-“Izar Irfis has fallen. Zekk Irfis, proceed” Verkan spoke, motioning his hand towards the next contender.

  The next warden walked slowly into the arena, staring deeply into the challenger’s eyes, he pointed his sword towards him, standing still for a few seconds before entering the fray.

-“Your determination is admirable, pretender, but that alone is insufficient! This trial will be your funeral!” the warden declared loudly, making evident his desire to kill his opponent.

-“No, Zekk Irfis, it will be yours!” the challenger replied calmly to the warden's threat.

  Nina’s heart sank. The previous fights were somewhat exciting to watch, as although the danger was real, nobody got seriously injured. But now the two combatants just made clear their intent to kill each other as if there was an old score to settle. The warden didn’t waste much time and charged toward his adversary, yelling his lungs out. She was left awestruck by the sudden outburst, as the two warriors clashed violently with such force that each time their blades collided it send sparks flying.

  But the gentle touch of Verkan’s hand over her shoulder calmed her down immediately. Her heart was still racing, however, pounding violently against her chest as she watched the warden taking the initiative; the old warden moved incredibly fast and fierce for someone his age, somewhere around his late forties. No wonder why he was chosen among the elite. Nero was no slouch either, it was clear, even for someone without experience like her, that the challenger had seen too many fights in his lifetime. Verkan mentioned that the entire Clan Irfis fought as the vanguard during the Imperial invasion fifteen years ago and that Nero, who was just a boy then, the wardens, and the late Lord Burgan were all not just duel fighters, but also battle-hardened war veterans.

  The warden tried to press his advantage to the fullest. He knew he had to finish the fight as quickly as possible, for his opponent was, as much he hated to admit it, faster and stronger than him. On the other hand, Nero knew the barrage of blows was just a distraction. The warden certainly wanted him to drop his guard just a bit to land a killing blow, or at the very least to make him bleed and deny him of his chances to become the next Lord.

  He wouldn’t have any of it.

  The challenger parried the warden’s last attack and both warriors locked their swords face to face again, the older warden realized he was stuck in an unfavorable situation. Throughout most of his career he used to overcome stronger foes with superior skills and technique, but this time, however, he and his opponent were evenly matched. Unwilling to concede, the warden leaped back out of the strife but still inside the range of his adversary’s weapon, the challenger took a step back and contorted his upper body for a powerful strike. Everyone present was in awe at how easily the pretender was able to swing the gigantic sword over his head, and towards his enemy.

  The warden, however, fully anticipated the attack. Despite the outstanding velocity, he quickly ducked in the nick of the time, feeling the sword pass right over his head and hit nothing but thin air. The challenger was now showing his back and completely vulnerable to a counterattack. He positioned his sword with a swift movement for a horizontal cut aimed at his opponent’s lower body and charged.

  But that proved to be a fatal mistake. Nero took advantage of the momentum from his previous attack and completed the turn before the warden could strike his back. The challenger parried the attack right on his tracks with the iron sole of his boots in a breathtaking display of both skill and fearlessness, with a movement akin to a roundhouse kick. He dragged his opponent's blade to the ground and stood over it, stuck between the iron-reinforced wooden heels, and with the same motion, twisting his upper body, launching yet another blow at the warden that was now defenseless, and completely at his mercy.

  Nononononono, please no!

  She gasped loudly, quickly covering her mouth with both hands, as the challenger’s sword cut through the warden’s neck, killing him instantly. Blood squirted from the warden’s neck a couple of times before his body fell lifeless at his feet while his head rolled a few feet away. She felt Verkan’s comforting hand over her shoulder again; he looked back at her for a brief instant before turning again towards the victor.

-“Alas poor Zekk, I knew him well” she heard Verkan mourn quietly.

  Nina couldn’t help but weep loudly. She never ever imagined watching someone die right in front of her, and a violent death no less. She felt her mentor’s hand gently clenching her shoulders again which she interpreted as a clue to remain silent as everyone’s head seemed turned towards her. She shut her mouth immediately, covering her face with her clasping hands, and closed her eyes tightly, desperately trying to stop crying but unable to do so. She silently made a short prayer for the recently deceased warrior.

  But the trial was not over yet, a group of lower-ranked warriors gently removed the warden’s body, severed head, and sword from the arena, they put him aside near one of the houses and then returned to their spots around the central square. He would be mourned, honored, and buried later after the Trial ends.

  Such was the way of the Clans.

-“Most impressive, Hann Irfis, begin” Verkan proclaimed loudly.

-“Aye” the warden replied, walking into the arena.

  Verkan commented that Nero only needed to win three of the five fights to earn the place as the next clan lord. Technically, he already won the trial, but he would face serious opposition from the wardens that he didn’t yet defeat and would lose face in the eyes of the warrior caste. The next warden waited patiently his turn; his fellow warden made it clear prior to the trial that he would submit to the pretender, and support him if he made it far enough to face him. He realized he would throw the fight in the challenger’s favor. He was no match for the younger and stronger warrior anyway. The fight would a mere formality at this point, no matter the outcome; Nero would become the next Lord.

  Unless he was killed, of course. But that would be his last resort, as a warrior must declare his intention to kill the other before the fight, or it would be seen as an underhanded, disgraceful, and dishonorable move otherwise.

  The previous warden continued as expected. Both warriors only sparred in a mock fight for about a minute to show proper respect to traditions and then proceeded with the actual fight, which ended rather quickly. After a couple of blows towards the challenger, he countered with a powerful blow of his own, the warden parried the attack but was thrown off balance by the sheer power of the strike, and was finally knocked down with a kick at his chest. Nero stood over the defeated warden’s sword and placed the edge of his at the warden’s throat. He sliced through his opponent's skin with a small motion, just enough to cause the wound to bleed a small drop. The fight was over. He then offered his hand to the defeated warden lying on the ground as a sign of goodwill and helped him stand.

  But before anyone could speak a word, the challenger pointed his sword toward the remaining warden.

-“Only you and I remain, Mando Irfis! Pray that you have not bid your doom, as have your fallen brethren!” Nero yelled out loud, leaving the crowd in shock.

  The arena went completely silent, even Verkan was in shock. The pretender disregarded protocol to openly challenge the last remaining warden and old enemy, leaving him with no choice but to respond.

-“Do not address me familiarly, you dirty scum! This mockery ends now, and your remains will be scattered upon the highland winds!” the warden replied, visibly enraged at such boldness.

  The warden charged into the arena and immediately engaged in combat with his adversary, launching a barrage of powerful strikes in quick succession. Nina could barely watch, knowing the fight would end with only another death, but Verkan whispered to her that it was considered disrespectful not to watch a warrior’s final moments. She forced herself to keep watching the duel.

  Both warriors clashed fiercely, despite being almost twice the age of the challenger, the warden moved just as swiftly, but Nero has been enduring five fights in a row and was now clearly exhausted. Nina just overheard some of the warriors murmuring behind her, if what she heard was true, Mando killed Nero’s father in a duel many years ago, when he was still a child. That explains why they yearned to kill each other, the warden obviously saw him as unworthy, and Nero desired a vengeance that was long overdue.

  Nero was by now visibly exhausted, he was breathing heavily, sweating profusely, and taking every pause in the battle to catch his breath. Brandishing that gigantic sword and keeping his opponent at bay also proved to be increasingly difficult by now, let alone hitting him. The warden, on the other hand, was fresh, rested, and didn’t show his age at all. Nero trained since his adolescence, like his father did, his grandfather, and every highlander before him. He passed his Trial of Position at age of thirteen and became a warrior just in time to fight when the Empire invaded. Through blood, sweat, and tears, he overcame every obstacle, every trial, and every foe. With every battle, he grew stronger, increased his skills, and rose through the ranks, and by the time the war ended and the Empire was beaten out of their lands, he was probably the best warrior Clan Irfis had. He was often chosen as a champion, to fight in trials against other clans, and gained the respect of those above him, and the admiration of those below him.

  Then suddenly the warriors started cheering at Nero, chanting his name. Nor Nina, neither Verkan, the elders, nor the rest of the guests couldn’t believe their eyes, watching in disbelief the crowd breaking protocol to reach out and cheer at their champion. The Elders tried in vain to calm the crowd down, the surviving wardens, the Lords, and warriors from the other clans could only watch in astonishment. The somber atmosphere that previously clouded the trial vanished; there was now joy and hope in the air. Even Nina who was deeply affected by the death of the previous warden couldn’t help herself and secretly cheer at him too.

  He had already defeated four of the five wardens and victory was within his grasp. His whole life was reduced to this very moment, his resolve remained unwavering through the whole ordeal, but hearing his people suddenly cheer at him at the most important moment of his life gave him the strength he so hopelessly needed. Nero remained confident in victory and smirked at his adversary.

  The warden saw this as the ultimate insult. One could say by looking at his face that he finally realized his chances of defeating the challenger were rather slim. Perhaps he could somehow win the duel, and maybe even kill him, but Nero already won over the hearts of their people. Winning or losing didn’t really matter anymore; the warden decided he wouldn’t live with this humiliation. As much as he hated to admit it, the younger warrior had already proven himself in his eyes. Whatever grudge they were holding would end today, perhaps it was a selfish decision but he would rather die a glorious and honorable death, and follow his Lord to the grave.

  He charged toward his opponent with all his fury and all his might, for one last time. Nero saw the perfect opportunity and ran him through the chest in one quick, powerful strike. The warden let a gush of blood out of his mouth along with his last dying breath before falling on his knees first, and then to the ground.

  The arena went dead silent. Nina covered her face with her hands at the last second but couldn’t help taking a quick peek through her fingers. She saw Nero removing his sword from the warden’s body, standing quietly with his eyes closed. He spoke a few words to himself that she was unable to hear. He then turned to face the crowd.

-“I stand to claim my rightful position as the Clan Irfis Lord!” he proclaimed loudly, raising his bloody sword in the air.

-“Selah, this trial is concluded, the new Lord has spoken” Verkan replied.

  The crowd exploded in celebration. The warriors raised their swords in the air, chanting their new Lord’s name as he walked out of the arena. Nina let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding and looked at her mentor who smiled in return and placed a hand on her shoulder. It was now time to attend the wounded and veil the death, Verkan would let her recite the funerary prayers for the fallen wardens soon enough. With a new Lord chosen, their mission also concluded.

  They would have to depart very soon.