The dueling area was an outside arena. It was about 30 feet by 20 feet. Big enough to maneuver, but not large enough to run away. There was a stone floor, and a small viewing area for spectators. There were blood stains on the floor. This obviously wasn’t the first time a duel was fought here.

  Jaster and I made our way to opposite ends of the arena. Jaster took off his coat and started swishing his sword left and right. I just stood there watching. Next, Jaster started limbering up. I just stood there.

  Spectators started arriving, including the Earl. He whispered with Ruberm, sending worried glances my way. I smiled and nodded to him. I brought out my sword Balmung. A few people must have recognized it was a magic sword, because excited whispering started and people pointed toward it.

  Ruberm walked to the center of the arena and called out “Jasper of House Corville, level 16 duelist, has challenged Trevor of House Tierre, level 1 unclassed, to a duel.” Obvious muttering about the disparity in our levels occurred. “One handed sword is the weapon of choice. No offensive spells are allowed, defensive spells are allowed. The duel is to first blood, with a continuance if requested.” Ruberm turned to Jaster and asked “Jaster are you ready to proceed?”

  “Hell yes, I will destroy that cretin.”

  Ruberm turned to me and asked “Trevor are you ready to proceed?”

  “If I must” I replied sadly.

  Ruberm made his way slowly to the side of the arena. He turned around to face the center of the arena. He raised his hand into the air. He quickly lowered his arm and yelled “Begin” at the same time.

  Jaster leaped forward running toward me, apparently hoping to make it a quick fight. I activated Slow Time when he hit the halfway point. I don’t consider Slow Time an offensive spell, since it’s a skill. I started walking toward Jaster, when I was in range, he swung his sword at my head, making his intent obvious to everyone here. I lowered my shoulder and brought my sword around and lightly nicked his cheek, then shoved him with my shoulder causing his to fall backward.

  To his credit, Jaster quickly recovered and stood in the guard position. He was ready to continue the duel. I turned Slow Time off.

  Ruberm hastily moved between the two of us. “Trevor has drawn first blood.” Jaster looked confused, but then touched his cheek. He saw the blood covering his fingers and became unhinged.

  “I am not satisfied; the duel must continue.” Jaster roared.

  Ruberm looked at me, waiting for my reply. “If we must, but” I looked at Jaster, “the consequences will be severe and your friends at the Healers guild will not be able to help you. I suggest you be satisfied and move along.”

  “I care not for your suggestions. I only care for punishing you for your actions against the Healers guild.” Jaster’s anger loosened his tongue and revealed his real reasons behind this attack. At this point, I gave up on trying to make the Healers guild an ally. It was obvious they were already against me, even though I don’t understand why.

  “As agreed, by both parties, the duel will continue until satisfaction is achieved or until one party is no longer able to continue.” Ruberm stated as he made his way to the side of the arena again. Jaster and I moved to opposite ends also. Once again, Ruberm raised his arm. He held it there for a few seconds, then sharply lowered it while yelling “Begin”.

  Jaster did not immediately leap toward me as he did last time. He moved quickly but in a controlled manner, keeping his sword in front. It seemed he was taking me more seriously. I raise my sword, started toward Jaster and again activating Slow Time. About 10 feet away, Jaster used a quick step skill to move faster and was thrusting his sword at my stomach. If I didn’t have Slow Time, I wouldn’t have been able to evade. Since I did, I spun out of the way but kept close enough to allow me to engage his sword with mine. Our swords met and made a ringing sound. The vibration running up Jaster’s sword into his hand and wrist. This cause Jaster to retreat with a confused look on his face.

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  Jaster paced to his left and then charged with an overhand attack. I easily blocked it and swept it to the side. I did not retaliate, just stood there in the “en garde” position. Jaster attacked again, this time with a sweeping side swipe. Again, I blocked it without moving and did not retaliate. Jaster drew back his sword and thrust at me again. I blocked it to the side one handed, and swept his sword to the side, causing him to stumble. With each block, Jaster got more and more frustrated. It was apparent to anyone watching that I was not attacking, just content with blocking. Jaster realized this too and his form completely disappeared as his swings started to get more and more wild and desperate. I successfully blocked each one strike, yet never attacked. Even when the opening was obvious, I still did not attack. I was content with blocking his attacks.

  People in the arena were laughing at Jaster as he got more and more desperate. As the duel continued, catcalls and hoots started. It had become obvious to the crowd, that Jaster was overmatched, and I was trying to stop the duel without more damage.

  “All you have to do is step back and concede for this to be over, Jaster” I said loudly enough for the crowd to hear.

  “Why won’t you die. You, lowlife bastard scum” was Jaster’s reply.

  Jaster’s frustration reached its peak. He stepped back reached into his shirt and withdrew a throwing knife. Now he had a sword in his left hand and knife in his right. The crowd gasped at his violating the dueling rules. Jaster didn’t care, he was beyond thinking about anything but defeating me. Hell, he wanted to kill me and it was obvious that he would stop at nothing.

  Ruberm waved his arms and called for Jaster to disarm, at which point the crazed Jaster threw the knife at Ruberm, hitting him in his shoulder. Ruberm looked at the knife in his shoulder and collapsed.

  Now, now I am pissed. Jaster hurt my friend. My unarmed friend. I flashed toward Jaster faster than he could react, my sword slammed through his forearm. His hand and sword fell the floor. I didn’t stop there. My floor flashed again and his other hand fell to the floor. Then I kicked him in his chest, sending him flying 10 feet in the air, then tumbling until he hit the arena wall.

  As Jaster was flying through the air, I turned and ran to Ruberm. Slow Time ended when Jaster hit the wall, but I was already by Ruberm’s side. He was laying on the ground and bleeding badly. I returned Balmung to storage and cast Diagnose. The knife was stuck in a vein and Ruberm was bleeding out. In addition, then knife had been poisoned. The poison had a debilitating affect. Ruberm would not be able to move until it had run its course. I removed the knife and cast Heaven’s Heal directed at the shoulder wound, ensuring that Ruberm would not die. I next cast Cure All to remove the poison affect. Finally, I cast Heaven’s Heal again to clean up any residual damage from the poison.

  While I was attending to Ruberm, guards had flooded the arena. The Healer’s representative was attempting to make his was to Jaster but was being held up by the guards. A noble unknown to me was also trying to get to Jaster. Jaster lay there barely breathing, but the blood was still pumping out of his arms, indicating he was still alive.

  Now that Ruberm was taken care of, I stood up and turned toward Jaster. An intense look of hatred in my face. No stoicism today. I started walking toward Jaster. The guards, seeing the look on my face, moved out of my way. I called Balmung to my hand as I approached. The silence was heavy as I made my way to his prone body. He was dying, bleeding out. The unknown noble yelled at me, “Please don’t kill my son. I will give you anything to save him.”

  Well damn. Somebody loved this boy. My hatred bubble popped. This was somebody’s son. I cast diagnose. His ribs were crushed, his hands were gone, and a few organs were crushed. “Anything” I yelled back.

  “Anything” was the immediate answer.

  I cast Heaven’s Heal on his left arm, stopping the bleeding but leaving it as a stump. I cast Heaven’s Heal on his right arm, but this time I fully healed it taking more time and effort. In the end there was a new hand. Next, I cast Heaven’s Heal for each crushed organ. Finally, I cast Heaven’s Heal on his ribs, but only healing them enough to allow him to live. He will spend month recovering. Then I turned back to his father. “Your son will live. I even gave him a new right hand.”

  Ruberm had made his way over and signaled the guards to move Jaster to a different room. He touched my shoulder and said “Let’s move away from the arena to a place you can clean up.”

  I looked down at myself and saw I was once again covered in blood. How does this keep happening? A quick Cleanse spell and the blood disappeared. “Yes, I think I could use some privacy about now.”