The celebration showed no signs of ending.
Music echoed through the grand halls of the Nocturne Estate.
Warriors laughed.
Children ran between tables.
Servants hurried back and forth carrying roasted beasts, fresh bread, wine, and fruit.
For the first time in what felt like forever...
Peace filled the Third Order.
Riven leaned against one of the marble pillars, quietly watching the festivities.
A mug rested loosely in his hand.
He wasn't much of a drinker.
But tonight...
He allowed himself to enjoy the moment.
A sudden tap landed on his shoulder.
He turned.
Standing behind him was a young man around his age.
Well-built.
Short red hair.
Sharp emerald eyes.
Unlike many of the warriors attending, his posture was elegant.
Calm.
Controlled.
His attire was simple yet refined, embroidered with silver threads that formed the crest of a wolf surrounded by five stars.
House Velmora.
One of the Five Great Noble Houses of the Third Order.
If House Veilbourne represented the Crown...
House Nocturne was the Sword...
House Duskryn the Eyes...
House Umbraxis the Shield...
Then House Velmora had always been known as the Mind.
Kings ruled.
Generals fought.
But House Velmora planned the wars before they were ever fought.
For generations, they had produced the kingdom's finest tacticians, governors, diplomats, advisers, and military commanders.
The young man smiled before extending his hand.
"Zoldick Velmora."
"Heir to House Velmora."
"It is an honor to finally meet the hero of the Third."
Riven smiled.
He accepted the handshake.
"Just Riven."
Their grips tightened.
Neither attempted to overpower the other.
Instead...
It felt like two warriors measuring one another.
"I've wanted to meet you ever since the war."
Zoldick admitted.
"I've heard stories."
"The boy who slew Rigor Valen."
"The warrior who survived Lord Aurelion."
"The Fracture."
Riven scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"They make me sound cooler than I actually am."
"Oh?"
Zoldick chuckled.
"I believe they're underselling you."
Before Riven could answer...
Zoldick's expression became serious.
"There is something I wish to ask."
"What is it?"
Zoldick took one step back.
Then bowed respectfully.
"Riven Thorn."
"Would you honor me with a duel?"
...
Silence.
The music stopped.
Nearby conversations faded.
Almost every noble turned toward them.
Nyss blinked.
Soren nearly dropped his drink.
Lira's eyes widened.
Even Diana looked over from where she held baby Fenrick.
On the royal platform...
Nyxara's ears twitched.
Then...
A grin slowly spread across her face.
Finally.
She stood.
"Now this..."
"...is real entertainment."
Everyone turned toward their Queen.
Nyxara laughed.
"We'll finally see it."
"Which house truly produces the superior warrior."
"The Sword..."
"Or the Mind."
A chuckle echoed from the nobles.
"Obviously the Mind."
Everyone looked toward the speaker.
Vadok Velmora.
Patriarch of House Velmora.
A distinguished man with streaks of silver in his dark hair calmly sipped his wine.
"Our family has produced the kingdom's greatest generals for nearly three centuries."
"Brains defeat brawn."
A deep laugh answered him.
Eryx.
The Head of House Nocturne.
He folded his muscular arms.
"And yet..."
"When enemies stand before the gates..."
"They call for the Sword."
Several Nocturne warriors laughed proudly.
Vadok merely smiled.
"We'll see."
Eryx looked toward the two young men.
"Then let's settle it properly."
An hour later...
The estate's training arena overflowed with spectators.
Nobles filled the upper platforms.
Soldiers gathered below.
Servants crowded every available balcony.
Even Queen Nyxara chose to watch from the front row.
At the center...
Two figures stepped onto the stone arena.
Riven.
And Zoldick.
Without a word...
Both removed their shirts.
A chorus of murmurs spread through the audience.
Riven's physique had changed dramatically since the war.
Broad shoulders.
Defined chest.
Firm abdominal muscles.
Lean arms packed with hardened muscle earned through endless battle rather than luxury.
His body wasn't merely impressive.
It told the story of survival.
Every scar.
Every healed wound.
Every inch had been forged through blood.
Then everyone's attention shifted toward Zoldick.
Several whistles escaped the audience.
Unlike Riven's battle-forged physique...
Zoldick possessed the perfectly conditioned body of a lifelong martial warrior.
Every muscle was balanced.
Every movement effortless.
His frame wasn't excessively large.
It was efficient.
Powerful.
Years of disciplined training were evident at a single glance.
Soren scratched his head.
"...He's built like a monster."
Lira nodded absentmindedly.
"...No kidding."
Eryx stepped into the center.
His deep voice echoed throughout the arena.
"The rules are simple."
"No claws."
"No fangs."
"No aura techniques."
"No weapons."
"Only your fists."
"The duel ends when one fighter is unable to continue."
He looked at Riven.
"Understood?"
Riven nodded.
"Yeah."
Eryx looked toward Zoldick.
"And you?"
Zoldick smiled.
"Perfectly."
Eryx raised his hand.
"Begin."
The instant Eryx's hand fell
BOOM!
The arena floor exploded beneath their feet.
Both warriors vanished.
Their fists met in the very center of the ring.
A deafening crack echoed throughout the estate.
The impact alone sent a powerful gust of wind sweeping across the audience.
Several nobles instinctively shielded their faces.
Dust rolled across the stone.
Neither yielded.
Neither stepped back.
For a single heartbeat...
They remained locked together.
Then
Both slid backward at the same time.
Perfectly balanced.
Perfectly matched.
A murmur spread through the spectators.
"They're equal..."
"No..."
An elder narrowed his eyes.
"They're testing one another."
Riven lowered his stance.
His breathing remained calm.
His blue, silver and black eyes never left Zoldick.
The Velmora heir smiled.
"So the stories were true."
"I was hoping they were exaggerated."
Riven grinned.
"Sorry to disappoint."
Without another word
Zoldick moved first.
His steps were almost impossible to follow.
No unnecessary motion.
No wasted energy.
He closed the distance in an instant.
A straight punch.
Riven tilted his head.
The fist skimmed past his cheek.
A left hook followed immediately.
Blocked.
An elbow.
Avoided.
A knee.
Countered.
The exchange lasted barely three seconds.
Yet more than twenty blows had already been traded.
Gasps erupted throughout the arena.
"So fast..."
"I can't even follow them."
"They're incresible."
Eryx folded his arms.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"He isn't chasing strength."
"He's chasing efficiency."
Vadok Velmora nodded.
"As expected."
"The Nocturnes forge warriors."
"The Velmoras forge martial artists."
In the arena...
Neither spoke.
Each movement flowed naturally into the next.
Riven's style had changed.
Gone was the reckless young wolf who charged through attacks.
Gone was the boy who relied solely on instinct and endurance.
Now...
He watched.
He waited.
Every dodge was measured.
Every counter came only when an opening appeared.
Across from him...
Zoldick mirrored that same philosophy.
Neither wasted movement.
Neither fought with emotion.
It felt less like watching two warriors...
And more like watching two grandmasters playing a deadly game.
Nyxara leaned forward in her seat.
Her smile widened.
"Interesting..."
Soren scratched his head.
"They're barely moving."
Lira didn't even blink.
"That's because every movement matters."
BOOM!
Another collision.
This time their forearms crashed together.
The shockwave split the dust between them.
Both immediately separated.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each clash echoed louder than the last.
Stone cracked beneath their feet.
Tiny fractures spread across the arena floor.
Not because of overwhelming strength...
But because every strike landed with perfect precision.
Riven smiled wider.
His heartbeat quickened.
Something deep inside his core stirred.
Not rage.
Not bloodlust.
Excitement.
For perhaps the first time...
He wasn't fighting to survive.
He wasn't fighting to protect anyone.
He wasn't fighting because he had no choice.
He was fighting simply because he loved the challenge.
Across from him...
Zoldick laughed.
"So that's it."
"I finally understand."
Riven tilted his head.
"Understand what?"
"The Queen wasn't exaggerating."
"The Fracture..."
"...really is fun to fight."
Riven chuckled.
"I was about to say the same thing."
The two lowered their stances once more.
Silence returned to the arena.
Neither rushed.
Neither blinked.
The spectators unknowingly held their breath.
Because everyone present felt it.
The real duel...
Was only just beginning.