The time before the duel with Alistair Faust soon came, with Nikolai arriving at the specified venue ahead of time. He sat in his car while leaning back, still a few hours before it would start. Today, he didn't wear the training outfit that Alexei gave him, but he looked quite calm.
'It looks like I'll be fighting a true vampire today... someone far stronger than my past opponents except maybe that elder wraith.'
'Will I be able to win...'
[Of course! You will win, silly boy!]
Nikolai couldn't help but laugh slightly, listening to his mother's support while she sat in the seat beside him. However, it felt lonely that Selene and Nikita hadn't joined him the night before or come to the arena.
'It probably couldn't be helped.'
After he mentioned that name to Nikita, she became a little strange and soon left. Yet, although she responded to his texts, they were a little more curt and distant than usual.