Shock crashed over him in a wave. How did she know? You could only know what stage in which realm someone was in if you were more powerful than, or at the same level of power that, they were. But she had admitted, and his senses told him, that she was a Master Realm practitioner. So then how…?

She smiled at his confusion. “You look panicked every time that he brings up he’s the most powerful in your village. Whenever he acts aggressive towards you, you don’t worry. In combination with a few other things you do, it’s fairly easy to guess what level you’re at.”

He studied her carefully. She was dangerous. Far more than he had originally realized. But the main emotion he had for her was respect. She was weaker than he was. In many ways. But she was able to sneak into their meeting without detection, could move with far more agility and silence than he could ever hope to, and she was incredibly observant. She moved and talked with so little fear, he knew she had some way to ensure that he couldn’t hurt her. And he had a sinking feeling that the only reason he had seen her was because she wished to be seen. Judging by the way he had lost sight of her earlier, he knew she could probably sneak up on him and kill him if needed. But she hadn’t.

“Even if I sit out, there won’t be all that much of a difference. Gradas has hired mercenaries and has enchantment scrolls.” He told her. He wasn’t quite sure when he had decided to help, but the words had tumbled out of his mouth, and he wouldn’t take them back.

A smug, confident smile. “Just leave all that to me.”

Dansel allowed himself a small smile at his memories. He remembered doubting her slightly that first day. He had even doubted her efficiency until just a little while ago. But looking around, he knew trusting her was the right thing to do. He looked at her, a knowing coming over him. She would become a legend. Not only in Lejus and Meir, but the entire world.

Dansel walked in front of Gradas Meir. Bare moments had passed since he had asked Aurelie if she was insane, and the eldest commander chose to reply for her.

“No, she isn’t. The lie she was referring to was the fact that you are not the only ninth stage Grandmaster. I am one as well.”

Having said that, Dansel released his aura. Ever since he had broken through, he had clouded his aura, so that it appeared that he was an eighth stage Grandmaster. It cost quite a bit of mental energy to keep it up all the time. Dropping it felt so relaxing. Like he had been forced to bear a thousand tons of weight, and had just taken it off.

“I, Dansel Brodac, challenge Gradas Meir for the position of the Village Head of Meir Village.”

The entire field was silent for a few moments, and there was an explosion of noise as everyone verbally released their amazement. On the Lejus side, many people looked at Aurelie with amazement. They weren’t idiots. They knew that it was likely Aurelie who had broken the Meir army apart. And she had even managed to realize that one of his commanders was actually a ninth stage Grandmaster. They shuddered to think what would have happened without her.

Meir’s side was going crazy as well. They were all yelling and wondering how no one had noticed this development. Even the other three commanders looked at one another with amazement. Gradas looked like he was going to explode. It was a rather common look on him, Aurelie noted. She was the only calm person on the entire field.

“WELL, Gradas, do you accept?” Aurelie had shouted the first word to get everyone’s attention, but returned to her normal volume afterwards.

At the reminder of the challenge, everyone quieted down and all eyes turned to watch Gradas. Well, all eyes except for the ones of the mercenaries, who had all rested against a tree and began to talk to one another when they had realized a war wasn’t happening, and the lazy eye of one soldier from Meir named Maul, which was looking at a candy corn shaped cloud in the sky. No, wait, the cloud now looked more like a tree.

Gradas, ignoring the cloud shapes, bared his teeth at Dansel, and then, without warning, he lunged forward and sent a ball of energy at his commander. The onlookers gasped. By attacking without formally accepting the challenge, Gradas had presented himself as a coward, without honor. His already damaged reputation was now crumbling further. Smiling slightly, Aurelie decided to cloud watch with Maul’s lazy eye.

Dansel dodged the attack easily. He had been expecting something like this to happen. He knew Gradas’ personality and fighting style well. The only reason he hadn’t challenged Gradas before was at first because he had just broken through and was weaker than Gradas, and later because Aurelie had insisted that he wait until now. He held no doubt about his ability to win this match.

Kando, too, held no doubts about the match. He and Dansel had been friends for a very long time. He knew the other commander’s strength well. But if Gradas decided to use his Enchantment Scrolls…

Just as Kando thought this, Gradas pulled out a scroll. Dansel stopped his attack.

“That’s right, stay back.” Gradas sneered.

Another round of murmurs went through the crowd. Not only did he sneak attack Dansel, but to also use power that wasn’t his own? Gradas’ good reputation was now non-existent.

Gradas began to attack, but every time Dansel attempted to block or counterattack, he was warded back with a brandish of the scroll. He knew that the scroll Gradas was holding was a wide area offensive. If he yelled “Activate”, not only Dansel but everyone behind him would get hurt as well.

The spectators watched in horror as Dansel was made unable to move. But just as they began to worry, a voice floated over.

“Don’t you trust me?” Aurelie asked. Her tone was casual, and at first no one was quite sure who she was talking to. She hadn’t looked down from the sky, but it was evident that she was in fact paying attention to what was happening.

Dansel remembered a smug smile and the words “Just leave all that to me”. But these were Enchantment Scrolls, what could she possibly be able to do… “Don’t you trust me?”

Dansel positioned himself so that there were few people behind him, then charged at Gradas. Gradas yelled, “Activate!”. Dansel closed his eyes and braced himself for impact… but nothing happened. Dansel opened one eye and peered at Gradas, who had his mouth wide open.

“Turns out,” Aurelie said from her new position at Kadaras’ elbow, “it’s pretty useful to be talented at forgery and thieving. Who would’ve thought?”

She pressed a packet into his arms. “The actual scrolls.” She told him. “Everything Gradas has is fake.”

“When did you…?”

“Wasn’t me. But the ones who actually did it aren’t going to openly come near such a large group of people.” She looked into the forest, and into the eyes of the leader of the urchins. He nodded at her, and then turned and disappeared into the trees. Smiling to herself, she looked back at the fight, just in time to see Dansel hold a blade to Gradas’ throat.

“I surrender! I agree to leave!” Gradas yelled. Dansel drew back, and everyone watched Gradas flee. Dansel then turned to Kadaras.

“I apologize for the inconvenience. Perhaps we should all withdraw?”

Kadaras nodded. “I believe that is for the best. Tonight Lejus Village is to have a feast. Anyone and everyone in Meir Village is welcome to attend.”

A cheer went up. Just this morning, they had all felt quite a bit of pressure, and many had believed that they wouldn’t come back alive. But now, everyone was fine. No one even had a scratch on them, other than Dansel. It was a miracle. And everyone knew just who was responsible for said miracle. As they walked back to their village, the army kept on glancing at a certain red-haired blue-eyed girl who showed them that fighting wasn’t the only way to win a war.