While people shuffled to make ready their gifts were ready for gifting, a few nobles from neutral factions approached us, students from the Academy. Barbara greeted them and they engaged in conversation.
They started asking about the delve, the Academy board hearing, magic in general, Barbara's Class, and other things female sentients ought to talk about. I remained immobile as a doll on my mistress' lap, as mimics ought to stay, letting Barbara socialize. Though she wasn't in her elent, she wasn't feeling particularly anxious. All the ti spent with the three nobles training and preparing for the party paid off. Or maybe so social skills from her previous lives were seeping through.
The Fate spell Haru and Lorna cast made it a point to let the latter rember everything once the challenge was complete. This ant that just as the Matriarch's mories were stowed away sowhere in , she too had hers deep in her heart of hearts. The way one lived shaped their soul and that brand was indelible, especially when lovers sacrifice their lives to tempt Fate.
Three dozen tis had I looped around in this world. Lifetis, thousands of years. Now, a few of my old acquaintances were popping up. Or they ought to be around all the ti, just that I lacked the awareness to recognize them. Cedric, Karina, Josie, and Martha. To Netherbane, they were just nas written in my mother's moirs on the [Lost Sage's Encyclopedia] but deep in my core, I could feel the nostalgia.
I had a hunch that Isaac wasn't Cedric's reincarnation but one of the adventurous nobleman's wives. Fate was a mischievous mistress who cared not for one's gender and She had surely shuffled the souls around. Just like Percival wasn't sure which of the twin princesses was the right one, assuming the obvious was a dangerous pitfall.
It made paramount that we did not waste this opportunity. Just like I urged Isaac not to lean on his laurels and pursue another [Capstone] Perk, all of us had to enjoy each other's company and strive to better our lot in life. Entertain Lady Fate and hope to reap so rewards.
My dear friends were not forever lost to the sands of ti. That was enough for . Even with Divinity stolen from , even with my true mind locked away behind a curse, I would cherish them.
Barbara must've sensed my feelings through our bond because she squeezed tenderly.
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Alas, gift-giving had to be postponed. His Royal Highness the birthday Satyr stood up from his throne and walked to the edge of his balcony. Conversations died, people shuffling through their storage rings stopped and all heads craned heavenward to listen to the [Crown Prince]. The veterans were puzzled at this change of protocol. Usually, no proclamations preceded the gift-giving session.
"Listen, everyone," Himl clamored.
Behind him, the [Saintess] had a mysterious smirk on her face. Her eyes, however, might as well be spewing fire in my direction for I could see my reflection in those dark fox pupils. What could the vixen be plotting behind that mask was anyone's guess but her undue attention made uncomfortable.
"I have decided to change things a bit. Before you entertain with your magnificent gifts, please allow this humble Satyr to entertain you instead."
A few nobles made cheerful utterances. If they were sounds of approval or sycophancy was anyone's guess.
Himl jumped from the balcony and the masses parted like so blood-tinted ocean would for pilgrims as the Satyr's hooves crashed loudly on enchanted marble.
"Ready the duel arena," His Highness ordered. "We are having a duel."
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Himl thought about how he would kill the mimic the fastest. His fool of a father had knighted the monster in a private ceremony so he couldn't just command its execution. Law and proper procedure had to be followed now that the creature was elevated to the ranks of the nobility.
He could always have the critter killed later but Himl was not one to be denied his prizes when he wanted them now. His true wishes were to end this party earlier and take the Kitsune to his chambers where he could savor her fair company and being at his leisure.
The impulsive and lecherous Satyr then decided that his best course of action was to challenge the monster to a duel. He had just reached the third rank and was pretty confident of his martial prowess.
The creature, a bonded familiar to a lowborn Academy student was obviously still weak otherwise the Familiar pact spell wouldn't have taken root. It was common knowledge that familiars had to be weaker than their masters. The Halfling girl, according to what he knew, hadn't yet reached the second rank.
He felt doubly insulted. Not only did his father make this slight of knighting a monster, but the creature was invited to his birthday. Perhaps the King was already going senile or was losing too much ground in the aftermath of the Labyrinth Cataclysm. Maybe the Hamiltons were supplying the Crown with reconstruction funds under the rug and pushed for this travesty.
Regardless, nobody could fault him if he killed the creature in a proper duel. Now that he caught the attention of the whole venue, all that was left was to issue his challenge.
"I challenge Da Netherbane to a duel," he declared.
The young Ladies around the Halfling moved away, leaving student and familiar isolated. Margrave Hamilton frowned but said nothing. It was a good test of how much support their House would give to their sponsored Transcendentals. Himl might lose points with that faction but he would surely win double that amount from the others. If the Hamiltons were indeed supporting his father, this was a good check on their power else they beca too influential.
The doll left its mistress' lap and walked on cloth stumps. Its stitched mouth opened in a blatant mockery of the civilized species. Then it curtsied.
"My Liege, I am not worthy of crossing blades with Your Royal Highness."
"Do you decline the challenge?" Himl snorted in derision. To do so was a major loss of honor and respect. It would do more damage to Hamilton than dying on his blade.
"I would not dare," the monster humbly replied. "But I beg Your Royal Highness to enlighten . What offense did I give?"
"You are a monster!" Himl accused. Several nobles nodded.
"I am a Bibliomimic, my Liege," the creature dared to correct him. "A sentient creature able to parlay and understand sentint and reason. Monsters are irrational entities bent only on devouring and destruction. I, on the other hand, favor knowledge, art, and learning. I'm a book, first and foremost. A tool of civilization if nothing else."
"Yet you are not one of the People Species!" The Satyr pressed.
"Thousand of years ago, humans used the sa argunt to enslave the Goddess' Kin. They cut down their ears and tails, clamoring they were less than People. I don't believe a lecture on the Slave Purges of Auvanini is necessary, though."
"You dare compare yourself to the exalted children of the Matriarch?" Himl scoffed.
"Nethe is—" The Halfling stepped forward to defend her familiar.
"It's fine, Barbara," the doll grasped the girl's hand and held her back. "Your Highness, we are fortunate to have Her Holiness the [Saintess] with us today. May we ask her what the Goddess thinks of it?"
It didn't escape Himl's eyes and ears that the creature exchanged a glance with the [Saintess]'s bodyguards before the preposterous proposition. What was their relationship?
"That is irrelevant," he snapped, unwilling to drag the Kitsune into this. "All that matters is this: the gauntlet has been thrown, will you pick it up?"
The mimic curtsied. "If it pleases Your Royal Highness, I shall accept this challenge."
"Good," Himl crooned. "This shall be a duel to the death!" He declared out loud so the Matriarch in her Heavenly castle would hear.
The assembled nobles gasped and a few smirked. This duel was nothing more than a cover to officiate an execution.
"I beg Your Highness to reconsider," the mimic implored.
Himl could see the worry stamped on the Halfling's face. She dared et his eyes with... was it pity he recognized in hers? How dare she! He would teach her a lesson!
"As is law, a master shall not be separated from their familiars. Baroness Ambrose, you are part of this challenge as well," he declared.
That would teach them. Better nip treason in the bud.
*
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Barbara desperately asked.
I replied, trying but failing to be nonchalant and relaxed.
Barbara hissed.
Himl stabs you for 1,150 HP of damage (base 154 x2.7 Strength x3.78 Skill x2.5 Sword Mastery x2 Duelist's Pledge x3 Monster Slayer x0.85 [0.75-40%] Mystic Hunter x0,82 [0.8-40%] Holand Defender x x0.07 Titan Body).
> You negated Bleeding.
> You negated Dazed.
> You negated Stun.
It seems I feared the Thinblade for nothing.
"You teleported!" Himl shouted and spared a glance toward Arista.
"It does not use Resources, or the barrier would've accused," she officiated.
Himl stared at the damage notification. "What modifiers are those? What kind of monstrosity are you? Mystic Hunter? Holand Defender? Titan Body?"
I didn't have the obfuscating Perk active so my fusion Perks nas were out in the open. But he triggered three Status effects and had enough Perks to deal almost 10x his base damage after my ridiculous reductions. Regardless, I still regenerated a little less than eighteen thousand HP per second. He would need to do that much DPS to break even, about ten to twelve strikes per second. it wasn't happening.
Regardless of the math, Himl shouted and unleashed a flurry of stabs and slashes, dealing around the sa damage as the first one. Barbara was afraid and her heart pounded but she stood her ground.
I suggested.
An idea went through my mind. A very stupid idea.
"YOU WHAT?" Barbara screeched out loud. "Are you crazy?"
"It's for love," Himl replied.
Barbara wasn't even looking at him. "You can't be serious! How? With whom? We don't have all that ti!" Barbara's head was figuratively spinning.
WARNING: Further exertion will cause HP damage.
Himl couldn't believe the ssage. The duel started an hour ago, how could he be this wrung out? Thirsty, tired, his muscles twitched as if he'd run for a whole day. He could barely stand. The monster did sothing to him but he had no debuff in his Status Window.
He didn't dare take his eyes away from such treacherous enemies. He noticed as the book started to... lt? and seep over the Halfling woman's dress. The creature beca a set of leather jacket and gloves. A laughing skull with wings in place of ears and flas in the background rested over the chest. Then the woman raised her hand.
"Mother! Heed my plea!" She dramatically shouted to the heavens.
What was going on? Even the booing and hooting audience shut up.
"Your [Champion] requests aid!" Ambrose, was it her na? She continued.
The [Prince] half-expected the skies to rumble. Nothing happened though. Only silence.
"Please, O Bountiful Mother! Deliver us, hear our call!" She prayed.
"Deliver us, here in this burning sand! So we may find the land you promised us!"
The [Saintess] stood up. What? Were the Halfling's prayers going to be answered? Preposterous!
"Deliver us, hear our prayer! Deliver us from despair!"
"Aid your [Champion], O Mother! Grant a mighty weapon to show where your favor lies!"
She raised her gloved hand to the stars. Himl and everyone else waited to see what would happen.
A blinding glow ca from the glove, and the light took shape. Himl shielded his eyes and looked away.
The crowd roared with incandescent fervor.
"PRAISE THE MATRIARCH!"
"A MIRACLE!"
"THE WEAPON OF OUR ANCESTOR!"
Himl dared look. A triumphant halfling held a spear made of bone with a sharpened curled horn at the tip. Tassels made of the purest white hair coming from underneath the horn drifted in the wind. He dared {Appraise} the weapon.
> [Unicorn King's Spear] - Unique item.
> Details are hidden. Your Appraise score is insufficient.
"IT IS CLEAR WHO THE GODDESS FAVORS!" Margrave Hamilton's booming voice rang all over the arena. "STOP THIS TRAVESTY OF A DUEL NOW!"
The woman twirled the spear in the air and did so flourishes. She was clearly skilled in wielding it. More importantly, he was sure only the chosen ones could wield the spear. She raised her free hand to signal for the crowd to calm down.
"Yield, Your Royal Highness. You cannot win against the Matriarch's chosen," she smugly stated.
"That's a hoax! You used magic!" Himl accused but his voice broke and rose an octave.
"No, Your Highness," the rmaid said. "They used no magic or the wards would accuse."
"You can verify our claim yourself. Here, catch," she stated as she tossed the spear, sideways, at him. It fell within arms' reach.
Why would she discard her weapon? Didn't she know that he too was a descendant of both the Unicorn King and the Goddess? Himl reached for the spear and grasped it.
> You have been weighed and found unworthy. Suffer the consequences of your actions.
His left hand exploded in flas as the spear erupted.
> You are engulfed with Dragonfire.
Himl scread as the spear clattered to the ground. He shook his arm but it was of no avail.
"Quench!" In his desperation, he cast a {Water} spell. His arm sizzled and a cloud of steam rose but the fire kept on burning. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHH! STOP IT! Please, Mother! Have rcy!"
He had a ssage blinking in his vision but he was in too much pain to read it.
Himl ran and dropped the Thinblade. His left arm still burned.
"Cut it off!" The Halfling shouted. "Cut it off and the healers can regrow your arm! Cut it off before it's too late!"
What humiliation! What dishonor! Himl ran out of the barrier, which he noticed was pulsing and shining a red beam of light at him.
"Cut my arm off!" He shouted at his squire.
"Sire!" The squire alerted but refused to draw steel.
"Cut my arm off, that's an order dammit!" The [Prince] cried.
He heard the sword leave its sheath, then a sharp sting next to his shoulder. Himl felt the blood leaving him in great amounts, and stared at the ground, dazed. His arm still burned. He read the insistent ssage.
> You violated the terms of your duel. You shall now suffer the consequences of your [Duelist's Pledge].
Then he fainted.
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