"According to Valence, a gentleman's duel is with no armor and one weapon, a cutlass or rapier Sir Duro.” Starius went to throw down the rapier but the masked Symphony signaled for him to keep it.
"But if the guards will give me this wish, I would like you to wield both.”
The guardsmen looked confused and none of them seemed to really care, but it had to be approved by the Gate Captain.
One of the guards rushed off to fetch the gate leader and soon returned. He brought back with him an elvin man in his later years. The guard had clearly seen his better days but without hesitation he approved the duel. Now, the two were standing just over ten feet from each other and were surrounded by scores of soldiers, guards, travelers, but mostly townsfolk. Taj was still just outside the gate. For some reason, he didn't care to watch the fight. The rest of the team made their way to form the first line of the wall of humanoids that surrounded the two.
"The lyricist has themed your song as humiliation.”
Now Starius was really angered. This iron masked man charges him and his team speaking absurdly telling him he was going to humiliate him in front of everyone when he had two blades to one? Starius charged forward rushing the man with everything he had! The man placed his left hand on his hip underneath his cape and fancily fended off each and every attack Starius came at him with. The crowd was forced to move over and over. Starius spun, dashed, struck, slashed, jumped, dove, but nothing worked. He could not penetrate the man's paragonal defense. Starius could hear his team yelling at him. They screamed ideas and attack and defense options, but it was far easier said than done. Alas, Symphony recklessly swung with an overhand but Starius easily blocked it with his cutlass. That was exactly what Symphony wanted him to do. He took his other hand off of his hip and stole the sword right out of the hand of Starius and stepped back. In the same motion he leaped up and over Starius executing a perfect front flip allowing the tips of both blades to cut Starius' back from waist to neck! Before he even landed, he released the cutlass. Starius fell over to his knees hearing the clanging of his sword on the stone ground. Blood was pouring from his parallel wounds. The Symphony could've easily ended it right there. But it wasn't enough. Humiliation, he thought. He was writing that damn song just as he said he would!
"This man, this Starius Duro is running from his home because he committed a crime, a heinous crime! You see, he was victorious in a duel with a man from a foreign country. That man was there to retrieve his fiancé after she fled the country illegally. Starius struck him fatally and let him die. There are some legalities being worked out. He didn't want to stick around…”
Starius cut him off painfully speaking out as loud as his angered voice would allow.
"She's my sist…”
Symphony cut him back off unleashing a furious kick to his face knocking him upward. Starius's head flew up and then his body just rolled over to its back in a puddle of its own blood. Starius' mouth was open gasping for air. Before he could move or try to speak, a long sharp edge marked with precision shot into his mouth and through his tongue. Starius rolled on the ground a bloody mess.
"No one told you to speak peasant!” Now Symphony was speaking with anger wanting Starius to feel not only the pain, but the belittlement and humiliation as well.
"That's enough!” Gunnar yelled out.
Two of the guards looked at him and shook their heads making sure he understood the duel was only over when there was a sure winner. If Starius conceded, then it was up to Symphony if he wanted to kill him or not.
"Lick your blood off my boot and concede. Sign the papers and honorably return with my chosen men to Agatha.” He shoved his boot into Starius' face.
"Lick it like a dog.”
Starius was resilient. He shoved off the boot and forced his wounded body up. Symphony was impressed. He stepped back allowing his adversary to once again stand. Starius was hurt. Only the rapier was in his grasp now.
Once again the two engaged. Starius went for a killing strike but Symphony made his weapon skid across it. The cutlass was longer and ultimately, its end found the palm of Starius' right hand disarming his last weapon. Symphony didn't stop there. He carried his momentum over and spun delivering a gaping wound across the stomach of Starius dropping him once again; this time, in an even deeper puddle of his own blood. Starius was finished. He had nothing left. Symphony knelt beside him. He watched his opponent roll around holding his stomach in pain knowing that soon, he would bleed out.
"The Stars family send their regards.”
Just then, out of nowhere, an interference knocked Symphony over onto his butt and forced him back several feet. The crowd started looking around for answers. It wasn't long before they found one. Coming up from the other side was a familiar face to the team. He was just about thirty or forty feet from the rest of them. The onlookers quickly dispersed opening up a major gap and Aramon continued forward lashing out at Starius' aggressor with several unique evocational spells. Fire and sonic bolts rang out from his fingertips hitting the Symphony on every side. His sword began to glow and all of a sudden, Aramon's offensive ceased. His bolts of energy and fire began to dissipate as they neared the Symphony.