Chapter 29: Combat Rewards

The force sent Kylian staggering several feet back.

The crowd was stunned as screams rent the air.

Emeric was not sure if they were happy screams or just hysterical ones.

The silence that followed was more deafening than the screams that preceded it.

"He has magic!" Someone shouted, breaking through the silence. "The Unblessed one just used magic!"

Voss stared, his face white. "How—"

Emeric was already moving. This was the opening he had been waiting for.

He let himself call on the magic inside of him. His core responded to his call.

The magic danced around his skin as he manifested lightning over his body.

Well, this was one part they didn’t cover in training.

Definitely a unique use for lightning.

His muscles burned with speed as he moved with lightning, striking the blade from Voss’ hands.

The blade fell to the ground, Emeric pointing his own sword at a downed Voss.

Voss was half on his knees, his hands trembling from the force of the strike.

He stared at Emeric in disbelief.

Emeric’s blade was already at his throat.

The arena had gone quiet again. Everybody watched with bated breath as the absolute upset unfolded in front of their eyes.

Emeric’s voice was cold and controlled as he stared down at Kylian. "Yield."

Voss swallowed, his eyes darting slowly to the blade so dangerously close to his throat.

His teeth gritted into a tight grimace.

"I said yield!"

"I yield." The words were barely a whisper.

Emeric held the blade steady for a moment longer, letting him feel it, then lowered it.

Then the arena erupted.

[OPPONENT DISARMED]

[VICTORY CONDITION MET: SURRENDER]

[DUEL COMPLETE]

[RESULT: EMERIC HALDEN — VICTORIOUS]

Emeric could barely focus as the cheers erupted into the air.

He dragged his battered body, making a beeline for his wife.

He didn’t see anybody

Didn’t see the nobles rising from their seats, the guards rushing forward, the chaos spreading through the stands. He saw only one thing.

Isolde.

She was crying. Silent tears streaming down her face. Her hands were trembling on the armrests now.

They were shaking with relief now.

He crossed the arena to her. His legs were trembling. His ribs ached. His coat was torn and bloody. But he crossed the distance and knelt beside her chair.

She reached for him. Her hands cupped his face, her thumbs brushing the dirt from his cheeks. She was still shaking. He could feel it through her fingertips.

"I told you I’d win," he said, his voice rough.

She laughed, a broken, disbelieving sound. And then she pulled him into a fierce embrace.

He held her, his face buried in her shoulder, and let himself breathe.

"I never doubted you for a second." She told him, amidst tears.

Another notification flickered to his vision.

[DEVOTION LOGGED: VICTORY EARNED IN DEFENSE OF TARGET’S HONOR]

[NATURE OF DEVOTION: RISKING LIFE AND REPUTATION TO DEFEND TARGET AGAINST PUBLIC HUMILIATION. DEMONSTRATING POWER AND COMMITMENT BEFORE THE ENTIRE COURT.]

[DP AWARDED: +15]

Duke Halden had not moved from his seat. His face was a mask, but his eyes—his eyes were burning.

He had just watched his youngest son, his failure defeat a 6th tier mage in single combat.

Something was wrong here.

He didn’t understand what he’d just witnessed. And that, more than anything, made him furious.

He cast a glance across the arena, taking note of Lord Rowan.

It seemed he was also as stunned as he was but he was hiding it pretty well.

He gestured to Celeste and Kaelen.

They were leaving.

Queen Sylvia watched from her elevated seat, her expression remaining unreadable.

"Interesting." She half said to herself.

---

Emeric finally pulled back, his hands still resting on Isolde’s shoulders. She was smiling—a real smile, the kind he’d seen only a handful of times.

"You’re a fool," she said, her voice still shaky

"I know."

"A reckless, stubborn, impossible fool."

"I know that too."

She laughed, wiping at her eyes. "I lo..."

She caught herself.

"What were you saying?"

"Nothing." She said, wiping her eyes. "Just tired."

"We should go home." He suggested.

[SYSTEM NOTE: YOUR VICTORY HAS BEEN WITNESSED BY THE COURT. YOUR REPUTATION IS SHIFTING. PROCEED WITH CAUTION — NEW EYES ARE WATCHING.]

Of course they were watching.

He didn’t care.

All he wanted to do was make his wife’s life better.

That was all that mattered to him.

He raised his head to scan the area. He had gotten behind Isolde’s wheelchair.

The queen had descended from her dais. Her robes sweeping the floor as she made her way through the crowd.

She stopped in front of Emeric and Isolde. Her eyes moved to Isolde, briefly assessing her and then back to him.

"Lord Halden. You have proven yourself today."

She turned to Voss. Still kneeling in the dirt. Still bleeding from the wound on his thigh.

"Lord Voss. You challenged this man. You insulted his wife. You lost."

She paused, letting the words sink in.

"You will apologize. Publicly. To Lord Halden. And to his wife."

Voss’s face went white. The humiliation was complete.

His voice was barely audible. "I apologize. Lord Halden."

"I’m not the one you insulted." Emeric said cooly. "Your apology should go to my wife." He finished.

He couldn’t refuse. Not with the Queen watching.

He turned to Isolde, his voice was barely a whisper.

"Lady Halden. I apologize for my words. They were unwarranted."

Isolde said nothing. Her expression was stone. But Emeric saw her hands tremble. Just slightly.

Sylvia smiled as if pleased with the humiliation.

"Good. Now get out of my sight."

Voss scrambled, picking up his wounded body as he vanished into the crowd.

"As for you—" Queen Sylvia began. "I am granting you a boon. One favor. To be called upon at my discretion."

She smiled.

"Use it wisely, Lord Halden."

Then she walked away. The crowd swallowed her.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[DUEL COMPLETE — VICTORY ACHIEVED]

[OPPONENT: LORD KYLIAN VOSS — 6th Tier]

[RESULT: EMERIC HALDEN — VICTORIOUS]

[CALCULATING REWARDS...]

[COMBAT EXPERIENCE GAINED]

[TIER PROGRESS: 82% → 91%]

[STAT GROWTH]

STRENGTH: 28 → 32

AGILITY: 24 → 27

MANA: 17 → 20

[DEVOTION REWARD]

DEVOTION LOGGED: VICTORY EARNED IN DEFENSE OF TARGET’S HONOR

DP AWARDED: +15

[CUMULATIVE DP: 89 → 104]

[SKILL EXP GAINED]

[BOND METER 66 → 69]