A while later, Lune raised her free hand and asked for a break. She sheathed her rapier and walked toward the edge of the ring. She laid down right on the grass bordering the training ground, staring up at the starry night sky to catch her breath.
Solomon walked over and leaned his forearms against the crossguard of his planted greatsword.
"Pass me some water, please," Lune requested, holding her hand out.
Solomon grabbed a leather water flask from the nearby wooden rack and tossed it gently into her hands. She took a long drink and wiped her mouth.
"I am not enjoying this duel as much as I should," Lune confessed, looking at the giant blade resting under his hands. "You are using an oversized executioner’s sword. It forces me to dodge constantly instead of engaging in proper blade bind techniques. You should use a normal sword."
Solomon did not mind the request. He pulled Eden’s Penance from the dirt and leaned it against the wooden bench. Walking over to the racks, he grabbed a standard steel longsword. The weapon felt perfectly balanced and entirely unremarkable in his grip.
He stepped back into the ring and twirled the steel blade. "Round two starts now."
Lune stood up and drew her rapier again. She immediately recognized the difference in his posture. They clashed once more. The normal longsword allowed Solomon to match her speed without relying on brute force.
They parried, redirected, and struck in a fluid sequence. Lune smiled brightly during the exchanges, clearly enjoying the refined swordplay.
[1Fizzy: sword fight date!]
[James_hayes: bro doing anything she asks for.]
[Mezz_3863: they look like they are having fun.]
[Fatal_Beauty: this is so romantic.]
[Foodball: the chemistry is undeniable.]
Out in the dimly lit corridors of the palace, Commander Feng finally reached the outer gates of the training grounds. He marched forward with a confident stride, however, the two Moon-Shadow Sentinels instantly crossed their pristine white halberds to block his path.
"You are not allowed inside at this moment, Commander," the left sentinel stated.
Feng scoffed and glared at the elite guards. "I am the commander of the royal guard. You cannot keep me locked out of my own training facilities. Do you have any idea what is happening in there?"
The sentinels remained perfectly silent.
"Princess Lune is roaming the palace with a filthy commoner," Feng lectured, his voice dripping with venom. "They are alone in the dark. A boy like him possesses zero morals. They are likely engaging in highly inappropriate acts right now, sullying the honor of the royal family. We must intervene."
The Moon-Shadow Sentinels did not react to the scandalous assumptions. They kept their halberds locked together, completely indifferent to his rant.
Suddenly, the distinct sound of clashing steel echoed from the inner rings. The metallic ringing escalated, growing faster and much louder.
Feng pointed his gauntlet toward the gates. "Do you hear that? This is not the time to be arguing with me. We need to go check on Her Highness immediately!"
The sentries exchanged a brief glance. The escalating noise of combat validated the commander’s security concern. They lowered their halberds and pushed the gates open. The three armored men rushed into the training grounds to investigate the commotion.
Inside the dirt ring, Solomon and Lune traded rapid blows. Lune lunged forward with a swift thrust. Solomon pivoted on his boot and deflected the rapier with his longsword.
However, Lune’s boot slipped on a patch of loose gravel.
She lost her balance completely and tumbled forward directly into the path of his parrying blade. The steel edge caught her upper arm before Solomon could halt his momentum.
Lune gasped and crashed onto the dirt. A bright line of crimson blood bloomed across the sleeve of her dark tunic, dripping down to stain the compacted earth.
Solomon widened his eyes in alarm. He immediately stepped over her fallen form, holding his bloodied longsword at his side while looking down at the wound.
Commander Feng and the two Moon-Shadow Sentinels burst through the archway at that exact second. They stopped dead in their tracks.
Feng stared at the horrifying scene in front of him. Princess Lune lay bleeding on the ground, while the silver-haired commoner stood directly over her with a blood-stained sword.
[Dark_Skies: WAIT WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!]
[Tyler_Klare: SHE SLIPPED!]
[Grim: OH NO.]
[Austin: the guards just walked in at the worst possible time.]
[Chi_Master: Solo Man looks so guilty right now.]
Commander Feng drew his sword with a ringing metallic scrape, and marched directly toward the dirt ring. He shouted at the top of his lungs, hurling accusations and threats at the silver-haired boy.
The two Moon-Shadow Sentinels immediately followed his lead, raising their pristine white halberds upon seeing the royal blood spilled on the ground.
"You treacherous peasant!" Feng yelled, closing the distance rapidly. "I knew you were plotting against the crown! Drop your weapon right now or I will strike you down where you stand! Is this how you pay back to someone who called you a friend and welcomed a filthy commoner like you in the palace? Do you even realize what you have done?! Not only you, but your entire family will get executed for–"
Solomon did not move a muscle. He simply shifted his gaze, catching the screaming commander from the corner of his eye.
He projected no visible aura, but a terrifying, primal intent radiated from his silver pupils.
Feng stopped dead in his tracks. The breath hitched in his throat. Every single survival instinct ingrained in his body screamed a fatal warning. His mind registered a chilling certainty. If he took one more step or uttered another word, he would cease to exist.
The commander clamped his mouth shut and stood frozen on the grass, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.
Lune pushed herself off the dirt and sat up. She clutched her bleeding arm and winced.
"It is fine," Lune announced, looking at the paralyzed guards. "I am not gravely hurt."
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