Chapter 22 : The Challenge
A letter arrived at dusk.
A servant brought it to Father while he was sharpening his blade in the courtyard. The seal was noble—too fine for mere correspondence.
Darius broke it open with a flick of his thumb, his expression unreadable as his eyes scanned the words.
Selene appeared at his side almost instantly, her silver hair catching the evening light. “What is it?”
He folded the letter slowly, placing it on the table beside him. “…A duel.”
My small ears perked up, and I leaned against the doorway, watching.
“A duel?” Selene’s tone sharpened. “From who?”
Darius’ jaw tightened. “Lord Revingale. A lesser noble with more ambition than sense. He’s challenging me for my title.”
Selene’s eyes flashed with fury. “They dare—?!”
The servants nearby began to whisper.
“They say the Lion of Valemont has grown weak…”
“That his body isn’t what it once was…”
“If he loses the title of Sword of the Empire, the Valemonts will fall even faster…”
My HUD flickered faintly as I looked at Father:
[Darius Valemont – Status: Afflicted]I bit my lip. He shouldn’t fight. Not like this.[Condition: Curse (Dormant)]
[Warning: Duel poses extreme risk.]
But Father’s expression didn’t waver. He strapped his sword to his hip, standing tall as ever.
“A lion doesn’t run from challengers,” he said quietly. “If they think me weak, then I’ll show them otherwise.”
Selene gripped his arm, her voice trembling with both love and rage. “Darius, don’t be a fool. You know your body is—”
He cut her off with a rare, gentle smile. “And if I refuse, what then? The nobles will tear us apart with whispers before they ever raise their swords.”
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Selene’s lips parted, then closed again. She turned away, shoulders shaking, her fists clenched.
Darius looked at me then—at his three-year-old son peeking from the shadows. His eyes softened for just a heartbeat.
“Watch closely, Rooga,” he said, his voice steady, commanding. “A Valemont never bows. Not to fear. Not to doubt. Not to anyone.”
My small hands curled into fists. The HUD blinked again, cold and merciless.
[Duel Scheduled: Three Days]And though I was just a child, the truth stabbed deeper than any blade.[Opponent: Lord Revingale – Sword Saint Candidate]
[Survival Odds (Darius Valemont): 37%]
This duel could be the beginning of the end.
The days leading up to the duel felt heavier than any storm.
Father trained from dawn until the lamps burned low at night. His blade cut the air in wide, sharp arcs, each swing echoing with the weight of a man defending not just his pride, but his family’s name.
The servants watched in awe. “The Lion of Valemont still roars,” they whispered.
But I saw more than they did.
The HUD never let me forget it:
[Darius Valemont – Condition: Curse (Dormant)]On the first day,[Vitality: Decreasing steadily.]
he trained as though nothing had changed. His footwork precise, his swings powerful. But sweat poured faster than before. His hand trembled ever so slightly when he sheathed his blade.
On the second day,
he pushed harder. Too hard. His strikes cracked the practice dummies, but after an hour, his knees buckled. Selene rushed to him, catching his arm.
“Darius, stop this madness!” she hissed. “Your body—”
“I must,” he cut her off, voice low but fierce. “If I don’t stand, if I don’t fight, they’ll tear Valemont apart. Better I fall by the sword than let them strip us like carrion.”
Selene bit her lip, eyes burning with both fury and grief. She said nothing more, only stayed by his side until his breath steadied.
On the third day,
his body betrayed him completely.
In the courtyard, as the sun dipped low, he swung once, twice—then his legs gave out. The great Lion collapsed onto his knees, his sword clattering against the stone.
Gasps erupted from the servants. I rushed forward, my little feet stumbling, heart pounding.
“Papa!”
Selene was already there, kneeling beside him, cradling his shoulders. His face was pale, his breaths shallow, but he forced a laugh through clenched teeth.
“It’s nothing… just fatigue…”
But the HUD whispered otherwise, cold and merciless:
[Condition worsening – Mana disruption detected.]My small hands trembled as I reached for him. He looked at me, and for a moment, his mask cracked. His eyes, once sharp and unshakable, were filled with something I’d never seen before.[Risk of collapse during duel: High.]
Fear.
But then he smiled, patting my head with a shaky hand. “Don’t look at me like that, Rooga. A Valemont doesn’t bow. Not even to fate.”
Selene pressed her forehead against his shoulder, silent tears slipping down her cheeks.
And I, powerless, could only watch as the Lion prepared to walk into a battle he might not return from.