Note: Soooo, it was brought to my attention that there are some canon errors the high beast chapter, which I will be fixing in a bit. Thank you Dy for that. Sadly I cannot claim this was a result of poor research, but poor memory and understanding of what I had read. (Having read all light novels at least 3 times, not including the newest). If you guys; any of you, see any more such errors or something you think is one please, PLEASE tell me. We are going to start getting into things that I don't have finer details for being that I am relying on the light novels and summaries I have gotten from various sources. This is also why I choose to write in this format rather than a linear story it allows for flexibility. Thank you for everyone's continued support.

Sigurd 2nd year Royal Academy

I hesitated. My self-loathing only grew from my hesitation. I hadn't been able to get those soft words out of my head. Her encouragement. Those silver eyes that pinned me as easily as her high beast's claws.

'Take a breath. It is okay.' Even though it hadn't been. I had been so scared that couldn't even move. I wasn't even sure how I had managed to grab my high beast's stone mid fall. 'You have not failed yet; you can still do this.' She had not belittle me when I told her I was too afraid. Instead, she chanted soft words that flowed like a song though I couldn't understand their meaning. 'A spell. It grants change if the heart and mind are open to it.' I had never heard of such a thing. But a warmth spread through me and I finally admitted my greatest fear. To her. Hanging above what should have been my death site. Again, she did not mock me nor was there anything but understanding in those eyes. 'I will catch you if you fall.'

'Promise?' I had asked her.

Her eyes had nostalgic softness to them, reminding me of the few moments of my mother before her passing. 'I vow to be your Schutzaria until Flutrane's waters grace you with change you need.' A charm at her pinned to her shoulder and the tool over her eyes flashed as if the gods acknowledged her vow. 'The first step to change is always the hardest.'

I took a deep breath. She had been right. That first step had been hard. But I had managed to summon my high beast.

"My Lord?" Gundahar's voice penetrated my thoughts. "Are you sure about this?" His concern was genuine. A rarity now. After my fall, father had berated me and threatened to demote me. In truth he probably would once I graduated if nothing changed.

I nodded. "Otherwise, all the training we did would be ashes." I looked towards our destination. The knights training ground. Two blue cloaked students from Dunkelfelger stood guard. They were intimidating. The bigger one had silky brown hair, olive eyes, and his clothes were impressively clean. The second boy was smaller and had yellow orange hair paired with icy blue eyes. Both were watching me, neither was bothering to hide their mockery.

"Lord Sigurd, I'm afraid Steifebrise is not here." It was an insult and a threat from the brown-haired boy; Dimitri Sohn Schulz, I remembered. Gundahar had managed to get the details about the duel between him and Lady Minerva. If half of what he had said was true then it had been easily as humiliating as my fall from a high beast. It was also through this that we discovered her bride task and a way someone could take her hand.

I clenched my teeth and smiled. "I am here to challenge Lady Minerva."

Dimitri scoffed and smirked. "Vantole has played a cruel joke on you."

"As an archduke candidate I have every right to extend such a challenge."

He opened his mouth again, but a different voice came from behind him. "Dimitri, you wouldn't interfere with one of our archduke candidates' bride task? Especially since you are also benefitting from it. You still have two tries, correct? It would be a shame if word reached the Aub and he removed you from the challenge all together."

The second guard instantly straightened. "We were only testing him. If he can't stand up to us, then how will he withstand one of our ladies?" He moved aside allowing me to see who had come to my rescue. It was none other than Lady Minerva's arch scholar, Peter.

"Brave words from a scholar who stands behind Geduldh's cloak." Dimitri hissed at Peter.

Peter merely smiled. "Come Lord Sigurd. My lady awaits." I followed him with Gundahar trailing behind me. It was the only way I would feel safe with Dimitri at my back. He led us to where the knights were training. My eyes were instantly drawn to her. She moved effortlessly. Every step made it look like she was performing an entrancing dance. Even her partner was quite skilled. Though as I realized who he was my mood soured.

Lord Ferdinand.

As I recalled from Gundahar's story the duel had been a result of Lady Minerva coming to his aid. So, he was here too. Was he also challenging Minerva, I wondered. I clenched my fists at my side.

"Lord Ferdinand is one of the few people who challenges my lady to test himself. Not as part of the bride task." My heart instantly soared at this remark from Peter. There was look on his face that was a strange mix of amusement and resignation. "In fact, I believe he finds my lady to be much too excessive in all things. Something many people agree on." My jaw nearly dropped to the dirt at a scholar revealing such information about his lady so blatantly. She needed to be warned. Peter's bright eyes held my own with something like curiosity in them. "Do you know who gave Lady Minerva her bride task?"

"No. I was under the impression it was part of a Dunkelfelger tradition, but I'm not certain on the details surrounding it." Oh, no. Have I said too much? Would my lack of knowledge penalize me?

Peter chuckled darkly. "It was a task given to her by the man she wants to marry, against her father's wishes. If she is undefeated by the start of her last year at the royal academy, he will marry her."

I couldn't hide my surprise "What kind of man would demand that? What if she were challenged by someone in their final year? Couldn't she get hurt?"

Peter smiled. "That is the price he asked and she accepted. She must prove her strength and survive. But we are not worried, no one from this place will beat her. As to what kind of man her future husband is, well, you could say he is Ewigeliebe's darker twin. So, tread carefully, Lord Sigurd. He already has his eyes on you after the high beast class."

I shuddered and turned back to the match. Lord Ferdinand was scowling as he walked off to the side. Minerva was chuckling at his back. A very gratifying sight.

"My lady, you have another challenger."

Minerva turned to Peter. Her eyes still crinkling with amusement. Then recognition lit in those silver depths as she looked over his shoulder towards me. My shoulders automatically straightened and I gave asked to give a noble greeting. She agreed and listened attentively before returning my blessing.

"Come, step into the ring."

While we had been exchanging greetings Peter had placed a small magic tool down that was spewing a soft gold light in a large circle. I did as I was asked, ignoring the snickers and murmured whispers from some of the nearby apprentice knights.

"Lord Ferdinand, I am afraid I must request you play witness yet again." She then turned to Gundahar. "You as well, Gundahar." Both accepted. The former with more annoyance than anything else. Minerva chuckled before addressing me. "State your challenge, and accept the rules."

"I, Lord Sigurd archduke candidate of Frenbeltag challenge Lady Minerva for the right to be your God of Darkness." At my words her smile froze and she blinked several times in quick succession. Then she turned to look at Peter with a slightly raised eyebrow before turning back to me with a small sigh. The apprentices around us were now whispering furiously. Several girls even giggled helplessly. I could feel color rising to my cheeks. Was she going to refuse?

"I accept your challenge, Lord Sigurd. By right of challenge, I ask that the rules be such that whoever leaves this ring first or submits, loses. There will be no time limit, the use of schtappes, magic tools, and potions are allowed. This will be your first attempt of three to ask for this kind of duel. Do you accept?"

"I accept."

"Select your weapon." Peter brought slender twin swords carved from a sturdy dark red wood. And Gundahar offered me a practice sword that he had prepared in advance. Once I held the weapon and both our people had exited the circle Minerva spoke again, "Then by witness of magical tool, by archduke candidate of Ehrenfest, and by your own knight the match may begin."

I raised my practice sword in preparation of a swing only to find Lady Minerva was much too close. Those twin weapons came sweeping under my guard and straight for my exposed ribs. A charm flashed brilliantly and her weapons rebounded with such force that it sent her stickering back. I felt a cold sweat go down my back. Had that landed I would not still be standing. Fear started to creep in. Her eyes held nothing but determination. She would not hold back at all. I swallowed and lunged forward not allowing myself to think. Her swords crossed catching my attack with practiced ease. Then stepped forward. Quite suddenly there was very little space between us. To the point of indecency. Blush colored my cheeks as struggled to use my weapon to hold her back. She didn't even struggle under the force. Instead, she tilted her head at me in way that held a question. Then she smiled.

All manner of thought left me. I suck in a surprised breath then found myself falling. Then I slammed onto my back. The air in my lungs whooshed out and I struggled to breath.

"Yield."

Her weapons were aimed at me. Her eyes had ferocious look to them. She would not hesitate to strike me if I refused. Yet even as my fear rose at that thought another part burned to furious life. I did not want to stay a coward forever. I wanted to change, I wanted Anwachs' blessing. He had given me a chance once, now it was time to prove I was worth that consideration. That Lady Minerva wasn't a fool to have intervened with Ewigeliebe.

"No."

The corner of her lip twitched up in approval. She raised her weapons and brought them down. I was just barely able to lift my sword with a hand on each end. The force of her blow jarred through my entire body. She forced my blade to smash into my chest and my arms to slam into the unforgiving sand. Pain exploded in my chest while everything else ached. I saw stars. My vision swam violently like my body was moving. Distantly I heard voices.

"M.. ..ord ….!"

"My Lord!"

I blinked furiously as Gundahar's face swam into view. There was panic in his purple eyes. I looked around and found both him and Lady Minerva were crouched next to me with Peter and several apprentice knights standing close. We were no longer in the circle. I sighed, I lost.

"Don't look so down. You did splendidly. Better than I had hoped."

"You honor me, Lady Minerva. I last only three strikes."

She shrugged. "Dimitri lasted two. And none among my countrymen expected you to still be standing after my first attack. You have good people if your charm was able to stagger me." She reached up to her ear and pulled a gold tear drop shaped magic tool and offered it to me. Gundahar examined it quickly before nodding for me to take it. The tool was still warm from where it had laid against her skin. Something that sent new blush across my face.

'You should be proud of what you accomplished here. The you that I caught would not have been able to continue the fight so bravely.'

'I … I wanted to be worthy of your words.'

She chuckled. 'Be worthy of yourself, not my words. But I think you no longer need Schutzaria's protection. Anwachs and Flutrane guide you on your path.' She reached to take back the tool, and I gave back.

"You still have two more attempts that you can make. Train hard."

"I am unworthy of your kindness."

"It is not kindness." She got up and walked away. "Feel free to stay and watch."

She went back to the ring where Lord Ferdinand and Heisshitze her guard waited. The Ehrenfest archduke candidate's face was flat and expressionless as he said, "A useless fool who produces no results is no child of an archduke."

Shame colored my cheeks and I dropped my gaze from them.

"What did you just say?" The words were sharp and colder than winter I had ever experienced. I looked back up to see Lady Minerva's face and froze. She was watching the other archduke candidate as if she had no idea who he was and she was very much considering squishing him like a bug.

Lord Ferdinand smiled. "I said only the truth."

"Pray tell, where did you hear this 'truth'?" Everything inside of me screamed danger, just like when father was in one of his moods. Emotions flashed through her eyes in such quick succession that though they were completely visible I could not discern them. I suspected neither could Lord Ferdinand. Which would be especially dangerous for him because her focus was on him.

"It nothing but the truth that all archduke candidates know." His guard and attendant were moving closer to flank him in case of trouble.

"Those words have the ring of something said to you, Lord Ferdinand. Who?"

He smiled. "You read too much into things."

"I see." Her tone was frosty as she smiled back. "I think today has been rough on all of. You may be excused from the rest of this week's training. I am sure you quite tired."

What was happening? Were they fighting? That was definitely good news for me, but as I watched the Ehrenfest nobles go and Lady Minerva turn back to her own training I felt there was also a sadness clinging to her. We stayed to watch a couple fights each was faster and more brutally efficient than the last.