"Harold?!"
Marika, taken aback by the unexpected voice, calls out my name. She seems genuinely surprised, her eyes wide as she silently looks at me.
The atmosphere, unlike the warmth permeating from the gentle sunlight, takes a tense turn.
"What are you talking about...?"
Her face, half filled with curiosity and half clinging to a glimmer of hope, brightens up noticeably.
"Please entrust this to me. I will stand as the second for Princess Marika and fight on her behalf."
I make sure my voice carries, projecting loud and clear, emphasizing formality in my words to show respect.
"What..."
She seems to want to say something, her lips trembling as they part, but no words come out. She just meets my gaze.
"You're challenging the second-ranking student? How could you—"
"Trust me. You saw me last week, didn't you?"
I whisper to her, reminding her of the power assessment from the previous week. She should remember the display of my prowess: how I had demonstrated a magic far superior to others and how I had single-handedly triumphed against multiple opponents when she was kidnapped.
Though it felt a bit boastful to praise myself, now wasn't the time to be modest.
It seems she's somewhat convinced. The turmoil on her face suggests she's battling her inner doubts, but...
"I've never acknowledged you as my second, but... I'll make an exception this time."
She tries to put on a bravado, offering a smirk. However, it's apparent that she's masking her vulnerability.
She looks terrified, her body shivering, and her forced smile betrays her genuine feelings.
"Thank you. I'll be your sword, and in the face of this audacity, I promise to deliver a positive outcome."
Once again, I raise my voice to ensure as many students as possible hear me and then step into the arena.
"Hold on!"
However, a voice of dissent rings out.
As expected, Crown Prince Avram approaches with a dishappy expression.
"What do you mean by this? Why is a second-in-command like you intervening in the duel?"
He glares at me with a hint of anger. It's clear he planned to use this duel to discredit Marika and strip her of her right to the throne.
By presenting his second-in-command, he had a fallback in case of defeat: it wasn't him, but his subordinate who had failed.
However, if I participate on Marika's behalf, the risk of defeat diminishes. As mentioned earlier, blaming a subordinate's incompetence provides an excuse. If Marika herself had fought, it would have been more straightforward. Win or lose, it was all on her. But with me, it complicates matters.
"I humbly submit, in my modest opinion, that it seems fitting for each side's trusted second to face off."
Partly sarcastically, I use a formal tone, echoing his own.
"This is a favor I'm granting to Marika, a test of her worthiness as a candidate for the throne. This is not your place to interfere..."
He shouts at me with increased frustration and anger, but I calmly retort.
"Recognizing talent is an essential skill for a would-be king. If this is a contest to see who can identify and utilize the most capable individuals, then I believe it's perfectly in line with the original intent."
His prepared counter-argument seems to falter at my response. Frustration builds as he grinds his teeth, annoyed that things aren't going as he had planned. "Talk all you want... Do as you please."
It seemed that he had postponed his plan to eliminate her from the candidacy, as he clicked his tongue in frustration and turned away.
"Thank you. As Marika's representative, I will participate in this duel."
With the duel now settled, I too enter the arena.
"So, as Princess Marika mentioned earlier, your name is Harold? Though we're in opposition, let's maintain some decorum."
Unlike his master, this fellow seems to have some decency. As I step into the arena, he clenches his fist to his chest and bows his head slightly.
"I am Valen Sofran, a second-year student at Lagris Academy, ranked second in the entire school, and Crown Prince Avram's second-in-command."
He introduces himself with formality, and it's only right that I respond in kind.
"I am Harold Wicker, a transfer student in the first year at Lagris Academy, serving as the second-in-command to Princess Marika."
I too bow slightly, and as I refocus on him, he suddenly remarks,
"I don't mean to provoke, but... I guarantee I can bring you down with a single spell. It's a testament to how far I'm willing to go for the Crown Prince."
His unwavering loyalty and determination, devoid of personal sentiment, were in some ways admirable.
"In that case, I too will decide the outcome using just one low-tier spell. It will demonstrate Princess Marika's ability to recognize true talent."
He smiles faintly at my words, and for a brief moment, a heavy silence dominates the setting.
"Is he impressive for a first-year... or just reckless?"
"I can't take my eyes off. Something big is about to happen."
"At first glance, it seems Valen would win."
The students around, watching this spectacle, contribute to the tension with their varied opinions.
Avram, with an even more serious expression, observes the two of us.
"Harold..."
Marika looks at me, her face full of worry and fear.
"The duel ends when one side surrenders or is deemed unable to continue."
A student, acting as the referee, announces that the duel's climax is imminent.
As the atmosphere reaches a palpable tension...
"Begin!"
The duel is announced.
" ...! " Valen, the senior, is the first to act. Drawing a magic circle with both hands, he begins his spell chant.
"Turn everything to ashes and obliterate—"
But before he can complete it, a gust of sand disrupts his vision and the spell.
"Cough! Cough?! No magic— ugh!"
Inhaling the sand, he's left coughing, and his interrupted spell fades.
Now that he's vulnerable...
I dash forward, using the fastest speed I can muster.
This match is freestyle, meaning every available tactic and strategy is allowed.
Thud!
"Ugh?!"
A dull sound follows, and Valen cries out in pain.
I've lunged at him, targeting his solar plexus with a physical blow. He expels all the air from his lungs, in clear agony.
For someone like me who doesn't chant, it might seem trivial, but for most mages, voicing their chants is essential. Longer chants mean their lungs are vulnerable, making it a critical weakness.
"Ch... choke..."
That's why targeting this weak spot, a vulnerability for most people, ensures a quick victory.
"I... can't... breathe..."
Soon, he collapses on the ground, clearly incapacitated and in pain.
Though my physical strength is average, the impact is also proportional to speed. Aside from handling magic, I also had the agility almost on par with the top swordsmen. So, I used this simple yet effective method to win.
Though I could control my power, most of the magic I wield is for one-on-one combat and is non-lethal. Hence, I couldn't just cast a powerful spell recklessly.
That's why I adopted this strategy: rather than getting into trouble using magic, I'd physically neutralize the opponent.
"The match is over! The winner is Harold!"
The conclusion was so swift that those watching couldn't even react immediately.
"What? It's over already?"
"Did that student named Harold really win?"
"I didn't see it... it was too fast."
"I thought he specialized in magic? His physical ability seems on par with the top swordsman, right?"
After a brief pause, the students started voicing their doubts. But just as they began to accept the reality...
"Liar!"
An enraged man approached me.
"What did you do?!"
Unable to accept the outcome, he vents his frustration at me.
"There was no rule saying we had to use magic, right? I kept my word."
In the brief duel, I had done just as I promised: using a single, low-tier magic spell, which simply created a small gust of wind with almost zero lethality, to overpower Senior Valen.
"You...!"
He's clearly angry, but he seems to realize there's nothing more to say and remains silent.
"Can we consider it water under the bridge?"
Recalling Avram's earlier words, he still remained speechless.
"Well... see you around."
He takes a deep breath, as if trying to regain composure, then leaves with a cryptic remark.
"That student... he seems extraordinary!"
"He's really a magic major?"
"I've heard rumors of an exceptional male transfer student in the first year!"
As he left, the heavy atmosphere in the training ground lifted, and the students began to get louder.
"Harold!"
And from behind, a familiar voice called out.
"Thank you so much for fighting for me!"
Marika runs towards me with a bright smile.
"It's nothing. Nothing major happened."
Aris, who had been observing from afar, also approached.
"I was honestly expecting a grand display like last week. Was I expecting too much?"
He said with a light-hearted tone.
"It wasn't necessary to use lethal magic. I did what I thought was best."
I reassured Marika, who still seemed uneasy.
"Congratulations, Princess. You managed to maintain your position."
However, she slowly lowered her head and looked at me.
"To be honest, it was all thanks to you, Harold... I'm truly grateful."
With a lingering emotion in her eyes, she suddenly looks down.
"Harold..."
She hesitates, fidgeting with her hands.
"I've been thinking about this from the beginning... I want to ask you now."
What could she be so hesitant to say?
"Can you... truly become my second-in-command?"
She finally reveals her true feelings, eagerly awaiting my response.
"I promise to treat you with the utmost respect."
"Please... become my one and only knight."
Some parts of it bothered me.
The words she chose echoed in my head.
My retainer... the only knight...?
Suddenly, an excruciating headache, like a flood, overcame me.
I fell to the ground, clutching my head.
"What?!"
"Harold?!!"
The two ladies called out to me in a mix of shock and concern.
Retainer... knight... the only one...? Why are these words driving me to the brink of insanity?
With another surge, the intensifying pain made me want to scream like a child.
What is this pain...? Suddenly... Ugh!
The pain was so overwhelming that it hindered any coherent thought.
The sudden pain felt unjust, but something was off...
Uh... What?
The pain persisted, but I felt something else too.
It seemed like I could hear something...
A voice, unfamiliar yet comforting, echoing in my head...
'Co... me... to... me...'
I could only catch fragments, making it hard to understand.
But then...
'To me...'
The hypnotic voice in my head became clearer and clearer... and soon, it brought a whisper of understanding. 'My knight, you've come to me again today.'
What was that voice I just recalled?
But before I could ponder on that curiosity, my vision started to fade, and my consciousness quickly slipped away.