CHAPTER - 5

WE’RE THE SAME

 

The early morning of our duel had finally come. Looking at the top of the window sill I wondered  whether the teru-teru-bozu (handmade white paper rain dolls) could have really made a difference to this bright morning glory which I hung the previous night. Well, there had been several instances in the past where the sports matches got cancelled because of the rain, but I highly doubt that even a thunderstorm would have kept Regis at bay now.

I had awoken up earlier than Regis, who by then had starkly refused all the maids, showing no sign of waking up any time sooner and decided to bury herself deep into the bed.

I, on the other hand felt it was in best of my interest to partake bathing in a palace’s gigantic bathtub since I cannot be sure of succeeding in finding one on my travels.  Unwittingly, on returning I found Regis already gone. I enquired from the maids in my attendance which were forced upon me by my aunt even on my strong opposition for due reasons and my privacy; well that’s a story for later.

According to them Regis had already gone to see for the preparations of the duel and I was now supposed to meet her directly over there.

Later Edith came to our doorstep and joined me in my breakfast which consisted of pancakes and yogurt tart seasoned with fruits. After having a quick chat with her, I could possibly try to shift my mind away from things, though not entirely. Also she did not bring up the topic of the duel at all. It was no surprise that she did not wanted to trouble me with the same repeated questions I was tormenting myself with.

She told me that she was later supposed to escort me to the duel ground and how my uncle King himself went to great trouble of constructing the match ground under his own supervision for this specific duel. A special ground with fixed bobby traps hidden under the camouflaged leaves would surely be something to look forward too or could there be a special elven match ritual where we had to first swear and take oaths in front of the forest deities for their approval on the match decisions. 

The games I usually played back in my world had these kinds of customized arenas, but seeing one for myself, kept me at the edge of my seat on the wagon in which I and Edith were riding now.

However being a part of it and seeing it happen from the sides was altogether a completely different thing.

There in the coach Edith informed me of how Regis wanted to invite one of her friends to see the duel and I allowed it. I think including Regis’s whole family ⸺ Edith who was accompanying me now, the King who himself decided to help in the construction of the arena, the Queen who had already shown her interest to me of her looking forward to the match in her meetings with me. And then there was the prime-minster to look after any immediate needs or in case of an emergency. And this new guest of Regis was also going to join and observe my duel with her.

They were all trustworthy people in their regards and I absolutely had no issues. Because by then I had already decided to end the match as quickly as possible and exactly as, how I promised Regis it to be. There was nothing that would have changed my mind.

We moved deeper and deeper into the woods. Even though the birds merrily chirped and I could see some strange squirrels leaping from tree to tree and sometimes a pack of small racoon-like animals would start following us. Until the wagon would catch speed and leave them behind. Contrary to Edith who remarked as to how fine the weather was as she kept on staring at the serene landscape outside the window.

Honestly, it was really a mystery to me too as to how the weather could be so ⸺ super, ultra, great, delicious, wonderfully, cool and perfectly fine. It was raining…. but only in my heart.

I was getting gradually tense, a feeling I had not felt for a while, one akin to just before appearing in a class test. I thought I could have a magical fight anytime and no matter what the conditions were. But this was my first fight with a person outside the labyrinth and I absolutely had no clue about the rules.

At these times I remember the characters in a fantasy novel usually speaks highly of their master who had previously told them to remember their training whenever they would find themselves in a pinch. But mother never told me such a thing. I am sure her advice was much along the lines of ⸺ ‘if someone gives you a hard time just crush them in one blow.’

Well, this placatory notion worked perfectly fine with monsters and positively delivered the message of (rest in) peace to them. , but I could never fight Regis in such a strong way.

What should I do? ⸺ I kept on pounding myself with the same question. Regis already knows of my healing powers so pretending to have a knee cut is no option. And if I pretend to have a headache, I know aunt Alva is going to choke me with those bitter and amaroidal medicinal herbs of her for which she so much takes pride in.

“Alicia, we have finally reached our destination.” Saying that the wagon halted and Edith stepped down on the ground, leaving me no room to think further.

To be frank. I already knew about it. I could feel Regis’s presence from far away, closing in on the distance as we approached.

“Yes.” I hurriedly muttered and hopped on the ground.

Edith then gave the coachman the order to go back to the palace.

“Is you condition fine?”

“Yes.” I repeated myself.

“Alright, I and the others will be waiting at the top of that cliff not far from here from where we would be observing your match. You will be able to find Regis already waiting for you at the center of the ground.” Edith said pointing in the west at the high-rising hill and assured me before leaving me alone.

“Big sister Edith, if you had a fight with Regis, then what would you do?” I asked cautiously, almost catching her by surprise.

Edith for a moment there stared at me. I thought, since she was my big sister now, I could have asked anything from her. But Regis was her own sister-first. It was selfish of me to ask about their personal past experiences.

“I am sorry, that was a strange thing to ask.” I supplemented to my own question and was about to proceed to my next place.

“Don’t worry. To be honest I am quite jealous that I never once had a fight with Regis. Otherwise I would have surely shown her why I am the older sibling!” Edith said with a beaming smile.

“I think that’s how it would have actually ended.” I nodded showing my share of enthusiasm over the discussion.

“So Alicia, you should not lose this chance and come to a hasty conclusion. Go and give Regis what she asked for and don’t hold back. Show her who the in charge is here!” Edith smirked at me with a blissful smile on her innocent regal face.

As a matter of fact, it felt like being at home again. Not only because of the familiar vibes from big sister Edith, but it was the space around me. The arena was nothing of the special game-like design, but a simple construction which I used to have back in the labyrinth home.

And it was much more refreshing because it reminded me of the fun training practices I had with mother or trying out new magic spells or artifacts with father, in the years I spent in the Labyrinth.

After Edith sent me off and went to the spectator’s post on the hill lying in a straight line a little far and high from here.

I slowly started walking to the center of the stage, and in this short amount of time I had successfully developed an eagerness but some uneasiness was still firmly held inside me which kept on rising like a phoenix.

On further reaching a place where the ground was few inches higher than its surroundings appeared in my field of vision. Only short grass grew on the side in a wide encircle, while the whole centre stage was bare soft soil. One could say that it might had been the centrum of the forest, finding the spacious place all to myself. From here I could again see Edith and others as foretold, sitting on a clean shaved wooden logs piled up like a small staircase, far away on a cliff. It was certainly  the best spectating position one could ask for. Not to forget about the spectators’ safety because of some mis-directed spells flying afield.

Edith had told me on the cart that how the prime minister possessed a special visualization magic and it was at a level that he could perceive magic movements and reproduce them into visual information and share it with several people at the same time. So, they were going to know and watch as much about the match as we would know down here. They might had what I call the special bird’s eye-view advantage like an RPG-player.

But my concerns did not rest on those who were observing us from some miles far away but the individual in front of me and the very person who proposed this duel.

The broad grin on Regis’s face, I could feel that how more refined and lovely  it had become from the first time we met. By mere coincidence we were standing at an equal distance and at the periphery of the ring platform surrounded by a culmination of giant trees with massive and thick trunks. I felt pretty happy for them because these ancient trees might had been ripped apart on the first day of our combat training practice in the labyrinth with my mother.

“Regis.” I called out thankfully.

“Don’t be too happy. You do know we are going to have a match against each other right now.” Regis flaunted.

“But I can’t see a referee?” I asked looking around for a scorekeeper whether a living referee or an animated scoreboard. Surely to announce who was the winner, one would be needed. Or is he one among the spectators and for safety reasons….

“Alicia… You still think that way.” Regis throat soared before she could complete the statement.

“Huh…” I was still unable to understand what she really meant.

“It’s alright. Once I win this fight, there will be no doubts.” Regis exclaimed with a fiery look and burning eyes narrowed on my face.

“Wait! But… Listen to me.” I pressed  over my own hesitation.

“There’s nothing left to talk. We begin right here.”

For a moment a brief silence filled the air. The wind kicked up the fallen leaves into the air, and brought along with itself the fragrant sandalwood scent of the forest. Regis’s red hairs gently floated in the way the wind wanted it to. But the mask on my face barely let me feel the wind, nor my perfectly set camouflaged black hairs seemed to get along with the mood of it.

The next moment I knew, a bow manifested in Regis’s hand, which glinted red in the sunlight. Her fingers reaching the quiver tucked along her back, horizontally placed near her waist and hastily knocking an arrow. She launched it directly at me, going straight for my left eye under the mask.

I had decided to wear the mask thinking that it was the best way to not let my thoughts get in the way and also keep my magic level in check so as to not hurt Regis and get done with the fight.

“I can’t let you have destroying this precious gift of mine !”

Saying that I activated a small Gravi - fusion sphere at my hand, which completely sucked away the first arrow. The second. And the third arrow before they could have even gotten close to me.

“I see now. What really big sister meant when she said it? It won’t be any fun if I decide to fight like this. ” I whispered to myself.

“I don’t know what you mean but if you don’t fight, you are going to get hurt.” Regis said catching a quick breath.

In that moment where Regis might have appeared to pull a single arrow and while my concentration had been fixed to that one, she almost instantly and skillfully managed to pull out two more arrows. But in front of my analyze skill these kinds of cheap tricks held no value; no matter how methodically they were executed.

“Regis, for your wish and just as I promised to have a fair and equal match with you. I too will be only using wind magic and no other skills I possess would be activated to fight you.” I declared my own terms of fighting with her.

“Don’t come complaining to me when you lose.” Regis gripped her bow tight as if trying to hide away something in secret.

This time it was not something strange, but an instinct I was most familiar to was welling up inside me. It was no different than any other time. The only thing was that it got heightened to the extent that I was myself realizing about it just about now.

◇ ◇ ◇

 

REGIS ASCALON

I took a deep breath and calming myself after my first failure; I already knew I had screwed up with my golden chance. That was one of my best attacks which I could pull off without using magic and she instead of dodging it, played it like a kid.

Alicia, shouldn’t your question had been what I wanted?

This fight which I proposed… I wanted to prove something. Not that I was better than her and my abilities surpassed her in some manner or desperately chase after her. But a new option was available after Aunt Caroline hinted it to me. All I needed to do was prove myself and make her understand that she could trust me.

But still what made me the most hung up to it? Even I didn’t knew so much as that I went through a grueling training regime to find that answer. Coming out of my comfort zone ⸺ where I could have spent my easy life in the palace, now that I am able to control my magic to some extent. Spend time with my family, be a rightful princess, train with Will and others and might even go adventuring with them on excursions just like big sister does on her campaigns.

And yet, I have found that answer or not is entirely a different matter; because I had no brains to spare when I could feel that irrepressible magical energy leaking out from Alicia.

Didn’t she herself say just now that she was going to only use wind magic. Shouldn’t she just hold back a little considering that I am still new to all of this. But I was talking about Alicia here, and her holding back; might apply to this level alone or she might had been just that unfamiliar to the term.

I was surprised to see Alicia’s face which  didn’t so much as blink after my sneak attack. Rather she didn’t even flinch at the arrows flying at their maximum speed.

‘Now what…?’ I asked myself.

Witnessing that Alicia had plugged off her mask now in the most fashionable ways and parted with it into oblivion. Soon a small fickle of air around her sent shivers down my spine no matter how mesmerizing her appearance was with or without that mask.

‘What kind of freakish advice did you give to her, big sister? I will make you pay for it!’ I couldn’t stop myself from cursing her from within but I could only do that if I survive this match, that is.

She stayed motionless and I knew making the first move would have been the correct choice when her single spell could have destroyed the entire dwelling. To even have a little chance at winning, I could not afford to let her dominate the ground. But something told me that this wasn’t going to be her plan at all.

Then with sudden briskness, the ground shook, without any visible movements. And without any further warning, the nearby trees lowered down their branches on their own as much as possible. From their mightiest of heights a single tall and stubborn branch wilted down. Surrounded by a garland of flowers a new bent branch appeared in front of Alicia and she grabbed it.

As if all forces of nature had bent their heads and put it down just to showcase their respect to the authority she possessed. Not so surprising when she could have even the Great Spirits at her command.

Holding that irregular thin wooden stick folded and curved a bit at its edge, bulging out in the middle almost forming an imperfect arc.

I wondered what it was for?

Comparing and realizing something in those extraordinary nexuses of happenings, a premonition hit me hard. I gritted my teeth, setting my foot tight and rubbing it against the ground as hard as possible. Feeling that irreparable sensation again, I leapt to my right.

A severing blow of wind crashed at my very original spot and left a wide shattered crack on the ground.

Alicia had a scarily upset look on her face as she saw me dodging her magically manifested arrow shot.

The irregular shaped stick was actually her bow and it was news to me… it had to be cheating or an unfair game, to play with new cards. But I felt I had no right to complain when I furtively attacked the first time and didn’t think through the rules of the match thoroughly. Actually I might have an aversion to those academic and paper filing works.

“So you can even use a bow and launch invisible arrows around with it?” I commented.

Was it a bad joke Alicia was playing in the name of fairness of the match and bringing it to an equal level? There couldn’t have been a more bizarre idea.

Promising to use only wind magic and the same weapon as me. Is this really what she considers being an equal?

It was not like I could feel the magic she launched, when it rushed at me. It was pure instinct because I myself was well-versed in projectiles. By looking at her eye-ball movements, the direction in which her feet were directed, her grip, the movement of her arms and even the undertaking force drive of the wind at the time of launch… I was observing it all.

I had to, otherwise that shot would have really injured me badly, or likely killed me, if I had not learned to protect myself by surrounding with a thin sheet of magic, as Will taught me. As for the level I was at, it’s still too flimsy that all it could do good for me was cushion my landing.

But for Alicia it’s not a big deal when she thinks she can heal anyone, no matter the amount of injury or even when they could be taking their last breath. Her vanity was extreme, and she was not afraid of showing her true colours right off the bat in a fight.

Is she trying to take my life now because I made an attempt on hers?

On second thought it was a great idea of unmasking her. And I needed to step up my game too. Perhaps a bit of an extra good luck would be more than welcome on my side.  

Then again, I could have engaged in some conversation in the start. But I doubt from her looks and demeanour she would even move her lips anymore. It was a deadly silent stalemate. As if Alicia was analyzing all of her surroundings in a quick glance.

I too prepared my arrow on the tight stretched string and waited for a comeback.

No one could have said who was in a much more advantageous position when ⸺ I was a veteran archer and my opponent a self-proclaimed ‘magical genius’ posing an archer and at an equal expertise level at that in archery. At least I could tell that much from a glance and with her invisible wind magic arrows its more than sufficient to skewer me if I did not pay attention even for a second.

Alicia’s pitches were peerless. Nonetheless as an archer myself it was to an extent where I could read the path of an invisible ghost arrow just with my bare eyes and raw instinct.

 

The following scene couldn’t have been much more predictable, because the next instant I had realized by then, that my physical arrows were no match against her invisible wind arrows.

Alicia again gripped her wooden bow tight and a fiery pulse raised through her body left, cleaving through the air itself, headed straight in my direction.

It came much faster than I expected and packed even more pressure.

CLANG!

I barely managed to veer it off course in the last moment by my own arrow shot just a second before it could have made a second attempt for my life.

BOOM…

Our arrows clashed right in front of my eyes, and the pointer of my arrow along with its shaft was blown to million pieces. It was a spectacular clash, but the marvelous repercussive force it created knocked me back on the ground.

The equal distance ground we shared until now… I was slowly losing it and the gap between us further tended to increase.

With no rest and Alicia’s simple one-way made-up mind-set, in a breath give or take. She had started firing powerful magic arrows without end, never missing.

Having but no choice I made an all-out run.

I kept on trying to predict the trajectory of these arrows and save myself with a hair’s breadth gap every time. Whether I was running zig-zag or in a manipulated way I had no idea and my legs were the only thing keeping me alive.

I was slowly closing in on the distance between me and her again. Also it would seem that she was not against the idea. When I could read in her devious mind that the closer, I got, it would be easier to increase her accuracy and aim at me.

And that’s what I really wanted, when a compressed air arrow strayed from its path intentionally and aiming for my vitals. Me realizing that I could not dodge it when it was this near, I stretched my empty hand and took the hit on the arm. It pierced right through the protective gear I had on me, leaving a big incision and the arrow half past through my flesh.

“WAHHAAAAA……” with a big scream I took the pain of the brunt I intended to.

The wound was deep and it had already started to bleed, but the pain did not made me withdrew from executing my next attack.

“I got you!” I hissed at Alicia.

I knew I was now close enough that I could use an enchanted arrow myself and without losing my target. With no intention of wasting even a single precious second, I launched three of them at her at the same time.

 Alicia in a predicament too aimed back for those three and completely annihilated my ⸺ decoys.

I had already learnt my lesson that all these arrows could have been good for was work as a blocking screen. But this was the time for which I prepared for so long. To be able to use the same magic missile attack I pulled on the Dragon Island at point blank range and put in everything I had learnt in these days.

“Come forth wind, Howling Storm.”  I gasped for air as I muttered the chant, the pain had started to take a numb effect on my hands. The space in front of my arrow appeared to distort as I successfully invoked a tempest.

Mine and her eyes met. But she seemed so expressionless and impassive to me. Untouched by my fighting spirit and the danger she was involved in.

Until her lips curled into a bewitching smile…

An unsaid word reaching me ⸺ far. I was still so far from her, to be not able to realize where she stands in this world and how her infinite powers could affect people around her.

As if I wouldn’t know that myself…. Trying to clear my head again, I released the full might of my attack.

Alicia brandished a hand; a ripping force of a single streamlined wind of incalculable mass thrust forward destroying the very magical formation itself which I had worked so hard to prepare and it got neutralized by her magic spell.

“Grahhh! Why you...!” I clamoured, seeing my very own enchanted arrow go out in blazes and I was pushed back further again.

Hurrying up to close in the distance as soon as possible, I got on my feet again, only to find Alicia had taken to skies. She was using wind magic to singularly float in the air.

A paramount sight, like an eagle with its white wings spread out, ready to pounce on me from the skies.

◇ ◇ ◇

 

 

 

THE HILL

The anticipation and excitement of the match was on its way and just then both parties ⸺ Alicia and Regis had taken their places inside the arena and stood face to face with each other.

Will Varlon one of the guests to the duel, gave his regards to the royal family and took his seat along the sidelines to spectate the match.

The prime minister started sharing his visual senses with the present attendees on permission from King Ereg. Everyone was expecting of a long chat between the two individuals. Though it was a completely different matter that they couldn’t hear with what they had to say to each other.

But the match as soon as kicked off with Regis taking a strong stance and brilliantly carrying out a quick successive three arrow pulls from her bow.

“That’s the way.” Regis’s father ended up exulting loudly. While others took it as a sign of a father being excessively proud. But it could have only been the Prime Minister who knew that the next three months of his personal expenses rested on his bets placed on the ongoing match. Failure for him was not an option.

Everyone could eminently see how far Regis had come in her training in just a span of three days. But it could only have been her continuous efforts bearing fruits, she had made it possible by working hard on cultivating her skills in these years.

Regis’s father and mother couldn’t be more proud than they felt today as was evident form their heartwarming expression. Though the King had successfully hidden his temptation to reveal of what was about to come, it was clear from Edith’s face that what probabilities she had perceived through her probability foresight were completely unfathomable.

Will, was the only one who had helped Regis prepare this move and even the most skilled archers in the army would face utmost difficulties to pull such a feat at the get go. He already knew about the duel, but the other contestant was never described to him. Seeing her under a mask he couldn’t help but have an eagerness to know what was beneath it.

In the next moment the thing that made them all bite their lips was when how Alicia had gently brushed off the three arrows with just her palm and threw them off like a kid’s toys.

As if that wasn't shocking enough, things took an even more unbelievable turn for everyone and when Will’s desires were ultimately fulfilled and it was also the time, he regretted it the most for even merely wishing for it on a whim.

Everyone gulped their last bite of vegetative root snacks in bewilderment, as they saw Alicia removing her mask and revealing her face under the restless sun and the thrill of action. It was not a first for the King and Queen but the looks on the faces of others made them feel embarrassed and overwhelmed at the same time.

It contained such an expression but like a pandora box it always packed with it a new anticipation and uncertainties that one could never get bored of it.

With how Alicia without a chant or spell, as if the nature was under her command the tree bent down and made an exclusive bow by the blessed hands of the great forest spirit herself.

Will quickly learned from other’s dynamic discussion that her name was Alicia.

He questioned himself, even knowing that what he had been seeing up till now made it more the meaningless.

‘Is it even possible to do damage to her when she is floating in the air in a defenseless state?’ And the lasting words made it sound even more unbelievable for him. Even from the seat in the audience he felt helpless to do anything to help his trainee, whose complexion was visibly paled because of the fatal injury she was enduring.

Alicia had red crimson eyes; a red shade similar to Regis’s hair which he admired so much but it also possessed a sinister glow in it. They felt it even from this far and when she was not looking, that the light exuded could pierce through him, a testament to her deadly combat techniques and prowess.

Her adorable face radiated a ghastliness which would have made the top officials of military shiver back even with the whole army backing them up. On her small lips there was a hint of pleasure while the rest of her face had a built of a mystical doll and with her pure white hair, which recently changed from a dark black hue. He could not deny saying that she was a peerless beauty nonetheless.

He held his breath, clenching his fist tight and in a panic state for Regis’s safety he did not even realize when his fingers had gripped and sunken tight into his skin.

‘Regis was true to every word with how she described her human friend as an undefeatable opponent in a fight.’ Will thought and now he himself couldn’t deny it.

Will had achieved such proficiency in sound magic that through the vibrations of magic particles around someone he could perceive their strength. But what could he say when he was already overwhelmed and his ear-drum tear asunder whenever he tried to perceive the magical state around Alicia. The cold shivers running down his backbone, every time he tried was the only thing that prevented him from getting knocked unconscious in his scaling attempts.

The density of the magic particles was solid packed and instead of possessing certain fixed vibrations of a normal being. The only thing left for him to believe was that the innate magic of the nature itself danced at her fingertips.

It was silent and deadly at the same time.

The only expectation Will had in mind for Regis was ⸺ ‘I have full confidence that her training will reveal its true worth to her and help her out of that tight spot. I know you aren’t there yet, but in these three days I know how much this match must have meant to you. I can’t even begin to imagine to what extent you might have gone to do this?’

“Yes princess, you are right you have taught me again and again that you can do anything and can overcome any obstacle. Even when you might had been suffering, you always tried to get by those challenges and always come through.” Will said to himself.

Just then everyone had a glint of hope in their eyes for Regis when they breathed signs of admiration after seeing her use magic arrows for the first time in the match. But the fiercely radially pulsating magical storm materializing in mid-air, got shattered  into a spectacle of magical blasts when Alicia struck her arm at Regis. Casting her own magic spell without any chant needed, proving that she was the most stormproof.

This mind-boggling sight  had captivated everyone’s interest leaving them with an intense desire to know ⸺ ‘how did she do it?’

But the point of curiosity of this small audience was a sign of collapse and failed attempts of the opposing combatant.

No one knew what was about to come next, or what merciless scheme Alicia might had cooked up for the innocent clueless girl facing her in a one-on one match.

◇ ◇ ◇

THE DUEL

There was no time to think, and so Regis leaped up. She decided she had to get close to her again if she wanted to defeat her.

Though her previous days had been one of only training and battles, Regis was barely able to keep Alicia in her sight—and even so, being able to see her and being able to respond to her invisible magic arrows were two different things.

Alicia kept on firing her compressed magic arrows at Regis almost incessantly, raining them over the ground like small swift shooting stars, zapping through the skies. Regis couldn’t help but feel like a wooden training post.

Technique be damned, she was being dominated no matter what kind of dodging maneuver she used on her body. 

After a few seconds only, she wished Will would have given a much more definite advice, than just telling her to ‘believe in your training’. What she might have needed the most now was an impeccable strategy?

‘Wait for it and figure it out. She definitely should have a weakness.’ Regis planned.

She looked back at Alicia, making sure not to lose her pace or fall down. And another arrow went past her cheeks, scrapping a part of her skin and ruining her hairs.

‘Not Possible. She has none. She killed that heavenly dragon in a blink of an eye. I just might be joking around with myself.’ Regis skulked around with those very fancies.

She decided it was best to stick with running than to wait and think for a plan bound to fail.

“Maybe a final impression of ⸺ ‘Go and slaughter them.’ Would have been more of my suit and would give me more confidence.” Regis screeched while running, as her voice got muffled with the sound of interminable blasts and her yelps.

“That’s no good.” One of the attendees in audience prompted to himself, but was inadvertently heard by everyone.

Before the whole world could look at him for ruining their attention and focus, the footwork of Regis lifted up from the ground and with a giant air-blast she was thrown away several meter far. Leaving a sunken deep hole in the ground.

“What happened just now?” The Elven queen Alva couldn’t hide her astonishment and was left unsettled not knowing what actually hit Regis, her daughter.

But no answer came. She looked left and right, her voice and face both completely confused.

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Regis stepped somewhere else escaping to another side and again… BOOM… The land under her, split into two while another arrow ended up grazing through her back.

 “I already had my doubts, but it seems the whole place has been now rigged with traps.” The voice involuntarily continued.

“But when and how?” Alva asked still disconcerted.

While this small conversation of theirs had gained other’s attention too. King Ereg clearing his throat with a groan, he firmly assessed the situation based on his former knowledge and experience.

“If I am not wrong, I already knew Alicia would be exceptional in using any weapon from what she might had learnt from her mother. Even if she was terrifying with her combat techniques, I wouldn’t say she would resort to such type of gameplay.”

“Then who would that be?” Edith joined in the conversation.

“Even if Caroline was not the head-butting fighter type but such kind of battle sense aiming for the future consequences was always something far from her mind. But I do know someone close to her…, who liked to be thorough with his strategies and ascertain his dominance over everyone.”

King Ereg revealed every little information he knew about. Indirectly telling them that it was none other than the former True Demon Lord – Ashborn’s influence.

But only if such knowledge was available to Regis pre-hand, she might not be suffering and having a hard time being bounced around the ground. It was only thanks to her training she had learned to place a magic shield around her body and cushion her landing on the ground by surrounding herself with that flimsical magic of hers.

It was happening all in a matter of seconds and if she did not wanted to get slaughtered, she had to run and end up being a victim to a strong explosion.

There were traps everywhere and she knew Alicia might not had been leaving a single chance to skewer her. But she wasn’t finishing her at the same time.

It was the work of arrows which Regis evaded but never knew they were placing a special trap magic on ground all this time, which activated the moment she stepped on it.

At this point of time she really could accept that she just might had been a genius to not let go a single action of her to waste.

For Alicia it might had been just setting up a common old-fashioned minesweeper game as she gazed from above mirthfully to see her traps doing the bidding for her .But for Regis it was way scary like a soldier passing through an intense war-zone in a landmine area.

Regis knew one wrong step and it could turn into a grotesque sight if she is not careful as she gulped at the intensity of sound and smoke-dust exploding on the ground.

‘Is Alicia trying to wear me down and make me accept defeat? Taunting her won’t get her riled up. She Is too calm and absorbed in her fight. I doubt she can even hear me like this.  Then I will just close in on her.’ Regis thought.

She knew she had one last trump card in her hand. He destructible power was going to be the key though she didn’t knew herself how to use it properly.

She didn’t have to if she just had to clear all those traps in her way. Regis could once too find herself diabolically zested by the very thought and found out why it felt ecstatic so much.

Then again, it should not be a problem for a problem child like her who was good at destroying things. All she knew was that she didn’t wanted to lose to her. No matter the cost.

Regis finding a spot free from traps and managing to shoot a number of arrows back at Alicia. She freed her hands from the special glove that possessed a non-conductive magical nature.

She puts her hands on the floor and frenziedly started channeling all of her magic inside it.

.

On the hill the tension was palpable... the prime minister exclaimed that there were so much disturbance and density of magic particles being released that there was an overload problem in his skill. The visual imagery from the prime minster kept getting blurred.

Leaving him only to complain that his skill was encumbered with the magical blasts and it had never happened before.

A sudden gale slashed through the audience this far, so powerful that they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

And when they did finally pry their eyelid apart, the whole ground was turned into a junkyard.

“What? What in the world was that?” Everyone exclaimed overawed by the storm of madly dancing dust-clouds and magic in the air.

A new and unfamiliar landscape was present before them covered in a mystical ground dust.

Later there were several other explosions and when the visibility did show signs of improving for a little; all they could see was a hazy figure tactically approaching another standing figure.

Yet they were still uncertain as to what had happened in the few seconds between then and now.

While hearing the explosions echo far away from the hill, their pupils moving rapidly, as they were going to sear the fight between Alicia and Regis into their memory.

◇ ◇ ◇

 

REGIS ASCALON

There is always some part of me that fears that I would fail. It screams and tears away my consciousness every time I tried to lift up the bow. But reaching to her was my only option and so I needed to do it for myself first.

There were really no referees or rules; not because they could get hurt. But  to begin with ⸺ victory or defeat was not significant. At least not for me. When the fight itself was my goal.

I wasn’t going to stop until I had tried everything out, for which I had worked hard to prepare in these days.

My powers were the main weapon against her and I was going to use it. Just placing my hands on the ground and channeling magic directly, the air from inside upturned the ground and a massive storm took the skies in to a hysterical obligation to run wild and painted it brown-black with soil particles.

I could feel my hands rip apart with pain as my overlying skin was wearing off and trails of blood got mixed with it. But nonetheless the technique was working and several magical traps got activated because of my interference and participated in the terrific show of annihilation.

That shock, together with the earth shaking, cleared the ground from a radial centre. Great trees that were said to be several thousand years old, and the gigantic stones that were buried under them, flew over several hundred meters up into the sky and disappeared into the thin air, contributing to the debris. Though it would cause a second disaster when they fell, I did not worry about the consequences.

The intense sounds stopped. The vibration of the earth and the atmosphere fell silent. I knew I had already done more than enough damage to take care of the ground almost turning it upside -down. But I had to stop, also because if I used it any further my hands would have been injured to the extent I would had to concede the match.

In this forest and the new-born space, the two us were facing each other again. And I wanted to hear her thoughts as to how I had dismantled her wicked plan.

Raising up my chin and searching somewhere in the sky, I spotted her. She silently floated as usual.

But then a golden warm light enwrapped around my hand and it got healed the next moment. Realising I had seen this phenomena before, I was not expecting this and wanted to know why.

“Regis fight to your heart content. Don’t worry I will heal you as many times as you get hurt.” Alicia explained as expressionless and indifferently as ever.

“….” I was speechless.

“Just as I told you before, I will fulfill your wish and not let you hurt anyone with your skill including yourself, unless you want to.” Alicia continued.

It sounded crazy—at least to me—as we exchanged glances. She genuinely seemed to feel that way.

“If that’s the case then you are going to have a very hard time defeating me.” I said with a painted on-grin on my face.

But Alicia seemed to have gone back to her fighting stance and in longer the mood to talk again. And the cheap smile on my face might had not been enough to cover my ache and fragileness.

I looked back at my hands and the wound I received from her arrow attack was still there. I chuckled at the very thought.

How far away was the existence that spoke to me like all of it was natural? I finally understood the true meaning.

So that’s what she calls fair play. Her sense of justice and fairness is really twisted. Healing only the wounds I received from my skill and leaving those of the match…

She is scary and far from the good kind girl she seemed to be the previous night.

“Don’t go easy on me Alicia. And I am not one to stay beaten.” I said out loudly as my voice seemed to echo in the pandemic I have created a few moments ago.

I was not hoping for a reply from her and I was fine with it being that way. I wasn’t going to hold a grudge towards her from any of this.

“Naturally, I have no intention of losing also.” A reply did came and it was more than gratifying for me. I wasn’t dreaming and I thought for the first time I had a real chat with her. No matter where she was in the skies, my voice did reach to her.

Even if we could have been just companions and this fight… that wasn’t how it was meant to be. Why couldn’t I have been able to see it until now?

Alicia was just like me; she too was searching for a friend. And the prime reason she might had entered this kingdom accidentally.

That’s why you came looking for me… always. Even when I denied you in the start.

And before I knew it I wanted to see the outside world with you.

If she think this match is about who is the stronger among both of us; if it’s just the way that she feels then it doesn’t mean it’s the same way I do.

Unless I really show it to her that I can be one too.

I needed to leap through the sky or so I thought to catch up to her. But I might had been insane too, because I think it would be much easier to just force her back on to the ground.

“Let’s end this game of hide and seek… Alicia.” I said excitedly to myself. I wouldn’t mind if she eavesdropped and got mad. This was a fight after all.

I knelt down and putting both of my hands together again on the ground and with much more zeal and spirit, and without holding anything back or doubting myself. I dynamically charged the earth with my magic spontaneously.

The charged energy did not offset my constitution this time, I was more focused than to care about my health loss. Instead, it condensed where it gathered, and that magical energy was released in all directions in the next moment. The scattering wind force was transformed into a shock wave, and spread the destruction out to the surroundings.

◇ ◇ ◇

 

ALICIA ASCALON ASHBORN

I planned to fight Regis using a bow, and since I cannot use just any weapon because of my dual swords. Either I had to make them on my own or either the swords accept it as part of themselves. But it was almost an impossibility. The fact that I could use my mother’s gift- the wind fan was already more than I could ask for. And my swords were the best fit for me and I did not need anything.

Hence I decided to use my title’s power – ‘The Celestial Queen of Spirits’ and make a bow for myself. After I had healed Regis’s wounds and she seemed to be once again indulged in the fight. My thoughts turned to what kind of trap I could lay next, as I prepared myself.

If she just kept ruining the ground, the trap magic explosions would not hold.

Just then I suddenly felt the power from Regis lashing out as she invoked her special magic again. A torrent hit me hard and was much stronger than before. The dust clouded the sky and made the arena almost impenetrable, to the point where I could not see further than a meter.

I thought it might had been best to release my own [Wind Cutter] spell. But I needed to make sure that Regis too was alright after launching such a fierce straightforward attack.

Not making things too complicated, I landed on the ground, searching for her in that blurred brown haziness. I felt a bit nauseated from the dusty air and because all my other skills were off, as I asked Al to do so.

Though it might seem to be disadvantageous for the short distance type, the dense storm that obstructed the view made it easy to dish out a surprise attack.

As for the long-distance type, though the distance was reduced, that meant it was harder to make a line of fire at almost zero visibility.

I was unable to navigate and pinpoint Regis’s true location. Moving my head felt tedious and I once again realized why magic is best and the most convenient energy.

When Regis suddenly flashed behind me out of nowhere, preparing to do a horizontal sweep of my legs, I put all my strength into my legs and leaped backward, my bow held out and pointing at her head.

In this lag of few seconds, she got close to me and had now started wielding her own bow as a stick, and it already proved long and effective enough to reach my body. It was a crude way to use a bow and knock me down. But I was the daughter of the True Hero and cannot let myself be overpowered by something this obvious.

“Do you really think something like this could defeat me.” I let out my thoughts.

“I’ve been waiting, for this time.” Regis replied in kind. The only difference was that she accelerated at the same time as her bow moved forward, to land a robust hit on me. It would seem that aiming at our target when nothing was clear to our eyes, turned out to be a relatable problem.

With no choice left I put my own bow on the line and wielded it just like hers. I was glad because of mother’s training I had all weapon movements and combat arts memorized. A close-quarter stick fight was no problem for me.

Though I felt kind of sad for the bow not being used in its most upright and righteous ways.

Regis and me were competing to hit each other with our bow’s rigid ends, the two
of us only inches apart. A close-combat staff fight involved staying out of the opponent’s line of strike, dodging, or using our own arms to knock aside the arms or staff of the opponent.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The forays launched from Regis were clear and immature and I could not understand her reasoning to get so close to me and put herself in danger. Either way most of her hits were a miss or easily parried by me. Her frustration of it was clear on surface of her face and the impatient movements of her hands.

“That’s as far you go, Aliiiiicia!” Regis spoke while in a fired-up mood, and closed the distance while feeling the heat on her skin from the magic repercussions she used.

I saw her hands and bow-cum-stick move to two fingers length higher and over my head. I was about to parry it with a swift glide of my own bow rushing in upwards direction.

Suddenly Regis’s weapon spun in her hands and a sharp blade, like a butterfly knife opened up from inside the bow, nicely concealed inside the wooden-framework. Its blade looked red and glinted to reflect the sun’s light in my eyes.

Inopportunely my eyes blinked, and in the matter of heat I swiftly sped up my bow to cross against the blade.

KHACH.

A complete clean cut cleaved my bow in two fragments. As if my own ingenuity suffered over losing my bow weapon. I drew back my fist, while maintain top speed, with a power incomparable to what my thin body would foretell. My fist approaching had one long straight beam of light behind it, or so it appeared because of the gathering momentum of wind pressure.

I punched in Regis’s abdomen as she let out a scream of utmost displeasure and suffering.

“…Oops!” I gasped under my breathe. Realizing I went too far.

Seeing Regis blown away dozens of meters, while some of the large trees behind her vanished due to the force of the blow.

Thankfully Regis had brilliantly crossed her arms and prepared herself to receive the blow. Not exposing herself fully to the attack.

Regis in her pained state tried to lift up herself again. Though it wasn’t a direct hit, it was clear that damage had penetrated into her body.

Regis took up her bow again and launched a first arrow at me. Quickly comprehending I was weaponless I ran in her direction.

Without wasting a moment’s notice, Regis back-to-back launched her second enchanted arrow.

SNAP!

And with that hers bow broke too. Grasping that this was my chance to finish the match, I put on a spurt.

I threw one end of my bow to the first arrow and the other corresponding to the second. Perfectly making up the numbers as they collided and opened up the way for me.

A look of unmistakable discomposure crossed Regis’s face.

I was so close to her, but my lips bit themselves indecisively as my legs hesitated to move forward with my body.

“…!!!”

Breathing heavily and unsure of what anomaly occurred the height of my eye-level descended gradually as the effect of gravity took over my body and I was slammed on the ground.

I tried grabbing onto something only to find air and narrowly saved my head to sustain from a heavy injury. Cannot have a comical-memory-loss hit right at the start of the story.

 It was suspenseful and tragic for me, even when I did not see life flashing before my eyes, I turned back and found a knot tied in a tuft of grass, with the sole intent to make me trip. Somehow a guilt came back to me, that I was doing quite a similar prank with Regis.

And when I looked back, unable to lift myself up because of a strong wind force holding me down. I found Regis bearing the pointed end of an arrow at me. Both of us had lost our weapons. I was flat on ground, while Regis’s condition was just barely allowing her to stand under her impromptu impulses.

“I give up.” I said calmly acknowledging my defeat. I had lost all intentions of fighting any further since I was pinned down. If Regis really wanted to hurt me, she would have already done in a real fight. And with no physical time left and the restrictions over me there was no possible way to react just then.

“Waahaaaa…” Regis took a sigh of relief.

And as if her personality totally flipped, she dropped down her arrow and an arrogant look evolved on her face.

“I won...? I won!!!” She asked to herself followed up by professing and declaring her own win. “I knew I always had it in me, if I gave it a try.”

I smiled at her, thinking it was just the win going into her head. And she had all rights to be happy when I turned around again seeing the bigger picture of how the forest, except for the place where we were, had a folding fan shape scattered for miles away, testifying to the ferocity of the match we just now survived through.

“Even if you can use all kinds of magic, you never saw that trap coming. Did you!? Ha-ha-ha…” Regis did not stop laughing for a while at my pitiful state. Well that was ingenious of her to take the advantage of smoke and chaos while fighting me and secretly use wind magic to make such a small foot grass trap and lure me in.

“I say I can have a fight anytime and I can make you fall in defeat again and again. Huh… you see that, Alicia. I already knew you were not that big of a deal. I think I can beat you right here and now again as many times as you ask.”

My forehead strained, and I felt that she was kind of being mean to me right now.

Seeing that she was not looking at my hands, I held tight to her leg and made a complete roll over. To which Regis’s body followed into another short crash landing.

THUMP!

Both of lay around across each other.

“So, Regis how about we have a second round.” I asked placidly.

“No.nooo.no.no.” Regis replied as if she was just now tranced by a trauma. “I don’t want to take a chance at my life and die for something so meaningless.” Regis bowled, as her whole body rattled on the ground. All the pain and cramps from before were coming back to her.

And when Regis looked at me with loving eyes as if hoping for a miraculous heal, I mischievously beamed back at her. Well, you reap what you sow. And that’s how I exacted my vengeance.

Now I too was in a thoughtful discussion with myself of what was about to come when I had accepted my defeat. Did I break the promise which I made with Regis back then? Did I fail to prove myself strong enough to make her wish completely true?

I fought with a friend for the first time and lost.

It feels so different form the labyrinth because it also hurts too while fighting with them, even when it’s a planned match like this. Hurting others with my power without a reason… it was not something I wanted to use it for.

Maybe big sister Edith was right and the fight had nothing to do with who we are? Maybe I wanted to win! But I am glad it ended this way too.

Staring at the floating clouds who had started flirting among themselves by clashing into each other for a while; Regis suddenly spoke up.

“Say, Alicia… whenever things are rough it’s okay for you to complain… and if you are sad, it’s okay to cry. To get angry.   I mean… I want… you understand right… because we’re family too.” I felt like Regis wanted to send across a dep message but ended up with a gibberish cached memo.

“Hey Regis do you want to come with me and accompany me on my journey?” I still wanted to give a shot at asking now, even when I failed to keep my promise and prove myself to her. I wouldn’t know an answer until I ask for it.

“What are you talking about? I have always planned to come with you.” Regis replied unperturbedly.

“Huhhh…” I felt like being ambushed out of nowhere. I never heard of this piece of information before ⸺ it was news to me.

“Don’t be so stupid. I don’t know what you will do without me. It might be possible that even after twenty years I find you roaming lost in this forest or in some kind of dump. Can’t have a trespasser for that long in our kingdom?” Her language might had been dismissive for a princess’s dignity or offensive against me. But I could not hide my surprise or joy.

But still having a doubt inside me, I decided to be thorough, “But what about the conditions of the fight. I lost and failed to prove myself to be able to keep you safe.”

“Do you have a weak memory, I clearly mentioned you have to prove your strength by fighting me in a match. I never mentioned winning was a necessity.” Regis said rubbing her temples in a very cute and alluring way.

As I tried to revisit my memory, I clearly remembered that's what she actually said to me. Did she plan this from the start. If I could, I wanted to scream in amazement that I had finally made a best friend for my life.

I might have been struggling with my feelings for some time. But with now how things are, I am just relieved to finally open up about it.

“And I think you are already strong enough to protect me.” Regis said embarrassedly as her cheeks turned red and maybe so did mine because we were unable to look in each other’s eyes right now.

She continued, “And also because I am your sister, I don’t want you to end up in a wrong place. We need to find that person for you quickly, she is important to you right.”

“Umu.” I nodded compassionately.

.

Regis outstaring at me, “Good grief! Why do you suddenly sound like a kid?”

◇ ◇ ◇

 

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