Sounds from outside caught the attention of the leader of the Murond Glabados Church Shrine Knights. Vormav Tingel stood and took a few steps closer to his window. He opened it, curious, and looked outside. It had been a bright day, but it was quite late in the afternoon. It wasn't that the time was unusual for someone to be practicing; what caught his attention was that he thought he had heard someone casting a spell. He smiled, shaking his head when he saw two knights on the practice field further away. His right-hand man wasn't an unusual sight on the practice grounds, but the blue-robed man's opponent captured his attention, so he stayed by the window and watched the fight.

A few other knights had stopped to watch the practice match as well. There indeed wasn't anything out of ordinary in seeing Rofel training, but the fact that his opponent was equipped with only a mage staff drew some attention. Kletian was wearing armor like any other knight, but, although he practiced every morning, he was a rare sight in the field meant for sword practice.

Rofel dodged an ice spell that was cast in his direction, holding his shield ready as he stayed close to the mage. He smirked and swung his blade at Kletian as soon as the spell was cast. The younger man managed to jump out of the way and raised his hand for another spell. Rofel attacked again, not giving the other Shrine Knight a chance to charge the spell. He had practiced with the younger knight enough to know that all it really required for taking Kletian down was to keep him from concentrating on casting the spells.

"Nicely dodged," Rofel complimented as the light-gray-robed knight moved to the side before the hit connected. "You sure you're not low on magic power yet, Kletian?"

The sorcerer smiled and brought his staff between them, deflecting the next blow. "It's not about power. You just know how to fight against a mage. You're trying to keep me too busy to charge my spells."

"What else," the older man answered as he dodged to the side before his opponent took advantage of the situation and threw another spell at him. He did so just in time as the young Shrine Knight cast a low-level thunder spell practically without charging at all. It barely missed him.

The mage skillfully blocked a couple of hits with his staff, frowning a little as he noticed the audience. "Rofel, there's at least two dozen knights staring at us..."

"Let them watch," the older knight stated, blocking yet another spell with his shield. "We're doing this for practice, but this could serve as an example. They might end up in a duel against a high-level magic user, and knowing how to defeat one would be good for them."

"You talk like you're going to win, Rofel."

The blue-robed knight smirked as he stopped to adjust his hood. "Well, let's put it this way - I don't intend to lose."

Kletian shook his head, swinging his staff in the older knight's direction. Rofel saw it coming and stopped the attack with his shield, but that was exactly what Kletian had hoped for. He cast another quick thunder-elemental spell, smiling victoriously as Rofel stumbled away, trying to recover from the hit.

"For your information, Rofel, I don't intend to lose either."

Rofel shook his head, glancing at a couple of knights who were watching them. They were apparently amused by the last attack. He quickly sidestepped before a higher-level ice spell hit, feeling slight coldness on his skin even under his clothes. His escape had been a close one, and he couldn't afford to let Kletian cast another similar spell. He charged at the mage without delay, catching him in the middle of casting another spell. The hit went through; Kletian barely managed to raise his hand to block the attack and cried out a little as the older knight's sword hit against his gauntlet.

"...Are you hurt? Kletian?"

The younger knight's face showed pain, but he shook his head. "I'm fine," he said quietly, casting a healing spell on his arm. "Remember, I could be any high-level magician you're fighting against. Don't let your feelings get in the way. You are - you could be using your sword skills, but you aren't doing so."

Rofel smiled a little and swung his sword at the mage again. This time Kletian got his staff in between them, pushing the blade away. The blue-robed knight stepped away and shrugged. "Come on. It's not like you were using your better attacks, either."

The younger man tilted his head then rose his staff, concentrating on something. He smiled as he almost caught the other knight by surprise; Rofel dove out of the ice-elemental spell's way at the last possible moment then got back to his feet and took a defensive position several feet away from where he had been standing. "You're afraid of hurting me. That won't help you on the battlefield, Rofel."

There was a hint of gentleness in Rofel's eyes as he studied his best friend. The truth was, Kletian was correct. They were lovers by night, and Rofel would have rather killed himself than hurt the slender mage. "...Maybe..." the older knight answered quietly, moving a little closer, his sword ready. "But out there, I won't be fighting you."

Kletian only nodded slightly, taking a few steps back. "True. But since you were complaining about me not using all my power..."

A couple of the knights watching them shook their heads as Kletian finished his chant, yelling out the word 'Flare'. His opponent had no chance of getting out of the spell's way as it was targeted directly at him, so Rofel just had to try to shield himself and hope for the best. He managed to guard the spell even though he could feel the magic energy burning his left hand a little. After it had passed, he lowered his shield and looked at the grinning mage.

"Fine, you win," he said, a slightly amused look on his face. "I'm not holding back either then!"

It was Kletian's turn to take a direct hit; the sorcerer had been silently charging another spell, and Rofel's sword tech got him. He gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out again, and he had to retreat as the older knight moved closer, bringing his sword down at him. The gray-robed knight managed to get his staff in the way, but he had to hold it up with both hands as Rofel pressed his sword lower, the blade almost touching the mage's neck.

"Give up?"

"Not... a chance, Rofel."

The knight smiled. "After those spells, you should be somewhat out of energy. I don't want you to get too tired... Else you'll just want to sleep tonight."

"Rofel!" Kletian blushed slightly, embarrassed, but still managed to hold the staff between them. He guessed the older knight was trying to get him to end the fight. "Not here! But... I think you must be getting old. Wanting to quit already...?"

"Hah. Fine then, let's continue," Rofel answered, staring into Kletian's eyes. The younger knight lowered his gaze just a little, knowing well enough to not to stare into the older man's calm dark blue eyes for too long. "No holding back. And... could just as well make this more interesting, if you're up to it. A little bet."

Kletian's hands were shaking; he was having trouble keeping the sword away for much longer. "...That... is a sin, Rofel. What did you... have in mind?"

"I win, I get you any way I want tonight," the older knight murmured in low voice. "You win, you get whatever you want. How about it?"

The mage blushed a deeper shade of red now but managed a small grin, lifting his gaze to meet Rofel's. "I'd be knowingly committing a sin. Making bets is gambling, so I'll have to go pray for both of our souls after this. Also, knowing you, I'm in trouble if I lose this one. But... ...anything?"

"Anything."

Kletian studied the older man's eyes, knowing Rofel well enough to know that the knight probably thought he was about to win. "You're on," he whispered, gathering all his remaining strength to push his staff up a little and get the sword further away from himself. "No holding back." He smiled widely then cast a thunder spell through his staff, the magic energy channeling itself through Rofel's sword. The older knight staggered backwards, almost falling to the ground.

"Clever," Rofel complemented as he finally regained his balance - just in time to dodge a high-level fire spell thrown at his direction.

"I said I don't intend to lose," the mage answered, attacking the older knight with another fire spell. Rofel blocked it with his shield, careful to not to lose his footing again. He moved closer, staying quite close to Kletian for the simple reason that the sorcerer couldn't use any spells that hit a wider area without risking hitting himself in the process.

Rofel swung his sword at the younger knight, but this time Kletian managed to cast a protection spell. The hit met a layer of magical energy, slowing its power significantly and only leaving a small scratch on the armor protecting the mage's shoulder. Kletian raised his hand, obviously charging another spell. The blue-robed knight stepped back and closed his eyes just for a short moment, holding his shield ready to take the attack and starting to prepare his own spell. He smirked, knowing that what he was about to do could end the fight quite fast.

"Time, rest and give your kindness to the worthy!" Kletian yelled a moment later. "Slow!"

The older knight swore, feeling the spell's effect. Since he had been charging himself, he couldn't dodge the magic. He continued charging anyway, hoping he could get his own spell off before his opponent was finished with his next attack.

The sorcerer moved away from the other knight, staring to prepare yet another spell. He noticed Rofel trying to cast something, so he quickly switched spells, casting Shell on himself. He glanced at the older man, slightly annoyed as the older knight finished his spell before himself. He then smiled as he felt the effect and dropped his chant. The spell missed, or rather, was guarded without him doing a thing.

"Silence Song?" he asked, amused. "Come on, Rofel. I wouldn't be so stupid that I wouldn't have equipment to protect me from getting muted."

The knight shook his head, taking care in preparing to guard Kletian's next attack. The slowing effect of the spell which had hit him earlier was wearing off, but he guessed he wouldn't be fast enough to dodge the next attack. He was right; a higher level ice-elemental spell was cast on him just a moment later, and he barely managed to block it. He sighed, a little relieved when he felt that he could move normally again.

"You're well-prepared," he commented, moving in for another strike. Kletian blocked his sword with the staff again, and he noticed that at some point the mage had managed to cast the protection spell again. "And you knew I could do that. But, as we agreed - no holding back..."

Kletian dodged another swing and prepared to cast a spell. He was interrupted when Rofel moved to the side, swinging his blade through the air again, but this time not even trying to hit the mage. The Divine Knight's sword technique hit, and the younger man stumbled back, raising his left hand to his forehead and closing his eyes in pain.

Rofel grinned. Blastar Punch had broken the only obstacle between himself and victory. Without the Golden Hairpin protecting the mage, he could mute Kletian. He raised his hand, preparing to cast Silence Song again.

"Pure light, shine on bloody impurity!" Kletian called out suddenly, raising his staff. "Holy!"

White light shone in the air above the older knight, and then the holy energy exploded around him, catching him mid-charge. He dropped his sword and shield, and as the light faded, he fell to the ground. He heard someone calling out his name and running to his side then his mind went blank for a while.

"Rofel! Rofel..." Kletian knelt by the older man, drawing his head onto his lap and placing his hand on the knight's forehead. Several of the knights who had been watching them also moved closer, but he ignored them and closed his eyes, casting the highest-level healing spell he could manage with his remaining magic energy. "...Rofel, please, open your eyes... Please..."

The blue-robed knight lay still, not moving for a while. He heard several of the knights asking if he was all right then felt another mage casting a healing spell on him. He coughed a couple of times, managing to open his eyes a little. "...You... win," he whispered then coughed again.

"What in the name of Holy Ajora are you two doing?" came a stern voice by them. Someone made his way through the knights around them, not that either Rofel or Kletian didn't recognize the speaker immediately.

Rofel blinked a few times, trying to smile. "...Dueling?"

"I... I'm so sorry, Lord Vormav..." Kletian stuttered, too embarrassed to look up at the knight leader. "I-I... shouldn't have..."

Vormav shook his head, sighing. He managed to hide his relief when he saw they were mostly okay. "I know that very well, Rofel. I was watching the entire time. As for that, Kletian... just what were you thinking?"

"It was my fault, Sir," Rofel said, trying to sit up. He was too weak to, so he had to lean on the younger knight for support. "I told Kletian not to hold back..."

"Well, that he sure wasn't doing," the knight leader continued, shaking his head again. "Not that you were either, it seems. Do you know how much replacing mage equipment costs? I'm the one who gets to explain our budget requirement to the church. Just be glad you didn't break his staff..." Vormav sighed, his control failing for a short moment. "Like I gave a damn about the equipment when you two could've died!"

Rofel closed his eyes, feeling quite embarrassed now as well. "I'm sorry. We didn't mean to worry you like that."

"Never mind. Just..." In the end, Vormav couldn't help but laugh. "Come on, let's get you over to the healers. Same goes for you, Kletian. You're hurt and out of magic power."

The knight leader knelt and helped Rofel up, aided by a few other knights. Rofel couldn't resist as he was carried to the healers' section of the Shrine Knight garrison. Kletian couldn't help but follow.

They both received a lecture from the healers and were then sent to their rooms to rest.

"...So... I win?" Kletian whispered as he helped Rofel into the older knight's bedroom.

"You win," The blue-robed knight answered, smiling. "You'll have to excuse me though if I'm not in the condition to give you your prize tonight..."

Kletian returned the smile, blushing slightly. "...I don't think I am either... But... Maybe tomorrow? I... I need to go pray..."

He placed a short kiss on the older knight's lips before escaping from the room. Rofel sighed and sat on his bed, feeling completely exhausted. Still, he smiled to himself as he slowly removed his armor and lay down, closing his eyes. He didn't know what Kletian might want, but it didn't really matter to him.

Whatever Kletian wanted, he would give to his lover.

Author's notes:

Rofel and Kletian rule. And hey, they're kind of obvious in-game, so yeah. I like knights.

- Lady Harken (April, 2004)