A Hard-Fought Battle, Part One

"Today, we have to make our money count."

The final day of the Junior Trials. Elizabeth knew that with her allowance plus earnings of 2000 gold coins, she wouldn't be able to bet too much money on the Second-Year duels.

"Miss, I am your knight. Not your bookmaker."

Cedric was more familiar with the young miss than her parents were. Her love for gambling was slowly becoming a vice.

"I know that. But you will still have to help me. After all, no knight can see their master losing all of their money if they can do something about it, right? "

She smiled at him, knowing that he did not have a choice. He closed his eyes and said,

"I am not getting paid enough for this."

Elizabeth's smile grew wider as she said,

"You can take that up with father after we return. I will ask-"

Cedric opened his eyes in panic. He had goosebumps all over his body,

"I-I can live with what I have. Please don't tell him."

She put her finger on her lips.

"That is more like it. Now, let's focus on the duel. "

A chunk of the nobles that had attended yesterday's event decided to skip today's event, which was comprised mostly of people affiliated with Thanatos and Hephaestus. In their place, however, there was one VIP that was here to witness the final day to honor the invitation by the overseer.

"Less crowded, but more important. The second day is always better."

Kiso Yoshinaka took a corner seat today. He was not very fond of the new guest.

"Today, the Yoshinaka Clan will show you what we are capable of."

Tomoe's performance will be a slap in the face of the council. especially the one person that was in attendance.

"Drakos."

A gaudy purple robe with a dragon-shaped locket attached to a thick silver chain. A long scar ran downwards from the left corner of his forehead, all the way to the base of his nose. Short black hair with a thick beard and a soldier's posture added to an average height and muscular body.

A council member and a former Prime Knight.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

'Make your choice, Perseus.'

"Gawain?"

'It is not my life, but your conscience.'

'Snap!'

Celia clicked her fingers.

"Were you listening?"

He looked at her and nodded affirmatively.

"Good. Stay close to her, and give her hell."

He looked towards the shield strapped to his hand.

"I'll do my best."

'Creak...'

The door opened. Joan was back in her red uniform.

"The duel is about to start."

'Inhale, Exhale.'

He stood up from his chair. Right now, his mind was all over the place, but he was keeping himself calm.

'Why does that matter to me?'

Why was that scene so disturbing to him? It wasn't gross, and it didn't seem to be hard to digest. Then why was he so horrified by it?

He started walking. Joan patted his back and said,

"Win or lose, do your best."

"I'll do my best..."

Barely listening to her, he answered. She raised her eyebrows in worry and grabbed his shoulder.

"Something is off about you today. Are you alright?"

She could sense that he was feeling troubled.

"I am fine."

He smiled. It looked forced to her.

"If you say so."

He was hiding something.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Gawain walked in from the left side of the arena.

"Is he the first semifinalist?"

Drakos asked Siegfried, who was sitting to his left.

"Yes, sir. He is from the Perseus house. Their only seed and student this year."

The councilman furrowed his brows.

"He doesn't look prepared."

From his gait, Drakos could tell that something was bothering the little boy.

He moved his sight in the opposite direction to measure up the other competitor. To the overseer's surprise, he predicted the results of the duel in advance.

"She will win."

He could tell at a single glance. Nothing was holding her back.

"That is Tomoe Yoshinaka. first seed from the Ares house, and the favorite to win the competition."

Both of them got into their respective positions.

"Following yesterday's rules, there is one more thing that I would like to add."

The officiator of today's matches was going to be an old black knight named Laurent Gauvion. He wanted to warn both of them before the duel began.

"Semi-finals and finals are going to be very important matches. As the officiator, I would advise you to be aware of the consequences of breaking the rules."

He could stop them from killing each other. But the intent of harming with no control will not go unpunished.

"Do you understand?"

Both of them nodded in agreement.

"Alright. Without wasting any more of my time, prepare yourselves."

They both got into their stances.

Drakos looked at the girl and said,

"She is going to attack."

Siegfried agreed. And if she was going to attack first, then the chances of Gawain scoring any points in the first round would be practically zero.

"Ready?"

They both nodded again.

"Begin!"

'Three steps forward, a downward swing from above, with enough power to push him back.'

Tomoe was confident in her choice. Gawain, however, was seeing something else.

'You wanted my head."

She disappeared. In her place, a giant was wielding a trident, aiming to skewer him from above.

'Here I am.'

Radiating a dark purple aura, the giant held nothing back. His reflexes kicked in. Gasping in shock, Gawain raised his shield and gripped it as hard as he could. His muscles bulged outwards, tightening up the sleeves and the underside of his uniform.

'Clang!'

Siegfried's eyes widened in surprise.

"He blocked it."

The attack was rendered ineffective. Gawain didn't hesitate and pushed her back.

"That can't be,"

Before Kiso could finish his sentence, Tomoe rushed back in, this time with the intent of wearing him down. One block hadn't demotivated her.

'Sooner or later, Aegis will have to give up.'

The giant mocked his strategy and rushed in to unleash his Trident.

'Clang, clang, clang!'

Three consecutive blows, all blocked with unreal efficiency. For a longsword, it was moving too fast. But the shield was accurate enough to see through all of her moves.

"Possible."

Kiso couldn't believe his eyes. Tomoe gritted her teeth.

'He can't block my moves forever.'

At this point, he was not even bothering with the sword. This frustrated her to no end.

'He wants to tire me out for an easy victory. That won't happen!'

She readied herself for the next barrage. Her constant stoic face was finally showing an expression.

Right cut, hand retreat. Left slash, hand retreat. Horizontal swing, hand retreat.

Sparks were flying everywhere. Gawain was constantly moving behind, but by taking steps to block with more accuracy.

'You can't block my attacks forever.'

The trident turned purple. A devilish smile, followed by an outburst of aura.

"TAKE THIS!"

She screamed at the top of her lungs. From the left, she held her sword and added all of her strength to meet his shield.

'BANG!'

His legs gave up. Unable to handle the pressure, he lost his footing and fell to the ground. Greedy for the five points, she moved in for his head.

'Die!'

Poseidon made his move.

A wave of dust spread out from the center. Both of them were visible, but one of them couldn't believe what had just happened.

Drakos smiled.

'He blocked it.'

Right above his neck, the shield was struggling against the longsword.

"Hngh!"

She tried to push it forward. Gawain took a deep breath in and held on for his life.

"First move! Two points, Tomoe!"

The opponent was on the ground, exposed. That counted for something.