The tavern is packed as usual today, especially since it is almost midnight. The bartender is engaged in a conversation with friendly contenders but still manages to make drinks and swiftly welcome each of his guests. There are laughs, discussions, and all sorts of conversations inside. Amidst the busy situation, Boyd sits on a stool directly in front of the counter. The arrangements of dozens of drinks behind the counter made it pleasing for him to sit alone. A large group of contenders occupies several long tables. The smaller plains are also inhabited by people who seem to be strangers to each other, but they try to communicate with each other.
On the other hand, the counter is people who do not try to talk to each other. There is a gap between each person sitting at the counter, each enjoying their drink, including Boyd. The man casually drinks his fourth bottle of mead, and he is still sober.
"You're quite the casual customer here," a silver-haired woman suddenly talks and sits beside him.
Boyd looks at her.
"Surprising, after that stunt you pulled, I'm surprised no one is trying to kill you."
"Brian, the usual, with single malt," she orders her drink.
"Got it!" the bartender nods.
"Well, what brings you in this pristine night, Mrs…?" Boyd utters.
"Elania. Mr…," Elania properly introduces herself.
"Boyd. You can call me Boyd."
Both of them shook hands. After that, the bartender serves two glasses of ale mixed with malt. At first, Boyd thought one was for him, so he tried to take one. However, Elania casually grabs the glass, pours it into the other, and drinks the mixed ale. That slightly surprised Boyd, but then, he casually opened the lower part of his helm and drank his fourth bottle. Elania smirks.
"This is where you try to impress a girl, a tavern?" Elania asks.
"This is what I do when I meet a girl when she is going to see through all that," Boyd replies with his drunk, witty banter.
"I can't decide whether that is a compliment," she chuckles.
"Are you the kind of woman that takes offense in those?" Boyd asks.
"Depends on who they're from," Elania quipped, which made Boyd smile.
"The last time I saw glasses this dirty, I was in a job in Manator, saying farewells with a friend. No offense, Brian."
"None taken, ma'am," the bartender waves.
"Sounds like you miss them," Boyd said.
"I had unfinished business."
"There's no end to anything there. Since they met, Sylphs have been fighting with the Elves for thousands of years. For some, it's a mission. For them, it's…life. Well, at least the war ended 100 years ago."
"I've been there a few times. Their cities still need hygiene work, but you can't deny that their caravan paths around the continent are really…divinely beautiful," Boyd expresses, simply avoiding a sensitive topic regarding Elania's age since elves have a long life span.
Elania smiles.
"Ah, I'm sorry about that, it must be the drink…and I apologize for my behavior a few days before. Interfering a stranger's time without their permission is rude," Boyd bows.
Elania smiles and forgives his behavior.
"You never said who you were with," she asserts.
Boyd chuckles and orders two bottles of mead.
"Why do I feel that you will suddenly get much more interested if I name the right person?" Boyd smirks, slyly drinking his bottle.
"Nothing. Just like to know who's paying me compliments," Elania smiles.
"Am I a…suspect for something?"
"Not according to your students."
"Is that why you are suddenly sitting beside me, sharing a drink? You figure I can help you with this…unfinished business of yours after suddenly peeling information from my 'students'?" Boyd asks.
"I hope so, yeah," Elania says before drinking two gulps of mead.
"Well, I'm not suddenly going to leak information about my past life or anyone's. In all due respect, Elania, you are still a stranger," Boyd responds, avoiding the question.
Elania smiles before taking a glance to her right. A dark-haired, ponytailed woman wearing spectacles observes them before glancing away.
"Soldiers can't question morality or legality in the heat of the moment. That is a way to get yourself killed," Boyd justifies his standing.
However, the elf woman sits there, lightly staring at him.
"Huh, ask your questions," Boyd responds, raising his bottle towards her.
Elania taps his glass of mead with hers, accepting his toast proposal.
"You are Princess Flare Edwen and Sell-sword Weiss's mentor," she opens her topic.
"Yeah, the two of them are my little potatoes," Boyd remarks.
"Met that kid Weiss fighting with some people with a loaf of bread in his mouth. It was one of my best days. Just, him or them, who's better?"
"…And that cheeky kid was better than them but not better than me when I knocked him out flat," Boyd chuckles as he recalls his memories.
"Everyone heard that the princess is dead. How about that?" she asks.
"I was given a job to do, so I faked her death and took her under my wing. Quite a great fighter that one, vast growth potential," Boyd praises Flare.
"Well, now those two knuckleheads are injured. I'll give them a talking to when they wake up," Boyd states, taking another sip of mead.
"…Great fight those two had. Everyone is dazzled by it, but from what I know, that sell-sword took a lot of people out," Elania comments.
"What? Slavers? Thugs? Thieves? Good."
"He targets only bad people?"
"Guess you didn't ask him about it, huh?" Boyd remarked.
"Did Weiss disappear for a few days in his time here?"
"That potato trains a lot for his mission. Hell, if I know where he is. I call him a kid, but you know he is a young adult," Boyd chuckles.
"Anyhow, I am not a non-interventionist when it comes to parenting," he adds.
"Huh, you're lying. You're close to Princess Flare and call yourself a parent?" Elania snickered.
"She is a girl! The two of them are biologically different. Uh, wait…yes, different," Boyd bumbles.
"It's like night and day."
"So, you're the guy pretending to be their father?"
"Somebody ought to. One's a royalty-born, naïve girl who doesn't understand how the world works, and the other is a boy who never gets to fully experience a normal life before reaching his 20s," Boyd calmly asserts his belief to Elania.
"How about the princess? She gone around?" Elania quickly changes the topic, slightly anxious about his words.
Boyd just chuckled.
"If you knew and asked the girl, you know how dumb that question is," he replies, chuckling.
Seeing her place get snatched away from her hands let her down in a big way. So, she asked me for help. I said become more decisive in everything, and now here she is, training her mind and body," he adds.
"So, if someone took something from you, you'd do the same?" she asked.
"Well, I never had anything taken from me. Money…or family," Boyd replies.
"I travel light, how about you?"
Elania takes another gulp before continuing the conversation.
"I think some of us get to have the family life, and some of us get to protect it," she answers.
Boyd rests his head on the counter while still looking at Elania.
"So, you're single, then," he suddenly deduced.
Elania smiles, trying to avoid answering the deduction. Boyd chuckles and takes another gulp.
"Uh, not worried that'll get kind of…lonely?" he pressed the topic further.
"I'm not lonely," Elania shakes her head while faking a smile.
Boyd looks at her before taking another one.
"Are you?" she asked.
"Not at the current moment," Boyd responds.
Then, they just looked at each other, not saying a word. After some time, the ponytailed woman ups and leaves the tavern. Elania noticed this and quickly broke eye contact with Boyd.
"Never off-duty, huh?" he mumbles, slightly disappointed.
"Sorry about that," Elania pays for her drinks.
Boyd closes in until their face is just inches apart between each other.
"Maybe we could…do this again, sometimes," Boyd suggests.
"…Yeah, I'd like that," she answers.
"Well, you know where to find me."
Elania smiles.
"We'll see if you can since people will be looking for you now that they know she is alive," she sneers.
Again, Boyd rests his head on the counter, just chuckling. He was probably plastered after drinking seven bottles of mead. As Elania walks past him, Boyd turns his head to the other side while still resting on the counter.
"Good night, Miss Elania," he exclaimed, giving her a thumbs up.
"Happy hunting," he adds before completely bumbling to himself on the counter.
Once Elania exited the tavern, the ponytailed woman joined her as they strolled to the cottage area.
"How'd it go, Sylvia?" Elania asked.
"I checked on him during the conversation. He doesn't know anything about Alward," Sylvia responds.
"You're sure?"
"Yes. I can't detect any changes in his brain wave, and I don't seem to detect any clues from his memories. He was drifting at sea during his missing interval," she reassures Elania.
"Drifting?"
"I thought it was an abnormality, but when I checked his memories, that man is the amalgamation of odd. I saw a memory of him drawing a diagram of a crossbow before it even existed in Cantor while he was drunk, along with tons of odd memories," Sylvia recalls the oddness.
"Seems your instincts are off this time, Elania."
"It's odd…well, if you say so, it is true," Elania agrees with Sylvia.
"Treyton is still raging. Kept saying he won't stop searching for Alward's killer."
"Yeah, Hawke told me about it. He told me Treyton reminds him of Alward," Elania uttered.
"Huh?"
"That man wears his emotions on his sleeve, and when he is angry, he forgets about the consequences," Elania quotes what Hawke told her when they had met.
"Most of all, Alward is strongest when fighting with someone else. He likes to fight alone, but he is strongest when the two team up and fight a horde."
"Alward never admitted it, but he preferred having a friend to watch his back while protecting him simultaneously," she adds.
"Then, he was stronger with someone holding him back?"
"…Huh. Why are you so uncharitable?" Elania teases Slyvia.
"On the other hand, Treyton's powers are better for duels. Whenever they had assignments to fight together, they always complained about each other's methods, but in truth, they seemed to enjoy it," Elania reminisces.
"Well, that's what Hawke told me anyway. Of course, he knows this; he is second in command," she adds.
"…And you are Big Boss's dearest daughter!" Sylvia teases her back.
The two of them laugh before suddenly Elania drops sideways. She would have fallen onto the floor if Sylvia had not grabbed her. Sylvia puts Elania's right arm behind her neck and carries her to the cottage.
"Your low tolerance for alcohol is just really a downside…" she teases her again.
"Uh huh, that man just bought me a drink. I'm unsure if he did this intentionally or (hiccup)…everything is spinning right now," Elania bumbles drunkenly.
"What a lightweight," Sylvia chuckles.
Meanwhile, back at the tavern, Boyd is still resting his head on the counter.
"…Now, back to watching the two injured idiots…"
* * * * *
10 hours earlier...
The constant cheers and yelling did not stop even though the Sun shone brightly atop them all. Jojo just won his match, and the next game is about to begin. Two workers got onto the stage and carried the contender that Jojo knocked out, and three more started sweeping the ring, prepping for the next match. The Underworld King, Owen, Hawke, Elania, Pearl, Treyton, Roland, and Sylvia are watching from the balconies above. Now, the next two contenders are preparing themselves for their match. One is already waiting on the east side, while the other is on the opposite side. One is wearing armor gifted by a thief, while the other is wearing a leather trench coat as his armor, but for some reason, wore metal-plated boots.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for another round of fighting?"
The commentator successfully agitated the crowd since most shouted 'Yes!' until their hearts dropped. He rallied the entire audience with his engaging words and tone.
"Now, from my left!"
"We have seen her fall, and we have seen her rise! Her persistence captures all of our hearts!"
"Please give a round of applause…"
"To Jane Doe!"
Flare calmly walks to the ring, ignoring all the praises and words directed to her. Currently, at the moment, there is only one thing on her mind, and only one. Unnecessary thoughts are not needed inside her head. The only thing she needs to face, in her eyes, is a stubborn idiot she named her first knight.
"…And now, to my right!"
"The man who breezed through all his opponents with dazzling movements!"
"Please welcome…!"
"Leonard Weiss!"
Unsurprisingly, Weiss's expression is slightly similar to Flare's expression at the current moment. He is looking at her like she is a hindrance to his mission and will cut her down without the slightest hesitation.
The two stood on the ring, gazing at each other without a word. When the referee asked if the two of them were ready, all he got was silence and an uneasy feeling chilling his spine. While the commentator rallies the crowd even more before the fight starts, the two have a moment for each other. However, instead of warnings or chivalric codes of honor, Flare lays down her conviction on him while pointing her new weapon, the Ikazuchi, at him.
"I won't let you kill me, Weiss," Flare states while gripping her weapon tightly.
"I've learned a lot from everyone I met until now, including you! Especially thinking about what to do after making a huge mistake and what it means to be strong!"
She suddenly remembers Boyd's words when they talked last night before separating.
…..
"Do you consider him your first knight or a friend?" he asked.
"…Both!" she answered.
"…Hmm," Boyd pats her head.
"Then, I trust you to make the right judgment, and whatever you choose, I'll stick my neck out and support you one hundred percent all the way," he smiles.
"I'm leaving him to your hands."
…..
"This fight should be stopped," Marcia states her concern.
"…I concur," Boyd supports her view.
The two of them sat in the frontmost row. At first, it was only Boyd, but then Marcia suddenly joined in because she heard about their match. Jojo and Solaris sit behind them while Isaac watches from a balcony above them. The crowd cheers, itching for a great fight and shouting like hooligans.
"Then, shouldn't you be doing something?" Jojo asks.
"…Aren't you their teacher, old geezer?" Solaris snickers.
"Just continue to have faith. That's all we can do right now," Boyd said.
"Faith?"
"…Yes. That is all I can do right now," Boyd reassures everyone.
"They must find their answers…"
The referee stands between the two of them. Suddenly, both dropped their weapons next to each other while gazing at each other's eyes. The crowd turned puzzled and silent as the referee slowly raised his hand.
"Ready?"
The referee looks left. Flare is already in her stance, ready to lunge forward.
"…"
The referee turns his head to the right. Weiss puts his two arms in front of him while clenching his fingers together into a fist on both hands.
"…"
"…Hooo…" the referee slowly exhales before taking another deep breath.
…..
"At your current level, your physical strength is nowhere near his. What should you do?" Boyd questions Flare during their talk yesterday.
"…"
"Correct."
"You've grown, Your Highness…"
…..
"BEGIN!"
The instant the referee finished saying the last letter of the word…he suddenly stumbled backward and tripped out of the ring. It was not because of his instincts or reflexes but the sheer wind force when the two contenders clashed their fists. Their fists clash before anything else, and the pressure pushes everyone surrounding them away. Even the crowd felt the quick breeze on their face before instantly cheering for their pick.
Weiss immediately closes in and attempts to sweep Flare's left leg with his right leg. Flare lifts her left leg the moment he does that and jumps upwards with their fists still attached to the other. Weiss closes in again the moment she lands, but this time, he locks his right arm with her own and throws her upwards. However, Flare made a backflip and safely landed on the floor. Quickly, she lunges forward and hits Weiss's chest with her right elbow. She holds her right fist with her left hand for added power. Weiss grunts in pain, but he swiftly pushes her elbow upwards, leaving her front exposed. The man knee-kicks her straight in the stomach, throwing her backward. Flare rolls and stands up. Weiss quickly lunges at Flare before landing a feint. Flare is not affected by it, but it gives Weiss an opening while he arches back before landing a big right swing.
"Hmm…" Jojo mutters.
However, this time, Flare dodges the swing by sidestepping to the left, letting the arm pass next to her head, and immediately lands a solid punch on his face. Weiss grabs her arm and sweeps her leg, slamming Flare to the floor. Flare bleated when hit, but she quickly pulled her legs closer to her chest before using them to kick Weiss away. Simultaneously, she summoned a mud wall behind Weiss. When she kicked him, Weiss's back hit the wall. Flare stands back up and swings her right arm at his face. Weiss moves his head to the right and sidesteps to Flare's broad-open left side. He instantly attempts to kick Flare's neck, but the girl instinctively manages to block the attack with her left arm, supported by her right hand. Her eyes are still gazing at Weiss; for some reason, this throws Weiss off.
Flare quickly swept his legs and prepared for a counterattack, but the man managed to back up before she could start by rolling away from her. Flare charges forward, and Axe kicks Weiss. He blocks the attack with his elbow. Once Flare's leg touched the ground, she spun her hip and attempted another sidekick using her other leg, but Weiss quickly dodged it by sidestepping to the left. Her back was wide open, and Weiss got into her blind spot. However, Flare instantly rolls forward away from him before he can land a single blow. She quickly stands up uncontrollably and gets into her stance. She takes short breaths, but her tired expression is not going away that easily. Her forehead is sweating, and her arm is aching, and they are only fighting without their weapons drawn.
"My body can't keep up with this…"
"It's being a nuisance," she says to herself.
"Do you still believe you can defeat me despite the clear difference in our strength, Captain?" Weiss breaks the ice between the two of them.
Flare changes her breathing, taking slow, deep breaths to compensate for her exhaustion.
"…Fuh…fuh…"
"Who cares…who is stronger?" she responds.
Weiss gazes at her, somehow expecting that answer.
"Did you honestly think I'd give up…-"
Flare's eyes returned to Weiss's gaze, filled with determination despite the odds.
"…because you're stronger than me?"
Again, for some reason, Weiss is thrown off by this. His weird gasp adds to it.
"I knew you were stronger than me from the start…"
"Showing off your strength is not going to change anything!"
Again, Weiss is thrown off.
"Even if I was the only one that thought that maybe we were friends…"
"I'll…beat…you, Weiss, and I'll drag you out from that thought of yours!" Flare declares, pointing at Weiss with a determined face.
She remembers the man's exact words inside her head when he lends her a shoulder to walk with.
…..
"As long as we are moving forward, we can lean on each other."
"It's how it should be…"
…..
"They're talking…," Marcia murmurs.
"…This is…" Jojo utters.
Boyd and Solaris remained silent, watching the scene before them without speaking.
"Nonsense," Weiss responds with a single word, deflecting everything Flare said.
Weiss slowly circles Flare, and Flare does the same until they stop at their initial positions. Then, the two grabbed their weapons left on the floor before their intense fistfight.
Flare grips her Ikazuchi tightly between the two combined weapons, an eastern short sword and a dagger. From afar, the weapon looks like a twin-bladed weapon. It is, but it is also an adaptable melee weapon, which, as Slag said, can separate into two. The weapon can be used for both dual-wielding and as a twin blade.
Weiss also grabs his weapons, his great sword, and the parrying dagger he gave to Flare when they were fighting against the Executioner. He pulls the great sword out of its sheath. The black-colored rain guard's U-shaped cross-guard is directly connected with the black-colored fuller that encases the middle between the double-edged great sword. From the looks of it, the great sword is undoubtedly heavy, but Weiss is holding it with only one arm while the other is holding the long, jagged, parrying dagger.
"…"
"I've done a lot to get to this point; you're not going to do anything," Weiss declares.
Weiss kneels, but his knee does not touch the ground. His right knee is slightly lower than his left, assuming a crouch position. He lowers his body forward and swings his great sword before stopping it mid-air. His left arm holds the dagger, and his eyes observe Flare. Then, Flare realizes he is already in his stance with his two weapons already drawn.
Flare sinks her knees lower, holding her Ikazuchi close to her right hip. She points the dagger to the front and the eastern short sword to the other side. Her eyes are also observing Weiss, prepared to launch an attack.
"…"
"…"
In an instant, the second round between them starts with the clash of Flare's rapier and Weiss's sword.