Right now I am sitting in the room of Jacob starfall. Now that name might not sound the most impressive or the most intimidating but this man is the second strongest figure in this fort. He is entirely a level below the commander, but then again figures at that level of strength are quite rare.

Still, even then he is still as strong as a troop leader. I really have to explain how exactly cultivation works someday. You would be surprised at just how many people tend to not even know the basics.

Anyway, to get back to the point the difference between the commanders and this man's room is quite stark. The first major difference would be that the room is much larger in the first place. Even looking at the flashy room it is quite possible to tell that the man is a guest here. Everything in the room is meant to intimidate the people who visit. Something that a person that considers this place his home wouldn't be doing.

All through the room you can see spoils of wars.

Weapons, claws, teeth are just a few of the things that I have seen spread across the room in glass cases. It is almost like the man is trying to prove to the world that he is a capable hunter. Looking at his trophies, I almost forget to look at the man himself.

He is the only man in this fort that will be able to allow me into the frozen peak. That is something that even the commander cannot do. When the commander had given up control of my security to the nobles, he had essentially split that duty to all the noble families in the peak.

He is the only man that can make all the noble families in the frozen peak agree to free me from my imprisonment. No other person, not even among the nobles will be able to achieve that.

For all of his achievements and his present position I have to admit that the man actually does not look particularly impressive. If you were to place him in a group and tell me to find him, I might actually not be able to do so. Still, the man must be quite capable. After all the nobles would be idiots if they did not send a pretty capable figure especially if he is weaker than the commander by that much. Just the other nobles would end up killing him if he was weak.

Still a power difference does exist between this man and the commander. The commander can slay this man with a swing of his sword if he did wish to do so. In a manner we both are in pretty similar situations. We both are in enemy territories, with only the power and reputation of our respective organisation acting as our shields. The only difference is that the commander needs a look to tear me to pieces and it will take him a move to do the same to the man in front of me.

Well, I will have to explain the situation between the nobles and the commoners of this particular nation some other time. It will take too long and I have to focus on dealing with this man. He shall not be as forgiving towards any perceived rudeness like the commander had been. On top of that, with the seven temple incident it would be wise to be a bit careful among the nobles.

"I greet you, young master Jacob.", I speak bowing down in the appropriate manner. This time I have practiced the move very diligently. I am quite fond of my head remaining exactly where it is.

"Well, it has taken you long enough to appear here, Guard.", he replies. "You are supposed to greet the representative of the nobles within a day of reaching to the fortress. You would be wary not to break rules like that with my brethren. They tend to take this seriously."

"We have had many things to consider, master Jacob.", I reply. "The commander has given me strict orders. I would rather not speak too much on it."

Well, the commander has given no such instructions but I am not going to get involved in the politics of this place. It is not like he will be confirming this with the commander anyways. The man would be more than keen to stay away from the eyes of the commander.

"Well, a lesser noble would have taken offense already for such behaviour, Guard.", he replies. "Regardless, with what business have you come here if it is not to discuss about the commander. I do hope that it is something important."

"Well, I would like to know why exactly I am being imprisoned.", I speak feeling that I had been a bit too direct. The man seems to be reasonable at the very least. He does not have the legendary arrogance that the nobles here are supposed to have. That gives me hope about my neck yet.

"Well, we have reason to worry for your safety.", speaks the noble. "Your people have managed to Provoke a lot of people here, Guard. With the seven temples incident, right now it is not particularly safe for you to roam in the frozen peak. We have reason to believe that somebody might try and attack you. We cannot predict which faction might take such an action and there are too many factions for us to actually ward against. Even the commander cannot claim that this place is completely in his control. Any of the more extreme factions would kill you very happily if they got the chance."

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"Well, that still doesn't explain why exactly I am being restricted to a room. It is not like placing us in a restricted space where all our enemies know that we are there is a wise idea. Especially when they are the very people meant guard us.", I speak, really pushing my luck. "I am sure that there must be a better way to do this."

"Well if you can enlighten me on that other way I will certainly consider it. I cannot imagine how else will we ensure you safety. We already have given up on two of our best soldiers in your protection, Guard.", he replies. "If your people want to visit the peak, you will require at least a couple more guards. With the hunt approaching it is not a wise idea."

"Well, I will still have to request that I be allowed into the frozen peak. I am sure that you need not send more guards to just escort me. I am pretty strong myself.", I request the man. "Maybe we can come to a deal regarding it. After all, I am a formation mage."

"Well, if you were to die in the city, it would cause too much damage to my reputation.", he replies. "I specifically had to take responsibility of your protection, Guard. If you want to leave the fort and die, I have no problem but in the fort, your death is more costly than anything that you will be able to offer to me."

"Well, it is quite important that I have to enter into the market place, young master. Without it we shall not have a working airship and that is just a bit too risky at the moment.", I reply. "What would you say that I have to do to be allowed into the fortress."

"Well, if it is that vital, I guess that we can figure out something.", he replies. "I will be frank with you, captain. I have no interest in whether you die or not. If anything I prefer you dead at the moment. You and your people are nothing but distractions to my people at a time we should be focused. My only problem is that my reputation is at the moment linked to your safety. Figure out a method of breaking that link and I will give you whatever permission that you need."

I finally get the man where I need him to be. Well, I must say that Trevor certainly knows what he is doing. Most of my actions today have been done on the basis of his advice and they have been working correctly up till now at the very least. That is the reason that I am being so direct today. Because Trevor told me to do so. (Certainly not because I actually don't know how to lick the feet of the nobles.)

"How about this, young master. Your main worry is that I might not be able to protect myself if and when such an attack were to happen.", I speak, finally getting to the point. "How would it be if I were to prove that I will be able to reasonably handle any attack on me."

"Well, I will be frank. Just proving it to me will not be enough, Guard. You will have to show it to the entirety of the frozen peak.", he replies. "Then you can do whatever you want. It will be your life at risk, not mine."

"Well, I guess my solution will work out perfectly then.", I reply, before I can be interrupted. "What I propose is quite simple, I want to undergo a duel with your best soldier. You can pick the date and the time."

"Well, that would certainly handle this mess quite nicely. Do you understand what you are proposing though.", he speaks. "A duel is a pretty serious matter among us. A duel's results are not forgotten easily. If you do end up losing, I can assure you that nobody among the starfall's and its allies will forget or let you forget about it."

"Well, I do understand it quite well, young master. We do understand the importance that a duel has. If I do end up defeating your soldier, do you think that the result will be enough to prove my strength.", I reply. I hope that I am projecting confidence.

"Well, it certainly will be enough, but there is one thing that I have to confirm before I take such an drastic action.", he replies.

As he speaks the world suddenly seems to constrict around me, crushing me to the ground. Thankfully, I was sitting in the chair or I was sure that I would have fallen to the ground.

"Well, you certainly are more resilient than the fools that they usually send to this place.", he speaks. "Let's see till where will you be able...."

As he speaks, the pressure on me intensified like a constricting python. I can feel my breathes becoming harder to take. I think that I am on the ground, though I can't feel anything at the moment.

And still the pressure grew. Within a few moments I was sure that my breath would be squeezed out of my lungs. It had already begun to pain, a squeezing pain which felt as if my muscles were being pulled out of my body.

Finally, even the pain disappeared and all that was left was a void, one which I remember vaguely like a bad dream. Yet like a nightmare, I remember the feeling of terror very vividly.

(The pain was so great even my log came out half coherent. I had to later rework on all of it to make it more coherent. It is a weird feeling too to touch my thoughts already recorded and change them.

It took me quite a while too, though I am sure that others would be able to do it quicker.)

It took an eternity for the pressure to disappear. It started slowly, with first feeling returning to me.

By then, I was ready to even welcome the pain that I was feeling at the moment. Slowly even the pain disappeared and the pressure finally disappeared.

"Well, I am surprised that you managed to hold so well, Guard. Most of your kind die within a few moments.", he speaks, his voice echoing in my head. "Be thankful that my honour forces me to keep you alive. If it were not so, you would be ground into paste already. I accept your duel. You shall fight my strongest soldier tomorrow at noon then."

After this I honestly do not even remember how I made my way back to my room. I remember it like a haze. Well, at the very least I made my way back to this room. For a few moments there, I was not sure if that would be the case.