The moment the Crown Prince lifted his twin lances, the atmosphere inside the arena changed completely.
Moments earlier it had been a respectful duel.
Now it felt like two storms preparing to collide.
Keyla slowly raised her sword.
Her smile faded.
Her eyes returned to their familiar cold calm.
The two cousins stared at each other once more.
General Dracona's voice rang across the arena.
"Resume!"
The Crown Prince moved first.
His lances spun like twin flashes of lightning.
The air whistled violently.
CLANG!
Keyla barely raised her sword in time to block the first strike.
The impact alone sent a shockwave across the stone stage.
Dust burst into the air.
Before anyone could blink, the prince's second spear came from the opposite direction.
Keyla pivoted.
Her sword flashed.
CLANG!
Sparks flew.
The sound of steel striking steel echoed like thunder.
The audience gasped.
But the two fighters had already vanished from where they stood.
To most of the crowd it looked like blurs crossing the stage.
Only streaks of motion.
Only bursts of sound.
CLANG!
CLASH!
CRACK!
The stone beneath their feet began to fracture.
Each time the lances struck the ground or Keyla's blade, pieces of the stage exploded outward.
Deep cracks spread across the platform like spiderwebs.
It no longer looked like a duel.
It looked like a battle to the death.
The Crown Prince attacked relentlessly.
His twin lances danced through the air with terrifying precision.
One spear struck high.
The other stabbed low.
A spin followed.
Then a sweeping arc meant to crush bone.
Keyla moved like a shadow.
Her sword intercepted strike after strike.
Each movement was exact.
Each counter deadly.
For the first time the crowd could see it clearly—
The Crown Prince was no less skilled than she was.
Most of the ordinary spectators could barely follow what was happening.
A group of soldiers in the lower stands leaned forward in amazement.
"Did you see that?!" one of them shouted.
"I didn't even see her move!" another replied.
A third soldier shook his head in disbelief.
"The prince's spear almost pierced her shoulder but she twisted away before it even landed!"
"I swear I only saw a flash!"
Nearby, veteran generals watched with shining eyes.
One elderly commander burst into applause.
"Excellent!"
Another laughed loudly.
"Look at that footwork! Both of them!"
The applause of the high-ranking officers spread along the dignitary stands.
They could see it.
The subtle movements.
The impossible reactions.
The faint wounds appearing on both fighters.
To the ordinary audience it seemed as if nothing had happened.
But the military leaders saw it clearly.
Thin cuts opened along the prince's arm.
A shallow slash appeared on Keyla's shoulder.
Tiny droplets of blood glimmered in the sunlight.
Yet neither slowed.
In the royal stand, the Emperor leaned back in his seat laughing.
"Hahaha! Your daughter is a monster!"
General Don snorted.
"Your son is the same!"
The Emperor pointed at the stage.
"Look at that strike! If he had used a little more force he would have broken her ribs!"
Don shook his head.
"Nonsense. My daughter would have broken his arm first."
The Emperor laughed harder.
"You raised her like a savage!"
"And you raised yours like a spear demon!"
The two brothers continued laughing like proud fathers watching their children compete.
Meanwhile the other princes had already stood up.
Prince Sage leaned forward eagerly.
"This is incredible…"
Prince Damis grinned.
"I knew she was strong, but not this strong!"
Prince Lahan clapped excitedly.
"Did you see that kick?!"
Prince Elec shook his head in amazement.
"Our brother finally found someone who can fight him seriously."
Even the princesses had forgotten their noble composure.
Their eyes were wide with excitement.
On the stage the duel intensified.
The Crown Prince spun both lances in a circular motion.
The weapons became two silver storms.
Keyla stepped forward.
Her sword flashed upward.
CLANG!
She knocked one lance aside.
The second spear thrust toward her ribs.
Keyla twisted her body and slid past the blade.
Her sword swept down toward the prince's shoulder.
He blocked instantly.
But the impact still pushed him three steps backward.
Stone shattered beneath his feet.
Minutes passed like seconds.
Both fighters breathed steadily.
Neither looked tired.
Yet slowly…
Wounds accumulated.
A cut appeared on Keyla's thigh.
A bruise darkened across the prince's ribs.
Their clothes were torn in places.
Sweat glistened on their skin.
Still they fought like wild storms colliding again and again.
Finally General Dracona raised his hand.
"Stop!"
The two fighters immediately separated.
The arena erupted with cheers.
Even those who had barely understood the battle felt the intensity of it.
Dracona looked at both fighters.
"You will take a ten-minute rest before continuing."
Servants rushed onto the stage.
They surrounded the Crown Prince immediately.
One handed him water.
Another cleaned the blood on his arm.
Two attendants massaged his shoulders and arms to keep his muscles relaxed.
The prince allowed them to work calmly.
Keyla did something entirely different.
She walked to the center of the stage.
Then she sat down.
Cross-legged.
Her sword rested across her lap.
Her eyes closed.
Her breathing slowed until she looked like a statue.
Lady Dhalia watched with surprise.
"Shouldn't someone attend to her?" she asked.
Before any servant could move, General Don raised his hand.
"No."
Lady Dhalia blinked.
"But she is injured."
Don smiled proudly.
"She doesn't need it."
"But—"
"If you interrupt her now," he said calmly, "you'll ruin her recovery."
Dhalia watched Keyla carefully.
The girl sat perfectly still.
Like a warrior meditating.
Like someone who had done this a thousand times before.
Slowly Lady Dhalia nodded in understanding.
"I see…"
Ten minutes passed.
General Dracona raised his hand again.
"Resume the duel!"
The Crown Prince stood.
He took his twin lances once more.
Then he walked to the center of the stage.
Keyla remained sitting.
Her eyes closed.
Not moving.
The prince waited.
And waited.
But she still did not move.
From the royal stand, General Don's voice suddenly echoed across the arena.
"Boy!"
The Crown Prince looked back.
"She's asleep!" Don shouted.
"Attack!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
The prince looked at Keyla again.
Indeed…
She looked completely relaxed.
Almost like she was sleeping.
He hesitated.
Is she truly asleep…?
For a moment he considered waiting.
But his uncle had spoken.
And this was still a duel.
The prince took a deep breath.
He lowered his stance.
Then he attacked.
Both lances shot forward like lightning.
The crowd gasped.
The twin spearheads aimed straight for Keyla's throat.
A deadly strike.
Even though he had carefully reduced the strength behind it.
The blades reached her neck—
Then Keyla moved.
Her body bent backward like flowing water.
The spears missed her throat by a hair.
In the same motion her sword flashed upward.
CLANG!
She knocked both lances aside.
Before the prince could react—
Her leg shot forward.
THUD!
Her kick struck his chest like a hammer.
The Crown Prince flew backward several meters.
He landed near the edge of the stage.
The crowd exploded in cheers.
Keyla slowly opened her eyes.
"You're too slow," she said calmly.
The battle resumed once more.
Now both fighters attacked without hesitation.
The Crown Prince lunged forward with a spinning strike.
Keyla stepped into the attack.
Her sword deflected the first spear.
Her elbow slammed toward his shoulder.
He dodged.
The second lance swept toward her legs.
Keyla jumped.
Her sword struck downward.
The prince blocked with crossed lances.
BOOM!
The impact cracked the stone beneath them.
Half an hour passed.
Neither fighter held back anymore.
The stage was now filled with broken stone and deep fractures.
Their clothes were torn.
Blood stained their arms.
But their movements remained sharp.
Finally the decisive moment arrived.
The Crown Prince lunged forward with both spears.
Keyla stepped inside the attack.
Her sword struck the shaft of one lance.
Her knee slammed into his stomach.
The prince staggered.
Before he could recover—
Her foot swept his legs.
He fell onto his back.
Keyla's sword appeared instantly at his throat.
The blade pressed lightly against his skin.
Silence filled the arena.
The Crown Prince looked up at her.
Then he smiled.
"I surrender."
The arena erupted into thunderous applause.
Keyla stepped back.
She lowered her sword.
Then calmly sheathed it in its scabbard.
The duel was finished.
She turned to leave.
But suddenly—
The Crown Prince grabbed her waist.
Before she could react—
He pulled her close.
And kissed her.
Right on the lips.
The entire arena froze.
For several seconds no one moved.
Then he released her.
He smiled mischievously.
Then he walked away calmly.
Leaving Keyla standing alone on the stage.
Completely dazed.