"Please excuse me if this seems disrespectful, but I find that statement a little... conceited. You've never been to my classes, and even if you had, you've never really seen me fight. Where does this self-evidence come from that you would win against me so easily? Even if you are both High-Magician and swordmaster, that statement.... I can't let it stand like that."

Wordlessly, Cale stood by the obviously outraged swordmaster, who was among the strongest people in his past lives. It was a gross understatement to say that Miguel Heriog was weak. The man could split entire countries with his powers if he put his mind to it. That his people handed him Zurakekama and rightly awarded him the title of the strongest fighter from Frignez was not just empty words. Cale knew very well what Miguel was currently capable of and what he was not.

"Sir Heriog, allow me to join the discussion", Grischa thankfully spoke up. The High-Magician stood on the bleachers behind them and looked down at the two men, next to him on the railing stood the little cat. "Caleb is not a man who likes to present his true power."

"What exactly are you trying to tell me?", the blond haired man replied, looking at the 1st seat, almost annoyed.

"That he could kill you without even giving you a chance to react."

Suspicious, Miguel turned back to Caleb, staring at him for a moment before detaching Zurakekama from his waistband and holding it out, point down, in front of Cale. Immediately, Cale understood what he was trying to say with this unusual gesture, so he rejected the man before he could even utter his words.

"No. I don't accept the duel."

"I haven't said anything yet?"

"I know this position, Miguel. You want to challenge me to a duel to the death. I am quite versed in the ways of Frignez", Cale countered warningly, causing both Miguel and Grischa to look at him in surprise. Fengari, on the other hand, who was watching amused, jumped down from the railing. Reflexively, Cale caught the little cat in midair and looked at it in irritation for a moment before letting Fengari climb onto his shoulder and sighing.

"You're pretty rude", Miguel retorted, but continued his challenge anyway. He rammed the sword into the ground, so forcefully that it caused a small tremor. The spectators, who were still in the arena, instantly looked down at them. "I, Miguel Heriog, challenge you, Caleb Leuen, to a duel to the death!"

His shouting voice echoed through the arena, fighting its way through the walls so that even those outside could hear this exclamation. Immediately, murmurs of amazement arose as the rest of the group gathered next to Grischa.

"No", Cale replied sharply.

"You have no choice."

"I am not a member of your people. I certainly have a choice."

"If you do not accept this duel, then I will withdraw my people and Aletta from this place and immediately end all relations between Frignez and Altona."

For a moment, Cale stared at the man, stunned. He was putting everyone's lives at risk because he couldn't take that statement like that? Had Miguel gone crazy?

"You haven't done the ritual yet. You don't have the right to go against the decisions of the chiefs", Cale replied knowingly, causing Miguel to visibly shudder. Even though he was the son of the chief's Heriog, he had no right to intervene in the politics of the country. Socially, without the ritual, he was just an ordinary citizen, which is why Frignez always refrained from comparing him to the Kingdom of Sylve. There had no royal family or royal blood. Anyone, if they met the requirements, could be appointed one of the three chiefs. Of course, Miguel also aspired to become such a chief, but to do so he first had to become a hand and that meant fulfilling the ritual. Which his father currently forbade him to do, as he already had a supporting hand - a man named Asta Mundor.

"What are you doing, Miguel? Are you insane?", Aletta suddenly spoke up. "And how do you know so much about our politics, Cale?"

"You all tend to forget I'm a High-Magician, don't you?", he merely countered, causing Aletta to look a little hurt at the statement. She let her ice-blue eyes wander to Miguel, who did not answer her question.

"Is it so bad that he wants to duel you?", Ben spoke up ignorantly.

"Yes. The duel, which is what Miguel wants, cannot be compared to what you know from Sylve. You literally fight until your last breath, something like that is only ended when someone gives up or dies. Do you really think Miguel would admit defeat?"

Challengingly, Cale looked to Miguel as he continued.

"Frignez is covered with ice to a large extent, which is why people only live in the southern regions. If you had seen how much the countryside in the true north is being affected because of these unnecessary battles, you would understand what I mean. I can't do that, I can't justify Miguel starting to tear Altona into pieces just because of such stupidity, not to mention that I don't want to kill him."

"I'm not tired of living. I, too, am perfectly capable of admitting defeat", Miguel replied, which only made Cale laugh. "And if you're worried about the place, we're welcome to Frignez."

"It's nice to hear you have so much free time, but I'm a busy person. I can't just ignore the problems here to follow your ignorant request", Cale interjected mischievously, before Fengari rubbed against his head.

, Fengari reported. Surprised, Cale breathed a sigh of relief and looked around. A dozen spectators were still sitting in their seats, silently watching the events unfold before them. But strangely enough, this didn't bother Cale that much. He had probably accepted by now that he could no longer hide his identity, nor should he if he wanted a solution to his problem.

"Sir Heriog, Caleb is not a simple mage. He has a lot of responsibilities that he cannot jeopardize", Aaron spoke up after silence had fallen. "Therefore, please understand if he refuses your duel."

"I understand what you are trying to tell me, but I stand by my statement. I cannot accept someone placing himself above me without ever having exchanged a single blow with me."

, Cale murmured in thought as he caressed Fengari's small body.

"He's right about that", Aletta interjected.

"Can't you restrain yourselves? You don't have to fight each other to the death, there must be other ways to prove who is the stronger", Philippa added.

"I feel the same way, Caleb. I know you're stronger than anyone else on this continent. But why don't you give him a chance to realize that for himself?", noted Grischa calmly, which is why Aaron turned to him in surprise.

"Precisely because we know what Caleb is capable of, we shouldn't let that happen, Grischa. Have you forgotten what happened back at the exam?"

This statement caused everyone present to look at the two High-Magicians and remain silent. Cale was a little puzzled as to what exactly Aaron meant by this. The only test he could speak of was the High-Magician test. Had Cale done something that had been questionable?

"Cale, you could have fought with us too. Why don't you adjust the duel and set some parameters so that no one gets hurt unnecessarily?", William finally spoke up. He had stayed out of the conversation as much as possible, but also, like the others, he wanted to prevent an escalation from breaking out. Besides... he was curious himself how strong Cale really was.

"The way I see Miguel, he won't be satisfied unless I fight him seriously."

"It's not like you have to play with him. Just don't blow him up from the start, that's quite enough", William replied calmly, which caused Miguel to turn to the prince.

Cale sighed and let the thought run through his mind. Actually, he hadn't intended to duel a swordmaster voluntarily ever again, but the last few minutes had shown him that he couldn't really run away. He was well aware that his friends wanted to see how strong he really was. Just as, he could understand that Miguel would be very resentful if he declined the challenge. Was that really what he wanted? To keep hiding like this until he had rejected everything and everyone he cared about? Only because he was afraid of her reaction. Just because he was afraid that this information might get back to the Thormods?

"Make your demands, Caleb. I will comply", Miguel spoke up again, causing the High-Magician to look at him suspiciously. He knew full well that everyone wanted to see a hint of his true power, but even Cale couldn't judge how strong he really was. He had been physically restrained and willfully restrained for half an eternity, that it surprised even him how convinced he was that he could destroy the entire city with a single well-aimed attack.

It was a thought Cale refused to accept. It frightened him himself to know that he was capable of doing so.

"Fine", Cale finally spoke sternly, raising his finger to enumerate the rules. "First, no one get killed. Not you and me, nor any bystanders who might get in our way."

Immediately, Miguel's eyes grew wide as he realized Cale was complying with his request.

"Second, no fields or houses, let alone entire villages, will be destroyed. If I even see something along those lines, I'll end it instantly. Third, we'll fight for an hour at most. I'll promise not to drag this out unnecessarily."

Cale paused for a moment to check if Miguel was really listening to him.

"Fourth, I will fight you as a swordmaster."

Surprised, Miguel, his friends and the High-Magicians looked at him, as well as all the spectators who were in the arena.

"You want to give me an advantage, how unnecessary", Miguel commented curtly.

"It isn't that. I'm aware of how strong you are, Miguel. It's just that I don't want to hurt you with my Igrikum. It wasn't an exaggeration that I could kill you within seconds. Not to mention... that I don't like to use that kind of magic on a human", Cale confessed, dropping a quick glance at William. "If it's so much on all of your minds, I'll show you just once what my Igrikum is truly capable of."

Cale could see a delighted smile flit across the prince's lips before he turned back to Miguel.

"If you can't live with that, then you can forget the whole thing", Cale announced. Miguel hissed in displeasure and seemed to think for a moment, but eventually accepted the fourth demand as well, so Cale continued speaking. "And fifth. You win if you somehow manage to physically harm me while I immobilize you."

"You must be really confident that I won't stand a chance against you, despite the advantage", Miguel flippantly threw back. He didn't like it at all that Cale thought so poorly of him.

"Confidence is the wrong word here", Cale interjected.

, Fengari inquired, causing Cale to look up at the little cat.

, Cale countered, turning back to the swordmaster of Zurakekama. "I'll give you another clue, too. Karekama's mana... it's the thunder."

"What an unnecessary statement, as if I couldn't have figured that out for myself", Miguel retorted, pulling his sword from the ground and looking at Cale with serious eyes.

"I mentioned it because I know Zurakekamas, too. It's only fair to you so you can get an idea of the magnitude of what to expect", Cale threw at him dryly. Miguel didn't seem too surprised that Cale knew the true core of the mana, though he certainly should have been. His sword was the unofficial sister of Cale's sword - it was the shining lightning. The extent of the mana that the legendary three swords carried was as unknown as the whereabouts of the swords themselves. Besides the glaring lightning and the black thunder, Cale knew only the glowing halo, Mirajokama. What mana the other three swords carried, probably only the owners themselves know, maybe also Basil Kama.

"Fine, I agree with all your requests. So, where exactly are we going to fight it out?"

"In the Western on the coast, there's, there's a comparatively quiet region that's uninhabited because of its rocky landscape", Cale replied flippantly, making the communication crystal appear in his hand.

"Wait a minute, hold on. Do you guys want to sign it out right now? Can't you wait until tomorrow?", Aletta interjected, causing the two men to turn to her.

"The sooner, the better", Miguel answered her, causing the healer to give a disappointed look.

"While it's still light. The sun will be setting soon, which we should take advantage of."

"You do think of everything, don't you?", Ben interjected, visibly surprised, making everyone remember what Cale's third request had been.

"You guys are crazy", Aaron commented casually, dropping onto the bench behind him.

"Now then, show me the way", Miguel announced.

"Relax, I told you, I'm a busy man. I need to inform the Eldest that I'm leaving the town", Cale explained to the impatient swordmaster, making a sonic barrier appear around him before turning away from his friends.

He had no desire to mess with Miguel in a big way, so he set the fight for an hour. While he was sure he wouldn't last that long, it sounded like a realistic time to the outside world. The fact that he was merely invoking his skills as a swordmaster was because Miguel would otherwise have no way of getting to him at all. If Cale were to use his Igrikum, he could simply pin Miguel in place without the latter being able to break free. But his fourth rule did not prevent him from using his own mana.

"Fengari told me", the Eldest suddenly spoke up over the crystal, causing Cale to look at the cat, who remained innocently silent. "I already know why you wanted to contact me. Use Karekama as you want, Caleb. As of today, the sword is officially yours."