The day of the duel had finally arrived.
The week of practice with the Pegasus was really tough.
It's like riding a motorcycle that only accelerates but never brakes.
Truly terrifying.
We had been practicing at the academy's training ground where the duel was supposed to be held.
The strange thing is that it won't take place there.
The reason is these rumors I heard.
"Hey, did you hear that the third prince and the fourth prince will have a duel?"
"Yes. Is that really true, I mean? A dispute between members of the imperial family?"
"It was all because of the Duke Rosenberg's daughter. I heard rumors that her family fell into ruin and that her fiancé, His Highness Regulux, wanted to break off their engagement, but the fourth prince intervened along with a nobody."
"Eh, that sounds interesting. I want to see that duel!"
That's how rumors about the duel spread throughout the capital.
Neither the academy nor the palace liked that. Mainly because a dispute between members of the imperial family is very bad for their image.
For the palace for allowing it and the academy for not intervening.
So the duel will take place elsewhere.
Apparently, the location of the new meeting place is a hidden spot; only people authorized by the palace, including teachers and students of the academy, can go.
(I don't really understand why they're doing it, but oh well.)
To get to that place you have to take a ship.
No, it's not crossing the sea or anything like that; it's even crazier.
Apparently, the meeting place is in a place called the [Magic Zone]; these are places where the density of the magical element is so high that it affects the environment.
It's something like a heat wave setting a forest on fire.
To get to this place we used a flying ship.
It uses a magic stone as its engine.
(It seems the game developers really liked the element they used in that RPG game. They liked it so much that they also wanted to introduce a bit of that world into this one.)
(Well, from what I read, in that world islands float and they use ships to reach each island as if it were a warship game.)
(Honestly, I think it's crazy.)
(Was that game really that popular?)
(Anyway, back to why I can see trees from the sky.)
(Ships are normal ships; they have hot air balloons and airplane-like wings to glide and better assist the pilots.)
(They also use airships, which is where the magic stone is located. It's placed there so the magical power fills the balloon and it can fly.)
(I had heard they also used ships to cross the desert, but this method is better and cheaper.)
The surroundings were full of trees and small fractions of floating rocks.
The place was located northwest of the capital, near the Luinberg duchy.
Eli's mother said she didn't want to come; I understood her, but I approached her, took her beautiful hands, and from the bottom of my heart, I shouted.
"Don't worry, Duchess! We will undoubtedly win, and by the end of the day, your house will receive an apology from that idiot!"
For some reason, everyone thought my desire to restore the honor of the Duke's house was greater than my safety.
"We've finally arrived."
In the distance, I saw something like a stadium divided into four parts.
The rocks had been remodeled to look like a stadium.
Many flying ships were anchored; well, 'anchored' sounds like a lie; they were at rest.
Through one ship, they sent the people who would be the audience.
On this ship lent to us by the academy, several teachers were on board; among them, the one driving was Professor Lloyd, who told us.
"Kids, get your things ready; we'll disembark soon."
He offered to be our captain since few teachers knew how to drive a ship.
The other important crew members were Cid, who had his things ready, and the girls, who, for some reason, are together.
(Undoubtedly, Lily has been great support for Eli, but you know, Lily? No, forget it.)
(To hell with it.)
◇◇◇
The audience seats were exclaiming in surprise.
"It's incredible that people like us can have the opportunity to witness something like this."
"I never expected to see the day when two members of the imperial family would fight each other."
"And for the sake of a girl. Hey, don't you think it's a lovers' quarrel?"
"Kyah! Something as romantic as that! Two brothers fighting for a girl's hand, it's like a TV drama."
(Strangely enough, the dialogues aren't that far off from the event.)
(Things like that were said in the event.)
(Of course, everything that happened in the game and the current situation is totally different.)
"It seems many ignore or don't know the reason for this duel."
Said a mysterious hooded figure.
She was sitting in the middle.
Beside her, she had snacks and water.
(Even if it's not a show, going hungry is bad; that's what the figure thought.)
Her hood and cloak were green.
She munched on a salty snack without emotion.
Then, a person approached and greeted her.
"Yoh!"
He made a strange and friendly greeting.
The figure was a young man, between 20-25 years old.
He wore light armor that only covered his chest, shoulders, and partially his arms and legs.
His clothes were black, like a futuristic ninja.
His hair was a mix of yellow at the roots and, as if it were a flame, the color changed to red.
His eyebrows were the same.
His eyes were orange.
He had a big smile from cheek to cheek, and strange floating stars appeared near his face.
"It's rare to see you here, Dolph."
"Hahaha, it's true, instructor."
"Don't call me that. I'm not your teacher anymore."
The man with the cheerful smile was not just anyone; the surroundings began to murmur.
"H-Hey, isn't that...?"
"Yes. There's no mistake."
"It's incredible that a legend is among us."
(As the surroundings said, this person is one of the four strongest knights of the empire.)
(Those who are called to fight when no one else is available.)
(And this person was...)
"Goredolph Aintree. The Sun Saint."
One of the four sword saints.
"Hahaha, it's rare for you to call me that, instructor. Or should I call you that too? Christina, the Sword Princess."
Removing the hood, the face of a beautiful woman was visible.
Her hair was bright blonde like the sun.
It was well styled, showing her forehead.
Reaching almost the end of her long braided hair, the yellow color changed drastically to green.
To everyone's surprise, they were stunned by such beauty.
Her facial features made her look like a woman of almost 20 years, but the long ears that identified her as an elf made her look younger.
Perhaps she was in her 30s in human years; elves live longer than humans and at a certain point in their age, they stop aging.
The only ones who possessed this special characteristic were the high elves.
But the most striking detail of her face was not the tiara of white flowers covering her forehead, nor her large, sensual red lips. It was her eyes.
Her eyes, for some reason, were closed. As if she could see everything with them closed, the woman said.
"What are you doing here?"
Christina asked.
Goredolph replied.
"The adventurer's guild asked me to exterminate various hidden queen spider nests. It was really annoying dealing with them, hahaha."
The man laughed as if it were a joke, although he didn't blink while laughing.
Christina looked at him with her eyes closed, just sighing.
"You haven't changed at all; you still seem like that child who laughed even though he had no front teeth."
"Hahaha, is that so?"
Without asking, Goredolph sat down next to her.
Both were sword saints.
Swordsmen who surpassed master swordsmen and acquired a skill with the sword that could cut buildings if they intended to.
In fact, that happened in the past and they were forbidden from trying to do it.
(Goredolph was a non-playable character in the game, but at the same time, he was an extra capture target. His story could be unlocked only if you bought him.)
(The reason for that was because in the game, during the holy war, the four sword saints lost their lives.)
(The main reason was to make Lambert stand out.)
(On the other hand, Christina... she was only hated by women.)
(On the forums, offensive and derogatory comments towards her were written.)
(The developers wondered why this happened.)
(The answer was something only a wise woman knew.)
"Now tell me the truth, what are you doing here?" Christina asked, very interested in his answer.
"The prime minister told me to come. I asked him the reason; he just said, just in case 'something' happened."
"That 'something' doesn't convince me."
"And you, instructor?"
"I can't imagine you at events or things related to humans or the palace unless necessary. Or, is there something more?"
Christina looked ahead before answering.
"I just want to know who will win."
"Really?"
Now Goredolph directed his gaze forward.
A small circular floating rock was the place where the starting line for the duel would be held.
"I don't know what His Highness Regulux is thinking, but I think something very bad will happen in the palace after the duel."
"Really?"
"Yes. I say this because if the fourth prince were to win, that would create a problem for the ministers."
"Hahaha."
Goredolph laughed, but Christina replied.
"What's so funny?"
"It's just that you're supposed to hate the palace, right? So many years serving the empire, becoming a sword saint, and yet they refuse to grant you the title of true citizen and a surname. It's funny how those old geezers hate you so much they don't want to see you rise."
(For demi-humans working in the palace, such cruel and ruthless treatment was normal.)
(Many people liked demi-humans, but that number was less than those who despised them.)
(Christina fulfilled, several years ago, the 100 years required for her to become a true noble and a full citizen of the empire.)
(But the ministers denied her that, making nonsensical excuses.)
(Deep down, she understood why they did it; she didn't hate them. She knew they were useless, very complex-ridden old men.)
(While they age, she will look young.)
(Christina just waited patiently for a non-trash minister to grant her title and retire.)
"Even if it's as you say, I just hope this doesn't mean problems. We already have enough with that mysterious guy named Licht going around killing nobles and temple members."
"Hahaha, I... oh, it looks like the show is finally about to begin."
◇◇◇
In the center, there was a group of young people who had arrived.
They all wore outfits similar to cyclists.
The color was black combined with the color of their hair.
Waving to the audience was Prince Regulux.
He was smiling innocently; by his side was Lambert.
He carried his sword; this time it wasn't wood, it was a real sword.
"Your Highness, stop waving to the audience. I say this because you'll lose concentration."
"Hahaha, you're so rigid, Lambert. I'm just checking how popular I am."
"Good heavens. Please take this seriously; I'm about to fight with your half-brother."
"Wait a moment, what do you mean you'll be the one fighting?"
The one asking Lambert angrily was a boy with wavy red hair, bright blue eyes with a sharp gaze.
He was Jake von Fitzclarence, the duke's son, a capture target.
"Yes, what about it?"
Lambert exclaimed disinterestedly to Jake.
He got very annoyed by his tone and replied.
"Hah? Are you kidding me! It will be me, the splendid Jake-sama, who will defeat those two! This is a way for me to show off in front of my father and demonstrate the power of my magical weapons."
"Why do you assume it's you who will defeat them?"
This time, Jake turned to look at the boy who said that.
His hair was pink, with several white streaks, fluffy and smooth as silk; it also covered his right eye, which was visible showing his indigo iris.
He was another capture target, Oscar von Pleven, son of a marquis and grandson of the first seat of the 10 holy mages.
"I don't want to fight Prince Cidfert, but His Highness Regulux guaranteed me he would take responsibility for raising my hand against him. Therefore, I can show all my skills so my grandmother can see how much I've grown."
"Hey, hey, am I painted on the wall or what? It will be me who defeats those two. It's my opportunity for the Fraser Household to gain influence."
Showing off exaggerated muscles for a teenager, there was the last capture target, a boy with tanned skin, hair combed back with lots of hair gel.
He had the tips of his hair raised; some showed a golden shine, and his brown eyes showed the wildness of his appearance.
He was Bellange von Fraser, son of a border count.
(All of them were gathered for an important romantic event in the game, to fight for their beloved, but that beloved wasn't there, and instead they were going to fight against the villainess's representatives.)
(The game no longer makes sense.)
(The world and its saviors are on the wrong side of the board.)
"More importantly, what time are they coming?"
Said Jake, looking at a floating clock.
"We should have started five minutes ago."
"Did they give up?"
"Hey, hey, don't be serious. I wouldn't have prepared for nothing if that's the case!"
Bellange replied, scared, to Oscar. While Lambert replied to both.
"For their own good, it's better this way. The shame they will go through is undoubtedly unimaginable."
"You talk pretty fast, it seems."
Regulux pointed ahead of them.
The other four watched two people coming in a small boat.
"It seems they're not chickens."
Said Jake, smiling.
"Hmph, I was getting impatient."
Added Oscar, combing his hair a bit.
"Good, I want some action!"
Exclaimed Bellange, pounding his fists.
"... It would have been better for you not to come."
Indicated Lambert, touching his sword and looking furtively at those two.
While the main capture target, the kind and just prince Regulux, thought.
(I'm sorry, Cid, but this is your fault; no one asked you to get involved with the villainess. Well, in the game, you suffered an even more horrendous fate, so it's not like you really matter.)
(And for you, worm, I'll make sure you see the villainess's end with your own eyes, hahaha. No one can, nor will be able to, beat the future white knight. No one!)
(Things the kind and just prince of the game would never say.)
Now, the duel would begin, and by the end of the day, a surprise would sweep the entire capital, including the participants and spectators themselves.