Rematch
The day of the duel arrived.
At dusk, the plains outside the city were empty and silent.
Are you ready?
Of course.
Very well. Then shall we begin?
I, Epindel of House Orlan, have come to reclaim my honor...
Let this insult be answered with either your blood or mine...
I didn't mean to go that far!
Fufu, I was only joking.
Please don't joke about things like that...
Though I jest about life and death, Captain...
The hawks of Orlan approach every battle with that kind of resolve.
...I know.
Then let's truly begin.
We took our stances.
En garde.
After watching Epindel for a while, I realized something.
She's done many battles, but not many sparrings.
Let's begin!
In sparrings, defeat leads to growth.
The opponent exposes your weakness and shows how to counter it.
Then you refine your technique to break their counter.
That's how martial arts evolve.
It's that move again...!
But in a real battle, defeat means elimination.
There's no such thing as a next time.
That's why Epindel kept her techniques hidden, refining them in isolation.
She only revealed them when she was certain her opponent couldn't react in time.
Which meant no one would ever learn how to counter her moves.
...By the same logic, neither would she.
She was unfamiliar with situations where someone counters hers.
Hyaa!
Our blades clashed. Sparks flew as steel scraped upward.
A strike aimed at my wrist. It was the same move that disarmed me on the first day.
This settles it. It's my vic—
We're not done yet.
What?! Ah?!
I could've dodged by pulling back.
But instead, I deliberately parried her blow harder than needed.
Because that was my way.
A sword went flying, spun through the air.
It was Epindel's.
Kyaaah!
That's my win.
...
...
...I admit defeat.
You are the victor, Captain. Congratulations.
I never imagined you'd figure out how to counter the Hawk's Hunt after seeing it just once...
Thanks for the compliment.
So, how are you going to improve it?
...Excuse me?
You just got countered using a move you were confident in.
How will you improve it?
How...?
...
You used brute strength to force an opening I couldn't react to.
I lost my balance and couldn't capitalize on the advantage of dual swords.
So next time, I'll keep the opponent close, use the short sword defensively, and focus the long sword on offense...
...Though I suppose it's a bit late for that now.
Then try it next time. Fight me again like that.
...Next time?
If that adjustment doesn't work...
Then think of something new.
...
So you challenged me to a duel just to say that?
Even if I told you to follow my methods...
You probably wouldn't have listened if I just said it.
Epindel has lived her life walking a tightrope.
One side is victory, the other is ruin.
You don't change someone like that with words.
But maybe, just maybe...
I'm not your rival or your enemy.
It's okay to let me see everything.
What lies beneath that image of the flawless highborn lady and the Falconet of Orlan.
Her fears. Her dislikes. Her shortcomings.
I'm your Captain.
I'd never betray you.
...
A rhino can't teach a hawk how to wield a blade.
But he can teach her how to deal with another rhino.
...
I don't fully understand what you just said, but...
...Sorry.
I have no idea what I'm saying either.
...
...Pfft.
Aren't you being a bit dramatic over a tie?
Next time... it won't be so easy.
There are no insurmountable flaws in Orlan's swordsmanship.
I'll be looking forward to it.
I walked back to the quarters with Epindel.
She usually walked a little ahead, but tonight, she stayed just a little closer.