The knight hesitated for a while and this really angered Alexander. He lifted his face to stare at the knight, the coldness in his eyes making the knight swallow nervously. But the knight was genuinely concerned for him. He was a prince, and he was injured. He wasn’t just going to send the prince to hell’s gates. Hell, the queen would have him executed on the spot if something bad happened to his son, so it was unwise to give the prince his sword. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Are you deaf? I said give me your sword!" Alexander said, raising his voice now. "It is not a request, it is a command," he added acidly.

The knight swallowed again. Hell, this was becoming harder than he had thought. The crown prince had issued an order, and he couldn’t just defy it, whatever reasons he had to. He reluctantly unsheathed his sword and handed him to Alexander who in turn almost snatched it from the knight’s hands.

"I order all of you to step back. No one is allowed to interfere, even if I die. This is a duel, and you all know the rules," he said, pointing the sword at the knights. They just nodded at him and took a few steps back forming what looked like a circle. Alexander now turned to face sir Gareth. He had regained his composure now, though his hair was messy and out of place. Contrary to him, not a hair was out of place on Gareth’s head.

Gareth smirked lightly, "Seems your puppets came to your rescue, Your Highness. That is no fair play. I would have killed you already and chopped your head off. Your head is one precious bundle to King Griffin by the way," he added with a playful smirk.

"Can you stop talking and fight?" Alexander asked raising a brow. This guy was as arrogant as he could remember. And thinking that he had been defeated two times by this guy made him more angrier. But this time was different. This was a duel, a fight to the death. Had the knights delayed a second late, he knew he would have been dead. He squared his shoulders and the sudden energy that surged through his veins scared him. And surprisingly, he was not feeling the pain anymore. But how?

Before he could think further, Gareth let out a sinister laugh and narrowed his gaze at Alexander.

"You think you’ll win this time? Boy, you are dead wrong! C’mon. You are wasting my precious time. I need your head in that bag," he said pointing at a bag that rested on the floor. Alexander’s nose flared and while a few shades appeared on his ever cute face. This guy was talking of his head as if it were some sheep or goat. No one, not even Lord Richard, had dared speak to him with such disrespect. He was going to definitely teach this guy some manners.

"We’ll see about that!" He said before he dashed at Gareth. This time, there was no playful smirk on his face. It would not be business as usual. If Gareth took him seriously, he would as well be at his best. Gareth was surprised by the sudden attack but he was quick to dodge it before the sword would rest on his shoulders. But before he could even breath, Alexander was back on his feet, his sword slashing across the air directed at Gareth’s stomach. His moves were precise this time, each strike aimed at a pivotal part of Gareth’s body.

Gareth had been on the defensive side for God knows how long. Alexander was attacking relentlessly that it became difficult for him to even have the time to compose his attacks. He was striking with so much force that Gareth almost lost grip of his sword. His earlier perfect hair now looked messy as beads of sweat began forming on his face. Each of his strikes were precise, as if he was born to do so.

Alexander didn’t give Gareth the luxury to attack. He wanted him to be on the defensive side until he got tired and eventually give up. But still, he didn’t underestimate him. That’s why he didn’t want to give Gareth the time to compose his attacks. And gladly, Gareth had stopped using the ice balls. Alexander attacked with so much intensity and despite the time he spent on attacking Gareth, he never felt tired. On the contrary, he felt more energetic with each strike he gave Gareth. It was as if he was gaining momentum to unleash something. But what that was, he didn’t know.

Alexander slashed Gareth again and he was certain he would lose the grip of his sword soon. One more strike. He told himself. And this one, he exerted all his energy on it. He felt something surge through his body and concentrate on his lifted sword, and before he knew it, his sword was engulfed in flames. A pair of unearthly pair of wings protruded from his back and his eyes turned bloody red. Even Gareth who was holding his sword in a defensive stance looked at him in disbelief.

"This can’t be true!" He said in a whisper and lost his concentration on the fight. He saw Alexander’s sword coming down, aimed for his neck and he knew this was his last moment on planet earth. He closed his eyes and smiled wryly. He at least had something to be proud of. He was the first to see ’The One’.

Time seemed to fly and sir Gareth was still standing in the same place, as he waited for searing pain to course through his body. But instead, he felt a warm feeling on his neck, so warm that it burnt his skin. He shot his eyes open to be met by a flaming god of war who had placed his flaming sword on his neck. Should he be happy that Alexander had spared him?

"Leave this place this instant and never come back!" Alexander said in a guttural voice that never matched his usual self. Gareth had to blink twice to confirm that he was indeed alive and seeing Alexander. Previously when he had shot his eyes open, he had thought he was in hell, awaiting an execution from Satan himself. He took a few steps back from the tip of the flaming sword, and with one last look at Alexander, he vanished into thin air.