The final days before the duel arrived with a different kind of weight.
It wasn't fear, nor exactly anxiety.
It was something quieter, deeper.
A constant pressure lingering in the back of my mind, reminding me that everything I had built up until now would soon be truly tested.
I woke up early that day, as I had been doing ever since I accepted the challenge.
The morning light streamed through the windows of the mansion in Vailor, illuminating the room with a soft glow.
I spent a few seconds staring at the ceiling in silence, feeling my own body.
My breathing was steady.
My heart was too.
But there was something different.
I was more aware of everything.
I got up quietly and walked to the balcony.
The fresh morning air touched my face, bringing a light, almost calming sensation.
I looked down at the city below, which was slowly waking up.
People were beginning to move through the streets, merchants opening their shops, guards changing shifts.
Everything seemed normal.
And maybe that was what made it all feel even stranger.
"Already awake?"
Rai'kanna's voice came from behind me.
I turned my head and saw her leaning against the doorway, her hair still slightly messy.
She approached slowly and stopped beside me.
"I couldn't sleep much," I replied.
She didn't say anything right away.
She simply looked at the horizon with me.
"You're thinking too much," she said after a few seconds.
"Maybe."
"It's not like you to hesitate."
I let out a small sigh.
"It's not hesitation. It's... calculation."
She smiled faintly.
"Then you're still the same."
Before I could answer, I heard footsteps behind us.
Liriel, Elara, Lyannis, Scarlett, and Vespera appeared one after another, forming the group that had become such a natural part of my life.
"You always wake up before everyone else these days," Liriel said, watching me carefully.
"I need to make use of the time," I replied.
Scarlett crossed her arms as she leaned against the wall.
"Training until the very last moment won't change the fact that you're already strong enough."
"It's not about being enough," I said, looking at her.
"It's about making sure."
Elara tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Ensuring victory against something we haven't fully seen yet... that makes sense."
Lyannis smiled slightly.
"You've always been like this. You never rely only on what you already have."
Vespera simply watched me in silence, as usual, but her eyes showed that she understood.
After that moment, we went downstairs together to the main hall.
Breakfast was already prepared, but the atmosphere wasn't exactly light.
Even so, nobody brought up the subject directly.
We talked about simple things, daily routines, small details of everyday life.
It was as if everyone was avoiding the inevitable for a few more hours.
After eating, I stood up.
"I'm heading out for a while."
"Training again?" Scarlett asked.
"Yes."
"I'll come with you," Elara said immediately.
I shook my head.
"Not today. I need to test a few things alone."
She stared at me for a second as if she wanted to insist, but eventually agreed.
I left the mansion and headed toward a more isolated area outside the city.
An open field, with enough space to use my full strength without causing problems.
The wind was stronger there, and the silence helped.
I stopped in the center of the field and closed my eyes for a moment.
I took a deep breath.
Then I activated the armor.
The energy flowed quickly through my body, shaping itself around me.
The sensation was already familiar, but still intense.
Soon after, I drew my sword and began.
At first, simple strikes.
Controlled movements focused on precision.
Then I increased the speed.
The blade cut through the air with force, creating gusts that spread across the field.
I maintained the pace, testing my limits and forcing my body to keep up.
After a few minutes, I stopped.
"It's not enough," I thought.
Then I pushed further.
I channeled more mana, increasing the armor's intensity.
I felt the pressure rise, my body responding with greater power, but also greater strain.
I stepped forward and delivered a heavier strike.
The impact in the air was visible, creating a shockwave that spread ahead of me.
I continued like that for a while.
Testing.
Adjusting.
Refining.
After some time, I stopped again, breathing more heavily.
"My strength has increased," I concluded.
"But that's not the only thing that matters."
I closed my eyes for a moment and thought about the blessing.
I still hadn't managed to increase its duration.
One minute.
That was the limit.
But maybe it wasn't about time.
"Maybe it's about the right moment."
I held onto that thought and relaxed my body, allowing the armor to disappear.
I remained there for a few more minutes, simply observing the surroundings.
Feeling the wind.
Listening to the silence.
It was strange how moments like these became clearer when something significant was about to happen.
When I returned to the mansion, it was already mid-afternoon.
The girls were in the main hall, some talking, others simply resting.
"Finished?" Scarlett asked.
"For today."
Liriel stepped a little closer.
"You're pushing yourself too hard."
"I know."
"Your body still needs to be in one piece on the day of the fight."
"It will be."
She sighed softly but didn't press the issue.
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"How many days are left?"
"By my count... two."
Silence fell for a moment.
"Then we don't have much time," Elara said.
"No," I replied.
Lyannis smiled faintly.
"Then let's enjoy what's left."
Vespera nodded subtly.
The idea was simple.
There was no point in spending every remaining second focused solely on the fight.
We had already done enough at this point.
The rest was about keeping our minds steady.
We spent the remainder of the day together.
Conversations.
Lighthearted moments.
Even a few laughs.
It was strange how everything felt more meaningful when you knew something significant was approaching.
That night, already in my room, I lay down staring at the ceiling once again.
This time, my mind was calmer.
"I'm ready," I thought.
Not because there were no doubts.
But because, despite them, I would move forward.
I slowly closed my eyes.
And as sleep came, one certainty became clear in my mind.
No matter what happened...
I would not lose.