So, Oda had been a heretic all along. Alisson was hardly surprised. The kind of esoteric behavior that she displayed rarely came from a Nekomata’s personality alone. He had followed Celis from a distance to be safe, but evidently Oda grossly underestimated her.


    Regardless, he instructed Celis not to tell anyone about the incident, even the apprentices. This was common with most heretic activity, but Alisson especially wanted to remain under the radar. Of course, he had to later instruct Celis on how to pen a report to High Command about her side of the story and all events pertaining to Oda that Celis had witnessed. Well, it was behind them now. Tomorrow, they would depart for the Queendom.


    Firstly however, Alisson was to take Lady Salchyon up on her duel.


    “Are you really sure about this, Alis? You know your father will be furious if he learns that the Nuam heir lost to the Salchyon heir…And Lord Salchyon all the same if you win…”


    Daventdale asked concernedly before Alisson entered the arena.


    Such duels between powerhouses were rare. Alisson needed to make the most of this. He made sure that him and Louise fought in as public of an area as possible. There was a proving ground owned by the Salchyon house that hosted a large enough arena, with seating to boot. It wasn’t as grandiose as the ones they had in human lands, it could barely seat more than a few hundred people. Sidonia wasn’t one for entertainment spectacles on the daily.


    Regardless of the paucity of seating, word would get around fast of the outcome of the fight.


    With one last deep breath, Alisson stepped into the arena. This was not a matter of life or death. Just a simple spar. That’s all. He wore his typical white cloak and the usual armor under it, and had chosen a common rapier. He had nothing else. No items, extra weapons, and he most definitely wouldn’t use his Bacilla. This was by no means a real fight. He wouldn’t even carry extra knives he typically used for throwing.


    The crowd roared as he entered. Louise was already waiting in the center, leaning on a voulge, smirking at him. She was adorned in large plate armor, among the heaviest of armor in the world. Alisson looked quite lacking by comparison. Her armor and blonde hair shined in the sunlight, her blue eyes catching the gleam of the sky. Celis was in the crowd, but he couldn’t spot her anywhere.


    “So Alis…Finally man enough to face me after all these months…I know you wanted a public setting, but this is way not your style!”


    Louise said with a smile. Alisson didn’t bother to reply and drew his rapier, sinking into his stance, with his blade over his elbow.


    Once the fight commenced, both sides turned into a blur. Louise may have been adorned with that armor of hers, but she moved just as fast as Alisson. They clashed several times within the first few seconds, sparks flying as his rapier collided with her voulge and armor. Alisson didn’t try to pull anything fancy, he would just hold his own.


    And that is what he did. Louise rushed him down numerous times, and Alisson retreated, sometimes with a parry but never riposting. This continued for a long while as both sides had no fancy tools or techniques to show. The audience started to get visibly bored with the display, some even booing. Louise’s stupid quips seemed to do little to entertain them throughout.


    Once Louise concluded the fight had reached its climax, if such a monotonous display could’ve had one, she gave a demon’s smile, and a rush of steam escaped the folds in her armor, before the plates of her armor fell from her body. She was left only in a black gambeson, as she rushed toward Alisson. Her speed had nearly tripled, and Alisson was quickly overwhelmed. It was her signature trump card; one that the crowds had seen many times before.


    Quickly, Alisson was worn down physically, and grew exhausted. Alisson saw fit to use his Opensen now – With a flash of light, feline ears and two feline tails now appeared on his body. This seemed to do little however, as the onslaught from Louise, who hadn’t even used her own manifestation, still controlled the flow of the battle.


    That wasn’t to say all Nekomata had their manifestations at their beck and call, but Louise was certainly one of them – She simply didn’t need the boost in vitality that they provided at this moment.


    He found himself on his ass not long after, her voulge pointed at his face.


    The crowd roared, with both cheers from those who preferred Louise to win and boos from those who had been betting on Alisson.


    “And with that I think it’s clear for everyone to see!” Louise stuck her voulge into the ground and loudly declared to the crowd: “Demons are stronger than fairies!”


    She said, a hand motioning to Alisson. He rubbed his head with a frown, but his eyes showed no traces of anger. Louise looked to him, and continued quieter, “At least, that’s what you said I should say…I still think its dumb!”


    Nobody but Alisson could’ve possibly heard her over the drone of the crowd. He looked to the watchers, and how they looked on back at him with faces of disappointment and surprise; That the great Alisson Vi Nuam, would be such a weak and boring opponent.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    …


    Later in the day, Alisson made his way to the Rolaign’s armory to retrieve the gear he would be personally using for the mission. At one of the kiosks, an attendant passed over to him the items that he had requested, or rather, been allowed, to use. Among them, a simple gambeson, and a ‘defensive’ armament. It was a folding blade of sorts. Alisson stared at the oddly shaped weapon quizzically.


    “I’m sorry milord, but this is the best we could do…”


    The Nekomata behind the bars of the kiosk spoke softly. It was late in the day, and there weren’t many there.


    “Nonsense.” Alisson shook his head. “I was expecting something less than a dagger – you have done me a great service…”


    It was the truth. Alisson wasn’t expecting any sort of actual weapon, but it looked like someone in the armory division was looking out for him. This weapon looked custom made for the occasion – By folding like it did, it technically complied with the standards laid out for grade one items, while still being a blade of sufficient length. Of course, it was still less than ideal – The random rapier Alisson had used for the duel earlier in the day was more desirable.


    Even then, nothing was comparable to the weapon he had used whilst in the north – One that he had been forced into handing back to armory, where no one else would even have the affinity to use it. Alisson sighed, attaching it to the back of his hip; He would just have to make do.


    “Thank you.”


    He bobbed his head and made his way back to the Nuam compound. Marenix had been waiting for him outside.


    “Master…You dueled Lady Salcyhon earlier in the day?”


    “That’s correct.”


    Marenix averted his eyes while they walked.


    “Why didn’t you say anything to either me or Ashlynde then?”


    “It wasn’t that important.” Alisson gruffly replied. Marenix’s eyes widened at him. “Just be happy that you had some time off. You’re ready for tomorrow, I hope?”


    Marenix bobbed his head. “Yes, master. It’ll be the first time I’ll have gone so far from the homeland but...I’m ready.”


    The cloudy sky above started to rain slightly and after some time, Marenix once more probed him, “But master…you…lost. To Lady Salchyon. Isn’t that…a bad thing?”


    “Yes, it’s very bad. I’ll certainly be losing sleep over it.” Alisson replied blankly.


    Marenix, his apprentice, was certainly far faster to question Alisson than Celis was when she was his apprentice. But that was a good thing. Marenix seemed to have spent far too long babysitting the more na?ve Ashlynde. He was certainly mature for his age, but he was still inexperienced.


    Marenix furrowed his brow in response at Alisson.


    “Word has already spread far, master…They say you and Louise made top-tier fighting about as interesting as a Kitsune tending a bonsai…Wouldn’t that hurt your reputation a lot? Won’t it make people think you’re weak…?”


    Alisson smirked at Marenix, “Yes, yes it would.” Before looking blankly away. “We’ll be in the Queendom soon. You don’t have to think about politics or reputations while we’re out and about, apprentice. Just worry about staying alive.”


    “Y-yes, master.”


    Despite responding in the affirmative, Alisson could still see Marenix stealing wary glances at him out of the corners of his vision.


    He would tell him everything in due time, but this wasn’t the time or place for that.


    …


    Rain hounded his room’s windows as Alisson was awoken by a storm early in the morning. Celis, sleeping beside him blissfully, was the first thing he saw. After petting her for a while, he arose, seeking to wash his face with some water.


    Today was the day they would depart for the Queendom. Alisson would leave the safety and familiarity of his homeland once more. It all seemed so trivial now after his last voyage. This was just a simple, childish task in comparison. Despite this, he felt void in his stomach from traveling away from his home, an irrational fear. Faraway places had been dangerous to him before, so certainly they were going to be dangerous again; Something along that line of reasoning.


    Alisson looked into the mirror before him after dashing water on his face. His torso seemed ever so slightly more tone and large than it was a year ago, but that might have just been his imagination.


    He stared grimly into his own eyes, concentrating on them, as to lose focus in the rest of his face.


    He suddenly saw the face of his older sister in that mirror. A woman with long, yellowed hair like his own. He could only briefly meet her gaze before he averted his eyes, his heart pumping and adrenaline wafting into his bloodstream. He doused more water on his face, and the visage disappeared. He took a deep breath, listening to the rain falling against the keep.


    The sun had barely risen, he could still sleep in for a while longer. He deftly slipped back into the sheets with Celis, which over time calmed his beating heart, and his quivering body.


    ...


    “Welcome aboard! I swear on my ship and crew we’ll get you to Ahvaratsu in one piece!”


    Maerene, the captain of the Machavelli, declared proudly before the apprentices and other passengers that hadn’t ever met her. Their trip from Sidonia to the harpy capital had been uneventful, and now, they were to set off. In Alisson’s entourage were a great deal of powerful specialists.


    Those in the dark about the power of the Machavelli were dubious that some ‘Marene Ad Maccu’ and an unknown ship could really weather the seas to their destination. Alisson had to assure them that yes, Marene and the Machavelli, although obscure and fresh onto the Sidonian naval board, were indeed competent. Of course, Alisson knew nothing of naval warfare, but a word from him was enough to temper the party.


    As the Machavelli left port, him and Celis stood near the bow of the ship, feeling the sea winds rush against them.


    “We’re going back out again…” Celis murmured.


    Alisson smiled gingerly at her, and put a hand on her head, petting her while no one was around. “This time won’t last as long as before, I promise.”


    Celis smiled back.


    “We’ll get the ball rolling while we’re away.” Alisson stopped petting her and looked grimly into the horizon. “With every action we take we’ll float further down the stream. Eventually the current will be so strong that we won’t be able to go back.”


    Celis peered up at him. “But this is the only way, right?”


    Alisson shook his head. “There are other ways…” His eyes suddenly sharpened. “But those would require that we give up our dignity as independent living beings. We’ll make our own choices. We’ll take our own risks. We’ll undo what the world has wrought.”


    ***


    <hr>


    End Movement 0