Chapter 495: Talk Before The Duel

Chapter 495: Talk Before The Duel

“Has he?”

“No... I’m not sure any of the letters have reached him...”

“Where is that man, does he not care about his own son...”

“Mother... I heard the border skirmishes have been intensifying lately.”

“Bah, that’s always the excuse...”

Two people were talking while looking at the sun outside rising through a window. Both of them were in an expensive hotel suite overlooking the bustling city below. The older woman, dressed in fine silks, drummed her fingers impatiently on the windowsill, her sharp gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Her daughter, seated nearby, was fidgeting with a delicate piece of jewelry, her face marked with concern.

“Don’t worry Mother, even if Father doesn’t attend the duel, with Professor Wayland’s help, I’m sure Robert will win!”

Lucienne tried to reassure her mother, Francine, about the current situation. However, neither of them could see what Wayland was planning behind closed doors. They only saw him moving back and forth from the workshop to the estate, holding a strange rectangular bag. No one knew what the man was up to, but the date of the duel was already upon them. Today the ten days were over and her son would have to fight for his life.

As the morning sun bathed the city in golden light, tension settled like a heavy cloak over the De Vere estate. Robert’s duel was only hours away, and the mood among his family was somber. Lucienne’s words were meant to offer solace, but her mother, Francine, remained unconvinced. The silence between them stretched as both women contemplated what lay ahead.

“That man, you seem to put a lot of faith in him, Lucienne.”

“W-well, he has helped me through some troubled times at the institute, he is someone that we can trust, Mother!”

She proclaimed while Francine scrunched her nose. There was something about that armored man that felt familiar yet distant. Her gaze hardened as she turned away from the window, her sharp eyes narrowing in thought.

"Trust?"

She murmured, her tone loaded with skepticism and annoyance at her lack of power.

"I’ve seen many men hide behind a facade of trust. What does he really want? You must be careful.”

“I’m fine Mother, Professor Wayland isn’t like that.”

Lucienne knew more about the identity of their helper than she was letting on. It was obvious to Francine that something deeper was at play, but her daughter refused to reveal the truth despite her repeated inquiries. Francine had no choice but to leave her son in the hands of this mysterious mage, though that didn’t mean she trusted him. Clearly, the man had his own agenda, and Francine feared that once the duel was over, some form of payment would be required. She worried her daughter had made a deal with the devil, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that the mage had no hidden motives. Her instincts had usually been right, but with this man, she no longer knew what to think.

"Your father should be here. A duel of this magnitude demands family. Honor must be defended in person, not left to strangers."

Lucienne said nothing. She knew how much her mother resented their father’s absence, but there was nothing either of them could do to change the situation. Border skirmishes had escalated, and their father, Lord Arden, had been called away weeks ago. Whether he even knew of Robert’s upcoming duel was uncertain.

“I know Mother but we must think positive, I know that Professor Wayland has though this through, whatever he has been preparing for Brother Robert will help him win this duel and we’ll all return home together!”

“Lucienne...”

Francine wasn’t sure how to react but she knew that she needed to straighten up. She was the mother but the one acting more like an adult was her daughter. It was unbecoming of her to be this distraught when her children needed her strength. Taking a deep breath, she stood straighter and smoothed her gown with a swift motion.

"You're right, Lucienne. We must remain hopeful. Robert is strong, and if this Wayland character truly is as capable as you believe, then perhaps...”

Lucienne smiled softly at her mother’s attempt to regain composure. The tension in the room lessened, but the unease still lingered just beneath the surface. Both women eventually went outside the room to encounter the group of young ladies who arrived with Professor Wayland. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits and Francine quickly realised that this was no time to be moping about. Her son needed to see her filled with vigor in the dueling arena and that was the least that she could provide for her child.

*****

“Ugh... Let’s never do this again, shall we?”

“Thank you for your help Arion and tell the rest that I’m also grateful, when they wake up that is.”

Roland glanced to the side where a pile of dwarves had passed out from overwork. Even his assistant Bernir was there, slumbering while leaning up against the wall. All of them had worked for the last five days without sleeping more than a few hours. His friend Arion seemed to have a splitting headache and was barely holding on thanks to recovery items.

The workshop was in complete disarray, tools and materials scattered everywhere, but amidst the chaos stood the final creation: the completed runic power armor. Roland surveyed the scene, letting out a tired sigh. They had pushed themselves beyond their limits to ensure the armor was ready for Robert's duel, and now, at the brink of exhaustion, they had succeeded.

“Let them rest and you should get some sleep too. Leave the rest to me.”

Robert chuckled weakly at Roland's response and his attempt to make him feel better. The two brothers hadn’t really had a heartfelt conversation since Robert had visited Albrook. After starting his military career, he had been focused on gaining experience and fame - something he was beginning to regret.The silence between them stretched again, but this time, it was less heavy. It was broken by Robert clenching his fist and looking directly into Roland’s visor.

“For all it was worth, I was proud to be your brother and if I falter in this duel, can you promise me something?”

Roland's helmet reflected the dim light of the chamber, obscuring the emotions inside. Robert's words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of what was unspoken. Roland shifted slightly in his seat as he stood up to place the suitcase down on the ground to begin the unfolding process.

“If you falter? You won’t. We’ve worked too hard for that. But go on, what is it that you want?"

“If I don’t make it through this"

Robert paused, exhaling deeply.

"I need you to look after Lucienne, Mother, and Dianna. I know you’ve been distant from them, and I understand why. But they’ll need someone, someone strong, someone they can trust. You’re the only one left who can protect them.”

Roland’s expression remained unreadable behind the visor, but inwardly, a mix of emotions churned. His strained relationship with their family had been a source of unresolved tension for years. Robert’s words only deepened the burden he already carried, and for a brief moment, he wanted to refuse, to say it wasn’t his responsibility. But that wasn’t who he was. Not anymore.

"You’re not going to die, Robert, but if anything happens... I swear I’ll take care of them. Just don’t make me have to keep that promise, alright? I don’t think I’ve even spoken to Dianna once in my life either..."

Robert’s face softened, the tension in his shoulders loosening slightly.

“Thanks. I know I’m being dramatic. But... it helps, knowing you’ll be there.”

“Sure, any more requests while I’m here? Perhaps you wish for me to take Lucille away to the institute while I’m at it?”

Roland joked about abducting Lucille De Vere from her father but Robert seemed to have liked that idea instead.

“You would? I’m sure she would rather go back to her magical research than be forced into marriage by her father...”

“Uh... why don’t we discuss this later... Now get into the suit, I’ll supply the mana for now but once those gates open, you’ll be on your own. Remember...”

“Yeah I know, I have limited time, you’ve told me that ten times every day...”

“Glad that you’ve listened, now get into the suit, I need to run some diagnostics and try to calm down, your heart rate is increasing...”

The fully constructed runic power armor rose from the spatial briefcase and stood before them. To Roland, the sight was breathtaking; before arriving at the institute, he hadn’t thought such a feat was possible. This suit of armor was actually recognized by the world's system as a proper suit of armor and magical item. It was an unexpected boon, as he had assumed the world would treat it as a single piece of equipment or like a golem. However, thanks to his dissertation, it was divided into four main parts, each capable of adding passive effects and enhancing its strength.

Name:

Rune Power Armor Prototype

Classification:

Epic

Durability:

85/85

Armor Rating

B

Set Bonus

( 2 ) - [ + 20 Strength ]

( 3 ) - [ + 20 Endurance ]

( 4 ) - [ + 15 Vitality ]