Star Lake Fortress, in the vast Starlight Courtyard—commonly known as the Lumber Yard—soldiers, guards, workers, and farmers had gathered in groups, surrounding an open space. The atmosphere was boisterous.
"Go, go, go! Give her a good one over the head! Yes, just like that, flo—whoa, that was quite a fall! It's fine, believe in yourself, lad! Get up and keep hitting her! Oof, that sword of yours is awfully soft. Are you always like this? Is life treating you too well, or are you hoping your wife cheats on you?"
In the center of the open space, Miranda Arendt moved nimbly between two warriors. She was engaged in an unfair one-against-two duel against Nesi and Bastier, guards of the Star Lake Guard. The young apprentice Vanguard Officer attacked like a surging tide and grew braver the longer she fought, while the tower-like Guard Officer held his position firmly, leaving no opening.
"And that other one—what was it, Iron Bucket or Iron Tower?" On the wooden watchtower, Flower of the Fortress Sonia leaned over the railing, half her body sticking out as she waved her arms fervently and cheered for the battle below. "Don't just stand there! Swing that hammer and smash her head! Hey, that's more like it—but what's with that aim? Can you even hit the hole when you're taking a piss?"
Inside the second-floor storeroom, Tales sat by the window, oiling and maintaining the ancient sword The Watcher while watching the battle with great interest.
He soon realized that although Miranda was fighting two opponents at once, she was the one controlling the battle.
The female swordswoman of the Yalend Family deliberately goaded Nesi into attacking continuously, draining his stamina, while using her positioning to force Bastier to act as her shield and block Nesi's fierce assaults. Yet