CHAPTER 131: THE WINTER TRIALS 6

Aegis stood on the platform, daggers in hand, and let her eyes unfocus slightly.

The familiar HUD flickered to life in her peripheral vision.

Vane Snowhill

HP: 180/180

MP: 40/40

Stats:

Power: 68

Intelligence: 22

Grace: 45

Insight: 18

Charisma: 31

Aegis exhaled slowly.

[Okay. He’s strong, but he might have a bit of speed too with that high Grace. I can work with this.]

Vane shifted his weight, gripping his longsword with both hands. The blade gleamed in the sunlight.

"Ready to embarrass yourself?" he called out.

Aegis twirled Ruby once.

"I’ve been embarrassed worse. Trust me."

The crowd laughed.

Valdris’s hand was still raised. The moment stretched.

Then her hand dropped.

"Begin!"

Vane charged immediately.

His boots slammed against the marble as he closed the distance, sword raised high for an overhead strike. Fast, but predictable.

Aegis sidestepped. The blade whistled past her shoulder and crashed into the platform with a sharp crack.

She slashed at his exposed side with Sapphire.

He twisted, barely avoiding the hit, and swung horizontally. Aegis ducked under it, feeling the air shift above her head.

[He’s got reach. Can’t let him box me in.]

She danced backward, putting space between them. Vane pursued, his expression focused.

"If you stand still, I can make this quick and painless!"

"No thanks."

He feinted left, then lunged right. Aegis read it a second too late. His shoulder slammed into her chest, sending her stumbling.

The crowd gasped.

Aegis caught herself before she fell, boots skidding across the marble. Her ribs ached.

[Shit. That hurt.]

Vane pressed forward, swinging in a wide arc. Aegis blocked with both daggers crossed, but the force of the blow rattled her arms.

He was stronger than her. By a lot, actually.

[Can’t trade hits. Gotta be smarter.]

She feinted a retreat, then pivoted hard to the left. Vane’s momentum carried him forward, and she slashed at his thigh with Ruby.

The blade connected. Blood welled through the fabric of his pants.

"Fuck!" He stumbled, catching himself. His HP dropped slightly on her HUD.

Vane Snowhill

HP: 165/180

The crowd murmured.

Vane’s eyes narrowed.

"Lucky hit."

"Sure. Let’s call it that."

He adjusted his stance, favoring his uninjured leg slightly. Aegis filed that away.

They circled each other. Aegis kept her breathing steady, her daggers low.

Vane lunged again, this time with a straight thrust aimed at her midsection. Aegis sidestepped and slashed at his wrist. He jerked his arm back just in time, but it left him open.

She kicked him in the chest.

Not hard enough to do real damage, but enough to knock him back a step.

He growled and swung wildly. Aegis ducked under the blade, rolled to the side, and came up behind him.

She slashed at his back. Sapphire’s edge bit into his shoulder.

Vane Snowhill

HP: 148/180

"Stop moving!"

"Stop being slow."

The crowd was roaring now, though Aegis couldn’t make out individual voices. Everything narrowed to the fight.

Vane spun, his face flushed with frustration. He planted his feet and raised his sword in a high guard.

Aegis recognized the stance immediately.

[He’s going for a power strike. Big wind-up, big damage. Easy to dodge if I time it right.]

She shifted her weight, ready to move.

Vane’s muscles tensed.

Then he charged.

The sword came down like a hammer. Aegis threw herself to the side, tucking into a roll. The blade missed her by inches and cracked the marble where she’d been standing.

Before Vane could recover, Aegis sprang forward and drove her knee into his gut.

He doubled over, wheezing.

She brought the pommel of Ruby down on the back of his head.

Not hard enough to knock him out, but enough to daze him.

Vane Snowhill

HP: 132/180

Vane staggered backward, one hand pressed to his head. His sword wavered.

"You—"

Aegis didn’t let him finish. She darted forward, slashing at his sword arm. He blocked clumsily, his movements sluggish.

She swept his legs.

He crashed to the ground, his sword clattering away.

The crowd went wild.

Aegis pointed Ruby at his throat.

"Yield."

Vane glared up at her, breathing hard. For a moment, she thought he might refuse.

Then his shoulders sagged.

"I yield."

The roar of the crowd was deafening.

Aegis stepped back, offering him a hand. He stared at it for a second, then took it.

She hauled him to his feet.

"Good fight," she said.

He grunted, rubbing his head.

"You’re faster than you look."

"Thanks. I think."

As they walked off the platform, a healer rushed over to check on Vane. Aegis waved her off.

"I’m fine."

Scarlett was the first to reach her, practically tackling her in a hug.

"You did it! You actually did it!"

"Scarlett, I can’t breathe."

"Oh. Right." She let go, grinning ear to ear. "That was amazing! Did you see the way you just—bam! And then—whoosh!"

"Very articulate."

Sophie appeared next, bouncing on her heels.

"Big sis! You kicked his ass!"

"Language, Sophie."

"You literally have my tongue down your throat every other day. Don’t lecture me about language."

Vera yawned.

"Not bad. You didn’t trip over your own feet or anything."

"High praise from you."

Lune offered a small nod, her sketchbook tucked under one arm.

"Efficient."

Aegis wiped the sweat from her forehead and glanced at the bracket board. Her name had moved up to the next round.

[One down. How many more to go?]

She counted quickly. If she wanted to win the whole thing, she’d need five more victories.

[Five. Just five more fights against people who are probably all stronger than Vane.]

Her stomach twisted.

"Congratulations."

Aegis turned to find Serilla leaning against a pillar, arms crossed. Her smirk was as infuriating as ever.

"Thanks. I think."

"Don’t get too comfortable." Serilla pushed off the pillar and sauntered closer. "You got lucky with your matchup. Vane’s predictable. The next round won’t be so easy."

"Worried about me?"

"Hardly." Serilla’s eyes gleamed. "I just want you to make it far enough for me to crush you myself."

"Still planning on that, huh?"

"Obviously." She leaned in, close enough that Aegis could smell her perfume. "I’m going to win this whole thing. And when I do, I’ll make sure everyone knows you never stood a chance."

Aegis met her gaze.

"You’re awfully confident for someone who hasn’t even fought me yet."

"I don’t need to fight you to know how it’ll end." Serilla straightened, flipping her pink hair over her shoulder. "Enjoy your little victory while it lasts, Starcaller. It’s the only one you’ll get."

She walked away, hips swaying.

Aegis stared after her.

[God, she’s so annoying.]

"She doesn’t like you anymore, huh?"

Aegis glanced over to find Scarlett standing beside her, watching Serilla disappear into the crowd.

"She likes me too much, actually."

"What?"

"It’s complicated."

"Whatever."

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the arena workers repair the cracked marble on the platform.

Across the way, Aegis spotted Scarlett’s gaze drifting toward Kanna, who was stretching near the edge of the arena.

"You should talk to her," Aegis said.

Scarlett flinched.

"What? Who?"

"Kanna."

"I don’t—what are you—why would I—"

"Scarlett."

"Fine! Maybe I want to talk to her! But what am I supposed to say? ’Hey, you’re really strong and I think about your arms way too much?’"

Aegis smiled and patted her shoulder.

"Or you could start with ’good fight’ and work from there."

Scarlett groaned but started walking toward Kanna anyway. Aegis watched with amusement as Scarlett stumbled over her words, gesturing wildly while Kanna nodded along with that same stoic expression.

At one point, Kanna said something that made Scarlett laugh, loud and genuine.

[Good for her.]

Aegis scanned the crowd, looking for a place to sit during the break. Her eyes landed on Liora, sitting alone on one of the stone benches near the edge of the arena.

She looked... small. Deflated, almost.

Aegis walked over and sat down beside her.

"Hey."

Liora glanced up, startled.

"Oh. Aegis. Congratulations on your win."

"Thanks. You okay?"

"I’m fine."

She didn’t sound fine.

Aegis leaned back, letting the silence stretch for a moment.

"Why’d you sign up for this?" she asked. "Combat’s not really your thing."

Liora’s fingers twisted in her lap.

"I wanted to see if I could win."

"Win? You?"

"Yes." Liora’s voice was quiet but firm. "I thought... maybe if I could earn a noble title, I’d be more suitable."

Aegis blinked.

[Wait.]

"Suitable for what?"

Liora’s cheeks turned pink.

"For Talia."

The words hung in the air.

Aegis stared at her.

[She had the same idea I did. She wants to become a noble so she can marry Talia without it being a scandal.]

Her chest tightened.

"Liora..."

"I know it was stupid." Liora laughed, but it sounded hollow. "I’m not strong enough to win this. I knew that going in. But I thought... maybe if I tried..."

She trailed off, staring at her hands.

"It’s not stupid," Aegis said finally. "Trying is never stupid."

Liora looked at her, eyes shimmering.

"Do you really think so?"

"Yeah. I do. Besides," Aegis smiled, doing a little peace sign. "Didn’t Talia tell you? I had the same idea."

Valdris’s voice cut through the noise before Liora could respond.

"The second round will begin shortly! Combatants, prepare yourselves!"

Aegis stood, brushing off her pants.

"You coming?"

Liora nodded, wiping her eyes quickly.

"Yes. I want to watch."

They walked back toward the arena together. Aegis’s mind was still spinning.

The crowd settled into their seats, buzzing with anticipation.

Aegis found a spot near the front, Liora sitting beside her. Lune appeared moments later, sketchbook already open.

Valdris stepped onto the platform.

"Second round! First match: Scarlett Lionheart versus Kanna Greaves!"

Aegis’s brows shot up to the sky. She looked and found Scarlet’s jaw on the floor.

[Oh my.]

The crowd roared.

Aegis leaned forward, her heart still pounding from her own fight.

[Here we go.]