Some Villagers have joined us in this test. The most notable ones are Thando and Murat, since they are the louder ones. We are behind Sylvar’s house, using the archery range for the duel. The Hunters are talking quietly at a distance. I am with my parents and my group. Damn, it feels nice saying that.

“I am afraid I have to leave momentarily.” Sylvar says.

“What? Now?” I ask.

“Trust me.” Sylvar says.

“Always, Outsider.” Meuko says.

“I… Need to stay here.” Julie says.

Is she annoyed at the fact that she cannot join Sylvar? Wonder if anything progressed between them. Sylvar walks away, taking Blago with him to his smithy. Meuko seems calm at least.

“Nothing happened with these two. Both are cowards. I would have known.” Meuko says.

“Are you reading my mind? No, are you actually reading my mind with magic?” I say.

“We just know each other that long.” Meuko responds.

“Makes sense.” I say.

“Can you even focus at your problem?” Dariy says.

“I fight Eadwald, I beat Eadwald. Problem solved.” Meuko says.

“It is not that simple.” Ean says.

“It actually is. That is how test duels work. That is what happened the first time she trained us.” Meuko says.

“This is not training. They are trying to prove that you are not ready to work alone. They are not holding back.” Ean says.

“Even better. That means she will lose at her strongest.” Meuko says.

“This is Eadwald we are talking about, though. She killed an Ogre on her own.” I say.

“So did I.” Meuko says.

“Do you really think-”

“Trust me.” Meuko interrupts me.

She is not just calm. She is certain.

“A bit of a shame I cannot kill her.”

“What? No killing.” I say.

“Right.” Julie says.

“I know. I would just like to make sure they cannot go after Volt.” Meuko says.

“Love you, too. We are not here for that, though. You need to show that you are stronger than ever. That way, the Hunters will think twice before making a move against us and the Villagers feel safe with us. Eventually, we will change the Hunters’ minds as well.” I explain.

“Look at our boy, all grown up.” Ean says, mockingly removing tears from his eyes.

“Is it even the same kid that could not help in the fields at all?” Dariy mocks as well.

“You two are perfect for each other.” I say.

“Thank you.” Dariy responds.

“Of course we are.” Ean says.

They kiss.

“Disgusting. I do not know which is worse, Sylvie’s eating or this.” I say.

“Really?” Julie asks.

“What? I do not see you confidently kissing Sylvar. Embarrassed much?” I say.

Even I leave my jaw open in shock. My expression just happens to be a bit more pleasant the rest.

“Are you ready?” Eadwald says.

She is wearing full armor, even the helmet. Her sword and shield rest next to the Hunters. They are standing near the trees, while we are right next to Sylvar’s wooden bar that he uses as a marker. A position to use from where he shoots. This is like everyone is taking sides or something. I mean… It is exactly like that.

“Why are you chuckling?” Julie asks me.

“Sorry, I just remembered Travlon’s shouting when he found me and Sylvar. He said goddamn. God. It just seems funny.” I laugh.

“You are so weird.” Ean says.

“Ready.” Meuko says.

“On one.” Modesta raises his arm.

I am more worried about this fight than the one I was a part of next to Varuna. This is supposed to be a test against us. We are officially against the Hunters. I started this whole thing because I wanted to be like them. Because I wanted to be useful. How do I move on from he-

“One.” Modesta lowers his arm.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The duel begins.

Both fighters move closer to each other. Meuko does not rush this time. Instead, she puts her arms up. Eadwald goes for a low kick but Meuko deflects it with her leg. Meuko moves even closer to Eadwald, exposing her core.

It is only now I realize that Meuko… Is truly big. Eadwald was expecting the same Meuko that got beat all those months ago, during our first training. Eadwald grabs Meuko’s shoulders and tries a knee attack. That is an effective move… Normally. This is not a normal situation. Meuko just pushes Eadwald away, throwing her to the ground.

Everyone gasps at the distance Eadwald traveled, dust kicked off all around her. Before she even gets up, Meuko covers the ground in a few seconds. Meuko grabs Eadwald with one arm and goes for an uppercut with the other. Eadwald blocks with both hands but growls from the pain. She took the full impact of that punch, even with the armor. Eadwald punches Meuko’s nose, causing her to stumble back.

Meuko does not even wipe the blood away. No smile, no hatred, nothing. Just pure determination. Not even the usual, primal scream. Eadwald spins around and elbows Meuko’s leg. Before Meuko can react, Eadwald spins around again. This time, she elbows Meuko’s ribs. Meuko takes that opportunity to make a swipe at her opponent.

The sound of metal bending and Eadwald shouting has everyone wondering how this fight could end. The armor covering the right shoulder is ruined, sent flying away along with Eadwald by Meuko’s destructive punch. The second spin made Meuko’s retaliatory strike even stronger, enhancing its momentum.

“You should use magic.” Meuko growls.

She might be confident but I know what I saw. She was aiming for the head. Eadwald managed to absorb the impact in a different part of her body, even though she barely had any time to react.

“No reason.” Eadwald says.

Meuko rushes Eadwald, making a stomping attack with her left leg. Eadwald drops on the ground and rolls away. Meuko was expecting that and is already changing that attack to an elbow strike. Eadwald deflects and tries to swipe Meuko’s legs. Meuko just takes the attack, barely flinching. She grabs Eadwald’s helmet, throwing it away. Eadwald uppercuts Meuko’s ribs twice.

Meuko suddenly switches her stance, lowering her body and using her shoulders to push Eadwald away. Eadwald instinctively jumps backward, thinking that Meuko will try to have a close quarters encounter. Instead, Meuko goes back to her original stance, making a swipe with her legs.

Eadwald drops on the ground and gets kicked in the ribs before she can defend. Meuko then grabs her by the waist and shoulder and throws her away. When did she get this good? Training separately means I get to be surprised like this.

“Still want to do this without magic?” Meuko snarls.

Eadwald gets sent to a tree, the impact splintering part of the wood. Meuko is clearly dominating this time. Eadwald shouts, releasing golden magical particles around her. Her eyes glow blue and her hair turn to white, floating around her. She extends her hand, sending multiple missiles towards Meuko.

“What are you do-”

Meuko’s primal scream interrupts my shout. Just before the missiles hit her, Meuko surrounds herself with her fire magic, creating a weird pulse. Meuko unleashes a short range magical wave with some sort of distortion, completely destroying Eadwald’s magical attack. Meuko then rushes her opponent with everything she has.

Eadwald conjures a blue line, connecting her left arm with her shield. The attached object flies towards Eadwald’s arm and as soon as she grabs it… She imbues it with as much magic as she can. Meuko does not stop. They are both going all out.

The shield glows with magic, almost creating a golden and blue field around it. Eadwald then uses magic around her legs to push herself forward, giving more power to her attack. She almost flies towards Meuko. On the other side, Meuko uses her signature move, growing larger. She raises her hands, attempting to grab the shield.

I activate my eye, wanting to witness this fight with my new abilities.

Seeing this standoff with my other eye makes it kind of weird. I see both of their magical sources glowing brightly. I assume that their screams can be heard all over the Village. Eadwald used her magic to elevate herself above Meuko, thinking that she could gain the upper hand. Instead, Meuko just grew in size in order to meet her.

The ground around them flies off, sending patches of dirt everywhere. Magic muscles meet magic metal in a deafening show of strength. All eyes are locked on this duel, unsure of the result. I really want Meuko to win this. Come on, sis.

The standoff ends abruptly. Meuko makes half a spin with her body towards the left side, pulling the shield closer. She uses her right hand to control the shield and her left hand to push Eadwald back to the tree. Before Eadwald can react, Meuko propels herself forward with a magic pulse. She uses the shield to make a direct attack just above Eadwald’s head, completely destroying the tree.

For a few moments, there is no movement. Except the falling tree, of course. It lands with a violent cracking sound, leaves flying everywhere. Eadwald is the one most shocked.

“I never stood a chance.” Eadwald says.

“Using the sword would be a different story.” Meuko says, lowering the shield to the ground.

“I guess Blago will have some more repairing to do.” I say.

Picking up the helmet, I offer it to Eadwald. She begrudgingly accepts it. Everyone starts swarming Meuko, giving congratulations and asking about her size.

“Yes, I can carry even more stuff.” “No, I do not sleep like this. Why would I?”

Steam starts coming off Meuko. As soon as she notices it, she drops her transformation. Much to everyone’s disapproval. Julie immediately starts treating both fighters, quickly making their injuries disappear. Eadwald then returns to the other Hunters.

“That was reckless.” I say.

“I won.” Meuko says.

“You did not have to take all her attacks. You are almost out of magic, I can tell.” I show my eye.

“Maybe you should stop using it, since it hurts.” Julie says.

“True.” I say, stopping the magic properties.

“I beat her. With her magic and her shield.” Meuko says.

“You got stronger.” I say.

“A lot stronger.” Julie adds.

“You wanted to show strength, I did that. You make the plans, I bring the overwhelming power. I think that works.” Meuko explains.

“Do you think they will want to test Sylvar and Vol?” Julie asks.

“I am here, you know.” I say.

“Whatever.” Julie responds.

“Are you mad about what I said with you and Sylvar? Come on, you know I love you both.” I say.

“In front of everyone?” Julie says.

“That was insensitive.” Ean slaps the back of my head.

“Important things...” Meuko reminds everyone.

“Right. Until they say something… I got nothing.” I say.

Sylvar comes back, just as the Hunters join us. Alayne extends his hands towards the Villagers.

“Who is next?” Alayne asks.

“I believe it is my turn, honorable Leader.” Sylvar says.

“Wanted a chance to try fighting with one hand. Would have been a pleasure to fight the boy but you will have to do.” Modesta says.

“What are the rules?” Sylvar asks.

“I am not sure if we should keep-”

“Surely you feel ready for such a role in the Village. Right, Volter?” Alayne growls, interrupting me.

This is not going the way I wanted.

“You can use your new weapons and magic. And… I will do the same. No Blight Dogs.” Modesta says, summoning his staff.

He has not used it in combat. Ever. Wait a minute. New weapons? I look at Sylvar and realize why he left. Blago gave him two axes. This is getting interesting.

I am so conflicted right now. I just want to go hide somewhere. At the same time, I want to see everything happening around here. Such a horrible day.

“Then… You both get a few minutes of preparation, same as Meuko and Eadwald.” Alayne says.

Another duel it is.

I wonder what Sylvar’s training was. I wonder what he gained.