Rei looked at the green-haired elf sitting on the left, sparks practically shooting out of his eyes. This is a new form of criticism he never thought he'd have to face but should have expected. For those highborn like Neilos, it does in fact look like he won the lottery, a little orphan boy suddenly becoming the son-in-law of the duke. Only he and Ariellia are aware of his true lineage, foreigners who didn't watch them grow up or see how their relationship evolved would naturally suspect he seduced her with his handsome face.
Up till this point he thought he'd outgrown his rebellious nature, becoming more levelheaded and mature. He never expected his emotions to boil at the sight of this foreign dark elf challenging his strength, while looking down at him as a love rival. Suddenly he felt his hands itching to take hold of his twin blades, ready to slice and dice him into minced meat. A spot of gold flickering at the center of his pupil, becoming more prominent as he got angrier.
"Under normal circumstance I would let this go, it's no one's fault that you're a gossip. Naturally, you won't refuse a duel since you've spoken so openly about your objection to my marriage." Rei says through gritted teeth, his knuckles clenched tight.
"Rei…" Ariellia looks uncomfortable but thankfully she doesn't interrupt. As a man there are some things that can't go unchecked. If she tries to play mediator at this juncture it would only look poorly on him, making him out to be a kept man.
"Well said, there are no weaklings in my house. Tell the generals to meet us on the training ground instead. They are to witness a duel between my son-in-law and Neilos, Mayor Takao's son." Having said his piece, David roughly cleans his lips before tossing aside the tablecloth in anger. Everyone watches him leave the room with mixed reactions.
"Thank you, sir!"
Neilos, despite being the catalyst for this whole thing, appears to be elated. He could finally prove himself before the duke. He arrogantly turns back to gloat for successfully forcing the duel he's always wanted, but the mixed signals from his party make him pause.
Glenda, his spellcaster, is shaking her head in dismay. Bob, his defender, looks like he'd just eaten a shoe. Distressed by the negative reactions he searches the sea of faces for his shining light. Surely, she would understand. He turns to Arie, surprised to see her expressive amethysts eyes sporting a deadpanned look as though she were watching a dead man walking. She silently gets up, bows to her guests and then follows after the duke. Rei only speaks after she's left the dining room.
"I hope your loose lips favor cement as much as they do gossip." He gets up and leaves without any fanfare, yet why does his quiet departure leave others more on edge? It would have been better if he yelled or slammed the door to express his anger, this quiet psychological warfare is not for the weak of heart.
It's only after experiencing all these things that Neilos begins to doubt his decision. The imposing aura he felt from Rei just now was not that of a kept man. He suddenly knows what it feels like to be riding on the tiger's back, unable to let go even if he wants to. His teammates all seem to realize it too, giving him solemn paths on his shoulders as they walk past him to head to the training ground as well.
Even with the misgivings in his gut, he's not cowardly enough to go back on his word. He appears at the training ground with a spear in his hand. He'd trained in the way of the spear for many years in hopes of getting the duke's approval and becoming one step closer to winning Arie's hand in marriage.
"I watched you grow up as a young man Neilos, I know this is not like you so I shall overlook your barbed tongue just this once. Fight to your hearts content, only then will your eyes clear." It's the only bit of advice David is willing to give before retreating to the stands as a judge.
Across from the arena, Rei watches with a hooded look over his eyes.
"Restrain your bloodlust nephew, it's only a duel, not an execution." As always, Jasper appears in the nick of time to watch the fun. He stretches out his hand, offering Rei a bundle covered in cloth.
"What is this?"
His uncle's sharp brows twitch at the question. "Did you forget you wore down your last pair of swords on this very training field a few days ago. How did you intend to fight him, with your fist?"
Rei momentarily feels his anger be replaced by surprise as he unfurls the cloth covering, only to see a pair of impressive shiny new twin blades. They look much more imposing than his last pair, single-sided red blades forged with one black and white handle. He wasn't expecting such a gift, for a moment he's left speechless. This would count as the first gift he'd ever received from a blood relative. He feels his eyes sting a bit. When did Jasper have the time to think about this while they were busy searching for Anya and the truth?
"How do you hope to carry the name Garrod with those flashy swords. One is not enough, look at you trying to compensate with two. A real man only needs a spear."
Neilos is too busy trying to win brownie points with the duke, he doesn't notice the heavy atmosphere that results from his thoughtless jab.
Jasper lightly coughs, feeling remorseful for the poor lad. "Try not to kill him, we still need them for the monster march."
"I know, I'll only crush his soul."
"You're scarier than your father, you know that."
"…"
Rei doesn't bother to argue, using his expert footwork to jump onto the stage.
"This duel is to be a clean fight showcasing only skill, no mana is to be used!" After laying down the ground rules and getting both of their agreements, David finally gives the order to start the match.
"Have a taste of despair!" Neilos naively rushes forward, eager for quick success. He tries to lash out his spear tip, hoping to trip up his opponent in a humiliating way.
"You are not like the duke" having already faced the duke once before, Rei easily sees through his brash moves, countering it with a single strike. "What gave you the gull to think you could bare the weight of his name with such poor skills."
With little emotion he swipes his opponent away with a swing of his second sword, cleanly knocking him out of the arena in an unsightly manner. The dark elf tumbles uncontrollably into the stadium wall, leaving a cracked crater in his wake.
"That's it…so quick!"
In the shocking silence to follow his dishonorable loss, Ariellia's innocent question echoed through the field like a knife, cutting off his last shred of dignity. Neilos faints not from his wounds but a broken heart.