"Phew, it's tough to fight them when they're protected from magic. How are you holding up, Algo?"
"I'm okay. We've already taken care of quite a few enemies here. Why haven't they noticed us yet?" Algo and Leira stood on the main street between the training grounds. This place was the farthest from the central square, but they still hoped to make a glorious display of their abilities.
"Krito said one guard is already headed this way, but I don't see anyone yet. How will we fight him if my magic doesn't affect him at all?"
"Don't worry, Leira, I'll protect you! As a husband or as a man."
"Mmm, oh why do you remember this only in moments like these?" Leira blushed at Algo's words, but she found them pleasant.
"But I must protect you, as a spouse and as a man! Anything else?"
"Ah, come on, couldn't you have invited me somewhere on a date or at least to sleep in the same bed," Leira lowered her head and mumbled the last words in a barely audible whisper.
"What did you say?"
"Oh, nothing, forget it, just thinking out loud."
"Apologies for interrupting your idyll, but you've caused quite a commotion here. For the Empire's sake, I'm inclined to escort you to the ship," came the steps of a person clad in heavy armor from the direction of the main building.
"And here's our opponent. Two against one isn't fair, but it's your fault!" Algo prepared for battle, positioning himself in front of Leira.
"Don't get me wrong, but these armor are my main equipment. They're much better than what my comrades have, and your pitiful tricks won't work on me at all. So, I won't even consider the girl a threat."
The knight's armor did indeed look superior to the rest, with no gaps and fitting snugly on the warrior's slender figure.
"What a conceited fellow! I won't forgive you for insulting Leira!"
"I never meant to insult her, just stating the truth that she poses no threat to me."
"Oh, you coward!! Fight me as well!!!!" Leira stamped her feet in fury.
"Well, if you insist, I'll allow you one strike to convince yourself of your helplessness," the knight stood at attention and pulled a two-handed sword from behind, planting it in the ground, gripping it with both hands. Now he resembled those empty armors usually displayed in the palaces of important dignitaries.
"Don't you dare underestimate me!!" Leira gathered a handful of mana in one hand and air in the other, simultaneously releasing a powerful stream towards the opponent. However, the lightning shattered against the armor, grounding itself through the sword into the soil. The wind couldn't budge him even a millimeter, as the warrior stood firmly on his feet, holding onto his sword. After twenty seconds, Leira depleted her mana reserve for a single spell, and gasping for breath, she fell to her knees.
"Leira! Are you okay?"
"I told you it was useless, your spells can only scare away birds. A true warrior relies only on his own strength! And you rely on power borrowed from those spirits. How humiliating."
"You know what! There's nothing wrong with using magic, and even though spirits gift it to people, the descendants of contractors spend years training to achieve great mastery!"
"Algo?" Tears welled up in Leira's eyes. "I'll be fine, I'll rest a bit and then help you."
"Don't worry, Leira, I'll handle this conceited one. I won't let anyone hurt my lady!"
"Hmph, a servant, I see. I've heard your mages can do whatever they want with their servants. What earned her such loyalty? Is it just her pretty face?"
"Shut up! Lady Leira has always trained hard to earn the recognition of others for her strength! She's not some delicate woman reveling in her power! And that's why I love her!"
Algo lunged at the opponent, holding his sword in a low position close to the ground.
"Nonsense! She'll never reciprocate your feelings; the problem lies in your inequality."
The knight parried the strike and took a step back, responding with upward strikes. Algo evaded to the side and prepared for the next clash.
"Well, you can try to prove me wrong. I was ordered not to kill anyone unless I find myself in a critical situation. So, I'll tell you this much! I'll kill one of you, and whom you choose is up to you, servant. I wonder, will you pick your own life or that of your mistress?" The knight assumed a fighting stance, raising his sword above his head, ready to fight at full strength.
"I won't let you harm Leira!" Algo struck from below, and the knight deflected the blow with his sword. Algo's blade slid across the armor, leaving no more than a scratch.
The knight executed a lunge, and Algo dodged to the side, but the guard swiftly turned the blade and delivered a horizontal strike. Algo managed to block it by holding the blade with both hands. The knight's strikes were clearly aimed not to capture the opponent alive.
"So, you really intend to kill me?" Algo pushed away the opponent's sword and delivered a slashing strike to the torso, but his sword only left a deep gash on the armor, failing to penetrate inside.
"Of course, what did you think? A knight always keeps his word. And don't even think about breaking through my armor; I spent a fortune on this meteorite-made armor. As a servant, you'll never save enough for a blade that could withstand me!"
The knight struck three more times, and Algo managed to evade them at the last moment and blocked the last strike with his sword.
"What a proud one you are, splurging on expensive armor and thinking you're the coolest! Where did you get the money? Did your rich parents provide for you?"
"Shut up! I always earned money for my weapons myself! In the Empire, it doesn't matter where you come from; even a homeless boy can become an imperial guard!" Algo's words clearly struck a nerve with the knight. He began delivering furious, sweeping strikes, forgetting about defense. But he didn't care as long as the opponent couldn't breach his armor.
"If you really achieved everything on your own, then why do you despise our nobility?" Algo struggled to dodge the attacks, but each one could have been deadly, leaving him with no other choice.
"Because you judge people solely by their origin! And on top of that, you see US as enemies of all humanity!!!" The knight raised his sword high and struck with great force. At the last moment, Algo rolled backward, and the sword plunged into the ground.
"Should have thought about a decent weapon!" Quickly ascending the blade, Algo struck at the base of the knight's helmet, tearing off the clasps that held it to the armor. The helmet flew off, revealing a handsome blond man with blue eyes, a little older than Algo.
"I can do more than just swing a sword!" While Algo was in front of him, the knight removed one hand from the sword and struck the young man's stomach, causing him to recoil several meters. Wasting no time, the imperial guard caught up with his victim and, stepping one foot on his chest, pressed the blade against his throat. "So, do you still want to die?"
"Let him go!" Gathering her strength, Leira accelerated herself with wind magic and reached the knight in one jump. She pressed her hand, from which little lightning sparks were crackling, against the back of his head. "Your armor may protect you from magic, but from this distance and without a helmet, I'll fry your brain before you manage to strike!"
"Is that so?" With a swift movement, the knight brought the tip of his sword to Algo's chest. "You saw that the lightning went through my sword into the ground. If you strike now, the discharge will pass through your servant. How do you like that choice?"
"I... can't..." Leira burst into tears. "I'm sorry, Algo. Don't mourn for your foolish mistress."
Leira unleashed a lightning bolt.
The guard walked through the large hall with both swords on either side. The road around him was strewn with unconscious imperial guards, each in a different position, sprawled on the ground.
"I wonder who I've got. Knocking out so many people without killing anyone; that takes real skill. Judging by the cuts, he's wielding a sharp blade capable of slicing even the sturdiest armor. Heheh, I hope it's an attractive girl."
The guard's face was hidden beneath the helmet, but a lecherous smile undoubtedly adorned it. He ascended the stairs and opened the door, and inside, the room was illuminated only by the moonlight streaming through large windows, making the space seem much larger than it appeared from the outside.
"Did I make a mistake with the door?" the guard peeked outside and confirmed that the building was indeed much smaller from the street.
"Ahem! How much longer will you stand there?" a female voice resounded from the depths of the empty room.
"Hmm? Who's the owner of such a captivating voice?" The young man stepped inside and gazed into the far end of the hall. Upon closer examination, he could see a beautiful girl with blue hair kneeling there. In front of her lay a katana, and she sat with closed eyes, peacefully meditating.
"I am Asura Yukitori, and I challenge you to a duel."
"Wow! Asura, what a beautiful name! I've never met girls more beautiful than you! Do you have a boyfriend? No, well, why am I asking? You probably do, but if not, would you like to go on a date!"
In an instant, the guard found himself right in front of Asura. Though the hall was of considerable size, he covered the distance in less than a second.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? I challenge you to a duel, and you're trying to flirt with me! How can you call yourself a warrior?" Asura seethed with anger, even comparing him to Krito seemed like a compliment compared to this impudent behavior.
"Oh, right, sorry, sorry. It's been so long since I was challenged to a duel that I got rusty. So, you're a warrior. Well, I guess I won't need this, then. Wait a moment."
"What?" Asura looked puzzled at the guard, who quickly started unfastening the armor's straps, removing one piece after another. "W-what are you doing? How can you undress in front of a stranger girl?!"
"Don't worry so much. I have regular clothes underneath; the armor protected me from magic, but it won't react to you, so it'll just be a hindrance."
Soon, the guard finished his preparations, unhooking his shin guards, gloves, pauldrons, and helmet with chestplate, leaving him in simple leather attire, without any extra protective gear. He was a young man with a light beard and tousled hair.
"So, my name is Vlad, nice to meet you. Twenty-six years old, single, actively searching. I work in a major company, in an important position. I dream of finding a beautiful wife and having lots of children. Though, I'm more interested in the process than the result, hehehe." Vlad beamed with a satisfied smile, examining Asura from head to toe.