13 Duel 2

Sophie didn't know what to say. This kind of situation was too bizarre for her to handle.

'I thought it was a god-sent chance for me tocreate friendly relations between my family and the Church of Life through Father Jonas, when he asked me to babysit these two kids, but now, everything became complicated. If I stay uninvolved, then it's the same as sending this boy to his death. If I act then it's the same as provoking that old monster. What should I do? My head hurts'

She glared at the the silver hairedyouth and then she opened her mouth

" You are Vladimir, right?"

" Yes Ma'am!"

" Why did you challenge Baron Thundergod to a duel?"

" Because I want to witness how strong is the hero of the North"

Shophie started to frown when she heard his statement.

" Are you mocking Captain Thundergod?"

"How can I mock the person that I admire the most?" Vladimir asked with puzzlement written on his face. Sophiedidn't know whether to laugh or cry when she heardhis answer

" If you admire him so much, then why do you want to fight him to the death?"

" It's because that I admire him that I want to fight him to the death" the silver haired youth replied innocently. Sophie couldn't understand the youth's sense of logic. She had the urge to punch him in the face but endured it.She then turned her face to the other youth.

"Do you understand what he says?" She didn't expect much but she still made a final effort with the hope to get a reasonable explanation.

"For my brother, Edward de Thundergod is exactly the kind of man that he wants to become. For him, to see the gap with his hero, isn't it only natural to go all out?"

The young woman finally started to understand the character of the youth named Vladimir, but there was still a big question unanswered.

"Then, how do you plan to preserve your life? There is no way you are stronger than Baron Thundergod neither he is a man who is merciful enough to spare you." As she asked this,hope started emerge in her heart.

'Maybe he has a way to stay alive! He is reckless, but he doesn't seem to be stupid.'

"I will leave it to luck" Vladimir repied after some thought.

"There is no way I can accept such an unreasonable explanation!" Sophie started to shout again. She was trying desperately to keep her calm, but this boy wouldn't let her no matter what.

'I will kill him! Forget about the Church of Life and Thundegod, I will just kill him to satisfy my anger' Seeing her that she was ready to erupt, John judged that he had to speak again

"Don't worry Captain, I am sure that Baron Thundergod will give some face to Father Jonas and hold back a little. Father Jonas won't consider you responsible for my brother's reckless actions too"

John said calmly in a try to soothe the young woman. His words seemed to have some effect, since her cold expession started to reappear on her face.

'He is right. It's not like I can do anything now. If I interfere, the Order will lose face and this is the thing that I have to avoid the most. I will leave it to luck too and deal with the aftermath later'

"Your name is John, right?"

"Yes Ma'am!"

"Since you are more sensible than your brother, you should have restrained him. For this outcome, you are responsible too"

"Yes Ma'am!"

An astonished expression appeared for a moment on Vladimir's face, but disappeared before anyone had the chance to notice it.

The woman then turned her face to the entrance of the tent and shouted loudly

"Adrian!"

A knight entered quickly inside. He was one of the guards that were standing outside.

"Go and call Maria here"

"Yes Captain!" The man gave a salute and left, leaving the three of them alone. Before long, a girl entered inside the tent. She was around 17 years old withshort black hair and large black eyes. Her face was very similar to Sophie's but unlike her, her skin was dusky. What really caught the attention of the two teens was the long red cloak that she was wearing. The girl looked with interest at the two youths before turning her attention to the female knight.

"Did you call me sister?"

"Don't call me that in front of others" Sophie rebuked her and continued

"These two will be assigned to your unit for the nexteight days"

"As expected, I felt magic power coming from them".The girl smiled brightly as she found an interesting toy to play with.She winked coquettishly at the the two youths and spoke

"Hi boys, I am Maria de Woodman. I am the temporary Commander of the magicians of Company A" before the two youths had the chance to talk, her voice sounded again but this time with excitement

"So who was it? Who challenged Baron Thundergod? The handsome fellow over there or the guy with the sleepy eyes?"

"You have heard it already?" Sophie asked surprised.

"Everyone in the Order knows it. They can't wait to see Thundrgod to kill the guy who dared to insult the honor of the Red Rose" Maria replied with her smile not fading in the slightest.

A sigh escaped again from Sophie's mouth. The rumors started to spread faster than she expected.

"Maria, make the preparations for the duel"

"What! Why should I do something so boring?"

"Because you are their Commander now. First Lieutenant Wardrog will help you"

Maria stared at Sophie with teary eyes, but when she realised that her sister wouldn't change her mind, she gave up. She looked again at the two youths and moved her lips

"So, who was it?" She asked again with an excited voice

"It... was me" the silver haired youth replied hesitantly

"Eh? It was you? I would swear that it was the guy with the sleepy eyes. How come I was wrong!" Maria exclaimed in an exaggerate manner. Without giving any importance to the two teens who were giving her blank stares, she proceeded to leave. Only when she disappeared from their sights, did they realise that she didn't even ask their names.

****

The sun started to set, but the bustle of the encampment didn't seem to die down. Countless knights had gathered to watch the 'Iron General' to fight. They had created a huge circle, leaving only the interior empty, as well as one curve so that the Princess and the knight officers could watch comfortably. Vladimir and John were a few meters away from the crowd. Since there was still a little time before the arranged time, they asked from Sophie a few minutes alone, so that Vladimir could prepare his mentality.

"It's finally time, are you ready?" John asked with his usual lazy expression. He didn't seem anxious at all about the duel.

"Of course I am!" Vladimir replied with a smile. He looked at the setting sun, before closing his eyes. The noice around him slowly disappeared. He could only hear the sound of the wind,the rustling of the leaves as well as the beating of his heart. After taking some deep breaths, he opened them again.

John could see the determination on his face. An unwavering resolve that could scare even the most experienced warrior. He remembered the reply that his brother gave to the female knight when she asked him how did he plan to protect his life. He gave an incomprehensible answer. An answer that the inexperienced woman wouldn't be able to understand. But John was sure, that if Vladimir said the same thing to the hero of the North, then Edward de Thundergod wouldn't need to hear anything else.

Luck had always been the most important thing for a man to succeed and Vladimir would need it more than anyone else to accomplish his goal. If he couldn't survive in this fight, then it was only laughable to talk about killing the Demon Lord. That was the path that he chose and it was a path full of blood. The moment that he decided to change his name and give that oath was the moment that he sealed his destiny.

"It's finally time, are you ready?" John asked the same question with his usual lazy expression.

"Of course I am!" Vladimir replied with the same smile. The two youths started walking simultaneouslytoward the crowd.