Chapter 58

Pietro stood, looking as though he might actually start pacing. His hands were already fluttering uselessly at his sides, eyes flicking from Delphina to Hayle and back again.

Delphina interrupted gently, before he could work himself into a full-on tirade.

“Brother, I’ll be fine. It might be the first time I’ve met or had a duel with other Sword Masters, but I have the utmost confidence in my abilities. Besides, it’s just a ‘friendly’ Tournament.”

Stepping in front of him, she gave a mildly reassuring glance to Hayle, before leaning in next to Pietro’s ear, softly whispering something he seemed to have forgotten- a faint glimmer of amusement tugging at her lips as she did so.

“Who’s the one who didn’t even know you could reinforce your body with their Life Energy again?”

Unfortunately, he still wasn’t happy with the situation that was being proposed.

“Sister, if we include one of the assassins in the mix, there’s no telling what they’ll do to get to you. Even if you can defend yourself, what happens if they injure you using a skill? Or they take someone hostage in the chaos?!”

Tutting out loud, she moved back next to Jenkins, giving him a not-so-subtle side eye.

Before Pietro could spiral any further, his calm, measured tone cut neatly through the tension.

Young Master, if I may.

As everyone turned towards him, Jenkins’ posture was as unnervingly sharp in his Soldier form as ever, especially as he folded his mechanical hands behind his back- now cutting a rather imposing figure.

My Lady Delphina has demonstrated excellent weapon mastery on multiple occasions. I have full confidence she will adapt perfectly to any opponent’s style.

Hayle raised an eyebrow, grin twitching into place.

“Oh? You’ve seen her fight before?”

A small silence followed, Pietro’s eyes narrowing as his curiosity momentarily overpowered his worry for her.

“Fuck you, Hayle.”

Awkwardly clearing her throat, she slowly sounded out a reasonable excuse.

“A brief demonstration was requested… That’s how he ended up choosing Whisperfang for me for today’s… events.”

Jenkins caught her lead immediately, nodding solemnly, as though they were merely discussing the weather.

Indeed. Her combat form naturally complements polearm work; precise, efficient, and devastating at close range. The glaive merely… amplifies those qualities.

She could swear that he sounded a little smug for some reason.

Pietro’s expression softened, clearly looking more reassured, albeit still unsettled by the potential issues. But Hayle suddenly clapped his hands together, causing him to jolt.

“How about this, then. We make sure you’re placed in the other free-for-all group; a one-way ticket to the final would be guaranteed with your ‘skills’. Fellow Sword Masters or not.”

“That way, our little assassin friend gets through his own free-for-all in one piece, my Second in command will make sure of that. No need to maim anyone until the very end, and then you’ll be the final exhibition, Your Ladyship.”

Delphina tilted her head; it was a good plan, but she was mildly confused by his staunch belief in her.

“You’re assuming I’ll breeze through to the finals? I won’t be able to use the glaive during the free-for-all, I’m not out to kill my own family’s Knights, you know.”

Shaking his head at her, he crossed his arms and leaned against Pietro’s shoulder only to be promptly shoved off. Delphina couldn’t even imagine how heavy he must be for her brother to have looked that uncomfortable so quickly.

“You will. You’ll win one free-for-all, he’ll win the other, and then you’ll both meet at the end for a grand showdown. Perfect theatre in my opinion.”

Her face turned stone cold as she heard this, her shoulders tensing.

“I don’t need the Tournament to be rigged to win- it also means informing more people of the situation, and our original plan hinges on as few people being privy to that information as possible.”

Hayle’s eyebrows shot up in shock, almost stammering in reply, eyes darting to Pietro again before looking back at her.

“No! I meant that you’re the youngest Sword Master ever recorded, so you must have an edge that the other competitors won’t have. Your… Soldier… Butler also seems to think so? And he apparently has plenty of field experience.”

A flicker of realisation passed across his face; whatever the thought was, it caused his brows to sink back down in the opposite direction.

“But I guess with how my attitude has been towards you previously, of course, you might think that, instead of me believing in your abilities.”

Delphina, too, couldn’t help but briefly look in Pietro’s direction- she wasn’t actually the youngest Sword Master after all, even if he was lacking in her opinion.

Pietro still looked uneasy, but his jaw set in reluctant agreement. Had Hayle’s attitude actually won him over?

“Fine. But if he so much as breathes wrong near her before then, I’m ending it myself.”

Delphina didn’t bother arguing, though Pietro’s chauvinism grated on her nerves. Between the three of them, she knew who was the greater danger to the poor assassin.

Looking down towards the butt of her glaive resting on the floor, she couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed.

“Well, they’ll just have to see what I’m capable of.”

********

By the time their conversation had finished, the mid-level final had also concluded; a small team of Squires had won over another batch- it seemed they were all from the same squad originally and had to split into two groups.

The arena was a thunderous mess of excitement and impatience; whilst an interesting display, it no longer fully whetted their appetites.

Delphina leaned on the railing beside Pietro, watching the chaos unfold below as the Upper-ranked Squires and Junior Hunters made their way into the arena’s grounds. A gentle touch to her arm from him drew her concentration away for a moment.

“I forgot to say. Those at the bottom of the Knightage are technically not Squires as they’ve completed their basic training but aren’t yet under a specific Knight’s squad. What do you call them in the Hunters? Or even the Information Network?”

Delphina hummed.

“That explains the lack of form we saw earlier. Honestly, I think we just call them Recruits, and then once they hit mid-upper level, they’re called Junior Hunters if they’re not yet an adult.”

“Anything else, they’re just Hunters. No Upper Hunter, Elite Hunter, or anything like that with the Knights.”

Hayle apparently could help but interrupt at this moment, adding with a smirk.

“I don’t think the Hunters are much better at this level. Half of them are still getting used to the idea that they can’t stab everything that moves.”

As if to highlight his opinion, a particularly clumsy exchange below drew collective groans from them all; two young combatants collided mid-lunge, their blades clattering to several feet away.

Delphina sighed, straightening up with her hands on her hips.

“I’m bored.”

Jenkins inclined his head slightly.

Understandable, my Lady. Perhaps you might find the next divisions more engaging? We will be having Sir Burgesses display next, followed by the Elite Squires and lower-level Knights.

She couldn’t help but shake her head.

“No, I think I’ve reached my limit of second-hand embarrassment for the day.”

Pietro chuckled, though his eyes were still restless, darting towards her glaive where it rested against the banister.

“What about you, Hayle? Are your Knights marked the same as before?”

Hayle blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his question.

“Marked?”

Delphina couldn’t help but clarify for Pietro, actively clicking her tongue at Hayle’s slow-wittedness whenever her brother was involved.

“Their insignia. Yours are bearing the Burgess coat of arms, aren’t they?”