Chapter 253: Greater Courage (1/2)

As soon as Arthur agreed to the duel, a giant ring formed around them. It was an array in the academy, preventing other students from interfering.

”If I fight back, I guess you'll also carry on with your threats?” Arthur was silent before a smile formed on his mouth. ”Are you asking me to be beaten without fighting back?”

”You can fight back, but I don't know what might happen to her.” Trevor unbuttoned his sleeves. ”Even though I have confidence in taking you down, I want you to know the difference between our statuses.”

The students began noticing what was going on and a crowd slowly formed. A one-minute countdown appeared in the middle of the ring until the duel started.

Arthur looked at Trevor silently as the black knight appeared behind him. He wanted to find a way out of this, but he didn't have the time to take action.

”Alexie!”

Arthur glanced at the crowd and found that Jonah had arrived as well. He scanned the present people and found Rae also glaring at him with piercing eyes.

”You don't your friend to feel bad, do you?” Trevor smiled, talking in a low voice so that the others wouldn't hear it. ”Make sure you put on your finest act, Bastard.”

The shadows started to gather and scatter as Arthur felt Ruki's rage. They threatened to attack even without Arthur's command.

'Let me kill him, My Lord.' Ruki's voice was furious, which made Arthur's heart feel warm. However, he commanded her to stand back.

The countdown reached zero in no time. As soon as it did, the knight appeared in front of Arthur. He raised his hands as the knight slashed his away. His arms turned metallic before they collided with the sword, making Arthur fly away like a broken kite.

He rolled on the ground with his sleeves torn through, blood dripping. Before he could stand up on his own, Trevor appeared in front of him and kicked him in the stomach, making him fly upward.

The knight was there to strike him down toward the ground. His body slammed to the ground leaving a crater with himself in the middle.

”Alexie! Just surrender!” Oliver was banging on the ring's barrier as he shouted. Arthur was conscious enough to hear him, but he couldn't surrender just yet.

He tried to defend himself as the attacks rained on him. His body received injuries upon injuries until he couldn't stand up anymore. Trevor stood in front of him with a smug and victorious expression on his face.

”You should surrender unless you want to die.” He said in a prideful stance as if he didn't want to hurt Arthur further. Arthur glanced at him and mouthed out the words.

”I... Surrender.”

The ring broke apart as soon as he said the words and he received a notification of losing the duel. Trevor walked away and the crowd parted.

”Are you alright?” Jonah and Oliver rushed to pick him up and he nodded. They walked toward the infirmary as the crowd looked at them with mixed feelings.

'Coward.'

Rae whispered as they passed by her, enough for Arthur's perception to pick it up. He was taken toward the infirmary where he was given potions to heal him up. He was admitted to stay overnight while the others went back to their rooms.

”Why didn't you fight back?”

In the darkroom where he was resting, waiting for his wounds to heal, Reece The Cat appeared and asked him. It jumped on his bed and snuggled beside him.

”He threatened me to hurt Jonah's sister,” Arthur answered calmly. ”It was the right thing to do.”

”I see,” Reece was quiet before answering. ”You did well.”

”I shouldn't have antagonized him, to begin with.” Arthur sighed. ”These people wouldn't stop on anything to restore their pride.”

”It takes courage to fight for one's sake,” Reece said in a melancholic voice. ”But greater courage to avoid fighting for others. You did the right thing.”

”Maybe.”

”Aren't you angry?” Reece asked with doubt. ”You have the right to be.”

”Anger isn't going to solve anything, contact Sier and tell him to protect Jonah's family for me.”

”What are you going to do now?”

”I'll wait.” Arthur got up. ”Everything has gone well. I have a conflict with more than one noble and I showed potential. It's time to be kidnapped.”

”What about Trevor?”

”He got his revenge. He won't do anything for the time being.”