The sun had fully set by the time we found a place to set up camp.
We weren't very close to where we had just fought the storm wolves, but we also weren't too far from it either, somewhere in the middle.
It was intentional, so that we could avoid any wandering beasts that might've been attracted to the lingering smell of blood and whatever other scents were left behind in our skirmish.
…What a wretched thing to like.
Trails of smoke rose into the air, accompanied by a bright, flickering flame that offered its warmth to the four figures surrounding it.
Who were, of course, the members of my cohort, myself included.
Caelora tended to the campfire, occasionally stoking it or adjusting something, largely taking the responsibility upon herself.
Despite her cold, wintery appearance she seemed to surprisingly be the most knowledgeable about such things. Ivignes sat on the same log as her, a stark contrast with his figure poised against the horizon. His arms were crossed as he stared into the distance, an indescribable expression on his face.
Across from them, Seraphina and I were seated. My palms ran through her fur from time to time as we waited.
Eventually, I turned my attention on her, feeling her interest perk up through our mental connection.
'...Smells good. Really hungry.' She thought.
Don't worry, she's almost done, I sent back.
Though, I can't say I share the same excitement as you. Roasted wolf isn't exactly something in my palate.
My eyes trailed upwards to where four sticks were placed in an unusual but convenient contraption of sorts that allowed them to roast slabs of meat over the campfire without burning the beginning of the stick itself.
There was an unusual scent that permeated the air with a hint of various spices accompanying it.
Admittedly, the smell made my mouth water—fueled by the appetite I had worked up earlier by using much of my strength.
Briefly, my mind flashed back to just earlier today, when I almost lost my life due to an unexpected occurrence.
Voltstance…
While I knew of the consequences of using the spell—suffering from a sense of tiredness afterwards, as my body is forced to readjust itself after experiencing such a drastic improvement—I hadn't known that it, in tandem with a large amount of mana expenditure, as well as the enhancement from my first phase, would cause such a lingering effect.
Damn it… I almost died from that.
If that was not a lesson about overworking yourself, then I don't know what would be.
I'll have to be careful from now on when using it. And no stacking the two unless absolutely necessary! Just what was I thinking earlier, pulling such a thing out of my arse?
After all, that spell isn't even fully complete; the main reason why I suffered such serious drawbacks from it. It'll likely take years before it's mastered and improved.
My mind cycled through these thoughts and among others before Caelora's silvery voice cut through the fog, bringing me back. "They're done."
She proceeded to hand out each of our portions, and I thanked her as I received mine.
Seraphina communicated her appreciation as best as she could.
Ah. This really is the life, isn't it?
Campfires, silent dangers, loud dangers, aching pains, and… wolf meat. Truly, an improvement from my previous life as a prince living in a splendid palace. What a delicacy!
Sadly, for all of my reservations, I hadn't had much of a choice in this matter.
Well, actually, there was another option, but snacking on various berries and snacks when I was suffering from a sluggish body and headache probably wasn't the best for me.
…But more than that, the food seemed somewhat appetizing, despite everything.
Bon appetite, I guess.
I was the final one amongst us to take a bite out of theirs.
Or at least, I thought I was. It seemed Caelora still hadn't yet, her calm silver eyes boring into me endlessly—either waiting for approval, or maybe just some type of acknowledgment as a whole.
She did save my life… the least I could do was try her food.
As I bit into and chewed the hot meat, the juices, texture, and flavor from it all meshed into one, creating a rather intricate symphony of discovery between the unknown and the known.
That being said, however… "It's surprisingly good."
That was the sentiment that seemed to settle over the entire camp.
Out of the corners of my vision, Caelora's tense shoulders and expression slumped, relief washing over them.
A faint smirk appeared on her lips.
"I'm glad… Thank you," she said before finally taking a bite of her own. She nodded in slight approval.
I turned my attention to Ivignes, who didn't seem too enthusiastic about the matter on his own, his face still impassive as he stared off into the distance, absentmindedly taking bites out of his meat.
But even then, you could tell by the fervor at which he chewed that it was, at least, somewhat enjoyable to him.
…By the way, what's up with him?
I've never seen him make such a weird expression… and why does his eyes occasionally fall on me?
Creepy. Kimochi warui.
About an hour or so went by of us silently eating our meals, the only sounds being the crackling of the campfire and the occasional hum—or whatever it was that she did—of Seraphina, signifying her enjoyment of the meal.
To think my fox would enjoy wolf meat more than fish. What an interesting twist of events.
I hadn't a big appetite, though, so I fed the rest of my roasted meat to her, which she graciously accepted. By the time we were finished, sleep had begun to pull on my eyelids, making them much heavier.
Reaching for the inner confines of my storage ring, I carefully retracted an oddly shaped item that appeared to be some type of portable device—and by releasing a faint pulse of mana, the device unfurled, revealing itself to be a dark colored, portable tent.
Seraphina quickly flew inside, her satisfaction leaking through our connection as she settled in.
I turned to do the same before shooting one last glance towards Ivignes.
"You're sure you're okay with this? Keeping watch, I mean. You had no small contribution to the battle, so it wouldn't be surprising if you were tired," I asked carefully.
There were a few beats of silence before I got a response. He looked at me, an unfathomable look nestled deep within his eyes.
"Yeah. I'm fine. You've overworked yourself. You'll need to recover your strength… for tomorrow," was all that he said.
Despite this, his eyes never left me, almost seeming to peer deep into my soul.
Unwilling to squirm uncomfortably underneath his gaze, I simply met him with an unyielding look of my own.
"Alright, I won't pry. Have a good night, the both of you."
"However…" His voice cut rose again, pausing me in my tracks. "We need to talk, you and I. In the morning, about something important."
Talk? About what…
Quieting my concerns, I merely nodded, giving one last look to Caelora—who seemed just as unaware as me—before heading into the comfortable confines of my tent. "Sure."
And like that, the night had passed uneventfully.
By the time I had woken up, daylight had been shining through the thin walls of my tent.
I yawned, feeling nothing but the dear yearning to face my dreams once more, but forced myself up, regardless.
Pushing myself out of the tent, I immediately brought a palm up to shield myself from the blinding radiance of the sun, though it did seep through my fingers.
The cold air brushed against my skin, raising gooseflesh, and only seeming to deepen my tiredness as a delicious scent wafted through the air.
"You're awake. Good morning."
Caelora was the first to greet me, seated on the logs from last night with a pot raised above the flames of the campfire. Her eyes met mine, searching. "How are you feeling?"
I sighed as I sat down, stretching out and flexing my limbs.
"Well, a lot better. If I had to say… I'm probably back to full strength. The drawbacks to that spell seem to only last a few hours. Sorry about that, by the way, and good morning to you, too. Both of you."
My attention flickered over to Ivignes, who was poised on the log. He responded without sparing a glance. "Yeah."
"It's fine. Nothing went wrong, after all," Caelora began again, taking a spoon and mixing up the contents of the pot.
"As long as everyone is alive and safe, things are fine. However… The events of yesterday do raise some questions. There are topics that must be discussed, concerning our cohort and how it will function from today onwards. But that can all wait until we at least get some food in our stomach."
I nodded, hearing this, and there was a long pause between her final word and the next action.
Ivignes stood from his seat, turning to face me, expression serious.
Just from the way he looked, I knew that regardless of whatever he was going to bring up, I would be in for a wild ride.
…And that I was.
"Crownless," he said, eyebrows furrowing, "Fight me."
***
"...What?"
I struggled to come to terms with the words I just heard, mind racing and refusing to comprehend them.
Just what does he mean by fight him? Well, actually I guess it's sort of obvious, but why should I?
The stunned silence after his declaration weighed heavier than the all-encompassing blanket of night, leaving everyone's faces laced with confusion. Even Seraphina who had just woken up and left our tent.
"Where is this coming from?" I eyed him carefully, not allowing my surprise to show.
His answering scowl was tinged with honesty.
"It's simple, really. I've mulled over it since yesterday, even considered challenging you then. But I wanted to wait and observe, allow myself to see more than the grandeur of your rank examination. And I've decided. While I can respect you as a fellow warrior, Crownless, for fighting alongside us while suffering under backlash from your spell, I refuse to fight alongside someone who is weaker than me."
Stepping out into a clearing, he turned on his heel, boots crunching on the frost-rimed grass.
"I understand that you weren't at top fighting strength yesterday… which is precisely why I'm giving you this chance. However… there's not just that. Ever since we met, this has been the one thing at the forefront of my mind. Just what kind of person is the uprising star sponsored by some fancy, noble household? I don't care much for politics, but even I can tell when the world is watching someone."
His eyes narrowed.
"The whispers Caelora and I would hear about a young boy with unusual white hair, and a fox bond. The whole spectacle of your rank examination, what with a literal Saint of the Adventurers Guild professing her personal interest in you, and finally, the fact that you're not only a quadra-elemental mage, but also a divergent—who claims to be from a humble household. Sorry, but I don't buy that story one bit. Who are you?"
"...I'm nobody," I said flatly, though the panic rising in my throat didn't quite comply with the reasoning in my mind.
Logically speaking, there's no way for him to have figured out my identity… but still. This is unexpected.
"Everything you think you're seeing is but an illusion brought about by your own fantasies. I'm not anyone important, if that's what you're suggesting."
His eyes narrowed further, doubt and refusal scintillating.
"Yeah, sure. I've heard better stories, Crownless," he scoffed, emphasizing the name.
"I recognize the look of someone carrying a burden bigger than themselves. Our lives are at stake here, and though I harbor no personal grudges towards you, I won't allow them to be spent in games of politeness. So, I'm challenging you to a duel. The terms are simple: Win, and I'll accept you. Lose…" Ivignes' golden eyes flashed with resolve, "And you'll spill it all."
I spent a few seconds weighing his proposal, at least wanting to meet him halfway, the line about carrying a burden echoing in my thoughts.
There was… a certain logic to his words. Admittedly.
I spared a quick glance at Caelora, searching for something—but only earned a slight shake of her head, telling me that this was between him and me—before turning my attention back.
"I see… So, this will act as a sort of personal examination. Very well then, though this is by no means a confession, I'll play along, so long as strength is your measure," I said, rolling my shoulders. "Though I'm not the most fond of starting a day off with bruises."
"Do well and maybe you'll finish with fewer than expected," he snapped back.
This guy…
"Standard rules? Or is there any type of restriction you'd prefer to be placed."
"None of the sort. It would be a disgrace to each other as fighters if we hold back. Use your all. The battlefield hosts no second chances."
Ivignes followed in my footsteps, giving a hardened look at Caelora. "Pr—"
…He stopped, seemed to stumble over his words at that moment, before continuing. "Caelora, may you do us the honor of being our host?"
She shuffled in her seat, spoon in hand, and expression as solemn and unreadable as ever. She took an extra second to respond.
"I guess. Just don't hurt each other too badly. We still have to eat, after all, and it'd be a shame if neither of you could… I'm especially proud about this batch. So, no real weapons. You'll use…"
Our impromptu referee glanced around our surroundings before briefly grabbing two, mundane-looking wooden sticks. I followed as she made her way over to the clearing, tossing them to us, silver eyes flickering back and forth.
"...These instead. Now then, in accordance with the standard issue rules accompanying a duel, this fight will be decided when one of you either surrenders, or no longer wields a weapon. You are permitted to use your magic, however, any real weapons will not be allowed. Lethal or particularly debilitating blows of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in an automatic loss. The fight will be quick and decisive, any longer than six minutes is considered a draw. Are there any final words?"
I half-smirked, sensing an opportunity as I watched Ivignes seemingly struggle with the prospect of using a stick.
Like old times… The weight on them isn't too bad, just need to use a bit of mana to make them more sturdy. A bit tedious, considering I have to constantly maintain a thin film shaped around it, but I'm no stranger to it.
"I'm ready when you are, just… Let's both agree to no excuses when you lose."
"Tch," he scoffed, shifting his stance, and dismissing his curiosity, settling himself. "Is this confidence or arrogance, I wonder? Show me."
Now that the moment was upon us, there were no more words.
Only the weight of silence, tension, and anticipation pressing down infinitely upon us—our futures hanging on the edge of a branch.
It felt absurd to stake so much on a duel with wooden sticks—and yet, the tension in the air said the outcome mattered more than I cared to admit.
At the very least, I was the one holding the weight of my own future in my hands, which was more than most people got in this world. For now, that was enough.
Caelora's voice cut through abruptly. "Begin!"
***
We moved at once, the clearing erupting in motion.
In mere moments, we were on each other, impromptu devices striking and reflecting off of each other as we fell into a series of back-and-forth motions, a symphony of clashing wood.
His sword carved an arc through the air. Instead of side stepping, I leaned into the strike, bringing my own up.
At the last second, he managed to block the attack, pushing off and redirecting my momentum slightly—I spun with the motion and swung my sword in a horizontal cross aimed at his torso.
The first hit missed, meanwhile the second one barely grazed him before his palm flew outwards, flames already materializing.
"Flaming bolt!"
I ducked underneath the thin arc of fire which shot out and crashed against a nearby tree, tearing a thin hole straight through it.
This guy… He's really not paying around, is he?
We broke into a series of clashes, our wooden sticks thumping against one another, broken up by the occasional spell—which were swift and light, easy to cast, but also harder to dodge due to their spontaneous nature.
Though I managed to keep up with him for quite a bit, it quickly became clear that if I allowed myself to be swept up in his motions, it would result in an instant loss.
He was undeniably the better swordsman—that much was quite obvious just from our first few exchanges.
Still, I was learning.
Ivignes seemed to understand this all too well, a split second ahead of me in that regard.
His sword swung at a low crescent, and I preemptively shifted my center of gravity in preparation for it.
It was a feint, though, and he used a burst of speed to instantly position himself just out of my immediate radius.
The wooden stick whistled as it tore through the air, striking the dead center of my body. I recoiled, wincing as the pain radiated, but didn't stop to linger on it as the next attack was already coming.
The sword blurred, moving so quickly it was almost impossible to see, and I found myself on the defensive once again.
Thankfully, I didn't need to see his weapon to defend against it.
Wind magic swirled around my limps, enhancing my speed and fluidity, meanwhile water balls coalesced in the air surrounding us
It took him a second to catch on.
A small smirk creeped into my expression, and Ivignes' eyes widened, seeing this.
"You might wanna duck." I released the spell, and the projectiles came crashing towards him.
He kicked me away and spun on his heel in one smooth motion, ready to defend against them in any way he could, but suddenly the projectiles themselves bursted, splattering on the grass and leaving it more slick than before. I conjured a wind spell at that exact moment.
My eyes flicked down to the earth beneath us, which was now soft and pliant with moisture, and I commanded it to respond.
Drawing even more from the natural moisture of its surroundings, the water froze over, materializing into sharp, thorny vines—bursting forward towards Ivignes' legs.
Flames ignited in his other palm, but I brought my sword across the horizon by then, slamming directly into his rib.
It wasn't strong enough to break anything, however it wasn't a hit you could just shrug off either, and it did what it was meant to—catch his attention for a split second.
…Or at least, that's what I assumed.
His golden eyes locked on me as a shield of flames conjured around his body, and he brought up his other hand, unleashing a maelstrom of flames that ripped apart my Ice Thorns.
I watched as they melted just as quickly as they had formed, the shock of it weighing me down for a second longer than it should have.
A spontaneous shield? Crap…
Then, he turned, sword already lunging. I stepped in, leaving no room for him, but almost received a knee to the chest in return.
We spun around each other, back to the rhythm of our clash.
Somewhere throughout it, our terrain became more and more shaped as we gradually became less hesitant to use our spells.
The nearby trees had splinters running through them, the snow on the ground was disheveled, melted in some parts, slick with ice in others, and what had once been a small clearing now looked like the aftermath of a mini battlefield.
But though our surroundings changed, the flow of battle didn't. We were still locked in to our back-to-back blows.
That flame shield is making things more difficult.
Still, all wasn't lost. In fact, each traded blow only helped to frame a picture that was clear to me from the beginning.
A crystal half-wall of ice snaked up from the ground, aimed at his feet, only it bounced futilely off of his shield—which always seemed to flash in and out for just long enough.
I grimaced, using a burst of wind to carry me towards him, my sword poised to strike his weapon itself. And instead of meeting the same conclusion… he dodged, continuing our dirge.
…I almost struggled to contain the relief I felt.
So, it's a spell different from the one Harghen used.
His is more spontaneous, with less time for it to exist, but in return, it's stronger, more potent overall. Like a parry.
It also seems like it doesn't fully cover his body either, just the general area he's focused on.
Every time I accidentally hit that thing, it feels like I'm striking pure metal instead.
But it also has a bigger drawback to it: a Forced Interval—as academics call it. Hehe.
That makes things much easier…!
"Two minutes left," Caelora's voice clearly chimed in on our battle.
Ivignes' attention seemed to perk up as she called, his eyebrows rising a fraction of an inch.
He seemed suddenly more alert in our battle now, reacting a bit faster than before.
I guess there was one other change, as well.
His footing is also diff—
I moved at the last moment, his weapon abruptly piercing the air right beside me, fast enough for me to hear it whip past my face. I stood motionless, the experience akin to a cold splash of water on my face, and sobering me up real quick.
He glared at me, taking a heavy breath in as the air seemed to suddenly shift.
"I'm done playing around, Crownless. Take this seriously or you'll lose."
"...Right," I belatedly nodded. "Let's finish this."
Dashing a few meters back, I recentered myself, concentration latching. Ivignes did the same. Shit… I got too comfortable.
This lull held for no longer than three seconds before we burst forward once again, the conclusion of this duel hanging in a delicate balance.
Our feet drummed against the ground like a melody as we neared each other.
Remembering my teachings, I reached for the hum of mana, transmogrifying the biting air itself into a thin curtain of water.
He met it head on, allowing it to fall on him for a second before vaporizing, instantly clearing his vision. Still, some of it stuck—if not to his center mass, then his boots and ankles.
My sword drew a smooth arc directly in front of him, clashing directly against his own.
For a moment, our sticks grinded against one another, and I could feel his raw strength pouring straight through my arms.
…This guy is freakishly strong. Is he even human, dammit!?
As if to echo that thought of mine, he exerted more force before pivoting, twisting with it.
I felt my weapon become loose and almost lurch from my grip.
Luckily, my spell hit him at that exact moment.
A gust of wind slammed against his left knee pit, briefly caving it in, and I took control of my stick again, wrenching it free.
Another gust mixed with some water splashed against his face from my extended palm, and he closed his eyes as a natural response, though his flames flared with a swipe of his arm, clearing the space.
Wet with my own spell, I dashed a small distance away, willing the environment to change.
The floor that was slick with water from mere moments ago instantly crystallized beneath Ivignes' boots.
His brows rose a fraction of an inch, understanding painting itself as he unleashed an expulsion of flame to quickly counter the effects of my spell.
The blast chewed through the sheet of ice at his feet, but in doing so, all of his focus—as well as his shield that conveniently sparked to life—was wrapped tight around his center mass, prepared to defend against any attacks that would come to it… in the exact way I intended.
I moved, wind hurling me forward.
The space between us vanished in a single instant. My stick snapped into position above his, arcing through the air as the moisture I'd left along the grain crystallized under my will.
And then… impact.
The half-frozen stick splintered into a spray of shards, scattering across the thin ice.
Ivignes stared at his empty hand, shoulders rising and falling with each breath. For the first time since the duel began, he stood unarmed.
I held my own at the ready for only a heartbeat longer before letting it lower.
Caelora was the first to speak, not bothering to hide her own surprise at the result of the fight.
"The duel has been decided," her clear voice cut through. "It's Crownless's victory."
She glanced across from me. "Is this result acceptable?"
He didn't respond, instead folding his arms and closing his eyes.
Talk about tense…
Easing up, I let out a breath I didn't know that I'd been holding.
I know we weren't meant to use too much mana, but… it couldn't be helped.
Things were on the line.
I'll be quite fine after a bit of rest, though I probably shouldn't say anything about that.
"You have my applause, Crownless. While I knew that you had a strategic mind and a particularly unique application of it—a reason why I approached you in the beginning—I find it quite reassuring to see it in action. Up close, might I add. I quite thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle of this duel," Caelora said, turning to me.
She took a step forward, closing the distance between us, and I took an involuntary step back, slightly uncomfortable.
"Thank you…?" The words trailed off. "Should I be thanking you? It feels like I've just passed an initiation trial, although I wasn't exactly the one who initiated our cohort, so… Wait, is that doubt I hear in your voice?"
"Not really," she shot back. "I just thought it was appropriate to congratulate the victor. Was I incorrect in my assumption?"
"No, no, it's just…" I let my gaze drift to Ivignes, who still stood in the same position, with no signs of changing—hoping she would catch on.
"Ah… I see." She seemed to catch on. "Do not worry about Ignis-Iggy, or Ivignes—you can call him either. He can be quite hotheaded, but I can assure you he's not a sore loser. He's a man of his word."
"W-what? I'm not worried!"
"Really? But by the inclination of your voice, as well as your faintly drifting gaze, I thought it may be safe to assume otherwise… or is it that you just wish to call him Iggy?"
"It's neither of those two! You're totally wrong!"
"—Hey," his voice suddenly rose, stopping us both in our back-and-forth. We turned in sync.
The man in question slowly unfolded his arms and opened his eyes, approaching me and revealing the predatory gaze of a hunter.
His footfalls seemed to crunch even louder the closer he got, building tension until finally, we stood right in front of one another.
The moment lasted for what felt like ages, neither of us even flinching, before…
"Congrats," he deadpanned, belatedly.
Confusion knit itself onto my brow. "...What?"
"You won fair and square. Your foresight and intellect far surpass my own in battle, and now I know that you are, at the very least, as strong as me. While I still have some reservations about your identity, I've agreed to deal with it. You won't be a burden to us, so… it's not too bad, I suppose," he began, "Throughout that duel, one thought constantly went through my mind—just what is this guy going to do next? And at the most important intervals, I failed to guess what would come next, thus leading to my defeat. That's a good trait to have in battle, Crownless. You've more than earned my approval."
"I… Right. Thank you, too, I suppose?"
"Don't need it." He made a motion as if waving the words out the air.
"If anything, you need to decide on what your reward is for winning. That was never properly discussed."
Reward… Reward.
I guess. I never really put too much thought into it. There's not really much I want out of this.
In a bashful way, I moved to follow his example and wave his words away. "Ah, no, that's fine. I don't—"
But just at that very moment, an idea sparked to life.
"On second thought," I began, remembering a previous thought that fluttered through my mind during the midst of yesterday's battle.
"That nickname—Ignis… It sure is catchy, isn't it?"
***