Chương 162: Chapter 161: The Katalin Mystery II

A few days later, Caolan fought Katalin. It had been a little strange. Katalin had been so eager to fight the paladin that at one point Polina thought the demon might have attacked him on the spot. That, or physically drag him into Lord Inoue's training room. Neither had happened, fortunately. For some reason, when they'd met again for lunch that day, the fire and hunger for the duel had faded from Katalin's expression.

Instead of nagging Caolan immediately, she calmly set a date in the near future and moved on to other topics. That date soon came. They gathered in Lord Inoue's private training room. You could immediately tell it was built for a mage and not a warrior. Its floor was hardwood, lacking the coarse sand favoured by warriors. The walls were thick, designed to resist the immense amount of aether the demon known as the Aether Addict could cycle. Magical instruments lined the walls, measuring atmospheric aether.

While Katalin and Caolan stretched, Polina stood off to the side with Karina and Aldous. Lord Inoue herself was there, making the atmosphere a little awkward, but that didn't do much to quell Polina's internal excitement. For one, her naturally analytical mind was eager to witness the capabilities of the famed Katalin of Driss. The demon was expected to become the youngest Greatlord in the Empire's history, so this was a rare opportunity to gather some information. Secondly… she was bored.

They had everything they needed at Lord Inoue's estate. If they wanted something to read, the latest broadsheet would be brought to them. If they wanted to eat, Lord Inoue's kitchen staff would produce something delicious. The delights and comforts of a Cascadian Lord's hospitality were generously afforded to them. But with their movements restricted, Polina began to feel similarly to how she felt when she was kept at the Overlord's estate. A prisoner.

At least I'm a prisoner of luxury, she found herself thinking one morning. Better this than the cold cells of the Red Citadel. It was those same cold cells that she knew would be waiting for her should she ever decide to return. If she did, she also knew her guard this time would not be as bribable as Ivan had been. Once more, she felt her mind wander, doubts regarding her future rising up within. After this, where should she go?

Caolan knew she was a Truth-Teller, so she would be welcomed into Christdom, even if her former loyalty meant they would keep her at arm's length. She could go back to Karligard with Karina, or even find her own way in the free city of Ulm. Heavens, maybe she could return to Mur with Mr Russell and find a new life in the ranks of the Murian Priesthood? She looked at the Murian priest, feeling a smile grow on her face. It was a silly idea, but who knew where the Moons would guide her?

So much had happened, good and bad, to bring her to this moment, where—"You're staring," Aldous said.

"Am I that handsome?" Polina frowned.

"You're not my type, Mr Russell." She nodded at the half-eaten sugarfruit in the priest's hands.

"I was only wondering if you planned to eat our host out of house and home?" She cast a glance at Lord Inoue, but the demon seemed to find looking at Katalin more interesting. If the Cascadian Lord had heard her, she didn't show it. Aldous patted his belly.

"Can you blame me? They have all the Cascadian sugarfruits here. Blue, red, green, and yellow! We only import Christdom's white ones to Mur, and those are sweet, but these"—he held up the sugarfruit remains—"have flavour. Even their rind tastes good. Have you tried them?"

"Of course I've tried them." Perhaps it was because she was used to the richness of the Federation's orange sugarfruit, but Cascadian versions tasted strange. She decided not to mention to the Murian priest that the rind of a sugarfruit was considered animal feed in the Empire. She especially decided not to mention that blue sugarfruit made her think of her time undercover in Kenhoro, when Amelia had dragged her around the markets, darting between stalls like a peekaleaf-dosed peeka.

Deciding to change the subject to something more appropriate, Polina nodded at the pair getting ready in the centre of the training room.

"Who do you think will win?" she asked.

"Can't imagine our paladin losing," Aldous responded, rubbing his chin. Polina glanced at Karina, but the Karligard woman was keeping her thoughts to herself, maintaining her gaze on Katalin and Caolan. Polina glanced at Lord Inoue, but the old demon was equally taciturn. With her options for conversation limited, she followed suit and watched them pick their weapons. Katalin chose a Northern longsword.

They weren't quite as long as the Samino weapons Polina had seen, but when used with the Northern Hawk style, they boasted unrivalled power. Judging by the way Katalin did a few test swings, bringing the ironwood weapon high above her head with her belly tucked in, it was her favoured style. Polina's mind filed away that information. Whether she wanted to or not, she couldn't help but mentally store every tidbit she observed. Her training wouldn't let her do anything else.

She knew Katalin was right-handed, that the demon preferred two spoonfuls of sugar in her mint tea, but only on some days. Even if she were no longer a Senior Analyst, her mind wouldn't forget its obligations. Caolan had chosen two items. One, a small target shield he held in his left hand, and in his right, a simple short sword. From that choice alone, Polina deduced he favoured Christdom's Silver style.

There was no formal requirement for Christdom's paladins to fight a certain way; they had freedom to choose their own path as long as that path served His Holiness.

"Silver sword," Aldous muttered.

"Tough match." Polina turned her head.

"You're familiar?"

"Of the works of George Silver?" The Murian priest chuckled.

"His Paradoxes of Defence are well known in Mur. He dedicated half his life to trying to fight Murian fencers. They said he would post notices throughout Somerwall in an unsuccessful attempt to arrange contests." Aldous shook his head.

"Never worked."

"Perhaps they were too scared," Karina said under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." The Karligard woman sniffed.

"It is a good matchup for Caolan. The speed of the Silver sword counters the power of the Hawk. If I were a betting woman, I would bet on him. I have seen Caolan fight before. If he decides to fight seriously, he will win." Polina nodded, making a note of the implication in her words. So, Karina had seen Caolan fight? Where? Was she talking about a duel, or a battlefield? If it was the latter, then had Karina been involved in the last Federation-Christdom conflict?

As far as Polina knew, there were no records of a Luhran Speaker being active on the frontlines then. She glanced at Lord Inoue to see the demon's lips curled, as if amused.

"You disagree?" Polina asked, quickly adding, "Lord Inoue?"

"Highlord Driss will only lose if she wants to," the demon said quietly.

"Paladins are made from great men, and Caolan is a great man; I know this…" She shook her head.

"But none of you have seen what I've seen." With that, she elaborated no further and kept watching the pair in the centre of the room.

"Ready?" Katalin asked. Her body seemed both tense and relaxed at the same time, oozing experience and control. Even so, through that, Polina thought she could detect the same eagerness and obsession with the sword that she had seen before. Caolan tapped his target shield with the short sword.

"I suppose we're keeping things to red?" Katalin smiled.

"If that's all you can handle."

"I can handle anything a demon throws at me," Caolan responded.

"You've never fought a demon like me."

"You've never fought a paladin like me."

"Mmm, I wonder?" Katalin replied, the faintest tone of amusement in her voice.

"Orange, then?"

"Only orange?" Caolan countered with a shrug.

"If that's all you can handle."

"Then why don't we—" The demon was cut off by a sharp clap. Lord Inoue cleared her throat, gathering everyone's attention. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"As referee," the Cascadian Lord intoned, " and host, I must firmly impress upon you to restrict yourselves to red. As much as I would be interested to see you two push yourselves, I must remind you that we are in my training hall. You see, when it's your own building…" The demon tilted her head.

"It's not as fun to see it destroyed. Let's not repeat what happened at the academy, shall we, Highlord Driss?" Katalin's eyes twinkled.

"Well, if the host insists…" She faced Caolan.

"Red, then?"

"Red," Caolan grumbled in agreement. Polina exchanged a look with Aldous. What happened at the academy? they silently asked each other. Another mystery to solve. Without another word spoken between them, the duel began. The atmosphere sharpened, pressing down upon the hall's occupants and silencing their tongues. Katalin and Caolan approached each other, each step drenching the air in anticipation. One moved as if an unassailable fortress, their target shield ready to take any punishment.

The other moved with perfect precision, their longsword held high, poised to dive down at a moment's notice. Polina wasn't a warrior. She had studied them analytically, and knew conceptually of what a warrior's instinct was, but for the life of her she could never have sensed whatever it was that prompted Katalin to strike first. Was it a subtle shift in Caolan's weight? Or had the distance closed to an exact, imperceptible millimetre? Whatever it may have been, the hawk struck first.

A swift descending cut that flowed seamlessly into a thrust. Caolan moved his shield, his own instincts—indecipherable to Polina—guiding him to block the strike. And the noise! Ironwood was a hardwood, perfect for construction and therefore entirely unsuitable for use in musical instruments. But, somehow, in this room, it sang. The forces behind their aura-empowered strikes cause the wood to ring, sending out a song of battle as the two combatants continue their duel.

Unfortunately, to Polina's unenhanced eyes, Katalin and Caolan quickly ramped up to a speed that was beyond her ability to see accurately. Their weapons became a blur that would only momentarily become visible to her eyes when they collided, before vanishing once more. How many attacks were they launching a second? Half a dozen? More? She couldn't count. The only thing she could rely on was the commentary muttered from her colleagues who could better see the actions.

"Come on…"

"Oh, that was smooth!"

"Stop taking it easy, Caolan…"

"As expected…" Not that it helped Polina much. Aether-users really did live in their own world, didn't they? She sighed. Then, she felt her eyes widen as an idea hit her. She glanced at those around her. Everyone was focused on the fight. Then… it would be fine, wouldn't it? She wasn't going to use her blessing, right? Polina reached within her and activated her blessing. Not her truth detection. Her other one. The one that turned the world into a strange sepia.

She felt something inside her shift as her eyes took on a new, otherworldly sight. She didn't know how the blessing worked, or why the world looked different, or why it made crystals glow, but it did. It was working now; the aetherlights in the room shone like lighthouses. Even the small crystals, specially cut to be used in Lord Inoue's instruments, stood out as miniature suns. And the two fighting in the centre… Polina frowned.

She had hoped it might help her see the fight more clearly, but the only thing that changed was her growing disappointment. Although if she focused intently, it did seem like Caolan's and Katalin's bodies were brighter in some way. Why was that? Was she picking up on micro-amounts of crystal that were in every living thing in the Known World? Had her mysterious blessing become more sensitive? Could… Polina swallowed as the thought manifested. Could it have been improved when Amelia healed me? Is that possible?

She focused harder, causing the brightness of Katalin and Caolan to become slightly more distinct. It was definitely there. She was definitely looking at something. She covertly looked at Karina, Aldous, and Lord Inoue. Lord Inoue was the brightest of the three, followed by Karina, and then Aldous. The brighter one was… could it be how powerful they were? Or could it be… their souls? Polina looked down at her own body, but could only pick up on a faint glow. It was so subtle she wasn't sure if it was there.

What did that mean for her? Was she so incapable she was entirely ordinary under her blessing? Maybe I should start exercising, she thought, clenching her fist. I'm so weak. She was a Truth-Teller and had the unique ability to detonate, no, to unmake moon crystals. But both of her blessings didn't make her strong. If anything, they restricted her.

"No!" a voice cried out. Polina cut off her blessing, switching back to normal vision. Caolan's short sword tumbled in the air, clattering against the wall where it fell rather unceremoniously onto the wooden floor. The paladin was still as a statue, one hand empty, facing the end of Katalin's longsword poised inches from his nose.

"... You changed your style," Caolan said quietly." Shimokan," Katalin responded, her breathing slightly accelerated. Her red aura cooled, simmering back to a subtle hue.

"I learned a few tricks when I was last here." The demon grinned with pride.

"You were thinking of going orange at the end, weren't you?" Caolan didn't respond to her teasing.

"You fought… well," he said. He gave her a nod and retrieved his sword.

"Do not grow confident, Highlord. A paladin's true power takes time to come out. If this were a real fight, it would not have ended as it did." He was talking about a paladin's Theophanic Rage. He wasn't wrong. Caolan was a Speaker, but even without his Word he could rival a First-Word through rage alone. Such was the power of His Holiness' Paladins. Of course, such power came at a cost. There was a reason it was called rage.

"Perhaps," Katalin responded.

"Let us both hope we never need to find out, yes?"

"... Yes."

"Again?" Katalin flourished her sword.

"Another time." A flash of disappointment crossed the demon's face. She turned and faced Karina.

"Then it's your turn, Speaker of Luhran." Karina crossed her arms.

"I never agreed to a duel."

"But you will show me your Word, yes?" Katalin tilted her head in a very Amelia-like fashion. Polina was once again reminded of a strange similarity between them both.

"If you use your name and rank to accelerate our request," Karina responded, "then I will. Only…" The Karlish Speaker eyed the rest of the room's occupants.

"Only if they all leave. A Word is a private thing. There is no need to show anyone else but you, Highlord."

"So be it," Katalin responded without a moment of hesitation. The demon glanced at Lord Inoue who took the hint. Within a minute, Polina, Aldous, Caolan and Lord Inoue herself were standing outside the training room.

"You fought well," Lord Inoue said to Caolan.

"Thank you."

"I said, didn't I? She would only lose if she wanted to."

"She was…" Caolan trailed off, as if struggling to find the words.

"She was more than I thought she would be. She is experienced beyond her years. Even so, there is a strange comfort in knowing that she lives up to her reputation."

"She's famous for a reason." Lord Inoue smiled gently.

"But it is a shame to be out here with you. I've never witnessed Luhran myself. What about yourself, Caolan?"

"... Once," the paladin responded.

"Once, she showed me."

"How was it?"

"It was beautiful." Caolan closed his eyes, as if remembering the moment.

"There are those who say that in the age of artillery and modern rifles, a Luhran Speaker is losing its place. I, too, thought the same. Then… Then I saw Karina Speak, and I realised how foolish those thoughts were."

"I'm jealous," Lord Inoue murmured.

"I hope that one day, I too will witness it. Although, I have found myself wondering…" The demon's eyes glinted with curiosity, "how long will it be before a gun god achieves sufficient communion for a First-Word? How frightening would that be?"

"Guns have only been around for a few centuries," Caolan replied.

"It may happen eventually, but not for a thousand years. By then, who knows what weapons would dominate the—"" Luhran." Karina's invocation was muffled through the thick training room doors, but it reached their ears nevertheless. Along with it came a tremor that shook the walls. Polina wasn't particularly attuned to the aetherfield, but she could feel the pressure that surrounded the air itself. Just being near the communion of a First-Word made Polina feel rather small.

At that thought, an image flashed through Polina's mind. A memory of Amelia. Not one with golden hair, but one with black feathers, white fur, and a massive body that was some strange angelic mix between a bird and a peeka. That was right. Whatever ability Karina had, whatever ability Caolan had… it was nothing compared to her. Polina found herself smiling, for some reason. The lingering pressure from Karina's Word kept them quiet.

After a dozen seconds, it dissipated, and a minute later, the door opened, and Katalin and Karina returned. Katalin looked satisfied, which was good, for it meant she would uphold her end of the bargain to accelerate their request to see Amelia. As for Karina… She had changed. Polina knew Words could leave lingering physical effects on their Speakers. They were sometimes permanent, such as Amelia's eyes turning a demonic crimson after her Asclepius embodiment, but generally they were temporary.

Karina's golden hair was streaked white, her blue eyes had taken on a golden tinge, and her pupils were oddly… feline. There was a wildness about her that hadn't been present before. An aura of otherworldliness that drew the eye. Even as Polina stared, she could see Karina's hair slowly regain its usual Karlish blonde. Luhran was the human god of the bow. But it was known by a different name in Karligard. The Huntress.

"You're all staring," Karina muttered.

"Sorry," they all said in unison.

"Well," Katalin said with a smile, "that was a treat. Now, I find myself hungry, yes? Shall we…?" The demon passed them and walked down the corridor. In silent agreement, everyone followed her.