The rules of the duel were simple. The first person to land five hits on the other won. The hits didn’t have to be hard or draw blood though Brivaria was certain the Count wouldn’t hold back. In fact, she felt pretty certain he would overdo things based on what she saw when they’d entered the sparring chamber. He’d had no reservations about putting his full strength behind every blow. He didn’t need to injure his opponents to win but it sure looked like he enjoyed it.

  The feeling was magnified when they squared off against one another. Brivaria faced her opponent with her sword held vertically in front of her chest in a pre-battle salute that seemed to amuse the noble. She then took up a fighting stance and he did the same. The angel could see the echoes of sword-fighting lessons taught to the man long ago as well as the decades of indolence that produced the sloppy stance she now beheld.

  Were Brivaria the man’s equal in size, stature, and strength, she liked to think she would have been able to highlight those flaws in a contest like this. She was not, however, and she was aware of that fact. Briefly, the angel wondered how his sparring match against Zenith went. That thought was fleeting as someone from the side signaled the start of the match.

  “Kick his butt, Brivaria!” Nyx shouted as the two combatants moved toward one another.

  Count Dancarlo opened with a sweeping horizontal cut. Brivaria blocked the strike with the flat of her sword and the mailed fist of her gauntlet. The thin angelic blade was sandwiched between the angel’s fist and the noble’s sword as Brivaria effectively punched incoming attack. It was a terrible opening move on her part and it would have shattered her sword had the angelic blade not been enchanted. Both combatants bounced away from the impact and the Count’s eyes were wide with surprise.

  “What a terribly unkind thing to do to that little sword of yours,” the man quipped while regaining his balance. The angel didn’t disagree. She had to know how strong the man’s cuts were and didn’t want to chance blocking one haphazardly. She was glad for the maneuver as it told her what she needed to know—she didn’t have the strength to parry his attacks.

  “I will give it a victory here as an apology,” the angel replied. The Count laughed.

  “Oh will you now?” He had not even finished before coming at her with a second swing. It was high and aimed at her neck. She didn’t dare try any kind of block or parry so she stepped back. He came at her again and, again, she noticed that he was aiming for her head. She stepped back and replied with a set of thrusts aimed at the Count’s body. It was his turn to fall back to regain his guard. When he came at her yet again with another dangerously high blow, the angel decided she’d had enough.

  She dodged back and used Wind Formation to put a small barrier of wind behind the sword toward the end of its arc. The man made a confused face when he went to pull his blade back into position only to find it blocked by solid air. The angel casually poked him in the chest with her sword.

  “One,” Brivaria called, declaring the point for the crowd to hear. The Count pulled the sword back through the barrier with ease. The little barrier of wind wasn’t strong enough to stop the Count if he put significant force behind the blade however if he met resistance in unexpected places…

  “What the devil was that?” Count Dancarlo exclaimed in annoyance.

  “One of the two skills you agreed I could use,” the angel answered blithely. His reply came in the form of a powerful thrust toward her which she easily stepped backward and away from. He stabbed again, repeating the move, and she put a small barrier of wind against his foot. He tripped and she poked him with the tip of her sword, again.

  “Two,” Brivaria called.

  “Fucking hell! That’s bullshit. What is that? Telekinesis?” the noble asked while picking himself up. The next series of swings were more guarded. He wasn’t overbalancing anymore and he was actively wary of his sword being trapped in a bad position. Every swing was heavier and more deliberate. This was good for the angel as it made each individual maneuver easier to avoid.

  “Stop dodging and fight, damn it. I didn’t take you for a coward,” the Count shouted in the quiet room. He was getting rather upset at her unwillingness to even try parrying his blade. She drifted around the perimeter of the sparring area while he chased her. He couldn’t pressure her the way he truly wanted due to the threat of her wind magic catching his sword.

  The angel was thankful for his trepidation as each swing was still brutally strong and well beyond what a normal sparring session would entail. Her first impression had been made when he was hacking away at his previous sparring opponent and now he was trying to do the same to her. She suspected he’d be doing the same with or without safety wards. As his frustration grew, his swings became even less restrained. Even if the threat of death was somehow mitigated by the room’s magic, grievous injury was not. There was no risk of his frustration lessening so the angel took full advantage of it—she put a wind formation right in front of his face.

  “Gods damn it,” the Count swore as he slammed his own face into the invisible barrier. Brivaria’s gaze was focused as she stabbed him in the chest a third time. Were they of even level and size, this would have been a far different match. Wind Formation and its tremendous flexibility was evening the playing field and then some.

  “Three,” Brivaria called.

  “I refuse to lose to this bullshit,” the man replied and Brivaria could feel him activate a skill. It was subtle but she felt it. Noble classes had a variety of skills from courtly politics to management of their lands to, as the Count displayed, combat. It wasn’t the same as a true combat class but high attributes and just a couple of skills could make someone a deadly opponent. While she didn’t know precisely what the skill was, Brivaria had a sense that he wasn’t going to be stopped by any more of her wind barriers.

  The sword moved faster and the angel found herself needing to use stamina to dodge it. The strikes had already been brutal against a warrior of her size and level but now they were much more powerful. She hoped the safety wards were strong and intact because Brivaria didn’t want to take a direct hit from that sword.

  As more of his anger leaked into his countenance, Brivaria realized this wasn’t a man used to losing at anything. She considered calling foul on his use of a skill but she wasn’t certain he’d stop his attack if she did. She’d injured his pride and he wouldn’t be satisfied until he injured her in return. Two more strikes then—she’d have land two more hits and finish the duel before a single swing of that heavy sword could touch her.

  The assault continued until the Count got his wish for a clash of steel. He made contact with the angel’s sword and Brivaria had to fight just to hold onto the blade as it threatened to tear free of her grip. It left her dangerously exposed and the Count’s blade came down on her thigh. At least, that’s what everyone watching expected.

  Brivaria expended stamina to dodge up and away. Her two white wings flapped and easily lifted her over the strike. Her sword came down and poked the Count in the shoulder.

  “Four,” Brivaria called, landing a bit back as the two combatants reset.

  “When I said you could use skills, I expected flaming swords and other, normal adventurer skills. Not whatever this is,” the Count complained as the two squared off once more.

  “I don’t have ‘normal adventurer skills,’” the angel confessed. The man was still angry and still using his skill. He also wouldn’t fall for that trick a second time. The intense focus she felt from the noble grew as the duel went on. Brivaria had to spend stamina liberally to evade his sword.

  “Just stop running away you little…” the Count of Velk did not finish that statement but he did surge forward. This time Brivaria didn’t dodge or move backward. For the first time in the fight, she took up a proper defensive stance. Her opponent grinned because he knew that her thin sword couldn’t stop his and definitely not with the power of his skill behind it.

  The sound of a deep metal clang resounded through the dueling hall. Everyone looked on with astonishment as Brivaria’s sword lightly jabbed the Count’s chest. The blade didn’t go deep but it went through his padded armor just far enough to draw blood.

  “Five,” the angel called for the fifth and final time. Count Bartholomew Dancarlo’s disbelieving expression turned to one of immense frustration as he stared at the thing that cost him the duel—a fucking shield.

  Brivaria had been allowed two skills for the duel. The first had been Wind Formation but, for the second, she chose her Inventory skill. In the last moments of the Count’s final blow, she’d summoned her shield which appeared already buckled onto her arm. Taking the Count’s blow, enhanced by whatever skill he was using, hurt like hell even with the shield but it had been enough to stop the strike and let her retort with a winning thrust.

  “Five and O,” Nyx shouted, “a complete shutout!”

  “Well done!” came a distinguished voice from behind the adventurers. The group parted as an older man with short, graying hair stepped forward while clapping his hands. He’d quietly stepped into the room while everyone was focused on the duel and was accompanied by a dozen servants and guards. “For an adventurer to match our beloved Count is quite the feat indeed.”

  The Count’s handsome face contorted into a mixture of rage and embarrassment. The angel was thankful it was directed toward the man who’d just entered. In all likelihood at least half of that rage would have been vented on her so she was doubly thankful.

  “Baron Sorenson,” the Count said through clenched teeth, “you didn’t announce your arrival.”

  “Oh I didn’t want to interrupt your contest. It is so rare that I get to see your lordship in such form and using your Lordly Might skill at that. Young lady, just what is your guild rank? No, let me guess. Going toe to toe with the Count would make you at least silver, perhaps gold even?” If the Count had been angry before, now he was absolutely fuming. His face was red and threatening to purple beneath the baron’s open mockery.

  “Enough. Our meeting here is done. Alden, Brivaria, I will see you both at the party tomorrow I hope.” The Count swept out of the room, not even giving the old baron a dignified goodbye before departing.

  Baron Sorenson watched him go then turned to the group. Brivaria knew only a little about this man. Barton was his territory and this castle belonged to the Sorenson family. He’d arrived less than a week ago which the angel had initially held against the noble. It turned out that Baron Sorenson had the largest territory in Velk and also liked to visit his holdings frequently to make sure he was known to all of his people. In some ways, he was the very opposite of Count Dancarlo.

  The man himself was getting on in years but the System made it easy for older folks to keep themselves fit and in good health. While she wasn’t certain what level the baron was, he didn’t once flinch in the face of the Count’s anger and held himself confidently the whole time. The angel got the distinct impression that this man was a far more dangerous opponent, regardless of his level.

  “Good morning, adventurers. I apologize for our lordship’s display of classlessness. He is the very epitome of lipstick on the pig,” the baron said with disgust. “I heard he was down here beating on my men and was coming to have words with him but I see that the lesson was already taught to him.” He inclined his head to the angel.

  “I am thinking you two do not get along so well,” Kseniya observed with obvious amusement.

  “No, we don’t. I prefer to be a lord who takes care of his people and he prefers to be one who strokes his own ego. Healers, come have a look at the young lady. That last blow was a nasty one.” The baron signaled the two men who hadn’t moved from the corner and they rushed to Brivaria’s side. The angel was going to protest but their healing magicks made the pain in her left arm subside.

  “Was he really using a skill?” Giselle asked and received several nods. Baron Sorenson, Alden, and Kseniya had all recognized it.

  “Yes,” the baron explained, “Lordly Might. It’s a common noble skill that grants the user a boost of power relative to their station. It turns kings and emperors into formidable men even if most of their skills are spent on kingdom or empire affairs. It is a fair bit less effective for men of my station or even Count Dancarlo’s but still a frequent pick up among the nobility.”

  “Darn, he really was cheating. The rules were that Brivaria could use two skills since he was higher level,” Nyx complained while folding her arms.

  “He couldn’t win even being two or three times her level and using a skill of his own. I never thought I’d live to see the day a copper rank takes Bart down a peg but I’m glad I did,” the baron said while moving past the group and toward Brivaria.

  “Brivaria of Divine Blessing?” the baron said while extending a hand to the angel.

  “You know of us?” she asked uncertainly but took his hand.

  “I know of most adventurers in my city. When it’s your responsibility to ensure no one burns down the city, it pays to have a list of people who are capable of doing that. You have my apologies for your poor treatment in my home. May I offer you a tour of the keep as recompense?” It was clear the offer was to everyone but the older gentlemen looked to Brivaria for the answer.

  “Brivaria, please say ‘yes.’ I want a tour!” Nyx’s encouragement was all the angel needed. She nodded and said yes.

  The castle was a much nicer place when it didn’t feel like they were being smuggled from room to room. It was even more enjoyable because they weren’t just being shown around but, rather, the baron made time to talk to them. The castle had a story that was inextricably tied to the history of his family and the land. The nobleman was happy to share that story with the adventurers.

  As they walked, he pointed out the men and women whose likenesses were captured in paintings and talked about their accomplishments. He recalled great deeds and tragedies alike. Heroes of bygone times had walked the halls of the keep. Decisions were made in these walls that shaped the lives of everyone in Barton and beyond. Through the old castle’s ancient stones and the baron’s words, Brivaria could feel the weight of time itself pressing down upon her shoulders. She and her team were adding a part of their own story to the old castle.

  Nyx, Brivaria, and surprisingly Alden were positively enthralled by the old baron’s stories. Alden asked many questions and the trio drank in the baron’s answers. Isolde, Giselle, and Edison had little to say but were awed upon stepping into a grand antechamber and a room yet more vast beyond. Though constructed when Barton was far smaller, the keep was built to house the entire city within its walls. It was a true fortress in every sense of the word but it wasn’t until they stepped into a room that was large enough for the angel to soar that the true scope of its size was understood.

  Only Kseniya and Tobias resisted the grandeur of the old castle. The majesty of their surroundings was lost on Tobias. Brivaria sensed the water mage would have been more at home on the open road with a foe in his path. He had smiled that night as they battled and felled the Ogramites but not since. Battle, practicing his craft, or maybe both, those were the things that brought the dour water mage happiness, Brivaria thought.

  Kseniya was more curious. The lamia had an air about her that mystified even Brivaria. The sorceress’ gaze made the angel feel small sometimes. There was the Kseniya that was warm, friendly, and smiled with delight as she pet Trixie. There was also the Kseniya that looked down upon everything and everyone around her with an air of cool indifference. That Kseniya was utterly unflappable even in the presence of counts, barons, and landmarks like the castle.

  By the end of the tour, the angel no longer felt lost in the castle halls. That wasn’t to say she could do without the signs entirely but that she now felt like she could venture in the castle’s halls and not find herself lost for hours or days. She, along with everyone else, thanked the baron for his time when the tour of the castle ended. When the old man smiled and told her that it had been a joy to spend the morning with the two adventuring teams, Brivaria found herself smiling in return and agreeing wholeheartedly.