Chapter 17

  Friday

  The day had arrived.

  Though Princess Nora didn’t know their plan to survive this duel, Dan’s calm body language reassured her that Prince Fury, in his human form, had a strategy.

  Even more significant, the contract termination news had spread. Everyone now knew Dan Burn was officially sponsored by Casca Saint-Maximin.

  And the grand topper? Today, he faced Rafinya Saint-Pauli.

  Despite a flicker of worry, Nora glanced at Dan, seated across from her, composed and still. She wondered: what strategy would he pull out this week?

  Last week’s poison trick wouldn’t work again.

  Trainer Soros entered the prep room as usual, glancing at Dan… his expression betraying growing unease about this kid.

  “Alright, you’re used to this by now.”

  He turned and left.

  Dan shifted from crossed arms to crossed legs, still hugging his chest, scanning the room. He nodded at Nora, their usual greeting.

  No sign of Gronk… probably still away. Unfortunate, but nothing to be done.

  No other friends dared meet Dan’s eyes… except his opponent today. Rafinya Saint-Pauli stared unblinking.

  And so it began.

  Trainer Soros announced:

  “First pair, step up!”

  As time dragged on, it felt slower with each passing moment. Second pair… third… fourth…

  Outside, it wasn’t just a handful of instructors and students like before. Every seat in the stadium was packed with students from across the Institute, here to witness this graded duel.

  They wanted to see the one sponsored by Casca Saint-Maximin. They wanted to see Dan Burn.

  The Knight Department was out in full force—Chiesa, Helena, Aaron, Jenny, all there.

  Everyone awaited one thing: Dan vs. Rafinya.

  Finally, the moment the crowd craved arrived.

  “Pair 17! Get ready!”

  Dan and Rafinya rose from their corners. Students parted to let them pass. Both, weapons at their sides, walked to the tunnel’s mouth, standing side by side.

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  Nora watched their height difference from behind. The shorter Dan stood, arms crossed, silent, not engaging Rafinya.

  “Pair 17… step out!”

  White light poured from the tunnel, ushering both duelists into the arena amid the roar of a packed stadium.

  Today, someone would be humiliated before this crowd. And Rafinya was certain it wouldn’t be her.

  Why was she so confident?

  She glanced up at the arena’s highest tier. A Pauli family member, having heard of the sponsorship, was here, watching Dan Burn.

  Rafinya knew… she couldn’t disgrace her family.

  Casca wasn’t visible, but Rafinya was sure she was among the spectators somewhere.

  I’ll show you you’re wrong.

  Both stepped onto the arena, Dan eyeing the scars of the sixteen prior duels, each as fierce as the last.

  Later pairs trickled out from the tunnel, including Nora, granted special permission by the instructors.

  Trainer Soros stood between them. Rafinya and Dan shook hands, as duel etiquette demanded.

  Nora’s eyes fixed on Dan’s gloves… no poison needles.

  “Pair 17…”

  Soros swallowed hard, glancing left and right…

  “Begin!”

  The pressure should’ve crashed onto the duelists, but an invisible barrier seemed to block external noise. The arena felt calm, colder than expected, like a chess match of wits.

  Rafinya and Dan circled each other, gauging who’d move first. A clear sign Rafinya was serious—she wouldn’t underestimate him, despite knocking him out before.

  “Don’t hurt me too much,” Dan said.

  “I’ve still got work for Professor McClaff and you.”

  “If you’re scared of pain, drop your sword and kneel.”

  “No way. I can’t let Mrs. Casca down.”

  “Then fight to the death.”

  Rafinya finished, twisting her right foot 45 degrees, channeling energy through every muscle fiber, lunging at Dan with blinding speed. Her silver blade slashed diagonally, aiming for his neck. But something she didn’t expect happened…

  In slow-motion clarity, Dan met her eyes, raising his sword to parry with unbelievable speed.

  “!!!”

  A clank rang out as metal collided at high speed, sparking orange. Newton’s reaction force pushed them apart.

  The seniors in the stands froze, stunned. Even Nora was shocked. But Rafinya was the most floored.

  Before she could process, Dan closed in, aiming for her ankle. As his blade swung, Rafinya’s ankle sprang, launching her into the air. She kicked at his face, sending him reeling… but no, he’d blocked with his arm just in time.

  Landing lightly on both toes, Rafinya stared, trying to comprehend. Dan, meanwhile, brushed dirt from her shoe off his sleeve.

  His peripheral glance caught her.

  The hand brushing his sleeve lifted… and wagged a finger, beckoning her to attack.

  Rafinya let out a soft “hmph” in her throat.

  As she flicked her sword tip to the ground… red liquid splattered.

  Blood seeped from a cut on Dan’s cheek.

  Since when? Rafinya’s blade had grazed him.

  That was the terror of her counter-timing.

  “Oof…”

  Dan touched his cheek.

  Before he could finish, Rafinya was airborne, face-to-face, blade ready.

  !!!

  Dan twisted his hips, dodging, but Rafinya redirected with precision, clashing her blade against his raised defense.

  Sparks flew again, the tempo accelerating.

  Dan countered swiftly, Rafinya matching his speed.

  “…How’s this possible…”

  Senior Helena gaped.

  “That guy… why’s he so different from before?”

  Dan’s speed today was worlds apart from last time, like a different person, as if he’d chosen to unleash his true power in this fight.

  No one answered Helena’s question.

  Rafinya and Dan traded blows like elite tennis players, their clash a fiery dance of blazing sparks.

  She noticed something on Dan.

  A faint golden aura coated his body.

  Her blade spun, aiming for a gap as Dan dodged, their bodies closing in, each poised to exploit the other’s opening.

  But then… Rafinya felt a chilling presence behind her ear, something so terrifying it raised the hairs on her neck.

  It felt like…

  A demon.

  CLANK!

  She spun, striking, forcing them apart.

  Rafinya retreated instinctively, face pale, unfeeling…

  What was that?

  It was gone…

  Only her opponent remained, swinging his sword to the ground… blood splattering.

  !!!

  Rafinya touched her chin… a cut, blood seeping.

  Not enough.

  White fabric clung to Dan’s blade.

  He’d claimed a piece of her shirt.

  She got a cut… Dan got her hem.

  Confusion, processing, and inexplicable things assaulted Rafinya’s mind…

  She grasped her torn shirt.

  No one had ever torn her clothes. No one had made her bleed in this Institute.

  She looked up at the boy.

  He picked up her shirt fragment… and pocketed it as a trophy.

  A provocative, insulting act.

  Worse, Dan shrugged.

  Then he spoke, before the instructors, Nora, everyone:

  “Finally, the day’s come… when everyone sees even gods can bleed.”

  !!!

  Not real, right?

  What did Dan just say?

  His face… his demeanor… his aura. Different.

  He was fierce.

  He wasn’t the same.

  He was taunting her.