Once the last spicy wings are eaten, there is nothing else holding us back. Us being Matylda, Wiktor and I. I still feel a little nervous about this, but given the reassurance by the others I have no reason not to believe that I'll be able to pull this off.
Wiktor even changed into an outfit not entirely dissimilar to mine in the tavern's backroom. Well, maybe calling it a change is a bit much. He slipped on a leather vest over his usual casual outfit and he girded a sword belt with a simple but serviceable sword, not dissimilar to my own, on top. It is enough to make him look like a dangerous duelist instead of a no good hoodlum instead though.
According to him this is mostly about making the right impression. This is why he organized several more people as a following of sorts. A musician from one of the other local taverns among others, which on its own is enough to draw a few more spectators.
We will have an audience for our duel it seems instead of just so witnesses. Apparently Wiktor really is serious about using this occasion to build my reputation.
I'm not entirely certain how I'm supposed to feel about this turn of events.
Together we head out of town, following a path that leads away from the urbanized area and through the fields and paddies of the nearest farms until it eventually enters the forest.
The forest isn't as dense around here as it is where Fox welcod into this world, but it still is a little spooky this late at night, before the dawn of morning. That we are heading to a place called hangman's hill isn't exactly helping either.
My suspicions that this might be the place where the city's executioner plies his trade is soon confird. As we enter a large clearing the ground starts to rise. And atop the small hill we are climbing a sort of gallows awaits us. It isn't anything fancy either. There is no grand platform with trap doors or so such thing. No, the gallows is just a rough wooden fra across which a rope can be slung. Thankfully no dead body dangles from it right now. So graves, and not the well kept kind I have seen at the graveyard either, close by suggest that the place sees use every once in a while at least though.
I shiver and rub my arms as we proceed. Is it getting colder? Oh! There is even mist rising from the ground all around us! Yes, this place is quite spooky. And even as I think this thought my [Danger Sense] improves a little. It is as if there is movent in the mist. Movent that can't quite be explained by a breeze that doesn't exist anyway. Scratch that! This place isn't spooky. It's haunted! I decide to voice my concerns.
"This place is bad. Soone should do sothing about it. Maybe an exorcism? At the very least the graves should be properly blessed."
So of the others look a little concerned too. Matylda is rubbing her arms too as she nods. Even Wiktor looks a little on edge. He keeps going though, cutting through the mist step by step. He even sounds a little tense as he speaks up.
"I wish you the best of luck finding a cleric willing to do it. Most won't even consider it. And not just because the lord won't spring for it. Besides, the whole thing will be over once morning cos around and the sun crests the horizon."
The bard tagging along with us decides to add in so more details from a few steps behind .
"And most people won't even think about coming here before sunrise. In fact capital punishnt is usually carried out around noon."
I frown, narrow my eyes and bare my teeth at a spot where the mist seems to be gathering. Only to blink in surprise the next mont, when the fog disperses again, while I get the feeling that my [Intimidate] skill just improved a little. Ha! I guess ghosts are just people too. Angry, badly traumatized and full of resentnt but in the end still only people. I can feel anger bubbling to the surface inside myself too.
"I probably ought to punch that asshole in the face out of principle for making us co here at this ti of the day or rather night."
Wiktor snorts, but shakes his head.
"Not during the duel. Behavior like that is very much frowned upon. You just don't draw first blood with your fist during a sword fight."
The others chuckle. My own mind races though, as I try to co up with a plan to humiliate the jackass anyway. I look around as Wiktor finally stops still a good ways below the gallows, at a spot with so moderately smooth terrain. He looks around and marches a little this way and that. Finally he nods in satisfaction.
"This spot should do. And it should catch the first rays of the rising sun nicely too."
I look around too, but in the end I have to trust his judgnt. In my eyes the place looks as good as any. There is sothing else on my mind though.
"It looks like it might be a while, before the other party shows up. How about so practice swings before they do?"
Wiktor's brows furrow a little, but in the end he relents and nods.
"Fine. Any chance you'll hit another level up anyti soon?"
I shake my head and turn to address Matylda, while I draw my sword in a carefully asured motion. I don't want to make myself look anymore the fool than I actually am for going along with this sche.
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"Give us a little warning, should the others show up without us noticing."
She simply nods and shifts her attention back the way we have co.
Then with my words in hand I'm already about to face Wiktor, when sothing else occurs to . I stop once more to talk to the bard instead.
"How about a calming little tune? Sothing likely to call forth pleasant mories of warm sumr evenings? Sothing that might soothe the unquiet spirits at least a little?"
He stretches his fingers and looks for a place to sit down besides the spot we have picked.
"Might as well give it a try."
A mont later he starts playing a tune that alternates between pleasantly lancholic and very lively passages.
Good. As far as I'm concerned the stage is set. Wiktor, who has drawn his own sword by now seems satisfied as well. He flashes a grin.
"Got to appreciate the art of presentation. The way you go about doing things is about as important as the things you are doing."
He shifts to a ready stance and raises his sword.
"Lets give this a try. Maybe you can earn a few more skill levels that will co in handy. You better expect your opponent to try and tip the scales in their favor too."
I take a deep breath and mirror his stance, which is, of course, much better than my none stance. Apparently it is good enough to earn another skill.
[*Ding!* You have unlocked the Blades general skill at Level 1!]
Very curious. Can I level this one up at the sa ti as my [lee Weapons] skill? I guess I'll have to find out and there really is only one way to do that. Without delay I go on the offensive.
Even just this one skill level already makes a considerable difference. My thrusts and slashes so far have always been a little clumsy. More so in the beginning than later on, but now I'm actually beginning to show so grace for once, as I don't overextend myself in a too powerful thrust.
[*Ding!* Hit! Wiktor's Health reduced by 0!]
Of course Wiktor parries the attack easily anyway. Most curious that the parried attack still counts as a hit though. The ring of steel on steel clashes a little with the bard's tune.
Wiktor doesn't counter, which my opponent most certainly would. Instead he frowns ever so slightly. At the sa ti this gives the ti needed to acknowledge the divine whispers brushing through my mind like a pleasant breeze.
[*Ding!* Your skill lee Weapons has leveled up to level 5!]
[*Ding!* Your skill Blades has leveled up to level 2!]
Well, that would resolve that question. I can level up both skills at once. I'm pretty certain that my strength increased a little too, due to my [Blades] skill leveling up. Adding all of this up my attacks should hit considerably harder now. I'm not sure I want to put that to the test though. Not against Wiktor and not right now anyway.
Wiktor's line of thought seems to follow a similar line as mine. He bites his lips slightly. Then he provides instructions.
"You lack experience. That much is obvious. Otherwise that wasn't bad though. Anyway, it's my turn now. Please, do try to block this one."
Before I can reply or question him, he attacks. It isn't a terribly powerful attack. He is clearly holding back. He is telegraphing, probably on purpose, too. I still have my work cut out for . Again the sound of steel hitting steel rings out through the mist.
[*Ding!* You have been hit! Health reduced by 0!]
It seems the block was good. The attack still counts as a hit though. At least my defense was up to the task. Before I can fully recover from the block though another divine whisper startles . All the more as it's followed by a third in quick succession.
[*Ding!* You have unlocked the Block general skill at Level 1!]
[*Ding!* Your skill Blades has leveled up to level 3!]
Wiktor grins at . The look of surprise on my face is most certainly not lost on him.
"Oh yes! You are making good progress. Lets try to unlock another skill, yes? This one will be harder though. I want you to properly parry my next attack. For that you can't just block edge on edge as before. You should really try to avoid that whenever possible. Your blade will suffer with every attack blocked. Pick up a shield for that purpose eventually. Anyway, push my blade aside this ti. The flat of your blade against mine, please."
I grin as he gets back into position. It seems I'm getting so on the spot fencing lessons here. Well, I really need them. In the long run they most certainly won't be free lessons though. I'm sure Wiktor will ask for sothing in return. Not right now, but when it fits him and his needs.
Despite my rapidly progressing skills I'm hard pressed to do as he asked to. Properly parrying really is harder than just dumbly blocking. In the end I'm only successful because he is still holding back. Well, I'll deal with that whenever the ti cos.
Our blades make a very different sound this ti around as the edge of mine slides along that of his, as I push his weapon aside with a little more force than strictly necessary. It is a painful screech and there are even so sparks sent flying.
[*Ding!* You have been hit! Health reduced by 0!]
Wiktor seems satisfied anyway, and so am I as the next divine whisper touches my mind.
[*Ding!* You have unlocked the Parry general skill at Level 1!]
Both my [Blades] and [lee Weapons] skill progress a little too, but their growth isn't rewarded with a divine whisper this ti around.
Wiktor resus his ready stance.
"Very good. Your defenses are coming along nicely too. Lets try again. One more block, please."
Without delay he goes for another attack. He is still holding back, but not quite as much as before. Our blades ring out once again as I block like he demanded.
[*Ding!* You have been hit! Health reduced by 0!]
Once again my efforts are rewarded by several divine whispers in quick succession. And once again my [lee Weapons] skill improves without earning a notice of its won.
[*Ding!* Your skill Block has leveled up to level 2!]
[*Ding!* Your skill Blades has leveled up to level 4!]
As we resu our ready stances, Matylda calls out to us.
"You might want to quit. I think we are getting company."
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