“By what method will you two conduct the trial by combat?” Felix asked, his voice stern.

“Doubles. The winner holds the loser’s life in their hands,” Yuki replied. “Do you accept these terms?”

“I accept your terms. Where shall the pair combat commence?” he asked, unbothered.

“Right here. Right now,” Yuki declared, pointing at me. “She will be my partner.”

“Dragging your guest into a fight?” Rodney scoffed, furrowing his eyebrows, turning to me. “Are you even qualified to fight in a dispute between nobles?”

As I was about to speak, Yuki interjected. “She is plenty qualified. Now choose your partner.”

“Well, your funeral,” he sighed. “If you insist.”

Rodney began to scan the crowd, seemingly searching for a specific person. Many faces eagerly awaited the honor of fighting alongside him. Finally, he settled on a grizzled snow leopard beastmen leaning against the wall, avoiding the other people.

“I heed your call,” he rumbled, leaping over the crowd. “Let us begin.”

“You are forbidden to step outside of this hall,” the royal arbiter announced, stepping forward. “You must pledge to fight according to the code of honor. Any injuries sustained shall be deemed legal.”

She materialized a contract. “Now, a drop of blood from each combatant,” she said, holding out a jeweled ceremonial knife.

“Yuki, this is the last chance—for you and your friend—to reconsider,” King Felix said sternly. “This is my final warning.”

Yuki nodded, turning to me. “I’ll take Rodney, you take care of the other guy.”

“Warrior, what is your name?” the leopard beastmen asked, his eyes looking me up and down. “Something to remember you by, before your untimely death.”

“I won’t need a sword for a small fry like you,” I said, frowning, pulling the sheath off my sword.

With a look of confusion, he started to unsheathe his sword.

“[Azure Dragon Shunpo],” I bellowed.

Appearing behind him, I slammed my right foot into his crotch.

“Nnngh?!” he gasped, staggering and doubling over, swinging his blade wildly

Kicking him to the ground, I started violently beating him over the head with the sheath of my sword, turning his face into a bloody mess.

“You’ll just be another nameless victim,” I spat, continuing my assault. “Should’ve told me your name while you had the chance.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The audience of nobles watched with a look of bemusement. The room is abuzz with hushed whispers of disbelief

Squatting down, I grabbed him by the head. By then, the light had already left his eyes. “If you had begged for mercy,” I paused. “I might’ve considered letting you go.”

No moaning, no whispering. Just the deafening silence as the gravity of the situation weighed in. “Tch, you’re no fun.”

I crushed his skull with a sickening pop, causing blood, gray matter, and pieces of his skull to splatter across the room. Blood sprayed out, soaking my robes and hand. His limp body fell to the floor with a final thud, punctuated by the horrified gasps of the onlookers. Felix watched on impassively.

“May you return to the embrace of the goddess,” I muttered, eyes flickering to Yuki’s battle.

A barrage of icicle spears then shot at Rodney with deadly precision. He laid nailed to the floor, his body immobilized by shards of ice. A thin scar traced his cheek, smudging his sweaty face with blood.

He gazed at Yuki with pained resignation. “I guess you got what you’ve always wanted,” he croaked.

Locking eyes with her, his lips slowly curled up into a smile. “But too bad—I got the last laugh.”

Her heels clacked against the marble floor and she made her way across the room to Rodney, with me trailing behind her. Yuki’s unfeeling eyes seemed to pierce into his soul.

“I already knew what you’ve done,” she stated coolly, tilting her head. “You can’t hurt me anymore.”

His smile quickly faded from his face. His voice that once exuded arrogance soon turned to pleas of desperation. “What? Wait, hold on we can tal–”

“Stop!” a shrill voice rang across the room.

‘Who is that?’ I thought. ‘That must be his mother?’

She turned to look at King Felix. “I demand you stop this battle!”

“We must not intervene, observing the ancient law,” Felix said, a face of stone, shaking his head. “Perhaps if he spent more time training, instead of flirting and harassing others...”

Rodney’s face was drained of color. Yuki summoned a thin spear of ice which pierced through his neck. He writhed on the ground, hands grasping his neck in a desperate attempt to stem the bleeding to no avail. Yuki’s foot pressed against the spear, driving it deeper. Blood leaked from the side of his lips, as the light in his eyes dimmed. With a final gurgle, his head slumped over.

“Eris, you are covered in blood,” she began. “I’ve always hated washing blood out of your clothes. Remember back then? I felt… So small.”

I gave her a small nod, giving his dead body a sharp kick, sending it flying to the other side of the room, the body sliding down the wall with a sickening squelch.

“Our business is finished here. So what do you plan on doing next?”

She shrugged, unable to meet my eyes. “I… Want to go on an adventure with you. For old times sake,” she said, tapping her index fingers together.

I pulled her into a hug, feeling the rapid rhythmic thumping of her heart, taking in the scent of her lavender shampoo.

“Hey, that tickled,” Yuki said, giggling. “You are staining my clothes with blood!”

The nobles still watched on, dumbfounded. A few of the guards hesitantly stepped forward, covering the bodies with a white sheet, carrying them out on a stretcher.

King Felix, unperturbed by the shrill screams of Rodney’s mother, motioned for someone to escort her outside. Resting his chin on the palm of his right hand, his eyes flickered between his daughter and I.

“I congratulate Princess Yuki on winning the trial by combat. The second prince has dropped out of the battle for succession earlier today, which means, by default, you are the crown princess.”

A few of the nobles began to clap tentatively. Shooting them a threatening glare, the claps soon grew louder until it echoed throughout the dining hall.

“Silence,” King Felix demanded, waving his hand over his head. “While slaying your kin to earn the right to the crown is not unheard of, I demand an answer to your cruelty.”

Her expression hardened. “You already know, father.”

Unfazed by his glare, she continued. “I will give up the throne.”

A collective gasp swept across the room.

“This will mark the end of the violent tradition of the battle for inheritance,” she proclaimed, pointing to everyone in the room. “All of you. Each and every one of you bears the blood of your kin on your hands.”

Finally, clearing my throat, I interjected. “As her master and her friend, I will take her on a journey. The palace is not where she belongs.”

With a look of mild amusement, Felix replied, “Oh? And who are you to overrule my order?”

I sent him a piercing gaze, causing the temperature of the room to seemingly drop below sub-zero. Beastmen shuddered, as King Felix remained seated on the throne, unbothered.

“Very well,” he said with a knowing look, glancing at Yuki. “I trust in my daughter's decision. She is wise beyond her years. Please, take care of her. I grant you permission to travel the world for ten years. You may come back to visit whenever you want. However, by the end of the ten year period, you must choose your path.

“Thank you, your majesty,” we chorused with a bow. “We won’t forget your kindness.”

With a bored glance, he waved his hand, scanning the room. “You are all hereby dismissed!” he bellowed, turning to his royal aide. “Have someone clean up this mess immediately.”