Chapter 4: Chapter 1 — The Prelude to the Prelude (4)
"Oh? A duel, you say?" Marcus's eyes widened in interest.
"That's right! I request a duel with you. If I win, you'll take back your words and apologize!"
The tense silence that had filled the air after Leon's bold challenge was finally broken by the sound of raucous laughter. Marcus and all of the onlookers, seemingly unable to believe what they had just heard, erupted into a fit of amusement at Leon's audacity.
"Pfft… Ha ha ha ha ha ha."
Leon looked around, confused. "What's so funny?!" he asked, his voice trembling with anger.
"You have the audacity to challenge me to a duel, despite lacking any discernible talent in swordsmanship? Your delusions of grandeur are laughable," Marcus replied, his tone laced with a hint of condescension as he looked down at Leon with a mixture of amusement and disdain.
The onlookers, meanwhile, snickered, unable to believe that Leon was so foolish as to challenge the most skilled swordsman in the school. To them, it seemed as though Leon had no idea of the odds he was facing, and they found his challenge both ridiculous and humorous.
"Who would have thought that a weakling like you would have the audacity to challenge me to a duel? The very idea of you challenging someone is already absurd, but challenging me specifically, as someone with exceptional talent in swordsmanship, is even more ludicrous."
Marcus was right. As someone lacking in natural talent, it was audacious for Leon to challenge someone as highly regarded as Marcus, who was considered a prodigy in the art of swordsmanship. This kind of behavior is quite uncommon, as it is widely believed that natural talent is a key factor in achieving success in any given field. To challenge a prodigy without the benefit of such inherent abilities is often seen as foolhardy, if not downright reckless. Leon's decision to challenge a prodigy, despite his perceived lack of natural ability, was met with laughter and skepticism from the onlookers. The very notion of an individual without innate talents daring to challenge an established expert who had already proven their proficiency in swordsmanship was practically unheard of, which only added to the audience's amusement.
Leon's eyes narrowed, his grip on his sword tightening. "Is that all you have to say? Why not just accept my challenge and we can get on with it?" he said with a challenging tone.
"Very well, if you insist on making a fool of yourself, I accept your challenge. And just to make things interesting, let's make it a wager. If you win, I'll take back what I said. I'll even lower my head to your parents and apologize, if it makes you feel better. However, if you lose—," he paused, pulling the corners of his lips into a wicked grin, "you'll withdraw from the school—immediately."
"Wha—?!" The condition must have been unexpected, as Sirius was rendered speechless.
Leon glared hatefully at Marcus. "You can't be serious," he said, his voice laced with anger. "That's an absurd condition. Why would I drop out of school just because I lost a challenge?"
Marcus shrugged, a smug look on his face. "Because you're not good enough," he said. "You don't belong here, and you know it. If you can't beat me in a challenge, then you have no business being in this school."
Leon said nothing, but his expression grew more and more intense.
Sirius, who had been observing the conversation, spoke up. "I don't think that's a fair condition," he said, frowning at Marcus. "Leon may not be as skilled as you, but he has just as much right to be here as anyone else. Besides, dropping out of school just because of a lost challenge is extreme."
Indeed, the stakes set by Marcus were quite extreme and unfair to Leon. It's important for the stakes in a duel to be balanced and reasonable for both parties, so that each has an equal chance of winning or losing. The fact that Marcus was essentially asking Leon to risk his entire future at the school, while offering only a vague promise of an apology if he wins, shows a lack of respect for Leon and his abilities.
In a fair duel, the terms should be equal for both parties involved. If one person proposed a stake that heavily favored themselves, it created an imbalanced situation that could put the other person at a disadvantage. If the duel was meant to be a fair test of skill and ability, then the stakes should reflect that. Both parties should have a reasonable chance of winning or losing, and the consequences of losing should be relatively equal. If the stakes were too high or lopsided, then the duel could become less about skill and more about the stakes themselves.
The stake proposed by Marcus was imbalanced, with Leon having to leave the school if he lost and Marcus only having to retract his statement if he lost. This created an uneven playing field, with the stakes heavily favoring Marcus.
Marcus merely shrugged, unmoved by Sirius's objections. "It's up to Leon to decide whether he wants to take the wager or not," he said, crossing his arms. "I'm not forcing him to do anything. But if he's too scared to accept it, then that just proves my point."
"And the stakes couldn't be more even," he added, smirking slightly.
Sirius frowned, confusion etched on his features. "In what way are those conditions equal?" he asked. It was unlikely that anyone who was aware of the stakes set by Marcus would view them as equal or fair.
Marcus's eyes gleamed with arrogance as he explained, "I'm basically putting my dignity at stake here. I had more to lose, and if anything, I'm the one at a disadvantage here. Not him. If he wins, I'll take back what I said, which is a blow to my reputation, my pride. On the other hand, if I win, all he has to do is leave this school. Isn't that a fair and equal wager?"
Sirius frowned at Marcus's words, clearly not convinced. "I don't think it's quite as equal as you make it out to be," he said. "Although your reputation may suffer, you are still considered the Asura house's prodigy, whereas Leon is merely an ordinary student at this school, despite being an Asura house son. If he is defeated, he will not only be expelled from the school but also lose the opportunity to receive a quality education, which is a significant cost to bear."
Marcus sneered at Sirius's words. "Oh, spare me the sob story. Leon knew the risks when he challenged me. He could have backed down, but he didn't. He was foolish enough to challenge me, and now he has to face the consequences."
Marcus turned to Leon. "It shouldn't be a bad deal for you, no?" He smiled challengingly, sparking the air between them.
Leon glared at Marcus silently for a moment, but eventually nodded his head. "Fine," he said. "I accept your wager. But just remember, if I win, you'll have to eat your words."
Marcus smirked. "As you wish. But remember, if you lose, you leave the school immediately. There's no turning back."
"Wha—?!" Sirius was nearly rendered speechless, but somehow managed to speak. The weight of Marcus's conditions settled in, causing him to gasp in shock. "Wait a minute, Leon!" he protested, his voice almost shaking with concern. "Are you serious? You know full well the odds are stacked against you, and yet you accept the challenge? I implore you to reconsider!"
He urged Leon to reconsider, warning him of the odds stacked against him. But Leon remained firm in his decision, unflinchingly accepting Marcus's conditions despite their severity.
"Leon, I understand that you're upset, but you can't resort to violence," Sirius continued firmly. "Think about the consequences of your actions. You don't want to bring shame upon our family."
"Sirius," Leon peered over his shoulder to look at Sirius, "don't stop me."
Sirius winced at the chill in Leon's tone. It was clear that he was not going to back down, no matter what anyone said.
"I am determined to confront Marcus for his insult against my parents. If Grandfather were to hear about this, he would surely be livid with me, but I cannot let this matter go unresolved." Leon said, his eyes never leaving Marcus.
"I am prepared to accept the outcome, no matter what it may be," he continued, his voice steady and resolute. "This is a matter between Marcus and me, and you have no right to interfere."
At this, Sirius had no other choice but to snap his mouth shut.
Leon turned his attention to Marcus and asked, "What about the rules? Surely, there must be some rules to abide by."
Marcus chuckled, the corners of his lips upturned. "Rules? What rules? It's a sword duel. There are no rules. Unless, of course, you're afraid of losing."
Leon's grip on his sword tightened, and his eyes narrowed. "I'm not afraid of losing," he replied coldly. "I just don't want to resort to dirty tactics like you."
Marcus raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Dirty tactics? Is that what you think I'm capable of? You're just making excuses because you know you're going to lose."
"I suggest we establish some rules before we begin," Leon said firmly.
Marcus rolled his eyes. "Fine, then. How about the one who gets disarmed is the loser?"
Leon nodded, satisfied. "Agreed. And what about magic?"
Marcus smirked. "As long as it's not lethal, I'm fine with it."
Sirius, who had remained silent up until that point, addressed Leon. "Are you really sure about this?" he asked, worriedly.
Despite his concern, however, Leon remained adamant and was not willing to change his mind. "Yes," he replied without hesitation. "He insulted my parents right in front of me. I can't just let that go."
"...Alright. Just… don't regret your decision." Sirius said with a somewhat exasperated sigh.
"Then as for the one who will serve as umpire… can that be left to you as a third party, Sirius? I want someone trustworthy and unbiased to oversee the duel." Leon requested.
"...Very well." Sirius acquiesced, albeit with a hint of reluctance
The atmosphere remained tense as both parties got ready to face each other in the impending duel. Leon had a fire in his eyes that showed he meant business, while Marcus's smug expression made it clear he didn't take his challenger seriously.
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