As the resounding horns blared and the crowd cheered, Shade led the reddish-brown horse into the arena with a sword in hand. On the other side, the knight entered in full armor as well. As the crowd shouted their names, the two waved together at the audience.
The afternoon sunlight was especially dazzling today, but since summer had not yet arrived, it was not unbearably hot.
Under such sunlight, beneath countless gazes, dueling someone he knew was not human yet looked exactly like one made even Shade feel a little creeped out in some corner of his heart.
The two led their horses to the center of the field. After bowing to one another, they mounted. His Majesty the King, seated in the ceremonial stand at the highest point of the audience seats, had not left despite the presence of a Relic. He picked up the small golden pistol from the table before him, smiled and gestured for Queen Diana to cover her ears, then pulled the trigger at the sky.
Bang!
Shade and "Sir Hels" simultaneously snapped their reins and launched into their first head-on charge. Both were filled with courage, and at the instant they met, the vibration and sparks produced by the clash of their steel swords proved the terrifying force behind both blows.
Shade knew that his opponent could exert greater strength with the physical abilities of an ordinary person, but he had not expected him to be this strong. Shade had not suffered in that exchange, but his mount had shared some of the force he received, and its charge visibly faltered.
If the rest of the match continued as a direct contest of strength, Shade himself would be fine, but this horse would likely have to withdraw early from internal bleeding.
This won't do.