Michael

Two weeks later peace returned to the castle with the departure of House Grim. It had been stressful, with so many feasts and tournaments, so Michael was happy to be back to his normal routine. Right now, he was at martial training, sitting in a corner letting his mana circulate through his body. Like a stream, the mana flowed. Everywhere he opened up a path the energy pressed to get in and only his will could regulate the amount entering the path. He still was neither good nor efficient with it and Geron had told him before that it would probably take years until he was reasonably good at it but as in everything, Michael tried his best to excel at it.

He liked mana training; it was challenging and at the same time gave him time to let his mind wander. Like the problem with the prisoner, he hadn't tried to talk to her again since he had given her the clothing but with most of the nobility and their guests having left, he would probably try again soon.

He breathed slowly when he was disturbed by Geron, "Alright time is up, back to physical training." Michael opened his eyes and got back on his feet. He took his training sword off the wall and took a look around. The training court was filled to the brim with knights and squires, Michael had seen the twins and Matthias earlier, but he couldn't make them out in the crowd. After the tournaments had concluded the motivation to become better had risen dramatically and Michael liked the atmosphere of improvement that it gave the training yard.

"Okay we will go into a new drill," Geron said, while Michael still looked over the yard. Then he saw the spot where the barbarian girl was cuffed to the pole and his blood began to boil. The twins were there and up to no good as usual, hitting her with wooden swords, her hands were tied over her head again. Michael was already moving before he fully knew what was happening, charging across the yard, fluently passing by other people. He could hear Geron call out behind him, but he didn't listen.

"Stop," he yelled as they turned around, he brushed by them before they could react and stood between the girl and his brothers. Harlov grinned at him, "Look at that, the monster defends the savage, what a story."

"Leave," Michael growled at him. "She has done nothing, there is no reason to be so mean to her."

"There is a really good reason actually because you care and she has no rights," Harlov laughed, and the hatred that Michael had felt blunting in the last couple of months reignited in an instant.

"You call me a monster, but your heart is as black as a starless night."

"Oh, little brother, no need to become personal here. What will you do? You can't always be here. We know your daily routine." Michael shook his head; how could anyone be so evil for no reason? They accuse him of being a demon child while no one seems to question these two cruel assholes. "Father will not allow you to do this."

"Do you really think Father cares what happens with some savage", Harlov laughed at him. "He didn't even bother to make sure she doesn't freeze, isn't that a kind of mean as well?"

An audience had formed, and Michael could see Geron standing there as well, watching the confrontation. Michael knew he couldn't interfere as long as it was a fight between kids and Michael didn't walk away but he didn't plan to de-escalate at all. Michael raised his wooden sword and pointed at Harlov challenging him. "Then I have to stop you myself, right?" Harlov looked at him and started laughing, "You?"

"Yes me, I challenge you to a duel!"

Harlov looked smug but still asked, "You want me to fight a little child?" With the theatrics written on his face, he just tried to avoid looking like someone to beat up someone smaller than him.

"Are you scared?" Michael growled; he didn't believe that a childish dare like this would rile his brother, but it did give him a good reason to accept this duel and that is everything he was looking for anyway.

"Hm, I normally wouldn't do this, but I frankly can't have this accusation stand, can I? I accept your challenge." Harlov looked satisfied and Michael was already looking forward to wiping that smirk off his face.

The other people quickly made space for them, some of them grumbling annoyed at their interrupted training, others interested in the duel. Geron stepped next to Michael and said, "Didn't expect that, why are you so focused on helping this ... girl." Michael could hear the indifference towards the barbarian girl and looked at his knight with interest. "Why do you think it is okay to treat another person like this?

Geron shrugged, "They attack the kingdom, so they don't deserve anything different. I don't agree with kicking and hitting prisoners without a reason, but it could be worse."

"Huh, didn't expect that. Well, I think they deserved to be attacked and killed in battle for attacking the kingdom, even to be imprisoned but I don't think a person should own another person or treat them like shit just because they believe in another god. Idas taught us to stand together and protect humanity, this is about that." Geron listened to him and then nodded before he spoke again, "I understand, then you just have to win, to give weight to your words."

"Got any tips on how I can manage that?"

"Rely on your basics and augmenting, you need to wear him down. You have started your training earlier than they have; they only started a year before you so the difference shouldn't be too big. Also, I heard that they are not that diligent when it comes to training. You need to bridge the gap in the physical aspect with your mana, be careful when he uses his as he has a stronger body to enhance but your mana well should be stronger. Good luck, milord."

"Thank you, I will manage," Michael turned around and entered the ring, the oldest knight present was standing in the middle and Harlov and Michael approached him. "I will be the judge on his fight, the winner will be who can bring the enemy to yield or make him unable to continue combat. If I determine that this duel is concluded, I will also call it off early to prevent unnecessary injury."

"Anything that isn't allowed," Michael asked the judge.

"Don't try to kill each other, nothing else. Anything else?"

Both of them shook their head. "Good then take your positions."

Michael breathed in deeply trying to center himself and turned towards Harlov. They were both carrying only a sword and were dressed in training clothes. Michael hadn't been drilled on shields yet, so it wouldn't help him anyway.

"Begin!"

Harlov charged Michael instantly, striking him from above. Michael raised his sword and blocked the strike; he ached under the force and funneled more mana into his limbs. He parried two more heavy strikes and jumped back, while doing that Harlov attacked him again, managing to graze him with his longer reach. Gritting his teeth Michael went on the offensive striking at the left side of his brother, planning to draw his sword in an awkward position.

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Harlov grinned as he blocked the strike with his arm and swung at Michael's head, he went down with sparks in front of his eyes. This is not a real fight with sharp weapons, I can't fight like it is one, Michael thought while he got back on his feet. "Haha, where is the confidence you had before", Harlov taunted him, he didn't give Michael time to recover and charged him again; striking once, twice, and a third time, Michael blocked each strike, his muscles strained under the stress.

I can't keep fighting like this, he is stronger than me, his thoughts raced as he tried to come up with a solution. I am not going to go down so easily, he thought to himself, trying to reset his mind and focus.

The next strike came, and he wanted to block again but changed his mind and dodged back. Harlov followed him and struck again, Michael dodged again and frowned. He is really predictable, that's why I blocked every strike. He kept dodging a couple more wide swings and moved around his brother. "And asked me if I am scared? Stay and fight you coward, running away is against the rules," Harlov yelled at him frustrated.

What did he say? Against the rules? A grin formed on Michael's face, and he stood still when Harlov came at him again. The strike was coming from the left side, Michael made a step back at the last moment, closed his eyes, and snapped his fingers while pushing in as much mana as possible. He could see the flash through his closed eyes for the moment it lasted and heard Harlov scream shortly after, "ARGH!"

Michael reopened his eyes and saw Harlov staggering back one hand rubbing his eyes, still groaning. Michael took the opportunity and began his assault. The first strike was against the sword-wielding hand, forcing him to drop it with a wail. The next followed against his knee and he went down. He tried to get up again, but Michael struck him in the stomach and he went back down on one knee. Michael raised his sword to let it fall on his kneeling brother when the judge interjected, "Enough! Lord Harlov is not able to continue the fight without his weapon and eyesight. Lord Michael wins the duel." Michael stopped his strike and took a step back.

"That is bullshit," Oska yelled and walked into the ring. "Using magic in a duel, do you have no honor!"

Michael looked at him emotionless while rubbing his head where he had been hit and said, "Can't remember magic being prohibited in the duel."

"Pff, that should be obvious, but I should have not expected anything different but cheap tricks from someone like you!" Harlov was still groaning on the ground, Sir Dittrich kneeling next to him.

Michael scoffed at him and asked the audience loudly, "Was it a cheap trick to use magic? To use the full extent of my abilities when my opponent didn't care to make a rule about it, even though he knew about my magic. To use what I can with an enemy that is bigger and stronger than me?"

The present people began to whisper to each other differing opinions being thrown around when finally, the authoritarian voice of the judge silenced them, "It was no different than using aura, or a mana sword. I have to say though, that it wasn't the knightliest move, akin to throwing sand in the eyes of your enemy but it is neither dishonorable nor cowardly in a fight against a physically superior foe. I also want to note that Lord Michael here displayed better martial skills and restraint in the usage of stamina and mana. I do believe that if the fight would have continued, Lord Harlov would have run out of mana in a minute or two and then the fight would have been over anyway."

Many of the knights nodded in understanding or agreement. Harlov finally got back to his feet and seemingly began seeing something again. He was fuming and made a step towards Michael picking up his sword, "You little demon." He was stopped by the judge, "Milord, you have lost the duel fairly. Please refrain from doing anything to stain your honor."

He growled like an animal and then turned around stomping away, followed by his brother and their knights. The crowd dispersed with some of the knights coming over to Michael to congratulate him. Geron waited for the others to have their turn before he approached him. "Good job, nice movements and good idea with the light. I knew you showed promise," he praised him with a smile.

"It was more on Harlov's predictability than me being good."

"Don't sell yourself short, you fought with structure and what Harlov did seemed like a pretty reasonable level for a little more than one year of training with no experience. Of course, I saw things that we have to touch upon," the knight dismissed his answer.

Michael thanked him and walked over to the barbarian girl, he had no way to talk to her, so he just made sure, that the guards lowered her chains back to the comfortable level and told them to not change it again.

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Barbarian Girl

That boy seems really weird, she thought to herself, earlier today she had been annoyed by two brats, and the weird boy, Michael was his name she believed had chased them away. She was thankful for his help as she just wanted to be left alone but she had no clue what his deal was and that bothered her. Not like she could ask him anyway. It was evening now, and most people had cleared out so she was left with two guards and one guy that was training on the other side of the yard.

A door opened and she could see the dwarf walking through it he was carrying a wooden stool and came straight over to her. She looked around but couldn't see the boy anywhere.

"May the mother be with you," he greeted her. She narrowed her eyes and stared at him, a dwarf who knew their language and their culture.

"I have spoken with Lord Michael and heard what happened, he wanted me to tell you he is sorry for your treatment, but he will try to keep an eye on it." The dwarf looked at her for any sign of a reaction, and finally, she nodded, just to get this over with.

"He also asked me to find a way for you to communicate, so I will work on extending a combat sign language that I have learned in the northeast into a full sign language if you are willing to learn it." She thought about it but saw no reason to learn anything if she was probably gonna be dead in a couple of weeks anyway, so she shook her head.

The dwarf sighed and looked at her with pity, she hated every moment of it and growled at him to the best of her abilities. "Oh, I am sorry." He sat there in silence for a minute until he asked with a heavy voice, "You didn't bite off your own tongue, right?" She stared at him and violently shook her head. She would never do that; how could she ever speak to the mother and the father with no voice for them to hear her?

"I thought as much." The silence extended for another minute when he finally looked her in the eyes and continued, "I have lived with a clan that follows your beliefs before. I don't claim to be an expert, but I can say that I know your ways. If you let me teach you sign language, the mother and father might see your efforts and accept it as prayers too, the oath sign is also more important than the spoken word so why should it be different here?"

She looked at him with confusion, he knew about the oath sign? Then he knew back when the boy brought her clothing that she wasn't bound but trusted that she would keep her word anyway?

"What do you say? Do you want to try it?"

She thought about it. In her culture trying and struggling was seen as a good thing even when one fails but just giving up disgraces oneself, that is the reason she is still fighting every time someone pokes at her and why she would never have bitten her tongue off to kill herself. Would the mother and the father accept prayers made without a word?

She nodded slowly, she had to try, and the argument of the dwarf made sense. He smiled at her warmly, she had no aversion against the dwarf, he seemed like a good person and wasn't a human of the kingdom anyway, so no reason to hate him as well.

"My name is Solon Gremson by the way, soon we will figure out a way for you to tell me your name. I would also like to teach you Remurian, the language of the kingdom if that is alright? You will spend a lot of time here and I am sure it would be easier for you if you understood people instead of being beaten until you understand what they want."

The girl nodded, knowing their language would probably help her escape later so she accepted his tutelage without much thought. She was looking forward to doing something except sitting around and fighting with annoying people.

"You know, Lord Michael also wants to learn sign language and your language to be able to talk to you."

She frowned and raised her hands, trying to signal confusion as to why this boy even cared. The dwarf seemed to understand what she wanted because he laughed and said, "He doesn't like the principle of slavery and treating people one is responsible for badly. Also, he is very curious, so I believe he wants to ask you about your culture and people."

This boy is really weird, she thought.