Mira’s voice shook with anger.
"Last month? How dare you bring up last month? If my father and Uncle Lin hadn’t shown up in time, I’d have finished you in one strike!"
Liora sneered. "And if my father hadn’t saved you, I’d have turned you into an ice statue."
"If you’ve got guts, don’t use any magic gear!"
"If you’ve got guts, don’t summon your unicorn!"
Mira couldn’t hold her anger back anymore. She reached behind her and pulled out one of her two swords.
"Fine, let’s go outside! This time I won’t call Rose. Let’s see what you can do!"
Liora handed her staff to the Warrior beside her.
"Fine. I won’t use my staff either. Today I’ll show you this lady’s casting speed!"
"Miss, please!" Cold sweat ran down the Warrior’s forehead. "The Head Officer and the Minister already warned you both. If there’s another scene, you’ll be taken into custody!"
The poor Warriors, stuck between the two girls, wore forced smiles.
The word "custody" cooled both of them down in an instant. Once again, they said at the same time, "Hmph!"
Liora smiled. "Count yourself lucky this time."
"Lucky? This lady is a seventh-rank knight! I’m not some sixth-rank Mage like you! Who’s lucky here, I wonder. You wanted a fight, right? Fine! Liora Frostvane, do you dare make a bet with me?"
Liora growled. "What kind of bet?"
Mira pointed at Leo, who was standing behind her.
"This is my little brother. He’ll fight for me. You send someone from your side too. It’s not a direct duel, so the custody problem disappears!"
Leo had been hiding behind Mira the whole time. When she stepped aside, Liora finally looked at him properly for the first time.
And her eyes lit up.
Leo’s face was so beautiful it looked almost perfect. His clear golden eyes were so rare that anyone would stop for a moment just to stare.
Liora looked at Leo, then at Mira. Her tone softened a little.
"Is this another girl dressed in boys’ clothes, like you?"
Leo’s face stiffened. He swept his hair back and frowned.
"I’m a boy."
*Why won’t any of you stop this?* he thought. *Why does everyone think I’m a girl? Do I really not look like a boy? Use a little sense!*
Mira puffed out her chest proudly.
"So what? My little brother is handsome, isn’t he? Have you ever seen anyone this good-looking?"
Liora raised an eyebrow. "So you drag a little kid into your fights now? Hiding behind someone so young? Aren’t you ashamed?"
"You...!" Mira said angrily. "Just say it. Will you bet or not? And listen, my little brother is from Moonhaven Hall too. He joined today."
Liora was a little startled.
"Are you making a mistake? You’ll send him? How old is he? Is he even fifteen?"
"Don’t worry about that. Just tell me, are you betting or not? If you’re scared, run away quickly. Don’t ruin my appetite!"
"Fine, let’s bet! He’s only a little kid! Torvald Pike, you go!"
Liora herself didn’t know why she and Mira were always at each other’s throats. All she knew was that neither could stand being teased by the other.
"We’ll duel outside, so we don’t hurt other people’s business. And if there’s a bet, something has to be at stake."
"What do you want to put up?"
Mira had clearly thought about it already. She took out a white crystal.
"This is the magic crystal of a fifth-rank light-element beast, the Gilded Dawn Tiger. Against it, I’ll put up the Daybright Aegis from your family’s business!"
Liora blew up.
"Have you gone crazy?"
A small doubt crossed her mind too. The Gilded Dawn Tiger’s crystal was very rare. Among fifth-rank crystals, it was counted as one of the best. The Daybright Aegis was good, yes, but it was worth nothing next to this crystal.
So why was Mira so carefree?
The crystal bounced in Mira’s hand. She taunted.
"Scared of the bet? Then get out of my sight. And from today on, if we meet, change your path."
"Why would I be scared? Fine, the bet is on!"
In her anger, Liora agreed.
Leo stood quietly beside them, watching it all. He didn’t know why these two were so tense with each other. But he understood this much. They were making far more noise than they were losing their tempers. And they weren’t really enemies.
Mira had been very good to him. He couldn’t say no to his big sister.
Everyone walked out of the restaurant. Mira pulled on Leo’s arm and spoke softly.
"Little brother, I feel terrible making you fight without eating. But give it everything you’ve got! Your sister did this with good intentions. You have to win!"
Leo clearly saw a hint of mischief in Mira’s eyes. He quickly nodded.
"Big sister, I’ll try my best."
On the other side, Liora was cheering up her fighter.
"Torvald Pike... there’s something about this boy. But you have to win. If you do, I’ll give you a fine sword. And don’t hurt him!"
Torvald said helplessly.
"Miss, will you promise me that after the duel, whatever the result, you won’t fight with Miss Mimi again? Otherwise I’ll have to tell the Head Officer."
"I know!" Liora said impatiently.
In front of the restaurant, there was an open space for parking carriages. There weren’t many carriages there at the moment, so it was big enough for a duel.
Leo stepped forward with a heavy sword in his hand. Torvald came from the other side.
Leo looked at Liora.
"Big Sister Liora, I’ve never fought a Mage before. I’ll get to learn from you."
"What?"
Mira and Liora were both startled.
"Little brother, come to your senses!" Mira said quickly.
She had seen Leo fight. She knew his combat experience wasn’t bad, and his Spiritual Energy rank wasn’t low either.
Both of Liora’s bodyguards had only reached the third stage as Warriors, at most. If they hadn’t mastered some sacred skill, it would have been hard for them to win against Leo.
But Liora was something else entirely. She and Mira were both well-known talents of Moonhaven City.
Leo looked at Mira. His tone was serious.
"Big sister, Father used to say that in many things, real experience matters even more than training. I want to duel a Mage and see for myself. So please, teach me well!"
Liora walked past the stunned Torvald. Her voice was full of doubt.
"Kid, you want to duel me? If that’s the case, your Big Sister Mira will definitely lose!"
Leo slowly raised the heavy sword and nodded.
"How can anyone know without trying? Big Sister Mira, may I begin?"
Mira saw his calm, certain attitude. He looked like someone far bigger than a boy. Then she smiled.
"Well done, that’s my little brother! Show her how strong you are. Liora, don’t cry when you lose!"
"Me, lose?"
Liora glared at Mira without drawing her staff. Then she pointed at Leo.
"Then come."
"Big Sister Liora, please."
Leo tapped the heavy sword lightly against his right shoulder and gave a knight’s salute, toes pointed down. Then he began to move toward Liora.
Liora didn’t step back.
She began to chant fast, without making a sound. A thin layer of pale blue light spread from her body.
She raised her right index finger toward Leo.
**Rime Orb!**
A ball of ice shot straight at him. And all of it happened in less than a second!