The next morning arrived quietly, the sun barely peeking over the distant horizon, casting a soft glow over the cold stone walls of Raya Lucaria. Nathaniel stood in the courtyard, his breath visible in the crisp air as he prepared himself for the rematch. His nerves were on edge, but something had shifted inside him since his conversation with Melina the previous night. The weight of the battle ahead still lingered, but his focus was sharper, his purpose clearer.
Roderika and Melina stood a few feet behind him, watching as he stretched his limbs, rolling his shoulders and gripping the hilt of his sword. Roderika stepped forward, her brow furrowed in concern.
"You ready for this?" she asked, her voice quiet but steady.
Nathaniel nodded, glancing at her with a determined smile. "As ready as I'll ever be. I've been beaten before, but I've never stayed down. Today's going to be different."
Roderika gave a small nod. "Just… be careful. Rellana isn't like anyone you've fought before."
"I know," Nathaniel said, adjusting his grip on the blade. "But neither am I."
Melina remained silent, her gaze thoughtful as she watched him. She had faith in him, but this was a battle Nathaniel had to face alone.
He winced, feeling the icy burn, but his mind remained clear. Find your purpose.
Across the courtyard, Rellana emerged from the shadows. Her presence was commanding, and the air seemed to still as she approached. Her twin blades were at her sides, one shimmering with a faint frost, the other radiating with the glow of flame. Her eyes, the deep blue of a twilight sky, locked onto Nathaniel as she stepped into the arena.
Children playing near a fountain paused, clutching their wooden toys as they watched in awe. Nearby, a group of apprentices, each clad in the blue robes of the academy, whispered amongst themselves, their books and scrolls momentarily forgotten. A pair of enchanters practicing spells halted mid-incantation, their glowing sigils flickering out as they turned to watch the confrontation.
"You've come again," Rellana said. "Do you truly believe you are worthy to face my sister?"
Nathaniel straightened, his gaze unwavering. "I'm not here to prove myself to anyone but me. But I'll earn the right to speak with Rennala, whether you believe it or not."
Rellana raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by his resolve. She drew both of her swords in one fluid motion, the flames on one sword licking at the air, the frost on the other crackling with icy energy. "Very well, Tarnished. Show me your strength."
Nathaniel stood before Rellana, his grip tightening around the hilt of his greatsword. His mind was racing, replaying the memories of his defeat the day before. He had fought honourably, like a knight—too rigid, too predictable. Rellana had danced around him with her twin blades of fire and frost, dismantling his defences with grace and precision. But today, he wouldn't make the same mistake.
Rellana watched him carefully, her blue eyes steady and focused. Her twin swords, one glowing with the heat of flames and the other crackling with frost, were already drawn. She nodded toward him. "Ready?"
Nathaniel gave a curt nod, but this time, he felt different. Less formal, less burdened by the pressure of fighting as a "hero." He needed to win, not just survive.
Without a word, Rellana charged. Her frost blade came first, slicing through the air with a deadly hum. Nathaniel raised his sword to block, but instead of staying on the defensive, he stepped in, shifting his body and driving his elbow hard into her ribs.
Rellana gasped, caught off guard by the unorthodox move. She stumbled back, eyes wide with surprise. Nathaniel smirked. "This isn't some honourable duel, Rellana. I'm done playing by the rules."
He swung his greatsword, not with the careful precision of a knight but with raw, brute force. Rellana dodged, her reflexes razor-sharp, but Nathaniel was already moving again. He dropped low, sweeping his leg in a quick arc, knocking Rellana off balance. She tumbled to the ground, but before Nathaniel could strike, she rolled to her feet with cat-like grace, her flame sword igniting as she slashed upward.
Nathaniel felt the heat sear across his chest, but instead of retreating, he surged forward, using his shoulder to shove Rellana backward. She stumbled, her footing faltering just for a moment. That was all Nathaniel needed.
He swung his sword again, but this time he twisted his wrist at the last second, using the flat of the blade to smack her across the face. The impact sent her reeling, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Rellana snarled, her eyes narrowing in anger. "You fight like a common thug," she spat, wiping the blood away with the back of her hand.
Nathaniel grinned, flipping his sword in his hand. "Whatever works, right?"
Rellana lunged, her twin blades flashing as she unleashed a flurry of attacks, but Nathaniel was ready. He sidestepped her flame strike, then ducked beneath the frost blade, twisting his body and slamming his fist into her gut. As she doubled over, he brought his knee up, hitting her square in the chest, sending her sprawling to the ground.
For a moment, the fight paused. Rellana lay on the ground, her breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. Nathaniel stood above her, his sword held loosely at his side, breathing heavily but still in control.
"You're fighting dirty," Rellana said .
Nathaniel shrugged. "I never said I was a knight. Just a survivor."
Rellana pushed herself to her feet, her frost blade glowing brighter than before. Her eyes locked on Nathaniel, and without a word, she raised her sword high, summoning the Carian Phalanx. A line of spectral blades materialized above her, shimmering with deadly magic before launching toward Nathaniel.
Nathaniel rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the barrage, but Rellana was already moving. She swung her flame sword in a wide arc, and this time Nathaniel wasn't fast enough. The blade caught him across the shoulder, and he winced as the searing pain shot through him.
But instead of backing down, Nathaniel gritted his teeth and charged. He closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, bringing his sword down in a brutal, overhead strike. Rellana raised her swords to block, but Nathaniel wasn't aiming for her blades. He angled his sword at the last second, crashing it into her left leg.
She cried out, dropping to one knee, and Nathaniel didn't let up. He kicked her sword arm, sending her flame blade clattering to the ground. Before she could react, Nathaniel grabbed her by the collar and pulled her forward, slamming his forehead into hers in a vicious headbutt.
Rellana's vision swam, but she still managed to raise her frost sword, slashing wildly. Nathaniel barely dodged the strike, but the frost blade grazed his arm, leaving a deep, icy cut.
They both stumbled back, breathing hard. Rellana's face was bruised, her lip bleeding, but she still held her frost sword, eyes blazing with fury. Nathaniel's body was battered, but he was still standing.
"You're persistent," Rellana muttered, wiping the blood from her mouth.
Nathaniel smirked. "You have no idea."
Rellana narrowed her eyes, then suddenly leapt into the air, her swords glowing with a blinding light. She spun in mid-air, summoning the Twin Moons—two massive, glowing orbs that hovered above her before crashing down toward Nathaniel. The shockwave sent him flying backward, and for a moment, everything went white.
Nathaniel landed hard, pain shooting through his entire body, but his mind was clear. He rolled to his feet just as Rellana descended, her blades poised for the final strike. But Nathaniel wasn't done.
As she came down, Nathaniel surged forward, twisting his body at the last second. He grabbed her wrist, using her momentum to throw her off balance, and then drove the pommel of his sword into her side. Rellana gasped, her body crumpling as she hit the ground.
Nathaniel stood over her, panting heavily, his greatsword still in hand. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Finally, Rellana let out a long breath, lowering her frost sword. "You've… proven yourself," she said, her voice soft but filled with reluctant respect. "You fight like a wild beast, but you fight to win. That's what matters."
Nathaniel exhaled, lowering his sword. He nodded, his muscles aching, but there was a quiet sense of victory in his chest. He had fought on his own terms, and he had won.
Nathaniel approached Rellana, his breath still heavy from the intense fight. His greatsword rested on his back now, and he looked down at her, extending a hand. "I won," he said, a mix of exhaustion and triumph in his voice.
Rellana glanced up at him, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. For a moment, she just stared at his hand, her pride bruised more than her body. But then, with a resigned sigh, she took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
"You did," she admitted quietly, her voice laced with reluctance. "But not through brute strength or mastery of the sword. You won by fighting on your own terms."
Nathaniel nodded, his grip still firm on her hand before letting go. "I wasn't going to win a straight duel with you. So I fought like I always have—like I'm fighting for my life."
Rellana stood taller, brushing off the dust from her armour. "I underestimated you. You're more resourceful than I gave you credit for."
Nathaniel smirked, rubbing his bruised shoulder. "That's a nice way of saying I fight dirty."
Rellana's lips twitched into a brief smile, a rare crack in her stoic demeanour. "Perhaps. But you've earned your right to see Rennala."
Nathaniel's face softened, remembering the grief-stricken queen he had glimpsed before. "I don't want to harm her. I only need the Great Rune."
Rellana studied him, her gaze searching his face for any trace of deceit. After a long pause, she nodded. "If you believe you can take the Rune without bringing further pain to her, then I'll allow it. But I'll be watching you, Nathaniel. Don't make me regret this."
Nathaniel nodded in understanding. "I won't."