"A duel? Do you really think it's wise to push yourself after what happened yesterday?"
Raymond spoke with slight hesitation, caught off guard by the unexpected suggestion.
Gilbert nodded in response, confidence clear in his tone, a smile never leaving his face.
"My body is perfectly fine."
But then fragments of that night surfaced in his mind. His gaze lowered slightly as his voice softened.
"And speaking of that… I remembered you took a few fractures as well. I shouldn't have suggested this in the first place. Let's postpone it for now."
"I'm fine too. I don't even feel any pain…"
Raymond paused briefly before adding in an offhand tone
"I'd already forgotten about it—until you reminded me just now."
Gilbert smiled faintly, his voice taking on a playful note.
"Really? If that's what you think, then good… I've wanted to duel you ever since the entrance exam."
Raymond's eyes widened for a moment.
He remembered their first meeting—back then, it would've made no sense for Gilbert to propose something like that to someone he hadn't spoken to at all.
But things were different now. And that settled it.
"Then I'll indulge you today,"
he said confidently, before adding in a firm tone
"But don't expect me to hold back."
Gilbert blinked in brief confusion, then smiled back with equal confidence.
"That's nonsense. Let's see what you can really do."
The two stepped forward to retrieve their wooden training swords.
After obtaining the instructor's permission, they each took their positions.
Their classmates quickly noticed the duel—Athena and Beatrice among them, as well as Lucas, who had arrived late.
Eccles and Elliot stood silently beneath a nearby tree.
At the instructor's signal, the swords clashed violently as they met head-on.
Tension and surprise crossed both their faces.
From the very first exchange, each immediately recognized the other's strength.
Excitement crept into their smiles.
They stepped back, pausing for a brief moment.
Raymond spoke first, a sharp tone paired with a forced grin.
"It seems I underestimated you… I take back what I said.
You're a far better opponent than I expected."
"Only 'better'?"
Gilbert replied with faint mockery.
"Looks like you're still looking down on me, Ray."
Gilbert lunged first with a decisive strike, but Ray dodged easily with a subtle shift of his body, knocking the blade aside to disrupt his balance.
Gilbert recovered swiftly, swinging horizontally—his strike nearly brushing Ray's neck had he not evaded at the last second.
Raymond laughed, instinctively placing a hand on his neck as he felt the rush of air slice past his skin.
Adjusting his grip, he delivered a powerful vertical strike, pouring all his strength into it—only for Gilbert to block it again.
The pressure lingered for several seconds, pinning Ray on the defensive, until Gilbert finally forced his blade back.
Raymond nearly lost his footing. Seizing the moment, Gilbert struck at his side.
At that instant, Ray barely dodged it—by a hair's breadth.
A mocking smile tugged at Gilbert's lips at the shock on Ray's face, but it vanished quickly.
A thrust aimed straight at his face nearly struck him, forcing him to leap backward just in time to avoid it.
"You're no easy opponent, Ray,"
Gilbert said honestly.
"And you… far more skilled than I imagined, Gil,"
Raymond replied with a matching smile.
With a shared nod, they decided to pour everything into a final clash.
They charged simultaneously, their blades colliding with a thunderous crack that echoed through the training grounds like lightning.
Wood splintered, fragments grazing their faces as both swords shattered in a final explosive burst, having exceeded their limits.
They staggered back, breathing heavily, as silence fell over the field.
The instructor muttered uneasily
"Seems I've been raising two little monsters without realizing it…"
He sighed, then chuckled lightly before declaring the match a draw.
Gilbert and Raymond exchanged dissatisfied looks before approaching the instructor.
Raymond spoke sharply
"May we do it again—with real swords this time?"
Gilbert immediately supported him.
"Yes, please, sir. We want to settle this properly."
Instructor Draven froze, clutching his head before responding in a deep, exasperated voice
"Absolutely not… unless you're eager to leave this field missing a few limbs."
The two answered in unison
"That won't happen."
Draven stared at their serious expressions.
Neither was willing to back down.
His temper flared as he shouted
"I said no! I refuse to let my students lose limbs—especially during classes I'm responsible for!"
"But—"
From the far end of the field, Elliot scoffed quietly.
"What a farce."
He left without another word.
Eccles remained watching in silence, then retreated as well when he noticed a gray-haired female student observing him from a distance.
Nearby, Beatrice laughed, her voice trembling slightly.
"I never thought I'd witness such a spectacle… especially with those two as the leads."
Athena wore an awkward smile as she watched her brother and his companion, speaking in a low voice.
"I didn't expect to see this either…
Do men always behave so childishly when it comes to settling things between them?"
Beatrice wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and replied
"I wouldn't know—I'm not a man.
But watching them, it feels like a matter of life and death… as if their fate hinges on the instructor's decision."
"That's true… it really does feel that way."
Meanwhile, beneath the shade of a tree, a tall man with red hair and golden eyes observed the field with a relaxed expression.
For a brief moment, his gaze met Beatrice's as she noticed him.
Her gentle expression instantly hardened.
Kyle…