Night had already fallen when Elizir opened his eyes. His body was wrapped in bandages like a mummy, and a dull pain coursed through him from head to toe.
"It’s not over yet..." he murmured, barely conscious.
The next second, a blow to the head snapped him back to reality.
"Ouch..." he groaned, realizing where he was.
"Lucy..." he said, surprised to see her.
Lucy was sitting on a chair by his bedside, phone in hand, playing a mobile ga.
"Tsk, what an idiot... barely awake, and you’re still thinking about the duel?"
"The duel?"
Elizir flinched and tried to sit up, but the pain stopped him.
He settled for asking, "Did I lose?"
Lucy, though tempted to strike him one more ti, replied, "No, you won. Your opponent gave up before you collapsed."
"I see..." he said, clenching his fists.
He looked dejected despite hearing about his victory.
Lucy didn’t say a word and returned to her ga.
Elizir, however, glanced at the slightly open window and noticed sothing.
"You stayed to take care of ... all this ti?"
Lucy tilted her head.
"No, I just took Fidri’s turn. After , it would be Gracia’s turn."
Elizir seed a little disappointed by her answer. He hesitated, then asked another question.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
Lucy’s eyes left her phone, the question echoing in her head.
Her face turned embarrassed, but before she could answer, soone burst into the room.
"You’re finally awake!" exclaid Arnaud as he entered.
Lucy, anwhile, left with a slam of the door.
Elizir felt a lump in his throat.
---
Arnaud bowed.
"My apologies... I let myself go. It’s my fault you’re in such a pitiful state."
Elizir sat up despite the pain and bowed too, though he remained on the bed.
"No, it’s who should thank you for giving everything against ."
Arnaud scratched his head.
"No, I dishonored myself by not giving my all against another knight."
Elizir didn’t comnt but asked, "Why did you give up? I was the one who had lost."
Arnaud laughed.
"What are you talking about? The victory was yours. The determination and resilience you showed were more than worthy. Even the other knights present acknowledged it, and none of them showed any resentnt. Be proud: you were stronger than ."
Elizir didn’t accept that.
"No, you won. I lost."
"I’m telling you, you earned the victory."
"No, I’m saying it’s you... you’re stubborn."
"Who are you calling stubborn? Look at your state, you’re the winner. End of story."
As the two got caught up in a childish argunt, Fidri entered and gave both of them a whack on the head.
"Be quiet! We can hear you across the city!"
"But..."
"Let explain..."
Both tried to reply, but Fidri shouted, "Silence!"
A silence followed, and then the three of them started laughing at themselves, finding their behavior ridiculous.
Unknowingly, a friendship was forming between the three n.
---
The next morning, as Elizir seed to have regained so strength, Renard summoned them to the city council chamber.
A long table was set in the center of the room.
Renard stood at one end, clad in his usual armor, with Arnaud behind him, wearing a serious expression.
Lucy, Gracia, Fidri, and Elizir took the seats once reserved for the elders.
Renard, without ntioning the duel from the previous day, got straight to the point.
"A knight has but one word, and as promised, the city of Orion will fight alongside you against the duchy’s invasion."
Elizir and the others did not hide their relief.
"Thank you! With your help, we are sure to succeed."
Renard continued, "All able-bodied fighters will join you. But, though I fear nothing, is there anyone among you capable of rivaling a duke?"
Renard was inwardly embarrassed to ask this, for, though he had never encountered a transcendent or a duke, he had heard in the tales and legends of their kingdom the horrors of those who stood at that level. Even proud of his own strength, he couldn’t imagine standing against individuals capable of leveling a mountain in a single strike.
Elizir puffed out his chest, ready to explain their confidence, but before he could speak:
"You won’t have to worry about that."
A man appeared in the room. In his thirties, his ears pierced with three pairs of earrings, jet-black hair cut in a military style, frail and slim body.
He had a rebellious aura, leaning against a wall, wearing a black coat exclusive to the Bureau of the archives and Exploration .
This man was none other than San, a master.
"You?" exclaid Renard as he stood. Until now, he had never been able to express his gratitude to the man who had saved his life.
Fidri and the others recognized San from his coat and the master insignia he bore, and they stood in respect.
San barely glanced at them, noting they were intact, before turning to Renard.
"You need not worry. As for the duchy and the two marquises, we’ll handle it."
Renard looked relieved.
("Is there a transcendent on their side? If so, we still have a chance...")
"I see. In that case, we will fight without concern. When will the duchy arrive?"
San thought for a mont before answering, "They’re already here, and it started three days ago."
"What?" they all exclaid.
Lucy searched her phone but found no ssage from Iris or even from Sirius.
"What’s the situation?" Fidri asked.
All eyes turned to San.
He remained silent for a second before replying, "If I trust my junior (Sirius), the duchy forces reached the coast three days ago. Nevertheless, their scouts had been there even earlier."
San fell silent, as if that were all he had to say.
"How many are there?" Renard asked. Arnaud, though wanting to speak, remained silent.
San consulted a piece of paper he pulled from his coat.
Reading it as if it were the most mundane shopping list:
"One duke, two marquises, eight counts, a thousand barons, and over twenty thousand miners."
He put the paper back in his coat before rembering sothing.
"Oh yes, my junior (Sirius) asked for a favor."
"What?" Lucy grew impatient.
"All of you... you must flee."
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