The Duel

Cal returned to the Academy thirty-two days later.

He waited until Grady was fully recovered and able to maintain his masculine appearance.

The way they came down from the platform together, and then walked toward the residential areas talking about something, was not hidden from the eyes of a student who liked to peek and one confused Mentor.

As Grady and Leon sat down together at the table over which they had dramatically quarreled a month before, the other students whispered in bewilderment.

While the couple was chatting nicely, rumors swirled among the students that Leon had confessed his love for Grady at the farmhouse.

The gossip was like a bombshell, the number one topic of discussion in the rooms after lights out, and the whispers in the halls of the Academy.

Gossip spread like poplar fluff on a whiff of wind at the instigation of an unknown person.

It soon reached one student recently released from the infirmary. Sitting at the other end of the dining hall, he glared at the "sweet couple," as Grady and Leon were quickly dubbed.

The students' unbridled imagination had already brought them together and given them "happily ever after." Except Michal didn't approve of what was going on, and he wasn't the only one.

Poplar dropped its fluffy seeds on the table of the Head of the Academy as well, making his nose itch and his eyes sting.

Liam absent-mindedly picked at the salad with his fork and heard strange rumors, too. Seeing him frown, the teachers scolded the chatty students, but the grimace of irritation never left the Head's face. He dropped his lunch and withdrew to scratch his nose.

Cal missed Liam terribly, but barely back from exile, he found himself terribly busy with the Legion.

Although the Academy declared a week off, Cal had to go to the training field with the dragon to teach him the things a dragon should know.

The book that the Twelfth Elder had provided him with after the return described in detail how to raise dragons.

Cal would never have imagined that he would have to do such a thing. Dragon training was time-consuming, but since Grady had joined him, it had been more fun.

She too dreamed of getting a dragon, so she greedily absorbed every moment on the training field.

Legion showed no aggression and studied her new master mate with interest. The dragon was growing rapidly, as its actual size was very large. He already had trouble getting through the door of the room, and Cal was seriously considering moving to another place.

Cal would go to the river after class in the field and wait for the Head there, but as luck would have it, they had not been able to meet for several days. After waiting for the moon to appear in the sky, Cal would walk back to his house in confusion.

He stumbled a couple of times over the carcass of Legion, who was used to living alone and sleeping in the middle of the room. Once again, earning a bruise, Cal began to climb into the house through the window beside the bed.

Early in the morning, Grady came to get him. As usual in the last few days, they went to breakfast together, much to the delight of the female half of the Academy.

Cal had no idea what kind of talk was going on about his friendship with Grady, so he hadn't expected to meet Michal at the entrance to the canteen.

On this sunny morning, the beautiful Michal was more dazzling than the sun. The endless care for his appearance had paid off. He stood in the ceremonial attire of his clan and looked defiantly at Grady and Leon who approached.

As her friend had taught her, Grady completely ignored the flaunted Michal and walked past with her head held high.

Michal prepared to meet Grady's insolence and belligerence, which he had been indulged in for the past two years in a row and was even embarrassed that he hadn't been noticed.

Turning after the "LeGrays," as the pandering apprentices had already nicknamed them, Michal only clutched harder at the gloves he held in his hands.

He lost his appetite and was about to walk away, but several of his friends picked him up and led him to the dining hall. He sat stifled and puzzled, trying to understand why Grady was no longer "playing with him," wasn't he handsome?

Hadn't he been playing along with him all along? So what had happened now? None of his friends could match Grady in beauty, strength, and sharpness of tongue.

"Damn, what a shame," thought the student, watching the LeGrays laughing at the far table.

"Does anyone know what this Duvall guy is?" asked Michal in a cold voice.

"He's a student of the Twelfth Elder, only a couple of months at the Academy," replied one of his friends.

"And what does he do?"

"Well, he saved the Head, got the dragon egg, and served his punishment along with Grady on the..." the apprentice couldn't finish.

"I see, so he's lucky enough to get the egg, and now he thinks he's cool?" boiled with anger, Michal.

"He's training a dragon every day in the west field, someone saw him yesterday."

Michal used his tracking skill and confirmed his suspicions: the training was not without Grady.

The next morning, Michal challenged Leon right in front of the cafeteria.

Everyone who saw it swore afterward that their eyes flashed with lightning. The student accepted the challenge with dignity.

Such fights were under the control of the Head, and a judge of the duel was officially appointed. As a rule, the cause of the fight was of no interest to the Academy authorities.

But this time the Head questioned the witnesses in detail and learned many strange details that made him break into a cold sweat.

"Cal didn't just befriend Grady, he took the challenge because of him. What's going on? They're together every day, and Cal never once spoke to me. Is he that angry about the punishment? Is he so mad at me that he didn't want to come back after 10 days? Is he punishing me? Is he rejecting me? Has he fallen out of love with me and...fallen in love with Grady?! It can't be!" - Up until the fight started, Liam's head was buzzing with thoughts and doubts.

Arriving at the practice field, he took his place of honor, carefully concealing his troubled feelings.

The entire Academy had gathered to watch the "fight of the century. Those who could not see the field from the ground simply climbed the nearest trees or hovered in the air. Thus, when Michal appeared with a firm determination on his face, the crowd was already almost boiling.

Following him, on the other side, LeGrays arrived, almost hugging each other. Liam swore that if he ever heard anyone say that word again, he'd send his whole course to the farm, and he sat pouting.

The referee invited the contestants to come up and quickly read them the usual rules: equal weapons, no prohibited techniques or tricks, and watch his signal.

Michal chose sword fighting. Cal was calm and cautious. Taking advantage of his opponent's emotional instability, he deftly parried his lunges and landed several tangible blows.

Michal went into a frenzy. He began to attack Cal more and more furiously, speeding up and blocking his blows.

After playing with him for a while, Cal performed a series of deceptive maneuvers and knocked his opponent's sword out of the field. An enraged Michal snatched a dagger from his boot and lunged at Cal, but he dodged and shoved him in the back.

Then he threw away his sword and went at Michal hand-to-hand. They grappled and began alternating combat techniques. Stopping at what the Shaolin monks had taught him, Cal nearly knocked the spirit out of Michal.

Grady, who saw this, turned dramatically pale, misleading those who were watching her reaction. The crowd was sure Grady was worried about Leon.

Cal slowed down and let Michal punch himself a couple of times. His split eyebrow and lip bled and made him a brave knight: the crowd cheered.

Liam clung to his chair and tensely watched the fight, mentally cursing himself for sending his apprentice to the farm. If it hadn't been for that decision of his, Cal wouldn't be covered in blood right now.

The opponents slumped to the ground and panted. Pushing his opponent against the stones of the platform, Cal went into a verbal assault.

"What do you care about me and Grady," he hissed, clenching his teeth with exertion. Michal kicked up, rolled over, and was over Cal.

"Where did you come from and why are you sticking to Grady? Is it true that you... you confessed to Grady?"

That was exactly the dialogue Cal was seeking. He smashed Michal's nose with his head, and while he was coming to, he quickly told him the killer phrase:

"I'll play and quit, what do you care? Grady's so pretty and sweet, I'll take him all for myself, and what will you do?" Cal laughed in his face.

Thanks to his excellent hearing, the head overheard Cal and Michal's conversation with bated breath. His pupils dilated and his face turned pale.

Was he too late? Had Cal fallen in love with someone else? Through the pain and hatred that distorted Michal's face, Cal saw his eyes widen, and fear was read in them. But not for himself, but Grady. He realized that Grady was in danger.

He fought as hard as he could and punched Cal as hard as he could, and Cal responded with just as much force. The fierce brawl continued unabated, and the referee declared a draw.

They were taken to different corners and then escorted separately to the infirmary.

Michal was still angry. His beautiful face had a smooth seam, and he was furious that it might leave a scar. He pestered the healer about it, and eventually got a smack in the face, and then fell silent.

Cal survived the darn thing, too. The wound above his eyebrow was pretty deep. He endured the pain and wished this crazy day would be over soon.

The Head burst into the infirmary. He swept across the room and approached Michal first. Then he turned to Cal.

In the presence of his enemy and, by default, rival, Cal could not even greet Liam with an affectionate glance. He noticed his apprentice's subdued mood, and his heart shivered with fear and uncertainty.

"Mentor, have you seen Grady?" - Cal asked.

Michal and Liam both looked at Cal and said nothing.

"I'll go look for him," Cal said, getting off the couch.

Cursing Liam's interference, he walked out of the infirmary while two pairs of eyes drilled into his back. Grady had indeed wandered in front of the infirmary, and Liam had simply ignored her as he ran to see the wounded students.

Cal gave a quick summary of the work he'd done and explained how to proceed. Refusing help, he staggered back to his room. Upon entering, he stumbled again.

"Legion, you're sleeping in the aisle again," Cal resented and, without waiting for a response, jumped over the barrier and collapsed into bed.

He was exhausted. Turning his head on its side, he thought it might be a good idea to eat, but again, he had no strength.

Rolling over onto his back, he lay awake and motionless, pondering his future behavior.

There was a knock on the door.