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[IcyTea31]

Tomoe wasn't exactly a friend; such things were forbidden at the Palace. But she and Miyako had just that stay at the Palace as a common experience. Shared knowledge. A way to speak between the lines. The Cursed couldn't disobey a direct order from the Empress. But they could sometimes subvert them by only carrying them out in letter, not spirit. Was that what Tomoe was planning?

Miyako looked Tomoe directly into the eyes, face tellingly neutral.

"You're asking for a lot of trust. You know that, right?"

Miyako was conflicted. Trusting Tomoe would risk everything; going back to that gilded cage was the absolute last thing she wanted. And surrendering herself wouldn't even be worth anything if she couldn't convince the rest of the group to trust Tomoe as well.

But it might also be the only way to get through this without violence. Would there be a better opportunity to save Tomoe?

And what of Hisao? How would they deal with him?

"What more can you promise, besides no harm upon us?"

[IamanElfCollaborator]

"Not much. A resolution to this situation, and my word."

[Praefectus Screptum]

"We have a better idea. Your little group surrenders, otherwise things might get nasty."

[Chevaleresse]

"Resolution is vague." Her grip tightened. "And you're assuming, um, you can hurt me."

[IamanElfCollaborator]

"If I could be less vague, I would be. We will not be the first to come after you, and the Empress will capture you. I am offering you a way out that involves far less bloodshed. You may succeed against me, but you will definitely not against her, and she will not be lenient. If you take my offer, you can change the terms of that meeting, maybe."
Again, subtle shifting towards the approaching Hisao and his group. They seem very, very close.

Tomoe doesn't seem to be lying, and Miyako does seem to somewhat grasp what's going on. But is it worth trusting her?

[Praefectus Screptum]

"Not happening."
"She will want us dead either way. By surrendering, we would just be making it easier for her to execute us or let us rot in a prison."
"So if more fools choose to defy us, so be it."

[IamanElfCollaborator]

"I said you should surrender to me. I never said you wouldn't fight the Empress' forces."

[Praefectus Screptum]

"And we said, Not.Happening. Get it in your thick skull."

[Chevaleresse]

Madoka frowned, not that it was very different from her usual expression.
"Aren't you the, um, Empress's forces?" Something wasn't adding up. "Either way. I'll go quietly if, um, you can win, uh, a duel with me. With my Arte." She inwardly cringed at how hard it was for her to string together a proper sentence. "I can't, um, say for everyone else."

[IamanElfCollaborator]

Tomoe pauses briefly, as if considering something.

Then she nods.
"On my honor as a Todayama, I agree to that request. If your party will allow it."

"Madoka....be careful. Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"What the hell are you thinking?!"
"Heh. Madoka's got this."

[Chevaleresse]

"Of course I'll be fine!" Madoka's words came with a sudden force. "This is my life. I don't care what you think I can or can't do, I'm going to win or give everything I have trying. Don't think I can't!"

[IamanElfCollaborator]

Todoroki crosses his arms, a proud smirk on his face.
"There's the Madoka I've been waiting for."

[IcyTea31]

There would still be fighting against the Empress' forces? That settled it, Miyako now understood Tomoe's plan for sure. Hisao was still a wildcard, but...

"...I'm doing this."

"I don't have any honour to stake but my own, but if Madoka loses, I'll submit to your arrest, Tomoe."

[Praefectus Screptum]

"Feels like a waste of time. Just delaying a fight we will have either way."

[IamanElfCollaborator]

"Hm. Good enough for me."

Hisao calmly approaches, hand on hilt.
"Todayama. What is the meaning of this?"
"One of them has challenged me to a fight. If we win, we take them in, bloodlessly."
"You can't be serious, can you? Not everyone has your sense of honour, General."
"Someone with the courage to challenge me, clearly outmatched and outnumbered, must do."
"You know this is ridiculous, right?"
"A challenge to duel must be answered. That, and I am not going to risk any more of my men being harmed if ending the fight faster will achieve the same aim. Only a few of the people here are Kiryu, Yugen and Hosokawa men, may I remind you. Most of them are mine, and I trained them personally. My duty is to them, not the Empress."
Hisao sighs.
"....if you insist, General. I never could stop you from doing what you wanted. You still can't defy her, anyway. Neither can I."
A bitter undertone resounds under that last sentence.

Hisao surveys the party. Yusuke's eyes noticeably narrow, eliciting a surprised look from Rin.
"Hosokawa. Finally decide to come out to take a break from sucking up to the Empress, have you?"
"I have no words for you, Cat. Your anger is misplaced."
"W-wait, you two know each other?"
"The redhead's the Rooster, and Todayama's, well...the Boar. They were the Empress' right-hand men back in the Palace."

Tomoe positions herself in front of Madoka, positioning her spear for combat.
"Fine. I, Todayama Tomoe, heiress to the Todayama Clan, General of the Imperial Army, accept your challenge. Draw your sword, challenger."

Duel: Horiuchi Madoka vs. Todayama Tomoe

[Now Playing: Duel Theme ~ Battle II (Octopath Traveler) ~]

Madoka may move first!

Spoiler: Stats (click to show/hide)

Amatsuan Resistance:
Horiuchi Madoka: 26/26 (Killing Edge) [Gnosis: 0/5]

Imperial Army:
Todayama Tomoe: 35/35 (Steel Lance)