The duel was held in the city's grand training arena. It was a beautiful place, an open circle surrounded by trees with silver leaves. Many elves came to watch. They all wanted to see the proud human boy be put in his place by their hero, Loran.
Loran stood in the middle of the arena. He wore shining elven armor and held a long, thin sword that was famous in the Silverwood. He looked graceful and dangerous.
Ren walked into the arena from the other side. He was still wearing his Tunic of the Silent Step. He did not even bother to draw his sword. He just stood there, looking relaxed, with a small, lazy smile on his face. The elves in the crowd whispered to each other. They thought he was a fool.
The duel began.
Loran moved like the wind. He was a blur of motion, his famous sword flashing as he attacked Ren with a dozen quick, sharp strikes. His technique was beautiful. It was like a deadly dance.
But Ren was not there.
With each strike, Ren took one small, easy step. He moved just enough to make the blade miss. He did not look like he was fighting. He looked like he was bored. He dodged one fast strike and pretended to yawn. He sidestepped another and looked up at the sky as if he was checking the weather.
Loran became more and more angry. He was using his best techniques, moves that had won him many battles. But this smiling human boy was dodging them without even trying. It was a great insult.
"Fight me, coward!" Loran screamed, his face red.
"Fight you?" Ren asked, his voice calm. "But we are fighting. This is the part where you try to hit me, and I let you get some exercise. It's very friendly."
The elves in the crowd were silent. They had never seen anything like this. Their hero, Loran, looked like a child throwing a tantrum. The human looked like an adult watching with amusement.
After a few more minutes of this, Ren decided he was bored. "Okay, my turn," he said.
Loran charged one last time, screaming with rage. Ren waited. At the last possible second, he moved. He was so fast, no one saw what happened.
One moment, Loran was charging with his sword. The next moment, Loran was standing there, empty-handed. Ren was now holding Loran's famous sword.
Ren looked at the beautiful sword. "Nice sword," he said. Then, he reached out and gently tapped Loran on the top of his helmet with the flat of the blade. Tink.
The sound was small, but in the silent arena, it was very loud. The duel was over. Ren had won. He had defeated the best warrior in the city without drawing his own weapon, without taking a single scratch, and without breaking a sweat.
There was a stunned silence. Loran stood there, trembling with shame and anger. He had been completely, easily humiliated in front of his whole city.
In Ren's mind, a notification appeared.
[Hidden Quest Complete: A Lesson in Pride]
[Reward: Your reputation with the Silverwood Elves has increased. Elara's affection for you has greatly increased.]
Loran could not accept it. He was a great warrior. He could not lose to a human. His mind broke with anger.
"This proves nothing!" he screamed. "You used some dirty human trick!"
In his rage, he forgot all about honor. He pulled a small, hidden dagger from his boot and lunged at the unarmed Ren, aiming for his heart.