"Duc!" shouted a fearful Lyra.
I caught a glimpse of her face and it reminded me how magic has always been differently used by others. My way has always been weird. Tied to my emotions, but also somehow my imagination. Yes, the king has been striking fast, but also very calm. His focus is insane.
I need to focus!
Alastaire and I approached the ground and in an instant, he slammed against it, full force. Dust shot up and the ground cracked under his attack.
"No!" shouted Lyra.
"Look!" said Bea.
"Impossible." said the king, wide-eyed and nonbelieving.
I teleported behind the king, avoiding his attack and was ready to mount my own. The trick seemed to be enough to rattle him, because he wasn't teleporting away this time. Or maybe he couldn't. Either way, it was my turn to strike!
I blew a jet of wind at his back as he tried to turn to face me, causing his to lose some balance and raise his arms. With this, Alastaire had a weaker grip on his rapier, so when I darted into him, it caused him to let go of his blade and topple over onto the ground. The king was disarmed.
I stood there, eye level with the angry king, and raised my wing as if to antagonize him.
"Rahhh!" he shouted out of anger, crawling toward me, forgetting his blade, and eventually scrambling back to his feet.
It seemed the king was more than willing to throw hands, but if I let him grab me, it could be all over. So, I teleported again. This time to his rapier. I picked it up with my bill and flew in the air.
"You son of a-" shouted the king as I just hovered above him.
I could tell I was getting weaker by the moment. I now understand the toll of teleporting and know I can't do it again. The amount of mana to fuel the magic has to be outrageous!
This has to end here and now!
I flicked my head, releasing his sword with some force towards him, but not exactly at him. The attack caused him to turn away for just a moment, which was all the time I needed. This was it, my final attack!
In the instant, I had to make my move, I summoned as much of the air molecules I could around me, pulling in moisture from it all to surround my body, quickly developing into a huge water attack. This was my gamble, a water wave of force, as I pushed it with all my might towards the king.
Alastaire reached down to pick up his rapier and went to turn back towards me, but it was too late for him. My wave of water slammed into the king, dropping his sword again, and blowing him backwards into one of the castle walls with such force, it cracked upon impact, leaving him embedded there.
"Quack!"
"Father!" shouted Lyra, running onto the battlefield.
Alastaire pushed against the wall, freeing himself, and falling to his knees.
"Unbelievable." he uttered.
Lyra got to him and reached out her hand to help the king up. While at first it seemed he was going to give in to his anger and maybe continue the fight, after bowing his head for a moment of acceptance, he looked up and to her eyes and smiled. Then he got to his feet.
"Duc!" he shouted pointing at me, "You are officially recognized as Queensgard to Lyrianna Ghisendra, heir to the elven throne!"
I jumped for joy with a little squeal, as Bea rushed over and picked me up above her head.
"Duc the Queensgard! Hear him roar!" she chuckled.
"Beat by a duck. I'll never live this down," said the king getting and sheathing his rapier.
"You know what this means right?" asked Lyra.
"Oh no! I forgot! You can't leave me again!" said Alastaire moving to tears.
"I have to do this father. For you. For me. For everyone. I can't be helpless and sheltered all my life."
"I know sweetie. I'm just not ready. I'll never be ready."
"We'll stay a couple more days, but I plan to go register with the Adventurer's Guild in Heiselrond and deciding where to go from there." Lyra explained.
"I see. So be it." said the king wiping some scuffs off his clothes, "Well, I'm going to go change into something clean. I'll see you for dinner."
"Yes father." said Lyra with a smile.
She turned towards Bea and I and ran over, snatching me away and embracing me.
"You did it Duc! You really did it!"
"Quack!"
"And now we'll have a top notch party for the Adventurer's Guild!" exclaimed an ecstatic Bea.
"I can't wait. Thank you. Thank both of you. For this journey. For being my friends." said a tearful Lyra.
"No problem princess. I still can't believe you're a princess." Bea laughed again, "We'll probably have to keep that under wraps with the guild."
"Yes. I plan to conceal my identity with my new looks. Outside this castle, everyone knows me as the bright eyed, white haired princess Lyrianna. But now I can feel like my true self and not be so overwhelmed as Lyra."
"Good to know. Well, get some relaxation in for now, because once we're out in the world, doing whatever we decide to do, it's gonna be a hell of a time." smirked Bea.
"Actually, I think I already know what one of the first big challenges I want to face is." said Lyra.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" Bea responded curiously.
"I think I'd really like to conquer a dungeon."
Really?!
"Quack?!"