They finally clashed their swords with a loud metallic clank and locked themselves face to face. The warden wielded a sword known as Khalet. It was a traditional great sword and the signature weapon of the Highland Clans, its blade was more or less the length of an arm, plus the hilt and the guard, it was single-edged and slightly curved. At the end of the hilt, there was a weighted pommel that helped keep the balance of the weapon to be used also while riding. It was very well balanced overall.

  The challenger, however, wielded a very different sword. It was a giant piece of metal taller than the man who wielded it and with double the range. Every warrior carries one while riding their bulls in the case the animal needs to be put down, it was designed to easily behead a wounded animal rather than to be effective in combat. It was long, heavy, unwieldy, difficult to master, and more of a hindrance than actually useful. It was not unheard of, however, that some warriors would wield it in battle to stand out, and show off their prowess. It certainly required no small amounts of strength and skill to compensate for its heavy weight and lack of balance.

  The two combatants struggled for a few seconds before they unlocked their swords and backed again. Even though the challenger was younger and clearly stronger than the older warden, he was no less experienced. Nina saw the warden probably also realized this for his terrified expression.

  The warden launched a couple of swift swings that the challenger deflected easily. Nero then countered with a powerful swing of his own that the warden evaded just barely by jumping back out of his reach. Despite the size of his blade, the challenger maneuvered his weapon with grace and precision.

  Higen launched another swing at him, although this time instead of using his blade to deflect it, Nero dodged it by moving his head to the side. He swiftly positioned his blade between him and his attacker, and with a violent turning motion, he dragged his sword behind him, and across the warden’s chest and left arm. The warden fell to his knees in excruciating pain.

  Although the wound was not deep enough to be a threat to his life, it was enough to draw first blood.

-“The fifth warden has fallen. Izar Irfis, begin” Verkan proclaimed.

-“Sometimes luck favors the foolish, your skill is lacking” the fourth warden exclaimed in defiance as he walked into the arena.

  Nina watched the battle with her heart filled half with awe and half with dread as it was the first time she witnessed an actual duel. Some of the elders rushed to aid the defeated warden and help him walk out of the arena, and she felt relieved that nobody ended up seriously wounded, but her heart sank again with a sudden rush of uncertainty after Verkan reminded her that the Trial has just begun.

  Nero wiped some sweat from his face and then turned towards his next opponent. Both of them stood still for a few seconds, just staring down at one another before rushing into combat once again. The warden tested his opponent's defenses with a barrage of attacks to his legs that the experienced warrior easily deflected, but the challenger knew that an elite warden wouldn’t be so predictable if he wasn’t planning something. The warden, on the other hand, had to take into account the challenger’s weapon, it was a dangerous gambit; he wouldn’t fight with such an unwieldy weapon if he didn’t know how to fight well with it.

  Unlike his opponent, however, the challenger couldn’t afford to throw blows wildly for his sword was way too heavy for that, and his adversary too fast. He would be left completely exposed if one of his attacks missed, in order to win; his movements would have to be fast, deliberate, and precise.

  For someone not knowledgeable about combat; the duel would look like two amateurs trying to figure out how to properly use a sword, or so thought Nina, but after looking at the others around the arena, the look on their faces made her realize that was not the case. They just weren’t making unnecessary acrobatics or flashy displays of swordsmanship, the two warriors were in fact overly cautious for only a small cut on the skin could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

  And the stakes were high.

  The warden charged again, attacking with a stabbing motion, forcing the challenger to the defensive. Nero stuck his giant sword to the ground between him and his attacker, jumping from side to side, successfully dodging the attacks the warden made around his sword. With a swift move, the challenger dashed around his sword that was still stuck on the ground, and both warriors clashed violently by the shoulders. The warden suddenly found his weapon trapped between the giant sword and his own body, forcing him to back off or risk being cut by his own blade.

  This gave Nero enough of an opening to attempt a powerful strike against his foe. He contorted his body, preparing to swing his heavy blade, a movement the warden had fully anticipated. He expected either a blow against his legs, which he could avoid jumping, or against his upper body, that he could duck easily. If the challenger missed his attack he would be left completely vulnerable to a counterattack.

  But what happened next took him completely by surprise, instead of attacking him; Nero struck the ground in front of him and used his sword as a pole to propel himself towards him. The warden tried to defend himself, blocking the attack with his sword but couldn’t resist the sheer momentum of a full-grown warrior jumping at him with all his might. The warden struck himself in the face with the guard of his own sword, breaking his nose that began to bleed profusely. Even though it was a minor wound that could normally just be ignored in the heat of the battle, this time, however, the fight was over.