I have decided to remove this chapter as this does not fit with the current flow of the story. I never would've uploaded it if I was in the right mind, but fever and not wanting to skip the upload led to this. Fortunately, it was a small chapter. I will not delete this as people have already read this so if anyone in the future wants to read this may as well. I will incorporate this part with better cohesion in the future. Thank you for reading!

57 Duel to Death

Her departure was postponed by a day, at Diantha’s request. Diantha wanted her to stay another day. She, of course, couldn’t say no to her.

Iris sighed and rolled on her bed. I needed to get up, except it was outrageously comfortable and smelled like Diantha. Her hand crept toward the warm pillow where Diantha was lying a few minutes ago—now, she was in the bathroom. Iris felt she was doing something wrong when she hugged Diantha’s pillow, smelled it, and sighed. One more day, and she would have to go.

“Iris,” Iris perked up, and then she felt lazy again. After an audaciously lazy pause, she turned. Diantha was in her robe; she probably forgot her clothes. “What were you doing?” She sounded curious.

“I don’t know... The pillow smells like you, and…” Iris stopped. She even was doing? She sighed. “I don’t know... I want to lay here for the rest of the day." She turned to the other side. Seeing Diantha like that made her feel something, but the feeling left her grasp before she could hold it. “I don’t know."

“You might be under the weather,” Diantha whispered as she rummaged through the cupboard. “You should rest; I’ll check if you have a fever."

Fever? She was sick. She was sick of her laziness. You’re at level 6! Her mind screamed at her. Iris could only sigh. Of course, she was Level 6 lazy. Gone were the days when she was a proud mage; today, she wishes nothing more than to sleep and, if possible, have Diantha hug her tightly.

She slid off the bed and conjured the clothes, along with undergarments. They were uncomfortable. She would get used to them. They were far from the most uncomfortable thing. Her lack of hands was a greater discomfort.

“I’m tired—” She created a small circle, ran the tiniest bit of lightning through her spine, and clenched her jaw. Most people would not react to this little pain; she was weaker than most people. “No longer tired,” Iris smirked as she walked out.

She found Ilona in the hall along with an unknown species. He sat on the opposite, clearly shaken by Ilona’s grand presence. “Lady Ilona?” Iris called, half curious about the person she saw for the first time and half hoping the map late by another day.

“Have a seat. He is Riealle, escort of Count Griesha,” Iris observed the person. He was short, even shorter than her—No! No! She was tall, and this person was of average height. Normal, since she was tall. “And this is..." Ilona began to introduce Iris.

“Iris, Level 6 caster, Lightning Lord,” the person hissed at her title. The voice was a mix of high-pitched slither, and a growl. He was blue, with snake-like eyes—black orbs boring at her soul. He breathed out red and hissed out a slim and long tongue.

The claw rattled. Hostile. Iris instinctively stepped back as the weaver’s orb twisted into the air. “Who is it?” It was a monster—otherwise, it wouldn’t be hostile to total strangers. Her sword was still in Diantha’s room. She could deal with him without it.

“He’s a Ritu, a native of Emberstone Conclaves. Riealle?” Ilona questioned—as confused by his hostility as Iris.

“I challenged you to a duel to death!” He summoned thunder around his body, and his claws glimmered yellow.

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“I accept. We shall fight on the training ground,” Iris turned. “Miss maid, can you guide him to the training ground? I shall be there once I have fetched my sword.”

Iris returned as Diantha was leaving her room. “What happened?"

“A duel to death."

“Who?”

“Rieal or something, I forgot his name."

“Count’s attendant. He came here with Erard Griesha. I was on my way to meet them right now,” Diantha said, her brows twisting into a frown.

“You’ll only be greeting the count. The other one is dead,” Iris replied as she picked up the sword. “I shall honour every duel—though if he proves himself worthy of being spared, I shall show him kindness."

She and Diantha arrived at the training grounds of the knights. It was behind the mansion and surrounded by the knights’ accommodations.

Iris got a better look at Ritu. It had a blue, bushy, thick tail. There were nine black rings at breaches caged his tail. He was hunched, red, slithery tongue hissed in and out as he stared at her. He was wearing a grey clock.

Iris stood at a distance from Riealle. “Iris, Level 6 Caster."

“Lightning Lord,” Riealle hissed, “Riealle, Level 4 Assassin,"

Iris choked on her breath and coughed. “L-level 4?” Why perform suicide? She heard Hecate’s cheers for her from the side. Ianthe greeted Ilona, then shifted her attention to her.

“I am curious as to why you’re performing suicide." Iris looked around and noted the man, who was just like Riealle but super tall, as he bowed in front of Diantha.

“Is that your father?” Iris asked.

“No… Ger is our Lord, a Tera." A servant and master species. Was that the guy who forced Riealle into the duel? “Did he force you to duel?” In that case, she would probably kill him despite this being a duel.

Riealle tilted their heads and asked, “Why would our Lord do that? Is that a distraction tactic?"

“Regardless, shall we begin?” Iris asked. If it was Riealle’s free will, then she could kill him.

“We shall…” Rielle slammed its tale on the concrete floor, and the rings lit up. Iris summoned her Weaver’s orb and shot into the open area. "7-star lightning rod formation,” Iris cringed.

The thread lit up and vanished. She planned to hold back, for there was no need to torture this person—except she had a feeling something awful was about to happen. Riealle was far too confident to fight for a level 4.

“Chrono,” it muttered. A lightning spirit? No…? !! Time spirit. Iris’s body shivered as the tension took form between them. She could not describe it—a blur, no—she was incapable of seeing it, comprehending its form.

“Is it the hour of restitution?” It said, in three voices, in three languages, that somehow hurt her brain.

“For the sacrifice of the previous lightning Lord, you’re bound to help me once,” Riealle said, staring directly at the time.

“That is so,” the time spirit sighed. “Tell us the help that you desire; it shall not be anything that outweighs your current worth,” Iris’s mind reeled. Previous Lightning Lord? Does that mean it was a real position that she was holding? What did that implicate? Why did the system never give her the information regarding that?

“Excuse me,” Iris interrupted. “Can you tell me what Lightning Lord is? Is it not just a title?"

“It is a title. King is a title—the one who sits on the throne and rules dons the title of king. If you say, Emperor of Laks, the title still remains a title, yet now it is more specific, directed at a distinguished human. So is Lightning Lord, a title, a meaningful one, you’re unworthy of one, yet only one promising enough to rule the Lightning realm."

“She dies here,” Riealle hissed, “only I shall have the title."

“Is that why you have called—are you demanding assistance for the victory?” The time spirit mused.

“Be forewarned, time spirit, even if your death shall devolve the world of its natural order." Iris did not know what the time spirit did—did it control time? “If you stand between me and the duel, I shall cleave you along with the time itself."

“I am aware of your nature, Little Lightning Lord. Rest assured, I am Chrono. From time immemorial, I have not taken part in worldly quarrels, nor shall I today. The only assistance I shall provide is that of what value Riealle holds. Restitution for the sacrifice of the previous Lightning Lord."

“I won’t interrupt your conversation any longer." Iris turned to Ilona and then decided to reach her. “Lady Ilona?"

“A time spirit is the weakest of all spirits; you can even say worthless—yet, He is respected; for their neutrality. I am no more aware of the situation than you are."

“Still a higher being than me, I cannot help but wonder what Riealle’s planning—unless he believes the Creed of equality in Dual till death can elevate his worth equal to mine."

“It cannot, and what he will ask of Chrono is quite twisted—you will probably meet your end at Ritu’s hand if you’re not careful."

“Please don’t underestimate me, Lady Ilona." Iris turned and looked at the tiny guy. “I have yet to fight a serious battle in this world. I have come to appreciate living without fighting, but I am very capable of not losing to someone’s borrowed strength.” The light spirit vanished, and Iris took that as her cue to take the position.