Chapter 6: Duel for Justice
Petelgeuse's group had finally returned from Gusteko, which meant it was finally time for my duel with Faust. I had trained daily with Prylla and Sergei and I was able to use my magic a bit more sparingly than before. I can't believe the time flew by like that. It still feels quite surreal frankly. Hopefully I can start actively searching for my brother soon. Maybe I'll start after my trip to Picoutatte next month. From what Prylla told me it was going to take at least two weeks to get there from here and that's if we take the fastest route. I haven't been outside of the Cathedral once since I got here, so I really don't mind the travel time. I've been wanting to see the world lately. Apparently whatever Faust plans to go do is on the way there anyway, but whether or not I participate hinges on our battle. Prylla can be such a meanie sometimes.
She came by earlier to serve me breakfast and told me since the fight was today that we wouldn't be training, so I've been in my room laying in bed waiting for them to prepare the training hall. I looked over at the time stone before letting out another groan. The air in the room felt stuffier than usual, almost suffocating. I sat up in my bed and hopped off of it. Maybe my Gospel has something that can help me with today? I went over to my desk and picked it up. I took a deep breath and opened the book to the first page again. A few moments later my eyesight was overlaid with the same vision I had the first time, however, this time I flipped to the next page before the headache began.
The scene before me changed, I was no longer in the city of Picoutatte, but a mansion of some kind. Looking around the room it placed me in I couldn't really make out many details of it at all. Everything appeared distorted to an unrecognizable degree and the head pain began progressing; I wasn't going to be able to see much further.
The only thing that was somewhat visible was an outline of an old man with white hair, skin that had an unhealthy white pallour to it and a skinny figure wearing black trousers, black shoes, a light grey shirt, a black cravat, a white waistcoat over the shirt, and a black long coat over the waistcoat that had notched lapels and rolled cuffs. The inner colors were a royal red with a large black feather decoration on the left shoulder.
I looked down at my Gospel to see if it could provide any context, but it only had one word visible: Vollachia. The rest were clouded and too difficult to make out. The pain amplified and I had to shut my Gospel. My bedroom reformed in front of me and I dropped the book on the ground as I stumbled back gripping my head. I steadied myself as the headache began to fade. I grabbed the Gospel off the floor being careful not to accidentally open it and put it back on my desk.
Do I really need to fight this duel? This was something that's been on my mind ever since Prylla suggested it. It seemed highly out of place at the time to be frank. It very much seemed like she didn't actually want to suggest it in the first place. Maybe she only said it because her Gospel told her to? Well if that's the case then I should be able to just refuse if I want, right?
This is all really complicated. I let out another loud groan as I heard the door creak open.
"Is everything alright Lady Archbishop?" Peaking around the door was Prylla.
"I've been thinking… Back when you suggested the duel originally." I sat up in my bed. "You didn't actually want me to go through with it, did you?"
Prylla's eyes went wide for a moment before she let out a sigh. She stepped fully into the room and pulled the desk chair next to my bed and sat down. "No, I really didn't. You're not ready for live combat. Especially not what that sadistic man wants to put you through."
"Sadistic?"
"He takes joy in the suffering of others. I'm afraid of him attempting to harm you for his own sick pleasure. With all due respect my Lady, even with your Authority, I don't think you're skilled enough yet to win."
"If he likes hurting people shouldn't he be punished for that?" I asked innocently.
"While you are correct the only one with the authority to do so is Lord Archbishop and since he's under his charge there's really nothing that can be done."
"But what if I tell Petelgeuse? I'm sure he'd do something if he knew."
"He does know, he just doesn't see it as interfering with his Gospel's plan so he allows it."
"So, if the Gospel doesn't tell him to do something he won't do it?"
"Exactly." Prylla nodded.
"What about you Prylla? Are you only here because your Gospel told you to? Am I keeping you away from something? Your family? I don't want you to be forced to stay around me if it's not what you actually want." I looked down as I gripped my bed sheets tightly. Tears began to well up in my azure eyes. I really did like Prylla because she's been so kind to me, but if she's only doing it because a book told her to, then was any of it even real? The smiles, the laughs, the praise, all that time spent together instead of with our families. I hope I wasn't separating her from her family like I was separated from mine.
Prylla stared at me silently for a moment and the tears that were on the edge of leaking out of my eyes began to freely flow. "Wahhh!" I cried out. I kept my head hung low when I felt a soft touch on the crown of my head. I looked up at Prylla whose hand was caressing my head.
"Yes it's true that I'm here because my Gospel told me to be here, but you're not keeping me from anything. I've truly enjoyed the time we've spent together. It's almost like having a child of my own. Teaching you to read and write. Watching you learn magic. Aiding with your swordplay. It fills my heart with joy to see you grow so much in the little bit of time I've known you. So if you'd continue to have me… I'd very much like to continue raising you up into the finest woman you can become. That is my one and only desire. That is why I believe my Gospel has led me to you. Even if I didn't have it I'd still want nothing more than to be right here, my Lady." Prylla took her hand off my head and wrapped me into a hug which I returned.
"Do you really mean it?"
"I do." She stroked the back of my head.
"You won't abandon me?" I don't want to lose anyone else.
"Never." She squeezed me tighter.
I let go of her as I calmed down and laid back on the bed letting my head rest on my pillow. "Is there really nothing I can do about Faust?"
"You could go through with the duel, but I'd still advise against it."
"What happens if he wins, again?"
"You'll accompany them on an excursion to wipe out a village of Demons that they found. It's the last village located on the border to Kararagi. They don't plan on attacking it for a while though as Lord Archbishop has been keeping them very busy. So, in other words, their Gospel's aren't ordering them to attack it."
"Wait, they?"
"You could consider Fogg and Sado his underlings. So where Faust goes they go."
"So, they're bad guys too?" Prylla simply nodded in response. "There must be a way to win though."
"Perhaps if you're okay with a bit of cheating." Prylla suggested.
"Hmmm… That wouldn't be fair though… But I guess the duel itself wasn't fair from the start. What do you have in mind?"
"Since Fogg and Sado are out of the question, I think I may be able to convince Sergei to slow Faust down. If he can be convinced to use his magic to slow Faust's movements I think you might have a chance at winning."
"But wouldn't he get caught?"
"If you both cast the same spell at the same time I don't think Faust would figure it out."
"Let's do it then."
The two of us left the room to finalize preparations for the fight. Prylla managed to successfully convince Sergei of the plan and had already discussed the terms if I win which he agreed to. The stage was set and the duel was ready to begin. Prylla, Sergei, Faust and I entered the training room and I walked over to the other end to grab my wooden sword. Faust was waiting in the center smoking a tobacco leaf. Prylla approached me and whispered in my ear, "When you see Sergei clench his fist, that's when you cast vita." I nodded to her and took my place opposite Faust. Prylla positioned herself off to the side between us and Sergei was standing out of Faust's field of vision.
"Alright, in accordance with tradition each party shall state their name and when I lower my hand the fight shall commence." Prylla raised her hand above her head.
"Tch. Faust." He held his sword lazily with one hand. He spit the tobacco leaf on the ground and rubbed his shoe on it.
"Sin Archbishop of the Witch's Cult representing Pride, Deneb Arided." I raised my sword and pointed the tip at Faust.
I locked eyes with him as I watched Prylla's hand from the corner of my eye. Choosing Red as my focus point my vision doubled, and I saw her hand chop downwards through the air. I refocused my eyes back on Faust. The second her hand went down he was going to rush me and jab towards my stomach. I waited a second and it happened exactly as I saw it. I moved to the right and his sword went past my side on the left. I attempted to strike his waist but he spun on his right foot and was behind me now.
"Murak!" I hopped up and sprung off the ground. I turned myself around, remaining upright the entire time and let myself fall back to the ground. Faust was already charging where I was going to land, so as soon as I landed I watched his movements carefully. He was going to strike from the right diagonal first. I moved my head left in response to his movement and he tried to strike at my legs next. I glanced over at Sergei for a second and saw him shake his head. Not yet. Not yet.
I jumped up pulling my legs close to myself. The sword swished past my knees and when I returned to the ground I jabbed my sword towards his abdomen. The sound of wood striking wood reverberated through the stone room. He blocked my strike with the flat of the wooden blade.
"Hah! Do you really think such a simple attack would work? I can read the wind, you know. I can tell exactly how you're going to move. It's so basic. You call yourself an Archbishop? Hah! You're just a child."
His words stung me inside. I flicked my eyes at Sergei who nodded his head while clenching his fist, and I turned back to Faust. "Vita!" Faust crashed to the ground seemingly pinned by an invisible force. He tried to push himself up, but he was pushed deeper into the ground. A small crater formed where he was and I took my sword and placed it by his neck.
"I win, Faust." He looked up at me with seething rage in his eyes. "You're not destroying that Demon village I won't let you."
"You! You! You little b-" He tried to move again, but could barely bring his right hand forward.
"Give it up, Faust. You've lost. You must honor the terms of the duel." Prylla spoke up.
Faust grumbled something before the spell wore off. Standing up he quickly stormed out of the room without another word. Prylla looked at me with a small smile on her face and Sergei unclenched his fist and started panting.
The duel was over and I was the victor.