'Ah, I slipped up.'
Ender thought wryly as he felt the loud brat get flustered.
The brat obviously didn't know what dogshit meant, in fact, none of them did.
He had already confirmed something a long time ago that shook him to the core, changing his view of this world and the multiverse as he knew it.
This world had no swear words.
Meaning, as long as he was smart about it, he could curse out at anyone as he pleased.
He quickly made a shocked expression, waving his arms frantically at Orion to explain, knowing his pride wouldn't allow him to ask for clarification.
"Oh my, that must have sounded like an insult but it's not. You see..., there's a reeally rare kind of dog called Puro cuento that actually spits gold. That gold is used for purifying mana veins and is therefore called dogshit." He said without batting an eye, maintaining his Innocent facade.
"Oh... thanks?"
Suddenly, his eyes ignited with anger as he realised what he just said. "Wait, why am I thanking you?"
"Because you're a good person." Ender said sweetly, causing Orion to nearly explode in anger.
Alice, who was holding Ender's wheelchair looked down at him with suprise.
'I've never heard of such a species before. The Young master, I can't tell if he's annoying young master Orion intentionally or he's just that innocent.'
Looking at Orion, she couldn't repress a pang of regret. The last time she saw him, he had only been a baby. Now, the child should be around ten years old.
It has been so long since she'd last seen any of the heirs. Only a few would remember her. The first born, Melissa, Deus maybe but the younger ones would definitely not.
'Haaa, how time flies.'
Ender looked at Alice out of the corner of his eye, feeling the fleeting thoughts of melancholy before she returned to being passive.
'Does she know this brat?' He thought curiously.
"Anyway," Orion cleared his throat, speaking out with absolute confidence." I hereby challenge you to a duel."
If Ender still had eyes, he'd have blinked in surprise. He turned to face the boy, dumbstruck at the utter shamelessness. Challenging some kid at least four years younger than you, who couldn't wield mana, had no formal training, and was blind on top of that?!
'Might as well just hit me with another Supreme Slash.'
Seeing that Ender didn't respond, he fished into his pocket for a moment and brought out an emblem.
Alice's eyes widened as she recognised it.
"This is..."
Orion smirked, flashing it in front of Ender's face.
The emblem was a circle symbol cut out of some dark, glossy metal. It depicted a crude image of a jagged rapier stabbed into the ground behind which a willow tree turned with red flames. Within the leaves of the tree was carved the initials A.A.
"This is a direct order from the matriarch. You cannot refuse."
Ender asked with a small smile.
"Oh how I wish I could see the evidence." He said dryly, waking hour a hands in front of his blindfolded eyes.
Orion faltered for a moment before his eyes settled on Alice.
"You there! Maid, confirm this!"
Alice's eyes nearly twitched from annoyance.
'Patriach, your kids are getting bold. Even the matriarch, what is Lady Annovelle up to? She promised to leave us alone.'
Still, the regardless of her feelings on the matter, she did as she was told without a change in expression.
Times like this made her regret not training the child. If she had only given him some proper training or at least a lesson on how to handle a weapon, he would have a higher chance.
Despite the obvious disadvantage Ender had against a trained heir like Orion, she believed that he could at least survive. The Matriarch wouldn't have sent Orion to kill him...right? Plus, there was that thing he asked for.
"I can confirm it. The emblem is authentic." She said emotionlessly, hiding her emotions easily.
"Oh, r-really?" He said with a slight frown, his voice trembling slightly in fear. "But I'm disabled...and blind. You'd obviously beat me."
Orion smiled devilishly, saying in his most mocking caring voice.
"Oh, but the blood of the great Ashborn runs through your veins doesn't it? But don't worry, I'll be gentle."
Though he said that, the vibes he was giving off basically screamed that he wanted nothing more than to rip Ender apart.
'Ugh, I'm getting tired of that. All this negativity is making me sick.' he complained internally.
"O-okay, b-big brother. I-if you say so." He said softly, fidgeting nervously as he tried to stand up.
He started stretching his stiff arms awkwardly as Orion watched him with the certainty of a predator who had just cornered it's helpless prey.
"Maid, there must be someplace we can use to spar." Orion asked, directing his question again at Alice.
"Well, there's the courtyard in the back where the guards train. That should suffice." She said flatly.
Orion's lips curled cruelly as he slung his right arm over Ender's shoulder.
"A public duel. I guess this would be a good way of entertaining both our knights, don't you think, little brother?"
"Um...okay, though I can't really fight much. I can barely even walk for too long." Ender said, scratching his neck nervously.
"Hahahaha, don't worry. Your big brother..." His voice suddenly deepened a tone."...is just going to make sure you're strong."
"Haha. Sure."
Ender seemed to look away nervously, though only Alice caught the faint upward tug at the edge of his lips.
A few minutes later, Ender was standing at the edge of a white ring drawn into a flat, concrete podium. He was dressed in a fresh set of clothes more suited to the battlefield. A red wool gambeson with light metal vambraces strapped to it's forearms.
Resting on his leg was a wooden shield nearly half his size and by his side was strapped a dulled wooden sword resembling a Katana.
But he made no move to enter, merely staring at Orion who stood in the middle of the ring with his sword drawn before him.
Orion tightened his grip on his sword, his knuckles turning white as he yelled at Ender.
Surrounding the ring was another circle, one built of people. Orion's convoy on one side, the manor guards on the other. But there were no teams, both sides believed Orion would absolutely wipe the floor with Ender.
Even Alice was starting to get nervous. After changing, he had simply walked to that point outside the ring and stayed there without a word.
"Hey, blind boy. Are you also a coward?" Orion yelled, annoyed.
Ender merely smiled, saying: "Oh, my weapon's not here. I'm waiting for it."
Orion gritted his teeth in rage but kept his peace.
'No worries. No matter whatever kind of weapon the crippled had,he was sure he would be able to easily decimate him regardless.'
Suddenly, the double doors on the far end of the room swung open, revealing a little girl carrying a somewhat heavy black bag.
Rinae walked up to Ender and dropped the bag without a word. Ender whispered something into her ear, causing her to giggle slightly while looking at Orion before walking down the stage to stand beside her mother.
Ender smiled eagerly as he opened up the bag, prompting curious looks from the others as he pulled out a metre long three-part staff made of dark wood.
Taking this, he finally entered the ring with the staff resting upon his shoulder.
He had thought about letting Orion win or losing easily but that was until he received a notification.
[Existence +0.6]
[Existence 1 > 2]
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[A/N: Hey guys, I just got a contract! Yay!!!
So I'll start uploading premium in a couple weeks. Eitherway, in preparation for contracting, I'm going to try to be more consistent with updates from now on. Though I might end up late a couple of times so forgive me.]