Nora had decided to follow me on my trip to the appointed place, the are decided was an open space inside the forest on the outskirts, I had decided to meet Len half an hour after her own arrival to avoid unnecessary suspicion. Approaching the village gates I caught sight of Len wincing while in the grasp of a rather old looking Erze, the man seemed rather high class due to some silken clothing, a cart being pulled by a horse which seemed filled of others, all maintaining a dead expression, they were simply looking down with their head lowered as if they were asleep, however their eyes were clearly open, however no signs of life could be seen. Marked upon each of the prisoners was a red crest which looked like a winged serpent which was coiled into a ring with the forked tongue entering the centre, these people were slaves.
Nora and I quickly approached the man that had seem to have caught Len and was guiding her to the back of the cart.
“Excuse me, may I ask what it is you’re doing to this girl?”
Nora had gestured for me to remain quiet while she questioned the man, he initially gave a ‘tsk’ sound as he clicked his tongue and squinted at the girl in front of him who didn’t seem particularly special.
“What do you want girl? I fail to see how my business is any concern of yours.”
He wasn’t wrong, we hadn’t discussed the terms of our duel and Len was his slave, however I wasn’t going to let it end this way, as I slowly reached for the blade on Nora’s back that I had handed her earlier, Nora slapped away my hand and continued.
“That would be the case had your slave not challenged my own to a duel, I came hoping to discuss the terms with you.”
The man looked at Nora quizzically and then diverted his gaze to me, a sly expression as if he was planning something.
“Ah, is that so? My little Dar’Len does like to fight with others.”
As he said this he had gripped Len’s arm as if to inflict harm and smiled at Nora, this man was a disgrace, Nora equally gave an angry expression which she quickly supressed before continuing.
“Surely as a fellow trader we can come to some sort of agreement.”
The man continued to smile wider, it was an undignified look, seeing this alone wanted me to release his head from his shoulders.
“Certainly, how about this, slave it to fight without the use of magic, weapons are allowed as well as harm. My Dar’Len is only small after all, whoever wins the duel gets possession of the others slave, all authority included.”
Nora looked at the man closer, before nodding.
“The Rules of the bout? How about whoever lays the first solid strike is the winner?”
“Simple…yes, that seems appropriate, although I wouldn’t mind watching the fight continue until one was unable to defend themselves, blood adds excitement after all.”
This man was the very image of a slave trader one would expect, shameless and uneducated in lessons of war and battle.
“I suppose you have a place in mind?”
Nora nodded before addressing the guards, after being allowed to leave we approached the clearing, a few minutes passed after entering the forest until we made it.
The trader had left his cart at the village exit, fully expecting to depart with new goods(me). He had held Len’s unusually large hammer on the front of the cart as he couldn’t carry it and before departure had addressed Len to carry it. As slaves weren’t allowed to harm their masters he wasn’t worried of Len causing any trouble. When we made it to our destination, completely in silence, Len started doing stretches on one side of the clearing.
I approached Nora who handed me my blade, the ban on magic obviously had no effect for me, the trader obviously didn’t know his rules weren’t as advantageous as he had thought. Upon drawing my sword and handing the scabbard to Nora, I stood on a point opposite Len and took a stance. My feet were both planted with my legs spread shoulder length apart while I lightly grasped my longsword on my hip.
I stayed that way for a couple of minutes, I collected my breathing with my eyes closed and made efforts to focus my attention entirely on my opponent. It would be expected that even though Len couldn’t intentionally throw the match due to slave restrictions and her own warrior code, therefore I had no time to mess around.
Opposite me I saw Len swing her huge metal slab onto her shoulder as she took a relaxed stance, however her leg looked cocked, against the ground, I got a vague idea of her initial plan.
Signalling to Nora that we were ready, she flicked a Tin coin, the fight was to begin upon its landing. As it spun in the air I focused on the faint whistle produced from its rotation as it cut the air, focusing on when the noise ceased. Len seemed to be doing the same, however due to her affinity to air she seemed to achieve this with ease, neither of us had broke our eye contact to check the coin. As soon as the noise ended the fight began.
Len instantly drew wind towards her foot and launched at full speed towards me, she had an inhuman speed, as she flew at me she swung her mallet towards my head, anticipating the move I quickly side stepped as her weapon was slammed into the ground, causing it to shake as a small crater appeared underneath the hammer, as I side stepped I swung my blade upwards towards her stomach, however she nimbly used the handle of her hammer to rotate her body around it to gather momentum as she launched a leg towards me face. Seeing this I quickly guarded myself by putting my left arm up and braced it with my right as her leg collided with it, sending me through the air as I quickly positioned myself and used my arm to flip myself upright while in the air.
During this Len had already pulled her hammer from the ground as if it weighed nothing at all and had used magic to once again advance towards me at an inhuman rate, she caught up before I landed and was about to swing her hammer down upon my exposed chest, however while rotating through the air I had deceptively swung my blade around and was already bringing the back of my blade towards her neck. She quickly released her weapon and threw it towards to ground to use the reactive force to allow herself to back flip and avoid the blade.
As we both landed, Len had an ecstatic grin across her face as she wiped some blood from it after my blade had left a small scratch, from the side we could hear Len’s merchant screaming commands after noticing I wasn’t an amateur, however he was ignored.
Without any words being said Len charged as I took a low stance, as she came closer I swung my blade towards her arm at a speed which couldn’t possibly have been seen, as if hearing the blade slice the wind however Len quickly reacted and glided over the blade planted both her legs into the handle of her hammer causing it to flip from the floor into the air as she landed and grabbed it, without wasting time she instantly swung her hammer down towards me with her wind magic supporting her, I quickly brought up my blade to protect myself as she hammer collided directly with it, launching me into the air, I hadn’t expected her to recover so fast so I was taken somewhat by surprise, instantly reacting she launched herself into the air after me, she had been looking somewhat exhausted from the constant use of magic as she approached me.
No one however, could contest me in swordsmanship, anticipating her approach she swung her hammer alongside a pulse of magical energy, although it could be seen it was easy to predict its location. Reacting, I nimbly used my hand with superhuman speed due to years of training and combat to push against her hammer and ‘climb’ it, as I grabbed onto the to the edge of the metal slab, before Len could even react to what I had been doing, I spun myself around and planted my foot into her jaw, continuing the motion I stood upon her hammer and leapt from it, swinging my sword down in my complete motion, as Len had fully summersaulted in the air and exposed her neck, I planted the back of my blade into it and sent her hurtling towards the ground, she crashed into it, a large impact caused the rock to fly in all directions, narrowly avoiding Nora and the trader, as I landed I quickly regained my footing and ran towards the collapsed Len, perhaps I had gone too far.
When I arrived, Len was sprawled across the ground next to where her oversized weapon had fallen, shortly after she began to stir as she rose and quickly gathered that the duel was over, I had won. Instantly she smirked and took a deep bow.
“I knew it, you’re strong.”
The honesty in the girl could be felt through the chilling winds as she retrieved her weapon.
“I must admit I was surprised too at your skill. You seem to be well trained.”
She nodded and looked a little disappointed.
“I can tell you were still holding back Mr. you also used the back of your blade and didn’t go on the offensive much until the end, but yeah! Big bro taught me how to fight! I think he would be happy to duel with you, although I think you would lose.”
She wasn’t wrong, a lot of the duel was me evading her attacks before the end where I decided to end it, fighting with shades and my previous training had always taught me to never underestimate your opponent and always try to gauge their level of skill while possible, if a strike was to occur, you should always try to make it your last. However, it seemed interesting that a girl with her finesse and combat aptitude would hold her brother in such high regard, he must be some sort of monster.
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“Perhaps one day I will get to meet him, if so I would be happy to duel him, I still feel I haven’t fully repaid you for your help.”
Len quickly brushed off her red shorts as sweat penetrated her red locks and shirt, exposing nothing however due to the linen wraps underneath, although I wasn’t particularly interested, she grinned an incredibly innocent smile but seemed somewhat thankful.
“Good! Big bro Kinth will be happy!”
Before I could respond, the lady who had decided to remain silent suddenly spoke.
“Kinth, surely she cannot me Dar’Kinth!”
A little shocked at the sudden outburst, I questioned Erebus promptly.
“Why? If he someone of significance.”
Erebus suddenly let out a gasp of air as if shocked.
“Dar’Kinth is the leader of the Draconi of Dracon Peak, they are a race of fierce fighters who rate respect and values solely on a person’s skill in combat, most official dealings are resolved through combat. Normally the winner takes the spoils, being the leader, he is the Peaks best fighter! Somehow I didn’t connect the two.”
Huh, he seemed quite the celebrity, although the story made sense with Dar’Len’s personality. She seemed to be a muscle head of sorts.
“Kurt, I must advise we travel with this girl to her brother and ask him to join our cause.”
I was slightly taken aback.
“Surely if he is the leader, he couldn’t simply leave his post to assist us.”
“Perhaps, although I would consider this to be quite important, he will be an asset, honestly, I don’t believe you could beat him in a duel like this one, his skills really are said to be amongst one of the most skilled.”
Hearing this I returned to current affairs and addressed Len who had regained her breath and was wiping the sweat with her tattered shirt.
“Len, do you think I could meet your brother if we took you home.”
Len first looked a little confused before smiling and nodding enthusiastically.
That was settled then, Dracon Peak would be the next destination.
During this exchange, Nora had entered a heated discussion with the slave trader.
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NORA
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This red-haired girl Kurt was going to fight was clearly a Draconi, aren’t these meant to be born fighters…is Kurt capable of fighting this girl?
We had just agreed with the slave trader who owned Dar’Len to a duel if Kurt didn’t use magic, this wasn’t an issue as he was incapable of doing so already.
As we left the gates to the village, I quickly noticed my surroundings, the air felt much fresher and the lush green foliage was beautiful, sceneries are meant to be appreciated this way, doing so is only possible because this time I’m not fearing for my life, the sun is up after all. We quickly made it to the clearing where the duel was going to take place, Kurt seemed as composed as he usually was, although he was fighting this girl who had an incredibly large weapon, it was larger than her, almost reaching two meters with the slab of metal on the end probably weighing more than the girl alone, not to mention she was a Draconi.
After we had made it Kurt suddenly approached me and gestured to his sword of my back, I wanted to warn him that she was much stronger than she looked, however Kurt’s expression made me feel such a warning wasn’t necessary. I simply handed over the sword as Kurt drew it and handed back the sheath, giving some small thanks.
The other trader was already sat on the ground after covering it with a straw roll. He was happily eating some dried meat he had picked up from his carriage and didn’t seem to expect any negative outcome. I hated these sorts of people, I remember a similar man who used to visit my village with an assortment of meats and pelts, often my father would be seen heaving a heated discussion on price. They all seemed like swindlers, mum always told me that although to be cautious of men, those types of men should just be avoided entirely. Of course, in this instance it was unavoidable.
I procured a tin coin and watched on, after both had taken stances I flipped it, neither looked at the coin, I assumed they hadn’t realised I flipped it, however as son as it landed they began the duel.
Throughout the fight I couldn’t believe how Kurt was fighting toe-to-toe…no…he didn’t seem exhausted or to be struggling in the slightest, almost as if testing his opponent at first. I couldn’t help but look on in awe, I’d seen him fight before, but not like this. I noticed the Draconi girl was smirking throughout the fight, she seemed to be really enjoying it, Kurt was doing the same, it was a little scary, they were going at each other seriously at this stage, how could they be having so much fun.
Suddenly the girl had effortlessly flipped over her hammer that was embedded in the floor, it almost appeared weightless as she handled it. Kurt was suddenly thrown into the air but he still looked composed, I was focusing on him at this stage and his expression suddenly changed, it looked like he became serious…just what has he been through to become so skilled in combat, I couldn’t compare.
As the Draconi girl quickly followed him up I followed intensely with my eyes, suddenly I felt a strange sense of determination. I wanted to follow Kurt and assist him, I couldn’t fall behind, I had a strange fiery sensation in my belly that made me involuntarily clench my fists and grit my teeth, I wanted Kurt to win, the person I looked up to couldn’t lose here. As the girl approached and swung her hammer I couldn’t believe what happened next, I lost sight of Kurt for a fraction of a second and suddenly he had disarmed the girl and was above her with the back of his sword planted into her neck, sending her flying into the ground before her weapon with a huge crash. I couldn’t see what happened? Kurt can’t use magic, how did he move so fast?
Looking over, the merchant was equally awestruck, his expression slowly changed to anger as he looked to me.
“Y..Y…You cheated!”
What…what was this man saying, how shameless.
“There’s no way he could beat Dar’Len without magic, he surely used magic just then, no human I know moves that fast!”
Looking at the man I couldn’t contain my own anger, how could he soil their duel, cheating? Kurt would never cheat!
“You saw it right? There was no chant, no magi-particle manipulation.”
“Then…then explain what just happened!!!”
I couldn’t explain, after all, I didn’t know. I couldn’t see how Kurt moved, all I know is that was his own physical skill, no magic had been used.
“You filthy cheat! You should teach your shitty slaves some honour, to cheat in a duel, I would have him hung! I expect some compensation.”
This man was beyond me, although throughout the conversation I could feel the earlier fire in my stomach change from awe to anger in a moment, I began to cast a ball of compressed magic at the man, I raised my hand, as he saw this motion he drew back quickly and began to shout. Suddenly Kurt was beside me with his hand upon my own.
“No magic, I simply used my own skill.”
Dar’Len could be seen in the background with an expression of pure shame, she was looking at her master, he had clearly ruined the atmosphere the duel had produced and was now accusing her opponent of cheating, of course she seemed to know better.
“Skill?!! What would a slave human know, much less owned by this frail little girl, clearly someone so weak couldn’t teach you to figh-“
Suddenly Kurt had moved to the man with his sword placed to his throat, his expression was fierce, similar to when he saw his friend imitated by the shade on the first night I met him.
“It was rather similar to this…correct? Perhaps you stop embarrassing yourself and pay what you owe.”
The man seemed to look on in anger before conceding as he grabbed Dar’Len and threw her over.
“Fine, take her! I acknowledge your ownership.”
He began to recite the words.
“As my sword is brandished, as my word speak as law, may the magic inside me granted by the lord, the creators, bear witness to the transfer of contract, I give this slave to another, may all responsibility fall upon them, may the slave follow the bidding as if law, if there is failure to comply, may it be struck down where it stands. Nyx, Erebus, Surya, as my witness, may this thing become theirs.”
Suddenly I could see a faint glow on the crest on Dar’Len, she seemed to wince in pain slightly as her previous master quickly fled. It seemed the duel was over.
Kurt was looking at me with his sword out, we stood like that for a few minutes.
“Uh…Nora, don’t you need to hold onto this.”
I could feel my face going red, I’d seen Kurt in a lot of ways, however the moment he stood between me and that wretched man and resolved the scenario. He looked strong. I couldn’t help but feel somewhat happy, he seemed to react after the man had insulted me, maybe it was just my imagination, I couldn’t help but giggle as I took the sword, he really was a unique person.
Forgetting the events of the duel and the questions I had surrounding his past, I followed him and our new companion Dar’Len, back towards the town for Lerz ceremony.
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KURT
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As we returned to the village, there wasn’t much of note, after the duel Erebus had some expressed her surprise at my skill, to me it only felt natural though, I had trained for years before coming here and after arriving I was faced with countless fights to survive, I needed at least this much, while walking here Nora had remained strangely quiet. It may have been my imagination, but I feel like her gaze was upon me the entire way back…she was probably hungry, or angry.
As night fell the town became rather lively, fortunately no Shades had come that night, it remained rather quiet, the ceremony went without problems. Slaves could watch from the back as a huge bonfire was lit in the centre, it seemed like most traditions did this, in this world it was used as a symbol to separate the souls of the dead from the shades, to ensure upon their departure they had a light to follow.
I tried asking Dar’Len, however she said there wasn’t any such tradition for the Draconi, apparently, they just burn their dead purely to stop disease, and to remove any possibility of gem stones that would cause further issue.
While talking I discussed my plan of going to her town at Draconi Peak and meeting her brother, to which she hastily agreed, apparently, she was pleased to be returning. Unmy had been with Nora with tears streaming down her face, she had a strong air of maturity about her, she never stopped smiling and had no more outbursts since the night I brought Lerz back, she simply lit the torch and threw it upon the bonfire. Only us 4 remained until the fires had completely gone out. Me, Nora and Len returned first and decided to go straight to sleep, respectfully giving Unmy as much time as she needed.
Len was given a bed in Nora’s room, she protested at first, asking for either her own room or she would steal mine, a few words involving ‘I’ and ‘won’ typically convinced her fast, she conceded. It became easily apparent that the girl only saw me as a punching bag, I’m not even convinced she understood the separation of genders.
Everybody slept soundly that night, Erebus had said a few words in respect to Lerz but otherwise remained silent, I was to start my training as soon as we began our travels to Draconi Peak.
Upon waking up, Nora had already been saying her goodbyes to Unmy, Unmy simply handed me a huge pack full of clothes and dry rations that would last us some time, although phones weren’t available in this world, we had promised to contact her at some stage in the future, I fully intended to keep the promise. We departed that same morning to catch as much daylight as possible, leaving the village was no problem, although the lack of carriage meant that Nora had to lay Len’s ridiculous weapon on a cart and spend a couple of hours pulling it out the gate. As soon as we made it through Nora collapsed on the floor and insisted on being carried, Len picked her up after putting her weapon across her back, horizontally, vertically would’ve been taller than her and impossible, it was held but some rather heavy-duty straps that seemed to be made of sound weird elastic material, obviously it was very strong.
Seeing this was quite funny, Nora looked a little disappointed as she was picked up by then, I wasn’t carrying her though, she probably weighs more than she cares to admit, and I wasn’t her carer.
As we left the village none of us looked back, I finally had a clear goal, to find companions that could help me take on Erebus’ sister. Strangely, during the chant made by the merchant after the duel, Erebus had informed me that Nyx, was her sister, hence being used in the chant and she was unsure who Surya was.
After gathering ourselves for the long road ahead to Draconi peak, we set off.