An Unfair Duel

As the three soldiers you've been fighting ready themselves for another ****, the captain raises his hand. "Enough," he growls. "You've made your point." He dismounts his horse just as the first cart catches up and halts. "I hate to act below my status, but I'm going to enjoy this." He steps into the circle before speaking to his troops. "You three, ensure our spectators stay put." The wounded soldiers rush around as Eve and Camilla take a defensive stance, sandwiching them against the dirt arena.

"It's fine," you begin. "You can finish those guys off easily." You turn back to your opponent. "I take it that means you accept?" With your light blade, you begin drawing a rune in the dirt. I don't know why Citrinas went out of her way to teach me this, but I'm glad she did. It's only a basic rune, but it'll at least stop the other soldiers from interfering.

The captain readies his spear and raises his shield, gritting his teeth. "This could hardly be called a duel."

"Great." You smile, and the finished rune glows. A shimmering wall appears around you both, matching the perimeter of the circle. "Then let's get started." You duck down and push forward, using your wings to boost your speed. Focus on quick, varied strikes. You swing wildly for your first attack, purposefully hitting your foe's shield.

The **** pushes him back, but he's quick to recover, pushing the butt of his spear on the ground behind him to bring himself to a stop. As you continue to rush him to keep him on his toes, he pushes harder on his spear, kicking you in the gut before your swing can connect. He's strong, enough that you're pushed back to the center of the arena. You steady your stance, launching a light bolt at where the captain...was? You turn to the side just in time to parry a strike, pushing his spear to the dirt, but he kicks you again. Camilla didn't mention there'd be so much kicking! You hop back as you parry another strike, shooting another bolt that the captain deflects easily with his shield.

You hide your panic behind what you hope is a cocky smirk as you taunt. "Come on! That can't be all you've got!" You sidestep the captain's thrust, it looking notably slower than previously.

He furrows his brow before taking a step back. "You think taunting will save you? You're not the only knight here!" With that, he rushes you, just as fast as he had started the battle. Shit! Why didn't I check his stats first?! You parry the blow, but while you're distracted with that, he continues. "Not fast enough, scum!" He seems to move faster - or maybe you're moving slower - as he kicks you once more.

You cough as you stagger back. Is Pure Land really not enough to make up the difference, here? You launch another light bolt, this one deflected by his spear. An opening! You thrust as the captain's spear is pushed away. He pushes your blade with the edge of his shield, but it's not enough for you to swing down around it to nick his leg. You step back and take a brief breather. "If being a knight is all you've got, I've got this in the bag." You taunt again.

He glares. "Then it's a good thing I'm not just a knight..." The man's spear and shield begin to glow, and you barely duck to the side of another strike. You take the chance to grab his spear, but as you attempt to take it from him, he pulls it to the side, dragging you with it and throwing you to the side of the ring. You rapidly recover, only to have the captain shove you with his shield into the barrier you made, before he attempts to stab you in the chest. You have just enough time to grab his spear with one hand, but his strength outmatches yours, and the spear slowly inches inward. "You are not worthy of my time. However, since you desire it so, I shall show you just how outmatched you are."

As the blade pierces your chest, you decide to use what's basically been your trump card. Dark energy bursts from the wound as you cast recompense. "Outmatched? I'd say I'm-..."

As the energy fades and he pulls his spear back, you realize that it doesn't seem to have done anything to him! "Like I said, worm. Outmatched." He thrusts again, and you raise your light blade to defend...

...only for the blade itself to shatter against the tip of his spear, fragments of light floating behind you. Time seems to slow, and you're unable to do anything to stop him. You happen to glance behind the captain, finding your own captain and Eve with their hands against your barrier, a mixture of shock, worry, and horror present on their faces. Suddenly, you hear a shatter, and you're falling back. As the glowing spear advances, you fall. Time seems to resume at its normal pace, and you unceremoniously fall flat on your back, your chest free from another spear wound.

"Captain," You look to the source of the voice, seeing Citrinas float over on her pillow. "I'm taking custody of these monsters."

Said captain glares at the archmage, but lowers his spear, baffling you. "Arch-imago, by order of the Duke, I am to eliminate the Hornet Empress and any other monsters that I meet."

"Your father's orders don't concern my research. This creature is a unique specimen by any standard." You could never get used to her flat tone, but having her refer to you as a specimen in that tone sends a shiver down your spine. "A passive slime and a friendly goblin are not unheard of, but to ensure this one's cooperation, they must be kept alive and well."

The captain grits his teeth, the glow on his weapon and shield fading. "Men! We're nearly at Riverbend." He then goes to mount his horse. Once he does so, he glares at you. "Ignore this scum on the road."

As you stand up, the captain rides off, and his troops and carts begin following him. You quickly move off to the side so you don't get trampled, brushing yourself off and healing the small wound in your chest, along with the eventual bruises to your gut. Camilla and Eve rush to your side, along with the slime, which is...vibrating(?) by the time it settles at your ankle. That's not concerning...

Eve's first. "Are you okay?!"

You pat her head as you glare at the captain's back. What was his name? Roger? As he rides away, you can't help but begin to hate him, for what seems like no particular reason. I need to get stronger. If I got beat up so easily by someone like that, I don't stand a chance against any of the real players here... "I'm fine..."

You look to Camilla, who looks more guilty than worried for you. "I...messed up. Sorry. Most of the local soldiers don't do so well when you keep in their face, especially when they use polearms, but..."

You rest your free hand on her shoulder. "Cap, you did what you could. I messed up on the follow-through."

She scowls. "Why'd he have to kick so much? They don't teach that at the academy..."

Eve playfully taps the captain's thigh, still clearly a bit nervous about the situation. "I doubt they teach glowing weapons at the academy either."

You raise an eyebrow at the brunette. "Did you go to the army's academy?"

She nods. "Yeah, I spent some time there; went with my brother before he figured out he could use magic. Came back here when the area was liberated in the last Crusade."

There's that mention of the crusade again... "And that was around the time the Saintesses took down the Demon King?"

Another nod. "Remind me to have my brother lecture you on recent history."

"That'd have to wait until you explain why you started associating with monsters, dear sister." You look behind you, spotting a blue-robed man leaning against a staff, clearly weary from travel. "But you were always a bit of an odd-one-out."

You sit in the first floor of Citrinas' tower, alongside Eve and Blobby. Yeah, it's not the best name, but you're tired of thinking 'the slime' every time you think of them. Camilla has insisted on talking to her brother alone, and Citrinas...'offered' for you three to enter her tower. As you sit shirtless on an ottoman, the archmage continues to poke and prod at your non-human features. At least she's not continuing to pluck me...

Eve sits apprehensively on the soft couch as she watches you and Citrinas. "Are...are you sure this is okay?"

You nod. "If this is the cost of her saving our lives, I can't compla-ow! I thought you already!-" You deeply exhale and calm your voice. "I thought you already had one of my feathers." You flex your wing to relieve the stinging.

As if on cue, the archmage takes out your other feather, her too-long sleeves falling to her elbows as she closely examines both feathers. "That was before your duel."

You cock an eyebrow. "Are you saying there's a difference, now?"

"Likely no, but it's a possibility." She deposits the feathers into different pockets of her robe before going back to examining you.

By now, Blobby has nestled up between your feet like a pet satisfied that their owner is home. You look to Eve, who's leg is nearly hopping off the ground. "What's wrong, Eve?"

She gulps. "N-nothing...just...don't do that again, okay? Camilla and I honestly thought you were going to die..."

Citrinas, in her usual monotone, addresses the concern immediately. "I won't let you die before I can study you."

You look at her, surprised. "That's not ominous at all."

"You're a unique specimen. It would be a waste to let you die before I can make proper observations." She suddenly steps back. "Please stand so I can make more observations."

Mentally shrugging, you do so, but after she mutters some arcane words, you're shocked when your pants fall down, exposing your penis. Covering your suddenly-growing member, you look at her accusingly. "Why-" You bite your tongue, lowering your voice once more. "I-I know what I said, but you probably should have specified that you wanted to see me naked."

You can see both of the women start to blush, but neither looks away; Eve because of her desire, and Citrinas for...knowing her, academic reasons. The archmage is the first to speak, though. "This is for my research. I need to do a full-body inspection if I am to make my findings as accurate as possible."

You suddenly feel a *slurp* against your schlong, and when you glance down, you're not surprised to find Blobby stretching up between your pantsed legs to wrap a round tendril around your cock. You step back and out of the slime's embrace. "Not now!"

"No, please continue," Citrinas begins, stepping back and sitting on another ottoman. "You didn't finish this morning."

You stare at her, surprised.