A hand gripped Elem’s shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts. He turned to see his father stand besides him. Master Ardan was displaying his mellow, trademarked smile.

“Can I have a word, Elem?”

Elem nodded and followed his father outside the hall and into the Master’s study. The room had a simple hardwood interior with a broad window overlooking both the meditation garden and the school’s practice grounds. Its walls were covered with bookshelves and in its center stood a modest desk backed by an enormous marble statue of a Minotaur.

Master Ardan gestured for Elem to take a seat before stepping towards the window himself.

“Looking back, the past can be funny,” Ardan chuckled as he folded his hands behind his back. “When I was your age. I was disappointed to connect with a Minotaur. It was my father’s Summon and I wanted to write my own destiny, not repeat his.

Elem had never heard the story before. In his eyes, the Minotaur was the perfect Summon. How could his father ever be unhappy with a Minotaur?

“I even cried that night. I was exhausted, having spent hours taming my first Summon. I associated the Summon more with my father than with myself. And yet, I grew to appreciate the Minotaur. You don’t always get what you expect or desire but embracing what’s yours is what makes someone a strong person.”

Elem stared at the large bull-headed statue. His father’s approach was rather obvious. He’d seen Elem pout during the feast and was now trying to encourage him. He was touched by his father’s efforts but at the same time couldn’t dispel his disappointment this easily.

“I was just hoping for something above the Common Class,” Elem said quietly. “Just a Summon with more potential.”

“The class system is nonsense!” Master Ardan grunted. “Every Summon has strengths and weaknesses. Some of the strongest duelists ever used Common Class Summons and many Legendary Class Summons are not used properly. The Kappa is a lucky and extremely versatile encounter. You should be happier than you are now.”

The Master stepped away from the window and sat down at his desk, now facing Elem. His face had morphed from a patient smile to a stern, hard expression.

“I know you don’t want to admit it, but you are comparing yourself to your peers. You are worried that your Summon is not as special or powerful as Bertrand’s Griffin or Aja’s Bicorn. But do you think true Summoners worry about others in such a way?”

Master Ardan didn’t give his son time to respond to the question.

“No they don’t!” he yelled. “Those others are not in your way. Only one person can stop you from progressing and that is you. You must remember that Elem.”

Elem flushed. His father was right, he was being a brat. For years, he had dreamed of attaining a Summon and when he finally got one, he was acting ungrateful.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Tarjun, one of Sekuheim’s instructors, peaked his head into the study.

“Master. There’s a-“

“This is not a good time Tarjun,'' Master Ardan barked.

“I apologize but you have a challenger.”

“At this time? Tell him to come back tomorrow. You know we don’t accept challenges at this hour. You know better than this!”

“Master,” Tarjun bowed his head. His voice was anxious, Elem had never seen the instructor act this way. “Trust me Master, you’ll want to see this man.”

Master Ardan grumbled before getting to his feet and motioning for Elem to follow him.

“He is at the gate. We haven’t allowed him inside the building. Figured you want to speak with him before anyone else catches wind of this.”

----------------------------------------

The challenger waited under Sekuheim’s arched gate. He was almost fully dressed in black, wearing a dark trench coat over a messy suit. His long white hair hung over his face, almost fully obstructing his features.

“My old friend,” the man said. “Are you surprised to see me?”

Elem gave his father a questioning look. He was certain he’d never seen the challenger before and by the looks of it, neither had his father.

Master Ardan spoke patiently, “We don’t take challenges at this hour. You should come back tomorrow.”

“Oh Master. Is this how short your memory is?”

The man stepped closer so that Sekuheim’s lanterns illuminated his face, revealing his piercing gray eyes and a collection of deep scars.

“Ferran…” Master Ardan gasped.

“I am glad you remember me now. Why do you look surprised to see me?”

Elem looked at his father. Ferran? This couldn’t be. He wasn’t supposed to be here. His father had defeated the man in a duel and Ferran hadn’t survived.

Years ago, Ferran had raged through the Continent like a thunderstorm. He’d challenge school masters and other prominent duelists to antiquated ‘Classic Duels’, matches that went on until one of the battlers died. They were not illegal when performed by two consenting duelists but were nevertheless widely regarded as taboo in modern society.

“Of course you are surprised. You thought you disposed of me didn’t you?” Ferran let out a low chuckle. “But you didn't get away with it that easily.”

Ferran’s piercing eyes darted up and down Sekuheim’s master with disdain.

“It’s time that we settle this score. I challenge you to a rematch, a Classic Duel. However this time, it will be in front of your entire school and you won’t be able to lie your way out. What do you say, coward?”

Elem couldn’t believe the nerves of the challenger. He’d seen challengers trying to get under his father’s skin but none of them had addressed him with such disrespect.

“You better take that back! The Master of the Sekuheim school deserves respect,” Elem growled. He stepped towards Ferran but his father quickly pulled him back.

“Silence Elem!”

Ferran only seemed amused by the whole debacle.

“I wonder what you told the boy Ardan. Does he not know his father is a deceitful killer?”

Elem flushed with anger. Calling his father a coward was one thing, but a killer? That was inexcusable. Still, Ardan ignored the man’s insult. The Master remained as calm as ever, treating Ferran the same as he did any other challenger.

“I accept your challenge for a Classic Duel. Come back here tomorrow at noon, and I will face you in our great hall. We can finish this once and for all.”