Ixion stood above the kneeling man and bellowed:
"Well fought, dear Kip!"
A clear mockery of how one-sided the duel had been. The discombobulated knight shook his head and tried to stand, but failed.
Ixion's wave of Aether had temporarily messed up how Kip's Aether transmitted and flowed.
Ixion turned and walked away, calling out to Sebastian.
"Send for Andrea and Se'van to meet me in the ballroom within an hour!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
While many clearly found that display of power discouraging, it also demonstrated that his word of mercy was ostensibly genuine.
After a few seconds, Kip managed to gather himself and dragged himself away as Ixion retreated into the palace.
***
Whistling and humming, Ixion sat at the ballroom piano, casting a dissonant glissando.
"Ah, you've made it, my chancellors!"
At the far end of the hall, Chamberlain Laplace opened the door, revealing Sebastian escorting Andrea and Se'van.
The two bowed and spoke in unison.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
