The Duke's Reluctant Bride

Chapter 21: The Sword of Radiance

The Sword of Light gleamed in Adeline's hand, its radiance cutting through the chaos around her. This would be the first time she shows that she's capable of wielding a sword. Her mana reserves were nearly drained—using it often would be reckless. It was time to rely on one of her trump cards—swordsmanship.

Sorcery was still an option, but not for this battle—she had to conserve it carefully, saving her strength for when it truly mattered.

Veylor let out a grin, faint but taunting, as he inspected the broken edge of his sword. He chuckled, a sound that slithered through the air like a hiss of contempt.

"Unbelievable strength, to think that you are capable of breaking a sword barehanded," he said, his tone laced with mockery. "I almost thought you couldn't handle a blade. But from your eyes... it seems you might surprise me yet."

Adeline didn't respond. Her sharp exhale was the only warning before she moved—swift as lightning. In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance between them, her sword cutting an arc of blinding light through the air.

Veylor's grin faltered as his eyes widened. He barely managed to twist his blade into position, the impact of her strike sending shockwaves through his arm. He staggered back, breathless, but his amusement only deepened.

"Incredible speed," he muttered, a glint of amusement flickering beneath the shadow of his hood. "Let's see how far Marcus's daughter can push me."

Adeline didn't wait for an invitation. Her next strike came faster than the last, followed by another and another—a relentless flurry of blows that forced Veylor onto the defensive. Her sword moved like a blur, each swing humming with unearthly energy. Veylor's blade, fractured as it was, somehow parried each attack, but the strain on his movements began to show.

The ruined garden around them seemed to fall away, the clash of their weapons the only sound as sparks flew with each impact. Nearby, treants clashed with the others; their roars and groans were distant echoes in her mind. Her focus was unshakable, her gaze sharp as steel.

Veylor leaped back, desperation flickering in his stance as he extended a hand. Dark energy coalesced around him, forming into writhing tendrils of shadow that snaked toward Adeline like venomous serpents.

But Adeline didn't flinch.

With a single swing, she unleashed an arc of light that cut through the dark hands, severing them mid-air. The tendrils dissipated in a burst of black mist, but she didn't let up. She pressed forward, each strike faster and more precise, forcing Veylor further and further back.

For a moment, it seemed like she might overwhelm him entirely.

But then, he smirked. It was the kind of smirk that sent a chill down her spine.

"You're strong," he said, his voice low and almost admiring. "But strength without endurance... is a fatal flaw."

Adeline barely had time to react as a surge of dark energy erupted from Veylor, a massive shockwave that knocked her off balance. She skidded backward, her boots digging into the dirt as the Sword of Light trembled in her grip. Her chest heaved with exertion, her limbs heavy. She could feel her stamina slowly fading.

Veylor straightened, his fractured blade now crackling with sinister, black energy.

"You've pushed me further than anyone else has in years," he said, striding toward her with measured steps. "But this ends now."

Adeline tightened her grip on her sword, her knuckles white. Even as exhaustion crept through her veins, she refused to give in. She raised the Sword of Light once more, its glow flickering but still fierce.