Bab 45: Exchange of blows (4)

Erin Starlance

Hundreds of ice shards hurtled toward Renald and me, created by Raphael just moments ago. Every time I witnessed his mastery of mana, I couldn't help but marvel at his skill. But now, he was my opponent, and I couldn't allow myself to be awed by the power of my lord.

Channeling mana into my legs, I leapt to the side, evading the attack directed at me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Renald. The once-subdued expression he had worn earlier was gone, replaced by a determined focus. I wasn't sure what had caused his earlier despair, but with Raphael present, everything was likely under control. Watching Renald skillfully dodge the ice shards with the aid of his wind magic, I mentally scolded myself for worrying unnecessarily.

Pushing off the ground, I rushed forward, aiming to attack Raphael from the right flank while Renald kept him distracted from the left. I had long known that prolonging a fight with Raphael was dangerous—if given even a moment to prepare, he would inevitably secure victory. Taking advantage of every opportunity to attack was the key to success.

As I closed the distance and prepared to strike with my sword, Raphael's preemptive maneuver met me head-on. As always, his awareness was exceptional; catching him off guard proved impossible.

Infusing mana into my right leg, I pivoted sharply and struck his sword, deliberately aiming for the blunt edge of the blade. His rapier, along with his arm, shifted slightly, opening a sliver of an opportunity for me to press the attack.

Wasting no time, I lunged in an arc, aiming to draw a line across Raphael's chest. But just as my blade was about to graze his clothes, an ice wall materialized before me, slowing my assault.

— Tsk…

Frustration and disappointment at the missed opportunity surged within me, but I decided not to risk recklessness. Following the teachings of both Raphael and Lady Aurora, I retreated to maintain my position.

The sound of clashing blades reached my ears. Beyond the icy barrier, I could only see flashes of sparks, but I instinctively knew Renald had engaged Raphael, supporting our offensive.

— You've got this, Renald! — a voice called out, one of his friends cheering from the sidelines.

I caught sight of Renald's companions, their unwavering support warming my heart and bringing a small smile to my lips. Even though they had been his opponents not long ago, their loyalty and encouragement were genuine.

But this wasn't the time for reflection. Circling around the ice wall, I positioned myself at Raphael's side. He was occupied, trading blows with Renald. Infusing my blade with mana, I prepared to strike again. Raphael, however, glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, as though he already knew my intentions.

Despite that, I pressed forward. The objective was clear, and with Raphael focused on his duel with Renald, this moment seemed perfect. It was a chance I couldn't afford to waste.

I aimed my sword at Raphael's lower back but noticed a subtle flick of his fingers on his right hand. The motion was so small that, under different circumstances, I might not have paid it any attention. But now, it sent a jolt of warning through me—something was about to go wrong, and the consequences wouldn't be pleasant.

A sudden explosion erupted. A blinding white flash filled my vision, and a powerful shockwave hurled me through the air. It felt as though an invisible force had struck me with overwhelming force.

Regaining my composure mid-flight, I shielded my face to protect my eyes from the shards of ice. I tucked into a defensive roll as I landed, clutching my sword tightly. For a moment, the world around me was a blur, unstable and spinning.

When my vision cleared, I saw Renald sprawled across the far end of the arena. Unlike me, he hadn't managed to brace himself and had landed heavily on the ground. Perhaps the exchange of blows with Raphael had distracted him, or perhaps it was a lack of experience. The reason didn't matter—what mattered was that Raphael was already striding toward him, clearly intent on ending the fight.

I couldn't allow that to happen. I had never defeated Raphael in a one-on-one duel. Only when fighting alongside Harumi and Aurora, who likely hadn't fought at their full strength, had I tasted success. But now, with Raphael facing both of us, I had to make use of this temporary advantage.

Covering the distance in seconds, I launched another assault. Raphael sidestepped effortlessly, but I hadn't expected to land the first strike. Without giving him a moment to counter, I launched another attack, forcing him onto the defensive.

Our blades clashed again and again, ringing out across the arena. Despite my relentless effort, Raphael's expression remained calm, his movements precise and confident.

Every strike I made was parried with ease, each counter from him delivered with twice the force. It forced me to push myself to my absolute limits, but I realized that continuing like this was futile. I would exhaust my strength before finding an opening in his defense. Accepting this, I backed away, increasing the distance to catch my breath.

Raphael, however, was unrelenting. Ice pillars erupted from the ground, surging toward me with astonishing speed. There was no time to think. I leapt aside, but Raphael had anticipated this and was already there. His blade was aimed straight at my face.

It was too late. I couldn't block the strike or dodge. All I could do was watch the blade close in.

But suddenly, a figure appeared before me, and steel met steel. A sharp clang echoed, followed by a rush of air. Raphael stepped back, his brow twitching ever so slightly in surprise.

— Apologies for the delay, my lady.

— It's fine, — I replied with a hint of relief.

Thanks to my exchange of blows with Raphael, Renald had managed to recover and support me at just the right moment. Now it was two against one again.

— Attack together, fast and relentless, — I instructed. — Don't give him any chance to breathe. That's the only way we stand a chance of winning.

— Got it, — Renald said firmly.

We both assumed our stances. A burst of wind from Renald's magic quickened our movements and lent us an almost ethereal lightness. In the blink of an eye, we were upon Raphael.

Though the moment seemed perfect for an attack, I held back, slipping behind Raphael while Renald remained at the front. Once in position, I immediately infused my blade with mana and aura. I had only recently awakened this power and wasn't yet fully in control of it, but this was the moment to take the risk. Without it, our chances were next to none.

With a sharp pivot, Renald and I struck Raphael simultaneously from opposite sides. The clash of weapons reverberated across the arena, stirring a whirlwind of dust and wind that obscured the scene.

Even through the haze, I glimpsed a faint smile on Raphael's face. It was as if we had finally shown strength worthy of his acknowledgment. Yet, even so...

Moments later, I saw my blade deflected by his rapier, and Renald's weapon caught in his hand—encased in ice, as though it were part of an armored gauntlet enhanced by mana and aura.

Renald's friends, who had been cheering him on, likely wore expressions of shock. Even Mark, the referee, seemed momentarily stunned by the exchange. But for me, there was no surprise—only another wave of disappointment.

Even with Renald's wind magic, my own mana, and my newly awakened aura, we had failed to land a single significant blow. Despite our best efforts, Raphael's superiority remained indisputable.

And just as those thoughts began to weigh on me...

— That was excellent, — Raphael's voice broke through, pulling me from my musings. — You even forced me to use my aura, and that's no small feat.

His face bore a warm, encouraging smile. My heart quickened, and I felt heat rush to my cheeks. Embarrassed, I turned away, hoping he wouldn't notice my flustered state.

— But you still have room to grow, — he added, casting aside both our weapons and forcing us to retreat.

— My lady, let's go again, — Renald suggested.

— Right, — I nodded, agreeing.

I prepared to charge once more, but Raphael's voice, lighthearted yet firm, stopped me:

— I'm afraid I can't allow that.

Before I could react, he was suddenly before us. His movement was so fast that my surprise didn't even have time to register. Renald and I both attempted hurried strikes, but we were far too slow. Raphael effortlessly grabbed Renald by the face and slammed him into the ground with such force that resistance became futile.

My own attempt to attack was thwarted by a barrage of ice daggers aimed directly at me, forcing me to defend myself. Those few seconds of delay were all Raphael needed.

— Renald is out! — Mark's voice declared.

Looking to where Raphael stood, I saw him holding Renald down with a firm grip on his shoulder, the latter completely disarmed.

Exhaling, I chastised myself for allowing such a straightforward maneuver to succeed. I knew Raphael's strength lay in his swift and unpredictable moves, yet I had let my guard down. Perhaps if I had kept that in mind constantly, I might have anticipated the outcome...

No, even then, it wouldn't have mattered. He's too unpredictable for anyone to calculate his actions.

— My apologies, my lady. I couldn't keep up, — Renald said, rising to his feet.

He wore a faint smile, but the disappointment and frustration in his eyes were undeniable.

— It's all right, — I reassured him with a kind smile.

As Renald left the arena and joined his comrades—who immediately began cheering him up—I turned back to face Raphael. Now it was just the two of us.

My chances of victory were slim, almost nonexistent. There were even fewer ways I could catch him off guard. Yet strangely, that only fueled my desire to continue. The frustration I'd felt moments ago gave way to anticipation, and I couldn't help but smile.

Now, I would face the monster known as Raphael Earhart again. Could I land even a single cut? Could I make him pause, even for a moment, to consider the possibility of defeat? These questions swirled in my mind, chasing away any lingering doubts. My body moved forward on its own, driven by an eagerness to continue the fight.

— Surprise me, — Raphael said with a slight smile.

— Of course, — I replied, letting the fire in my voice show.

I charged, infusing my blade with mana and aura. In the next instant, our swords clashed, creating bright sparks that tore through the air around us. The ringing of our blows echoed across the arena, and the tension in the atmosphere thickened. Every movement, every strike spoke of one truth—this was more than a duel.