Swoosh
Carol's knife moved through the air before anyone could say anything more, but somehow, Lady Shelly Munero was able to dodge the attack by jumping back. A teasing smile spread across her face as she looked at the younger woman.
"This is not fair, Goddess Auriel. I am just doing my best here and even fighting on Princess Evelyn's terms. Surely, you will not accuse me of being a cheater when I am making such sacrifices?"
Shelly Munero had a silver tongue, and she knew how to use it. She was trying to gather sympathy from the people around her by acting pitiful yet strong.
While this might not work for the majority, having the crowd divided or even questioning Auriel could create a big problem.
Even though Auriel knew that the best course of action would be to sit back and let Lady Shelly expose herself when her dark magic inevitably burst forth, it did not sit right with her. She wanted to prevent it.
"Lady Shelly, this is not about you—"
"It's fine. Dark magic or not, my opponent is still that cowardly lady of the Munero house. I am certain that I will be able to win against her."
Princess Evelyn cut Auriel off before the goddess could speak. The princess stood tall, her straight back making her look more like a warrior than ever.
Hearing the princess speak such words brought a delighted smile to Lady Shelly's face. She clapped her hands together in amusement.
"O Divine One, surely you won't stop us now? Both of us want to fight it out to the best of our abilities. I promise that no accidents will happen."
That was what Lady Shelly Munero promised, but Auriel did not believe her for a second.
"Goddess Auriel, I think it will be better if we leave this up to Princess Evelyn for now. If we see any sign of dark magic, we'll stay alert and interfere. You don't have to worry about a thing."
Carol assured Auriel, leaving the goddess no choice but to back out this time. However, Auriel wasn't going to retreat without doing anything.
If Lady Shelly Munero could cheat, then so could Auriel. There was no way she would let anyone using dark magic come anywhere near her mission.
So, as everyone watched, Auriel placed a hand on Princess Evelyn's shoulder before lightly touching her other hand to the stunned princess's cheek.
"Princess, make sure you take care and bring victory. And if you feel like you are in danger, back out the first second you can. No one will blame you for it."
Auriel leaned close as she spoke these words. Her lips almost touched the princess's cheek and ear, and her breath tickled the princess.
While everyone was distracted, Auriel cast a protection spell on the princess to keep her safe before pulling back.
"Y-You…what do you think you are doing? T-That is so inappropriate…"
The princess had turned beet red when Auriel pulled back, looking far more flustered than before. It was clear something had affected her, but Auriel wasn't in the mood to dwell on it.
She had other concerns to address.
Cough
"Princess Evelyn, it is time for you to head back to the fighting arena. And please, do not let what happened get to your head. Remember, you are still just a candidate and nothing more."
Carol was quick to burst Princess Evelyn's imaginary bubble, leaving the princess stammering and red-faced.
"I know, so you don't have to remind me. And you! Let's fight our differences out."
The princess turned toward Lady Shelly, who stood aside with an almost amused look on her face. While the two headed back to the arena, Carol shot Auriel a scandalized look.
"Goddess Auriel, please control your actions. You might not realize it, but your small gestures can come off as… suggestive… for lack of a better term. Please keep your reputation in mind."
Carol almost scolded Auriel, who remained quiet. She had heard the same words too many times, but she still could not figure out what was so suggestive about her actions.
______
The air was thick with anticipation as the sun climbed higher, casting its golden light over the makeshift arena. The stands were packed, a cacophony of murmured bets and hushed prayers filling the space.
At the center of it all stood Princess Evelyn Greengrass and Lady Shelly Munero, their tension palpable even to the most untrained observer.
Princess Evelyn wielded a gleaming sword, its blade shimmering with a faint, ethereal light—a manifestation of her aura magic. Her stance was steady, confidence radiating from her as she fixed her cold, unyielding gaze on Lady Shelly.
Across from her, Shelly Munero looked composed, but her clenched fists betrayed the storm of emotions within her. The faint glow of the runed bracelet on her wrist hinted at the forbidden power she was attempting to conceal.
The referee raised his arm, signaling the start of the duel. The crowd fell silent.
Evelyn struck first, her sword arcing through the air with deadly precision. Shelly dodged, barely managing to escape the blow. Her movements were quick but lacked the practiced fluidity of a seasoned fighter.
She retaliated with a bolt of defensive magic, a simple spell designed to create distance. It worked, but Evelyn was relentless, closing the gap with alarming speed.
The clash of Evelyn's sword against Shelly's hastily conjured magical barriers reverberated across the arena.
Each strike was met with an increasingly desperate counter, and it didn't take long for the crowd to sense the imbalance. Evelyn's attacks grew more calculated, her aura amplifying her strength and speed, while Shelly's reliance on her innate magic began to falter.
Shelly's breaths came faster as she felt the pressure mounting. The bracelet on her wrist seemed to hum, the runes pulsing as if urging her to unleash its power.
She resisted at first, determined to prove herself without succumbing to the dark magic.
But Evelyn's strikes became more forceful, the princess pushing Shelly closer and closer to the edge of the arena.
Then it happened.
A particularly fierce swing from Evelyn sent Shelly sprawling, her magic barrier barely holding. Panic flared in Shelly's chest as she felt her control slipping.
The bracelet burned against her skin, its power seeping into her veins. She hesitated for only a moment before giving in, unleashing a surge of black magic that erupted in a dark, crackling wave.
The crowd gasped as the wave collided with the protective barrier surrounding the arena, causing it to shimmer and strain under the impact.
Cracks began to spiderweb across the magical shield, the tremors shaking the stands. Spectators screamed, scrambling away from the edges.
"Carol, evacuate everyone!"
Auriel's voice rang out, firm and commanding despite the rising panic. The goddess stood at the edge of the arena, her golden eyes glowing faintly as she assessed the danger.
Carol, ever loyal, immediately sprang into action. She directed the panicked crowd toward the exits, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Meanwhile, Auriel turned her attention back to the duel, her heart sinking as she saw Shelly struggling to control the dark magic coursing through her.
In the stands, a hooded figure watched the unfolding chaos with a detached expression. Hidden beneath his magical disguise, he observed Shelly's desperation and the havoc she was wreaking. As the barrier continued to splinter under the strain, he let out a quiet sigh of disappointment.
"She's not the one."
He murmured to himself, his tone filled with regret. Without sparing another glance at the chaos, he rose from his seat and blended into the fleeing crowd, his presence unnoticed amid the pandemonium.
Back in the arena, Evelyn pressed forward despite the growing danger.
Her sword glowed brighter as she infused it with more of her aura, the energy creating a shield against Shelly's wild magic.
With precision and focus, she deflected the erratic attacks, determined to end the duel before things spiraled further out of control.
Shelly's mind was a whirlwind of fear and desperation. The bracelet seemed to have a will of its own, the dark magic flowing through her body like a raging river. She could feel it consuming her, threatening to overwhelm what little control she had left
At this rate, everything around them was going to get destroyed, be it people or buildings. The dark magic was too much.
"I-I cannot control it. This magic…it was a mistake. Someone…anyone, help me out. I don't think I can…"
The dark magic was starting to take shape around Lady Munroe's body and it was starting to consume her. At this rate, it won't be long before she perishes with her mortal body to the effects of the dark magic.
"What the heck is this? Lady Shelly Munero, what the heck did you do to cause all this? Is this one of your tricks as well?"
Princess Evelyn asked in a tense but strong voice. She somehow held her ground but it was getting tougher to approach the panicking female in front of her.