"Speaking of the Nightmare" said Kat "Is it still around? It doesn't actually seem to be in the memory, I can't see it anywhere in this room"
Minor shook her head "The Nightmare is certainly still around. It isn't that it was banished, this is an extension of the other memory. It has simply moved to a more appropriate venue"
Kat nodded as a gong rang out over the area "What the heck was that" asked Kat
"It is the call to battle" said Minor "It is used for all official duels, though, the last official duel was many many years ago"
At this, Chiharu froze and Shizuka turned to face the door to exit the small room. Chiharu bit her lips as she said "I suppose it is time then. Not even I can stop this now"
Shizuka nodded "I know what I am doing, and I won't lose"
Shizuka stepped out, and Kat was dragged along as well. The room vanished as it was replaced by a large circular ring in the open air. The platform was suspended on a large circle, and as Shizuka took her steps forwards towards the centre, the small room they were in was lowered to the ground.
"Why are we so high up" said Kat
"It is tradition. Our duels are supposed to be free from interference. There is actually a hidden referee's box if you look to our left. The eyes of the referee can just barely see the field" said Minor while pointing to the left
Kat enhanced her eyes slightly and looked at the direction in question and saw a thin line and box, just barely above floor level. *Huh, so there is.*
Across from Shizuka was her opponent. While Shizuka's outfit was clearly a basic training set, Reverendi's had been specially customised. It was tight around his figure emphasising the few muscles he possessed. There was also a golden design, that consisted of a series of lines across his robe, that pulled your eyes towards his two tails.
The pair walked to the centre where Shizuka presented the papers she had behind her back "These are the relevant forms. The first is a magical contract signifying you are acting on behalf of your house to be signed by you alone.
"And the one underneath that is for both of us stipulating that you are offering up your family's ancient scroll collection for my hand in marriage. Would you like to look over them before we begin?" said Shizuka sweetly.
Reverendi tried to look unswayed but his demeanour did pale slightly at the news "Of course not. I trust your honour as the princess of this nation"
Shizuka nodded, summoning a sigil. Reverendi flinched instantly and reached for the sword on his back but stopped when a table of ice appeared in front of Shizuka, who was giving Reverendi a confused look.
Shizuka didn't say anything as she laid out the two considerably sized stacks of paper. She then moved over the left stack pulling out a quill deliberately stabbing it into her finger before signing the contract in front of her.
In Reverendi's well practice false bravado couldn't withstand the psychological beating Shizuka was engaging in. "Is there a problem? You do know that magical contracts need to be signed in blood?"
"They do?" said Reverendi and Kat at the same time.
Shizuka smiled lightly and handed him the pen, while Minor spoke up "They don't actually. You just need to put a bit of your mana into the pen and it will work, but technically blood can as well. My sister is just terrorising the boy at this point"
Kat nodded. *Major is a lot more vicious than I gave her credit, she gave me a nice place to sleep, was instrumental in my summoning on an easy job according to the system, and she was nothing but polite.*
*It seems though, she has a cunning streak a mile wide. It makes me wonder if Minor has something up her sleeve. She seems so much sweeter but she had to live in Major's head for quite a long time… surely she picked something up?*
Reverendi shakily took the offered pen and proceeded to stab his finger as Shizuka had done. It was of course, not as well practiced and his hand was shaking. This meant that instead of a light cut, he simply rammed the pen into his finger without drawing blood.
Shizuka made a point of not even reacting to the failed attempt. Reverendi glanced at her for a second, but grit his teeth when he saw the impassive stare Shizuka was giving him. Slamming the pen down again, he failed to draw blood and stifle the grunt of pain.
"Do you need assistance Lord Merintorps" said Shizuka icily
Reverendi shuddered at the cold voice, and near venom dripping from Shizuka's mouth. He shook his head quickly and reached back to grab his sword. As he touched it, the weapon shrunk, becoming nothing larger than a toothpick.
He slid the weapon along the middle of his finger causing it to blood, before using the blood in question to sign his name beside Shizuka's and on his own contract. Shizuka nodded as he did this and gathered the papers, before walking over the referee's box.
When she reached it, Shizuka handed them into the box, where they were snatched up by an indistinct figure inside. "Thank you" said Shizuka as she walked back to the centre.
Once she was in position the sound of Chiharu's voice rang out across the platform. "A duel of contract has been initiated. The competitors have agreed to the terms, and now as per tradition the rules shall be outlined and then the fight shall commence
"One item other than training gear may be used, wherein sets of armour, or duel weapons count as single items. The winner is decided when one side yields or when one side is unable to continue fighting, either through being knocked from the arena or being physically incapable.
"The arena has been enchanted to prevent death. Any attempt to circumvent this enchantment will result in the immediate execution of the perpetrator and the forfeiture of the duel.
"All, bear witness to this sacred right, and by the sound of the gong, and the power I wield let the duel commence' said Chiharu.
Shizuka and Reverendi separated slightly, standing at the halfway point between the centre and the edge of the platform, one across from each other. Once they were in position a deep gong sounded out across the arena.
Kat tensed, and further reinforced her eyes to see what was about to happen. Both fighters jumped into action instantly. Reverendi enlarged his sword to its original size, and charged towards Shizuka.
Shizuka for her part started to summon a number of two ringed sigils around her. From their centre, chunks of sharpened icicles emerged, but held steady. Just before Reverendi entered striking range, Shizuka summoned a single circle sigil, and all the icicles exploded into motion.
Reverendi reacted with fear, drastically enlarging his weapon, and using it as a shield, cowering behind it. When he expanded it, the sword managed to dig slightly into the ground halting his momentum.
Icicles slammed against the sword, ringing out as each successive impact made contact. As Reverendi hid, Shizuka kept up her work. Summoning other sigils off to the left and right, she waited till her initial barrage was finished, before sending them all forth again.
Reverendi seeing himself surrounded, poured mana into his chest piece which started to glow, before the sigil in its centre lit up and a bubble appeared around him. The icicles seemed to be absorbed by the shield. Kat looked closely with her enhanced vision, and noticed that as the icicles made contact, they turned wispy and then got sucked into the shield
"I see it" said Kat "His shield is absorbing the ice, that must be what the Nightmare has changed"
Minor shook her head "Sadly, he actually cheated like this originally. Shizuka has a plan for it, but it is disheartening. Technically she should have called the duel her win then and there… but well. My sister likes to show off more than is healthy"
Kat noticed that Minor was right. As the second barrage of icicles started to dwindle Shizuka was making her way behind the cowering figure of Reverendi. He had recovered some of his poise with his shield, but still remained wary
"What exactly is that shield anyway" asked Kat
"A spell specialised in blocking ice and water magic. They are similar enough it works with both, a great detriment to Shizuka" said Minor
"So what is the weakness then? Surely no spell is just better" said Kat
Minor nodded and pointed to Shizuka who had made her way behind the shield without being noticed.. Taking a fighting stance, Shizuka bounced on her feet twice, before charging in, and bringing an open palm down on the shield currently protecting Reverendi. It popped like a soap bubble, leaving nothing but air between Shizuka and her victory