"Shall we begin?"

Man, I'm getting tired of this. It's like the "Do you want that appa?" thing.

Natsuki Subaru found himself standing on his feet in the middle of the ring, the wooden sword in his hands, some metres before the violet-haired knight. His brain was running, trying to develop a strategy.

Basically, this is like a boss fight in a very hard difficulty: apparently, this Julius guy can kill me with one or two direct strokes. The usual game strategy is waiting for his attacks, dodging them and then quickly countering him. However, this opponent's attack pattern is still partially unknown and in two loops I haven't found weaknesses in him. Also, the only time I hit him he barely felt something.

The self-claimed knight chewed his lip nervously. In the best-case scenario, I'll have a unique opportunity to deal a blow, and I must use correctly all my strength. I need some strategy to cause him to let his guard down, then I'll bind him or…

Subaru's eyes widened. Of course! That's it.

"Why are you waiting in this infamous way? Are you regretting your rough mouth right now?" asked Julius, catching the boy's attention.

"Not a chance." Subaru replied, swinging his sword and scanning it like he was searching for something wrong. "I'm just weighting this, and I have the feeling it's too heavy: are you sure you guys aren't going to trick me?" he accused, looking Julius in the eyes.

"Ah I see, you keep adding insults to your long list of infamy. However, I do not think they differ much, but you may use this one if you prefer?"

"Sorry, I don't want to use something that doesn't feel right." Subaru accepted the wooden sword Julius offered with one hand. In its place, he offered Julius the sword handed to him just earlier-

"Oops."

Subaru's hand left the wooden sword a moment before his opponent's one could take it, letting the weapon fall. Julius instantly bent forward, his hand chasing after it. With his body curved, the violet-haired knight had lost his height advantage over Subaru.

Now is the time!

"SHAMAK!"

Suddenly a cloud of shadows erupted from Subaru and enveloped Julius, hiding the middle of the ring from the knights on the surrounding stands. In the meanwhile, the black-haired boy inhaled deeply and prepared himself for what he had to do.

"If you want to correctly deal a blow to your opponent, you shall fluidly move all your upper body while lifting with your legs. Like THIS!"

Julius, while he was still talking, quickly got himself in position: relaxed and slightly apart legs, the sword high on his right with its hilt near to his temple. Then he slashed from top right to bottom left.

Ok, so… Subaru promptly spread his legs and raised his sword near his head; a moment later, he swung the weapon diagonally, addressed where Julius's head was supposed to be. A noisy snap and the backlash in the boy's arm informed him that his stroke had hit its target.

Subaru then raised his weapon on his left and slashed symmetrically in the opposite side-

"That is enough."

As the shadows were dispelled in a heartbeat, Subaru suddenly stopped his attack and jumped back. Apparently, Julius had scattered the dark cloud on the ring with a single powerful swing of his sword: he stood with his armed arm horizontally stretched, the other one on his side. The dark-haired boy clenched his teeth, realising that his opponent had still control of the game.

"I am thrice surprised by you, Natsuki Subaru: firstly, by your vulgarity and your utmost lack of shame; secondly, for your use of shadow magic, even in its rudimentary form; lastly, for the fact that you effectively managed to hit me on my face."

Hearing those words, Subaru noticed a little bruise on the left side of Julius's chin. He felt a little proud after knowing his strategy had been partially successful.

"However, this is far below the level of a knight of the Royal Guard. Most of us know how to use our own mana to increase our body properties, and you clearly did not use mana to increase your hit. Conversely, I have always been enhancing my physical resistance while fighting: if only for this reason, it is manifest you cannot afford to face me here and now, or none of the other fellow knights standing here."

The black-haired boy's spirits worsened at every word of the knight in front of him. He hadn't had a chance from the start, the difference in their skill was far wider than he thought, even considering he had already known that the violet-haired man killed him twice with no efforts.

"There is the last thing you should know: if you had been a worthwhile opponent and we had fought seriously, I would not have been alone here."

As Julius raised his left arm and opened his hand, six coloured spheres appeared on his palm, slowly whirling. They reminded Subaru of the little and glowing orbs surrounding Emilia while she was focused in the garden of Roswaal's Mansion, or on that wooden footbridge in his first loop. How could I ever forget such a scene? The boy internally smiled. Then he blinked and focused again on Julius. Emilia had told him those were Minute Spirits, creatures that had to grow in time, aiming at becoming "true spirits" like Puck. That meant…

"…you're a Spirit user?!"

"It seems you have got used to Spirits' appearance; even if you are an outrageous one, indeed you are a vassal of Lady Emilia. They are the six Quasi Spirits I signed a contract with: Ia, fire spirit; Kua, water spirit; Alo, wind spirit; Ake, earth spirit; In, light spirit; and Nes, shadow spirit. That is why I am also known as the Spirit Knight." Julius announced with an unnoticeable smug grin on his face.

This guy contracted spirits of all the magical elements: he actually has a harem of spirits. It's both annoying and troubling. Subaru couldn't help thinking. I wonder: if those spirits will become like Beatrice, Julius will be known as the Pervert Knight or the Loli User?

"Anyway, we shall finally start this duel according to the rules." As the six spirits disappeared, Julius let his hand down and proclaimed loudly: "My name is Julius Juukulius, heir of Juukulius household, knight of the candidate to the throne Anastasia Hoshin and member of the Royal Guard." triggering the audience's ovation.

The dark-haired boy was feeling small and inadequate; however, he thought about all the dangers he had gone through and all the goals he had accomplished, even if not alone. He wouldn't have left the last word to this arrogant guy, even if he overwhelmed him in every way; so, he rose his right arm, his index finger pointing to the sky, and spread his legs. Then he announced to his opponent and to the standing knights:

"My name is Natsuki Subaru, Emilia's vassal! I've not the strength or the noble blood you guys have, but I'll put her upon the throne!"

And I'm going to save her from everything, no matter what.

"Alright, the duel will start on my three, meow."

Ferris started the countdown with his right hand raised.

"One…"

As the cat-boy raised a finger, Subaru switching his weight from one leg to another.

"…two…"

Julius moved his right leg slightly forward, his sword forming a 45-degree angle to the soil.

"…three!"

At the referee's signal, every noise around the ring ceased. The Spirit Knight and the butler of Roswaal's Mansion were facing each other.

Remember, Subaru: you don't have the physical strength or the swordsmanship to block his attacks. You must deflect his blows and, if you cannot avoid being hit, you must put your arts between his weapon and your vital organs.

As Julius moved, the boy slightly flexed his leg. The knight aimed to his stomach with a horizontal slash, but in the very last second Subaru changed his guard position and rotated his shoulders and arms, diverting the blow. Suddenly his opponent slashed from the boy's left side, forcing him to jump back while slightly deflecting the stroke with the flat side of the blade of his sword. Julius then charged a vertical blow from top to bottom, giving barely Subaru the time to raise his sword to intercept the slash. As a noisy *CLUNK*echoed through the ring, the black-haired boy was panting covered in sweat, while the violet-haired young man had been no affected at all by the brief exchange.

"It seems you are not totally oblivious to the art of wielding a sword. However, your style is rustic and it has no beauty." As Julius removed his sword stepping back, he judged his opponent. "Maybe I underestimated you; this time I shall not go so easy on you."

Huuuh? How the hell am I supposed to survive that?

The violet-haired knight sprinted towards Subaru, raising the sword near his left temple; then he slashed diagonally from top left to bottom right. The boy stepped back putting on a flat block, but the power of the stroke pushed him to the ground.

What's this? I don't remember I increased the difficulty level.

Before Subaru could get up, Julius dealt an uppercut who sent the boy flying in mid-air and landing on his back, like a thrown puppet. Then the knight reached him and slashed aiming to his stomach, forcing Subaru to roll sideways on the ground not to being hit. The dark-haired boy got up quickly and started retreating, then he was forced to bend backwards in order to dodge a horizontal blow dealt by Julius.

Suddenly, Subaru's back foot slipped forward while his torso was describing a descending arc. His head hung dangerously, his neck perpendicular to the ground.

Oh shi-

*CRACK*

"AAAHHHHH-glglgl"

It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!

Pain. Anguish. Burning. Choking. His nose and mouth filled with blood and drool, Subaru's consciousness was shattered in a heartbeat into small suffering pieces.

It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!

It hurts! It hurts!

It hurts!

…

Then nothing.

…

…

…

Feeling suddenly conscious, Subaru instinctively inhaled deeply. Then he fell on his knees, coughing and vomiting spat, his hands letting the wooden sword go. He had never experienced the feeling of cracking his neck; this time it had been extremely painful, even if quicker than other deaths. It was nearly hurting to breathe again.

"Is this the indicator of your anguish and fear? Bold of you accepting this duel before, if you are reduced to such an awful and pitiful state."

The boy slowly raised his head, his weeping eyes looking to the blurred man in front of him. As Subaru had tricked him, he had managed to hit the knight, only to discover he was using mana to increase his physical resistance. Then the boy had found death trying to avoid his attacks, unable to block them due to their utmost difference in skills and strength.

I haven't the chance to get strong after every duel, 'cause Return by Death resets body improvements. I probably need dozens of attempts to learn how to counter every single attack, but I cannot take him down even using shadow magic. Moreover, I don't know how many times I can return from death to the same checkpoint. At this point, my only option is…

Subaru clenched his teeth, hating with every ounce of his heart what he was going to do. He had to use that genial technique, invented by some of the greatest martial artists of his world, made to be used against an overwhelming and dangerous enemy.

"…I-I'm sorry…" the knelt boy muttered.

"I did not hear your words. Can you repeat what you said right now?" Julius asked calmly.

"…I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'M SORRY!" Subaru screamed as he profoundly knelt, his forehead touching the sandy soil. The surrounding stands fell suddenly silent. "I'm sorry for insulting you all! I'm sorry for dishonouring you as a knight, Julius, and for treating knighthood lightly! Please, please, forgive me!"

While Subaru was apologising, the violet-haired knight advanced, getting close to him. Then he lifted his right foot and put it on the prone boy's head.

"You truly do not have any pride; this is shameful even to withstand. Someone like you is only a burden to the people who stand beside him, even more for a royal candidate like Lady Emilia."

The knights in the surroundings were laughing, making Subaru feel even more both embarrassed and enraged. Even so, this is my only certain way to get out of this.

"Julius, that's enough." As Julius finished his last sentence, Reinhard stepped in. "Subaru isn't strong like us, surely he doesn't have shown the proper etiquette and he cannot call himself a knight."

Thank you for the "comforting" speech, Reinhard. Julius alone was more than enough. The dark-haired thought, Julius's foot still on his head.

"However, you cannot address him as a mere burden. After all, he saved Lady Emilia from the Bowel Hunter."

And if he had not let Lady Felt run away, both our mistress would have been dead. The Sword Saint added internally with a hint of guilt. Without Subaru's contribution, today there would have been three royal candidates instead of five, the two of them killed under my nose while I was on my day off in the capital.

As the red-haired spoke, Julius slightly raised an eyebrow. "I guess I have underestimated him."

Unnoticed due to the position of his face, the black-haired on his four slightly smiled. You're damn right Rein. I take it back, you truly are a good boy.

"He is showing himself repented in front of all of us, throwing away his previous arrogance. He said infamous words against knighthood and against your name, that is undeniable, but look at him right now: he is on his four with his forehead in the sand. You have said you would have considered forgiving him if such a situation had occurred."

The violet-haired knight sighed, then he put back his foot on the soil. "I guess he is doing what I have requested him before to give him a chance of being forgiven. He has a large mouth and does not know his place in the world; however, as a Knight, I am going to honour my previous word." The violet-haired turned to the knelt Subaru. "You showed yourself sorry and penitent, and you begged for my forgiveness. I warn you once again: you must respect the Royal Knights because we devolve our life to the security of the Kingdom of Lugunica and of the people who live in it. We train day after day to improve ourselves, in order to protect those who did not have any strength and are alone against a dangerous enemy. Don't treat knighthood lightly never again." Subaru raised his head. "And, most important for you, learn your place in the world. I can see that, even with your countless limits and weaknesses, you care for Lady Emilia. You must not be someone who dirties her image or put a shadow on her, as you have done just now in front of the Sage Council; instead, your work must let her shine. She will have to be glad you are beside her."

Subaru thought about Emilia's saddened and ashamed face in the throne room. He did a lot for her, probably more than someone else would ever do – hell, he died seven times to protect her! – but this time he undoubtedly messed up, fearing he would be left behind, replaced by a powerful and handsome knight. Indeed, he still carried that fear inside his heart right now, and he felt even more inadequate and weak after the Spirit Knight's showdown in these recent loops. Without a word about the last part of Julius's speech, he slightly nodded.

"Well. For this time, and only in my name, I forgive you, Natsuki Subaru." The Finest of the knight raised his voice addressing the public on the stands. "Has anyone anything to say?"

The buzzing on the surroundings lowered its noise; most of the knights come here to witness the duel were silent. Nobody seemed to hold a grudge anymore against the one who had just heavily humiliated himself. Julius waited, scanning the white-capped audience for seconds that lasted ages; then slowly turned himself to the dark-haired boy and ordered with a firm voice: "You have been forgiven; get up and leave this place right now."

Subaru slowly got up, his head spinning. I'm done? I'm alive? I'm free to leave? He slowly walked away from the ring, a foot after the other, ignoring murmurs and noises around him and feeling in his head bells ringing and birds singing. He felt very light, and if he had consumed alcohol before he would have recognised the feeling of being a little drunk.

Now I'm going to get out and find Emilia. We must plan something for the Royal Selection. There has to be something I can do to clean her image after that cringe-worthy scene in the Throne room.

The boy was exiting the ring using a tunnel under the spalts, approximately 30-metres long. After the first steps in the daylight in the entrance and in the exit, more than half of the covered passage was heavily shaded. Subaru slowly advanced in the fresh air under the wooden beams and three trunks, wiping his sweat from his forehead.

Aehm… If I'm not mistaken, after this tunnel I have to turn le-

"Do you really think you're done with this, little brat?"

Hi guys, here the third chapter of this fic. I hope you're fine. As usual, R&R are welcome.