WARNING: This fanfiction is NanoFate and it is rated M for strong and/or violent content and situations, as well as intimate scenes between two women. If this type of content is not to your liking, please do not read it.

DISCLAIMER: MSLN Characters belong to their rightful owners. All the situations and characters presented in this work are fictitious, any similarity with real, historical, or present situations or individuals, it is not intentional.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTES: We are very glad to see the early update was well received. Hope we did not make you wait too long sammie-chan! Thank you duckie and skydragon28 for your comments! And IceSilverWolf... thank you for your kind words, I do not know if I am brave but what I do know is I am very lucky and it makes me incredibly happy to be, in a way, part of this amazing story.

Anyways... on to the story now...

"Till the End of Times" by Aleksei Volken

Chapter 10. DUEL

"Fate… did what?"

Precia looked at Olivie with disbelief drawn all over her face, but even before her cousin could repeat the announcement, the Hegemon crackled out in laughter, literally dropping back on the fluffy chair where she was sitting in her large room. Only Olivie and the people at her service could look for her in that space. Her own daughters had not been in Precia Testarossa's chambers in years.

Still laughing she could not stop repeating like a madwoman. "Oh Fate, Fate… wonderful Fate… I can't believe she decided to do that of all things! … Oh … it is incredible…"

Olivie watched her stand from the chair, and place her hands together in front of her face as if she was praying, pacing one way to the other without looking at her, while silently mumbling incoherent, unfinished sentences.

"... we'll have to capitalize on that… well yes… no… it'd be even better if…"

"Precia," Olivie called her several times until she finally had to yell to get her attention "Precia Testarossa!"

The Hegemon stopped abruptly and shot a harsh look at her cousin.

"Precia, Fate is your daughter for all Gods' sake. It seems you are delighted with the decision she made!"

Olivie's disbelief had all but started.

"Why, of course, I am delighted! ... Fate has taken a decision I never thought she would have the guts to take. Although it comes with some inconveniences... If she dies during Racheakt, Alicia is not as good a candidate as she is as heiress to the throne, and we will have to think about something then. However, if she wins…Oh, almighty Gods! If she wins... if she wins! She will be invincible! No one will question her right to the Belkan Throne anymore… Although then…"

Olivie was shocked hearing her cousin, barely restraining the urge to hit her.

"...if she wins… I will still have that foreign nuisance to which Fate has taken such… interest in," and then Precia's look transformed; she stopped pacing and her face turned stone rigid. "Fate has not taken that decision because it was in the Empire's best interest… she did it… to defend her… THAT…!"

Precia was breathing brokenly just by thinking how much that damn foreigner, as she called Nanoha, must really mean to Fate for her to be driven to take that decision. A determination that could cost her life… and incidentally, free her dearest wife from any commitment.

"I will have to teach Fate that is not the best way to make decisions… But first… she will have to win that duel… for the Empire's sake," Precia said, calming down but mortally serious. "Make sure that Carim herself… dusts off and polishes the Skoll and Hati box… it's been more than half a century since the last time they were used, and she will have the honor to say she attested to their use in Racheakt with the heiress to the Belkan throne herself."

— X —

As much as she tried to look untroubled and composed, Nanoha was not calm at all. Not ever since Signum had explained to her everything about the ritual duel of Racheakt and even less after speaking with Alicia.

Her sister-in-law was mortified and that did not help her with her own worries, even if she did not want to call them that.

Nanoha kept repeating to herself that she had no reason to worry. Fate had taken the decision she thought was best. But according to Signum and Alicia, she had taken that decision, in a way, to save and protect her.

"Why did she do that?" was the question that despite all her efforts repeated itself in Nanoha's mind. "I do not mean anything to her, we married for convenience… she has…" Nanoha could not continue. Yes, Fate had behaved in an inexcusable way towards her. Even Alicia had said so once or twice.

"Why? Why is she willing to risk her life for mine? Just to punish his friend for challenging her, trying to take 'something' that did not belong to him?"

Nanoha had decided to stay at the Tower with Alicia and the rest and wait for the duel, so they found themselves in the main yard of the walled tower, which was actually the nicest place of the complex if that word could even apply to an edification like the Tower.

The Tower was the main structure, to which access was gained by the lobby where the trial had just taken place, but unlike other major Belkan buildings, the Tower had, just like Stier Castle, a central walled courtyard that had to be crossed either on foot or by a carriage to reach the main building.

Nanoha had decided to wait there, outdoors but at least with the pale light of the sun over her and not with the dim light inside the Tower, with its unexpected shadows and that freezing humidity that reached right through the bone. It was mid-autumn but the days grew colder every day. She had only entered the vestibule for the trial and yet the whole building produced goosebumps in her. Standing right next to her since they decided to go outside, Hayate, Shamal, and Saber exchanged comments in a low voice.

The duel everyone was expecting would not take place in the Tower or Stier Castle… not even in the combat arena where the exhibition jousts took place on the celebration days. The duel had to happen, according to what Alicia told them, on sacred grounds since one, or both contenders would pledge their life to the Gods. That precision her sister-in-law had pointed out left Nanoha even colder despite the little sun shining over her. She had not considered that possibility but just like Alicia had said, they would fight to the death and no Belkan would be willing to lose their life as easily. Nanoha could clearly picture Veyron launching over Fate to kill her even at the expense of his own life.

According to Alicia, those sacred grounds were located in a glade, a clear in the forest where the natural altar of the Gods resides and where, on very special occasions, sacrifices took place. Shamal told them, afterwards as they waited, that according to her research on the Belkans, many years ago they performed human sacrifices to their gods but as years went by those ceremonies had stopped being a common practice. Except in cases like that duel where both contenders offered the spilled blood to the gods.

Shamal's story did not help Nanoha calm down at all, who could not even imagine how that sacred forest would look like. According to Alicia, it could not be described because it looked different to every person. It was part of its magic and she would have to be there and see for herself.

A little under an hour for the moment dictated for the duel to begin, Alicia approached Nanoha and the group.

"Fate is going to get ready for the final arrangements for the duel," Alicia told her without looking at anyone else but her. "She can only receive a single brief visit."

Alicia did not say more but Nanoha understood she was asking her to go see her.

"Alicia-chan…" Nanoha started, who with the familiarity that came from spending almost every day in touch with each other, finally trusted her enough to call her like that. "I don't know…"

"She just wants to talk with you," Alicia finally said in a contained voice.

Nanoha turned to see Hayate and Shamal and the look in both women told her she had to go.

Saber, on her side, took Nanoha's arm and when she turned to face the knight, Saber's serene voice confirmed what Nanoha already intuited. "None of us has the certainty of a victory in a duel and the best way to face one is… at peace."

No one, not even Alicia had told her that even if she did not wish for it, she was Fate's wife and it was her duty to go… Everyone seemed to agree that she should go on her own will, but she could not help but see it as one of those duties she despised so much thus admitting her resistance. However, what Saber said was true. What would happen if Fate...? Clenching her fists, Nanoha realized she did not want to even consider that possibility.

She hated Fate… but she did not want her to die. She hated Veyron… and she wished he would burn in hell for all eternity. She had to admit the difference. Maybe she would never get another chance.

"Where?" She finally asked after a while.

Alicia told her to follow her into the depths of the Tower.

Unlike Stier Castle where the basements were well lit, the ones in the Tower were dark, humid, and cold; with a kind of darkness that appeared to have a life of its own, it adhered to the walls waiting like a beast preying ready to jump on its victim. Nanoha wondered how many people had died within those walls and almost prayed to her protective deity. They finally arrived at a door that was watched by two Guards of the Doctrine.

Alicia had explained along the way that unlike the Imperial Guard, they owed indisputable obedience to the Hegemon, like all Belkans, but were at the service of the high priestess of the doctrine, Carim Gracia.

Carim would attest to the duel and since the duel had been announced and accepted, the contenders had to remain isolated from all contact, getting ready and purified for the encounter with the Gods.

Alicia indicated that Nanoha was the wife of the heiress and Marshal; the guards nodded and turned an hourglass standing by the entrance, cleared the way, indicating they would let her know when her time was over.

Nanoha felt a slight oppression in her chest when she glanced at the hourglass; the sand was falling too fast.

When she entered the room, she found Fate removing the protections of the light and elegant armor she had used for the occasion. Signum was assisting her and in a chair she could see, carefully folded, the cape she had worn for the trial and her sword, resting on the table.

As much as she looked around she could not find any battle armor or weapons around.

"Nanoha…" Fate said, looking and smiling at her, oddly enough, in a kind way. It seemed as if they were finally cordially reuniting after a long while and not as if they had been fighting against each other since the very first second they met. For Nanoha, it did not seem like Fate's attitude was that of someone about to face a life-or-death struggle, either.

"I am glad you came. We don't have much time, listen to me carefully," and noticing Nanoha's suspicious look, added, "Please Nanoha, it's really important. I wouldn't have asked... for you to come… if it wasn't, believe me… please."

Just as it had happened to Fate the night before when Nanoha had used the word 'please' to make her leave the room, for Nanoha it was also disconcerting to find Fate in such a moderate attitude. The thing that confused her the most was the way in which Fate was looking at her, in a deep, sad, passionate, intense way… all at once.

Fate allowed Signum to undo the leather straps that held her breastplate in place and when she removed it, leaving her with only a light white camisole, approached her wife while gesturing to Signum to wait for a moment.

"Nanoha… I…" Fate started to say while she got closer to Nanoha, stopping in front of her, as close as she could dare be before Nanoha would try to slap her away. "I… will do my best to win the duel," she said looking deeply into her eyes. "But it is a duel, where I have a lot to win and Veyron… has a lot to lose. He will fight like never before… There are no guarantees…"

Nanoha remained silent. She could not take her eyes off Fate's.

"Should… anything…" Fate breathed in deeply and faced her own fear of calling things by their name violently shaking it off to face her wife with dignity. With a renewed spirit, she started again. "If I lose the duel, the only… the only people you must trust are Signum and Alicia. Do you understand?"

Nanoha felt Signum's gaze on her and watched Fate's trusted warrior, who just bowed her head, reaffirming Fate's statement.

"If I lose the duel you must immediately leave Dinsmark. Signum and I have taken the necessary precautions and the arrangements. Alicia is well aware. You must not, under any circumstance, return to Stier Castle, not you or your counselors. You will not be able to take anything and you must leave immediately, do you understand?"

Fate was looking penetratingly at her and the meaning of what she was saying was barely making its way to Nanoha's brain.

"But… our marriage… What will happen with Nihon?" Nanoha wanted to know.

A shadow crossed Fate's face but she still kept her eyes set on hers as she spoke.

"If I lose… you will be free. Nihon will remain a Belkan province, nothing can change that anymore… but you will be protected… since you will always be my wife." Nanoha widened her eyes because, despite the gloomy look in her eyes, Fate had blushed as she said that last phrase. "There are already Belkan representatives in Nihon, military outposts, and agreements with their allies. Nihon has never tried to confront us and we do not want to destroy Nihon. The allegiance of power remains. Alicia will become the heiress to the throne, whether everyone likes it or not, and she will fulfill the agreements with Nihon. That's why you will need to leave immediately, you are in grave danger if you remain a single minute after my defeat. Signum will take you back to Nihon in a safe way and Alicia, as heiress, will make sure everything I am telling you is fulfilled… Nihon and you will be safe... I promise."

Nanoha had no words to explain what she was feeling. A knot had taken over in her chest and it was barely letting her breath. Least of all talk.

Seeing her so afflicted, Fate took her softly by the shoulders and made her raise her face to look at her while asking her with gentleness.

"Do you understand what I am telling you, Nanoha? It is important, very important that you do what I have told you… without looking back."

Nanoha felt she could not keep looking at Fate anymore and averted her gaze while nodding.

"It's almost time, Testarossa." Signum's voice brought Fate and Nanoha back to reality, as they had remained suspended in that moment, each overwhelmed by their own feelings with that goodbye they were both trying for it to not be a goodbye."

"Yes," Fate said softly stroking Nanoha's cheek with the back of her hand before forcing herself to go where Signum was waiting for her. Not even she could say why she had touched her wife like that; the only thing she knew was that she felt compelled to, that she needed, at least, that brief contact with her.

What she actually needed was to hold Nanoha in her arms as tight as she could but she knew she could not do it. Not at that moment. Not when there was the chance of her wife rejecting her… and maybe with good reason.

When Nanoha regained control over herself, Fate was almost completely naked from the waist up, except for the light undergarment she used to support her breasts.

"Why are you undressing?" Nanoha asked, confused. Signum and Fate looked at each other. Fate blushed and opened her mouth to answer but was unable to.

Nanoha observed Signum folding the shirt that Fate had just taken off with such care and dedication that something inside her hurt. Signum approached her and the table to place the shirt and explain briefly, as if trying to trivialize why Fate was getting undressed.

"Racheakt is only fought with ceremonial daggers. The contenders remove all their material baggage to face themselves and death in its purest essence… They fight naked and Racheakt ends until one of them dies."

Nanoha looked at Signum gaping and almost yelled, "But it's freezing outside!"

She then looked back at Fate who only smiled.

"The duel… is fought… with daggers?" She was certain the duel would be very similar to a sword fight, with the contenders battling each other with armors and other protections. She had seen Fate training like that but she had never seen her with a dagger.

Three strong knocks on the door indicated the ends of the visit.

"Time's up," Signum said.

The door opened and the Guard of the Doctrine silently held it for Nanoha to step out, but she remained in her place, unable to move.

"Remember what I told you," Fate said as goodbye, looking at her with bright eyes and her body tense.

"The lady must leave now," the guard said in a flat voice.

Nanoha with a knot in her chest walked out but before reaching the threshold stopped.

"Fate…" whispered in a small voice so light, the aforementioned even doubted she was talking to her.

"Fate…" she repeated louder, forcing herself to look directly into Fate's eyes. "Don't lose."

It was Fate's turn to look at her gaping and speechless. The guard insisted on his requirement of Nanoha leaving the room and the red-haired almost ran out after the indication.

Fate stood fixed for a long while just looking at the door the guard had promptly closed as Nanoha left until Signum's voice brought her back to reality.

"Save that stupid smile for when you've won the duel, Testarossa… You have to focus or the only place you are going to smile at sunset will be the Hölle..."

Signum's voice was harsh but a smile danced in her eyes. It was good that Fate had good motives to win the duel… but she must not forget that it was her life at stake.

Without saying anything else, Fate finished undressing but the faint smile in her lips remained there all the time.

Nanoha had called her by her name for the first time ever since they had met.

— X —

After rushing out of the room where Fate was getting ready, Nanoha did not even wait for Alicia who was waiting for her outside and who had to run to catch up with her. Noticing how emotionally distressed the red-haired was, Alicia refrained from asking any question or making any comment at all.

Maybe not everything was lost between her sister and Nanoha after all.

Now Fate just needed to survive that sunset.

— X —

Fate was not the only one that received a visit before the duel.

Veyron chose his brother Deville to assist him as his second for the duel; although under other circumstances he would have chosen Cypha. Since that was not possible, Fate's opponent was even more upset as he got off his clothes

Veyron spent all the time he should have been 'meditating' and 'concentrating' on the upcoming battle, furiously walking from one side to the other, ranting about what that fucking foreign whore had done to have Fate change so much with him, and what she had done to prefer her over him and the lifelong friendship they shared.

And in that note, he had spent his time complaining about Deville over and over again, always blaming Nanoha for what had happened so he and Fate would be in the middle of that problem.

"Fate lost her mind the very first moment she saw her…"

"That witch did something to her… Fate was not like that to me, dammit!"

"For her, Fate and I have to kill each other?! I cannot believe it!"

"I told Fate she had to be treated like the animals they are… But she never listened to me! She treats them as if they were Belkan!"

"She's a fucking whore and Fate can't see past her filthy foreign ass..."

"We should have run over that goddamned country until no one of those savages were left alive, raped all the whores, and then fed the scavengers with them! Starting with that slut!"

"After I win the duel... she will know… she will know what a true Belkan is!"

Deville was undaunted listening to Veyron's ramblings, which he had already heard more times than he could already count.

Veyron never thought he had no right to do what he had tried to do, and besides Fate, no one had told him he was wrong.

Three decided knocks on the door announced the only visit he was allowed to receive before the duel that would decide his destiny.

The door opened almost immediately and Karen Huckebein entered the room. Veyron stared open-mouthed looking at his sister. He thought Fortis would come and tell him how much he would offend the family if he lost but he never expected that his older sister and the 'unofficial' leader of the Huckebein family wanted to see him.

Karen entered almost cautiously, noticing Veyron dressed only in his underwear as he had already removed the rest of his clothes.

"This thing about the rules of the duel has really complicated things but... If it wasn't interesting we would get bored, right Vey?" Karen said looking at him cryptically.

Veyron looked at her without understanding a single word.

"What rules Karen? In Racheakt, the only rule that counts is the one of the dagger and Fate will not have any opportunity against that."

Karen smiled.

"You seem very confident, but Fate is skilled. If this was a sword fight there would be no doubt of who would win Veyron… Fate." His face broke down with fury at the assertion of his sister. He knew she was right but she did not have to tell him that at that moment.

Karen continued.

"Your advantages for this duel will be your height and range… and maybe your strength. But Fate is much faster and nimble than you are. And she does not need to kill you, just submit you… leave you unconscious for someone else…" and at that point she pointed at his genitals, "... to make you a bitchwhore."

Veyron clenched his fists and approached his sister menacingly.

Karen did not move, seeing her brother furious from her words.

"But to prevent that, you have me, my dear Veyron… and I have thought of all the possibilities."

Veyron stood in front of her. Karen took one of his hands in hers and raised it for him to extend it. When his palm was extended, she deposited a minuscule brown sphere in it.

Veyron looked at her puzzled.

"What the hell is this?" he asked, still upset.

"That is not the correct question, Veyron," Karen replied, who incidentally had never stopped smiling since she had arrived. "The correct question is, do you want to live...? If the answer is 'yes', then you must listen to me carefully and stop wasting valuable time with your stupidities."

Veyron got visibly relaxed. "Listening."

"This… is a paste made with a very special herb that a friend has given me especially for you. When the priestess gives you the ritual dagger that you will use, you must extend it over the tip and the edge of the sword…" then her smile disappeared and looked at him. "You better not be stupid enough to cut yourself while doing it."

Veyron looked at the very little sphere.

"Poison?"

"You keep making the wrong questions, Veyron," Karen said exasperated. "A poison would be too obvious, moron! If they figure it out we would all go down with you!"

Seeing Veyron stay silent for once, Karen continued.

"Once you get to cut Fate a couple of times, this medicine will daze her enough so you can actually beat her. It will slow her down, affect her reflexes, and diminish her awareness. To everyone, Fate would have had a bad day or fear and you will win without the shadow of a doubt."

"Just this much will do all that?" Where am I going to keep it until they give me the dagger?" Veyron wanted to know, extending his arms and gesturing to his body that would be completely naked for that moment.

Karen laughed again.

"We will have to find out if it works, don't we...? And about the other thing, it only works mixed with blood. The paste is covered with a very thin leathery cover, so hide it in your mouth… or wherever you like… but you need to be able to take it out without making it weird and being too obvious..." Karen not only laughed now, but also looked at him wickedly. "Think a little for a change, Veyron. It won't hurt you to try. I cannot do everything for you."

Veyron looked at her sister with anger in his face again when the three knocks on the door indicated the visit had indeed. The door opened immediately after.

Veyron closed his hand in a fist even though the sphere was incredibly small.

Karen turned to make her way out, saying goodbye to Veyron before disappearing from his view. "May the gods be with you little brother, I will be thinking of you."

— X —

The group moved forward towards the sacred woods, with barely a few rays of the evening's sun shining over them. Nanoha, walking in silence with Saber by her side, estimated it should be a little over an hour before sunset.

Everyone that had been summoned for the event had traveled in carriages from the center of Dinsmark, where the Tower was located, to the west, across the walled limits of the Belkan city almost until they reached the west boundary.

The sacred forest was very different from the feudal woods of Stier Castle where the royal family used to hunt. The forest where the duel would take place emerged from the lowest parts of the mountains to the west of Dinsmark and it was not only one of the most inaccessible zones to arrive to or exit from the city, but also one of the oldest. The type of trees that populated that forest could live hundreds of years, and they were tall and leafy. Since the earliest times, when the Belkans were not yet a flourishing empire, it had been a place of confluence for forces and natural energies and therefore, a sacred place of communion with the Gods.

Nanoha noticed the difference in the color and the texture of the forest they were approaching on the carriage. A gigantic grey rock in a rectangular shape indicated the spot where everyone stopped and for which they would continue on foot as part of the ceremony.

As soon as they got out of the carriages, three groups were formed by the people that would witness the duel. Nanoha discreetly looked for Fate but could not see her anywhere, or Veyron. The Guards of the Doctrine indicated to her that she along with Saber would lead Fate's group, with Hayate, Shamal, Zafira and Vita following them.

Alicia, as the second heiress, had to attend the duel with the main group; along with the Hegemon, Carim Gracia, Olivie, and two representatives of the council of nobles, Megane Alpine and Victoria Dahlgründ 'Mother'.

In the last group were the Huckebeins, led by Fortis and Karen, Arnage for the first time very serious and silent along with Stella Irvine, and thanks to a special dispensation, Cypha Huckebein also attended, but chained and guarded by Sieglinde Jeremiah, one of the few warriors in Fate's group from the Imperial Guard that had not gone to Kestrel with Micaiah and Victoria. Fortis objected to the presence of Sieglinde guarding Cypha, but it was either that or her sister be kept locked while his brother fought for his life. They had to give in.

The three groups, led by the Hegemon and the priestess at the center, started the walk towards the glade where the duel would take place.

As soon as she entered the thick forest, Nanoha felt a shiver running down her back. And it was not just because of the sudden drop in temperature under the shade of the trees. The cold in the forest was different. Almost solid and tangible, and as if it came directly from the earth itself, just like those abrupt gelid currents that can be felt under the sea, solidly iced around the body, except there was no water around.

The next thing that made her tremble was noticing the trees did not have a defined form, but they rather seemed to be shifting, moving, adjusting… despite there was no feeling of wind that could be shaking them. Unlike Dinsmark where the gusts of wintry air could be felt, as soon as they had entered the forest, the air had died around them in such an absolute way that the calmness around it felt antinatural. Despite the time of the day, the silence was absolute. No bird, no animal, no graze… only the trees that seemed to move slowly under their own cadence, an inner one, as a heartbeat that Nanoha could sense within but unable to see with her eyes.

As abruptly as they had entered the forest, they arrived at a large clear, where the capricious conformation of the forest allowed the rays of the sun to reach it.

The clear in the forest had an almost perfectly round shape and was adorned with a tree whose trunk was larger than any other tree Nanoha had ever seen in her life. Doing a quick calculation, she estimated that at least twenty people, hand by hand, would be needed to completely surround it. Maybe. Watching it was as beautiful as it was terrible.

That was the place where Veyron or Fate… would die.

When they arrived at the glade, Fate and Veyron were already there, standing face to face, each covered by a long white mantle, with their seconds, Signum and Deville, standing right behind each of them.

Following the instructions, no one entered the grounds of the duel; everyone walked in two lines around the border of the glade until they reached their position.

Carim occupied the place of honor at the west side, lined up with the center of the tree. Alicia and the Hegemon took their positions of honor by her sides and after them, everyone lined up until a human perimeter surrounded the border of the clear. Several Guards of the Doctrine that had accompanied them took the strategic positions within the forest near the clear.

Alicia had explained to them that the families of each contender were to be placed behind the opponent at the beginning of the duel, so at that moment she could not see Veyron's face but she could see Fate's.

Her wife looked serene and peaceful, apparently with no sign of tension in her face. Fate had tied up her hair for the duel in a low but firm ponytail, holding the remaining extension of her hair together with slim leather bands distributed all the way to the end. Nanoha had seen that arrangement in other Belkan warriors but never in Fate, who usually wore her hair down or barely tied with a ribbon.

During a few seconds, the rays of the sun glowed brighter over Fate, making her golden hair shine and their eyes met for the first time.

Nanoha felt the urge to run towards Fate and she mentally repressed herself, tightening her fists and jaw. She looked at Carim and remembered her voice in a phrase she was not even aware she remembered.

(Here lies the pact between two souls…)

Fate had told her that if she lost she would be free… but that she would always be her wife.

Looking at her standing in front of Veyron, Nanoha shivered. She did not want Fate to lose for anything in the world.

She also remembered Alicia telling her that once the ceremony started, no one could speak and least of all enter the dueling grounds.

Just as Fate had told her, the Gods would decide. They were allowed to witness their decision but no one could interfere in any way.

Carim lifted a dark box over her head and Nanoha felt a cold fist squeezing her heart and the voice of the priestess resonating in her ears.

(Here and Now)

It had begun.

— X —

(You accept to unite)

"Skoll and Hati… the wolves of darkness have been summoned… repulsion and hatred… the darkness that chases after the light."

Carim walked towards the center of the glade. She, as priestess, was the only one allowed to enter the sacred grounds besides the combatants.

She opened the box she was holding in her hands and the daggers inside captured the light as if devouring it, sparkling with a wild brilliance. Nanoha could not imagine which metal or precious stone could cause that effect with the light.

"...let the Gods decide…"

While they waited in the Tower, Alicia told them the purpose of the ceremony of Racheakt.

Even if it was a ceremonial duel, it was not performed regularly to settle disputes since at least one of the contenders had to die. Sometimes both died. It was a duel of honor, rejecting it once it had been proposed meant living in disgrace; but it was also so much more. It was a sacrifice to the Gods and it had to serve the purpose of rectifying the hatred originated by the dispute. Whatever the result may be, everyone was bound to accept it and there were no further arguments. The one who died, offered his life for the affront. The one who lived was blessed by the Gods.

By confronting each other, the contenders faced darkness and when one of them won, then darkness had been defeated. The wolves returned to their confinement and everyone expected it would last for a long while.

Over fifty years had passed since the last Racheakt and even more since an heir of the Belkan Throne had engaged in one.

"... and may the wolves of darkness be defeated…"

With that phrase, Signum and Deville stripped Fate and Veyron from their mantles and retreated to their place outside the circle.

Fate and Veyron, who had just been silently watching each other since they had arrived a little earlier than everyone else, stood facing each other, naked and determined before advancing with firm steps towards Carim.

Without looking at the other, they each took a dagger. Carim stepped away.

"May your dagger splinter and break," both Fate and Veyron mumbled, starting the duel and almost immediately Veyron threw himself at Fate viciously enraged.

Nanoha gasped at the violence of the sudden attack and clasped her hands in front of her.

(Your path and your destiny,)

Fate evaded Veyron's first two slashes but she was not able to completely dodge the third, which scraped her abdomen despite her agility.

The first blood shed had been hers. Even though it was a superficial wound, red slithered down her pale skin from the cut and diagonally to her belly, some threads were lost in the fair hair between her legs while others seamlessly ran down her right thigh as Fate moved, blocking Veyron's attacks.

Her old friend had attacked her with outstanding swiftness and recklessness since the first moment. Fate could have countered with similar lethal movements but she did not want to kill him and Veyron was aware of it, that was why he was fighting in an almost suicidal nature.

Veyron was going to try to kill Fate or die trying.

Veyron's first charge to attack ended when both daggers clashed fiercely and taking advantage of her nimbleness, Fate kicked him back in the stomach pushing him backwards. Veyron stumbled and gasped but never stopped observing Fate.

For a moment, they both looked at each other, breathing unevenly as they circled the other, always in guard and ready for the other to attack. Fate and Veyron had trained close combat together and they knew each other very well, almost as themselves, in that sense.

Nanoha looked with distress at the blood running down Fate's abdomen and did not realize she almost stepped into the circle until a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

(Your past and your future,)

"Nanoha," she heard Saber calling her and felt a pair of firm hands bringing her back to her place. Even if it had been just one step, no one but the priestess could enter the sacred grounds besides the contenders and their seconds. She would be in trouble if she did, for any reason.

Nanoha turned and met Saber's green eyes looking at her kindly. "You must be strong," the warrior said softly.

From the grounds, Fate noticed Saber moving and for a few seconds her gaze strayed from Veyron.

"Don't you dare insult me even more!" Veyron yelled while launching at her, furious.

Their steels collided with strength several times, moving at amazing speed, until Fate stopped Veyron's dagger with her own, both holding each other's wrist; unexpectedly, he struck a violent knee jab that Fate was only able to block with her knee while Veyron recriminated, "We are fighting to the death for her and you have the nerve to be looking at her instead of me!"

The power of the blow sent them both to the ground, rolling and scrambling like beasts. Daggers were crossed and when they finally were able to free from each other and stand up, they were both bleeding on several parts, although neither injury was deep, they both breathed heavily.

By that moment, they were both sweating despite the cold that increased by the second, and they were both covered in blood and stained with the color of the soil over which they were fighting.

Fate forced herself not to look towards Nanoha.

For once, Veyron was right in what he said. The least she could do in that moment was get distracted… Least of all think about what Nanoha was going to do, or with whom, if she lost the duel.

"Your whore is going to be very happy when I win, Fate… she is going to get rid of you… but she is not going to get rid of me…" Veyron said smiling in between breaths, "and I am going to give your wife something you can't," he finished pointing at his genitals.

Fate made an effort to control her rage. Veyron was trying to make her lose her control, anger her and force her to act impulsively. She knew she had to keep her calm and submit Veyron so he would face his true punishment.

Veyron kept rambling but he also noticed Fate had not taken the bait.

From their places in the circle, Fortis and Karen Huckebein looked at each other. It had been minutes since Veyron had nicked Fate but nothing indicated yet that the blonde was at any disadvantage. She had not even answered to Veyron's verbal abuse and kept her stance, vigilant and ready for the next attack.

Fate was usually very forward in her offense and preferred to end combats quickly, but this time she had opted for a defensive strategy to fight, timing her attacks to Veyron and he knew why she was doing that. She did not want to kill him. She wanted to submit him.

And he was not going to let that happen.

Veyron went again for the strike.

This time Fate not only guarded herself. With equal strength she countered Veyron's attacks, leaning to dodge them and stretching to attack. With a decisive motion, Veyron's dagger headed inexorably towards Fate's neck but with an agile movement, the warrior's free arm deflected the trajectory of the dagger and it was Veyron who finished with the tip of Fate's dagger under his jaw.

They both remained still. Veyron opened his eyes very wide at the lack of pain. Fate had stopped her dagger in the last second.

Before Veyron could react to his surprise, Fate twisted and fiercely kicked Veyron right on the face. With the force of the impact to his face, he fumbled back several steps, momentarily blind.

Fate pounced over him, inflicting a deep cut in the arm holding his dagger and lunged a second kick to his abdomen. Veyron fell on his knees, crouching and just the moment Fate approached to continue the attack, Veyron switched hands to hold the dagger and got up almost screaming, launching into Fate with all his strength.

The dagger the warrior wielded was buried in the hand of Veyron's already wounded arm, but his dagger stabbed her near her left shoulder. Veyron was aiming to her chest or her neck, and had missed either mark.

With the impulse, Fate fell backwards with Veyron straddling her torso and a piercing pain ripping through her. That initial pain was nothing compared to the one she experienced when Veyron violently ripped off the dagger from her flesh to stab her again.

Summoning her strength of will, just as Veyron raised up gaining momentum for what he thought was his finishing blow, Fate kicked up with both legs, unbalancing him while she ripped her dagger from Veyron's hand and deeply shoved it down his stomach.

Veyron fell heavily over his side, freeing Fate from his weight, who rolled and kneeled up, bleeding profusely and panting. As fast as her condition allowed her, she approached Veyron who was gasping and unable to stand up, falling down to press her knee down the wounded arm of her opponent.

Veyron would have screamed if he had not been drowning with his own bile having Fate's dagger impaled up to the handle in his stomach; the warrior pressed her other knee to his chest to keep him in that position, taking the dagger that lied next to him with her right hand and even with her left arm almost hanging limply, she held the knife pointing directly to her friend's exposed neck.

It was until that moment that she turned her look up towards Carim.

"He… has almost died… twice already," Fate said in between broken breaths, exhaling a cold mist on each. "I forfeit my right… to take his life… for the sacrifice."

After stating that, she slowly stood up, barely managing to stand still without shaking too much.

The last rays of the sun had vanished moments before and all that was left was that grey and hazy clarity that preceded the night that was rapidly upon them.

"The sacrifice is accepted," Carim said in a contained voice. Precia on her side remained unaltered. Not a single expression had crossed her face while her daughter wallowed with death to defeat the one who had been her friend. Alicia was shaking and biting her bottom lip to stop herself from crying for what Fate had had to do.

The Huckebeins were devastated and none dared to look at Veyron lying bloodstained on the ground.

Just then, Fate dared to look towards Nanoha.

(Your life and your death,)

Shamal and Hayate were holding the red-haired tightly so that she would not run into the dueling grounds. Fate shook her head, sensing her eyesight turning blurry to no avail, in the foggy darkness that was falling on them she could almost have sworn her wife… was crying.

"What's happening?" Fate thought confused. "They… everything… is… moving..."

Before she could understand what was happening, before she could understand why her vision of the world seemed to be distorting at an incredible speed, because it seemed Nanoha was screaming, something slammed forcefully into her side.

It took her a second to realize that she was lying, tall as she was, on the ground and the last thing she saw before everything when dark, were Signum's blue eyes that looked like she was screaming something she could not understand, or even hear.

(To Fate Testarossa?)

— X —

When Veyron recovered after passing out, several torches illuminated the glade where he had fought with Fate. He tried to move but was unable. He felt the thick surface of the bark of the tree behind him and he realized he had not killed Fate in the duel and he had not died either… everything was lost to him.

He still had Hati, the dagger Fate had used to combat, deep in his stomach. His head wobbled due to the lost blood and he could barely hold it upright.

"Tonight we offer this sacrifice to the Gods," Carim said with overwhelm in her voice.

It was the first time in her life she conducted a human sacrifice to the Gods and she never addressed Veyron. He was no longer a Belkan citizen, a man… or human. He was an offering. That also was what he had lost in that duel. And what he had won.

Approaching him, she took the dagger's handle and removed it as fast as she could. Veyron gasped in pain as the blood spilled down his abdomen and in between his legs until making its way to the roots of the tree.

The only ones left in the clear of the forest were Carim, Garyu and the Imperial Guards of the Doctrine. After Carim removed Hati from Veyron, Garyu approached him. If there was something that all his years of experience guaranteed was his ability to do things quickly.

The Huckebeins were still at the forest's boundaries where their carriage awaited for them when a harrowing scream brutally ripped through the night.

"That fucking idiot…" Karen sissed clenching her fists.

A while later they noticed the torches of Carim and her guards approaching them. When the priestess left the thick of the forest no one said a word. Neither the Huckebeins, nor Carim.

Each group got in their carriages and the horses took them away from the place.

Veyron, submerged into the most absolute darkness after Carim and her guards left, taking all the torches, growled and panted tied to the tree.

He was bleeding out and he was no longer a man.

He had not been allowed to die as one.

For a moment, before losing consciousness and allowing himself to be embraced by the darkness, he wondered what his brothers would be thinking about him, what would Fate be thinking. Had she survived? Would she? Or would they meet in hell later?

He almost laughed in between gasps.

Karen was going to be pissed off at him for a long while because he did not use the poison or whatever she had given him in the dagger against Fate.

Although at that moment, emasculated and agonizing in a damned tree, he regretted not doing it; before the duel, he had not been able to. He had to defeat Fate by himself or life, afterwards, would have meant nothing.

The only problem was he had not won. And his life would be no more.

— X —

Carim, joined by Olivie, Megane Alpine, Garyu, and her Guard of the Doctrine walked together in a group towards the glade.

It was very early in the morning, but the sun had already risen enough to dissipate the morning mist and barely warm up the environment.

When they arrived at the glade and looked at the tree, the women looked away, aghast by the scene in front of them. Olivie felt she was about to faint. Carim asked Garyu to get closer to the tree instead of her and Megane had to find a hold in one of the thick trunks breathing in deeply.

Garyu approached the tree. And Veyron.

Or what was left of him.

"Gray wolves," he explained when he returned with the women. "The blood must have attracted them during the night. By the amount of damage, it seems it was a large pack."

"By the Gods…" Olivie barely mumbled.

The gray wolves were one of the largest species of wolves around the area and barely got near the city. Hati and Sköll, the wolves of darkness Carim referred to in the duel ceremony, were symbolically represented as gray wolves.

"It seems the offering was accepted… in its entirety," Carim mumbled. "Garyu please take care of this. We need to incinerate and appropriately dispose of the… offering."

It had been long since a human sacrifice had been performed but everyone knew that the remains were not given back to the family. There would be no grave to mourn Veyron Huckebein.

Several hours later, Oivie and Carim walked by the streets of Dinsmark in silence towards the cathedral where the priestess spent most of her time. When Olivie left her at the lateral door, Carim unexpectedly held her from the arm to whisper one last warning to her ear.

"One, the least expected one, has fallen, painfully but honorably. But six still remain. And they are not going to wait with the arms crossed. Now… you must be more careful than ever, Olivie."

— X —