“Don’t take it personally, but if you think about it, I don’t know anything about you. Plus, you’re just a kid. I’m not sure what made Albert desperate enough to hire someone so young, but I’ll talk with him later.” Quinn lowers his head, hiding his seething anger as Louise continues.

  “Look, this isn’t a situation someone your age should be concerned with. I’m not saying you’re not capable in your own right, but this is for your own good. You have your entire life ahead of you. I also won’t be shameless enough to ask for the hundred gold back. Oh, and of course, you can continue staying at the estate until you find a different place.”

  Quinn’s fury boils over, as all that he hears coming from Louise’s mouth are excuses. He feels like a fool, believing she was different from anyone else. Louise is looking down on him. Just a kid? For my own good? What do you know?

  “Shut up.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I said shut up.” Quinn raises his head. “You’re right, you don’t know me, and I am just a kid. But don’t assume you know what’s best for me. All you’ve been doing so far is running your mouth. You don’t know my abilities, right? Then let's go out back and fix that. I’ll show just how ‘capable’ I am. Then you’ll beg me to help you, though at that point, I’m not so certain I’ll feel like it.” Quinn snaps at Louise, who silently takes it.

  “How rude, Lady Louise is only saying this for you.” Ellen snaps back.

  “He’s right.”

  “My Lady?” Ellen stares at Louise with a shocked expression. Even Quinn is left speechless.

  “I said he’s right. So, how about we finish the test I interrupted last night?”

  “Sounds good to me. Where’s Albert? Or are you going to take me on?”

  “Why would I bother Albert to deal with a child's tantrum. Ellen here will be more than enough.”

  “That so?” Quinn is fuming; the vein on his forehead is about ready to pop. “Well then, what are you waiting for? Let’s get going.”

  ***

  Back at the training grounds, Quinn steps onto the arena, which has already repaired itself, leaving no trace of last night’s test. Quinn sets aside his curiosity about the magic behind such a feat and makes his way to the far end of the arena. This time, he is up against Ellen, who didn’t even bother to change out of her maid outfit.

  No matter where Quinn goes, people always seem to underestimate him. However, the truth is that Ellen has no reason to change. Her clothes are heavily enchanted with protective magic and grant a slight buff to the wearer.

  “Are the participants ready?” Lousie asks, standing on the outskirts of the arena.

  “Yes,” Ellen replies.

  “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Alright then. Begin!”

  Quinn immediately rushes Ellen, wasting no time in closing the distance between them. Ellen, on the otherhand doesn’t move an inch.

  Sorry, but blame your master for this. Quinn puts his entire force behind his fist and launches a heavy strike at Ellen. In the last split second, Ellen makes her move. Huh? Why is Ellen upside down? Wait, Louise is upside down, too. But how? What kind of magic- Ahhh. I’m the one who’s upside down.

  -Boom

  Ellen takes control of Quinn’s arm and sends him to the ground, creating a small crater. Quinn coughs up blood as he bounces off the ground.

  “Are you satisfied?” Louise asks. Surely this will be enough to make him give up after seeing just how big a gap there is in their skill, Louise thinks to herself.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  However, much to her dismay, Quinn’s eyes remain full of determination even as Ellen holds onto Quinn’s arm, keeping him down. “In your dreams. You think this is enough to break me?”

  “Stay down,” Ellen pleads, gripping his arm tighter and twisting it slightly. But this pain is nothing to Quinn. Physical wounds will heal, but emotional scars will stay with him forever. He refuses to break his vow. It is his only saving grace. Without it, he’s just a criminal who escaped punishment.

  “Screw you. This is a test of my abilities, right? Then, let me show you what I got!” As Quinn struggles to free himself, Ellen feels his bones breaking in her hands. She loosens her grip enough for Quinn to slip away. In the same motion, Quinn kicks Ellen, sending her back a few meters.

  Both Ellen and Louise are left speechless. What could compel such a young boy to cause himself so much pain? No matter how they think about it, it makes no sense. Their confusion only grows as they watch Quinn's arm, deformed and a bloody mess, repair itself in real time, like magic.

  This is a first for both of them. They have never met a person or a monster with such a powerful healing factor. Should I stop this? Just how far is he willing to go? Louise contemplates. Ellen, also at a loss, looks to Louise, waiting for an answer.

  It pains Louise to see Quinn treat his body so harshly. She needs the duel to end without her interference. Quinn would say it wasn’t a proper test and demand another chance if she does.

  She can ignore his wishes, but something inside tells her it wouldn’t end there. Quinn is determined to join the expedition. So much so that he is willing to sacrifice his body for a fair chance.

  No, she doesn’t have a choice in the matter. There is no telling what Quinn will do if Louise ends the duel. She needs to quickly crush his determination here and now before this goes any further.

  Louise signals to Ellen to continue. Seeing her master’s pained expression, Ellen knows why the duel must continue. As if she could read Louise’s mind, she also knows she can’t hold back against Quinn if she is to make him surrender.

  “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? Hurry and come at me.”

  “Very well, just remember, you asked for this.” Ellen scowls at Quinn and readies her fists.

  “Yeah, sure. Just get on with it alre-” Quinn is interrupted by Ellen blitzing right in front of him. She strikes him in the chest, sending him flying back. The sound of his ribs breaking rings out. Ellen hits Quinn so hard that his body skips off the ground a few times.

  Quinn manages to steady himself by forcing his feet to stay on the ground as he slides backward. But before he can recover, Ellen appears above him, her leg raised high. Quinn is just fast enough to move out of the way as she brings her leg down. The force of the axe kick shatters the ground like glass, sending Quinn back a couple of meters.

  She’s insane, and she’s supposed to be weaker than Albert? Just what kind of monsters are they raising here?

  “Not good enough.” Ellen catches up to Quinn again and throws another devastating punch at his face. This time, instead of dodging, Quinn launches his own punch.

  Quinn’s fist connects with Ellen's, but unlike how he thought the exchange would go, his arm ends up crushed. Not wanting to let him get away, Ellen grabs hold of Quinn’s flailing arm and launches a series of attacks at him.

  It only takes a second for Ellen to strike Quinn’s body multiple times, breaking every bone. After he is reduced to a bloody mess, Ellen lifts Quinn by the throat.

  “Yield,” Ellen demands.

  “I… Won’t.” Quinn's weak voice barely comes through. He is exhausted and in so much pain, yet he still refuses to give up.

  However, this suicidal determination isn’t admirable to Ellen. This is desperate and foolish. She looks at Quinn with a heartbroken expression.

  “So be it.” Ellen brings her fist down on Quinn's face, driving it into the ground and shattering every bone in his head. She uses more force than usual, confident he will survive. If this doesn’t work, she doesn’t know what else she can do to make him give up.

  Ellen walks away with her head hung low. She isn’t proud of what she did, but like Louise, she believes it is necessary to keep him out of the expedition.

  Quinn is definitely strong and would be a worthy comrade, but he is also inexperienced and impulsive. He could get someone or himself killed if he goes as he is.

  Ellen finally raises her head and looks towards Louise. She stops when she notices Louise isn’t staring at her. No, she is looking behind her. Ellen turns around and sees a monster.

  It stands right where Quinn’s unconscious body should be. Instead, there it is, covered in blood and surrounded by a dark aura. Unmeasurable power radiates from its eyes, locked onto hers. Ellen doesn’t know what she is seeing; it can’t be Quinn. She refuses to believe he is the being before her.

  Ellen starts to shake. The thing in front of her terrifies her. It takes a single step forward, and that is enough to drive her over the edge. She readies herself, fully prepared to squeeze every ounce of power she has to kill the thing right in front of her.

  But before she can, it raises its hand signaling her to stop. The dark aura retreats, and Quinn returns to normal, his eyes unfocusing.

  “Few, that was close…” Quinn loses consciousness and falls to the ground, leaving Ellen and Louise stunned.