chapter 14:duel

'Well everything has a first time, right. I should have prepared for a situation like this.'

Redrick thought while looking at eyes of green that pierced right through him. A lady with that gaze was measuring him, trying to figure out what his first move would be.

'Lamia wouldn't go to hard on me right? I know that she doesn't have a win on her name, but she wouldn't hold a grudge right, no no can't be. She has a noble soul, I hope.'

Redrick wasn't completely aware of this yet but he was right about how secretive his spar partner was. She did hide a lot behind a mask, and one of the things she hid was a competitive and vengeful nature.

She did hold a grudge, and she wouldn't let an opportunity like this go.

Belle who was standing close to the sun god altar already aware of the difference in conviction.

'That boy really needs to take this serious, or this fight will be over in seconds."

She shook her head and than looked towards Redrick.

It was quite a normal morning, the sun was shining, loaf was outside eating grass and weeds around the flower fields. The only difference from every other day, was a tension that was building inside the main hall of the church.

"Ey doofus, I would start focusing right now if I where you."

Redrick heard what the pregnant lady said and understood what she was trying to say.

'Well this is going to hurt'

Belle noticed that Redrick took her advise seriously. It was now time to start this little experiment.

"Are you both ready?. I will decide who won if it takes to long or step in if someone has a chance to get seriously hurt, so you guys can let loose with everything you have."

Both parties nodded towards the referee while maintaining eye contact with their opponent.

"Alright, I see that both of you are ready, we start on the count of three."

"1"

Redrick thought of the first steps he could take during this fight. 'Okay ill start with slowing her down with a question.'

"2"

'Would you mind resting for a bit? Would be a good question that wouldn't get much resistance. No one minds a bit of rest, right?'

"3"

At that exact moment Redrick opend his mouth. "Would you ...."

*zzzzooooff*

At that moment the tip of a sword went towards redricks direction. He noticed it just in time, so his head moved to the left. The tip of the sword grazed his right cheek.

'That was to close.'

Redrick now looked back at his opponent who was still standing in the same place.

'So your gift has somthing to do with reforming your blade.'

The blade that was elongated on redricks left side was decreasing back to its original size. Lamia now made her first steps towards Redrick. Her sword was now pointing towards the ground behind her, it seemed like she was preparing an upward swing.

' I'll do somthing about that'

Redrick now ran forwards, his sword in his right hand anticipating the sword slash that was going to come.

"That sword looks heavy, do you need some help carrying it?"

Redrick yawned and started to feel sleepy. 'Good I didn't fall asleep.'

Lamia staggerd for a bit, it looked like she had some difficulties holding her sword.

Redrick took his chance and went for a slash to Lamia left arm, wich was holding her sword.

But than Lamia's sword reformed. The tip of her sword went towards redrick sword and deflected it.

Redrick took a step back

'Okay that's a problem.'

Lamia, now again well adjusted to the weight of her sword took a normal stance. She approached Redrick and a brawl started.

Every clash of metal echoed against the cold stone walls that made their fight hidden from the outside.

'She is crazy'

It looked like Lamia was getting the upper hand in this fight. Her sword changed form everytime they clashed.

When redrick had an opportunity, her sword came to protect her.

When Redrick tried to guard one of her atacks, the blade bypassed it and grazed his body.

She didn't even give Redrick any time to say somthing.

Redrick had to dodge a slash that was aimed for his head. He had tried to guard it with his sword but it was to late. The only option was to fall and roll backwards. His opponent took the opportunity to kick him wich made him roll next to the altar.

*boombph*

Redrick was completely dazed. The world shook and his foughts were split. 'How am I going to beat her with my gift' and 'how do I defend with my swordmanship' were questions that repeated in his head.

But than he noticed a small detail he was unable to see while clashing with Lamia.

'Her walk looks stiffened. Now that I think about it her swings were also getting slower at the end.'

Redrick stood up and walked towards his opponent, both his hands on his sword. Lamia did the same while walking a bit slower.

Belle stood by and watched with a big smile on her face. 'They are not bad at all. Redrick's swordmanship is amazing but he is struggling with his gift. Lamia on the other hand is great at utilising her gift but her swordmanship is being outshined by her opponent. I think that the consequence of using her gift to much is catching up on her.'

Belle knew that this fight was going to be decided in the next minute.

"Why don't you stiffen up even more?"

Redrick said with a smile. He than noticed that this question almost made him pass out.

'Atleast I am still awake. I have to act fast.'

Lamia struggled to move. The price she had to pay for her gift was that her muscles would tense everytime she used it. It was even worse now since redrick asked his question.

It looked like an instant win for Redrick. But the young man overlooked one important thing. Lamia could still activate her gift, even when she was fully stuck. Her sword moved around to protect her while she recovered.

Redricks blade hit Lamia's, sparks were flying around. At that moment a fast kick hit Redrick in the ribs wich again pushed him towards the altar.

*oomphh*

Redrick grasped for air while the altar behind him had a dent in it. The sun that was portrayed on it had a few cracks.

But none of the three really noticed it, the fight was still going.

'I can't use my gift anymore, there is a high chance I will fall asleep. But I am not the only one with this problem.'

Redrick and Lamia were clashing again. The young man clearly took the initiative this time. Lamia's gift had taken its toll on her and now she couldn't keep up anymore. She tried defending the best she could but I wouldn't take long, her muscles were giving up.

'One more opportunity' is what she thought. And that opportunity did come. Redrick went for another atack aimed for her head, but his position was a bit off. This was the moment to take him down.

'Got you' She thought

Her plan was to roll forward and point her sword towards his heart, but she heard somthing before that roll even happend.

"Would you like to roll forward more?"

Redrick only yawned while Lamia kept on rolling forward. Redrick stopped Lamia by placing his food on her back. His sword was now pointing towards her.

"Well I think this concludes today's practice battle. Redrick put your dirty boot of this lady, have some form of decency please."

Redrick quickly took his foot to the ground and directed his left hand towards Lamia. She was a bit dazzled so she refused to take it.

" sorry, let me recover a bit first."

The beaten girls was now laying on the floor.

"Ay miss, dont worry to much. You gave this lad a good beating okay. You will get him next time."

Lamia quickly showed an angerd face towards Belle, wich she changed back towards her usual expression.

"Ooohhh a sore lower are we miss" Belle replied after what she just saw.

" I am not a sore lover Misses Nosknov, my body hurts everywhere so I am sorry for the disgraceful face I just showed you".

Belle laughed. "Yeah sure sure. Ey boy, good job there. I really thought you would lose."

Redrick now also sitting on the ground smiled. "Well thanks for your trust in me".

*poof*

All three of them looked towards the direction that noice came from. A small dust cloud had formed around the sun altar.

"Oh I think that thick skull of yours has destroyed the altar lad. I am glad that that head of yours is capable of doing something".

Redrick wanted to make a comeback but he was more worried about the state of the altar.

The dust cloud was now slowely fading.