Azeri swiftly closed the distance between her and Izik with a swift dash, her right hand engulfed in knife-shaped water. She slashed her arm horizontally, aiming at Izik's torso.

  Izik barely ducked from Azeri's hand and compressed air in his hand. He struck, but Azeri blocked the hit with her free arm, launching her backwards.

  "Did he win?" Bon wondered loudly.

  "That is a block, young Bon." Borgis stroked his beard. "It does not count as a hit."

  Azeri breathed deeply as both of her hands covered in water. As she exhaled, a ring on her right index finger glowed light blue, as the water crystallized around her hand.

  "Ice?" Serene looked puzzled. "I never taught Azeri that."

  "She's using a catalyst." Morin replied. "From Windhuff, it seems."

  "Get ready, prince." Azeri took a fighting stance.

  "Don't worry," Izik replied as he raised his hand as he covered his hands with violent tornadoes.

  Azeri screamed as she launched herself at Izik wit a readied fist. She struck down from above, as Izik tried to block it. Their arms clashed for a second, but the winds deflected Azeri's strike.

  "Gah!" Izik groaned as he looked at her arm, slightly covered in ice.

  "Hmm." Borgis continued stroking his beard. "Young Izik is underestimating young Azeri."

  "Think fast, your highness!" Azeri's icy hands grew in size to her elbow as she struck from below with and uppercut. Izik launched the wind from his hand and launched himself backwards. His right hand is purple from the block earlier.

  Azeri exhaled with a scoff. "Is that what the Warrior Prince of Abrahym is capable of? I have to say, those tales does exaggerate your power."

  What did I ever do to this girl, Izik thought. "Did I do something to you?" He grumbled loudly.

  "You didn't do anything." Azeri smirked. "I'm just disappointed is all!" Her ring shined brighter as she struck the ground with her icy fists, creating a barrage of icicles erupting from the ground towards Izik.

  "That's it." Izik placed his unharmed right hand on the ground, erecting a wall of steam and debris that stopped the ice spikes in their movement. The steam then rapidly approached Azeri, hindering her vision.

  This is bad, I have to get out, Azeri thought. She quickly retreated, only to be met with Izik with his left hand normal again. Azeri flailed her arm at Izik in an effort to land a hit with her freezing hand.

  "Too slow." Izik engulfed his hand in flame and blocked her strike as the ice melted from her hand.

  "Fire?" Azeri gasped and prepared for defense.

  "It's over." He quickly flicked his free hand's finger to the side, as violent gust of wind pushed her face to the side in a split second.

  A crack was heard from Azeri's neck as she rolled around howling from pain.

  "I guess young Azeri underestimated Izik as well…" Borgis sighed.

  "Is Azeri okay?" Bon whimpered.

  "Don't worry." Izik sighed as he rubbed his shoulders. "She'll be okay."

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  Morin clasped his hands together. "Well fought, both of you. However, Izik wins."

  "I guess both the master and the student fell victim to being hasty!" Serene snorted.

  "This isn't over…" Azeri mumbled as she stood up, face contorted in anger the same way her father's face does. "How dare you humiliate me like that… I'll get you for that!" She launched a spinning water ball at Izik.

  I can't react in time, Izik thought as he gasped, but before ball hit him, it stopped in front of his face.

  "What?" Azeri gasped.

  "You shouldn't be a sore loser, Azeri…" Serene said sternly with her palm extended towards the ball. The ball ten flew towards her hand as she walked towards Azeri. "You're giving me a bad image." She closed her hand as the water splashed at Azeri's face.

  Azeri sulked as she sat down. "I'm sorry, Master Serene."

  "Now it is my turn." Bellowed Borgis as he stood in front of up straight and chest puffed. "Out of the way, everyone. It is time for the main event of this bout!"

  Borgis seemed like a mountain of pure muscle to young Bon, but the young boy stood firm.

  "Is this okay?" Izik wondered.

  "Don't underestimate my young pupil!" Serene laughed rather nervously.

  "I won’t lose to you, Warrior Borgis." Yelled Bon fearlessly.

  "That's the spirit, young one!" Borgis huffed. "Big or small, I show my opponent no mercy for the sake of glory!" He leaned towards Bon.

  I hope nothing bad happens, Morin thought with sweat on his face. "Ready," he eyed Borgis, trying to tell him not to hurt the kid with his eyes, "fight…" He whimpered.

  Borgis' giant arms slowly surrounded Bon in his place, the terrifying difference in size made all the spectators nervous.

  Bon, still firm in his stand, held his arm high towards Borgis, and groaned as water amassed in his arm, swelling up to a misshapen ball.

  "Get ready, young one!" Borgis still approached slowly.

  The blob of water shot in an unimpressive speed, hitting Borgis in his face.

  Borgis kneeled in defeat. "I have been bested!" He cried out. "You are the better warrior, young Bon."

  Bon jumped from joy while everyone sighed in relief.

  Later during the afternoon, everyone gathered for dinner. This time, it was a quieter one, with no esper face-off. Azeri sulked from her defeat at first, but later sprang back up into her usual prideful self, while Izik felt bad for beating Azeri in such a way. Morin discussed business with Izali and Ruber Beel. Jon was more into his food rather than anything else, fresh lamb but with imported rice this time. Borgis told his tales of battle and glory to Bon and Asteth, where Bon gasped at every event. In the middle of dinner, Azeri excused herself, but everything functioned normally.

  The afternoon went on into the night as the moon greeted the Beel manor. Izik took a walk after a bath. Unfortunately, he has found himself at the whims of the confusing corridors of the castle.

  "How would I even know where my room is if everything looks the same?" Izik groaned. Every time he thought he had found his room, another reality opened up to him. At first, an empty room. A room with musical instruments. A room with a bath. A room that he could not make out anything inside of it.

  "Curse this hell." He grumbled. "It's enough that I have to put up with a marriage that I don't want but to also deal this shi-" His mouth sealed shut as two maids appeared from the corner he was walking towards. One of them held a yellow vase while the other held a painting of two young boys, one with brown hair and the other who is bald.

  "My lord." They both said as they continued walking.

  He walked past them first, but then then retreated to the two. "Excuse me," he beckoned. "Do you have any idea where my bedchamber is? I am sort of lost, you see." He chuckled nervously.

  "Of course, my lord," replied one of them with a smile. "First, you go across the hallway, turn right, then right, go up to the next floor, take the first left, and it will be the second door to the left."

  "Oh…" Izik mumbled.

  "Shall I repeat it, my lord?"

  They seem busy, he thought, and I don't want to look like I didn't pay attention. "I got it." He smiled with sweat on his brow. "Thank you."

  "My lord." The two maids gave a bow and went on their way.

  "I hope I remember this right." He sulked as he walked ahead. First, you go across the hallway, he thought as he followed the instructions from his memory. Turn right, then right, go up to the next floor, take the first right, and it will be the second door to the left.

  He sighed with relief as he quietly opened the room. He remembered that Borgis slept next to him, and is an exceptionally light sleeper, despite his size. He gently opened the door, and he heard a rustle. The moonlight gave the room a limited visibility.

  Great, there are vermin here, too, Izik thought. He opened the door more and squinted to get a better vision. His eyes widened in horror from the sight that happened before him. His jaw dropped to the floor as he closed the door again.

  It couldn't be, Izik thought, paralyzed and stapled to the door, but he could not be mistaken who he had seen wrapped in sheets together, staring at hm. Izik had insecurities about many things, but he always had pride in his eyesight. that pointy nose and receding hairline, it was Jon Beel. The other one, that ashy blond hair. Jon's own daughter-in-law.