The sound of blades clashing with one another resounded throughout the arena floor. The telltale signs of battle were all over the place. Scorch marks left behind from spells, ruptured pieces of mortar and plaster, and deep gashes from blades were scattered to and fro. A cloud of dust and rubble erupted at the edge of the ring, sending fragments headlong into the barrier.

Embla jumped out of the dust cloud. Her eyes darted around and scanned her surroundings frantically. The battle had taken a drastic turn with the revelation of Kaguya’s Arts. She had only encountered Arts a few times in her life. Her master and his wife possessed one. Her older sister had one as well. Cal had an Arts. And now, her opponent had this otherworldly power. Such an ability turned the scale heavily against Embla.

Their battle had gone on for several minutes now. Neither side bowed to the other and Embla was not going to back down. The only way she was leaving this arena was after she beat this pompous fox kin into the ground or in a stretcher. The second option did not appeal to her in the slightest. She had a Master to represent and a party to stand up for after all.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She quickly turned and blocked an attack from Kaguya. The force of the blow sent her back a few inches. Embla dodged another swipe from Kaguya’s sword. She jumped back and crossed her blades together. A violet coat of energy encased the swords. She swung them, releasing a wave of cutting energy towards Kaguya.

Kaguya evaded the attack and darted towards Embla. She reinforced her muscles with prana and swung the blade.

Embla quickly reacted by creating an afterimage to take the hit for her. She then followed up, using her Sixteen Fold Dance to attack Kaguya on all sides.

Kaguya narrowed her eyes and intercepted Embla. Left. Right. Above. Behind. Her movements were precise and graceful like a leaf in a raging storm. Her sword flashed as she cut each and every afterimage down until she clashed swords with the original.

Embla clenched her jaw. She was in a deadlock with Kaguya, who had a grin on her face. The girl pushed against the blade, forcing Embla down to one knee. The overwhelming physical strength this girl had went beyond using her body’s prana.

She growled and pushed back. Kaguya’s expression never changed as Embla slowly got off the ground. After a few seconds of struggling for supremacy, the two jumped back in order to gain some breathing room.

Kaguya made a sign with her index and middle finger in front of her. She inhaled and unleashed a massive ball of flames from her mouth.

Embla dashed into the fireball, swinging her blade at it. The attack distorted before bouncing off Embla’s sword and hurtled towards Kaguya.

Kaguya dodged the fireball. Embla appeared behind her. She performed a roundhouse kick to the side of Kaguya’s head.

However, the Fox Kin’s superb senses were something to behold. Kaguya blocked her leg with her left forearm before grabbing it. She slammed Embla into the ground, sending spiderweb cracks outward from the point of impact.

Embla groaned in pain before rolling out of the way as Kaguya’s foot nearly crushed her head. She quickly got to her feet, only to have Kaguya’s knee impact her lower jaw. Embla flew into the air and landed several feet from where she had been launched.

She rubbed her jaw. Kaguya stood there for a few seconds and stared at her. Her hand flew to her sword and she disappeared in a burst of speed. Embla gripped her blades tightly and did the same.

The two met once more in the middle and clashed blades. Their dance was intricate. Every parry was met with a follow up. However, there was a clear difference in skill. Whereas Embla’s swings held a slight wildness to them, Kaguya’s swings were clearly refined.

With a swing of her sword, Kaguya disarmed Embla of the Chromatic Slicers. She then kicked the girl in the ribs, shattering her lower rib. Embla flew like a bullet across the arena and crashed into the barrier with tremendous force. She slid down unceremoniously. Pain wracked her entire body.

“So this is what it’s like to fight Yuki,” Embla muttered to herself as she got to her feet. Her only chance of continuing this fight was to grab her sword. She highly doubted that Kaguya would allow her to grab them.

“Hey!”

Embla’s thoughts snapped back down to reality when Kaguya called out to her.

“You’re putting up an awfully good fight for someone who’s on the same team as that coward,” Kaguya said.

“What? Coward?” Embla was confused. Was she referring to Yuki? That was the thought going through the girl’s mind.

“Who else would I be referring to?” Kaguya looked at Embla as if she were a complete fool.

“Yuki’s not a coward. She’s far braver than you. You who willingly picks on a lower ranked team and hordes all the Quests to prevent advancement. Are all higher ranked parties really that afraid of people growing stronger?” Embla asked.

Kaguya went silent and narrowed her eyes. “Quest Hoarding has nothing to do with this girl.”

“I’m just saying. If you’re going to call Yuki a coward, you might as well be for putting a lower team down just to make yourself feel better,” Embla said. A cocky grin appeared on her face. Her grin grew wider when she saw the annoyed look on Kaguya’s face. The grin lasted all for a few seconds.

Kaguya drew her blade extremely fast. Embla dodged in the nick of time as a highly compressed wave of wind sliced through the air and impacted the barrier.

“You have no idea what your leader has done. Has she even told you who she really is? What she’s done?” Kaguya asked.

Embla went silent. She knew what Kaguya was talking about. Yuki had told the party that much. And she understood the girl’s anger. However, her anger was directed at someone who had no choice in the matter. Embla clenched her fists and glared at Kaguya.

“She told us,” she answered.

“She did? Did she actually tell you everything? Or did she tell you her version to make herself look good?” Kaguya asked.

Embla remained silent. In her mind, the words that left this woman’s mouth were clearly delusions or otherwise. However, she was curious to hear this woman’s side of the story. She lowered her guard slightly. Kaguya took that as a sign to continue.

“Have you ever wondered what happened after she left Alfheim? If she did tell you that story, that means you know that there was a plague running rampant through Alfheim,” Kaguya said.

“I know. She took you and Red along for a ride and find out what really happened. She sent you to find the guards and ran off to find her parents in the dead of night,” Embla continued.

“So you do know,” Kaguya muttered under her breath. Her facial expression grew dark. Her stare became even more intense and caused Embla to clench her fists tightly.

“Of course I do. She told us about it after Eschamali showed up for the tournament. There was no way this was staying quiet forever. Not when Yuki was acting so obvious around her mother of all people,” Embla said.

“So did she tell you that after she and Red ran away in the dead of night, her brother, the Prince, was almost killed that day,” Kaguya retorted.

Embla froze. Her eyes had grown wide at the revelation and her blood ran cold. “Yuki’s brother?” Embla asked.

“I’m sure she’s mentioned him once or twice. Her younger brother, Ryuusei Honokami, the Crown Prince of Alfheim,” Kaguya said. “In the events following Yuki’s shameful fleeing, people took advantage of the Emperor and Empress’s distraction and made an attempt on the Crown Prince’s life.

“And after that, everything was blown out into the open. Members of an extremist faction in the Gentry were planning a rebellion and used the plague as a means to do so. When Yuki began sticking her nose into their business, the members became antsy and decided that they needed to eliminate their problems at the root. They may never be able to eliminate someone capable of wiping the entire city out with a single attack but they can break them.

“And what better way to keep the Royal Lords out of the way than to eliminate their children. Yuki running away actually saved her but what about her brother,” Kaguya said, narrowing her eyes.

Embla shivered at such a cold expression. “Is her brother…?” she asked tentatively.

“No, thankfully, I was there to stop the assassins but in that moment, when I fought for my life, I was wondering where the woman I swore to serve was. I wonder where the woman who swore to fight for the people being affected by the plague and the Gentry had run off to. I wonder why I didn’t see her the night I mobilized the guard on her behalf. Then it occurred to me, she had abandoned the land. And in turn abandoned her family. What a wonderful way to deal with a problem,” Kaguya said. She let out a hollow laugh. “And now, years later, I find her running around as if she didn’t do anything. The country plunged into a veritable civil war and she ran away from it! How unforgivable…”

“You’re an idiot,” Embla said.

Kaguya’s head whipped up to face her. Her eyes contained so much fury that one poke would cause her to spit fire and rain down Ragnarok on the masses. Kaguya clenched her fists. I’m the idiot? Me! This… She glared at Embla.

However, her glare had no effect as the girl stepped forward. “How can you and everyone expect so much from her? Is it because she’s the Princess? The heir to the Throne?”

“Of course! The heir must act a certain way and know certain things!” Kaguya said.

“SHE WAS A CHILD!” Embla roared.

Kaguya took a step back at her sudden outburst.

“She was just a child! Everything she did was because she wanted to prove that she was worthy to be her parents’ successor. I think I understand what she went through now. When I was younger, people always questioned my apprenticeship to my Master. A sage taking a child with no Arts as their student. How laughable.

“How much more laughable must it be for the daughter of two Sages to be born without an Arts? The shame it must bring upon the Royal Family. I bet you heard these words a lot when you lived in Alfheim,” Embla said.

Kaguya sputtered and was unable to offer a retort. It was true. Embla had been right. Everyone had expected Shirayuki to manifest an Arts and become the next Eschamali like her mother or the next Australis like her father. However, life was cruel and it was not meant to be.

“I can only imagine how she pined to escape her parents’ shadow. How she lived being constantly compared to them and how she had to work five times as hard so that people could see her. And you, her closest confidant, are apparently in the same mindset as everyone she tried to prove herself against,” Embla said.

Kaguya clenched her jaw. How could this girl possibly stand up for Yuki? That was what she was wondering at the moment. “I’ve heard enough. You clearly know nothing. But it doesn’t matter because after I win this and this tournament, I’m taking Yuki back to Alfheim.”

Embla’s eyes grew wide at her declaration.

Yuki gripped the arm of her chair tightly. “Embla… Kaguya…” she whispered softly.

“As if I would let you even do that. Yuki deserves to choose her own path and become her own person! Not become a clay doll you can mold to whatever you want!” Embla said. Despite the pain and fatigue she felt, Embla squeezed out the last of the prana inside her body. She took a step forward and dashed towards Kaguya, kicking up a veritable ton of dust in the process.

Kaguya’s eyes widened as Embla’s fist found its home in her face. Her nose snapped to the side in a sickening crunch as she was sent flying across the arena. She slammed into the barrier and slid down. Kaguya gasped for air as her hand reached for her nose.

Her instincts suddenly screamed at her to dodge. She looked up and saw Embla’s heel about to make contact with her skull. Her eyes glowed gold and the world was flooded with a blue light. She jumped out of the way and looked at the girl in disbelief. “W- When did she?” Kaguya wondered.

“Dark Spike!” Embla slammed her palm on the ground. A series of black spikes erupted underneath Kaguya, forcing her into the air.

178 seconds…

Kaguya twisted her body and landed on one of the spikes. She pushed off it, using Super Acceleration to boost her momentum. She collided with Embla, creating a cloud of dust.

145 seconds…

Kaguya drew her sword and slashed only to find nothing but air. Embla appeared behind her. Her hand opened and a knife made of shadow formed in her palm.

However, Kaguya had anticipated her sneak attack. The girl quickly turned around and kicked Embla in the ribs.

In that quick instant, Embla jammed the knife in her leg, causing Kaguya to shriek in pain. Embla flew a few feet from her and landed on the ground. She shakily got to her feet.

Kaguya hissed and pulled the shadow knife from her calf. She tossed the knife to the side. “98 seconds…,” she muttered. Kaguya flinched as she felt pain shoot through her right leg. Without a word, she disappeared in a burst of speed and appeared in front of Embla. She drew her sword quickly and blood sprayed all over the arena floor.

Embla had barely dodged her attack and found the business end of Kaguya’s sword slicing into her left arm. She bit down a scream and jumped back. The sword had sliced deep into her shoulder. The ligaments and tendons in that area were completely severed. It would take weeks of healing magic or hours with a high level priest just to heal.

“A bum shoulder and blood loss,” Embla said, chuckling. Shadows gathered in her right hand.

“45 seconds,” Kaguya said, twirling her sword.

“I don’t have time before she completely begins to pummel me,” Embla muttered. A black ball formed in her hand.

In the stands, her party looked on with worry in their eyes. Cal sucked in a breath and got up. He stopped when he felt someone grab his arm.

“Where are you going?” Yuki asked

“To help. She can’t fight in that condition. If she continues fighting, Kaguya’s going to kill her,” Cal said.

“Sit down. Embla has this. Believe in her,” Yuki replied.

“I’m not going to sit here and wait for something to happen!” Cal said. A golden aura enveloped his body as he subconsciously activated his Arts.

However, Yuki didn’t back down. Her glare was just as if not fiercer than the one Cal had. A white aura enveloped her. The temperature around them dropped several degrees and frost formed at the tips of the arms of the chair. “Sit down.”

Cal nodded silently and sat down begrudgingly.

Kaguya eyed the black orb that was slowly growing bigger in Embla’s hand. She felt a massive amount of mana coming from that orb. If I get hit with that thing, I might actually go down before that girl passes out from blood loss, Kaguya thought.

She gripped her sword and spread her legs apart. She was going to finish this with one stroke. If not, she would resort to other methods. All she needed was to wait for an opportunity.

Embla narrowed her eyes and forced more mana into the orb. It was a desperate attempt but it was all she had. All she needed.

Without any warning, Kaguya’s body flickered and disappeared. Embla’s eyes grew wide as she tried sensing for the girl. Any movement that would alert her to her presence.

“No wait. She’s moving too fast for me to sense or see,” Embla whispered. “Then… I’ll have to wait for her to come to me.” She closed her eyes and waited. A burst of air to her right alerted her to someone’s presence. Embla opened her eyes and leaned back as the silver glint of Kaguya’s sword narrowly missed her.

Embla then quickly turned and slammed the orb down on top of Kaguya. “Shadow Ball!”

Kaguya’s eyes widened as the ball came down on top of her. She had no room to move. Her eyes glowed as time slowed down once more. Kaguya scoffed and jumped back. “Another one hundred and eighty seconds before I can slow time down again,” Kaguya said as the blue light retreated back into her body.

The orb smashed into the ground, kicking up dust and sending stray bolts of black and violet energy across the arena. A stray bolt caught Kaguya off guard and struck her in the chest, sending her on her back.

Kaguya groaned and placed a hand on her chest. Her sternum and ribs were broken. There was no doubt about it. “You are really really annoying,” Kaguya growled. “You stand up for a coward who ran away from their responsibilities and even go so far to defend them?”

“And you live in a fantasy world. How can you expect a bird who lived its entire life in a cage to fly?” Embla asked. She was tired. She only had enough mana left for one spell.

“I’m ending this,” Kaguya said. She opened her right hand and fire crackled inside of it. Around the fire, lightning appeared and enveloped the flames.

“Dual-Casting,” Embla said.

“Surprised? You thought I was just some sword junkie who relied on one thing to fight all her battles?” she asked.

Embla grimaced. She wasn’t a master at Refraction like her master. She still relied on a focus in order to reflect magical attacks.

“Now then,” Kaguya said as she took a step forward. Super Acceleration. She disappeared in a burst of speed and reappeared in front of Embla.

Embla let out a shout and threw her right hand in front of her. A highly condensed beam of black and violet energy burst from her hand and into Kaguya. However, her eyes grew wide when the beam hit nothing but air.

“An afterimage?” Embla said.

“No, just a simple illusion.” She turned and felt a sharp pain in her torso. Kaguya stood in front of her with a blank expression on her face. Her hand was buried inside Embla’s abdomen. “It’s over.”

She coughed up blood as a blade of fire and lightning burst from her back. Embla screamed and gripped Kaguya’s wrist. The girl in front of her looked at her with some confusion and without any warning, Embla slammed her head into hers.

Kaguya yelped, dispelling her skill and took a step back. Her vision swam as she began to see doubles. Embla placed a hand on her wound and felt the warm sensation of blood. She took a step towards Kaguya and slammed a bloody fist into her jaw.

The girl fell down to the ground. Her vision was still a little blurry. As a result, she was not able to block Embla’s second attack. The force of the blow sent Kaguya’s head into the ground.

“Let’s end th-”

She never finished her sentence as Kaguya swept her legs out from under her. Embla fell on her back and groaned in pain.

“Why the hell are you so adamant on fighting for her!?” Kaguya yelled, getting up. Her fists were clenched and her sword was on the ground next to her. “Yuki is nothing but a coward!”

Embla tried to get up only to be sent back down by Kaguya’s reinforced fist.

“A spineless!” Another blow came down on her, hitting her gut this time. She spat out blood.

“Gutless!” Kaguya’s fist hit her face.

“Irresponsible!” Another blow to the face.

“COWARD!” Kaguya’s foot came down on her wound. Embla screamed in agony as Kaguya dug her heel into Embla’s stab wound.

“I can’t watch this anymore,” Cal said.

“Cal?” Yuki glanced over to him. “CAL!” she screamed as he ran out of the stands.

“She’s not a coward,” Embla rasped, getting on her hands and knees. Blood dripped from her mouth and wounds. A large bruise was beginning to form on her right cheek. “She’s… the bravest, most sincere person I know and I’m glad…”

Kaguya glared at her, daring her to go on.

“I’m glad to be her subordinate. If anything, I hope she becomes the Empress just to spit in your face,” Embla said, spitting blood on her boots.

“She’ll abandon you too, you know,” Kaguya said softly. Her fists clenched so tightly that she drew blood with her fingernails.

“She didn’t abandon you,” Embla said.

Those words sent Kaguya into a rage. She refused to believe it. If that was true… Kaguya shook her head free of such thoughts. “SHUT UP!” Fire and lightning crackled around her fist as she brought it down on Embla.

Embla looked up to see the oncoming fist slowly making its way towards her. Time slowed down for her. Something inside her snapped. A foreign power surged inside of her. She had felt it before a long time ago but had long since forgotten it. Yet, it felt familiar like she was greeting an old friend.

Kaguya’s eyes widened as a blue barrier composed of hexagons appeared in front of Embla. Her fist impacted the barrier. The barrier blocked her attack and produced a recoil that sent her sliding back.

“What the…” Kaguya’s expression of shock grew even wider when she saw Embla’s left eye was glowing an eerie gold color. Her eye reminded her of how Yuki described that woman’s eye. It was like staring into a crucible filled with molten gold.

Embla’s golden eye shined brightly as she raised her right hand weakly in front of her. She was no longer operating on conscious thought. This was merely her base instinct performing one last action in a desperate fit of survival. The barrier glitched and vanished. In front of her, black and red streams of energy formed a small orb.

Kaguya immediately felt fear upon seeing it. It was like that orb triggered a primordial response inside her brain to flee. And she listened to that response. The orb crackled before Embla fired a beam at her. The orb unfurled like a lily flower as the beam shot towards her.

The world was bathed in a blue light for a few seconds as Kaguya dodged the attack. As time returned to normal, she glanced at the path the beam had traveled and her jaw nearly dropped. The barrier around the arena was beginning to destabilize and there was a massive hole the size of a cave entrance in the arena wall that went all the way to the road outside.

She glanced back over to Embla. Her golden eye was flickering before it became their normal color of ruby red.

“EMBLA!” Kaguya looked towards the arena door and saw the blonde archer from Yuki’s party running onto the arena. He was followed shortly by the other members.

She fell to her knees and felt her consciousness leaving her. And the last thing she heard before she passed out from pain and shock were the words announcing her victory.