On the way to the courtyard, where they would fight, were several long, well-decorated hallways. Everything in the family manor had clever color schemes, and shapes that were both elegant and imposing. The designers clearly also had a particular love for the color red, procuring enough tapestries and carpets to fill entire rooms, despite the exorbitant cost.

Along the East Wing’s main hall were portraits of Rudan’s ancestors. He looked at each painting as he passed them. At the beginning were the many valiant men and women knights that established this family’s position of strength in the kingdom. Followed by their many male and female successors. And then gradually, to their occasional male and plentiful female successors. All the way to the last three generations, where not a single man could be seen. Rudan saw his own portrait on the wall, at the very end, from when he was twelve years old.

He looked away from that painting, and the bitter memories it brought up. Though, objectively speaking, his long blonde hair emphasized his delicate facial structure beautifully.

They reached the doors to the courtyard, and Silvia politely held them open for her younger brother. Rudan quietly walked to the usual sparring spot and turned around, resting his hand on his blade and giving away his tension in his expression.

“Please loosen up, little brother,” Silvia smiled gently, getting into place opposite him. “You’ll do the sharpness of your blade an injustice if your movements are rough.”

“With all due respect, eldest sister, I'm sorry, but I don't want your advice.”

She lowered her chin. “In that case, go at it brutishly as usual.” She drew her long, gleaming blade from its sheath. “I am prepared to receive you in this first exchange.”

Silvia continued to hold her sword in a ready position. The gentle smile on her face was replaced by a flat line, and her crescent-shaped eyes had become cold and calculating.

Rudan pulled his sword from its sheath. It wasn't as good as Silvia’s blade, but it was well-maintained. Once he balanced his stance and took note of his opponent's position, Rudan rushed in with full force. And of course, the attack that gets the most advantage from a charge would be a thrust. Even if it was predictable, he chose the raw power and pushed the tip of his blade out.

Silvia responded perfectly. She judged the exact timing and strength needed and used the edge of her blade to divert his blow, so his blade struck the air above her shoulder. In this position, he had already given up control of his movements. Any choice he could make would immediately be met by Silvia. Even pulling his arms back to his body wasn't possible…

So use your legs.

One of the lessons Rudan learned during his time in the Orc village, was that it was okay to incorporate different techniques into your fighting style. Just because skill slots had to be carefully managed, didn't mean a swordsman could only ever use sword skills. So he raised his knee up and pushed the ball of his foot into his sister’s stomach. She gave up her advantageous position in order to dodge, allowing Rudan to take back control of his sword arms.

It was still his turn to be on the offensive, so he stepped in to bring down an overhead strike. Naturally, Silvia lifted her blade at an angle to meet his and deflect it away from her. But Rudan shifted his feet and turned at the hips, forcing his blade on a path that would collide perpendicularly with hers. Silvia’s eyes widened and she brought her blade up higher to break the angle. However, she sacrificed some strength in doing so. If her stance wasn't so stable, it would have broken right there. Rudan, also, was positioned firmly on the ground.

“I yield,” Silvia said calmly, ending the match.

Rudan relinquished the force behind his blade, and they both took a step away from one another.

“Can I assume a similar level of improvement in your defensive capabilities and skill acquisition?” The gentle look quickly returned to her face.

“My defense has improved, but my skills haven't changed,” Rudan told her objectively.

“I see. Then I shall give my evaluation now.” Rudan nodded and Silvia held up one finger.

“First, your stance has improved. In the past you tried to mimic that clunky style without proper foundations. Although I would rather you fight more gracefully, it's still best if the techniques and foundation match. For that, I give you a pass.”

Rudan nodded, but he knew she wasn't done yet. To prove that, Silvia held up a second finger.

“Second, you've spent quite a long time for only your technique to improve and not your skills. If you require instruction, you can always return here.”

But Rudan knew they wouldn't teach him the warrior skills he wanted to know. He kept his face straight, but, internally, he rejected the offer.

“Third,” her third finger flicked up, and her gentle smile turned into a concerned frown. If he looked closely, he could see dangerous pupils peeking out from behind her narrow eyes. “I wonder what you were thinking using a move that’s likely to snap your sword in two? If I see that again, I'll have to tell mother, you know?”

“But I passed, didn't I? I can leave now?”

Silvia relaxed, her gentle smile returning. “Yes, you pass. Just don't pick up any more bad habits while you're gone.” Rudan moved to leave, but Silvia spoke up once more.

“Rudan, before you go, mother asked me to pass on an ultimatum. Claudia is the youngest besides you, and she’ll be coming home this summer as a vacation from school. If you can't beat her in a fight, mother says you'll have to either attend knight school or give up your title rights.”

Rudan’s heart palpitated, and all kinds of complicated feelings surged up. Without saying anything, he quickly walked away. Silvia stood there for a minute and watched him leave, then left to find Renée.

She followed the long halls back and knocked on the drawing room doors. Upon being given permission, she opened the doors, stepped through to the other side, and closed them quietly behind her.

“Considering he isn't with you, I assume he passed,” the Marquise spoke, setting down the tea she had been drinking.

Silvia bowed and answered, “Yes, mother. He has improved, even if it’s in that ugly style. And I did pass on your message.”

The Marquise let out a sigh. “Honestly, that boy. I had hoped he would come home after a few weeks of playing around. To stay away for five years,” Renée shook her head. “He used to be so proud to be a Sartiella knight.”

“Mother, if I may.” Silvia waited for her mother’s attention, then proceeded. “If Rudan can't defeat Claudia, won't he leave the house for good? I find it hard to imagine him returning to that place. I'm worried we may have been a bit too rash.”

“I can't say I'm completely at ease about it,” her mother confessed, “but pressure is necessary to stimulate growth. I don't know another way to provide that for him when he refuses to see me without being forced. If it does come to that, I'll be sure to keep the reinstatement paperwork on hand. We should never treat him as if he doesn't belong here.”

Silvia smiled with some relief. “Yes, mother.”