The sun has finally set and we have made camp for the night. Of course everyone is exhausted. Those who aren't all-rounders will find this the worst part of their work, the battles aside of course. Many of them are going to start being irritable towards the end of the day, but thankfully it helps when we set up camp.

The knights have gathered in little circles near the fires and pull out dice to play games or start chatting and joking around. Since they're all tired it is a calm and still pretty happy atmosphere, with a few exceptions.

A few of the more scout-like knights appear to withdraw lightly from the conversations.

—-*—-

"Peony!" Vitis calls out cheerfully to the other third year Eric has been talking to earlier today. Vitis walk straight up to him and over-familiarly puts an arm around Peony's shoulder.

"We're playing charades and I need the best partner there is," Vitis says with a broad and warm smile.

"Which is not me, go find someone else Vitis," Peony says and tries to peel Vitis' arm off of his shoulder.

"What?! You're the best partner I could wish for! You always get me right!" Vitis looks somewhat sullen at Peony.

Peony looks as though he is debating the best course of action.

"There is no point," Peony finally concludes. Vitis looks undaunted.

"It helps teamwork, which is your weakness." Vitis' grin widened as though he's won a prize. I make a note that Vitis is all guts.

"You're pushy." I can't tell if Peony gives in or tries to cut the conversation short again, but Vitis just smiles back brightly.

"Of course! I want you to be friends with everyone so that they'll cover your back even if I'm not there. Now come on charades it is!"

Peony got pulled off.

—-*—-

I turn my attention back to the map in front of me. The original plan is to follow in the heels of the Tepet Knights and arrive at the Twilram pass. It's a pass made entirely from artificial mountains, and as such they're shaped somewhat oddly. Very cleanly. Unlike the mountains in the west and north they are incredibly sleek and has a lot of vertical cliffs that even have an outward angle at places. It is hostile towards any mammal inhabitants and doesn't provide opportunities for food other than a few bird species... from what I hear... I haven't actually seen these mountains before.

I've made artificial ponds and rivers, but never mountains. I'm curious, but there is another reason I am curious about the mountains. The magic in this world is much more efficient at destroying structures. When I found out about the artificial mountains I wondered why explosives were needed for the walls of Castle Celeste, and apparently it's because of an application of earth magic.

Remember how Alstair's shirt was sewn with thread of fire? It was protection, but the same could be done on large scale structures with enough time. Though every stone would have to be blessed... imagine the rebuilding nightmare we went through after the siege.

That aside, the artificial mountains are too large to be blessed the same way. This also means that people can dig their way through the mountains with magic. This would make it too easy for the Headal army to flank the Tepet army.

At least the area south of the pass is noted to be swamp area. One of the worst areas to get an army through. If they use fire the forest will burn too and ruin the surprise attack. They could use earth magic to make a little path over the water by drawing up the earth, but they might need a water mage to dry it out? It could work for them.

"Celeste-sama."

I peer up from the maps spread on the wagon in front of me. It's a fourth year, and he's carrying a... dissatisfied expression. I know that expression. He's dissatisfied with me, isn't he? Judging by his coat of arms he's the son of viscount Ruxder. Their territory borders ours so I have seen it before.

"My name is Arven Ruxder, Celeste-sama. I have come to the conclusion that I really cannot agree with having a woman on the front line. I am respectful and thankful of your achievements in the past, but at least allow us us to place you on the back line."

In other words, he's offering a compromise because of my previous achievements?

Honestly I was expecting something like this. It's polite of him to both offer a compromise, but also wait until the end of the day.

Of course, his words are quickly catching attention as well.

"Then I assume you are ready for a duel?" I confirm with him.

He blinks for a few moments with surprise.

"A... duel?"

"Of course. If you win I will step back, if not then I will hear no further complaints from you on this matter."

I pull back from the carriage.

"You're doubting my competence, that calls for a duel."

He stares at me for a moment and replies in a rushed voice.

"What? No! I- It's just that you're a woman and as men we should protect you!"

That's exactly the problem here. Fine, let's go along with this.

"Why must you protect me?" I'll challenge your views a bit.

"...Because you are physically unsuited for the battlefield, and because you're precious. You give birth to children."

I raise an eyebrow and then slowly nod.

"Women are indeed smaller than men, but some men are smaller than others, and it is not unusual to have an opponent significantly larger than yourself if you aren't that tall. The difference would be about the same. Besides, I am one woman, and there is a sister to take over for me. As such, I challenge you to a duel, not as a woman, but as a person declared too weak to take care of myself. I belong on the front line and my potential is only fulfilled there."

He stares at me quietly and thinks it over. Meanwhile I feel the many curious eyes on us. Whispers have spread through camp and the number of curious eyes increase rapidly.

"I understand, I accept." he finally agrees.

In an instant the air bursts with voices and tension. I motion Arven to follow me to a cleared area for the duel to start. We agree on using training equipment, of course.

I pick up a good looking dried broken branch from the ground and break off the subbranches. Arven picks out a proper training sword instead. Our training swords are mostly short swords, but there are indeed longswords. The reason I picked a branch instead is because it would be a waste of training equipment if I wield it.

I glance down at the branch for a moment and take a small breath. I'll need to prove myself properly. The secret is already out among the Celeste knights, and they've lightly only kept quiet till now because of Eric. Most of them appear to respect me, but they may just be staying quiet... I don't know them, so of course I don't understand their view on me either.

I bow politely to Arven, who politely bows back. Usually we would have seconds try to talk it out, but it appeared that Arven was aware that this could only be settled and calmed with a show of force. If not then it is merely a matter of time until the next one appears.

I get into stance and gaze calmly at the young man in front of me. He's a sword and shield fighter. Arven won't be using lethal magic, so I should prepare for knock-back and blocking magic. As for Arven, he'll either come right at me or hide behind his shield... if he tries to knock me over then he'll go for the throat. If he blocks then I need to go through it.

First, I'll need to get around the wooden shield. Should I use magic though? I'll use the spells I'd have running on a battlefield. These are only speed and strength enhancements though, but it should let me get through any knockdown spells. I use one more strength spell for flair. Even without enhancements I would guess I am stronger than Arven, so with the enhancements I should be able to break through his physical defense.

Even though their magic is more free than mine when it comes to the mana, they still need formulas and techniques. They cannot use the magic all freely but need to make a proper template just like us. Though, their template is a 'message' to their fairy rather than a prayer to a god.

In other words, his actions depends on what spells he has learned. Considering that they spar a lot there should definitely be both types of spells. Though the block could be limited to other magic.

I begin to chant my prayers as he gets properly into stance and watches me carefully. He's studying the way I use magic. It's clever, the vocalization is another weakness of my magic. In addition it cannot be cast while fighting, though I can move away.

"Ready?"

Another fourth year volunteered as a judge. As for Asher? He's watching interested from the side lines. He's expecting a beating... I feel like I am being overestimated.

I take my three breaths.

"Ready," we both agree, and with that the duel begins. I take a calm breath as my body seems to explode with motion and lock my eyes on him like a feline on its prey... yet my view darkens as a small wave of water attempts to knock me back. It's fine, get in a stable stance and keep pushing against the wave. He will likely come right at me.

The water rips and pulls at me roughly, and certainly most would have been knocked over by this if they weren't prepared, but like hell I will fall for a weaker version of the spell I myself am specialized in using!

My vision clears as the water passes by me. I go in for an attack in that little moment of surprise after I didn't get knocked over though I didn't use magic to defend.

I swing the branch with every little bit of strength as I step in slightly. I should hit the shield with the middle of the branch. I'm not going for his shield, I'm going for forcing his should down with enough force to hit his shoulder.

The wind whines at the swing, and for yet another moment Arven looks confused as I unexpectedly aim directly at his shield rather than somewhere else. I have no shield of my own, if I fail he expects it'll be his turn.

The next moment splinters are sent flying. The shield cracks lightly from the shock. Arven's shoulder slumps with a jerk from the violent impact and with a brutal crack the branch hits his shoulder.

A scream escapes his lips as I look to the mostly splintered branch. It hasn't really held out, but since his shield arm should be out of use, then I should be able to finish this next hit.

Arven is gripping his shoulder and has gone pale in an instant. If I had used a proper sword then I'd torn right through the shield and the arm holding it. Don't mess around with great-swords and people with the strength to use them.

Arven gives off a hiss and looks down to the shield with momentary disbelief. Then up at me with this... look of discomfort...

He then lowers his head and kneels properly.

"...I surrender."

Your shield arm is quite numb, isn't it? At least he realizes that he would be in trouble.

"...I accept your surrender, Arven Ruxder."

I bow graciously and kneel down, putting the branch down on the ground. It served well.

Many things could have gone wrong. If he has been earth aspected then things would have been a lot harder. Despite the apparent impact, I feel dissatisfied. I should improve more. I want to be properly able to get around the shield.

The people around us are awkwardly quiet. Only Asher speaks out naturally.

"As expected of Celeste-sama. Your strength is awe-inspiring." Honestly, I probably wouldn't have been able to get around his shield if we hadn't been using magic. Once you turn the weapons into sticks and branches things change when a shield is involved.

Arven gets up slowly, probably trying to feel if anything is broken. As for Arven's shoulder, he should regain feeling in it in a few minutes or so. He doesn't seem agitated though. He appears quite calm and actually bows as I did.

Hopefully this will be the last time for a while I deal with this. A tinge of worry in my chest makes me wonder if I ended up distancing myself more from them than I would have by just talking it out...