Everyone worked hard to get the best on the upcoming exams. After Rikken took the top five of their current positions, the compet.i.tion became even more fierce. The outcome of the exam decided whether they would be considered true Scribes. After a year of training, their knowledge and fighting skills were beyond average, but no one wanted to finish their journey so quickly. That's why they fell into a trance and devoted every spare moment to training or learning. They spent a lot of time together, and they were all tired and nervous. Sooner or later conflicts would have to start rising.

First, Mizar began to loudly question whether having a slave in Yagn-Sho is allowed. Zarkin replied that it certainly was more appropriate than forcing on the master to allow almost weekly permission to go out, supposedly home. Then Mizar declared that what was happening at his house was his business and no one should interfere.

"Oh, that's a good one!" Zarkin said so loudly that everyone in the training room could hear it even without pretending that they were watching the whole situation only by accident. "I'm not to interfere in your life, but you can in mine? What is it that you have to be present? Or rather, is this such a shameful thing? Why don't you want to share it?"

"Who said I don't want to?" Mizar quickly defended himself. "I'd love to tell my friends about it, you don't belong to them."

"Or maybe you go meet the hookers?" The blonde boy came up to him. "If you haven't figured it out yet, you started this by teasing me and Mei. I don't care what you do and with whom. I don't care about your family either, but if you want so much to have an enemy in me, I'll show you where you belong."

"How protective you are!" Mizar stepped forward so that they were almost touching their foreheads. "It used to be the 'stupid slave', early on and now she has a name! You think you're an aristocrat because you have a maid?!"

Zarkin snorted maliciously and pushed him with all his strength. Mizar quickly responded to the attack. He grabbed the boy by the s.h.i.+rt, and he knocked him over. The fight began. This argument was not a direct reason, it simply shed a cup of bitterness. They both managed to strike several times until finally Mizar jerked away and walked unsteadily.

"Coward!" Zarkin shouted after him. "What, are you afraid to finish me?"

"You're not worth it. Is this an official duel?"

"Is this what's stopping you? Okay, then I challenge you to an official duel tomorrow night at this place. Only you and me, no seconds or helpers."

Mizar heard these words and turned with mad anger in his eyes.

"What do you think, dirty slave, that once I spared you I'll keep doing it forever?" He clenched and loosened his fists a few times. "You'll regret even thinking about challenging me. If I win, you have to give Mei to me! I'll take this dear slave of yours!"

The hall was filled with a murmur of m.u.f.fled whispers. Zarkin bit his lower lip for a moment and gave Mizar a look of hatred.

"The deal is up," he said quietly.

*

"G.o.ds, look who has honored us," Seth exclaimed cheerfully when he saw Kalena climbing up the steps, 'Her Lowest Highness!'"

"I will break your legs in a moment and we will see who is the 'lowest highness'." The girl paused and stopped next to him. They both said it in a playful tone, so she hugged her friend, then lightly slapped his head. "This time I wasn't in the palace."

"Wherever you have been, you missed many things. Luckily you'll be able to see the duel."

Kalena did not understand what was going on, so the boy briefly explained the entire afternoon incident when they entered the main pavilion.

"I can't believe they are wasting their time," she said. "Exams will be soon, and they behave as if we were to spend a few more years here!"

"I wouldn't worry about Mizar and Zarkin's exam result. They have everything under control. The first year is just the basics, nothing to worry about."

"But a lot depends on it. It doesn't matter if it's basics, if you don't pa.s.s the test, you can say goodbye to Yagn-Sho and learning in general."

"You're exaggerating!" He grabbed her around the waist and tried to lift her, but she broke free. "You talk like Master Aymon."

They stopped in front of Kalena's room. She asked Seth to come in and sit with her, even though she was tired of the journey.

"Take this as a lesson," he continued, "watching someone's fight, you can look at some interesting moves and then use them. Or remember their weak points and then beat them."

He didn't ask about the reason for her absence, and she wasn't going to tell anyone about her illness. He would start treating her differently, spare her. Kalena didn't want a reduced fare from anyone, not even a friend.

In the bedroom, everything was as she had left it. Seth looked at her notes and nodded. She had a lot of backlogs, he didn't have to tell her that.

"I'll make some tea unless Galaspiael and I haven't drunk everything lately," Kalena finally remembered, it was rude not to give a guest anything and began to search the cupboard.

"Prince must like it very much? You've probably tried all the teas in the world here!"

That was true, her master was very fond of tea and often imported various types from afar. He offered her some, so she also liked the drink herself.

"It's tasty. Perfect on cold nights."

Seth smiled.

"G.o.ds! Some people think your teacher is indulgent but he always keeps you up so late. Sometimes I am asleep for a long time, and in your room, the light is still on. Then I think I should work harder. What are you doing?"

Kalena froze. She couldn't tell him that at night she had helped Galaspiael prepare the dynamite. Seth was from Madegald. She had to think of something quickly.

"Dynasties," she lied, "we started with Namanya because it's the story of his family. Then we reworked Si, Kaisei, and Laigan, and now he teaches me about the imperial family Huangjin, but we will probably limit ourselves to the last five hundred years."

*

Seth came again the next evening, to take Kalena to the training room where the duel was to take place. He brought, which he offered to every person he met.

"n.o.body should notice us, the light will be dim," he said. "All students will probably come."

When they arrived, it turned out he was right. Only Umi and Li were absent, but the rest of the students were present

"You come…" Zarkin laughed nervously. "And this brat's not here yet!

The boy constantly walked from corner to corner, looking at each coming person, waiting for his rival who did not appear for a long time. His face was pale and unruffled, his fists clenched tightly.

When Mizar finally arrived, he carefully scrutinized everyone and stopped at Zarkin.

"Are you ready?" He asked calmly.

"For a long time."

A dark smile appeared on the brunet's face. He had already planned everything and was sure of victory.

"Remember our deal! If I win..."

"Win first," he replied.

"Will you use real blades?" Kalena asked anxiously. They were both known for their fury and this could end badly for the losing side.

"No", Zarkin replied. "I would love to, but it is to be a melee. No weapons and no cheating."

The audience took places around the area, where students usually trained in pairs and both opponents stood facing each other. Zarkin looked at Mei and let out the air loudly. He felt his heart clench at the thought of giving her to anyone.

Mizar attacked, with incredible violence. Zarkin had to jump away to avoid getting kicked in the stomach.

They both fought great but had different styles. Zarkin did not keep the focus on the very beginning, so he devoted more time to defense, but he put a lot of strength into the attack. His movements were well thought out. Mizar has virtually forgotten about any techniques for using his opponent's strength. He focused mainly on finding a weak point to hit. At first, he unloaded his emotions, only after a few minutes did he realize that this was not a good idea, through which he could immediately lose all energy. He made this mistake from the very beginning of the training.

The fight looked quite similar to normal exercise for the first few minutes. Later, however, they allowed themselves more and more tricks normally unacceptable. At one point, Zarkin gained the upper hand. He grabbed Mizar by the wrist, turned, and made a fantastic move. Mizar cut him and quickly stood up, but for a moment he could not straighten up. Students gathered around responded with shouts of approval and applause.

"What do you think?" Seth had already eaten his fruit and was now turning the empty package rolled into a ball in his fingers.

"They make a lot of mistakes," Kalena said. "I didn't pay attention to that before."

"What an idiot! He should accept the punch and knock him down later!" Jin-Si vividly commented on every move. It was not known who she was actually supporting, it was up to whose victory was expected at the moment.

The tension grew with every minute. Everyone became excited when Mizar managed to punch Zarkin with a fist in the face.

"I can't believe it," Kalena shook her head. "From so many good moves, he chose to whack him like in a market. It's just silly!"

"You did the same thing once," said Nemina.

"It was something else. I didn't duel with him."

From this one blow, the shawl slowly began to move in favor of Mizar, who wanted to end the duel as soon as possible. He attacked with great fierceness, and finally knocked Zarkin down and grabbed him by the neck.

The fair-haired boy slipped out of the embrace and hit his opponent in the head with all his strength. He staggered, fell and lost his orientation for a moment. Zarkin did not wait for another chance and twisted his hand tightly. He held on tight despite Mizar struggling wildly. Finally, the dark-haired boy groaned loudly and patted the floor a few times with his other hand. The duel was over.

They both lay side by side panting for a moment.

Mei approached her master. She helped him to a sitting position and embraced him.

"Congratulations," she whispered, handing him a cup of water.

"Come on," he replied and drank everything with a few quick sips. "It wasn't a good fight. I could have done better."

"I'm so glad you won! I knew you will, but I thought something would happen and you would have to give me back. I was afraid..."

Zarkin turned to Mizar.

"You hear that b.a.s.t.a.r.d? You scared my slave. Now you have to apologize!"

The boy gave him a hateful look. He didn't want to make any move for a long time, but finally, he bent his left knee and looked at Mei.

"I apologize for my earlier words about you and you are..." he stopped and glanced at the blonde. "about him. Forgive me for frightening you with what I said."

Without waiting for her answer, he stood up, leaned on Kete's shoulder, and walked away quickly.