...The Duels...

The last task ended, the contestants had finally a chance to rest a little bit before the duels begin.

" Can I really sleep? I'm very suspicious after all that happened."

Roy sat beside her:

- You can sleep, I will watch in case anything happens.

- Do you think that I will trust you again?

- When you came, I knew from the way you walked that you were hiding a sword that's why I didn't interfere until John showed his true color to everyone. He deserved that punishment.

- Yeah....he...deserved it.....

Rose was already sleeping, she couldn't bear anyone the fatigue.

Roy reached his hand to her face.

"Should I take that cover away?"

But he didn't, instead, he held her head and put it carefully on his shoulder while smiling.

- You did great... Albert.

Rose woke up the next morning at the sound of the armors.

- What's going on? How much did I sleep?

- A whole day. Replied Roy

She stood up immediately panicked:

- WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS?

- Yeah, you were like dead meat, you even drooled on my shoulder... Don't worry, nothing happened, they wanted us to have some rest before the fights.

- Ahh, thank god.

- They brought us armors to wear, I think it's going to be a furious battle.

Rose and Roy ate what the servant brought to them, then they wore their armors and headed to the fight ground.

It was so big and wide, a lot of spectators were present to watch the duels.

Just thirty contestants were able to reach the second round.

The announcer divided them into pairs, they will finally fight each other.

The Crown Prince was present, but he was a little bit far from them. Rose didn't even bother to look at him, all she cared about was using her sword in front of him and proving herself that she deserve to be a knight. Her family's lives were at stake.

- I must fight well today. I don't think that being a woman will make any difference if they are satisfied with my skills.

The duels began. Some of the fights ended quickly and some ended after a long fight.

- ALBERT AND MARK. Screamed the announcer

" Finally, my turn"

Rose pulled out her sword and prepared herself. Her opponent was a very big man, he didn't wear his armor because he was too confident that he will easily win, Rose wasn't shaken at all, on the contrary, she was relaxed.

" That idiot, he won't last long"

- Kid, I will smash you today.

- Show me what you got.

Rose didn't move while Mark attacked her first, she was small in comparison to his huge size, but she was very graceful.

She dodged his sword, passed under him, and gave him a direct hit into his stomach. Mark lost his balance and fell, she was really fast and her sword was already on his neck before he could realize what just happened. She won in a blink of an eye.

The spectators were amazed by her quick moves, even the prince, she managed to catch his attention.

- Who is that? Asked the Prince

- His name is Albert, he came from Transvill town.

- Keep a close eye on him, I don't want the same mistake to happen this year, is that clear?

- We have taken all our precautions, your highness.

- You said Albert?....mmm...let's see what he got.