"Actually, I don't have parents either."
The moment Clorinde spoke, a complicated expression crossed Luna's face.
How am I supposed to react to that?
Even though Luna had grown used to Clorinde's tendency to say shocking things, she still found herself taken aback occasionally.
Luna searched for the right words. "That's... um..."
"Or rather, I've never met them. I was rescued from some bad people by my Master."
"Master?"
Clorinde nodded. "From my Master, I learned the techniques passed down through generations of Marechaussee Hunters—swordsmanship, marksmanship, tracking, stealth, and more."
Though now I'm a Champion Duelist, not a Marechaussee Hunter.
Of course, if she encountered trouble that required a Marechaussee Hunter's intervention, she wouldn't stand idly by.
The sins of the Court of Judgement, like monsters that harmed others, needed to be purged.
"Speaking of which, my Master once called herself the 'Guardian of Justice.' She'd often throw on a cape and go out at night, acting as a vigilante in Fontaine's darkness. But I think she used other names too..."
Does every nation have its own Darknight Hero?
Luna shrugged. "Well, it sounds like it's a good thing I never met her, then."
"Even if you wanted to, you probably couldn't. She disappeared on my tenth birthday, leaving without a word—only this cape behind."
Clorinde tugged at the cape draped over her shoulders.
"It's beautiful," Luna said, reaching out to touch the fabric. The material was of excellent quality.
"Yes, I like the deep blue style too... It might be a test. My Master was always like that, constantly giving me all sorts of trials. She wasn't very good at taking care of others."
For instance, she'd handed Clorinde a real sword to hold when she was just three years old.
She called it a "toy."
When Clorinde's palm got cut, her Master didn't worry. She scolded her while bandaging the wound, then made her grip the sword again as soon as it was wrapped.
"The first pet Master gave me was a young Geovishap Hatchling she caught in Liyue. You've been to Liyue, so you know what they look like—not very big, but their headbutts are surprisingly painful."
"She also said, 'If you're not convinced, let's fight. The loser becomes the other's pet.' So, even though I was only five, I grabbed my sword and charged—"
"Did you win?" Luna asked, unable to hide her astonishment.
What a badass life!
Wielding a sword at three, fighting a dragon at five.
"I lost. It didn't even know what a 'pet' was—it just rammed me with its iron head the moment it saw me. Fortunately, I managed to beat it a week later."
Luna was speechless.
The children of the House of the Hearth had tragic pasts, but Clorinde's was simply badass.
No wonder she became the Champion Duelist. She'd been extraordinary since she was a child.
Clorinde continued recounting her past. She'd suddenly brought it up because Luna had shared everything about herself, and she wanted to return the favor.
Hunting at six.
Slaying monsters alone at seven.
I didn't start slaying monsters alone until I was nine, Luna thought.
She beat me by two years!
"Sometimes, Master would take me on her travels to meet her friends. That's how I met Navia—we were accompanying Master on a visit to Mr. Callas."
Clorinde spoke softly, "I aspire to be like Master—strong, resolute..."
She fell silent.
"But reality is more complicated than you imagined?" Luna finished with a gentle smile.
"Yes."
Becoming physically strong wasn't difficult; it was just a matter of pushing past one's limits. But true strength wasn't about how fast your sword was—it was about how resilient your heart was.
"That's probably one of the fundamental reasons I lost to you."
Clorinde clenched her fists, still remembering the feeling of their blades clashing. Luna's swordsmanship had been unshakeable, yet it had restrained a sharpness that could have easily been lethal.
From the very beginning, Luna had never fought them seriously.
Even with a blunted blade, she had disarmed Clorinde in the final moment.
Luna smiled. "Unwilling to accept defeat?"
"A little."
"Want another match?"
"Now?"
Luna tied up her hair. "I'm ready whenever. But I should warn you—my sword is faster than ever. You won't beat me if you're just 'giving it a try.'"
Clorinde considered this for a moment.
Redeem myself? No, that wasn't it. She had been outmatched and had accepted her defeat gracefully. She could afford to lose.
But she did want to become stronger.
"Do you know why I chose to be a Champion Duelist instead of a Marechaussee Hunter?"
"Why?" Luna asked.
Clorinde rested her hand on her sword hilt. "There are 'monsters' among humans, too. They can only be purged by the sword of law and justice."
"Luna, I respect you deeply, but... I cannot condone some of your actions."
"Especially your use of vigilante justice. Justice must be cold and impartial. Once driven by emotion, it easily devolves into tyranny. Believing oneself to be unequivocally right is the most terrifying thing of all."
Clorinde fell silent again for a moment.
"And yet... if you hadn't killed that corrupt official, a couple would have thrown away their future seeking revenge."
How complicated, Clorinde sighed inwardly.
She couldn't condone the act, but it might have been the best choice. Let The Mask bear the sin.
Luna smiled. "So, are you going to arrest me?"
"No. Arresting people isn't my job. I'll leave that to your 'number one fan.'"
Then, her tone grew serious.
"But if you are ever captured and brought to the Court of Judgement, and you wish to defend your honor through a duel, I will be your opponent. And I will fight you with everything I have."
"That is all I can do."
It was also her way of showing respect.
Luna propped her chin on her hands, smiling. "You're not going to turn me in?"
Clorinde shook her head slightly.
"I still want to have conversations like this with you. Besides, even if I did turn you in, you wouldn't be caught."
"That's right. The only one who can catch me is Miss Chevreuse."
Luna's tone was light. "And you don't have to worry about me carrying out any more vigilante justice. I've decided to trust in Miss Chevreuse's justice."
"Which means I'm no longer a stray cat," Luna added.
"Yes... I think that's for the best."
For a fleeting moment, the nightmare from her past resurfaced in Clorinde's mind.
She once again saw the dream image of Luna lying in a pool of blood. Faintly, Clorinde began to understand why she had such dreams.
"Luna."
"Hmm?"
"Please, duel with me just once."
Luna wasn't surprised. "Alright. But as I've said before, you won't defeat me if you're just 'giving it a try'."
"So—"
Luna's slender fingers cupped Clorinde's face, pulling her closer until they were face-to-face.
"To burn your bridges, why don't we make a pact?"
Clorinde seemed thoughtful. "Burn my bridges... to force my own hand?"
Desperation breeds strength.
"Precisely."
"I accept."
This time, Luna was taken aback. "I haven't even said what it is, and you've already agreed? Aren't you afraid I'll propose something outrageous?"
"Such as?" Clorinde asked.
She's only asking now?
Luna laughed. "How about this: the loser has to become the winner's pet?"
"...What does being a pet entail?"
Clorinde couldn't quite picture it—neither herself as a pet nor Luna. Being walked on a leash? No, that was for dogs. For a cat... dangling a toy on a fishing rod?
"Good question. I haven't thought that far ahead yet. How about we just make the pact for now? Of course, I won't use Elemental Power—just swordsmanship."
"...Alright."
I'll just leave it at that for now, Clorinde thought. I'll look up some books about pets when I get back.
"When should we schedule the duel?" Luna asked.
"I have a day off in three days."
And so, the duel was set for three days later.