Duelcrest Academy

14. Duel of words

Sophia and Valentine took their positions in front of the lectern, ready to clash.

The professor, who had arrived just a few moments earlier, had decided to postpone classes in favor of their duel. After all, the ultimate purpose of this school wasn't to educate us...

The barrier expanded, encompassing the two contenders.

In the meantime, the entire class seemed to have almost forgotten how to breathe. The last duel we had witnessed in that classroom had seen Sophia triumph, much to everyone's surprise. It was evident that everyone hoped today's result would be the same.
However, this time, Sophia's challenger was of a much higher caliber compared to the now deceased Montague.
Upon our return, Valentine seemed to have recovered from the initial surprise and had accepted the girl's challenge with enthusiasm. Although Sophia also possessed an unusual power, it was clear that the boy was not intimidated in the least.

The now familiar magical voice was allmost at the end of the countdown.

...3

2

Strangely enough, neither of the two contenders assumed a fighting stance. As for Valentine, it was normal, after all he didn't really need a weapon to fight.
But even Sophia remained still, her sword still in its sheath.

1

Nothing happened. Sophia merely crossed her arms, a strange expression on her face.

"What is she doing?"

Even Valentine seemed caught off guard.

«What's the matter? Was it all a bluff? You thought I wouldn't accept and now you don't know what to do?» he asked contemptuously, «if you beg on your knees, maybe I'll accept your surrender,» he continued, laughing.

I saw some students shaking their heads in dismay.
However, I was certain that there was no chance Sophia wanted to surrender. She must have a plan.

"What is she up to?"

I watched that strange girl sizing up her enemy with an uninterested expression, as if the thought of dueling Valentine bored her.

«You know... perhaps you're right. I've made a mistake in challenging you. Your power is so terrible that you could defeat me so easily. For fuck sake, you can just decapitate me with my own blood just like Stuart! What chances do I have against something like that? What was I thinking?!» declared Sophia in an over-emphatic dramatic tone, «so what's the point of fighting? Come on, get it over quickly.»

"She's provoking him."

But for what purpose?

Valentine merely stared at her. But he was no longer smiling.
In response to his silence, Sophia prompted him:

«So? Is there an issue? Don't you want to end the suffering of a poor little girl like me?»

"Man, her acting sucks."

But it seems she was succeding at pissing off her opponent.

«What are you talking about?» replied Valentine, gritting his teeth, irritated. But after a moment, he seemed to compose himself and smiled again, «I simply don't want to finish you off without having a bit of fun first.»

«Oh?» Sophia smiled in return, a cold smile that didn't reach her eyes, «curious... You said almost the same thing to Carl Stuart. Before killing him, you let him punch you for quite a while. Are you perhaps a masochist? I'm not sure I want to encourage such urges...»

I was following this verbal confrontation with the same attention I would have reserved for an actual fight.

Sophia was trying to push Valentine to attack her, but Valentine was being strangely reluctant to do so.
Based on what she had told me yesterday, I knew Sophia had serious doubts about the extent of Valentine's power. After her last words, I began to understand why.
Valentine could have defeated Carl Stuart instantly with his power.