“What do you mean you challenge me to a duel?” Colby asked.

  “Exactly what I said.” Helena drew her sword, pointing the tip at Colby’s chest.

  Noelle unsheathed her sword as well, leveling the blade at him.

  Just like their hair and armor, their weapons were color-coded. Red for the flaming red-haired Helena, and blue for the sky-blue-haired Noelle.

  Elaine joined in the unsheathing, dropping her halberd to the ground, as she aimed her blade at the two nobles. She didn’t have the luxury of custom colors, simply a gleaming silvery gray.

  Beside her, Maisie tightened her grip on her halberd, both hands locked around the shaft. She angled the weapon forward, placing it between the two nobles and Colby.

  Feeling left out, Colby pretended to unsheathe a sword from an imaginary scabbard at his waist, pointing the non-existent blade at Helena and Noelle.

  They blinked and glanced at each other, sharing a look of confusion.

  “Helena. Noelle. Put your blades down,” Elaine said.

  “Y-yes. Put your blades down. Please,” Maisie stuttered.

  “Not until I restore the honor of the house of Vapronel, and of every noble this peasant has insulted.”

  Elained leaned in close, whispering to his ear, “Just apologize and say it’ll never happen again.”

  Colby nodded.

  “I am sorry,” he said.

  Noelle clicked her tongue. “Empty words.”

  “I am very sorry.”

  Noelle thrust her sword forward, blue steel flashing toward Colby.

  Elaine stepped in, her blade snapping up to intercept, while Maisie shifted alongside her. Her halberd slammed into the flat of Noelle’s sword. A sharp rang echoed out as metal met metal. The force of the thrust being dissipated between the two.

  “Do you want me to write it out? Would that make you happy?” Colby exclaimed.

  “Do you think this is a joke?” Helena yelled.

  “Am I laughing?”

  “Just forgive him, okay?” Elaine said. “My peasant friend here is a bit dumb. He is just a peasant.”

  “Forgive him? Never. Only when he is struck down, and his defeat witnessed, will honor be restored.”

  Elaine sighed before whispering into his ear once more, “Just accept the duel and lose. Okay?”

  “Got it.”

  Colby looked at the two noble girls, then sheathed his imaginary sword into its equally imaginary scabbard.

  “I accept your duel.”

  “Good.”

  Helena and Noelle move in unison, blades returning to their scabbards. Elaine hesitated for a moment before following suit, while Maisie lowered her halberd.

  Elaine did say to lose. And the quickest way to lose was to surrender.

  “Now that I’ve accepted your duel. I have learned the error of my ways and surrendered. The win is yours, Ms. Helena Vapronel.”

  Elaine slapped her face.

  Helena, Noelle, and Maisie had their jaws hang low at his statement.

  Growing red once again, Helena stomped up to him, jabbing a finger into his chest.

  “Ouch,” Colby winced. “What was that for?”

  “I know you’re stupid, peasant. But is this your idea of a joke?”

  Colby shook his head. “I’m serious. I’m sorry for insulting you, your family, and all the nobles. If I duel against you, I’ll definitely lose. I’m just some peasant guy, and you’re a Knight-in-training noble girl.”

  “How dare you!” Helena yelled.

  “How dare I what?” Colby asked. “You won. Your honor has been restored. I lost.”

  “To accept a duel and immediately surrender is the biggest insult imaginable.”

  “Wait, really?” Colby said, looking at Elaine.

  She slowly nodded her head.

  “Oh, curds! I didn’t know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Empty words!” Noelle spat.

  Helena pulled out her other glove, slapping it across Colby’s face once more.

  “For disrespecting me, Helena Vapronel, I challenge you to a duel.”

  “Wait. Wait. Wait. Is it rude if I don’t accept the duel?”

  In an instant, Helena unsheathed her sword once more, angling it at his throat.

  Elaine and Maisie retrieved their weapons, about to dash in, when Noelle blocked them with that sky-blue blade of hers.

  “If you deny me an honorable duel, I will cut off your limbs as a reminder for the disrespect you have given me today.”

  “And what exactly qualifies as an honorable duel?”

  “We fight until one of us is unable to continue or yields.”

  “Is that all? Any other rules?”

  “No.”

  “So pets are allowed, right?”

  Elaine scrunched up her eyebrows. “What are you doing, Colby?”

  With his hands still raised, he slowly moved over to Elaine, avoiding Helena’s red blade. He tip-toed—something which he wasn’t happy about—whispering into her ear, “If I’m being forced into a duel, I’m going to use every advantage I can get. That way, she can’t say it wasn’t dishonorable. Who knows, I might even win.”

  “You’re a guy who makes cheese for a living. They’re noble children who have been training their whole lives to be a knight, under the best instructors that their status can buy.”

  “If I’m about to lose, I just have to yield, but only after I put on a good show. Easy-peasy, right?”

  Elaine groaned. She sheathed her blade, turning to Maisie.

  “Maisie, I need to babysit him. I’ll go with the Vapronels and make sure they don’t go overboard. If anyone asks, say I’m in the bathroom.”

  “B-but that’s lying. And insubordination. And… And…”

  “Thanks.”

  “So we good on pets?” Colby asked.

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  Helena scoffed, sliding her blade into her scabbard as well. “Do whatever you want. What good would a peasant's pet even do in a duel?”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes,” Noelle said, tucking the sky-blue steel away. “Are you dense?”

  “No, I’m Colby,” he giggled.

  Everyone groaned, even the nerve-stricken Maisie, who for a brief moment stopped shaking—only to immediately fall back into a nervous, shivering wreck.

  “What? It’s a good joke. Anyway, come here, boy.”

  A bark came from the bushes as Thornelius barreled out of the greenery and charged across the road toward him.

  Immediately, all the Knights-in-training drew their blades, aiming their weapons at the Thornwolf.

  Thornelius skidded to a stop right in front of Colby. He panted happily, barky tongue lolling from his mouth as thick, sloppy sap slobbered onto the ground. Tilting his head, he stared up at the four sharp weapons, clearly confused why they were pointed at him.

  “This is your pet?” Helena asked.

  “Yeah. His name is Thornelius.”

  Colby bent down, giving the Thornwolf a couple of head scratches against his bushy head and especially behind his ear.

  The Thornwolf let out a pleased bark, tail swishing as he leaned into the touch, completely forgetting about the four blades still pointed his way.

  Noelle scoffed, eyes flicking from Thornelius to Colby. “At least we’ll know who’s the culprit the next time a monster attack is reported in Brinebrook.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Thornelius is a good boy. So we dueling or what?”

  “Yes, let’s go,” Helena said.

  Leaving Maisie alone to guard the entrance, Colby followed the two noble girls with Elaine and Thornelius by his side.

  Stone paths connected to barracks that flanked both sides of the path. From within came the muted clatter of armor and the scrape of metal on stone, as well as the low murmur of voices.

  A training field stretched further back, where chalk lines marked sparring rings and footwork drills. Dented targets and straw dummies bore scars of repeated abuse as they stood at attention next to weapon racks lined with halberds, spears, swords, and more.

  Instead of taking in the sights of the Knight’s base, Colby was rather preoccupied. With one eye closed, focusing on his Core, it was all hands on deck as he started preparing all sorts of cheese for the incoming duel.

  They made their way to that training field, toward one of the many sparring rings drawn into the ground. Helena walked towards one end of the rectangular box, while Noelle stood at the perimeter.

  Helena took one side of the arena while Noelle stood to the side. She had her arms crossed as she glared at him.

  “Good luck, Colbs,” Elaine said, slapping his back.

  “You know, if I get hurt, I’m blaming you.”

  “For what?”

  “The only reason I got roped into this was because I came here to give you your gift.”

  “Colby. Colby. Colby. If you had just shut your big mouth, none of this would’ve happened.”

  “I’m still blaming you.”

  “I know.”

  Elaine walked off, standing next to Noelle and towering over the sky-blue-haired noble.

  Swallowing the lump in his throat, Colby walked to the other side of the dueling box, Thornelius trailing by his side.

  Helena was not only a Knight-in-training but a noble one. She had received formal training for who knows how many years, by the best instructors her status could buy. He knew how strong Elaine was—and she was self-taught. Chances were, Helena was even more skilled than her.

  He had to make this fight look good. That way, if he surrendered, he wouldn’t be at risk of losing more than his pride. He had to pull out all of the stops; use every trick he could possibly conceive.

  “Ready?” Noelle asked.

  Helena unsheathed her sword, pointing the blazing red blade at him.

  “Yes. I’m going to make you regret insulting me, my family, and all of noble-kind.”

  Another thought just flashed through his mind, something he should’ve pointed out way, way, way earlier.

  “Wait, I don’t have any weapons. Isn’t it unfair if she uses a sword and I don’t?”

  “I’d lend you my sword or even offer one of the weapons from the rack,” Elaine said. “But you have no idea how to use one. If anything, it’d only slow you down.”

  “I very much disagree,” Colby said. “I’m unarmed, and the last thing I want is to truly be unarmed.”

  “Relax, Colbs. Helena won’t cut off your arms, right?” Elaine asked.

  “Accidents happen.”

  “I’ll make sure she won’t cut off your arms.”

  “Quit stalling,” Helena growled.

  “Fight!” Noelle shouted.

  The red-haired girl [Dashed] towards him in a burst of speed, her pigtails fluttering in the wind.

  Why was she so fast!

  “Go Thornelius! I choose you!”

  The Thornwolf barked. He lowered his body, a deep rumble rolling from his chest as he growled. His leafy lips peeled back, revealing rows of thorny teeth, before he lunged forward, towards Helena.

  “I’ll do everyone a service and put an end to this monster before any harm befalls Brinebrook.”

  Wait. Was she going to get rid of Thornelius? Not on his watch.

  “Thornelius! I unchoose you! I unchoose you! Run away, boy!”

  The Thornwolf barked, clearly understanding his orders. He veered sharply to the side, dodging a swipe from the red-haired’s red blade as he sprinted past the boundary, skidding to a stop next to Elaine.

  Helena tore her gaze away from Thornelius, returning her focus to Colby. Her red boots pounded against the field as she charged at him.

  Colby started pulling out every single trick he could think of. He pointed at something behind her and shouted, “Look! A dragon.”

  Helena didn’t so much as blink. Her eyes were locked onto him, fully intent on skewering him as the distance between them shrank rapidly.

  Curds! But it had worked so well against the LeMonkeys guards.

  Good thing, he still had plenty of other tricks up his sleeve.

  “I’m about to go all out!”

  Colby planted his feet into the ground. He bent his elbows and clenched his fists, knees sinking ever so slightly as he straightened his back. Puffing out his chest, he drew in a deep breath.

  Then he shouted.

  At first, it was just a simple yell, but it quickly grew louder, deeper, more powerful. Colby’s voice echoed across the training field, bouncing off the stone walls encompassing the base. Veins popped out across his neck as his face twisted with an exaggerated strain akin to the day when he fought for his life after being forced to consume Elaine’s lobster stew. He shouted, his voice growing louder and louder as he pretended to unleash all of his power.

  Surprisingly, it worked.

  Helena skidded to a stop. She brought her sword close to her chest, eyes narrowing as she watched for his next move.

  She was expecting a huge burst of power, so he’d do the opposite. The contrast would stun her into confusion.

  The shouting cut off abruptly—mostly because his throat was starting to hurt.

  He dug one heel into the ground, muscles bunching up as he prepared to launch himself forward. Helena caught sight of that minute action. The grip around her blade tightened as she braced for impact.

  But there was no blade that could block the psychological toll of his next move.

  Colby charged.

  He failed his arms around like they were a bunch of limp noodles. His knees shot up to his chest with every step as he jerked towards her. His cheeks puffed up as dumb, stupid sounds escaped his mouth—which sounded like a fish blubbing.

  Just as predicted, Helena was stunned. She stood frozen.

  Unfortunately, it was only for a second.

  She boiled with rage, her face growing as red as her hair.

  “Do you think this is a joke?”

  “No, I—”

  Colby made a choking sound and staggered back as he clutched his chest. His arm shot to the sky as he toppled to the ground with his limbs splayed, and tongue sticking out of his mouth.

  “That’s it,” Helena growled. I’m ending this.”

  She rushed forward once more with [Dash]. Flames burst out from her hands, rising up the handle then past the crossguard, until the entire blade was coated in fire.

  Red hair. Red clothes. Red sword. Who would’ve guessed she used the power of man’s red flower?

  Colby didn’t throw himself to the ground just for the sake of throwing Helena a curveball. If she had spotted that little twitch in his calf, she was definitely going to notice the hundreds of little gifts that he was currently laying.

  He shot up to his feet and scrambled backwards. He flailed his arms wildly, while his screams were a poor man’s impression of a panicked rooster.

  It only served to infuriate Helena further.

  Blinded by rage and deafened by his high-pitched yells, she ran into his trap.

  Congratulations! [Marvelous Mozzarella Marbles] has reached Level 4!

  Colby let out a little giggle as he watched Helena step on the hundreds of little mozzarella marbles.

  Helena’s anger was instantly snuffed out and replaced with surprise. Flailing her arms in a desperate bid for balance, she hit the ground hard. The sword left her grasp, and the flames coating it extinguished.

  She sat there, stunned, looking down at the cause of her fall: small whitish-yellowish orbs.

  “What the?” she said, picking up a marble and bringing it closer. “Is this cheese?”

  “Yes,” Colby said, finally behaving normally—well as normal as he could be. “It’s mozzarella. So, Helena Vapronel, do you yield?”

  “Yield? Why would I?” she growled.

  “You did just get taken down with nothing but cheese.”

  Helena’s finger trembled as she closed it around the marble before squishing it. She grabbed the sword and shot back to her feet. Flames roared back to life around her blade as she slashed beneath her.

  Heat washed outward as the flaming sword carved through the [Marvelous Mozzarella Marbles], slicing and melting every single last marble into a greasy, steaming mess.

  “Hey, you can’t just go around cutting another man’s cheese.”

  “Stop fooling around!” Helena snarled.

  “Again, says the person who got taken down with nothing but cheese.”

  “I will end you!” she roared, [Dashing] towards him once again.

  Was that the only move she knew?

  Boring.

  Good thing he knew plenty.