Matylda is right of course. There is another group approaching our position. I still take a moment to inspect my blade before I put it away. Blocking like I have really isn''t good for the edge. I''ll have to put my whetstone to good use later on. Once I''m done with this ordeal.


    The group approaching is of a similar size to our own. The composition is a little different though. There is, of course, the chubby lad that challenged me in the first place. At his side walk two other young nobles who possess a passing resemblance with him. Not brothers, probably, but maybe cousins? Yes, the latter probably. I can only assume that one will be his second and the other his witness.


    Oh! Of course he would get some other youngsters of a similar age instead of anyone else. His immediate family probably isn''t aware of the exact circumstances of this duel and he would much rather it stay that way! It''s almost silly enough to make me laugh.


    The two who follow behind the trio make me reconsider though. Justyna I''m already familiar with. Her presence isn''t exactly unexpected either. For one she has a personal stake in this too. And on the other hand she offered to ask her brother to officiate the event. The brother who apparently is the captain of the night watch.


    He isn''t that much older than Justyna. Or at least he doesn''t look like he is. In fact, I have to admit, he looks rather dashing in his armor. He doesn''t carry a lantern right now, but otherwise he pretty much matches what little I know of the night watch so far.


    He wears the same mix of armor I have seen the other men and women of the night watch wear. Simple but well maintained chain mail, with a plate collar and, a breastplate and gauntlets. There is a helmet too. He carries it under one arm though. And of course there is the black and white tabard with the white and black eye symbol. It makes the night watch almost look like a religious order.


    Behind the siblings follows another person, this one a much younger, although he too wears the tabard of the night watch. A squire maybe? Entirely possible. He certainly does most of the heavy lifting, as he carries not one, but two matching, sheathed swords.


    It seems that so far Wiktor''s and Jerzy''s predictions about him are spot on. The man immediately takes control of the situation, the moment he reaches us. Neither my opponent nor I get a chance to get in a word.


    Yet, at the same time I can''t help but notice the dirty look he shoots Wiktor. It seems the two have a history. Maybe I should inquire about it. One of these days anyway. Not right now though.


    His voice rings out loud an clear, despite the omnipresent mist muffling just about every other noise. Is it a skill at work? Are there skills to augment your voice for public speeches? It sounds not exactly implausible.


    “Both parties who wish to settle their differences through this duel are present, yes? Seconds and witnesses as well?”


    My opponent is the first to answer. He sounds forceful and angry. His companions move to his sides as he replies.


    “Yes!”


    I follow suit. I do my best to sound calm and well tempered though. As I speak up, both Matylda and Wiktor move up to stand at my side too.


    “Yes.”


    Our arbitrator nods satisfied. He is still not really happy with the situation though. That much is obvious. He continues unabated anyway.


    “The purpose of this duel is to settle a difference of opinion, not to commit cold blooded murder without fear of legal consequences. Thus this will be a duel to the first blood. If either party kills their opponent, or continues to fight after first blood is drawn, they will be held accountable for their actions. No exceptions will be made. Do you understand?”


    Once again we answer in turn. First my opponent, then I.


    “Yes.”


    “Yes.”


    Once again Justyna''s brother nods. Then he speaks up once more.


    “I want both of you to use an identification skill on each other. Anyone ready to cross blades to settle a difference of opinion, should be well aware of what they get themselves into. Please do so now.”


    He is barely done talking, when I can feel the unpleasant sensation, I by now have learned to associate with an identification skill being used on me, wash over me. A moment later my opponent snorts disparagingly.


    I in turn furrow my brows and focus my attention on the chubby lad to activate my [Identify] skill. A little of my Mana drains away and I''m rewarded with a brief divine whisper relaying some basic information about him.


    [Karul, Duelist (Air, Common, Level 9)]This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    He has a single class and not even an uncommon one at that. His level isn''t all that impressive either. That on its own isn''t terribly impressive. Sadly I don''t know his skills. I suspect that they are well tailored to his class. Probably unlike mine which are all over the place. Is that an advantage though? Or a disadvantage?


    I better not try to tank a hit from him. Not during this duel anyway, when a single nick to draw just a few drops of blood, will be enough for him to win. I can''t fool around this time. I have to be true to my word. I have to strike first and I have to strike true. And of course I have to make sure not to kill him. That makes it a little harder.


    Most importantly right now though, I refrain from showing any disrespect, unlike him. For me this about building a public image as much as anything else after all. Leaving a good first impression with Justyna''s brother might just pay off in the long run.


    The man in question speaks up once again, once I let him know with a nod, that I have satisfied my curiosity.


    “You will be using the swords provided by me for this duel instead of your own weapons. These are weapons of equal length and weight, forged by the hand of the same smith for the very purpose to serve in situations like this one. Neither is better or worse than the other in any way.”


    He turns to face his squire.


    “If you would, please.”


    The squire moves over to my opponent first, allowing him to pick one of the two swords he is carrying.


    Is this a status thing? Well, never mind. It doesn''t really matter. The swords are identical after all. I simply grab the other one with a nod when he comes over to me.


    I take a moment to slip the scabbard with my own sword off my sword belt to replace it with this one. It feels a little off. It isn''t quite the same as mine after all. I take a few steps and twist and turn this way and that too, to familiarize myself with it. Then, after handing my own weapon to Wiktor for safekeeping, I draw the loaner sword and give it a few practice swings.


    Karul, my opponent does the same. Neither of us sheathes the weapon again once we are done. Instead we just stand there, eyeing each other up while we wait for Justyna''s brother to continue.


    He raises an arm, as he speaks up again, his gaze though is on the eastern horizon.


    “Are you ready?”


    the question is short and to the point. So are our answers, although Karul shows some signs of impatience.


    “Yes!”


    “Yes.”


    He doesn''t lower his arm right away though. It is pretty obvious what he is waiting for too. After all we are here to have a duel at dawn and the sun is not yet up over the horizon.


    It can''t be long now though. The sky is already lightening in the east where the sun will peek over the hills before long. Most of the stars have disappeared by now too. Only a few of the brightest, which probably are planets and not in fact stars, are still visible against the dark blue that starts to replace the pitch black of nighttime.


    As we wait, it appears as if my opponent''s patience is wearing thin though. He seems to have trouble holding back. He rocks back and forth on his feet, with his sword kept in a low ready stance.


    The lad''s impatience seems to be grating on our judge, but he refrains from speaking up. A single warning glance is all he sends Karul''s way. It is all it takes too.


    I in turn steady my breathing. My heart is beating fast too, but that is alright. My blood needs to be pumping right now after all. I take a moment to judge the distance in between me and Karul. Then I focus my attention on our arbitrator and his signal instead, as I shift to a ready stance mirroring my opponent as well. It will be any moment now.


    There! The first ray of the morning sun tickles my eyes! And as it does, the captain''s hand starts to descend. Even as it does he calls out.


    “Begin!”


    I''m moving the moment he is done speaking and so is my opponent.


    From the very start it is obvious to me that he isn''t nearly as fast as I am. Is it because he is hauling around too much weight? Or is the lacking agility for another reason? In the end it doesn''t matter. Not really. All that matters is that he is too slow.


    Unlike him I don''t aim for a body hit either. My aim are the fingers of his sword hand from the very start.


    His eyes widen in realization, but by then it''s too late. He tries to pull back, aborting his attack, but it''s too little to late.


    He is lucky though. I don''t strike with the edge. The loaner sword might not be as sharp as mine, but it would still be plenty sharp enough to take off a finger or two. Instead I strike with the flat. I don''t hold back in any other way though.


    [*Ding!* Hit! Karul''s Health reduced by 20!]


    Not bad for a hit that isn''t even a critical hit. It certainly is good enough to knock the sword out of his hand. The hit earns me a notification too.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Melee Weapons has leveled up to level 6!]


    In addition to the divine whisper I''m pretty certain that my [Blades] skill has improved a little too.


    These aren''t the only consequences either.


    A scream echoes through the quickly dispersing morning mist, as Karul cradles his sword hand close to his chest. He hasn''t lost any fingers, but there is blood dripping to the ground, no doubt about it. I wouldn''t be surprised if some of them are broken too.


    It barely takes a moment for indignation to replace his surprise. Not even that can completely mask his pain though, as he starts throwing accusations my way.


    “You dirty cheat! You started moving too soon!”


    Anger starts to cloud the face of Justyna''s brother, but he doesn''t have to express it in the end. His sister beats him to it.


    “She did not. You are just too slow! Maybe you would have won if you weren''t lugging around so much useless lard.”


    In the end her brother simply nods in agreement, while Karul''s face starts to grow ever more red.


    “Indeed. She did not in any way cheat. She has clearly won the duel by fair means.”


    I hand my sword to the squire, who immediately starts to clean what little blood there is from the blade. After removing the sheath from my belt too and replacing it with my own more familiar weapon again, I decide to address the steaming young nobleman, my voice even and without any emotion coloring it.


    “I have told you before. I''ll tell you again. If you draw a weapon on me, I''ll strike first and I''ll strike hard. Be thankful that lady Justyna got her brother to officiate. This could have ended much worse for you.”


    I wouldn''t admit it, but watching him pale as I feel my [Intimidate] skill improve a little is quite satisfying.