Chapter 5: Score

Every week, Noah and the other cadets were put through the revelry exercise, and each time, a different class would take place in the slums. Word of Noah’s agility had reached the teachers, so he was always picked to be a runner, and unlike in Sir Kiev’s class, he and his fellow cadets were armed. He spent the frosty mornings and dark afternoons running among the shacks and dodging his pursuers. He had maintained his winning streak so far, but the margin was shrinking. The cadets became more accustomed to the environment and tactics with each passing week.

Today had been his archery class, and his usual bad luck with arrows had decided to rear its ugly head. Just like the academy’s spears, the arrows had blunt ends, but the pain of being shot was on par with a paintball, and he had already accumulated several bruises by the time class ended. He was glad to finally return to the academy, more so when he reached the bathhouse. He wanted badly to soak his bruises and head to dinner, but he was stopped before he could reach the door.

Five cadets clustered in front of him, three he recognized from the barracks and two from the mid-level dorms. All five of them had nervous looks, sheepish.

“Hey, Noah, we hear you’re a pretty sneaky guy,” the apparent leader said.

Noah was hesitant to reply. “In what regards precisely?”

“The runner drill, you’re uncatchable. Everyone knows it,” one claimed.

“That’s why we need your help with something.”

“Something that can only be spoken of quietly? That should be your first clue not to ask.”

“Listen, we have a golden opportunity, something that might interest you. You know that closet around the corner from the women’s baths?”

“I think I know where you’re going with this...”

“The back wall isn’t actually a wall. It’s a door leading to a hidden passage that runs behind the bathhouse wall. Some of the stones in the wall of the women’s bath aren’t actually stones. Supposedly, they’re special windows that you can look through if you’re behind them. We’re about to give it a shot. We figured you could help us out.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m going to pass. You guys have fun.”

They seemed disheartened, and one of them even got defensive. “You’re not going to rat us out, are you?”

“I don’t care personally or morally enough to do that. Now, if you don’t mind, I have some bruises that are crying for hot water.”

They scurried off, and Noah made his way to the men’s baths, but his hand stopped before he could open the door. An idea had just popped into his mind. True, ratting on them wouldn’t be very entertaining, but sabotaging them would be. He usually abstained from these things, but he couldn’t ignore such an easy justification. He cast his invisibility and went after the five cadets, finding them in the aforementioned closet. To his surprise, the passage did exist. The sidewalls of the closet were stone and brick, just like the rest of the academy, but the back wall was wood, and they had busted through into a hidden compartment that ran the length of the women’s bath.

He could hear them in the dark, whispering and complaining that they couldn’t see anything. Standing outside, Noah reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a small book. He flipped it open to a particular page, where a snakeskin had been glued to the paper. It belonged to the blue viper, a snake commonly found further out west and known for its loud warnings, extreme aggression, and horrifying venom. It was the perfect field test. He summoned an illusionary serpent with the skin and piloted it into the hidden passage. Getting it to hiss like a real snake was the tricky part, but the five cadets got a bigger thrill than they expected.

Meanwhile, in the women’s bath, Alexis had just gotten comfortable and was lucky enough to be joined by Sophia.

“I heard we’re having fish stew tonight,” said Alexis.

“Ugh, I hate fish stew. Either it tastes terrible, or it’s nothing but bones.”

“I know, right? How do they mess up fish that bad? They only use maybe four ingredients, and it somehow tastes the exact opposite of fish.”

“It’s not even fish. It’s like boar testicles soaking in goblin blood.”

“It’s mushy barnacles seasoned with the tears of children.”

“It was probably concocted as a way to torture prisoners.”

“I bet that stew was mentioned in someone’s suicide note.”

“Marauders eat it before a raid to kill their conscience. It’s ... Wait, did you hear that?” Alexis asked.

“Hear what?”

“I thought I heard a noise. It was coming from—”

THUMP!

Both of them heard it, coming from the nearby wall. It was followed by a third and fourth and even the sounds of muffled voices. As it continued, the other women in the baths began to notice, especially when the voices turned into outright screaming and the wall itself began to shake. Many instinctively grabbed towels to cover themselves, a wise choice, as the wall finally crumbled from a poorly-executed spell and the five cadets tumbled in.

One of them, Cadet Higgins, looked up and found himself the recipient of countless angry glares. “There uh ... there was a snake...” he stuttered.

Autumn had progressed around the academy, and this morning was more than a little frosty, making it unpleasant for the cadets who had to stand at attention. Normally, they’d be running laps, and at that moment, many wished it was just a typical day. The entire academy was observing the five cadets, tied shirtless to logs staked into the ground. They could be seen shivering from both the cold and their fear.

With sunlight now a valuable commodity, Commandant Ford didn’t waste any time. “You five cadets have been found guilty of the crime of voyeurism, as well as damaging academy property. You have shamed yourselves, your families, and this institution, and will each be punished with fifteen lashes. Be grateful I don’t expel you after. Sir Kiev, if you would please...”

Sir Kiev stepped forward with a bucket of water and moved behind the first cadet, crying and begging for mercy. He reached into the water and pulled out a leather whip, soaked for an extra sharp strike. He swung the cord, and everyone winced. CRACK! The young man’s back was slashed to the sound of his anguished cries. The second strike came before he could catch his breath, once more causing all of the cadets watching to tense up.

Third, fourth, fifth, they came and raised the volume of the cadet’s shouts, only to drop as he lost the strength to react. After the fifteenth, Sir Kiev handed out the punishment to the next cadet, and so on to the rest. Higgins, or rather “Piggins” as many called him, released a fitting squeal when he was struck. Eventually, the whip was put away, and the five cadets were untied now with bloody backs. Their wounds were covered to prevent infection, but they were denied healing magic or potions, as well as exemption from classes.

The rest of the cadets were more than happy to be able to finally head to the mess hall, even though most of them had lost their appetites. Throughout breakfast, everyone was either extra talkative or extra quiet. The five cadets, still recovering from their wounds, ate together in an isolated corner of the mess hall, as no one wanted to be associated with them. Today, everyone had something on their mind, including Alexis.

“Hey, Noah, you have that weird magic that lets you ... disappear, right?” It was rare to see her nervous like this.

“I become invisible, but yes.”

“You haven’t ever...”

“Committed the crime of voyeurism? No, I haven’t.” He answered nonchalantly and continued to eat, but it didn’t quite put her at ease.

“I have a hard time believing any man with that ability wouldn’t ... use it for that.”

Noah glanced at her as though looking over the rims of a pair of glasses. “Alexis, I don’t need to spy. If I want to see the women here naked, I can just get them naked. Though we’d have to do in their rooms, as I certainly couldn’t take them back to the barracks.”

“Good God,” she groaned.

“Hey, you asked. But maybe you’re right; maybe I am wasting my talent. Thanks for giving me the idea.”

“All right, sorry for asking.”

“No, I’m serious. Leave a chair out for me where I’ll have the best view of everyone.”

Before she could tell him off, Sir Kiev entered the hall. “Cadets, stand at attention for the commandant!”

‘What now?’ Noah and the others thought as they got to their feet. They stood with perfect posture as Commandant Ford appeared from behind Kiev. He began walking through the hall, silently scrutinizing the cadets.

“Considering what you all witnessed outside, I had considered postponing this announcement for another day when your minds were clear. However, perhaps now is the best time to speak to you about honor. You have all made it through the summer months, which is no small feat. If it was, then I would not be doing my job. I see you carry your weapons proudly and understand the burdens of skill they demand. Think of your weapons as your rewards, for now that each of you is armed and somewhat capable, you are entitled to a special privilege: dueling.

For those of you who don’t know, every member of the knighthood is inducted into the dueling registry. It is an archive of official battles that is available to the public, meaning that anyone, commoner or noble, can find out how many victories or defeats you’ve experienced. It will be the foundation of your reputation as a knight.

Dueling may be used to settle disputes of honor and insult, which will also be recorded. Losing as the challenger is far worse than losing as the challenged, so think carefully before issuing one. Along with losing prestige, defeated challengers must fulfill one request of the winner, agreed upon by both parties before the match, but the standard challenger payment is a silver coin.

As cadets, you can only wager what physically belongs to you on academy grounds, so no demands of land or family favors, nor can you challenge another cadet simply because they have something you want. All duels must be officiated by an impartial knight one rank above yourselves. We teachers will fulfill that role and provide you with the rest of the rules. You can only duel in the hours before dinner, and challenges cannot be made during your lessons. Once challenged, participation is mandatory. To declare a duel is a decision that can affect the livelihoods of the participants and their families. Do not be hasty in how you wield this power. Good day.”

He departed, and the cadets returned to their seats, briefly silent until several linked together into a gossiping hivemind. Rather than sitting back at his table, Gideon remained standing. He strolled over to a group of nobles and pointed at one, whom Noah recognized from his sword class as Sorn Highroar. “You, I challenge you to a duel. We’ll fight today.”

“I don’t even know who you are!” the young man replied.

“Just call me Gideon.” He then glared at the other nobles. “After him, the rest of you are next.”

Now that the ice was broken, a few other cadets started to get up and cross the room to begin issuing challenges. Only the challenged could make winning requests, but the honor and boost to one’s standing were worth the risk for many.

Noah turned to Alexis. “I had a feeling they’d implement something like this. Hopefully, things don’t get too bloody from here on out.” Alexis didn’t respond, staring down at her own balled fists before getting to her feet. “I suggest you sit back down.”

He said it gently, but she still turned to him with a harsh glare. “Excuse me?” she asked without her teeth parting.

“You want to go after that prince, right? I’m sure you have your reasons, but think about what you could win versus what you could lose if you challenge him. Dueling is going to create ripples in everything here at the academy. You should study the flow before you dive in. Take your time and wait for your moment.”

Once breakfast was over, Noah brought his empty tray and dishes back to the kitchen, but when he turned around, he found himself face to face with Prince Seraph.

“Cadet Noah, I challenge you to a duel. I’m going to prove to everyone that I’m the better warrior!”

Numerous challenges had already been made, but it was Seraph’s that drew all the cadets’ attention in the mess hall. Their eyes were on Noah, awaiting his response.

“No.”

He put his tray down and walked away. Seraph stormed over and grabbed him by the shoulder. “You don’t get to say no! You’ve been challenged, and you will fight!”

Noah brushed his hand away. “Sorry, but I have things to do. Go play with someone else.”

The surrounding cadets exchanged looks of confusion and disgust as Noah continued walking.

“You can’t just walk away!”

“And yet I am, isn’t that strange? Some evil spell must be at work here, moving my legs when all reason says I should be standing still!”

“Coward! You have no honor!”

“You’re right, I don’t, but good for you for figuring it out. Really, amazing deduction skills. Isn’t that right, folks? Come on, let’s all give Prince Seraph a round of applause!” He began loudly clapping his hands while heading for the door. “So incredible! So brilliant! You really are the greatest!”

He passed through the mess hall doors, and Seraph chased after him, only to find an empty corridor. Having watched the exchange, Alexis heard a malicious voice behind her.

“My, my, your friend has no honor whatsoever.” She spun around to face Prince Galvin, smirking just like every other time they met. Behind him was Sophia, carrying hers and his bags like a proper servant, much to Alexis’s anger. “I had heard such stories about how he went head to head with Lady Zodiac, but it seems it was just a fluke, or more likely, a cheat.”

“You would know all about cheating, wouldn’t you? When was the last time you ever won something honestly? Without your mother helping you?” she hissed.

“Oh, are you trying to bait me into challenging you to a duel? That’s just the kind of thing I would expect you to do. You’re always so violent and brutish.”

“You insult my friend and then accuse me of--!”

He laughed her off. “Take it easy; you’re making a scene. I just wanted to let you know that if you want to challenge me, I’m ready whenever you are.” He then stepped closer so that only she would hear him, close enough that Alexis was sorely tempted to spit in his face. “But whatever you do to me, I’ll do to her, ten times worse.”

Alexis’s stomach was twisted into knots, and her chest was filling with mud, but her hands burned with the flames of her rage, unsure of whether they wanted to beat him to death, strangle the life from him, or gouge out his eyes. She looked at Sophia, saw her hopelessness, and almost gave in to her bloodlust, but her love shook her head, warning her to stop. Alexis gritted her teeth, feeling like she was going to retch, and with all her strength, she turned around and walked away.

‘I’m so sorry, Sophia. This is all my fault.’

Shield class. It was the most hated part of the week for many, while others found it somewhat comforting. When they weren’t studying techniques, all the cadets had to work together on a task. The job was to dig a giant pit, with each class taking turns expanding it. The rules were that the depth and diameter had to always be the same and that they could use nothing but their shields to dig with. They were shaped like shovelheads, with a strong handle and a leather arm strap.

Every cadet would have to punch the bottom or the sides of the pit to break up the hard clay with the tip of their shield, pile on the dirt, and then carry it out to be dumped onto the growing pile. After months of digging, it could hold as much water as an Olympic swimming pool. Luckily, they enjoyed the seasonal butter zone, where the summer sun no longer baked their backs, but nights weren’t cold enough to freeze the ground.

It was filthy, sweaty, exhausting, and painful work, and everyone fought to ignore the fact that they’d just end up filling the pit back in at the end of the year. To distract themselves, the cadets would gossip whenever they could, and of course, the main subject was Noah’s refusal to duel the prince. However, watching over them was Sir Kiev, making sure no one slacked off. He was quick to yell at anyone talking or resting too much.

Noah had found a way to avoid his wrath and was taking a break while his clone did his job for him. Since it was only an illusion, it couldn’t actually break up the earth or carry it, but it could convincingly mimic the movements and sounds. Every now and then, he’d work for real and haul up some dirt for the sake of appearances. He sat in the shade, invisible, trying to meditate while everyone else worked. Meditation helped restore his mana.

“All right, that’s enough digging for now. Back to training,” Kiev barked.

This was his typical lesson plan. He’d have the cadets dig until they were sore and exhausted, then pair off and pit them against each other, with and without shields. They’d stand in circles ten feet in diameter and fight just like in the enrollment brawl, trying to knock each other out of the ring. If they were barehanded, they’d duke it out with punches and kicks, using the styles and moves that Kiev taught them. If they had shields, they’d take turns slamming into each other’s defenses, trying to force their opponent back rather than cause harm. What had initially been so easy at the start of the year was now taking more and more effort as the cadets figured out their footing and how to properly brace themselves.

Like everyone else, Noah was happy to arrive at the bathhouse after class, but it was not as peaceful as he hoped it would be.

“What are you doing, turning down a challenge from the prince?!”

“Ungrateful bastard, I’d give my right arm for the opportunity! The challenger payment is too good to ignore!”

“This is going to make us all in the barracks look bad!”

The complaining came from the three Thuln brothers, stupid and noisy as always. They were usually easy to avoid since they could be heard from a mile away, but now they had Noah cornered and were bombarding him with their full-volume gripes. He ignored them, never even making eye contact as he changed out of his uniform and headed into one of the baths.

All around him, cadets were talking about duels, and few people were paying any attention to Noah, at least beyond shooting him dirty looks. That changed when Seraph entered and spotted him.

“You! You owe me a duel! I’m not going to stop until I’ve beaten you.”

Noah sighed. “Look, Prince, maybe a bathhouse isn’t the best place to challenge men to swordfight.” The room’s acoustics worked to Noah’s advantage, and in seconds, loud snickering was bouncing off the walls from countless cadets.

“You think you’re so smart? You’re nothing more than a court jester but without the backbone,” Seraph growled.

“You want to be the greatest warrior? Fine, I hereby acknowledge you as the greatest warrior. You are superior to me in every way, oh mighty prince. May no one ever again question your supremacy. If you write it down, I’ll even sign it. Are you happy now? Everyone here is a witness to your eternal glory.”

“Don’t you patronize me! I’m going to grind you into the dirt!”

“No, you’re not.” Noah stood up and grabbed a towel. “I’m not interested in being a prop for you to indulge your ego. If you want to fight someone, go stomp on the Thuln brothers.”

After his trip to the bathhouse, he met Alexis for lunch, only to find her in a sour mood.

“Why didn’t you accept the challenge?” she asked coldly.

“Not you too.”

“There is no honor in running from a fight.”

“Honor doesn’t pay your debts, fill your belly, or keep you warm at night. That shit just gets you killed.”

Alexis sighed angrily. “Did you miss the part where the commandant said that participation in a duel is mandatory?”

“No, but I must have missed what the actual punishment is. The way I see it, until I’m actually face-to-face with a figure of authority and personally handed an ultimatum to duel, I don’t have to do it. I’m still waiting to hear what the consequences are, and a loss of my honor doesn’t really cut it.”

“I thought you were better than that.”

“Well, I’m not, and for someone who so vehemently opposes living as a noble, you sure care a lot about how people think of you.”

“That’s because I’m joining the knighthood to make things better, to change the system on the inside, and I can’t do that as an outcast! I want to be a hero to the people, like Lady Zodiac.”

“Lady Zodiac didn’t kill that ogre tribe or rescue that boat full of slaves. Historians will never know that a disobedient girl, an outcast, stole a family antique and got people killed to fulfill her own definition of justice. So tell me something, what was more important back then? Honor or results? Believe me when I say that sometimes an outcast willing to dirty their hands can get more done than a hero who worries about opinions.”

Alexis shifted through several expressions, each befitting of a rejected response before she could even speak it. She finally took a deep, exhausted breath. “Why did you even come to the academy? To the knighthood?”

“The same reason you did, as the means to an end.”

After lunch, Noah’s next class was history, the history of Uther and the surrounding countries. Unfortunately, these lands passed through the possession of so many ethnic groups and city-states that getting a clear, consistent record was difficult. It was no surprise that the line between history and mythology was almost nonexistent. Many archives were written by elves who had not witnessed the actual events but simply recorded the rumors and stories they heard. Still, Noah found it fascinating.

“Under the rule of King Jord III, the dwarven nation of Vandheim expanded northwards, often coming into conflict with the human-descended beastmen tribes who lived in the Ashok Mountains. It was in year 278 of the Second Dynasty that a peace treaty was struck between Vandheim and the various tribes, known as the Tiefedel Offemmil, otherwise known as the Pact of the Deep Gem and Open Sky, in which everything on the ground belonged to the beastmen, and everything below the ground belonged to the dwarves. Now, in this war...”

The professor, an old man with a long white beard, continued to talk, with Noah being the only cadet paying attention, though he was glad to get out of class when it finally ended. Usually, he’d go to the library after his final class and continue his research, but today, he went out to the training fields, where the first rounds of duels were happening. Most of the other cadets had the same idea and gathered to watch the fights. Many teachers were present to officiate the matches and looked upon the pairs of duelists in the cleared fields. Noah spotted Valia presiding over Gideon and Sorn, and she was explaining the rules.

“The fighting will not begin until I say so, and should I give the order, you will disengage, and it will end. This is not a fight to the death, and should your opponent surrender, any attacks will be regarded as unwarranted assaults and get you kicked out of the academy and possibly even arrested for murder. You are each free to use one academy weapon and any low-level spells, so long as they do not kill your opponent, damage the academy, or injure any spectators. If you continue to use a spell that I have banned, you will be disqualified. Have you settled on a challenger’s payment?”

“The silver coin, I guess. He doesn’t have anything else I want,” said Sorn, holding a staff. Technically, it was an academy spear, meaning it didn’t have a blade. Gideon instead had a glass sword.

“Very well, take your positions.” Gideon and Sorn faced each other, twenty feet apart with their weapons ready. Valia raised her hand. “Now, begin!”

Gideon made the first move, and to everyone’s surprise, he threw his sword aside and charged towards Sorn to fight barehanded. He jumped, a well-practiced move, and swung at Sorn with a wide kick. Sorn tried to block with his spear, something Noah already knew was a mistake after fighting Gideon on enrollment day. Gideon’s leg broke through Sorn’s defense like a wrecking ball, possessing a strength that the shield lessons had yet to prepare the cadets for. Sorn was knocked to the ground but rolled back onto his feet and swung at Gideon. He spun his staff around his hands from side to side to widen his defense and boost his speed with the building momentum.

His lunges, fast but repetitive, failed to land any hits on Gideon. He managed to sidestep out of the way each time, then closed in and stopped Sorn’s staff with his leg like a proverbial monkey wrench. He forced the spear out of the way and connected with a solid punch to Sorn’s chin, sending him sprawling back. Gideon didn’t give him any time to rest and closed the distance to bombard Sorn with concussive blows. When Sorn finally fell to the ground, Valia gave the announcement.

“That’s enough! The winner of the duel is Cadet Gideon!”

Gideon didn’t seem very enthusiastic about his victory, while Sorn, beaten and bloody, had to be carried to the infirmary. Several of the spectating nobles looked uneasy, as they were next on the chopping block. Having all been challenged, one was forced out of the herd, like a decoy to distract a predator.

“And you are?” Valia asked.

“C-cadet M-Michaelson!” he stuttered fearfully. “I was challenged as well.”

“Then you’re up next. And Cadet Gideon?” Gideon turned to her. “If you don’t want to use a weapon, fine, but if I ever see you throw your sword away like that again, I’ll tan your hide.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The second duel started and ended even faster than the first. Gideon’s moves were quick and powerful, showing years of training and experience. These were the techniques of someone who had taken numerous lives with his bare hands. The third duel went the same, ending with a broken arm. Gideon was on a winning streak, and it was all going on the record.

Noah spotted Alexis going at it in another field with Ken Rilgis, one of the cadets from his sword class. They were doing surprisingly well, considering they were using glass blades. There was hesitation in every move, both fighters checking, double-checking, and triple-checking their grips before they engaged. They maintained their distance from each other, attacking only with the very tips of their blades so that even if they broke, the loss would be minimized, and they could continue the fight. Many other duelists were using the same strategy, as while the glass sword was the most common weapon in the academy, it was the hardest to use.

Second in difficulty were the bows. When the duel began, it became a race between the archer drawing, nocking, and shooting an arrow, and the melee cadet charging with their close-range weapon. An impact to the head or chest would end the duel. Noah watched the archers bounce around, trying to stay out of their opponents’ range while they desperately shot their arrows.

Like arrows, spells were also flying back and forth from the cadets specializing in magic. They were all nonlethal and low-tier, but they had their uses. He spotted one girl shooting balls of water from her hand like they were water balloons, and while they couldn’t inflict harm, getting hit in the face made for an excellent distraction. Other mages used similar spells of their elements, such as launching blasts of soil that would blind and discombobulate, or small charges of lighting that shocked like tasers. A low-level fire spell wasn’t enough to set someone ablaze or cause severe burns, but eyebrows were a frequent casualty.

As the duels continued, more and more cadets began challenging each other. Watching these gladiators raise their scores made the bystanders crave their own dose of adrenaline. Soon, it became not a matter of honor but raising one’s points. That changed with a flash of light and a cry of pain. Noah caught it just barely in his peripheral vision and heard the shocked mutterings of the onlookers, as well as Sir Brume yelling.

“What were you thinking, using an attack like that?! Only low-level spells are allowed!”

Seraph was the cause, standing with his hand outstretched and a smirk on his face. On the other side of the ring, a cadet lay sprawled out like roadkill, barely breathing.

“That was low-level for me. It’s not my fault that I’m surrounded by weak little rats. Maybe this academy needs to be more selective in who it lets in.”

Noah didn’t need to see the attack to know what happened. By the look of the cadet, he had been hit with a blast of holy energy. Noah had experienced it before and had no desire to get a second dose. It created a burning sensation like being in a microwave oven, attacking pain receptors without damaging the body while also depleting the victim’s mana. It was no surprise the cadet was knocked out cold.

‘That ought to shut up the Thuln brothers.’

“So, who’s next? Someone give me a real fight!” There were too many people around for Noah to use his invisibility, and he was spotted. “You! You finally manned up! How much longer were you going to make me wait? Sir Brume, I challenge Cadet Noah to a duel.”