“Oh, is that so. You are really a scholar.”
“I want to know how strong is the person who captured Fouquet; can you show it to me?”
“Show you?”
Wardes pulled out his wand from his belt, “Let me put it this way.”
“A duel?” Saito replied with an icy smile.
“Exactly.”
Wardes and Saito smiled together. Taking one look at the still sleeping Guiche, the Japanese boy thought I am not sure just how strong Wardes is anyway, but I have beaten Guiche already and captured Fouquet. He is the Captain of the Magic Knights, and looks like he has some abilities too. But I shouldn’t be so far behind.
Let's show Louise’s fiancé what Gandálfr is capable of Saito thought.
“Where do you want to duel?”
“This hotel used to be a castle designed for repelling Albion invasions, there is a parade ground in the center of it.”
The two then left for the parade ground for nobles together. The ancient practice ground was now a place for debris and refuse with empty beer barrels and crates scattered all over the place. It was hard to believe that a long time before that royal flags with staffs cut from stone were decorating this wasteland.
“Before, maybe you don’t know, under the reign of Philip III, this often used to be a place to host duels between nobility.”
“Ha Ha.”
Saito took out Derflinger from his shoulder and the rune on his left hand flared into light.
“In a time long ago, the king still had the power to duel, Nobles from the king’s time… a time when Nobles were noble. Who risked life for fame and honor, we nobles fought with magic. But it is usually fought over boring issues, right, as if the two were fighting for a lover.”
Suddenly Saito’s face grew serious, pulled out his sword, but Wardes stopped him with his left hand.
“What?”
“There are certain rules regarding dueling, we don’t have a witness here.”
“Witness?”
“Calm down, one is coming” Wardes replied, and Louise appeared from nearby. She was dumbfounded as she saw the two.
“Wardes, you called me over and I came, what are you two preparing to do?”
“I want to test his abilities a little.”
“Really, let’s stop this nonsense. Now is not the time for these kind of stupidities.”
“It is true, but the noble-born wants a duel, he really wants to find out if I am strong or weak.”
Louise stared at her familiar, “Stop now, that is an order.”
Saito did not reply, only stared at Wardes.
“What? Really?”
“Since the witness is here, let us begin.”
Wardes pulled out his wand from his belt again, entered a combat stance, with his wand pointing at Saito.
Saito responded “I'm not that reliable, so I don’t know how to go hard or light.”
Wardes responded with a light laughter, “No problem, hit me with everything.”
Saito pulled out Derflinger and leapt forward with a slash. The magic knight parried the attack with his wand, and the two weapons rang solidly as steel clashed steel, sending sparks in all directions. While Wardes’ weapon was merely a small wand, he was able to block Saito’s long sword without a sweat.
One would have expected Wardes to retreat backward, but no one expected the hurricane-like wind that was caused when the two clashed, and Wardes' increased speed as he charged toward Saito. The Japanese boy responded with a chopping strike that broke Wardes’ advance, with the black cape of the Magic Knights flipping in the wind. The captain in response leapt a few steps back, and then reversed back to his stance.
Why isn’t that guy using his magic? Saito thought.
Derflinger mumbled in response, “You can’t make it, he is looking down on you.”
Saito’s heart burst in fury. Wardes that bastard, he can have the same speed as me with the Gandálfr runes glowing. With only one exchange, Saito could tell the difference between Guiche and Wardes.
“A Magic Knight isn’t someone who only chants magic.” Wardes answered with a tip of his hat.
“The way we chant is fully specialized for battle, the way we hold our wands, the motion we use to charge… the way we use our wands as swords, complete with spellcraft. This is the basic of the basics for soldiers.”
Saito lowered his body slightly, and began to spin his blade like a windmill. Wardes apparently already saw through Saito’s attack style, and parried the next attack without even taking a breath.
“You are really fast; no one can mistake you for a commoner, truly the familiar of the legends.” Blocking Saito’s blow, Wardes used his wand and swung at the back of Saito’s head. With his brain and nose on fire, the Japanese boy collapsed on the ground with a thud.
“But this is it, you are fast, but your movements are those of an amateur, you cannot beat a real mage with this.”
Saito leapt forward like a bullet and released a brand new assault.
But, with one step aside and a jump, Wardes easily dodged Saito again with the speed of the wind.
“In other words, you are unable to protect Louise.” For the first time, Wardes entered combat stance, with a speed impossible for a normal person to track, launched an attack on Saito. Just as the boy realized what was going on, he took the full attack head on.
“Dell yill soll la windy.” With one hand waving the sparking wand, Wardes chanted with a low voice.
Saito realized Wardes’ movement and attack all followed a pattern.
“Partner! Bad news! Magic is coming!” Derflinger screamed, when he realized the whisper chant was magic…
Bam, suddenly the winds rushed together, creating an invisible force that slammed into Saito with the strength of a hammer, knocking him a good 10 meters away and into a pile of beer barrels, smashing all of them as he crashed down.
In the instant Saito landed on the wine barrels he dropped his sword. As Saito tried to retrieve the weapon, Wardes stepped on it, then struck Saito with the wand. Derflinger screamed “Get your foot of me!”, but Wardes paid it no heed and spoke, “Did you find out who is the winner and loser?”
Saito tried to get up, but the pain prevented him from moving. The boy then realized that blood was flowing down his head.
Louise fearfully came over.
“Do you understand Louise? He cannot protect you.” Wardes told her calmly.
“Because... because aren't you the commander of the Magic Knights? The secret group that was assigned to protect the queen?? Isn't it natural to be strong?”
“True, but aren’t you going to Albion and might do battle? When you are surrounded by strong enemies, you also plan to say ‘we are weak, please put away your wands?’”
Louise became silent, and then looked at Saito with worry. From his head came more fresh blood and the little girl drew out her handkerchief in a panic, but was stopped by Wardes.
“Leave him, Louise.”
Wardes grabbed on to Louise’s hands.
“But…”
“Let's leave him there for a bit.”
Louise hesitantly bit her lips for a moment and, with another tug from Wardes, left.
Saito was left behind, on his knees, unable to move a single bit.
Derflinger quipped, “Total defeat.”
Saito didn’t respond. Losing in front of Louise made him very sad.
“But that noble is very strong! Don’t worry about it partner, that guy has a lot of skill. Maybe even a Square Mage. Even if you lost, it is not shameful.”
Yet, even if this was true, Saito said nothing.
“Losing in front of the girl you have a crush on is truly a despicable event. But don’t look so down, or I will cry as well... Hey, I remember something, what was it? It happened a long time ago… Oh that! Wait!”
Saito put Derflinger back to his sheath, silencing it in the process. Dusting off his pants, the boy took a heavy step forward.