Chapter 41: The northern lion. (6) *Redux*

"Berrit Penton. Knight-in-training of the Barong Duchy. Please enlighten me."

With Quinn taken care of, the Barong estate sent out their next knight, a pair of blue eyes moving somewhat anxiously behind the visor. Gabriel’s gaze slid to the side for a moment before he raised his sword and returned the greeting.

"Gabriel, no last name. Knight-in—training of Alice De Vritara. Please take care of me."

Normally, this would be the time for the knights to charge at each other to kick off the duel. In the previous match, Gabriel stood still and waited for his opponent to approach him so that he could spot an opening. But this time, the roles were reversed. Berrit remained in place while Gabriel rushed forward, his blade lowered to the ground.

Rather than charge ahead when he saw that Gabriel had changed his tactic, Berrit maintained his defensive stance. He only had one purpose in this match, draw it out for as long as possible before he lost. A bit behind and to the side of the stage, the remaining knights of the Barong estate were busy changing their armour.

Well, rather than changing, enhancing was probably better. The chain mail and leather armour they would normally wear underneath to shore up the openings in their armour, they were quickly putting them on. In actual combat, they would always wear them, but this was just a set of sparring matches so they hadn’t expected anyone to actual aim for those spots, much less be able to hit them accurately in the heat of battle. But Gabriel had done just that so they had to quickly adapt, but they would need time to don their armour, so Berrit was sent out to stall for time.

Berrit held his sword in a very standard stance, gripping it firmly with both hands in front of his chest, the tip angled towards Gabriel. If he recalled correctly then Lawrence called it the longpoint stance.

Still, Gabriel raised his blade and struck, Berrit quickly twisting his grip so that he could stab down to meet the attack. Gabriel mimicked Trisha’s earlier actions, using his other arm to push against the one that held the blade so that he could abruptly move the blade aside to circumvent Berrit’s defense.

But even though he managed to avoid the sword, the end-result was the same. He missed the small gap in the metal skirt that he was aiming for, a few sparks scattering as blade met metal and bounced off. Berrit saw an opening and quickly whacked the side of his pommel to once again angle his sword towards Gabriel and push it forward.

Gabriel leaned his torso sideways in an awkward manner to dodge, ensuring that the attack only hit his waist lightly before sliding along the leather armour. He grabbed the weapon with his free arm and and gave it a twist, Berrit’s arm naturally spinning slightly since he was still grasping the blade.

His right elbow was laid bare as a result, the small gap in the armour calling to Gabriel. He quickly raised the blade and stabbed it into the gap, once again stopping when he felt cloth and skin. Berrit pulled his blade free while Gabriel pulled back his own sword, the force of the pull slightly bruising Gabriel’s waist because he held the sword so close.

Berrit’s eyes looked a bit frustrated as he looked down at his own arm, but he still switched the sword over to his left hand and placed the other behind his back. That was technically an attack that would have taken his arm due to his blunder so his pride wouldn’t allow him to keep fighting with it.

He quickly stepped back, but Gabriel immediately pursued him and attacked. Berrit naturally wanted to block, but he had ‘lost’ his dominant hand so he couldn’t muster enough force and his weapon was pushed aside. Gabriel strode forward and only had to angle his blade down, the tip slipping into the gap behind Berrit’s knee. Arm and leg taken, in single combat this meant death.

"I have lost. Thank you for the mercy."

Berrit clutched his weapon with both hands again and raised it in front of his face. He bought less time than he had hoped, but at least it seemed like they had managed to suit up the next fighter so she should be able to buy the rest of the needed time. Gabriel stepped back to the starting point, his breathing slow and drawn out as he observed the Barong knights.

——

Trisha managed three and he just took down his second so they were up to five wins now. But there were still five more enemies to go… Conserving energy by just going for the gaps would no longer work because they finally suited up properly.

"Ilia Handal. Knight-in-training of the Barong estate. Please take care of me.

Brown eyes, a mixture of nervousness and anticipation lurking within them. Five more enemies to go, the toughest ones probably saved for last.

"Gabriel, no last name. Knight-in-training of Alice De Vritara. Please take care of me."

The greeting was a moment to catch his breath, he would need every lungful he could get. He couldn’t allow himself to tire out. Alice asked for victory so he would present her with victory.

Huff

Puff

Breath after breath. Just like during training. Fill the lungs and spread it to the rest of the body. lower the sword and wait, let them come. Rushing wastes energy, the damage was already done when the first enemy got to fully don their armour so any further rushing was a waste of breath.

Her sword came from above and fell towards his shoulder. The same move as the first enemy. Was she trying to show off her armour, was she trying to show that she was better? Well, whatever, it was a chance nonetheless.

His blade rose and pushed aside her attack. A loud clank from the side as a sword struck the ground, a shift in perspective as he stepped forward and angled his blade. The side of her blade could be felt against his gauntlets as he pushed his sword forward. Had he messed up the deflect so that it ended up being closer than expected? Hmm, that would get him kil… punished by his master if it happened in the past.

The blade still entered the gap in her armpit, but as he feared, there was resistance. The clinking of small metal rings that caught the tip of the blade, the soft sensation of flesh hidden away behind the curtain. Yeah, this wasn’t going to work any longer.

An impact from the side. Because the deflect ended up being closer than expected, Ilia was quick to raise he sword slightly and push it against his waist. It wasn’t anything close to a slash, she simply raised her blade and placed it against his waist. And then she pushed with all her might.

Beneath the ribs, the nice and soft part that contained oh-so many organs. A sting of dull pain that rose from within. The damage was minimal because he quickly stepped aside, but the pain was still there, a little gnat on his thoughts.

"The same armour is covering the gap on my knees, elbows, groin, and even my neck. Gabriel, you need to adapt."

What was the point in saying something so obvious? The enemy changed so the strategy had to change. There was no invincible strategy, only a flexible strategist, his master often said that.

"Right."

Right. Gaps, closed, they were off the table. Fight them normally like Trisha did? Possible, but there was a high likelihood that he would become exhausted right around the last two or three guys.

Woosh.

A light whoosh from the side. She had pulled back her blade and swung again. Right. The battle had to end before he wasted too much energy so it would seem as if a bit of viciousness was the best option. Duck down and charge forward, the distance had to be closed.

"We too, must adapt and learn."

Ah, she really spoke quite a lot, was she trying to distract him? But her words weren’t unfounded. She used her other arm to push down on the swinging one, abruptly lowering her attack to match his duck. Go lower, dodge out of the way… either way he would lose the chance and give her some space to work with.

Raise his blade to block? No, with his bent knees and lowered position it would be hard to get the proper force needed to block and still advance. Ah well, no choice then.

Dull pain. Sharp pain. One followed the other as the flat side of the blade struck down on his pauldrons, the sharp edge of the blade leaving a cut on his cheek. No dodge, no block, no evasion.

The taste of blood in his mouth as he rushed forward. He hated the metallic taste, it reminded him of the missions that were too close for comfort. He quickly spat it out, he had already advanced so now was the time.

He sprung up and raised the blade, so close to Ilia that he could practically kiss her helmet. Grab the sword by the blade, angle it into the gaps around her neck, dig it around until the straps keeping it all together came loose or got damaged. A single strap by the chin, low-quality helmet it seemed.

It wasn’t cut, at least it didn’t feel like it. But that was fine, he felt it so he definitely reached it. Poke it a bit more in quick succession to weaken it further.

"Get…Off!"

A dull pain in his stomach. A knee found its way to his liver. Luckily he was close to her so she wouldn’t be able to muster all her power. But pain was pain, another gnat on his thoughts.

Another dull pain. She lowered her knee and struck him again? Or was it the other knee this time? His stomach felt a bit numb from the pain so he wasn’t quite able to tell which side was struck this time. She managed to push him back slightly, but it was okay. The damage was done, the strap was weakened.

Drop the sword, grab the helmet with both hands, twist. A light snap as the strap broke and everything spun neatly. One twist. A second. A third. And off went the helmet, clanks echoing out as it fell to the ground after he tossed it aside.

Sword was on the ground. Daggers shouldn’t be used here. Fists it was. Wrap a hand around the throat and clench it tightly, place the other against her face with the fingers right in front of the eyes. Can’t go through with it, Alice wouldn’t be in a good position if he did. The threat was enough.

"It’s my loss. Thank you for pointing out the flaw in my armour."

She was quick about it. Good, it meant that he didn’t need to waste more energy on this fight. His sword felt a bit heavier as he picked it up, his toes curling slightly as he moved back to his position.

Huff

Puff

Deep breaths, slow breaths. Spread it evenly, every part of the body needed energy when you fought. A breath in to draw mana, a breath out to kill, as his overs… Master always said.

"Andrei Cristol. Knight-in-training of the Barong estate. Please show me my flaws."

Large frame. Green eyes. Anxious, worried, uneasy. He performed the greeting, so there was no choice but to return it.

"Gabriel. Knight-in-training of Alice De Vritara. Please take care of me."

Annoying. The weight of the sword, the heavy breaths. There was fire in his lungs, it was like when he burned alive. Really, what a shitty orpha…

Swoosh.

The sound of rushing air, a blade that approached him. Had he spaced out? When exactly? He’d just been complaining about his heavy breathing, could he possibly have missed Andrei moving?

Clank.

Sword met sword. Now wasn’t the time to think about why he spaced out. Right. Big fellow, strong fellow. His arms hurt from blocking, he could feel the strain on his elbows. Quick too, the blade that had fallen was raised again almost immediately and then brought down again.

Clank

Clank

Clank

Clank

Like a hammer. He brought the sword down again and again, as if he wanted to hammer Gabriel into the stage. One hand held the hilt of his blade while the other held the blade itself, it was the only way Gabriel could properly block the hammering blows.

Annoying. He was caught off—guard and now he was in a poor position because of it. His master would definitely have beaten him up if he saw him like this.

Clank

Another blow. Tilt the blade to the side, allow the incoming attacks momentum to drag it down the side of the weapon.

Dull pain. Sharp pain. His elbows were already somewhat weary, his sword heavy, the force of the attack was stronger than expected so it kept pushing down as it slid down his blade. The tip reached his shoulder, denting his pauldrons and cutting his face again as it slid past him. Another damn gnat.

But it still slid past, the tip finally striking the metal stage with a loud sound. Continue the motion with the blade, smash the pommel into his hand and rattle the blade out of his grasp.

He’s a knight, his pride won’t let him lose his weapon. Instincts kick in, he bends over to secure his weapon. Use the opening, reverse the motion that knocked away his weapon.

The sword swings and crashes into his helmet. Ah, if only he still had World Splitter, the knight’s head would have spli… The knight lurched to the side from the blow, his head rattling inside the helmet. His vision should be blurry now, his thoughts distant. It hurt to get hit like that, regular beatings to the head could do irreparable harm to people, kids became monsters and adults became wrecks.

Ah, right. The fight. Focus.

Take advantage of the opening to lunge forward. Lungs felt like fire, arms like jelly. Can’t take too many more hits, gotta finish it fast, faster than before.

He was already lurching, only gotta help him finish the motion by slamming the shoulder into his side so that he’ll fall to the side and onto his back. Straddle his chest, knees on his upper arms. In the orpha… boot camp this would cut off the bloodflow in the arms and leave the kids as sitting ducks, but since the knight was armoured it was mainly done out of habit. Right? It was habit, wasn’t it?

Grab the visor before he can gather himself, tug it upwards and force it open. Healthy skin, some old bruises but no scars. A young face, probably no more than 18. Ah, how many young and foolish knights like this hadn’t he kil… Raise the sword, bring down the tip, stop before hit… Ah, slipped a little and cut him above the eye.

Not good, can’t harm them badly otherwise the Barong family may find fault with Alice because of his actions. Pull the blade back, lower the head.

"Forgive me, I couldn’t control my strength."

It wasn’t a lie. Arms hurt, chest burned. Deep breaths were becoming hard, they were rushing out just as quickly as he could take them in.

"It’s… my loss. Thank you for the mercy. And please do not worry, I’m afraid I cut you worse than you did me."

He surrendered. Good. Logical. Pointless worry however, it was just a cut on the cheek, it probably wasn’t that bad.

Get off of the knight, help him up to show sportsmanship. Feet feel heavy on the way back, the taste of blood gathering in the mouth again. Annoying taste. Disgusting taste. This was the taste of victory under the overseers, the taste of lost child…

Oops, almost went past the starting spot. The gnats gnawing at the thoughts were getting annoying, dull pain and sharp pain mixing into numbness. Numbness was good, he couldn’t feel the pain when he got numb so he could always push a bit further.

"Jamie Balent. Knight-in-training of the Barong estate. Please, give me the pleasure."

Black eyes. Unease, worry, a tinge of hurt pride. Were they wondering how far he could go? Were they angry that they were getting beaten by just two people? Was their pride something that was hurt by that?

Pride… how many knights had charged him and died while screaming about th… Right, the greeting. Spaced out again.

"Gabriel. Knight-in-training of Alice De Vritara. Please, come."

Annoying. Raising the sword for the greeting just wasted energy. The words were a waste of the few breaths he was able to get down into his burning lungs. It would be better to just raise the blade and charge ahead, clean cuts to sever li…

Ah, another blank spot in his thoughts. The gnats were getting worse, but the numbness was getting better. Ah, blessed numbness, soother and muse of weary days.

Lower the blade, the enemy was already approaching. Six down, four to go. No time to space out or rest, had to bring victory first.