"Is duelling a new recruit even allowed?" I whispered to Grayson who looked mortified.
"I-I- yes it's allowed. Mock duels is how we teach these kids to fight... but..."
"This feels like one of those wuxia novels." I had no intention of cutting him off, I was only mumbling to myself but it seemed what I said made him stop and now he looked pensive but also confused.
"Wu -wuxia? Sir, don't take what I say as being rude but what's that?"
"Eh... don't think too much about that, it's just something from my world, now what was the thing you wanted to say? Sorry for cutting you off."
"Please don't accept this duel, sir. Don't think I'm judging your abilities but that kid is the son of the Hallows family. Your no match for him..." Grayson trailed off when I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, this is only a mock duel. He can't do much to me and besides, I'm a teacher, I may not be a fighter but I know, it's a teacher duty to let your students have trust in you. I may lose but I don't want my students looking down on me. I need to prove myself to them, so at least I can be competent in their eyes."
"I understand... sir."
"Come on! I need an answer, if your going to be our teacher, prove that you've got what it takes. Teach us how not to be a coward." I could feel the intended provocation in his words. He wants me to falter. Ego has always been a poisonous thing, whether in my world or this world, people never think when their ego's has been inflated.
"As a teacher, I will prove myself, I accept your challenge!" I boomed and every gasped, even the prince, he honestly probably didn't think I would accept. Exactly like a wuxia novel...
"Gooddd ~ Instructor! Prepare the duel!" Gathas shouted. For a brief moment I caught a glimpse of a smirk on his lips before it disappeared in a flash.
They must be planning something, if that's true then I know they have the instructor under their thumb and maybe the whole entire hand too judging from their way he ordered him without any resistance.
The students formed a circle to make an area for us to duel. Grayson brought out some gear for me to use. Armour padding and a choice of weapon. I was surprised that the weapons are real which meant injuries will happen. I guess this is the real deal, I've watch so many medieval era movies and now I'm living in one. This whole experience certainly felt like I'm living a dream.
Sometimes I think I'm still dead and all off this is what I dreamt off, an outcome I wanted, I mean even my previous life also felt like a dream and I'm still back on earth and am just feeling the surrealism of a vivd dream.
I know I'm just thinking way too much into this and all of these things are just food for thought but I can't help but to stop and pinch myself once in a while.
I mean this certainly is one of those times as Grayson helped me getting the armour plating on and presented me with a selection of three swords.
Each sword looked different from each other, the first sword looked like a standard broadsword, the second sword looked shorter than the first and much thinner. The third sword is the thinnest but very long, it almost resembles a rapier.
It was hard for me to choose. My initial thought was to pick the broadsword because it looked like a hefty piece of blade but then I thought about the recoil of such a weapon when swung and how tiring it will get because of the weight. My next option was the short sword and I was actually was going to choose it since it looked the most useable until Gambert chimed in.
{"Master, may I suggest the rapier? I know how to use it as it's a primary weapon of choice from my homeland. I could teach you as you battle. The rapier is light but strong, fast and it's easier to use than the other two as it can strike and hit the target much more accurately. You can also repel the opponent's strike with the sword's blade unique thinnest."}
"Alright, I choose the third sword."
Grayson eyes grew wide as I picked the rapier. The prince stared at me immensely.
"Are you sure sir? I think the second option would suit you much better, the rapier is a thin and hard to use sword."
"It's alright, someone is going to help me learn how to use it."
"Huh? Sir, who?"
"A friend, you will meet later."
"But the duel is about to start soon..."
"It's fine."
"Alright then. Here you are sir, the rapier."
Grayson handed me the blade and I held it in my hand. The blade was extremely light and so was the handle, the only that felt weighted was the pommel. I swung it a few times and it felt like I was slicing the air like butter.
Once I was ready, Grayson led me to the Centre of the circle and awaited my opponent. When he finally arrived with the instructor, I instantly noticed the blade in his hand and then the armour plating on his body. I glanced around and it also seemed everyone was stunned as well.
"That's cheating!" Grayson called out. "Those are custom made!"
"There was no rule at the start of this duel stating that we can't use customised equipment," the instructor replied back.
"Bastards..." Grayson looked at me before reaching for his sword but I stopped him.
"Don't worry Grayson, I can handle it with my standard gear."
"But that blade looked like it's enchanted. Those markings prove it."
"So he has help, I do too so we're even, introduce yourself Gambert."
{"Hello, Sir Grayson. I'm Gambert, captain of the Shadow Legion and master's most loyal servant."}
{"Is he?"} I could hear Lucilia's voice asked sarcastically. {"I can show him how 'loyal' and 'submissive' I can be with masterrr~"}
Lucilia moaned a little as she said 'master'.
I could tell Grayson heard their voices in his head because a split second later his eyes were about to bulge out of their sockets.
{"I was the one that asked master to choose the rapier since it's a weapon I'm most familiar with and can teach master how to use it."} Gambert continued, ignoring what Lucilia had said.
"Eh... nice to meet you Sir Gambert." Grayson placed a hand on the pommel of his sheathed blade and bowed.
Everyone looked at him like he was crazy. Grayson readjusted himself and looked at me.
"Shadow Legion?" Asked Grayson.
"You'll meet them later." I whispered as Marlos stepped up in the middle between me and Gathas. Marlos was going to be the referee in this duel.
"Now then everyone, the duel is about to start, both combatants, enter the arena."
Both of us stepped forward until we were only a few metres away from each other. All around me I could hear the recruits saying, 'are those custom gear?', 'The assistant teacher has only standard gear on', 'the teacher is definitely going to lose', 'of course, there is no way standard gear could match up to custom gear', 'it's not all about the gear, it how the user, uses it', 'yeah but the person using it is Gathas and the assistant teacher looks like a rookie', 'I respect the teacher, I saw Sir Grayson offer his sword but he refused it'.
I glanced around and saw that it was Graves who had made the comment. 'That's just mean he's an imbecile,' replied one of the noble troublemakers. 'He will lose and he won't be teaching any of us. Ha ha!' Another one responded. 'What's with you guys? It's more commendable to fight fairly in a duel such as this. Using custom gear just shows us how scared he is of losing', stated Liam.
"Who said that!" Roared Gathas. "I'll show you! Let's start this duel."
Gathas held his blade angled downwards and ran his unoccupied hand over the markings on the blade and they started to lit up. A smirk appeared on the corner of his lips.
{"Master, hold the rapier in front of you with one hand the other on your hip. Your feet apart, one step forward into a forward stance. When the opponent moves for his first strike, aim your first cut at his arm whilst dodging his strike."}
"So like fencing?"
{"Fencing?"}
"Never mind."
{"Don't let that blade touch you master, I think if it hits you, you will feel a searing pain like you're on fire."}
"Like a hot knife?"
{"Something like that..."}
"Alright, you both ready?" Asked Marlos as he swerved his head to both of us. We both gave him a nod. The crowd was deafly silent as everyone held with bated breath. "Begin!"