The tension was palpable.

  Meliora shone like the sun.

  An overwhelming aura.

  Souta, worried:

  — **She snapped…**

  Creamy appeared.

  — “Sir, I warned you that bringing a Celestial General along would cause problems.”

  — “But I didn’t bring her! She followed me, you were there!”

  — “I don’t know, sir… you let her tag along easily. And young Pikonota is quite attractive. I won’t judge you.”

  — “What are you talking about, Creamy?! You’re my conscience, you should know I’m telling the truth!” Souta exploded.

  Creamy pressed on.

  — “You’ve changed. You’re vulnerable.

  Is it because of Meliora?”

  Souta, eyes firm:

  — “You know it is.

  In public, I can endure anything.

  I can even confront entire kingdoms with her present.

  But here, so close…

  Her opinion of me hurts.

  I don’t want her to hate me.

  She’s my only friend.

  No offense, Creamy.”

  **Solar Magic.**

  **Aggressive Gravity.**

  The entire field collapsed.

  Souta yanked Pikonota by the collar.

  Meliora focused on him.

  Solar energy gathered in her hand.

  Spheres of heat.

  Souta dodged.

  He hurled Pikonota against the wall.

  — “Hey! I’m not a sack of potatoes!” she complained.

  Meliora dashed like a flash.

  Pikonota drew her *yakana*.

  A magic circle appeared at her feet.

  **Draconic Magic.**

  **Dance of Snow.**

  **Solar Magic.**

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  **Ultraviolet Ray.**

  The magics collided.

  The forest became an empty wasteland.

  Souta watched from the shadows.

  — “Meliora is insane…

  So this is the Solar Magic of royalty?

  Stingara and the Queen have it too.

  But young Melisara… if I’m not mistaken, she has Lunar Magic.”

  Creamy reappeared.

  — “Sir, won’t you stop the fight?

  They’re both going all out.

  Either one could die.

  Their forces are evenly matched.”

  Souta smiled.

  — “Stop the fight? Why?

  If Meliora kills her… so be it.

  I want to see this battle.”

  Meliora floated in mana.

  The golden glow resembled sunrise.

  The ground melted under the insane heat.

  Pikonota dodged with difficulty.

  Her spells faltered.

  Icy scales appeared on her face and hands.

  **Draconic Magic.**

  **Frozen Pool.**

  A wave of water froze as it advanced.

  — “Why attack me so fiercely?

  Aren’t you a princess?”

  Meliora gave no answer.

  Solar spheres filled the sky.

  A rain of golden rays fell.

  Pikonota rose from the dust.

  Meliora’s fury tracked her only through hatred.

  Pikonota sprinted through the smoke.

  Quick steps. Almost silent.

  **Draconic Magic.**

  **Assassin Blizzard.**

  An explosion of ice swept the smoke away.

  A frigid aura covered the battlefield.

  Footsteps.

  Meliora approached.

  Pikonota steadied her katana.

  A clean slash.

  Meliora spun away with a pirouette.

  Pikonota countered, striking upward.

  **Frozen Slash.**

  The sky turned to ice.

  *Tap.*

  **Instant Step.**

  Meliora caught her wrist.

  The impact was inevitable.

  **Kaboom!**

  The punch was heavy.

  Pikonota rolled until she crashed into a rock.

  Her eyes turned white.

  Almost unconscious.

  Souta, impressed:

  — “When did she learn Instant Step?”

  Meliora advanced for the finishing blow.

  Souta appeared.

  — “That’s enough, Meliora.”

  Furious:

  — “Lord Kihara?!

  Let me kill her!

  Why keep her alive?!”

  Souta, hands in his pockets:

  — “I know you’re angry about your father’s death.

  You want to vent.

  But that’s not who you are.

  You need to calm down.

  I let you fight to be sure I didn’t need to worry about you, even with a general here.

  And I was right. You’re strong.”

  Meliora blushed.

  She looked away.

  — “That’s not fair…

  You know I can’t resist when you make that sweet face…

  It’s cheating…”

  The young princess calmed down.

  Pikonota stood up.

  Her legs trembled.

  Blood dripped from her mouth and nose.

  — “Haha… I went easy on you, princess.

  I would’ve won, you know?

  This is war.

  I only lost a fight.”

  Meliora glared at her.

  Pikonota hid behind Souta.

  — “Ow! Lord, protect me!”

  Souta looked at her with disdain.

  — “You’re hopeless.

  Why don’t you go back to your king?”

  — “But I’m scared, Lord Spoon…”

  — “Get off me! Don’t cling to me, you lunatic!”

  While they argued,

  Meliora remembered Pikonota’s words.

  *— So Lord Kihara is a virgin?

  That means he’s never been with any woman…

  I still have a chance.*

  Her smile was pure.

  And innocent.