Play it careful.

"A knight? That's ridiculous. They really let anybody into knighthood nowadays," Larsith taunts. "Either that, or you stole the ring off somebody's body."

This isn't great. Everyone assumes I know the rules of the duel because I'm probably the only one that doesn't. Is it ring-out rules? Am I going to be in trouble if he loses an arm? If I ask now, I'm going to look like a dumbass. I'm going to just have to fight to the best of my ability. I'll use all the tools in my arsenal.

"And you have me," says the sprite.

Hold on. If you start breaking every spell he casts, not only will they realize I'm doing it, but they're trace things back to everything else that happened. They might even realize it was us that humiliated Malakae. Only mess up his magic if I'm in serious trouble. We can't risk it.

"You're smarter than I thought."

"You're boring me!" he suddenly shouts. With a foot in the dirt, he swings his body forwards and shouts, "****!" at the top of his lungs. A large burst of energy comes forth from his palm and ripples through the air towards you. It reaches your body at an exceptional speed.

All you can do is raise up your arm and take the attack. It's just like before--a strong man tackling your body. You fly back and tumble into the ground with a groan. Quickly, you pull yourself up and hold a hand out as well and whisper, "Entangle," to place a trap around the center of the ring. Then with your magic sword up in the air, you sprint towards him.

"****!" he shouts again.

This time, you react last minute and arc your body in a wide dodge around the burst of energy. You feel it whip past your tunic like a gust of wind.

I'm getting stronger.

You reach him swiftly and thrust out with your blade. However, he counters this attack with a, "Ward!" to absorb the strike with a barrier of magic. Your weapon slips off like it collided with an actual shield. He takes his opportunity to pivot into your space and slam his hand like a chop against your side. It hits impressively hard. You groan in pain as you leap backwards to rethink your strategy, but he doesn't give you an inch. Another "****!" nearly collides with your stomach, but you're able to dodge again--just barely.

But he's fast too.

You leap back even farther and catch your breath. He seems tired as well.

"Adventurers fight so crudely," he says. "Not even a hint of grace."

"Is that your way of saying I'm tough?" you reply.

"Hardly. You know some moves, but it isn't nearly enough. Come at me, fool."

"No. You come at me."

His eye twitches. "Why must you be so juvenile? Have you no shame?"

"I think I lost my shame weeks ago."

"Then I'll have to end this soon, so you can be forgotten, and our academy can return to the status quo." He grins, and begins walking towards you with both hands ready. However, after a few steps, his foot lands right on your trap.

"Gotcha!" you shout the moment blue tendrils whip up into the air.

Larsith falls hard onto his back as both of his legs are entangled by the spell. His composure leaves him immediately. With widened eyes, he grits his teeth and snarls in anger that he'd be knocked down by the likes of you. The more he struggles, the more the tendrils inch towards the rest of his body as well. He might end up becoming completely grappled.

You sprint around them with your sword gripped in both hands. He looks to you in fear--****, and about to be skewered on your blade.

"Summon Dagger!" he shouts. In one swift motion, a glowing blue knife conjured into his hand, and he swipes through the tendrils enough to roll free. The boy leaps to his feet, and lowers himself into a battle stance with the dagger held underhand, and his other palm remains outwards and ready to cast another spell.

"I think the last time I saw that trick was when I got mugged," you mutter.

"Let me show you what I do to cowards," he growls. "Stop running away! Take this... Suction!"

With his one hand out, instead of an explosion of air colliding with your body, the exact opposite occurs. It feels like his spell is hitting you from behind. It doesn't hurt, but before you know it, it's like a windstorm pulling you in. You're sucked towards him at an alarming speed. You dig your feet into the ground and pivot your body to dodge his attack, though the sensation is strange and new to you. The moment you make it to him and shift to the side, he performs a precise movement you can't avoid in time.

His dagger slashes you deep across the side of your stomach. You yell out in pain as a splash of blood hits the sand below you, and as you leap away again, you hold the wound tight with your free hand.

"Should I step in? He casts a lot of spells."

Not yet. I'm not outing myself in front of everybody. I'll find a way to win. I lost to Lynx. Thankfully Niki was able to pull off a victory in the end. But this time, I won't lose. Not to some snobby rich kid. At least Lynx was something more.

"I have no idea who that is."

"I'm about done with this fight. It's time to end it." He glares at you with both hands out again. This time, he raises them up into the air. The wind around you starts to become more erratic. You look around to see people's hair and clothes fluttering in the breeze. "This is the power of aeromancy! Whirlwind!"

Before the air around you becomes unruly, you run. You turn to see the dust whip up into a full blown dust devil where you once stood. Using his magic, he summoned a tiny tornado! Not only that, but it seems to be slowly moving towards you. Now not only do you need to dodge him, but his whirlwind spell as well. You strafe around the arena to look for an opening, but that dagger dug in deep. It's hurting, and you're losing blood.

"I'm done with this fight too!" you shout back. Gripping the sword with both of your hands, you bolt towards him. On your way, he lets out another **** spell, but you thankfully dodge it just in the nick of time. His movements are becoming predictable in that regard. You also can't imagine he has a lot of mana left. Then you start moving around him, looking for an opening--the perfect moment.

"You know what I called you back when we met?" you taunt. "A dick."

"How dare--"

"But you did give me a gift!" You slam your palm forwards directly against his nose. At the same time, you unleash the spell trapped inside your ring. Your opponent's own **** spell explodes from the ring, and a spray of blood shoots from his nose as he flies backwards through the air.

Not only that, but he's launched directly into the dust devil. Unable to focus enough to control it, he's lifted up into the air and spun around in circles. Finally, he reaches the top, where he's fired out into the audience with a sprinkler of blood behind him. The students scream as they move out of his way, and he hits the hard ground with a loud thump. Just as quickly, the whirlwind spell falls into a gust of wind and disappears.

You stand up straight and slip your sword back into its scabbard.

"And that's that," Lady Sulta calls out. She doesn't miss a beat. "One party is ****, which means a winner is clear. Sir Kyle Warren has proven himself the victor."

You hear applause, but it doesn't feel right. It isn't like the Golden Sword. These people don't want to clap. You look to Lady Vraelion who isn't applauding at all. She crosses her arms, huffs, and storms off.

A man with a short black beard and a fancy black coat approaches you. It's someone you feel like you saw at dinner time, but nowhere else. Like clockwork, he holds you by the shoulder and places his hand on your wound, causing you to flinch.

"Hey, what--"

"Calm down," he says. "Allow me to help. Minor Heal." A warm glow fills your body as the wound closes. It still aches a little, but it's much better now. "Mend," he says as well, and the tear through your tunic closes.

"Oh wow. Thanks."

It's good that he helped you when he did, because Eva immediately throws herself into you, which definitely would have stung moments ago. "You did it!" she cheers.

While the doctor tends to Larsith, you look to the approaching grand master.

She leans in close to speak softly, and you do your absolute best not to look down her dress. "Congratulations, Kyle Warren. Just don't let it go to your head. People spar often here, and though it may be a big deal for you besting a noble, you don't want to get involved with their political drama I assure you."

"Right. Thanks." You nod.

"That concludes the duel! As soon as things have finished here, please return to your rooms."

"Oh uh. Lady Sulta? Is there a spare room we could stay in?"

She turns back to you with a smile. "Of course. We can spare one."

"Hold on!" Eva shouts. "It's time for the loser to hold up his end of the bargain." She thrusts her finger forwards to Larsith who is currently recovering from his own healing spell. He rubs his nose with a grunt.

He laughs awkwardly. "Surely you jest. Asking such a thing from me--"

"Apologies, Larsith. You did make an official bet upon this duel," Lady Sulta says with a wide smile. "You said you would undress and run around the academy. Correct? I promise that I'll keep your clothes safe here."

"Y-Yes... Acting Grand Master," he grumbles with clenched teeth. Slowly, he undoes his attire. People watch, and he blushes with both embarrassment and rage. Finally he's left with a shiny silken pair of blue boxers. He wraps his arms around his body and shivers.

"That's not naked!" Eva shouts again.

"But--" Slowly, he turns to Lady Sulta. "Yes. Of course."

After sliding down his boxers, he covers up his shame with both hands. For a moment, however, you definitely saw it.

Eva looks to you with a gasp. "So small," she whispers.

"I heard that!" Larsith snaps. "Let's just get this over with..."

And with that, he runs off into the darkness. The light of the moon and the stars reflect off his pale white ass in the distance.