At the crack of dawn, Yamada and Jacara stood in the forest, ten paces apart. Gwyneth, Soel and Encara watched from above a high rock pillar. They sat off the edge, with a wicker basket full of bread and jams, and a bottles of wine. "Did you really need to be here Soel? And did we have to do this so early in the morning? Yamada is going to win." She pouted, crossing her arms and legs. Soel slapped her on the back, making her lurch forward. "You're just mad, you didn't get your morning love." She said smirking and nudging her in the ribs. "Shut up." She growled. "YAMADA! If you lose this, I'm making you run 100 laps of the third ring naked!" Yamada winced summoning his armour. "Jacara, if you lose! I'll make you run 10 laps of the second ring!" Encara yelled out. Jacara winced drawing a card. He kept the blank back towards Yamada.
Soel stood up dusting her hands. "Alright, don't hold back you two. If anything fatal is going to happen, we'll jump in. Duellists take your stances!" Yamada raised Harbinger, readying himself for a thrust. Gwyneth taught him that the strategy to beating any magic user. Is to break their gate and make them worthless. Jacara took a lowered and wide stance, ready to leap away and keep his distance. This was not his first duel against a squire or knight. Unless they had Orichalcum made weapons, they wouldn't dare risk throwing their only weapon. He simply needed to keep his distance, and chip away. "Ready!? FIGHT!" She shouted clapping her hands together. She quickly sat down giddy and filled with excitement.
Yamada made the first move. He lunged in with ferocious speed. Jacara wore a cocky smirk. He threw the card of Feather, latching it onto Yamada's breast plate, and dashed in. Yamada floated high into the air, and threw Harbinger downwards. Jacara leapt back, and deactivated the card. The force of the throw made Yamada fall face first into the dirt with a solid thud. Soel and Encara grimaced, and winced away. Jacara, planted his boot onto Yamada's back, and looked up to the pillar wearing his father's signature cocky smirk. "Like I said, I wouldn't lose." He suddenly Yamada's death vice grip around his ankle. Gwyneth looked down on him. "I really hope you didn't think that was going to be kill him."
'He fell at least ten damn metres wearing Deiridium! What the fuck-' Jacara's train of thought was cut off, as he was hurled across the dirt plain. He tumbled and bounced off the hard ground the air being knocked out of his lungs. Yamada flipped his visor up, with blood gushing out of his nose. "Does that count as a win?" He asked, tilting his head back up. Jacara jumped to his feet angrily. "Bullshit that counts as a win, all you did was throw me!" He yelled, stomping his feet. The pain in his chest throbbed with each word. "He could have snapped your ankle, with his grip." Soel said. "The winner is-" "BEST TWO OUT OF THREE!" Jacara shouted, his face red.
Soel stopped looking to Gwyneth and Encara, awaiting their approval. Gwyneth shrugged, and Encara eagerly nodded. He clapped his hands together branding them both with Blessing. Yamada's nose stopped bleeding and Jacara's pain disappeared. "Alright then! Yamada is one up. Duellist FIGHT!" She shouted. Jacara wasted no time quickly drawing another card. Yamada ripped Harbinger out, charging at him with it dragging along the ground. Jacara drew the Fool card. It had the picture of a drunken man and bubbles above his head. He quickly threw the card, it latched onto Yamada's helmet. Yamada came to a sudden stop, stumbling around. His vision became hazy and the world begun to spin. Jacara smirked, sauntering over to him, and pretended to pull a dagger out, stabbing it through Yamada's visor. "Winner is Jacara!" Soel declared. Jacara ripped the card off tucking it into his back pouch.
Yamada shook his head, holding his temple and trying to regain his balance. "What happened? The world was spinning and everything tripled." He asked looking around in a daze. "I definitely want to see him drunk now." Soel said. "You lost! Try again!" Gwyneth snapped. He cocked his head to the side, looking to Jacara who smirked at him. 'What was that magic?' He thought scratching his head. Yamada took the wrath stance, Harbinger resting against the nape of his neck, and lowering his stance.
Jacara scoffed reaching for his pouch. "Duellists ready? FIGHT!" Soel shouted. Jacara drew his card. Yamada took a step forward, letting out a primal grunt, throwing Harbinger with all his might. Encara clapped his hands, teleporting in front of Jacara. He caught Harbinger with one hand, and slid backwards on the dirt. He tossed Harbinger to the side, and looked back to Jacara still trying to process, why his father was in front of him. "Yamada, wins two to one." Soel announced. "What!? I didn't lose!" Jacara shouted angrily. Encara turned back to Jacara. "You lost fair and square. You didn't even realise just how close you were to dying." He said, walking away. Yamada walked over picking up Harbinger. Jacara clenched his fists and grit his teeth. The frustration boiling inside of him. "First to ten!" He challenged.
Encara turned around wearing a scowl. "You lost, now accept that and-" "I'm okay to keep fighting." Yamada interrupted. He looked at him shocked. "I would have lost the first two rounds, if he wasn't holding back." He said stretching his shoulder. "See! I was holding back. Now we fight for real. Two to one. That's the real score." Jacara said quickly. "Fine, don't complain if he wins." Encara said leaping back up to the pillar. "First to ten, no breaks. We will determine who earned their point." Soel said. Jacara looked up at Soel askance. "Wait, what do you mean no breaks?" He asked furrowing his brow at her. "Duellists ready!?" She asked. Yamada entered into a high guard sword stance. "Hey wait! We need to rest in between these duels!" Jacara called out. "No one in a real fight, will let you rest." Encara said. "FIGHT!" Soel shouted.
Yamada dashed in. Jacara stumbled back, throwing the first card he drew. Yamada did a quick pirouette dodging the card, and brought Harbinger down. Jacara let out a yell, wincing and covering up. He felt Harbinger tap him on the head, and suddenly opened his eyes to Yamada towering over him. "Two all." Gwyneth said with a smile. "No breaks!" Soel shouted. Jacara reached for another card. Yamada grabbed him by his throat slamming him into the ground. He retched out blood, the air escaping his lungs. Encara clapped his hands, branding Jacara with another cross. He shot awake, clutching his throat and chest. Yamada had reset standing ten paces away. Jacara looked around in a daze the ground around him shattered and destroyed. "Three, two." Gwyneth said.
He stood up reaching for his pouch. Yamada did not move, he held a defensive stance, sword near his body. 'A defensive stance against a mage? You're gonna die for that.' Jacara drew the Scorch card. A wave of intense flames shot out, melting the ground. Yamada stood firm, dropping Harbinger to the side and held out one hand. Gwyneth and Soel looked at him confused. Their jaws dropped, and eyes widened. Encara watched on with a smirk. Yamada opened the gate to water magic, holding it out as a shield. The fire clashed with the gate, turning into a cloud of mist. "I didn't think he was ready to use that in combat." Gwyneth said stunned, lurching forward. "He's been training every night to open that gate faster and faster. At least when he's not dead tired from satisfying you." Encara said. Gwyneth pouted and blushed.
The fire stopped and the area was covered in an opaque cloud of scalding steam. 'When the hell did he learn magic?' Jacara took a step back, drawing the Fork card. The gate disappeared and Yamada took a deep breath. He felt drained. Opening the gate alone took too much arcane energy. He gnashed his teeth together. How could he catch up to Begron, if he couldn't even rely on using magic? Jacara held the Fork card out, shooting a stream of violet lightning blindly into the steam.
Yamada ducked seeing the bolts crackle above him. He let out a loud visceral roar in response, pouring his arcane energy into the steam. The cloud became thicker and expanded. "What does his affinity do?" Soel asked. "It duplicates whatever fluid it touches." Encara said. The roar sent a shiver down Jacara's spine. He took a step back as the cloud drew closer to him. 'What the fuck? What has Gwyneth been training him in?' Yamada leapt out of the cloud, pressing Harbinger to his throat. The scalding metal made him wince. Encara leapt into the cloud, and made it disappear instantly, with a powerful gust. Yamada turned back shocked, seeing the cloud dissipate so fast. 'How much arcane energy does he have?' He thought. "Four, two Jacara." Encara said, leaping back up to pillar.
Jacara capitalized on Yamada's distracted state. He drew and slammed the card of Gaia down between his feet. Yamada was launched into the air and crashed into the ground. "Four, Three." He said smirking at Gwyneth. Encara branded him with the cross, and he shot back up, holding his neck. 'Floating, without turning is still too hard.' "FOCUS!" Gwyneth yelled out. Yamada looked up to see Jacara had drawn another card. It had the picture of bright shining star. "REVELATION!" He shouted. A blinding light shot out, Yamada winced covering his eyes. As his vision returned, he heard Soel call out. "Four all!" He looked around to see Jacara smirking at him.
He quickly rose to his feet. "Kill him." The serpent hissed. "No." He said clenching Harbinger tightly. "The father will save him." It whispered. Yamada smirked. The arcane energy him began to violently swirl around him. He grew thirty centimetres in height, his gorget and salet fused into one, and his cape turned into wings. Jacara took a step back, quickly drawing another card. He drew the card of frost, launching a giant icicle at Yamada. Jacara watched on stunned, as Yamada cut through the ice like nothing, and closed the distance so swiftly. Yamada reverted back, holding Harbinger over Jacara's face. "Five, four." Yamada said.
Jacara snarled, quickly rolling out of the way. He drew the card of Hero, slapping it on his body. A blinding golden light made the four of them wince away. Jacara stood in resplendent golden armour, wielding a golden spear. "That's a new one." Soel said looking at him impressed. "Bring it on Islander!" Jacara snapped, flourishing the spear. Yamada leapt in, Harbinger over his shoulder, telegraphing his wide slash. Jacara stepped forward, thrusting the spear with all his might. Yamada's wings fanned out, bringing him to a halt, stopping right in front of the spear head. Jacara felt the fear surge in his body, staring into Yamada's amber slit eyes. He tried to quickly pull the spear back. Yamada spun Harbinger around and grabbed the spear. With a single swing, the spine of Harbinger was enough to shatter Jacara's armour and bones.
Jacara shot awake with Encara kneeling over him. He looked around the sun reaching its peak. "How long have I been out?" He asked furrowing his brow. "A few hours. Gwyneth and Soel wanted a small break, so we took an intermission." Jacara pushed Encara away, rising to his feet. Yamada was meditating with Harbinger across his lap, bathing in the sun. "How long has he be doing that?" Jacara asked, rolling his stiff shoulder. "Since he practically killed you. He hasn't moved a muscle. Must be boiling under that armour of his." Encara said.
"HEY!" Jacara shouted. Yamada did not move and continued to remain motionless. "We're not done! It's six to four. I can still-" Jacara stopped as Yamada snapped up. "Each card is your gate. Curses and Blessing cards have to touch their opponent to work. Elemental ones, require you to hold them out. And that 'Hero' card, is worthless. You have no formal training or strength to wield it." Yamada said, bowing his head and returning to his meditation. Jacara wore a furious scowl, gnashing his teeth together, fists shaking. "Just because you know how some cards work doesn't mean-" Yamada let out a long tired sigh. "You can't use the same card twice, until after a certain amount of time." He said annoyed, forcing himself to stand. "Otherwise, you would simply use the same spell over and over again to win." Yamada pointed Harbinger to Jacara.
He took a step back reaching for his back pouch. "You are angry, and want to prove me wrong. So you're going for an elemental card." Jacara could not hide his shock. The frustration welled inside of him, bubbling and spitting like a rumbling volcano. "If you figured this all out, why are you still here? You know how to beat me." Jacara snapped. "We're going to go out and, we will have to fight Kal'Nar soldiers. They love to swarm and rush their enemies, leaving them confused, as they cut them down." Yamada said, stretching his body. Encara wore a solemn expression hearing Yamada's words. They weren't the words of a scholar, remembering the history of war. They were the words of a child who experienced the fear.
"I've been told you're my partner. I can't have my partner dying, or getting me injured, because they can't keep up." Yamada said with a disinterested voice. Encara smirked. He knew Yamada was goading Jacara, and that it was going to work. Jacara snarled. "That's it you Islander fucker! I'm not going to hold back!" He roared, drawing two cards, one in each hand. One of Fork, the other Drown. A tidal wave of water rushed out of the card. Jacara slammed the card of Fork into the water, electrifying the wave. He huffed and puffed, feeling exhausted and drained, he smirked seeing the water hit no resistance. "Keep up with that!" He shouted filled with energy. Encara glanced up seeing a shadow hovering above them. He grimaced and winced away. "This is gonna hurt." He said.
Jacara glanced up as well, suddenly seeing Yamada plummeting down towards them. His eyes widened with fear, and his legs became stone. Yamada let out an animalistic roar, with his wings fanned out, and brought Harbinger down. Jacara stood there frozen in fear, seeing Yamada crash down beside him, with Harbinger cutting the air beside him, and destroying the ground beneath. Yamada leaned in close. "Seven, four." He whispered, his dragon head reverting back into armour. Jacara snapped, reaching into his back pouch, tossing it under Yamada.. The card had the picture of several magenta hands, reaching towards the sky. "Plummet!" Jacara yelled. Several cursed hands shot out from the card, grabbing Yamada and begun to pull him down.
He let out a roar, growing in size. The hands continued to pull him down to his knees. Harbinger was ripped from his grasp, and he continued to be pulled into the ground. Jacara wheezed with sweat dripping from his forehead. "Learn your fucking place Islander. I am a mage, and you're nothing but a lowly damn squr-" Jacara stopped seeing Yamada's armour shatter. His eyes widened with shock and fear. Yamada leapt through the circle of hands, and drove his fist into Jacara's gut. The force sent him tumbling a few metres away. "Eight, four! And my name is Yamada Ken!" He declared, resummoning his armour.
The card disappeared, and Yamada ripped Harbinger out of the ground. He marched towards Jacara with strength. Jacara was dry heaving, saliva dangling from his mouth. No matter how hard he tried to breath, it felt like the air was out of reach. His vision blurry and the pain radiated out like daggers in his stomach. Jacara reached for another card. This card had the picture of two clawed hands, hovering over a man and woman. He threw the card latching it onto Yamada's breastplate. "Subjugation!" He roared with all the energy and air he could muster. Encara grimaced, shying away. The magic of Subjugation was a battle of mental attrition. Magic designed to only work on lesser men, women and animals. However against a Forsaken Knight. The magic was as useless, as a man trying to stop a cyclone, by fanning his hands.
"KNEEL!" He declared, stumbling back and holding his stomach. Yamada continued to march, scratching the card off. Jacara crawled away on his back, reaching for his pouch. It was too late. Yamada knelt down driving his fist into Jacara's gut one more time. Jacara folded around his fists, coughing up blood and saliva. His flesh and bone ripped and cracked apart. "Nine, four." Yamada growled, walking away. A golden cross branded Jacara, and he shot awake coughing and holding his stomach. He punched the ground, quickly clenching his bruised fist, holding in his whimper. Encara knelt down beside him with an incredulous look. "Did you seriously try to subjugate his mind?" Jacara pushed him away. "Shut up! I had to try." He pouted standing up. Yamada continued to march away. "HEY! We're not done! You still have one point to go!" Jacara called out.
"I'm not leaving! I'm testing myself!" He called out walking even further away. Jacara finally realised. Yamada had still been holding back, and was simply testing his training and new strength. Jacara snarled, his fists shaking filled with unbridled rage. Yamada now stood thirty paces away, and raised Harbinger. "I'm done holding back." He growled. "Didn't you already say that?" Encara chimed in. "SHUT UP!" Jacara snapped. Encara sunk away as Jacara tore off his robe and back pouch. He clapped his hands together to Encara's shock. "You think, that I haven't been training!? You think I have to rely on my cards!?" He roared. Jacara opened a large arcane gate in front of him. The gate spun and pulsated in size. "Be judged by Heaven's wrath!" He roared, raising the gate to the sky.
Yamada felt a sense of dread fill his body, something was coming. Like an animal senses its hunter, it made him tremble with fear. The gate suddenly disappeared and Jacara fell face first into the dirt unconscious. Yamada straightened up, and cocked his head to the side. "What happened!?" He called out. Encara chuckled at the sight. He was filled with pride and joy. He slung Jacara over his shoulder, and smiled to Yamada. "Ten, four. Your win. Go and rest with Gwyenth." He said disappearing with a flash of light. "What just happened?" He asked. Encara enetered into the house of the Blessed's dropping Jacara into a bed. "I applaud your effort and determination, to try and summon a star down. But you're still a few years from remotely being able to do that." He said with a warm and proud smile. Encara walked outside, and looked to the sun starting its descent. "You're in good hands, Jacara. You'll be safer from what's coming here."