BLOOD & SIGILS

Chapter 51: The Duel of Determination

The arena's noise seemed to dim as Cassian Duskbane and Mira Valcroft took center stage. Today's duel had an unusual undercurrent—Cassian's typical nonchalance was laced with a sarcastic resignation. Though he wielded his finely crafted rapier with the grace of a true duelist, his mind was elsewhere.

From the sidelines, Kael Veyrin called out, "Good luck, Cassian! Give it your all!"

Cassian smirked, barely glancing at Kael. In his mind, he thought wryly, Why waste my energy fighting when the real pain is facing that overblown Dragon Prince? His thoughts dripped with irony—he'd seen Lucian's overwhelming might, and the idea of matching that firepower was, in his eyes, a colossal hassle.

Mira, focused and determined, circled steadily while Cassian's movements remained languid. Every so often, he casually feinted, deliberately holding back his true skill. It wasn't that he lacked ability; rather, his free spirit chose comfort over confrontation—especially when the thought of clashing with the Crown Prince made him want to sit out the real fight.

As the duel commenced, Cassian's rapier danced in half-hearted arcs. His attacks, though precise, were delivered with a nonchalant ease that bordered on indifference. Mira responded with sharp, unyielding precision. Each time she landed a counterattack, the impact was more a testament to her determination than to any failing on Cassian's part.

In a crucial moment, when a clear opening should have compelled him to strike hard, Cassian deliberately pulled back. His mind mused sarcastically, Save the sweat—I'd rather not risk bruising myself for a duel I'd planned to lose anyway.

Darius Zephyrion, watching from the sidelines, nearly choked on his own disbelief. "Cassian, what the—did you really just hold back on purpose?" he blurted, his voice a mix of shock and incredulity.

Kael, with a knowing glance, replied quietly, "Yeah, Darius. Cassian's not exactly keen on putting in a full fight when it might mean a showdown with the Dragon Prince again. He's playing it safe—and a bit sarcastic, if you ask me."

Mira, undeterred by Cassian's lack of effort, pressed her attack. With one swift, well-timed thrust, she disarmed him—sending his rapier clattering to the ground. The move wasn't as impressive as it might have been against a fully committed opponent; it was clear Cassian had never intended to win.

The referee's call was swift—Mira was declared the winner. The arena fell into a hush before whispers filled the air: some marveled at Mira's skill, while others murmured about Cassian's strange lack of fight. Darius shook his head in disbelief, still struggling to reconcile the carefree duelist he'd seen earlier with the deliberate loss before him.

Cassian, brushing off the defeat with a lazy shrug, muttered, "I mean, why break a sweat? Fighting that damn Dragon Prince is a pain I'd rather skip." His tone dripped with sarcasm and a hint of relief.

Kael stepped forward, offering a supportive nod. "Don't worry, Cassian. We all know you're holding back—next time, you'll be ready for anything, even if it means facing the Crown Prince."

Though the loss was intentional, it served as a peculiar lesson to all: sometimes, even the most talented fighters choose the path of least resistance when the alternative feels like an unnecessary battle. And for Cassian, his playful defiance in avoiding a truly painful fight only added another quirky chapter to his story at Eldoria Academy.