“You can use your swords. No other weapons are allowed,” Demetrius said. “You must not inflict any serious wounds. A drop of blood gives you victory. Commence!”

Show me your skills, Reinfried.

I took the offensive. My footwork was calculated, but I made it seem as if I had been rushing without thought. I laid a trap; I was luring Reinfried close to me. The moment he tried to counter-attack, I would blindside him and knock him to the ground.

My plan seemed promising. I thought that the duel would be over in a flash, but I was too optimistic. Reinfried didn’t take my bait. Nimble on his feet, he backed away and avoided my sword.

“Oho, Lance’s attack was impressive,” Demetrius said.

You may have avoided my trap, Reinfried, but this is just the beginning.

I lunged forward and attacked with more persistence. Reinfried, however, continued to jump around. When I targeted his legs, he sidestepped elegantly. When I aimed at his shoulders, he bent back and allowed my blade to pass. He was dancing as if in an imperial ballroom. Every time I swung my sword, he was already out of reach. The way he read my moves was annoying, and chasing him began to tire me out.

“Your offensive skills are above-average,” he said, “but can you defend yourself with as much skill and composure?”

His stance suddenly changed. There was a glow in his eyes, and his smile transformed into a menacing glare. He advanced toward me and swung his sword. I avoided the blade, but it cut my sleeve near my shoulder. He had wanted to leave a tiny scratch that would end the duel, but his sword had missed by a hair.

He’s fast. And I couldn’t predict his attack at all.

He didn’t give me time to recover and advanced again. His sword pounced on me, and I blocked and deflected its talons. Every attack forced me to retreat a step. The clangs shook my ears and dampened my spirits. He was overpowering me with sheer force—an overwhelming burst of strength.

I need to do something before it’s too late.

His muscular arms swung one last time, and suddenly, our swords were locked together above my head. He pressed down hard and lowered the weapons toward my face. But I bided my time, then pushed back with a surge of anger. My sudden parry made him falter for a second.

This is my chance.

I counter-attacked with a quick slash and threw Reinfried off balance. He lowered his sword and couldn’t raise it in time to block my next attack.

“It’s over!” I aimed for his left arm.

“Yes, it is,” he smiled.

At that moment, Reinfried didn’t back away; he didn’t defend his arm; he didn’t surrender. Instead, he moved in the way I least expected: he stepped forward. My sword missed its target, and he retaliated with a punch. His fist struck my left cheek. I lost my balance, and while I was falling backward, I watched him swing his sword to end the duel.

No, I won’t fail again. Even if the situation is desperate, there’s a way out, and I need to keep my eyes open to find it. I needed not only to avoid his attack but also to react with a move that would turn the tide of the contest. My mind went blank for a few seconds, but then came my eureka moment. That’s it!

As I fell backward, I realized what I had to do. I turned my sword and stabbed the earth. The blade dug through the dirt and formed a third leg that supported me. Balancing myself in such a way, I aimed a kick at Reinfried’s face.

“I won’t lose!”

My kick landed, and we both fell to the ground.

***

A gentle breeze blew from the east. The vines continued their timeless climb, and one of the laundry baskets fell to the ground. I opened my eyes after the hollow, wooden noise. Marie’s worried face appeared—a colorful painting on the drab sky.

“Are you all right?” she said.

“Who won the duel?”

She didn’t answer but pointed at my pants. I sat up and noticed a disappointing cut. Reinfried’s sword had scratched my leg during the final fall, and a few drops of blood were oozing out of my wound.

“So, I lost,” I sighed. “I guess I’m not good enough.”

No wonder the Laikos cornered me in such a pathetic way.

“No, it’s a draw,” Demetrius said.

I looked next to me. Reinfried was sitting on the ground too. His hand covered his nose, which was bleeding because of my final kick.

“That was quite a duel.” Demetrius clapped. “I didn’t expect to see punches and kicks. A good performance. Now you’re both ready to join my troupe.”

“No, thanks,” Reinfried and I said with one voice.

“No love for the arts? That’s a shame.” Demetrius shrugged his shoulders. “Marie, could you please get some water and bandages?”

She nodded and headed inside the inn, while Demetrius sat next to us.

“I haven’t had this much fun in a long time,” I laughed.

Reinfried smiled, “You’re better than the adventurers I know.”

“I’ve been in all types of dangerous situations. You learn a lot from bad experiences.”

“You’re right.”

“They also leave you penniless.”

“No, your skill is a valuable asset,” Reinfried said. “But I think you’re still lacking something.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your sword needs a soul.”

“A soul?” The word puzzled me.

“Some magic,” Reinfried explained. “It’s nothing fancy like what mages do; it’s subtle. Put your ear near my sword.”

I leaned over and listened. The blade buzzed like a bee. It didn’t move, yet it made that unusual sound. When I looked closer, I saw a strange luster. Was it shining?

“My soul is connected to this sword, Silverthorne,” Reinfried said. “Channeling is easy to master, and it makes a big difference on the battlefield. Your slashes become faster and more accurate, and you can perform many tricks.”

Reinfried clasped his sword’s grip, and the luster of the blade became a blinding light. The beams were so bright that Demetrius and I averted our eyes.

“Reinfried, you could have warned us,” I said.

“I’m sorry.” He relaxed his hand, and the light faded. “This little trick helped me arrest many criminals without endangering civilians. The Art of Channeling can give you an advantage, so why don’t you try it?”

“Do you think I’ll be able to learn it on my own?” I asked.

“You can,” Demetrius said. “The human soul is a source of magic. Concentrate on your sword, and try to make it shine like Reinfried’s. That’s all it takes.”

I guess it’s like using my badge.

“I’ll try it later,” I said.

“Well, you have one day until the Aberration appears,” Reinfried laughed. “No pressure.”

After this joke, Marie returned with a crowded tray. With every step, a jug tilted; glass cups clattered; and rolls of bandages unwound.

“Let me help you.” I got up and held the tray while she served Reinfried and Demetrius two cups of water.

“I was right; you look like her,” Reinfried said as he took his cup from Marie.

“I remind you of someone?” she asked.

“Lord Faust’s late daughter,” Reinfried said. “Lance made me recall an old incident, and then I realized the resemblance when I saw you today.”

“You’re probably mistaken,” Marie said. “I don’t look like nobility.”

“No, I served as Lady Serena’s personal guard; I know what I’m saying.” Reinfried was oddly persistent, and there was a hint of sadness and wistfulness in his voice. A moment passed before he realized that Marie was uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought this up. Stay safe, Marie. I hope what happened to Lady Serena never happens to you.”

“This reminds me…” I said. “Where were you when Marie was attacked?”

Reinfried averted his gaze and said, “Lord Faust sent me away on that day. I’m sorry that I wasn’t there.”

“Don’t give Sir Reinfried a hard time, Lance,” Marie said. “He’s doing his best to help the town. I’ll be happy if you work together.”

“We’re cooperating,” Reinfried rejoined. He turned to me and added, “The duel was refreshing, Lance, but I have to return to my duties now.”

And he walked out of the backyard without drinking the water or tying a single bandage. His eyes were downcast, and it seemed that he was lost in thought. Even when we waved goodbye, he didn’t look back.

***

A channel that connects my soul and my weapon… A touch of magic… It’s not working! It’s not working at all!

I practiced alone in the backyard. I was anxious to learn and tried every trick I could imagine, but my blade refused to store any magic. It didn’t shine or even sparkle once. It was almost as stubborn as I was. But I didn’t give up. I had spent only a few hours practicing, and a few hours couldn’t have been enough for me to learn a new skill.

I need to be more patient. I can do this.

I knew nothing about magic, but if Reinfried and Demetrius thought that the Art of Channeling was simple, I was sure I could master it. I concentrated on the blade. The magic seemed to be building up; it seemed that I was getting closer to my goal. But after a while, the disappointment returned, and I realized that it was just my imagination.

“Ah, this is driving me insane!” I shouted to the sky.

“You’re already insane,” Rick’s voice said. “I’ve got the information.”

I took my badge out and checked the mirror. Rick had established a connection, and I could see him sitting at his desk.

“Hi, Rick. What did you find?”

“Ghosts aren’t mentioned in the guild’s records. I searched the archives and consulted my colleagues, but no one heard of such creatures.”

“So, you found nothing?”

“Give me a chance to speak.” Rick cleared his throat. “When I asked Master Azemir, he guided me to an old tome.”

“And?”

“The Tales of Zeke Yuchi is its title. The available translations are inaccurate, but from what I gathered, Yuchi describes ghosts that ‘are the lost souls of the wicked.’ They ‘devour the human essence’ in the Seventh Labyrinth. In one story, Yuchi almost loses his body, but he survives with the help of a dragon.”

“Interesting. Is there anything else?”

“A protective charm is described, but you won’t be able to make it with your level of skill. You see, this is not the kind of book an adventurer would read. It’s written for mages.”

“That’s not very helpful,” I said. “But it’s exciting that the Seventh Labyrinth was mentioned.”

“Not again… That’s part of why you’re in debt, Lance. You’re obsessed with the Seventh Labyrinth,” Rick sighed. “Anyway, the ghosts were probably a hallucination. Let’s move on. I’ve gathered some information to assist you.”

“Go ahead, Rick. Assist me.”

“You don’t sound excited anymore.”

“I sure am.”

“I don’t like your tone, but anyway… First, most of the missing people traveled as families.”

“As families?”

“Yes, fathers, mothers, and children―they all disappeared.”

“That’s grim,” I said.

“According to three witnesses, the travelers entered Ashenbrook safely but disappeared on their way out of the town.”

“More importantly, do you have pictures of the missing people?”

“The artists are still drawing them, so they’ll be ready in a couple of days.”

“The quest may be over by then.”

“Well, I don’t believe the pictures are as important as you think. And the sooner you’re done, the better. I’m waiting for you, and the clock’s ticking.”

“I know, Rick. There’s no need to remind me.”

“I will contact you again when I have the pictures. Until then, don’t get yourself killed.”

Rick disappeared from the mirror. I took a deep breath and was about to return to my practice. But before I could swing my sword even once, Marie walked into the backyard.

“My parents are calling. It’s dinnertime.”

Suddenly, my stomach started growling. I sheathed my sword and walked inside with Marie.

“Do you think Demetrius will play his oud for us today?” she smiled.

“You can always ask.”

“Maybe you can ask.”

“Too shy to do it?”

Marie nodded, guilty as charged.

“You leave me no choice. I’ll make sure Demetrius plays his oud till you get bored.”

She laughed, “Thank you.”

Dinner was over in no time, and Demetrius performed for us again. As the melodies danced across the hall, Marie smiled, closed her eyes, and relaxed. She enjoyed the music more than anyone else, and I wondered why, until I remembered that she was stuck at home.

With the oud’s rhythms still in my head, I sat in bed and thought about everything that had happened in the past days. Ashenbrook was dour and gloomy, but some of its residents were interesting. Marie, Reinfried, Demetrius, and even Lord Faust―people like them were hard to find. In the end, I closed my eyes, wondering what tomorrow would bring and hoping that the sunshine would return to Ashenbrook.