Prepare for the duel.

You and Eva head to the restrooms to get dressed back in your street clothes. With no bedroom, the best you can do is store everything in your packs, even if it makes you both stick out more than you were already. Though at least, you're back in your blue tunic. It's a lot easier to maneuver in that. You meet back up with Eva and start making your way back to the courtyard. Neither of you know exactly where the sparring grounds are, but surely it isn't far. The sun has just started setting by the time you head outside.

Along the path, you notice a head of fiery red hair illuminated by glow of the magic street lamps. It's unmistakably Professor Davella. You wave to her as you quicken your pace and say, "Excuse me, professor! Can I ask for some directions?"

She turns with a tilt of her head. "Hello, you two. Of course you may. Though, I imagine we are both heading to the same destination."

"You know about the duel?"

"You accepted a challenge by the Larsith family. Most of the school likely knows by now. You may have quite the audience, Warren. I hope you are prepared."

"This isn't to the ****. Right?"

She smiles slightly. "It is not, no. Though that does not mean it is impossible."

Why did she have to say that?

"Anyway, please follow me," she continues. "I am relatively new to this academy as well, so I know what it is like to not know where places are. The sparring grounds are straight this way, on the other side of the campus grounds. It should only take a moment for us to arrive, so steel your mind. It is the most valuable part of one's body."

The three of you begin to walk. The farther you go, the more you can make out a crowd up ahead.

"Thanks again, Professor Davella," Eva says. "It's always nice to meet someone here that's nice."

"Do not assume the worst of this place only because many of them are from a different world. To a noble, the most important thing is appearance in every manner. They must never allow their reputation to be tarnished."

"You mean like Vraelion today at dinner?" she asks. "That looked embarrassing..."

"I believe that is not enough to destroy her image. Her family is simply too powerful. She would need to be humiliated much more than that, perhaps made completely nude, or worse. I am uncertain."

"Weird conversation," you mutter.

"We have arrived."

A large circular arena of sand, even larger than the one constructed for the Golden Sword, is present up ahead--illuminated by a series of lamp posts all around the perimeter. Dozens of students and professors alike stand around it. Of course, in the center is Larsith himself. You can make out the aforementioned dragon among the crowd, and to your surprise, the Acting Grand Master is here as well. It isn't the entire school, and you had a whole audience when you fought at the other tournament, but somehow it makes you feel uneasy. The circumstances are entirely different. These are all snooty nobles with houses of varying political power. The last thing you need is for your life to become a living hell outside of a fight all because you pissed off the wrong people.

People move aside for you to enter.

"Good luck," Eva says with a smile.

"Thank you."

"Wait..." She tugs on your collar nervously. Then she gets up on her tippy toes, and gives you a peck against your lips. When she moves away, you can see a shy colour in her cheeks illuminated by the light of the moon. "There. That was for the good luck."

"Eva. I--"

"Are we doing this or not?" comes the booming voice of Larsith.

You turn with a sigh. As you step through the crowd, the opening gradually closes behind you almost like you're becoming sealed inside the ring. He walks to one side, and you to the other.

Strangely enough, he's dressed up even more than when he's in his uniform. He has a puffy white coat, black dress pants, and an array of golden necklaces around his neck. His earrings are still present, inset with vibrant blue gemstones, and his short blond hair blows freely in the evening breeze. He doesn't seem to have any sort of weapon, so you're not certain what you're meant to be doing. So, you draw your sword and hold it tight.

He brings a hand up through his hair, and holds his other forwards. "As agreed, we shall have our duel. My name is Caedman Larsith III of the famous House Larsith, and today I fight for the honour of both myself and my family. This man insulted both me and the beautiful Lady Malakae Vraelion, and he tarnished the very reputation of Redbloom Academy with his presence. I propose that if I win, you will leave these grounds and never return. If you somehow are victorious, then..."

"Hmm. I'll let Eva decide." You grin. "What do you you think he should do when he loses?"

Everyone turns to the bunnyfolk in the crowd. She blushes a little. "M-Me?"

"This is our duel," Larsith says. "Don't bring that reject into this."

Eva squints. "When Kyle wins, you have to take off all your clothes and run an entire lap around the academy grounds."

You laugh. "That's about what I'd expect. Well, do you agree?"

"Of course I do. How juvenile..."

"My name is Sir Kyle Warren, adventurer and knight of Tivera," you say as you flash your ring. "I fight for the honour of both myself and Eva, who you also insulted. So I guess we're both white knights today, Larsith."

"We're ready, Acting Grand Master Sulta!" he shouts.

Directly right of you in the front of the crowd stands the lovely grand master. She's dressed in a dress you haven't seen before. A simple one, but on her, it's something special. The pitch black fabric hugs her dark-skinned figure and meshes nicely with her long hair of the same colour. It's cut up the side, showing the near entirety of her left leg. Of course, it's cut low on the front as well.

Not far from her is Vraelion, and she's dressed exactly how you saw her way back when you first met. Flowing golden locks, decorated horns, earrings and necklace, and a striking red qipao dress with golden trim. There's a window cut to her cleavage where her necklace's pendant is nestled, and her dress is tied up the sides in a manner where you can clearly see her bare hips. From her fingertips to her elbows are white gloves, and black stockings cover from her thighs down to her heels. By how high you can see her sides along the edges of that qipao, you swear she isn't wearing panties still, but they're there--thin and black. She glares at you with her feline-like eyes, and her golden serpentine tail shifts left and right slowly.

"Then if the combatants are prepared, I hereby sanction this duel between Caedman Larsith III and Sir Kyle Warren," Lady Sulta announces as she raises her hand. "On my mark, you shall begin. Please remember where you are when you chose how to fight, and avoid ending your opponent's life in the ring. Three. Two. One. Mark!" With that, she swings her hand down, and it begins.