Alexander picked the sword mid-air and braced himself for what was about to come. Gareth just stared at him with those cold pair of eyes. How he hated this man! And to think that he had even laid his hands on Isadora! His anger multiplied when he thought of this. But he was a man of honor, and that’s why he had decided to make it a duel, a fight to the death. Furthermore, he was certain that Alexander could not hold a candle against him this time.

"Why the sudden change of mind?" Alexander asked out of the blue. His sword was placed on his shoulder now. Gareth raised his face to meet Alexander’s. He looked at his face up close and he had to admit the guy was handsome. His dark hair was in place, perfectly combed, and the black attire he wore accentuated well with his dark personality. Gareth chuckled darkly at that.

"Don’t mind my reasons," he said, and then narrowing his gaze," But one thing that I am sure of is I’ll go home with your head in my hands, while your headless body rests on this cold floor," he added and drew his sword.

"Talk time is over, Your Highness," he said before the air around him suddenly turned chilly. Alexander noticed this and also braced himself for what was about to come. Gareth charged murderously at Alexander, aiming for his chest. Coupled with the swoosh and chilly atmosphere in the room, his movements could be termed as a blur. Alexander creased his brows at the sudden full-scale attack. Gareth was so quick than the last time he could remember.

"Clash!" Their swords met and sparks flew in the air. The two looked at each other with killing intent. Alexander took this opportunity to throw a tantrum at Gareth.

"Is this all you got, Master." A tone of mockery could be heard in his voice. Gareth was thrown off by the statement. He was both surprised and angry at the same time. But the tone of mockery he used could never go unnoticed. This added on to the anger he had currently turned the hallway into a freezer.

An angry Crescian was not a person you would like to meet. A normal human would wet his pants just by their sight, not to take into consideration their intimidating aura. They could make thousands of heads fall on a battlefield. But Alexander! He was something else. Even Gareth who was not interested in taking into consideration the enemy’s strength, especially a human, was now worried. There was just something about Alexander he couldn’t put his finger on. It felt like he was destined to bow there and then and do as Alexander commands.

No! He shook that thought out of his mind. That was not even on his wish list. Damn! They pushed their swords apart, but each one was strong to regain their stamina. A normal human would have been thrown off a few feet away, probably forming debris. But why did it look like Alexander was putting on little effort? It was like he was taking a walk in the park or enjoying a child’s play. This infuriated Gareth making him unlock his full potential.

"You are going to die you scumbag!" He said and the air around him suddenly turned more chiller now. Even Alexander could feel the cold air on his skin. He narrowed his gaze and knew Gareth was at his best now. He ought to be careful.

Gareth’s sword got coated by what looked like ice spears, while another sword made of ice materialized from nowhere. Its edges were sharp and pointed, coupled with the killing intent that now came from Gareth. So he specializes in ice? Alexander thought, but Gareth did not give him the luxury to anymore. He shot an ice ball from the sword in his hand. Alexander saw it coming but it was too late to react. He raised his sword and split the ball into two.

And just when he was about to compose himself, another ice ball, a bigger one than the last, was coming his way. No, not one but two in a row, and now three. Gareth was sending uncountable balls toward Alexander, each one bigger than the previous one.

Alexander slashed the first one, but the second one hit him hard on his chest. He was thrown off a few meters away colliding with the solid wall in the hallway. Alexander coughed out blood as he struggled to stand up. Lord! His back was aching and he was certain he had broken some bones. His sword lay a few feet away on the floor.

Gareth watched as Alexander struggled to stand. An evil smile curved on his face. This is what he had wanted to see all along; a helpless Alexander. This guy was weak! He was certain Alexander would not defeat him this time. He was only lucky the last time. And as if that was not enough, Gareth took wide steps towards where Alexander was, as he struggled to reach for his sword. Gareth kicked him on his stomach, making him to double over and fall on the cold floor. An evil smirk appeared on his face.

Alexander stretched his hand to reach for his sword but Gareth stepped on his hand and kicked the sword away from him. He pressed his boot harder on Alexander’s hand earning a roan from him.

"Is this all you got your Highness?" He asked in a mocking tone and let out a sinister laugh. Alexander’s eyes looked red now. He was helpless! Gareth took a few steps back to give him room to stand up. It was time to take his head. It was a duel, and Alexander lost. So he had to take what he came for.

Alexander stood up after a while of struggle. His robes were now laced with blood, especially on his chest. He coughed out some more blood when some knights stepped into the vicinity. Sir Gareth looked surprised by this. This was unfair now. It was a duel, and Alexander knew the rules of a duel.

"Don’t interfere! I got this," Alexander said when the knights wanted to draw their swords. He coughed out some more blood. One knight came by his side but Alexander gestured him to stop.

"Just give me your sword," he said.