Cain was in the center of the arena of Eriel's fields looking at his spear. Around him the stands were full of college students who screamed and cried the boy's name, as it was Sunday almost all students of the institution had taken advantage of their day off to watch the championship. In front of the boy was his opponent passed out on the floor.
His opponent was Michael Ghuel, the boy from the Ghuel clan was 14 years old and had acquired the rank 9 of the category from 12 to 14 years of age in the previous year. He was tall and had red hair, his green eyes with golden tones combined with his face smooth strokes drew attention and he had a muscular body to top that off, many of the institution girls had a crush on him.
Michael Ghuel was extremely skilled with his sword and shield, everyone in the stands had hoped he could make a fierce fight with Cain. Many of the students even bet on Michael's victory stating that Cain's victory yesterday was just luck.
But once again Cain had impressed everyone in the stands; as soon as the Master of Weapons gave the cry for the start of the battle he ran to his opponent. Michael tried to attack the boy's torso with his shield, but Cain stuck his spear on the floor and jumped giving a somersault over Michael. While still in the air Cain pulled his spear from the floor and attacked the head of his opponent who looked up incredulous. Michael fainted as he took the hit and the people in the stands instantly began shouting Cain's name in celebration.
The boy came down the arena and walked toward the stands. While going through the stands on the way to the place where Elion and Adalind were he received congratulations from several people, he thanked for the praise but did not pay much attention to them. His thoughts were focused on something else. On arriving at the spot where his friends were Elion snapped his fingers in front of Cain's eyes waking him from his trance.
"Dude you were sensational, how you managed to jump over him and hit the attack at the same time? And why in the name of Ganra you do not seem happy with the outcome?" said Elion looking at Cain perplexed.
"I do not know, it was all so easy, although I have won I do not feel good about it, if not for the challenge what is the fun in doing things" Cain said. "Yesterday I thought it was because my opponent was sick, but it seems I just am to damn strong." stated the boy.
"I think the power went to his head, must have been all these girls screaming his name. Some victories and you think you have the right to go around belittling the result? Learn now, no matter how good you are at something; there is always someone better than you" said Adalind that seemed to be angry for some reason.
"Okay; I will listen to your advice and I will try to be happy with my victory. After all I went through this phase and I am in the quarterfinals" Cain said trying to get excited.
"That's right; if the opponents are easy all you have to do is keep winning until one that is good enough appears" Elion said with a smile.
The three talked for a few more fights and then the first group fights ended. The battles of the second group began soon after and Elion would participate in the first. Cain and Adalind wished luck to the boy who took leave of them saying it would not take long. Elion came down the stands and went to the arena, after getting to the center of it he came face to face with his opponent.
Joan Merk was her name, the girl's blond hair was almost white, and her face had soft features, she was thin and was 1.50 meters tall. When she was 12 years old she had already obtained the rank 15 in the category of 12 to 14 years of age in the previous year and now expected to do even better. The girl was carrying a two-handed sword.
At the cry of Malakin the girl ran toward Elion and struck a vertical attack, the boy dodged at the last second causing the blade to pass within inches of his body. Elion took advantage of the position that Joan was in and hit her in the chest with his blade; his movement was so fast and subtle that many in the stands did not notice the boy's attack. Joan fainted on the floor and many of those present could not understand why, Elion left the arena and went to the stands. After arriving at the spot where his friends where he was greeted.
"Congratulations Elion, it seems you fulfilled your part of the promise. I'll be honest, I did not expect that, but your next fight will be the last in the competition. I am the one who will defeat Cain" said Adalind while preparing for her fight which would be the next.
"Adalind do not think that the next fight will be easy, your opponent was the second in the ranking last year and he gets better with each fight. No doubt he is even stronger than the previous year. Marcus Reinoc is not an opponent you can be arrogant with" Cain said, concerned that Adalind thought she would win the fight easily.
"Do not worry Adalind, he is an all talk trash, I'm sure you can handle it" said Elion with a smile.
"Thanks Elion, good to see that at least one of you trust me" said Adalind. The girl said goodbye to her friends and went to the arena.
Her opponent was already waiting, Marcus Reinoc was at the center of the arena holding his sickle. After his fight with Elion in the previous year the boy achieved some victories and had risen further in the ranking reaching second place. Now at 14 years of age he was the best placed among the fighters who stayed in the category. He looked at Adalind as a predator looking at his prey.
"So, you're friends with that idiot? I cannot wait to fight him in the next fight and give a lesson for that arrogant brat" Marcus said with a smile.
"I do not know what you're talking about, but you will not go for the next fight" said Adalind in a provocative tone.
"And what makes you think you have enough skill to defeat me? I saw your fight yesterday; you're not even good enough to do my warm up. You know what I just had a great idea, I'll put on a show for your little friend to get him in the mood for the next fight" said the boy.
And then the Master of Weapons gave the cry for the start of the battle, Adalind ran toward Marcus and attacked him with her daggers in a thrust. The Reinoc clan boy put the sickle handle over his shoulders and after dodging Adalind's blow with a quick step to the right he threw his body to the girl's side stopping his blade inches from her neck.
Adalind froze when she saw the blade coming toward her neck, she had been sure that she had lost the fight, but the sickle stopped a few inches from hitting her.
"See, you are not worth my time. If you were not a friend of that son of a bitch I would have finished with you here and now, but I'll make this fight worth something at least and use it to irritate that jerk" Marcus whispered before jumping back taking distance of Adalind.
Hearing those words Adalind was in a state of rage, he dared underestimate her? She would make him suffer for that humiliation. The girl ran toward Marcus and performed a series of attacks with her daggers. The boy dodged all the attacks and then counter attacked, but always stopped his blade a few inches before hitting his target. The public realized what Marcus was doing and many people began to laugh when the boy stopped his attack close to hitting.
Adalind could no longer endure this humiliation, in a last desperate attack she threw her daggers in Marcus, the boy blocked one with the handle of his scythe and dodged the other. He then dropped his scythe, took the dagger he had blocked and started walking slowly toward the girl. Adalind was paralyzed in a trance state after seeing that her opponent planned to humiliate her once more ending the fight using her own weapon. She fell to her knees; the boy was now on her side. Marcus raised the dagger and attacked Adalind in the head, the girl fainted. He then investigated the stands on the spot where Cain and Elion were and smiled.
Cain stood up, but Elion held his arm.
"Let go of me! I'm going to beat that bastard right now!" said a furious Cain, when he looked to his side he saw Elion with the face of someone who was trying to control his fury and then he noticed that the hand that held his arm was trembling.
"You don't need to get yourself involved in this and end up disqualified. Leave it to me to beat that bastard in the next fight, I will make him pay, mark my words" said Elion.
The two boys walked down the stands and went to the tent where the Master of Healing cared for the wounded in the fights. The tent was located next to the arena and inside it there was some stretchers in which the defeated students would be put, approaching it the boys saw the Master of Weapons enter the tent carrying Adalind and the Master of Healing entering soon after him. Upon entering the tent, they saw Malakin put the girl in one of the stretchers and leave the site. When passing by the boys he congratulated them for their victories and returned to the arena, he had other fights to coordinate.
The Master of Healing began to apply in Adalind the solution that ended the effects of Orichalcum. A few seconds passed and Adalind woke up; the Master of Healing spent a few more seconds checking that all was well with the girl and went out of the tent to watch the upcoming fights. When crossing with the boys she thanked them for their concern for their friend and said she was okay.
At this point Adalind realized that the boys were in the tent next to the stretcher where she lay.
"Sorry Elion I could not keep our promise" the girl said as tears formed in her eyes. "That bastard humiliated me in front of all of the College; he made everyone laugh at me. I'm the new joke among the students" at that moment the tears started to stream down her blue eyes.
"You're not like that Ad, everybody saw a girl fight to the end and never give up against an opponent who was stronger. Everyone already expected this result because he had the best place in the ranking of those who remained in the category." Cain said trying to comfort the girl.
"It is true Adalind, everyone is admiring your courage to fight your best without giving up until the end" said Elion.
"Thanks guys, it means a lot to me to know that at least two of the students do not think I'm the joke of the College. I'm going back to the female lodge, and I want to go alone, please do not follow me" The red-haired girl came out of the tent still crying and started walking slowly toward the lodge.
Elion and Cain looked at each other, the two were trying to contain the anger they felt at that moment.
"Elion in the afternoon you'll fight that bastard, you asked me to leave it to you, so you better show him what a real humiliation looks like" Cain said exposing his anger.
"Do not worry Cain, I'll make that bastard regret having made Adalind go through this" said Elion in his green eyes it was possible to see the anger that consumed him.
The humiliation that Marcus had made Adalind pass had made him the enemy of the two boys. The afternoon would soon arrive and with it the battle between Elion and Marcus. The Master of Weapons had decided to start with the second group for the quarterfinals, so Elion would be the first to fight.
"Cain pay attention to the next fight, I will go all out" said Elion his eyes fixed at the arena that was outside the tent.
"You better. I would not forgive you if you didn't" said Cain looking at the yellow headed boy.
Elion left the tent; the air around him which usually showed the boy's trust in himself now had a menacing aura. He would make Marcus repent.