The spell to track the Crown was working. Fiera could sense a chilly presence that was starting to move around, almost as if, the monarch had finally decided to get into action. The tracking magic was probably functional for the next twenty minutes, but the shielding magic would not last beyond the next ten. Whatever Fiera could do, she had to do it by then. She retraced her steps trying her best to not make noise before her senses suddenly amplified.

Her fingers trembled with the sudden rush of adrenaline and she pulled her shield to her front. She would have to drag the sword out mid-strike because she didn't want the nature of the sword revealed beforehand, that would work against her favour in case there was a way to avoid the blood from spilling.

She trudged forward, the Crown was moving diagonally towards her but seemed to be going in a different direction. There was only one way to end this so-called duel. Swipe hard, swipe fast, before the Crown got the chance to engage.

The moment Fiera spotted a wind curl, she decided tracking wasn't required. The winds were swirling to one specific area, most likely to the Crown as she kept trying to pinpoint Fiera's location. The Crown wasn't technically wearing armor, but Fiera knew that winds would cover for her, hence she would have to spill blood the first strike. She would have approximately four minutes left now before her scent and breath would get picked up by the winds.

Fiera crept closer to the Crown.

She reached a hand up into the air and gripped her sword.

Before she could close the distance, the Crown turned around, and she dragged her sword down with a yelp, searing over her chest just as the wind was knocked out of her. She had felt the soft resistance of the skin go down, but she had no idea if she had drawn the blood. And instead of the winds flinging down on her, the breath in her lungs was forced out. Her legs curled as she rasped for breath, unable to see anything as tears blurred her eyes. She reached out a hand, trying to crush the tree bark behind her, and suddenly air gushed into her body and she started coughing.

When her eyes cleared she saw the Crown, slumped into a heap and her retinue gathered around her.

Was she dead?

Fiera tried to stand up when someone caught hold of her arm. "She is just unconscious," Aaron said helping her up. Kai retrieved her sword and pointed at the blade. And she saw the tint of blood. So the deed was done. "Put it away," Aaron said, indicating the sword. And she put it away.

"Can you breathe?" Kai asked, "She took away your breath."

"Yes." Fiera said, but her voice was cracked and sounded funny.

"I am not going to ask what you had poisoned the blade with -" Aaron was starting to say when the crowd, dispersed and people went to their knees. The Crown was standing stiffly, her cold stare seeking the crowd and they rested on Fiera. She saw that the Crown's front was slashed with blood, not in abnormal quantities but there would be a scar and some blood had touched the land. Fiera suddenly felt the urge to apologize, but then it wasn't her fault if the most powerful individual of their country challenged her to a duel with no limitations.

The Crown turned to Hyl, the Earth-Practitioner who had helped Fiera choose the shield. And Hyl stepped forward, "Fiera Celosis is declared the winner of this duel!" But no one cheered. Or clapped for her. Everyone started to disperse hunched in whispers and giving her wary looks. Terrol gave her a fist-bump before he caught up with Nissa & Mist and Aaron squeezed her shoulder,

"You did well."

"I know," Fiera sighed. She sensed her shadow quiver but ignored it. Blood had been split as promised, and the task she had been anxious about all day was done. She would love nothing more than to fall asleep.