409 Camp

Having ridden upon multiple carriages and wagons that exceled their journey time, the group led by Bethel now camped out in the wilderness. Something, they honestly found to be quite the experience. Like a holiday, the knights gathered around the campfires, gently heating up their supper.

Bethel, found herself getting along with Oliver quite well, the tomboy was currently exchanging swordsmanship tips and tricks. And whilst Bethel preferred two-handed great-swords, compared to the man's single-handed blade with a shield. The two still managed to break a sweat, as Bethel pointed out how easy it was to break his guard and defences, even if he wielded the shield.

"Dude, even if you change your circle shield for a kite, or a tower. I can still break through your defences easily, no sweat."

Oliver, half believing of her words, as she casually swiped the weapon that was larger than herself around as if it was a toy, started to doubt himself.

"Well, what would you do if your enemies rained arrows down upon you?"

In response, Bethel stuck her sword down into the ground diagonally, and hid her body behind the flat surface of her blade, concealing her entirely as she crouched.

"T-that's something only you can achieve because your body is small and thin enough!" 

Bethel peeked out from the side of her weapon. Tugging down one of her eye-bags as she stuck her tongue out.

"Bssssssst~ It's not my fault god built me perfectly."

Finding himself almost lost for words, he faltered and threw the first thing on his mind. "Bigger isn't always better!" Referencing her choice of weapons. And how stupidly large they were.

Bethel hid and leaned out of the other side of her cover. Smugly grinning as she said, "That's what he said! HA!"

Oliver, greatly confused and not picking up on her implications, could only tilt his head. Before he followed her gaze and pointing fingers, towards his crotch...

...

Mel and Olivia, on the other hand were enjoying their supper. The warm stew filled their bodies with warmth, as they watched their two counterparts continue to duel. Albeit Bethel was more focused on teasing the man rather than beating him. At the very least, the knights were enjoying the show. Seeing their usually strict and overbearing platoon captain be beaten both emotionally and physically.

Olivia thought back to the rumours she had heard.

This woman who sat besides her was apparently her lord and duke's first girlfriend? Lover? Partner?

Regardless of what their relationship officially was, she was the first to enter his heart and hold a sway over his feelings. As such, she spent more time and energy observing her, seeing if she could figure out exactly what had attracted the duke so much. "A shame, the lass suffers from memory loss. If my lord had showered me with so much love and attention, going as far as travelling through the lands of Del Lagos just to find me... It would surely be an unforgettable experience for me. Amnesia? Love conquers all!"

Mel looked over, wondering why the knight was fist-bumping the air.

"Mel, that girl Bethel. Are her weapons magical? Blessed? Or is it her own strength that allows her to wield such a thing with ease?"

Mel, thought about it for a mere few seconds. "Well, I've seen her pick up any old weapon from corpses and instantly swing them around. I've seen her tame lycans who chose their pack leaders on strength. Actually... One time, we had a bit too much to drink, and orcs double our size managed to sneak up on us.

She- She caught one of their punches and started to swing the orc around to club and beat down the others... I'm sure its her strength, her bloodline or something."

Olivia blinked a few times, before staring into their mugs of hot-chocolate. "Is there alcohol in this?"

"You two, go have a friendly spar. As leader of this squad, I order it." Bethel hopped on over, within her grip was Oliver's ankle as his torso was dragged across the grass.

Olivia, being more trained and disciplined immediately shifted gears. Having received her order from a superior, she marched over to the opening, mace and shield at the ready. It was only after her gaze landed on Mel's did the ex-adventurer abruptly head on over. Longsword in both hands, as she positioned herself before the knight, heart racing as the 60 knights were now all spectating her prowess.

"Rules are simple, no vitals, no killing. First blood wins. Fight!"

Mel lowered her stance before immediately leaping towards the side. Olivia had charged shield first, prior to smashing her mace downwards and into the ground. For this spar, the brunette would withhold her usage over bloodline abilities, which were actually skills. With [Astral Concussion] the knight would indeed win for sure. However, when it came to her passives like [Battle Maiden] and [Silva' Protection] there simply wasn't much she could do. 

Thus, when Mel tried to blind the girl by utilizing throwing-knives. She could only stare dumbfoundedly whilst Olivia completely ignored the things, taking them to the face as a barrier of light deflected the hostile darts.

"Think! Think back to Bethel's training!" -"The best defence is the best offense! Just overpower them with strength and speed lol."

Trying to imitate her pink-headed friend. She swung her blade, aiming for the side of the shield, hoping to displace Olivia's stability and balance with overwhelming force. And yet, the knight simply shifted her shield's angle slightly. Spreading the force evenly throughout, as her main-hand swung her mace into Mel's triceps. Sending the girl toppling towards the ground in pain.

Fortunately, Olivia didn't utilize mana to empower her strength and penetration. And her choice of mace was one that was entirely blunt, designed to lay impact upon metal not skin. Thus, there was no penetration or possible severing of the arm.

[Heal] ~

The pain within her arm, that was jolting her eyes into tears suddenly faded. The internal bleeding and bruising recovered and healed as a gentle light hovered upon it.

"T-thank you..."

"You're welcome."

Bethel was scratching her chin. Watching closely, as she wondered if that was a loss or not. After all, there was no external-bleeding.

"Oi! Mel! Remember, Olivia's a knight, a trained soldier. You are a adventurer, fight like one!"

Bethel seated herself besides Oliver, who instantly shifted to protecting his balls. "Does it still hurt? Your little shrimpy? Seriously, I just punched it by accident, it wasn't on purpose~"

Mel rose from the ground. Taking deep breaths to calm herself as she thrust her blade into the ground. Before pulling out two daggers from her belt. Gesturing to the knight, who equally nodded in confirmation. The two resumed their spar.

Rather than rely on explosive power and strength, like Bethel. Mel now shifted onto prioritizing skill, speed, agility and her original swordsmanship that applied to daggers and short swords. And as the two exchanged blows, strikes, and cuts that were parried, blocked and dodged.

A sudden profound feeling starting to overcome her memories. feelings, thoughts and emotions. Moments, memories and experience that were lost to her returned. Merging and filling the pieces of the puzzles, as she heard a man's voice. The words he spoke, and then the memory of how he had learned, adapted, improvised and optimized the very techniques she had taught him.

In a spur of the moment, of trusting in her instincts and the voice within her head. Mel vaulted over Olivia's shield entirely, entirely catching the knight off-guard as she was still mid-swing with her mace stretched forward, still dragging her balance onwards as the weight of the weapon dragged her.

Mel swiftly turned and kicked the girl's back. Adding to the momentum and force that wanted her body down. Yet, the trained knight strained the muscles within her core and legs to swing her shield in a punch towards Mel's face, who was already leaning in for another attack. Mel once again listened to her gut, and rather than imitate Bethel, she copied the man from her memories. Vaulting once more, even going as far as slamming her body weight upon the shield before rolling off it and back upon her feet.

Olivia, now entirely lost of her stability, fell upon the grass. And within seconds found Mel kneeling upon her wrist, locking her main-hand whilst a dagger was held to her throat.

Bethel gazed in surprise and shock. Realizing that the swordsmanship and tricks she had utilized weren't hers at all. And although the knights were applauding the underdog's victory over their strong headed captain who had been acknowledged by the duke of war himself. Mel's mind was lost elsewhere, as she relived memories, moments in time, that she never knew she had.

A tear fell from her face as she smiled. Gazing upwards towards the abyssally black night sky, a colour in which she loved and cherished.

"Asai... I'm back."

kophzi

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