With calm but confident steps, Jamie left his room for the first time in years, heading straight toward the training grounds.
The servants stopped their work as they saw him pass by. Whispers began to spread:
"Is that Jamie?"
"Impossible... wasn't he incapacitated?"
"He'll give up soon, you'll see."
Jamie, who heard all of it clearly, ignored them. He lifted a heavy metal sword surrounded by weights, and began strict training, his movements unsteady at first, but growing more precise as time passed.
Days passed, then two weeks of silence and continuous work.
Then one day, during his morning training, the palace door burst open violently. A blond teenage boy entered, aged somewhere between fourteen and sixteen, with an angry voice and eyes burning with defiance.
He said loudly:
"Jamie Silver! I am Otana Weiser, of the noble Weiser family, and son of Viscount John Weiser. I demand a public duel, for the justice of Silver Province!"
Jamie looked at him with strange calm, then said mockingly:
"At least say hello first... and by the way, I refuse."
Otana froze for a moment, then shouted:
"What?! You refuse an honorable duel? Don't you know that your refusal is an insult to my honor?"
Jamie sighed, then smiled a mocking smile:
"Hahaha, that's funny, son of the Viscount. Fine, I accept. Set the time and place, and tell me what the winner will gain and what the loser will lose."
The maid Irina, in her forties, stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder with concern:
"Young master... it would be best for you to withdraw. Otana Weiser is a real talent, he's reached the level of a two-star Low Swordsman, and that alone is an achievement at his age."
Jamie looked at her and gently lowered her hand from his shoulder, then said:
"Irina... are you warning me, or praising my opponent?"
Then he turned to Otana, and raised his voice:
"I am Jamie, son of Baron Mark Silver, I accept the challenge before everyone here, ladies and gentlemen."
Otana laughed mockingly:
"Ha, I'm honored to fight a young man with your courage... so I can kill him."
Then he added seriously:
"In two weeks, at the central square of Silver Province. If I win, you cede the province to my family. And if you lose... ask for whatever you want, and I will carry it out."
Jamie replied calmly:
"Agreed. Be well prepared."
And after Otana left, those present whispered:
"Is this real?"
"Am I dreaming? Jamie... requesting a duel?!"
As for Jamie, he murmured as he examined his sword:
"A rat like him? Two days of training is enough to finish him."
Irina Silver, with a sharp, questioning look: "Has the Jamie I know really arrived?"