There was only one week left until the start of the coliseum games. It was a rainy day, with a gray sky covering the mansion's garden. Despite this, Neizan did not stop training. It was the only day that Sir Miguel did not come, as he usually did, to continue their training together. So Neizan spent the entire morning alone, under the rain.
Later, he returned to the mansion, covered in mud, water, and sweat, and went straight to shower.
『Neizan: Tomorrow is the day. 』
Lost in his thoughts, the young man reflected on everything that had brought him to this point. All the effort, pain, and suffering would soon pay off, as he would finally prove his worth and strength in a fight to the death that would once again decide his fate.
As he stepped out of the bath, he stopped in front of the large mirror and noticed a scar on his chest. He touched it with his hand, recalling memories.
Neizan grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. He then headed toward the bathroom door. Upon opening it and stepping into the hallway, he found someone waiting for him inside his room.
『Neizan: Were you waiting for me? 』
That person was a maid, and more specifically, it was Meilia, who had brought lunch on a tray to the door of his room, which was closed.
When she turned to see Neizan, her face tensed, and she almost dropped what she was holding. The expression on her face revealed a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
『Meilia: W-What are you doing like that? 』
Neizan, wrapped only in a towel, responded calmly, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her.
『Neizan: Can't you see I just showered? Let me, I'll open the door myself. 』
With a nonchalant gesture, Neizan grabbed the doorknob and opened the door, allowing Meilia to hurriedly enter. She walked to the table, avoiding eye contact at all costs, and shakily set the tray down.
『Neizan: Thanks. 』
Meilia glanced at him for a brief second, a noticeable blush on her cheeks, and then almost ran out of the room, as if wanting to escape the awkward situation she had just created. Anyone watching could easily misinterpret the scene.
Neizan, drying his hair with a towel, watched her leave and sighed.
『Neizan: Shameless, but embarrassed... unbelievable. 』
As he continued drying himself, he looked for the clothes he was going to wear. At that moment, Arthur arrived at the room. The door was still slightly open, and without hesitation, he entered, looking at Neizan with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
『Arthur: So... What were you doing just now? 』
『Neizan: Don't get the wrong idea. I just got out of the shower, and she happened to bring lunch. 』
Arthur raised an eyebrow, smirking before sighing with an obvious look of disdain.
『Arthur: Aaah... Right. 』
Neizan, losing patience, shot him a warning glance as he got dressed.
『Neizan: Well, why are you here now too? 』
Arthur, relaxing a bit, leaned against the door frame.
『Arthur: I just came to tell you that Alberto wants to see you in the lounge now. 』
Neizan frowned as he adjusted his shirt.
『Neizan: Aren't you going? 』
『Arthur: He says he wants to talk only to you. 』
『Neizan: Alright, tell him I'll go in a moment. 』
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The humidity still lingered over the green ground of the garden. In a sunlit clearing, the young Neizan and Sir Miguel were gathered, both attentive to what was about to happen.
『Miguel: Are you ready? 』
Miguel unsheathed his sword, which shone brightly in the light. In response, Neizan also unsheathed his sword, his face shifting to a serious expression, completely focused.
Normally, they wouldn't risk leaving their battles with serious injuries, as they used wooden swords. However, this time was different; both wielded sharp steel swords, ready to inflict severe damage with the slightest touch against the skin.
They were ready and prepared to give their all one last time, determined to find out which of them would be the strongest.
『Neizan: Let's go. 』
Before him stood a knight, a handsome man taller than Neizan. His eyes were a light gray with hints of lavender, and his hair also had a grayish hue. His skin was fair, and his subtly elegant attire consisted of a white shirt under a suit, accompanied by a cape that reached down to his legs.
Before heading to the capital, where Neizan would risk his life for the victory of Alberto's faction, one last fight would take place.
The first to attack was Miguel, who quickly approached Neizan to try to land a blow with his sword. Neizan blocked the attack with ease. The knight stepped back and launched himself at him again.
By deflecting the trajectory of the sword's strike, Neizan seized the moment to counterattack with a horizontal cut aimed at his opponent's torso. However, Miguel blocked the attack, allowing Neizan to pull back his sword and retreat.
Miguel advanced once more, and with a new glide of his sharp blade, both swords clashed again, producing a loud metallic sound that sent small sparks flying into the air.
They tightened every muscle, exchanging an intense flurry of blows between their swords for several seconds, the incessant noise echoing around them.
The air sliced violently as the ground trembled with the force of each impact, causing the short grass to sway constantly with their movements and the earth to sink beneath their footsteps due to the immense pressure.
When one of the attacks was about to reach Neizan, he managed to react quickly enough to dodge the blade, which grazed the front of his chest. Both fighters displayed a remarkable display of skill, showcasing their techniques, strength, and speed in an epic and thrilling duel between swordsmen.
Their gazes never left their opponent for a single second, and few people could keep up with their swift movements. However, a few minutes into the fight, Neizan began to gain the upper hand. It wasn't long before the blade of his sword stopped just centimeters from Miguel's neck, declaring him the winner of the bout.
Miguel remained motionless, with one knee on the ground. Neizan sheathed his sword and then extended his arm toward the knight to offer his hand. As his breathing calmed, Miguel accepted the gesture with a slight smile. Neither of them had been injured, as they had taken the fight seriously, but they maintained clear caution with their defenses.
『Miguel: You've won. 』
『Neizan: It was a good fight. 』
He replied to the man who had been training him as his mentor until that day. It was a moment where one could say that the student had surpassed the master.