Carrie and I were silent as the crowd by the door parted for us to step through.

I quickly steeled myself and walked at the front of the group.

"Natasha!"

"Laurel!"

I heard the voices call out from deep within the crowd. I recognized both. But I couldn't face either of them.

Caroline and I were silent as we stepped into the courtyard, the sunlight shining brightly on the grass and trees. She walked by my side, keeping an ample distance between us. I glanced over, and her face was... expressionless. Cold and distant, as though she was in another world. It was the look she'd wear when we were kids if she had to step out of her comfort zone and do her best to deal with people.

I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to make this better, and I didn't want to try.

The silence was broken by Chelsea.

"So what are your terms, commoner?" She spat. "For when you lose, and the duel ends with my champion standing over your broken, beaten body?"

"Chelsea, I would like to remind you that Natasha has offered me her assistance in a fight against you," Laurel spoke. "As a noblewoman and a Viscount's daughter, I have a reputation and an honor to protect."

"Get on with it, merchant."

"Fine," Laurel replied coldly. "Natasha. If you win this fight, I will have Chelsea de Mornay apologize publicly and to pledge to never bully or lay hands on any commoners again, for the rest of her time at this institution. And should she renege on this promise, the Brahms will be willing to support any legal or political actions taken by any noble or organization against House Mornay in the future."

Chelsea sneered. "You'd threaten my house over a duel?!"

"Chelsea," Laurel's voice cut through the air. "A duel between two people of close social rank is a matter of honor, and you are a Count's daughter. If you wish to prove your honor and show your worthiness as the second child of Count Mornay, then accept these terms."

She scoffed, but looked at her shoes.

"Fine," she spat. "But if I win..."

Chelsea sneered at me.

"If I win, I want you both to get on your hands and knees, in the middle of the campus, and serve as a footrest for me. Then, I want you to pledge that you will never raise your hand to any noble again. And..."

She sneered.

My eyes narrowed, and my hands clenched into fists.

The nerve! That arrogant, condescending bitch!

I felt the mana flow through me, and had to pull myself back from unleashing it in full.

"Natasha!"

Two figures pushed their way through the crowd. I looked up and my eyes narrowed. Cordelia and Ikki were both running towards us, their eyes wide and panicked.

Chelsea look towards the pair, then scoffed before looking back at me.

"And..." Chelsea continued, looking to the tow people running towards us. "I will have you pledge that you will cease speaking to that boy on campus for the rest of this semester," she added with a smirk. "Ikazuchi of Earth, right? That disgusting, perverted, low-class mongrel who's been leering at me. It's pathetic, the way you two have been fawning over him like a pack of bitches in heat. I bet he's been sleeping around with both of you, too. After all, you both seem like such easy, desperate little whores. But I guess he doesn't care as long as he gets his satisfaction, huh?"

I was seeing red.

This bitch was trying to get under my skin, and it was working.

My fists clenched even harder, and my face reddened in anger.

"Listen you..." I started to shout, but Laurel cut me off, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"Enough of this," she said coldly, looking at Chelsea. "Your terms are absurd de Mornay, and you will not be imposing any further humiliation upon Natasha or any of us. Your behavior is deplorable. As such, I am going to offer new terms, ones which are much more appropriate. If we lose, I will offer to pay for your full tuition, and pledge the Southern Massachusetts quarrying and stonecutter guild to support the de Mornay family for four years. This includes but is not limited to crafting mana crystals and reagents to order. However, I must inform you we are in a dearth of chaos cores."

Laurel stepped forward and glared at Chelsea, pulling a silver bracelet with an inlaid amethyst crystal. The purple stone glowed with an inner light, and the metal shimmered with an iridescent hue.

The crowd hushed, and Chelsea stared at the stone, her eyes wide.

"And I will offer this as a wager, should Natasha be willing to fight for it."

"This..." she muttered. "This is..."

"A keepsake of Lady Sacho of the Massachusetts Union. One of the four magical treasures brought in his quest to seek her hand by Sir Geralt Brahms nearly five hundred years ago. The Eye of Sacho," Laurel finished, staring down the Count's daughter. "In addition to promising not to harass or bully a commoner again, if we win you will have to pledge yourself to the same code of honor that your father, and the Count's family has followed since the dawn of time. And you will spend the summer working at the stonecrafter's guild and learning to make bricks, to appreciate the efforts of the common folk."

"Y-you," Chelsea gasped, looking up at the noble girl. "You'd offer a family treasure? As collateral?!"

"Yes. And I'd expect the same honor from you," Laurel stated. "A treasure from the de Mornay family. The Count's vaunted code."

"Unbelievable," Chelsea gasped.

"You think you can get away with treating the rest of the student body like trash, but you're wrong. This is your last chance to learn a little humility, and show that you are worthy of being a noblewoman, instead of a petty tyrant. And if you lose this duel, I expect you to live by your words and honor your pledge."

"Very well, Lady Brahms. You have your bet. And you will have my pledge if I lose."

Caroline stepped forward. "Lady Laurel. That is not a wise wager. You should be aware that I will be fighting this girl, and I will not go easy on her. The risk is too great."

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She looked back at Chelsea. "I understand the value of your terms. However, you should be aware of the risk you're taking, Lady Laurel."

'This girl'.

Not my name.

"I am aware, Caroline. But I believe that this is a risk I'm willing to take. I have been a coward for far too long."

Caroline looked at her for a moment, and then at me.

Then, she turned away. "Very well," she said. "The terms are agreed, then?"

"Yes, they are," Laurel replied.

She looked at me and held out her hand.

I stared at it, my eyes widening.

I looked over at the others in the courtyard. Cordelia was pale.

And Ikki.

He was next to her at the front of the crowd, his eyes locked with mine. He looked worried.

I didn't say anything.

But he smiled and gave me a thumbs up, nodding encouragingly.

I looked at him, and I knew.

He was cheering me on.

To be honest, if he hadn't shown up the other day, I would've probably lost to Chelsea. She would have ground me down, broken my spirit and destroyed me. Even now, seeing Carrie had shattered any will I had to fight.

Ikki didn't know who he was dealing with. What I was up against. Or maybe he did and just didn't care.

Maybe he trusted in me that much. Either way, the fact that he had faith in me, and believed in me, and that made all the difference.

It wasn't about his strength or lack thereof. I was strong enough.

It was about what he symbolized here.

He'd already helped me plenty enough. His friendship had made this entire month bearable.

He'd been a light in a dark, lonely place. A small spark that kept the embers burning.

And now he was giving me a push. A boost.

And that meant the world to me.

I quietly walked up to Ikki and Cordelia, taking my glasses out of my breast pocket and sliding them onto my face. They felt comforting.

"Ikki," I said quietly, and then looked over to Cordelia. She was exuding a thin aura of mana, like a thin film. "Cordelia, too. Please. Keep an eye on the others, alright? I don't know what tricks they'll try, and..."

Ikki nodded, looking serious.

Cordelia stepped forward. "Natasha. Are you sure about this?!"

I bit my lip, and then looked up at Cordelia.

"I'm sorry, Cordelia," I whispered, and hugged her. "They've been hurting you because of me. You've tried to reach out, and they bullied you. They've done it because you were trying to be friends with me. I can't let this go on any longer."

She sniffed and hugged me back tightly. I patted her hair.

"It's okay. It's not your fault," she said. "You're kind and brave and smart and talented and beautiful."

I pulled away from her, and she wiped away the tears from her eyes, sniffing and nodding.

I turned around and saw Laurel standing there, smiling.

Then, I took my glasses off my face and handed them to Ikki.

"Hold onto these, please."

He took them gingerly, his gaze soft and concerned.

"Natasha..." he began.

"Please don't. You've already helped so much," I said, my voice cracking a bit. "But I need to do this."

I looked around, and then looked at Ikki.

Otherworldly jet black hair, dark brown eyes, and a gentle dimpled smile. He wasn't all that tall or imposing, but there was something in the way he held himself that was strong.

He had an air of strength to him that I couldn't explain. Like the strength that comes from being able to accept who he was. He didn't seem afraid to be himself. And he had a sharp mind to boot. That was a real rarity for the grown men I'd encountered in my life, much less boys our age.

It was inspiring.

But he was the type of guy who could talk himself out of any situation, with a soft, smooth, and respectful voice. I wished I could be like that sometimes. It was a gift. A subtle gift, but one that could save lives. It was something that was worth having, worth being.

And right now, it was worth using to protect.

But I couldn't let him say anything.

He didn't know what I was about to face.

I didn't want to see the look of pity or fear in his eyes when he found out.

He had no idea what he was getting himself into by supporting me, or why this was a big deal.

"Okay then," he finally said.

"Thank you. I'll leave it in your care, okay?"

I winked as I pushed the glasses into his hands, but he could probably tell it was forced, because he gave me a concerned look.

But he just smiled at me again.

"You've got it," he said. "Good luck out there and knock 'em out."

I quickly stepped away, and then turned to face the others.

I was about to face the worst person possible to be my opponent.

The person I'd betrayed, who'd never forgive me. My best friend.

The girl who I'd saved, who I'd given everything for.

Chelsea had a triumphant grin on her lips, her eyes shining with glee. And Caroline...

She looked like a stranger.

"Carrie," I whispered.

Her eyes were cold. Hard and unforgiving. And they showed nothing but anger. And hate.

I could see it, and it made my chest ache.

"Carrie," I said softly, my voice trembling. "Please... Please don't do this. You know she's not worth championing."

Caroline stepped forward, her face a blank mask.

"Do what? Natasha Zamir, we are strangers. We are opponents. You challenged her, and she has chosen me to be her champion. Do not call me that."

Her words cut through me, like a thousand knives. Like she'd reached out, grabbed my heart and ripped it from my chest, leaving me bleeding on the floor. And I knew she had every right to.

But that didn't stop it from hurting.

"I... I know I hurt you, and that I deserve this, and that you don't owe me anything," I said softly, and I couldn't stop the tears that were forming. "But I can't let them hurt other people."

"I see. So, you're trying to play hero again after all?" she said, her voice harsh and cold.

I flinched.

I knew she was right. It was what I'd done to her.

But I had no choice. I couldn't just stand by while others were being hurt.

Even if it meant I'd lose, even if I'd suffer for it.

"No. This is about me," I said firmly. "It's not about you, Carrie. It's not about me. I'm not going to let them hurt other people anymore."

She didn't answer. She just stood there, staring at me with those cold eyes.

I looked her dead in the eyes, resolve filling me. "I won't hold back. Not even for you."

"Good. I've been waiting for this for a very long time, Zamir."

On some level I knew she'd volunteered because it was a fight against me.

Not just because it'd benefit Chelsea and help her climb socially. She'd wanted to hurt me, for all the hurt I'd caused her. She'd tried to get me to stand my ground when she'd first seen me after so many years, but I'd run instead.

Truth be told, Caroline had never been a match for me.

The gap wasn't wide, but she always lagged just ever so slightly when we were kids. She'd never been as fast, or as agile, and her mana control was more refined but lacked the raw strength that mine had.

I was always faster and more powerful than she'd been.

She had the family secret techniques, but my applications of fundamental enhancements, shields, raw mana channeling, and my own martial arts training with her clan had made up for it.

But I couldn't be sure. When we sparred, I would win seven or eight times out of ten. But she was always close. And she'd never been able to truly let go and fight for her life against me.

But now?

We hadn't seen each other in three years, and the Caroline who'd been a prodigy at even age 6 was undoubtedly even stronger now. I'd grown a lot, but she must have too. And her family's techniques and knowledge were powerful, especially if you had the mana and the talent to use them.

I had no idea what I was going to do, how I could win.

How to fight. What to say.

But I had to do it. Because the people who cared about me, and the ones I'd been standing up for were here. And I had to do what I'd been saying.

"Jia Luo..."

She shook her head. "Stop."

I bit my lip and nodded. I looked around at the crowd, and at Chelsea.

She was grinning.

I had to stop her from hurting people. She was a cancer. And she had to be taken down, and stopped from hurting anyone else. If I couldn't, then at least someone would see her get humbled.

"Are the champions ready?" Chelsea called out, her voice triumphant.

I took a deep breath. I turned and walked towards the middle of the field.

They were afraid of her. They'd seen her before. And they were scared of her, and what she was capable of.

And they should have been.

"I'm ready," Caroline called back.

She'd changed. Grown.

And she had a chip on her shoulder now, and it was all because of me.

I looked at her, my heart breaking. I was about to fight her, to hurt her again.

I took another deep breath.

"I'm ready too," I said, turning around.

I barely managed to react to her first move.

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