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Shauna was getting impatient. It was not often that she ran out of patience. However, the current circumstances were different and dire. Her deceased companion had decided to foolishly attack the kingdom army, even going as far as invoking an Undead Dragon to do so. Knowing the kingdom, they would surely have dispatched their Elite Knights by now. Shauna surmised they had at most two days before the Elite Knights picked up on their trail.

“How much longer?” she asked in a tone so quiet that even one would have a hard time catching her words if they were standing just beside her.

Hush as her words might be, everyone else caught her question and intent. Her body language told her peers that much but none had the answers she sought. The teleportation array had been completed but it lacked fuel for it to function. Shauna had sent her most trusted aid for the acquisition of said fuel from the local Lord Governor. His estate was a day and more away but they had the means to shorten the trip. It should have taken them only an hour or two but it had been more than three hours now.

Shauna couldn’t help but presume the worst, the Lord Governor had rejected their plea for more resources. If it came to that, she would have to take it from the Lord Governor forcefully. In doing so, it would incur a wave of problems. The Lord Governor’s coalition with the Aerysians would be exposed and this would lead to an investigation on all the nobles, which in turn, would expose more of their allies in the noble circle.

Shauna calmed herself down for these reasons. There was no point in worrying too much. It would be more productive to think of alternatives than to worry about the future she had no way of controlling. Just as she was about to sit down and meditate, the sound of leaves and bushes rustling sent her into alert, but she loosened her shoulders in the next second.

“I got it, Lady Shauna.” It was the soldier she sent out to beseech the Lord Governor. He had returned with a chest in hand. From the chest, Shauan could feel Mana emanating from it.

“You did well, soldier,” Shauan praised with a gentle smile. “What did he ask for in return?”

“The Lord expects a double shipment for the next batch. If we didn’t, he’ll—”

“Say no more. I understand. For now, get these stones to the array.”

“Yes, my lady,” the soldier gave a salute and rushed to the teleportation array with the chest.

“Better hurry, my lady,” said a voice filled with sarcasm. “Time’s running out. They’re near.”

Shauna’s expression soured as she turned to the source of the noise, which was Aedan. It had been an hour and slightly more. His tongue had grown back which severely irked her. The same was true for most of his wounds, which had mostly healed, though it came at the cost of his vigour. It was a shame she didn't have a sadistic tendency. This would have been a godsend to her if she had. “Your friends are a problem but not a major one. They might slow us down but it will be their total defeat and loss in the end. If they have half the wit of a fool, they would know better than to confront us.”

“...Perhaps.” Aedan shrugged. “Say, do you know of the ancient ways?”

Shauna frowned. “What ancient ways? What are you blabbering about now?”

“Were you not taught or told of the ancient ways of the Dragon’s Creed?”

“Of course, I was taught of the creed. Who do you take me for? What about the creed?”

“Dragons possess unfathomable strength and immense destructive capabilities. It was known that Dragons had destroyed villages, towns, cities, or even civilisations just because they were angry, hungry, greedy, or they were competing with another dragon. It’s often the latter reason. These destructions tend to be collateral of dragons’ uncontrolled and unrestrained competition. It was such a problem that all the sapient races in the world decided to just band together and confront the dragons about their… destructive habits, forcing the dragons to come up with a creed.”

Shauna rolled her eyes. “Are you done?”

“Almost there,” Aedan replied with a smile. “The creed exists to prevent the dragons from inadvertently destroying the world in the midst of their… feuds and conflicts. Do you know how the creed prevented it?”

Shauna groaned. “Do tell.”

Aedan’s smile widened. “A duel between two representatives of the two opposing sides.”

The annoyance and frustration stirring on Shauna’s face stopped and melted off from her. A look of epiphany replaced her vexation. “Your companions have no such privilege. They cannot propose a duel.”

“But they can, my dear lady. Well, two of them can. My Apostle and… my consort.”

“Your consort… The Fox-kin.”

“I’m sure you have heard a great deal about her.”

“I have,” Shauna admitted in a begrudging manner. “However, she is not worthy. She’s in the sixties and I’m in the seventies. It will be an unfair duel. My victory is guaranteed.”

“It doesn’t have to be you now, does it? There are plenty of others in the levels that match hers.”

Shauna turned her gaze away. “So what? I have no reason to accept the challenge even if she can propose it.”

“Might make right. Strength above all else. That’s the Aerysians’ belief. Yet, here you are, avoiding a situation where your beliefs are shaken and challenged.” Aedan chuckled. “And I’m supposed to be the false heir leading a false sect. What a joke.”

“Do you think that I do not know what you’re planning?”

“What am I planning?”

Shauna’s face curled with disgust. “How does someone like you get a consort from an elegant and graceful race such as the Fox-kin? Did you bewitch her with some kind of spell or curse?”

“...It’s the other way around. I’m the one who was bewitched by her. Even now, I can’t stop thinking about her… She’s just so… amazing.”

Shauna snorted. “Fine. I will accept her challenge and I will be her opponent.”

No sooner had she said that a soldier came running up to her. Shauna immediately recognised the soldier as one of the sentries. She could already tell what sort of news the soldier had brought.

“A small party is approaching. An Augur and a Fox-kin are leading the party. It’s them, my lady. And they were holding a torch with a long handle.”

Shauna nodded. “Go back to your station and let them approach.”

The soldier nodded back and disappeared from her view.

Shauna glanced sideways at Aedan. “After Dorvuss is done with you, I shall take my time with you.”

“If it would even come to that.”

Shauna spared Aedan no response and simply walked away. After a short while, Erin and her companions emerged into the clearing where the Aerysians had gathered. Right now, they stood on the sidelines, surrounding the place. Shauna stood in the centre, waiting for Erin to approach closer as she was the bearer of the torch.

Erin’s eyes darted around the place, searching for someone. She found him immediately and heaved a sigh of relief. No words were exchanged between the two, only an exchange of simple nods. But there was a slight hint of disbelief and curiosity on Aedan’s face. Something was different about Erin, he could tell.

“He’s alright…” Aera could finally loosen her shoulders when she saw Aedan was relatively unharmed. She knew he was hurt but at least he wasn’t maimed or crippled, just some light wounds that could be healed easily. Had she arrived an hour earlier, her impression would have been drastically different.

“Damn…” Lyra gasped. “If we had confronted them directly… we would have lost immediately… or worse.”

“Agree,” Siv nodded. “We are at a huge disadvantage with no advantage in sight.”

“What now?” Erin asked in a whisper.

“The representative will step forward and plant down the torch by their side,” Amyra answered.

Erin stepped forward and planted the torch by her side.

Shauna also stepped forward but not too close, leaving a few yards between them. “I accept your challenge, Lady Erynthea, consort of the false heir.”

“I’m not anyone’s consort and certainly no consort of this… false heir.”

“Be that as it may, your challenge is accepted. Name your terms.”

“Whatever your business or issue you have with Aedan, it will be nulled and forgotten.”

“Impossible. He possesses the inheritance of the Dragon God’s throne. As long as he has it, we will not let him go.”

“I suppose it’s worth a try…” Erin muttered. She had expected such a response. “In that case, Aedan is to be released from his captivity and if the Aerysians want him, your leader will have to come and capture Aedan himself instead of delegating it to his… lackeys.”

“...That’s not possible either.”

“Why not? The Aerysians value power, might, and strength. The one leading you all should be the exemplar of that belief, no? What better way to be an exemplar than to snatch the inheritance with his own hands rather than using his proxies? What you are doing here is just… contradictory to your beliefs. Aedan, the way he is now, is no more than a pathetic weakling which a greenhorn can even beat with little experience.”

Aedan snorted under his breath. “Bitch…”

Erin flashed him a triumphant smirk but only for a brief instance. She then turned back to Shauna. “So far, you have done nothing to convince me of your beliefs, seeing as how you have only been taking advantage of… convenient opportunities. This is a great opportunity for you to enforce and validate your beliefs in the eyes of outside parties.”

“...What if I win?”

“You can have Aedan and me.”

“What about your companions? They saw everything.”

“Aye, they saw everything. Therefore, they are witnesses. They can spread your glory here.”

“We have plenty of witnesses here already.” Shauna waved her arms around at the Aerysians. “They can do the same.”

“Yes, but they are all Aerysians. It would be convincing if the tale is told by outsiders instead of from your own circle.”

“Is that so…”

“It is so.”

Shauna tutted. She wanted to refute but she saw the sense in Erin’s argument. The Aerysians had been far too dormant as of late. Not even most minstrels or bards knew of them anymore. Knowing this, she could only relent. “So it is… Very well. Next, rules of engagement.”

“Until one side submits or dies. Mercy will be given for the former option.”

As much as Shauna hated the idea of mercy, Erin was far too valuable to be killed, considering her connections and her race. She even had seven tails which was already a rarity in itself. “What about a handicap?”

“There’s no need for a handicap,” Erin answered with a reassuring smile.

“We have more than ten levels of difference.”

“There’s no need. You should know that I am… an anomaly.”

Shauna was reluctant to accept but if the other side insisted, there was nothing she could do. “Very well. It’s your loss. The result will not be open for discussion, whatever it may be.”

“I concur. So, do we have an agreement?”

“We do.”

“Good. Well then, shall we begin?” Erin asked and drew her sword out of thin air, a large sword with a single-edge blade that was slightly curved into the blunt side. The handle itself was the length of her forearm, encompassing around a quarter and more of the sword’s length.

Shauna cracked her neck and summoned a longsword moulded of flames into her hand. “I don’t wish to be remembered as a bully, so I shall fight you in your speciality.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you use your entire strength but suit yourself. Do you want to strike first?”

“You can have the first strike.”

“Alright,” Erin mused and lunged at Shauna with her sword raised.

Shauna swung her sword at the precise moment Erin also swung her own.

As the two blades clashed, one moulded of flames and one moulded of magic, sparks flew and sharp clangour of metal resounded. Something burst and from the sound of it, it was no metal but something intangible yet tangible.

“W-what?” Shauna gasped in disbelief at her flaming sword being slashed in two and the blade that destroyed her sword continued towards her.

Erin smiled. “You have my thanks for the first strike, Shauna.”