodline. Ian tightens his grip on the rapier.

'Forgive me, Father.'

Ian takes the rapier in his hands and kneels on one knee. The crowd calms down in confusion and observes the situation. "Please accept this for our incompetence."

Principal Estha glances at the blade. At first, she doesn't not react. But as she touches the blade, she feels its value. Estha smiles wickedly. That's when the crowd goes crazy with someone yelling.

"He is here."

Ian instinctively pulls the blade away and turns around.

There at the entrance of the field, Karl stands. Instantly, Ian's eyes become teary. Karl has uneven hair, half open shirt with missing coat and an intense smell of sweat is coming from his body.

Karl steps on to the platform. Ian stands up. Karl smiles at Ian.

"What were you doing till now?" Ian snaps with tears falling from his eyes.

"Well, some stuff happened. Let's talk later." Karl walks past Ian and looks the principal Estha.

'At last. A proper woman. Who seems single.' Karl assumes as he glances at Estha's figure.

"Now, let's begin." Karl says in a loud voice. The crowd makes some noise.

"Wait. Because of you the duel is delayed. To compensate for everyone's wasted time you need to pay a fine. Preferably, give me that blade." Principal Estha points at Ian's blade. Ian quickly gets into a defensive position.

Karl observes the blade and he could tell that blade is super expensive and important to Ian.

"I didn't know that Black Pegasus academy blatantly tries to steal a student's blade in broad daylight." Karl taunts very fearlessly. Ian puts his hand on Karl's shoulder and tries to stop him. But Karl ignores it.

"What?" The principal questions in an annoyed look.

"We both know that the value of this blade is for more than we can think and you want us to hand it over? Do you think we are some fools?" Principal Estha's hair starts to float as hears such disrespectful tone.

Just as she is about to say something a flash appears on the corner of her eye. She glances at the source and sees the glowing golden eyes of the high knight. 'Only if that righteous fool wasn't here.' Estha regrets.

"We would think about it if you add something from your side." Karl says in a sly smile. "Leo?" Ian's heart rate is out of the roof.

"Just believe me." Karl reassures Ian.

"Okay, what are your demands?"

'Caught you.'

Karl grabs Ian and turns back. Then he whispers into Ian's ear. "Tell me this blade's value?"

"Priceless?"

"Just give me a value."

"Uh. About 170000 orange photons." Karl doesn't understand but nods anyway.

"Then, give us 200000 orange photons." Everyone in the crowd screams in shock. Even Mikaela looks at the blade with a wide-open mouth. Everybody waiting for principal Estha's answer.

"F-Fine. We will give you something equivalent to that in price." She fumbles.

"Leo. Please win this or my father will kill us both." Ian pleads.

"Oh. Don't worry, I got this."

"Then, both participants take position." The teacher who is acting as a referee announces.

A thunder strikes at the platform and principal Estha is moved from her place.

Ian looks around and sees the excitement of everyone. Almost everyone from the entire academy is present here. Ian takes a deep breath and throws the blade at Karl. Karl catches it.

"Use it well." With this Ian steps down the platform.

Karl moves the blade around. It moves swiftly and feels almost weightless.

'This is a cool, sword.'

Then, finally unsheathes the blade. Reveling it's beautiful carving and the symbol of wing.

Someone from the crowd yells "Isn't that the Gale Rapier?"

"What? That blade is only wielded by the Head of the Phirsecots?" The crowd screams like crazy as they see the beautiful blade.

Oblivious to this, Karl takes position. "I thought you ran away like a rat, Leonard Avaritia." Mikaela taunts.

"Run? No girl. I just forgot about you and overslept." Karl replies with a smile. Mikaela gives furious look at Karl.

"Ready?" Mikaela quickly takes an offensive stance.

'The opponent's focus shaken, an offensive stance with intention to strike first, a clear sign of underestimating me and that furious look. I need to finish this qucikly or the effect elixir will wear off .'

"Begin."

Mikaela quickly summons her spear and runs forward.

Karl's hand glows purple, he summons a rock and throws at her. Mikaela easily cuts the rock.

Karl quickly uses levitating steps and appears in front of Mikaela.

This startles her but still she puts her spear up for defense. Karl purposely attacks the spear.

He performs a slash from above. This gets blocked by Mikaela's spear. But Karl doesn't back down, he puts intense pressure on the spear.

Mikaela feels her body getting pushed back. But she doesn't move away and she tries to push Karl away. It becomes a contest of strength.

After few seconds, a crack appears on the Mikaela's spear. Seeing this Karl pushes with all of his strength and the spear breaks in two pieces.

Karl doesn't back down and swings his blade once again. Aiming for her stomach. Just as the blade is about to connect but the golden circle appears.

'This stupid shield.'

It collides and sparks appears. Karl feels his mana flowing into the blade.

A faint purple glow appears on the blade which shatters the golden circle. The blade goes through Mikaela's stomach. Blood spills on the platform.

Karl pulls his blade back and kicks Mikaela on the wound. She falls a little further away.

She crawls pathetically towards Karl. Leaving a trail of blood. She looks at her wound and tries to cover it.

Karl walks towards her and puts his blade on her neck.

"Give up. This would at least save you some respect."

"Y-You!" She glares at Karl.

Then, she lifts her hand to summon her spear. Karl waits. A golden spear is formed. But before she could do something Karl cuts it in half which leaves her disbelief.

She summons again. Karl cuts it.

Summons again. Cuts it.

Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut. Summon. Cut.

"H-Hey, Isn't this a little cruel?"

"Yeah. This isn't a duel. He is just straight up bullying her." Crowd silently sympathizes for Mikaela.

This continues for whole 20 minutes. Until, Mikaela loses consciousness due excessive blood lost. To the crowd Karl looks like bully toying with his victim with glowing purple rapier.

Karl is looking at Mikaela's unconscious body.

'Come on! Don't stop now. The fun was just started.' Karl lifts his rapier to strike.

"The winner is Leonard Avaritia." Karl returns to reality.

Apparently, the crowd and the judge mistook Karl's attack to a declaration of victory.

Karl looks around and sees people cheering Leonard's name.

"Perfect."