The Unbreakable Bow

As Aefrine returned to his room, he couldn't make up his mind about the king's suggestion. Even though he couldn't see something wrong with his idea, he didn't feel like he wanted to keep one of his keys away from him. What if his majesty changed his mind on his way back? He did trust the king but nobody is sure of the future.

If there was just somebody I could ask for guidance...

He looked at the immobile skeleton of Larry. He already knew the answer that he would probably say:

"I am wit' you in any decision you take ."

He didn't blame him. He couldn't.

His company was nice even if it was just him describing him as the most perfect person that he ever met even if he sometimes contradicted himself as well as correcting his Carthagonien in a polite manner where he would always try to make Aefrine not feel too bad about it. For someone who never had a conversation with another living being for a long time, that was enough.

There was also Alma. He preferred her company simply because she didn't make him the centre of everything they talked about at least, before. He now wondered if there was any chance he could talk to her after his departure. Would she even remember him?

Aefrine would definitely remember her, or at least that was what he told himself. Her curvy face, her vivid bubblegum pink eyes, her passion for obtaining knowledge and her love for her library, her eternal rivalry with Duke Rudolf, her ability to make any dull book sound interesting, her lime green robe that was decorated with small blooms of purple lotus matching her hair's colour, her swordsmanship skills and her fierce determination on the battlefield and finally her warm-heated nature hidden behind her aggressive personality.

Yeah, those were just some reasons why he liked her and he would definitely hold on to her memories. After all, most of what he knows of the world is thanks to her. But, he wondered if she saw him in the same manner...

He doesn't have most of those unique traits. In the best case, he is just a man who saved her despite his complete ignorance of the world. Now, that he had come to think of it, maybe she was better off forgetting him. His future is very uncertain. It all relies on some keys he stole from a dangerous man. Not to mention that even if everything went perfectly for Aefrine, he still would prefer Alma to simply forget about his existence for her own good...

Aefrine was finally able to accept the fact that he and Alma no longer spoke to each other. He was now even glad about it.

She is a princess. She has a bright future ahead of her. She will definitely be a great leader of her nation. She would eventually forget about me or at least I would become a nostalgic memory for her.

That was a line from 'The Adventures of the Knight of Zarmadin in the Seas of Forever Land and his Ultimate Victory'.

She and everyone here else including Larry already treat me more than I deserve. I wish there was a way I could repay them.

As his overwhelming thoughts brought fatigue to his body, he decided before submitting to the comfort of sleep that the only way to repay them was to put his trust in them.

The next morning was as usual. He went to have breakfast. And went to the yard where the Duke was waiting for him. Princesse Alma was there as well. He tried his best not to make any type of contact with her. She didn't seem to care. Rudolf had told them to wear their armour and prepare for a 'very serious ' challenge, whatever that meant...

As they wore their battle equipment, Aefrine was concerned about what was going to happen next. Was Stephen back?

That was the only serious challenge he could think of. He wished he could ask Alma. She definitely knows more about the Duke and his training methods. As they returned with their armour, Rudolf was nowhere to be seen.

"Sigh, where are you, old man ?"

Aefrine noticed that she was wearing an almost complete set of armour with a helmet that covered her upper head with a steel top and her sides with chain mail. She was welding her usual broad sword and a large circular shield with the T.rex on it. He had only taken his leather chest armour with his axe in hand and his small archer shield attached to the chain that connected it to his belt.

A sudden object dropped seemingly out of the sky. A fully armoured silver Knight has landed several meters away from them. A long sword in both hands dug into the ground.

"Welcome to your final duel"

It was definitely Rudolf's voice that emitted from the faceless helmet of the Knight.

"The challenge's rules are easy. Disarm me, you win. All types of magic are allowed except enchanted tools. Both of you are allowed to use any method available as long as it doesn't include leaving the yard. Let your imagination and skills be your only limitations. Show me what you have acquired. "

And as soon he finished his sentence, he took his sword out of the ground and slowly raised it to the sky and in a quick move he approached at a rapid speed. Both of them tried to block with their shields. Rudolf slashed upwards at Alma. The shield protected her from a certain death but not from the force that the Duke was packing. She went flying a bit. Aefrine had no time to see where she had landed, he was the next target. He also blocked with his significantly smaller protection. However, he had enough time to use phys magic to keep his ground. The powerful strike made a well-seen scar on his shield. This was his chance, the sword was stuck. He swung his axe trying to drop the sword from his opponent's hand using a brute force of pure phys magic. He missed.

Rudolf had already pulled his sword out and turned behind Aefrine's back by the time that axe made its blow on the air. He was faster, faster than anything Aefrine had faced so far even more than Ryuji. His back was completely exposed, all Rudolf needed to do to end his short life was make a swing to his head.

Luckily, Alma came back. She pushed him back with her shield trying to push him into one of the poles. Rudolf got out of her way and a fierce melee battle continued. Aefrine quickly joined in. They were near all of the training equipment that he had used with Stephen. As he approached, he wondered what was the best way to use his axe. He was much better using it but looking at the orcs duelling, he knew that he could never reach their close combat skills. He concluded that he could just try to make an opening for Alma, so she could deal with the Duke.

The handaxe, though smaller and less ornate than the swords, is a brutal weapon in close combat. The axe-wielder aims a powerful, sweeping blow at the veteran's side, hoping to catch him off guard using again phys magic trying to make a huge blow to his much faster opponent. Rudolf noticed his attempt, he hastily push kicked Alma's shield away and jumped high in the sky backwards. He landed on the iron dome far away from Aefrine's attack. He didn't wait though. He immediately jumped back at Aefrine who responded with his safeguard. This time it broke under the pressure.

Was it of bad quality or was Rudolf just too strong?

He didn't have time for useless questions, as a full range of sword attacks came his way. He was using phys magic on every part of his body that he deemed necessary, yet the Duke was just too fast for anything to be done. On multiple occasions, he definitely was in a terrible position that would accurately cost him his life. Alma was on her way, she was almost there. But then in that moment of hesitation, the axe went flying. He was now weaponless. Rudolf went for a stab at his stomach.

Aefrine didn't waste time, he barely dodged it and went to grab his arm with every muscle his body could offer, trying to force the sword out of his hand or at least to keep the Knight unable to move. As Alma made her strike, Rudolf showed off again his superior strength, magic usage and skills as he jumped once again into the sky. This time, Aefrine was still holding on to his arm even in mid-air. He thought that this would be a good chance to disarm him.

However, he was quickly sent back to earth with a strong crescent kick targeting his chest. He fell hard on the ground. His back hurt from such height but there was still no time to feel the pain, the jumping knight was back and aiming at his head. He moved every inch of his body to get out of the way. The sword made a deep hole luckily in the ground and not the boy's face. Aefrine was questioning if Rudolf was again trying to kill him ...

As he saw Alma finally make contact with Rudolf, he immediately went retrieving his axe that was far away. The clash of steel rings out as their swords meet in a series of rapid exchanges. The less experienced Alma attempted a combination of thrusts and slashes, trying to overwhelm her master with speed. Her speed was almost as fast as him.

He counters with sharp, controlled ripostes, testing the defences of his opponent. He easily read Alma's moves almost before they happened, giving him the upper hand. Alma tried giving a strong push again trying to make the old man lose his balance but her master prevailed resulting in both of them in the air. Rudolf was quick to exploit this as he kicked her away. However, unlike Aefrine, Alma landed on her feet. She tried to replicate the Duke's jump style. And a few moments later, they were both in the sky as the steel clashed mid-air.

The fight reached the iron dome again fast. And the swords continued to exchange fatal blows. Alma who isn't used to this new terrain quickly fell back. Knowing her limits, she hopped away in Aefrine's direction. Aefrine who had just got his axe and was rushing towards the fight while trying to think of a new strategy, noticed that Alma was able to jump as high as Rudolf.

Considering the Duke's experience, maybe he was just better at using phys magic.

The opponent was fast, strong, agile and had much better swordsman skills, just what was he supposed to do with an axe?

Maybe I should have gone with a stupid sword after all?

Rudolf jumped again and made another significant blow that made Alma right next to him.

"Use your bow! "

"What ?!"

"He said you could use any type of magic. If you use it better than that axe then do it!"

It was the first time they had talked since God knows when.

Well, he did say that ...here he comes...

He jumped again making another blow. This time it hit nobody since both avoided it.

You think that sword should have been broken by now.

Both of the underdogs were making small fast jumps to get as far as possible. The hopping Knight was back again, targeting Alma. Thinking of the situation, Aefrine tried making a huge jump towards the top of the iron dome. He only reached half of the way. He wasted no time, Alma didn't seem to last long. After a long time, he assembled his bow. It was a refreshing feeling.

He pulled the strings and a spirit arrow appeared and it was shot. It multiplied. Six arrows went straight for Rudolf. Alma who kept Rudolf's back facing Aefrine got out of the way. Rudolf took a quick look behind and dodged the attacks. For some reason, Aefrine was expecting him to slash them easily considering that Ryuji who is slower than him, did it with ease. He was now closing the distance between him and the archer. Aefrine was preparing his second barrage when Rudolf jumped high in the sky once again.

This is my chance. He can't dodge.

He shot at the approaching danger. However, to everyone's surprise, Rudolf put his empty hand forward and it emitted very cold air that turned the air within the next moment into an ice shield. All the arrows were blocked by this new bodyguard. As Aefrine desperately reached out for his axe from his belt, the Knight made his assault. In the few moments that his bow and the enemy's sword made contact, he could definitely hear the armoured head say :

"All types of magic are allowed for all of us. "