Chapter 9

  As Drakkel traveled to Hell’s Mayhem where their duel would take place, along with talks about the duel he overheard another piece of information on the road.

  As a group of people passed, he heard them talk.

  “Did you hear? the Emperor made marriage with people of the same gender legal!”

  “Why would he? Everyone knows that marriage is between a man and a woman!”

  “I don't know, but there were already rumors floating around about certain people being together. Even an Emperor from the past had rumors circulating around this..”

  “You don't think that the current Emperor…”

  “We probably shouldn't talk about it! If the ruler of the Empire wants to make a law, who can say otherwise? I heard the officials already disapproved but he went ahead and did it anyway!”

  “I personally don't think it matters. After all, he's done good things since he took the throne! Didn't he marry someone from the Kingdom of Boray to foster a better relationship with them and to deal with the discrimination their people have been facing?”

  “I guess that's true..”

  Same sex couples were frowned upon in the world, warranting hate, arrest, and sometimes death, but the Emperor seemed to have just made it legal.

  Drakkel didn't think much of it. He was only of the mind that as long as no one was getting hurt, there would be no need to fret over such a thing.

  When Drakkel met the young man named Rillian Adore at Hell’s Mayhem, he didn't know what to think. He was unique in look with blonde hair and large brown eyes. Although Drakkel was considered tall, this man was just a bit taller than him. His demeanor was tough and sturdy and his look conveyed a sort of indifference. If one were to describe him, they would say he was quiet and reserved.

  However, when the man's eyes met Drakkel's, his icy gaze warmed and became like a raging flame.

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  The two stood in the middle of a small flat area surrounded by spikes jutting out from a deep abyss.

  This place was called Hell’s Mayhem because only those well-versed in the Sword Step technique could hope to survive the terrain.

  Looking around, one would see that a few other Sword Fighters had come to watch the incoming fight from the safety of the flat land surrounding the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Sword’s Wind’s ability.

  Rillian Adore cupped his hands and bowed to Drakkel to show appreciation for accepting the duel.

  Drakkel gave him a nod as was customary for a response.

  Then, he stuck out a hand and gestured for Rillian Adore to attack first.

  Rillian Adore bowed his head before using his sword step to quickly close the distance between them.

  Drakkel dodged all of Rillian Adore’s attacks with ease- a strike from the left, one from the right and even a kick.

  Only when Rillian Adore began to infuse his attacks with sword energy, did Drakkel draw his sword, Swift Wind’s Breeze, and begin to use the spikes surrounding the small flat area as fighting terrain.

  Calm and collected he handled each and every one of Rillian Adore's blows as they hopped from spike to spike. He even used some of his movements to instruct him on how to better execute an attack.

  Rillian Adore's learning ability was excellent and he took the advice in stride, changing up each attack according to Drakkel's instruction.

  But after a while, with every collision of their swords, Drakkel could feel a disturbance within his sword energy. It seemed to be staggering a bit.

  Thinking it was just a minor issue, he returned to the small middle area and continued to fight.

  However, this minor condition soon escalated. In only a few seconds his body became weakened and his sword energy was thrown into disarray. Like a turbulent sea during a terrible storm, his sword energy began to flow unevenly. He knew that if this went on, he was going to suffer a sword energy deviation. At that moment he decided to end the battle quickly. By then, he could identify the cause of the disturbance and address it. But with his sword energy in disarray and his body following, his attacks inevitably weakened.

  Far too soon and without knowing it, he had lost most of his power.

  By the time he realized he could no longer beat Rillian Adore, it was too late to do anything about it.

  Rillian Adore shoved him to the floor with the weight of his sword and he couldn't easily get up.

  With his back against the ground and looking up at Rillian Adore, he had to admit defeat.

  Still processing what had occurred, he had accepted Rillian Adore hand in helping him up and as his strength faltered. Rillian Adore gazed at him expectantly, probably waiting for him to explain why he let him beat him so badly.

  After all, it was one thing to lose gracefully to one weaker than yourself and another to completely fall on your face.

  Drakkel wanted to offer up an explanation.

  But when he opened his mouth, the words didn't come out

  Instead, he coughed and blood leaked from his lips.

  And it was then that everything changed.

  Like the shifting of the tides, the eyes of those around him which were at first gazing at him in awe, began to stare at him disapprovingly.