"...Very well..."
Despite my suspicion, I told Karl everything. It felt like he was trying to pry information out of me. Still, I reasoned, he'd probably find out eventually anyway. This would allow me to gauge his reactions.
"...And that's it," I finished, voice hoarse. "No family. No history. Just... questions."
"Hmm. It seems you've endured much," Karl mused, his voice low. "Now I see why Alruna and Fiora favor you. To them, someone like you—stubborn, earnest—is the ideal friend."
The air thickened.
Now or never.
"Why... are you so cruel to Alruna?"
His gaze sharpened. "Did she say that?"
The room turned glacial. Karl's aura erupted—a primal force crushing my chest, stealing my breath. My bones groaned under invisible weight.
This is his power?
The legendary hero's wrath felt like a dragon's maw hovering above my throat.
"Ha..."
After a moment that stretched into an eternity, Karl exhaled, retracting his aura. Sweat dripped down my neck as I gasped.
"Since you shared your story," he said coldly, "I suppose it's only fair that I answer your questions. Alruna's childhood—yes, I was harsh. But necessary. The Gustav heir cannot afford weakness. The kingdom's stability hinges on her."
Liar.But...
My truth-sense tingled—no deception.
He believes this.
"Do you love her?" I rasped.
A flicker of hesitation. "...Love is irrelevant. Duty comes first. Fiora..." His voice softened. "She was the only one I ever cherished. I gifted her the entire north palace, yet her health deteriorated after Alruna's birth. Now, she wastes away in that room, blind and frail. And Alruna—" His fist clenched. "She poisoned Fiora against me. Every attempt to reconcile... met with hatred. So yes, I play the villain they think I am. It's easier than admitting I've failed them both."
...
Wait, wait, wait. How did I end up listening to his sob story? He wasn't lying either.
This whole family drama was just a long string of misunderstandings. I really wanted to punch him now.
But maybe, just maybe, with this new understanding, I could find a solution to all the problems in this family.
"Let me talk to Alruna," I urged. "If she chooses freedom—no forced marriage, no strings—will you listen?"
"Hahaha!" Karl laughed—a bitter, hollow sound. "You think talking will sway the royal family? Or me?"
FWOOSH!
His aura detonated in an instant.
"Do you know who you're dealing with?" His voice dropped. "The royal family and I won't allow anything to threaten this engagement. If you think you're close to me just because I've chosen to speak with you, you're mistaken."
THUD!
My knees buckled, skull slamming the floor. The weight was unbearable—a mountain pressing down, ribs cracking, lungs collapsing.
Can't breathe... Can't...
"...Phew..."
After another long exhale, Karl finally relented, ceasing his agonizing aura. At the same time, the pressure vanished. I curled into a ball, gasping for every air I could breathe.
"Apologies. I truly lost my patience just now," Karl Gustav said, though his tone was far from apologetic. "As her friend, huh... indeed, you may have a point. But you need perspective. As a fellow High Elf, I'll grant you one chance."
"Ch...ance?" I coughed.
"Follow me." He stood up, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the room.. "To the training ground in the back."
"...Understood." I agreed, though a strong sense of foreboding washed over me.
I felt utterly incapable of refusing his request. My whole body was still trembling with fear. "I'll die if I fight him!" My instincts screamed. But then, defiance still flickered.
***
"Alright, we're here."
"May I ask... what exactly are we doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the unease churning in my stomach.
"What else but a duel? To be honest, ever since I first received information about you, I've been quite intrigued by your combat abilities."
Why is it that whenever I have a bad feeling, something awful always happens?!
"Adele Ercangaud, a 39-year-old High Elf. Possesses strong water law manipulation abilities. Capable of fighting at close, medium, and long ranges. An adventurer who leaped ranks the moment she joined the Guild. Defeated a powerful Frost Stag named Reineweiße in the Ferderuchus Great Forest about a week ago." Karl recited my resume as if reading from a report.
I grimaced. "Of course you'd know all that. My privacy's a joke, huh?"
How? Ghosts? Magic?
"If you truly wish to free Alruna," he continued, "sentiment alone won't suffice. She's the Gustav heir. Consequences will cascade. Survive five minutes against me, and I'll consider your plea. Consider this... professional curiosity."
No. No. NO. Fighting him is suicide!
"My servant will referee. Use any weapon, any tactic—fair or foul. Hold nothing back. Disappoint me, and this won't end with just wounds and bruises."
He gestured to a stone-faced maid. "Follow her and fetch your sword. You have five minutes."
Reluctantly agreeing to his suggestion, I returned to the Emerald Room, guided by Karl's maid. The room was empty; Fleda and the others were still out exploring the city, no doubt.
Beside the bed lay my sword, Audiganus—a battered blade I'd once dismissed as temporary, now inseparable into my journey.
Can I really do this?
I gripped its hilt, the leather worn smooth from countless battles. Claudia. Reinesweiβe. If I survived them...
"Ready?" The maid's monotone snapped me back.
"Yeah."
After steeling my resolve, I left the room and was escorted back to the training grounds by the maid. The walk stretched into eternity. Snow crunched underfoot, each step echoing my heartbeat.
But Karl's not Claudia. He won't hold back.
He stood waiting, his sword—Bernefons—gleaming in the pale light. A masterpiece of gold filigree and gemstones, gifted by the king himself. My throat tightened. That thing could slice a mountain.
He wore no armor, dressed simply in nobleman's sporting attire, the kind worn for leisurely pursuits. I mirrored him, my white tunic clinging to sweat-drenched skin. The blue gemstone necklace from Beiyang burned in my pocket—a desperate talisman.
"Need more time?" Karl smirked.
"...No."
Liar.
My hands trembled; sweat blurred my vision. Fear coiled in my gut, sharper than any blade. But if I back down now...
"Excellent, then let's begin our little spar, hahaha!"
Just as the fight was about to commence, Karl's face contorted into a grin that sent a shiver down my spine. His wide smile and bulging eyes gave him a terrifying visage, as if he had been anticipating this moment his entire life.
"Begin!"
To drown out the fear clawing at my chest, I lunged at Karl with a roar. Reckless? Maybe. But it was the only way to stand a chance—overwhelm him before he could counter. Not that someone like Karl needed openings.
One slash. Two slashes. Three slashes. My sword strikes came in rapid succession, each met effortlessly by Karl's blade. He deflected them one-handed, posture relaxed, as if this were a warm-up. This is just the start...
"RUMPERE!"
Whoosh!
A burst of water erupted from my palm, aimed straight at Karl's face. The spray blinded him momentarily—now! I swung Audiganus with all my strength, hoping to catch him off guard.
CLANG!
"Clever tactic." Karl parried with a flick of his wrist, unfazed. "But it won't be enough to defeat me."
Just as I predicted, He then counterattacked. My momentum was spent, so I decided to retreat momentarily and rethink my tactics. Or at least, that was the intention...
"Going somewhere? Did you think I'd just let you?"
"Agh—!"
Karl vanished from his position and reappeared instantly right beside me. A split second later, his boot slammed into my ribs, hurling me across the snow. I skidded, gasping, my side screaming.
"Get up, Adele Ercangaud!" Karl taunted, twirling Bernefons lazily. "This can't be your limit!"
Fine. If caution won't work...
All my plans to be cautious and measured in this fight instantly crumbled. I spat blood, fury overriding pain.
"FORTITUDO OMNIA VINCIT, ITA EST AQUA!!!"
The air crackled as every drop of moisture—snow, mist, even the sweat on my skin—snapped to my command. Water coalesced into shimmering blades, orbiting me like a storm. Not just any water—pressurized, dense, edges sharp enough to split steel.
Only High Elves could use such Law; it drained mana like hell. Luckily, being one myself, I could handle it—just barely. The snowy training grounds were perfect for it.
"Oho? Impressive." Karl's grin widened. "So this is your trump card?"
"And this is mine."
Suddenly, a playful voice purred in my mind. Anastasia. Of course she'd show up now.
"Svyatoy otets na nebesakh
V riznitsu my verim
Blagosloven pered altarem
Daruy nam blagopoluchiye..."
Light engulfed me. My aches vanished. Audiganus felt weightless, my body agile as a breeze. Even the cuts on my palms healed—Anastasia's blessing.
Thanks... I guess.
"Don't mention it, darling~ Now, crush him!"
On my way.
"I heard you were highly skilled in water Law, but to think it was to this level. Good, good!"
Unexpectedly, Karl actually praised my water law technique. I initially thought water law at this level wouldn't be anything amazing to him, but it seemed I was wrong.
"It is an honor to be praised by the hero of Ingvaeon." I grinned, feeling a little better.
I then surged forward. But this time with water blades spiraling.
Karl vanished—again, that infuriating speed. But this time, I was ready. He was probably aiming to appear in my blind spot and attack me.
CLANG!!
Three water swords intercepted Bernefons, screeching under the force. My body trembled, but I held. Karl's strike reverberated through the blades, their pressurized edges quivering.
I counterattacked, Audiganus slicing upward, while the water blades flanked him. The attack managed to land on him, but as usual, he deflected it with considerable ease.
"Hup!" Karl lowered his sword after blocking my strike, his stance shifting ominously.
THUD!
"Keuk—!"
For the second time, his boot slammed into my stomach, sending me skidding backward. This time, I managed to land on my feet, though my ribs screamed in protest.
"Instantanea!"
Bzzrt!
Lightning crackled around Karl as he vanished, reappearing in a flash of electricity.
This is way too fast!
"Verto!"
BOOOM!
I swapped places with a surge of water milliseconds before Bernefons cleaved the air where I'd stood. The blade sliced through nothing but icy spray.
"Tch, you managed to evade that, huh?" Karl clicked his tongue, steam rising from his sword.
"Wh-what was that?!" My voice trembled. Without Anastasia's speed boost and my water teleportation, I'd be mincemeat.
"Must a fluke." Karl's eyes narrowed. "Instantanea."
Bzzrt!
He reappeared in front of me—a swing imminent, with distance less than a pes away.
"Verto!" Again. On top of it...
Zap!
"Ingurgito!"
"Mmpf!!"
"You won't catch me with the same trick again!"
Finally, my counterattack scored a direct hit. After Karl used his lightning Script, I also used my water Law to trap Karl in a sphere of water.
"Iam vox."
A subtle whisper can be heard.
Psshh...
"Ah..."
It reminded me of my fight against Claudia. She also used that same incantation to render all my water Law useless—by vaporizing it until nothing remained. The acrid smell of ozone permeated the training grounds.
"Enough games." Karl muttered, sounding genuinely annoyed. He paused, taking a deep breath. "Serpentium quoque caelum super nos!"
A faint crackling sound filled the air, like static electricity building up.
Wha—? That... THAT'S INSANE!
Three colossal lightning serpents erupted from his blade, hurtling toward me. I threw up a water shield, but—
CRACKLE!
Electricity surged through the barrier, searing my skin. "AAAH!" The smell of burnt ozone filled my nostrils as I collapsed, muscles spasming.
"Not done yet." Karl raised his free hand. "Mitte haesitans venerunt omnia In caelum!"
Fireballs materialized above him, raining down like meteors. I rolled desperately, water blades evaporating under the heat. Worst of all, scalding steam scorched my arms.
"FORAS ADMINITIO!"
In a rage, I transformed every available drop into ice swords—more than a hundred—and threw them at him.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The explosions shook the ground, shrouding the field in mist. Gasping, I slumped against Audiganus, my strength spent. I wished with all my might that this was all over.
Then, the mist dissipated.
"Hahaha..."
It seems that the gods above did not hear my wish. Karl was still standing, seemingly unharmed. A moment later he burst through the mist, Bernefons gleaming with thunder. His blade arced towards my neck—
CLANG!
A loud sound of clashing blades erupted.
I was sure that Karl's sword should have cut off my head, but I was still alive. A blue barrier erupted, the gem in my pocket blazing. His sword stopped only a hair's breadth from my throat, repelled by Beiyang's gift.
"Time's up!" the maid announced.
"Seems you got lucky," Karl grumbled, withdrawing Bernefons with a crunching sound as he sheathed it. He seemed genuinely disappointed that I had essentially 'won' the duel by surviving.
"Hahaha..."
I choked out a laugh, trembling uncontrollably. Every muscle screamed in protest as drowsiness pulled at my eyelids, blurring my vision at the edges.
Karl then strode over to his maid, gave her a few curt orders, and sent her off somewhere. While I, crumpled in the snow, was left alone.
Does this mean that Alruna's fate will change for the better...?
Thump!
In the end, my weary body gave out as I collapsed to the ground, slowly succumbing to blissful unconsciousness.
***