We walked toward the training grounds, and it felt like the entire garden party was following us. The train of noble ladies, their maids, and curious courtiers stretched behind us like a parade.
When we arrived, the knights and soldiers training there froze. They were shocked by the sudden commotion—not just because the Crown Prince had arrived, but because Lady Octavi, "The Hawk" of the Academy, was walking onto their field.
Milo immediately went to the commander on duty. He ordered a halt to all training sessions, clearing the main ring for the duel between Lady Hillaria and Lady Octavi. The request was granted instantly.
Lady Octavi turned to Hillaria, unbuckling her sword belt. "Do we need to use a real sword or a training sword?"
"Of course, a real sword," Hillaria answered without hesitation, her eyes gleaming.
They walked to the weapons rack. Before they stepped onto the platform, I called out to them.
"The basic rule of this spar," I announced firmly, looking directly at Hillaria. "NO TRANSMUTATION FOR BOTH OF YOU."
They both nodded. Hillaria looked disappointed but accepted the condition.
They walked onto the platform. The crowd gathered around the edges, buzzing with anticipation. Fabian invited me and Lady Clara to the front row, where seats had been hastily arranged. We sat down. I looked around; the ladies who usually fainted at the sight of violence were now leaning forward eagerly. They truly idolized Lady Octavi.
Octavi and Hillaria took their positions. They swung their blades lightly, testing the weight, warming up their wrists.
Cheers erupted from the ladies as Octavi spun her blade effortlessly.
Then, they took their stances.
Lady Octavi assumed the Alber Guard, or "The Fool's Guard." She held her sword low, pointing at the ground, leaving her upper body wide open as bait. However, she kept her right foot back—a slight variation from the stance she had taught me seven years ago. It was a stance of supreme confidence.
On the other side, Lady Hillaria raised her sword high above her head in the Vom Tag stance, ready to strike down with full force.
I could sense the difference in their energy. Octavi was relaxed, almost casual. Hillaria was vibrating with excitement.
"Begin!"
Hillaria plunged first.
She dashed forward with terrifying speed, her sword slicing through the air with powerful grace. She aimed a thrust directly at Octavi's exposed throat—taking the bait of the Alber stance.
Octavi didn't flinch. When the tip of Hillaria's sword was inches from her neck, she simply flicked her wrists.
Clang!
She swung her sword upward in a vertical arc, knocking Hillaria's blade harmlessly into the air. The force of the parry was immense.
Hillaria's sword was deflected high, but she didn't give up. She used the momentum to spin her body, delivering a horizontal slash to Octavi's right side.
It was fast. But Octavi was faster.
Her eyes darted to the attack. Her hands moved in a blur.
Spark!
Steel met steel. Sparks flew as Octavi blocked the heavy swing with a solid wall of iron. The sound echoed through the training grounds like a gunshot.
The crowd gasped and cheered.
Octavi's face remained impassive, a mask of calm. Hillaria, however, was grinning wildly, enjoying every second.
Hillaria stepped back, resetting. Octavi didn't pursue. She waited, rooted to her spot. It was clear: Octavi was fighting defensively, letting Hillaria tire herself out.
The duel continued. Octavi's defensive maneuvers were a masterclass. She deflected every strike with minimal movement. Her feet seemed glued to the floor; she barely moved an inch from her starting position.
The intensity ramped up. Hillaria began a barrage of attacks.
Top. Bottom. Left. Right.
She swung with relentless fury, determined to break Octavi's guard. The clash of blades became a continuous rhythm.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
I watched, mesmerized. I didn't know which was more impressive—Octavi's impenetrable defense or Hillaria's endless stamina.
Beside me, I saw Fabian lean over to whisper to Milo. I shifted slightly to eavesdrop.
"Just like the old days," Fabian murmured. "She is a wall."
"An iron wall," Milo agreed, wincing as if remembering past bruises.
Back in the ring, Hillaria was starting to pant. Her swings were slowing down. I watched her closely.
Suddenly, I felt a tingle run down my spine. I saw Hillaria's hand twitch in a familiar way.
Adel, standing behind my chair, leaned down.
"I think you need to stop the duel right now, My Lady," she whispered urgently.
I kept watching. I realized why Adel was worried. Hillaria's frustration was mounting. She was about to use her Transmutation against my orders.
I started to stand up to halt the duel.
But Octavi was faster.
Sensing the shift in energy, Octavi suddenly abandoned her defensive stance.
She lunged.
It was a simple, lightning-fast thrust. She stepped inside Hillaria's guard and struck Hillaria's blade near the hilt.
Clatter!
Hillaria's sword flew from her hand, spinning through the air and landing in the dirt.
Octavi stood there, her sword tip hovering inches from Hillaria's forehead.
Silence fell over the grounds.
The crowd was stunned. Even Fabian and Milo stared with wide eyes. It had happened so fast that most people barely saw the disarm.
Then, applause erupted. The ladies screamed in delight.
Octavi gracefully sheathed her sword and bowed to the crowd. Hillaria stood there, blinking, still processing her defeat.
Octavi offered her hand. Hillaria took it, shaking it vigorously. The crowd cheered louder.
~~
After the spar, the crowd began to disperse. Octavi and Hillaria walked toward us, wiping sweat from their brows.
As soon as they arrived, Lady Clara rushed to Hillaria, fussing over her friend.
"Are you hurt? That was reckless!" Clara scolded.
I turned my eyes to Octavi.
"You have shown me a great spar," I said, smiling. "I am honored and grateful that I can become closer to you, Lady Octavi."
Octavi smiled warmly, bowing. "It is not My Lady's honor to become closer to me, but it is my honor to stay side by side with you, My Lady."
She turned to Hillaria. "I know it was your dream to have a spar with me... Lady Hillaria, I hope you are feeling better after our match."
Hillaria nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with admiration. "Thank you, Lady Octavi! Our spar was indeed a dream come true. I am feeling exhilarated and grateful for the opportunity to test my skills against the famous Golden Sword of the Aurelius Family. It is an honor!"
I looked at Fabian and Milo. They were standing slightly behind me, trying to avoid eye contact with Octavi.
I wondered if they were intimidated by their past with her.
Octavi noticed them. She approached with a predatory smile.
"Milo," she said cheerfully. "How about we do a spar like the old times?"
Milo paled. His eyes darted between Octavi and Fabian, looking for an escape route.
"It is an honor to have a spar with you, Lady Octavi, like the old times," Milo stammered. "But I can't... How about you have a spar with His Royal Highness? You sparred more with him than me, right?"
Fabian jumped. "WHAT! How dare you suggest such a thing?" He waved his hands frantically. "I am not worthy of sparring with Lady Octavi. She is far superior in skill and experience."
Octavi chuckled. "Oh, don't be so modest, Your Royal Highness. Milo and I have sparred countless times before, but it would be a refreshing change to spar with you instead..."
Hearing their conversation, I confirmed my suspicion. The Crown Prince and his Lieutenant were terrified of my tutor.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the group.
A large, imposing man approached us. He had a menacing look on his face, a scarred jaw, and a muscular physique that stretched his uniform.
Hillaria gasped. "FATHER!!"
She ran to him. "Everyone, this is my father. His name is Kaeso Antia, and he is the Commander of the Royal Guards and this training ground."
I stood up to show respect. "It is an honor to meet and know Lady Hillaria's father."
Kaeso nodded, his expression grim. "The pleasure is mine. I have heard much about you, Lady Aurelia."
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, showing a glint of menace.
"I heard that His Royal Highness said he is not worthy to spar with Lady Octavi due to her vastly superior skill," Kaeso rumbled, crossing his massive arms. "It just doesn't sit right with me. I believe in equal opportunities and fair competition."
He looked around the group. "How about we arrange a sparring match of equal skill with Lady Octavi on this ground?"
Fabian blinked. "Equal skill with Lady Octavi? Who is capable of doing that?"
I felt a chill. I knew what he was going to say.
"Well, Your Royal Highness," Kaeso said, a cruel smile touching his lips. "The one who is capable of doing it is with us right now."
His eyes drifted past Fabian, past Milo, past me.
"It is none other than her..."
He pointed a thick finger directly at Adel.