[16]

Reynold stared across from me with a triumphant sneer on his face. It was an ugly thing, and it made me wonder. How had this young man who had everything in life turned out so awful?

Reynold was rich. He had to be; one thousand contribution points was a staggering amount of money. With the ten to one rate of conversion, that meant that Reynold had to have spent ten thousand damask to get those points! The money he put on this duel was enough to let my family live well for years.

Then there was his lineage. I knew Kestev's name well. Marquis Kestev, Reynolds' father, was as powerful as a Duke. The man carved out a section of the Ruinlands, returning it to the Gods. He was a hero to the entire country.

Finally, I hated to admit it, but Reynold was good looking. He had classical aristocratic looks, with fine features and purple hair that was loved by everyone except the Jalmese. His muscles toned and large, making him look like a warrior from legend. Unlike the “me” of old, who couldn’t even marry a poor farmer’s daughter, Reynold could practically have anyone noble or commoner served up to him.

I glanced to the side at my fellow students, watching them form a large ring for us to duel within. Nicolai gave me a nod of respect, but I noticed that he still held the wrist that Reynold stomped down on.

It made me furious all over again. Nicolai had done nothing to deserve what happened to him. Reynold hurt him over a few mean words, and because Nicolai stopped him from trying to hurt me.

No matter what I did, ugly or good looking, friendly or withdrawn, others tried to take advantage of me. Here I was, an ascendant less than a week old, and I already had one of my fellows try to force me into bed with a sweet girl to cause a political catastrophe. And another tried to hurt me because he did not like me associating with noble women; as though they had no choice but to be my friend.

These bullies and schemers are as ugly inside as I used to be on the outside.

I tried the high road. Like always, it only left me insulted, unhappy, and abused. I realized then, looking at Reynold, that I did not have to take it anymore. Falling into old habits was the wrong thing to do. I needed to change and adapt to my new circumstance, to honor the faith that a goddess put in me.

Master Rohan handed me the poleaxe I requested, then walked over to my opponent and handed him a long sword.

“Please pull out both of your Soul Ledgers.” Master Rohan instructed.

Both Reynold and I followed his request, holding our golden books in our hands.

Master Rohan touched a necklace, and a blue floating orb floated in the air in front of him. “I am officiating a sanctioned duel between Reynold Kestev the Challenger, for 1,000 contribution points against Harald Horste the challenged, for nothing. You will follow my commands and stop after first blood is drawn. Understood?” Master Rohan said.

We nodded to him. Master Rohan nodded back to both of us, then walked from the dueling area.

Reynold was eager with anticipation.

Barely a second after Master Rohan said “fight”, Reynold jumped forward faster than I could react and sliced open a narrow cut on my robe. I barely stumbled back from the follow up swing, ducking my head just in time to dodge the sword coming at my head.

Trying to put some distance between myself and the blade, I thrust the poleaxe forward, like the training dummy had taught me. Reynold parried it one handed, with a lazy swipe, and started laughing.

We all knew he was the far better fighter, but Reynold needed everyone to see it.

“I haven’t even tried to hit you, just wanted to test your defense. You really are nothing. For acting like your betters were your equal, I might have let you go with a slap on the wrist. But you put your hands on me. So, now I’m going to hurt you.” Reynold said.

Reynold followed up his words by making vicious red fire burst from his sword. Even from six feet away, I felt the flames licking at me. It was the signature ability of an ascendant of Korrah, the Goddess of Flame, Conquest, and Monster Slaying. Her ascendents are what children dreamed of being when they imagined their ambitions, lighting sticks on fire and pretending to slay beasts of legend.

Reynold looked up, wanting to see and cherish the fear in my eyes. Just like I knew the coward would, like all bullies did.

It was at that very second; he lost.

My will crashed down upon his fragile ego, destroying it, leaving him in a state of inaction. Hypnotize stole even the power to bless his blade, causing the fire to wink out in his hand. Slowly, making sure that I did not blink or break eye connection, I walked closer to him.

I could see the beads of sweat forming on his head out of the periphery of my eye, and I smiled. Reynolds' eyebrows twitched as he fought to free himself, but it was no use. He was lost in the depth of my hex.

Only a few feet remained between us, and I lifted the poleaxe with one hand. Beneath my gaze, his entire body trembled, and I let him sit that way for a few moments under the shadow of my blade. I wanted him to know what it was like to feel helpless before a tormenter, to feel weak and scared.

Reynold was completely at my mercy, and I could have cut him anywhere I desired. Unfortunately for him, there was only one place I wanted to injure.

The blade from the poleaxe sliced cleanly across his left cheek, slow like the caress of a lover. And Reynold screamed in agony, like I had just taken off a limb.

I laughed at his weakness. If that was how he acted from a simple cut, I could not imagine how he would have reacted to some beatings I had received.

“First blood!” Master Rohan said, using the same insufferably calm voice he did when he commanded us to strike. “Harald wins.”

“He cheated!” Reynold screamed, lifting one hand to the bloody cut on his face, and pointing the sword at me with the other. “What did you do to me? You pissant! I want a rematch!”

“No more duels. Harald has already settled the matter. You will have to fabricate some other insult if you want a duel for a later time.” Master Rohan said. “As your instructor, I advise you to think hard about what happened. Your arrogance caused you to lose a fight you should have won. Stupidity like you’ve shown today will get you and the people you are with killed in the Ruinlands. You of all people should know that Reynold.”

Reynold faltered at being called out in front of everyone. In truth, he looked a pitiful sight. Dried blood covered his nose from my earlier push, and now he had a deep cut bleeding profusely on his face. He would still be a good-looking man, but at least now, for a few moments, he looked as ugly as he truly was.

I felt a slap on my shoulder, and I turned to see Nicolai smiling at me with a massive grin.

“I don’t know how you did it, but I owe you a drink for that. Or maybe you should buy, since you have all those points!” Nicolai said, chuckling at his own joke.

That’s right! I was rich! The moment I got a chance, I was going to send a veritable fortune in goods back to my father in Weston.

“I can’t believe he bet all that on a stupid fight,” I said, all companionable smiles.

It was my greatest victory. It felt like a symbolic punishment for every one of my abusers.

…

Wrestling class was anticlimactic after the events of the duel. We had to continue throwing each other back and forth around the sand, which put a big damper on all the hubbub that was sure to follow.

Master Rohan sent Reynold and Nicolai to the hospital. That left me practicing with Reynold’s previous partner. I was wary at first because I thought the red-robed guy might have been an ally of Reynold. But it turns out he wasn’t. He was a suitable partner that wanted to learn and had been annoyed at Reynold’s earlier pettiness.

By the time combat training finished, it was lunchtime. Every single one of us reeked of sweat and filth. I was not sure what the protocol was for the dining hall and debated going home to bathe and change clothes. In the end, I just asked the guy I had been training with what he planned to do.

“Oh, they are used to us coming in there smelling. Don’t worry about it—just don’t sit next to the scholar studies folks, and you’ll be okay. They segregate themselves at meals because of it.” He said before running off with a group of his own military studies people.

Being alone was how I had spent most of my life, and I did not mind it. Yet, after my victory, I was feeling full of energy. I wanted to celebrate with others.

The only people I knew at Ashmere were Angelina and Elaine. When I thought about Angelina, it made me a little sad. She would have been perfect company.

Not that Elaine was a second prize or anything. I was more than happy to eat with her too. Only, as I searched for her in the crowd of departing students, she was nowhere to be found.

Had she left with Reynold? The thought sickened me, but I did not dwell on it. Jealousy was a poison for the insecure, and I had a goddess that loved me.

I said a quick prayer of thanks to Vascora, to whom I truly owed my victory, and I set off to the lunch hall by myself, but in high spirits.