The Emperor of Kelmania had a daughter named Alice — young, beautiful, and extraordinarily gifted. Barely twenty, she was already a [Square-tier] magician. Though she had yet to master any fourth-tier spells due to her limited experience, her power surpassed nearly all of her contemporaries — stronger even than Tabasa, Sora, Churuka, or Louise among their generation, and counted among the best of the [Triangle-tier] ranks.
Queen Henrietta welcomed the princess with great warmth. Standing side by side — Henrietta with her lilac hair and Alice with her golden locks — they spoke cheerfully, their laughter brightening the grand hall. Many young nobles found themselves unable to look away from the radiant Kelmanian princess.
Sora sat beside the three Vallière sisters and Tabasa at a long table, which naturally drew more than a few jealous stares his way.
Churuka, seated among the Kelmanian nobles and officers, could only glance toward Sora and Tabasa with quiet longing. Sora gave a rueful smile and a slight shake of his head — this wasn't the moment for personal matters. Tabasa, ever composed, had her nose buried in a book, unbothered by the pomp around her.
Halfway through the dinner, Princess Alice suddenly spoke loudly enough for the entire hall to hear.
"I've been told Captain Sora of Toristine's Griffin Squadron was once a commoner," she said. "Yet through merit and courage, he rose swiftly to fame. My Uncle Nilent acted rashly when he crossed him — and, well, suffered the consequences."
The chatter in the hall fell silent, every gaze shifting to her — and then to Sora.
He calmly continued eating and drinking, as though he hadn't heard a thing.
Alice smiled faintly and went on, "Uncle Nilent taught me magic personally. But I'd like to see this Sora for myself — the man who could humble even him. Your Majesty," she turned to Henrietta, "please allow me a duel with Captain Sora."
The Queen looked momentarily uneasy, turning toward Sora for his opinion.
Sora met Alice's gaze; her eyes sparkled with challenge and mischief.
He gave a small nod.
Henrietta sighed softly, then smiled. "If that is your wish, Princess Alice, I'll permit it. But remember — this is a friendly duel. No one is to be seriously harmed."
"Of course," Alice said brightly. "I'll hold back."
Sora lifted his cup with a faint grin. "I, on the other hand, would be loath to harm so beautiful a princess."
Henrietta, Louise, Tabasa, and Churuka all shot him equally unimpressed looks — Louise even pinched a bit of skin at his waist under the table, making him wince.
"There's no such thing as men or women in a duel," Alice replied with a sly smile. "Just go all out."
Sora chuckled. "Then I'll oblige."
He rose, collected Dever, and strode toward the palace garden.
Alice followed briskly, drawing her wand. The guests swarmed to the edges to watch, excitement murmuring through the crowd.
From a safe distance, Queen Henrietta stood between them. "All right," she said, raising her hand. "Three, two, one — begin!"
The moment she stepped aside, four blazing orange-red fireballs shot from Alice's wand, flying toward Sora. It was first-tier fire magic — but cast silently, a feat only possible for [Square-tier] magicians.
Sora took a firm step forward and swung Dever in a fluid arc. One after another, his blade struck the incoming orbs midair — slash, slash, slash, slash! — each one swallowed into his sword's glowing edge.
Alice's face didn't change. She began chanting again while Sora dealt with the first barrage.
"[Earthfire Rise]!" she cried, thrusting her wand skyward from below.
A sudden flare ignited beneath Sora's feet.
"Partner, under you!" Dever shouted.
Sora leapt forward just in time as a pillar of flame erupted where he had stood, heat licking his back midair. A moment slower, and he would have been consumed.
Landing light on his feet, he flicked Dever's blade.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The four fireballs he had absorbed earlier shot back toward Alice like fiery arrows.
She dove aside gracefully, the orbs streaking past where she'd stood moments before and bursting harmlessly against the garden's stone floor.
Then Alice swung her wand like a sword. A crescent slash of fire — more than a meter long — roared toward Sora.
He cut to the side, narrowly evading it as it tore a charred scar across the ground where he'd just been — half a meter deep, three meters long.
Sora's eyebrow lifted. "An enchanted cast?"
Across the garden, Alice steadied her stance, realizing how nimble and precise his movements were. Blocking a high-speed meteor spell, dodging ground-based flames — his physical reflexes were unnatural. Is he even human? she wondered.
"That's [Enchantment]," Dever explained aloud, its voice echoing lightly. "A Square-tier technique that lets you imbue your wand or armor with stored first- and second-tier spells, releasing them instantly with a bit of magic power."
Surprised, Alice gave a short laugh. "So the legendary Sword of Wisdom lives up to its reputation."
"Hmph! I'm my partner's sword, thank you very much," Dever said smugly.
Alice's smile thinned. "Then watch closely — I'll show you something better!"
She lunged. Sora met her head-on — his sword and her wand clashing in a storm of sparks. Flame arcs burst between them as they exchanged rapid strikes, their weapons glowing like molten metal.
For all her magical talent, Alice found herself on the defensive. Sora's strength and precision overwhelmed her, forcing her backward step by step.
I can't win like this, she thought. He's stronger in melee. I need… Jinhong.
Concentrating briefly, she reached out with her mind. From the distant carriage, a tendril of golden-red light erupted into the sky — a streak of living flame cutting straight toward the garden. The palace guards barely had time to react before the blazing creature swept past them.
Sora sensed the surge of power but kept pressing forward. One more strike — one decisive burst from Dever — and he could win without truly hurting her.
But before he could act, the incoming flame shot between them.
Alice shoved him away with all her might. He stumbled back, turning just in time to see the creature dive.
He crossed his sword instinctively — and then came the explosion.
BOOM!
The fiery impact flung him backward, crashing hard into the marble walkway.
Gasps rippled through the onlookers as a small, radiant creature wheeled above — feathers of scarlet edged with molten gold, eyes gleaming like rubies. Its body was no larger than a human head, yet its presence filled the air.
It released a clear, ringing trill, then fluttered down to perch proudly on Alice's shoulder.
Sora groaned softly and got to his feet, brushing cinders off his clothes. His jaw tightened. "Suzaku…?"
Alice smiled, stroking the creature's feathers. It nuzzled her cheek affectionately. "Suzaku? Hardly. This is my familiar — the phoenix, Jinhong."
Osman rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "Indeed — a phoenix. Among the most powerful of flame element familiars. Born of fire, reborn through it. Still young… yet already at least Square-tier in strength."
Murmurs swept through the audience. Even Tabasa's Cloud Dragon would struggle against a phoenix — and that was while this one was still in its infancy.
"Sora," Alice said, her confidence fully returned, "I'll admit — you're a formidable opponent. But you can't possibly defeat me and Jinhong together. Yield gracefully."
Sora narrowed his eyes, gripping Dever tight, but said nothing.
"Sora," Louise called gently from the crowd. "That's enough."
Tabasa gave a slight shake of her head, silently agreeing.
With a faint sigh, Sora lowered his blade and sheathed it. "Very well. I concede."
Alice's smile softened. "You fought well. But next time — I'll beat you without Jinhong's help."
Sora's lips curved faintly. "I'll look forward to it."
He turned and walked back toward Louise and the others.
Alice, surrounded by her Kelmanian knights, returned to the banquet hall — head held high, her fiery familiar perched proudly on her shoulder.