After a few hours trudging back to town on foot, the sun hung high, its light glinting off the fountain plaza’s cobblestones. The air buzzed with the chatter of merchants and the splash of water from the central fountain, its marble basin shimmering. My scales tingled under the midday heat, my lizardfolk senses catching every detail—the tang of fresh bread from a nearby stall, the clatter of carts. We headed straight for the plaza, and sure enough, Silkzesta Feris stood waiting, her silver hair catching the light, her small frame rigid with authority.
“So, you finally came. For a second I thought you were not going to show up,” she said, her pointed elf-like ears twitching slightly.
“It would be very rude of me to do that to my savior. After all, you really rescued me back there, captain Silkzesta.” I replied, offering a small bow.
“So you know who I am. That makes things easier. Although… have we met before? I pretty much never forget a face. Yours is one I don’t remember, but for some weird reason you’re giving me a familiar vibe mister… I’m sorry, but what’s your name?”
“Just Magnus. I am a humble mage.”
Silkzesta paused, her gaze distant, as if sifting through memories. The fountain’s gentle splash filled the silence, her brow furrowing. She’d supported me countless times in Crimson Raid’s early days, showing genuine sympathy—not the fake pity nobles tossed around, but the real kind. Back then, I was a nobody, and she was the only knight who cared.
“Well, anyway, let me ask you something else. Do you know who you just challenged to a duel?”
“You mean the Former Sword Saintess?”
“So you know. Then, I’ll ask another question. Do you have a death wish?”
“Ugh… that is…”
“You seriously would be crazy to even think of challenging her. Even more so, you did it according to beastfolk sacred duel rules. What are you hoping to get out of this?”
My tail twitched, a nervous habit I was still getting used to. I couldn’t admit I’d blurted out Zecros’s “panic button” phrase by mistake. I needed an excuse, fast, but my mind scrambled.
“Well… that is… my slave over here is in need of a proper sword instructor. Rusalka possesses an Aura Core, so I need someone to teach her how to use it. And if I win that duel… Leona can become her teacher!”
It was a weak lie, and I knew it. Silkzesta facepalmed, her small hand smacking her forehead with a soft thud. Rusalka’s ears twitched beside me, her eyes wide as she listened.
“No offense, Magnus-san, but… are you retarded?”
“Umm…”
“I know Leona is the Former Sword Saintess. But that doesn’t mean she’s a good teacher. In fact she can’t explain basic swordsmanship even if her life depended on it. I should know best since a few years back we studied under the same teacher. Leona is literally just going to say stuff like ‘you need to make your sword go swoosh!’ and ‘make your soul shout AAAAAA!’ or something like that. It’s common knowledge that she relies on pure instinct, so why the hell do you not know this?”
Crap. I forgot about that part. Leona’s “idiot” reputation had slipped my mind in the panic. My scales prickled under Silkzesta’s stare, Rusalka shifting nervously beside me.
“Moreover, to challenge her to an Anshivita just for that… yeah, I can’t take you seriously. It was just by pure coincidence that I decided to patrol in that area, so I bailed you then. But there’s no backing out of the duel.”
“I… guess you’re right. I made a poor judgement call. I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Silk-chan.”
“!!!”
Silkzesta’s eyes widened. She leapt onto the fountain’s stone pedestal, her small frame barely reaching my chest, and grabbed my face, pulling me close. Her grip was firm, her pointed ears twitching. Rusalka squeaked, “What are you suddenly doing to master?!” but Silkzesta ignored her, her gaze locked on mine.
“Magnus… Rodenburg? Is that really you?”
“What!?”
She… knew? How?
“I knew it! Something was off about you from the very start. What happened to you?”
“… How… did you figure it out?” I asked, my voice low, my heart racing.
“The moment you called me Silk-chan. I have a good memory, and there are only a handful of people I ever allowed to call me like that. And now that I looked at those eyes like those of a wet dog… it’s not hard to add 2 and 2 together.”
“Ugh… I… suppose you got me. It’s… true. I am who you suspect.”
“Just what in the world happened to you?”
“Are you… willing to listen? It’s not a pleasant story.”
“Of course. Tell me everything.”
I hesitated, my claws flexing as the plaza’s bustle faded into the background. Why tell her anything, with my trust issues? Because Silkzesta was different—honorable. Back in Crimson Raid, we’d bonded over our struggles: her height, my stagnant levels. She’d listened to my gripes, and I’d admired her resolve. But I couldn’t spill everything. Rose’s black market deals and Iseria’s involvement were off-limits. So I went with a half-truth: after releasing my skill and gaining my accumulated experience points, I became… this.
“That must have been so hard on you. This is why I don’t like adventurers. They have no values such as loyalty or morality. No offense,” Silkzesta said, her voice soft.
“None taken.”
Rusalka’s ears drooped, her eyes glistening as she clutched her gear, on the verge of tears. Her own hard life as a weiss goblin must’ve echoed my story, her sympathy palpable.
“I would really like to give those people a piece of my mind!” she blurted, her voice trembling.
“Please don’t. I would much prefer if my identity remains a secret. Magnus Rodenburg is dead. I am just Magnus now,” I said, my tone firm.
“If that’s what you want, I won’t say anything. That aside though, what are you going to do against Leona? Don’t think just because we’re friends I won’t escort you tomorrow.”
“…
I will face her.”
“Just so you know, begging for your life won’t work on her.”
“I don’t intend to beg. If it’s come to this… I will go all out. I will give everything this body can offer right now. I heard that there were people Leona spared if they would provide her with enough entertainment. So… I will try to accomplish that at least.”
“Hmph. I like that spirit. Well, in any case, if it comes down to the worst scenario… I’ll try to put a good word for you. Maybe she’ll let you get away with just losing a limb.”
True enough. I’d gained a bit of confidence that I wouldn’t die. But surviving meant giving it my all, pushing this lizardfolk body to its limits.
“Aight. Then I’ll let you be for now so you can prepare in whatever way you see fit,” Silkzesta said, stepping down from the pedestal.
“Silk-chan.”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you. For always being nice to me. You really deserve to be captain. You are… a true Royal Knight.”
A slight blush crept across her cheeks, and she turned her head away. “Baka. Keep the flattery for when you survive tomorrow. If you live through it… I wouldn’t mind teaching your slave a thing or two.”
And with that, we parted ways, her small figure vanishing into the plaza’s crowd.
“Master… are you sure everything will be okay? After meeting you… I don’t want anyone else or being left alone ever again. I also want to support you,” Rusalka said, her voice soft, her ears twitching.
“Everything is going to be alright. I’ll make it happen somehow. But for that, I need to make some preparations. Could you go back to the inn, please? I need to focus.”
“Yes.”
The sun was dipping lower, casting long shadows across the plaza. If I could finish that ancient rune book and test a few spells, I might just pull this off.