Arias knew that melee combat is Regis' specialty since he was learning it from childhood. She needed only distance to him, and victory would be assured.
But it seemed she had no intention of doing so.
'Honestly, she's such a good girl...'
True, her magic is inferior to his since he already left the level of mortals, but for her to reach this level in her age without making the same sacrifices he made... Just how many hours had she devoted to learning this Magic? What thoughts had run through her mind as she had trained herself from time to time?
'You're making me very proud of you, Arias...'
Once more he felt the utmost admiration for the girl before him. Closing his eyes, he focused his mind.
Certainly, Arias' magic was most impressive.
Her style, which had optimized itself for any type of battle, definitely held the advantage over the Anti-Magic Assassination Art, which had evolved as a life-and-death necessity on the battlefield of Magic.
—Nevertheless.
"Then, allow me to counter that with one of my specialties!"
His words finished, with his next breath, he charged to Arias.
Arias held her staff in a slant, and anticipated the rushing Regis, and slashed across horizontally.
Regis blocked, his arms crossed, but Arias twisted her wrists and slashed down from on high.
Arias had already started the
An unending sequence of attacks that never ceased until the opponent had been defeated.
Since the
'This time for sure...!' Arias exclaimed in her mind. Last time she'd aimed at his shoulder, but this time her target was his chest. As long as she did that, his tough body would avail him nothing.
It was, of course, extremely difficult to target something like that. However, one aspect of
And so—
Arias swung her staff, which crashed loudly against Regis' crossed arm block.
In the next moment, his fist flashed with light as he moves it.
"Wha...!?"
Immediately following, she was hit by a storm of fists. Covering her face, she leaped backward to clear some distance.
The force with which the fist hit couldn't be understated.
A moment prior, Arias had sensed her attention focusing upon his arms—
'My attacks failed...?'
'Don't tell me he finally used his magic?'
From what Arias remember, Regis' magic also works like Time Magic but only in some cases. He can also negate magic when it touches him.
It was a long time since she saw Regis used his magic and that had definitely achieved its purpose but wasn't it too self-destructive by far?
Regis was fighting against the full-powered her for a few minutes already and only just now he used his magic.
Blocking Arias' attack, and unleashed a rain of counter of punches, Regis should no longer have any means of using both of his hands to attack for the time being.
Determining the current situation in a moment's time, Arias once more brought up Celestial Glow in a stance.
However
'—it's time to end this!'
"Anti-Magic Assassination Arts: Tyrant's Charge!"
"—!"
The next moment when Arias felt something close to shivering, Regis shortened the distance in one breath.
When she recognized what is happening, Regis had already jumped into her bosom. It was an incredible speed. At least, it was in another dimension compared to his movements up to now.
Because of that, Arias instantly used the quickest magic spell she has.
—For an instant, Regis had a feeling that something like a spark of light was scattered around him, but he could not be concerned about that.
"Y-You!"
Arias, who reflexively tried to attack, was struck by Regis' sharp voice.
"Stop!!!"
Before Arias understood what was going on, she was pushed down.
To the face of Regis, who got close the distance as to take a breath, her heart leaped.
The light that dwelt in those eyes was earnest as if it was a different person.
"R-Regis, what are you...!"
Still, raising a voice of protest — she unintentionally opened her eyes wide.
"I said stop... I'm concluding this match."
Regis answered nonchalantly. The moment their bodies come in contact, it canceled Arias magic mode.
"T-Then, what is this?!"
As she said up to there, realization struck.
Someone's hand had grabbed the developing bulges of Arias' with all his might.
In fact, it was not anyone. Since now there could not be only anyone, but Regis who bent over as he tightly hugged Arias, he would inevitably be the owner of that hand.
As soon as she realized it, Arias' face dimly dyed red.
"...Ah."
Regis, who also later realized, hurriedly jumped back and lowered his head.
"Sorry! No, errr, I didn't have such an intention at all! That was just an accident!"
"Although I missed you so much I won't do something like this intentionally in front of this crowd!"
The more Regis say something, the more Arias' face gets redder.
As for the audiences, it felt like a nightmare happened real-time.
"Oh! What that bastard, he pushed down the princess!"
"Hugh! He has guts!"
"It's a passionate approach."
The gallery who came back without anyone noticing got excited at its own convenience.
That again was like the oil thrown to the fire.
"Y-Y-Y-You...!"
In response to Arias' anger, light magic flowed around her.
She could not control her magic because of excessive anger.
Regis, without being able to voice his defense, was only able to frantically shake his head.
—And.
A dry slap rang out.
'.....Um, this is a joke, right? I'm not going to die like this, am I?'
*Zing*, *Zang*
—there was like an endless dance of white flash cutting horizontally and vertically in the area. The crowd retreated back in a blink of an eye to avoid being caught with that. Even from where the onlookers stand, the force of Arias' attack seemed to cause destruction.
"That's not good! The Princess had run out of control!"
"Wai-, it's not a joke!"
"Retreat, retreat!"
Regis hurriedly dashed out.
"Don't dodge, perverted Regis, I can't hit you!"
"Don't ask for the impossible, and I'm not a pervert!"
Regis screamed out and at the same time, the staff swung downwards on his feet, causing a violent spark to scatter. Rising from the ground, the staff immediately sprang up in the direction of the flower garden, which got ruthlessly severed.
But fortunately, among all the unluckiness, the Princess— Arias' aim wasn't quite accurate. After all, she's already on frenzy.
"Just because you left me for eight years, you think I'll tolerate your pervertedness?!"
"I'm saying that I'm not a pervert! By the way—"
Regis stopped and turned around. He pointed out something that he had noticed for some time.
"You, that black pendant... You're still wearing that?"
He was pointing at the tear-shaped black pendant that Arias is wearing. She was slightly taken aback by the sudden change in topic, but she answered.
"Of course! This is the very first gift you gave me, idiot."
"Hmm… Is that so…" While muttering those words, Regis ignored the question and turned to look Arias in the eyes before continuing.
"—But I think you shouldn't wearing that until now…"
'For the whole eight years, Arias's body should absorb that magic-source pendant long ago...' A frown appeared on Regis' face.
"This is my favorite! You don't have to say something about this!"
Arias, who was still holding on to her pointed staff, once again raised it towards Regis.
'Why is he talking about this pendant like that? It's like he's saying that I should already lose this pendant.'
Arias had never before considered hearing that question from him. This gift from Regis was the very first thing he gave her and it is made of his magic! Arias always treated it like a treasure.
"Why are you saying that? Am I not supposed to wear this?" Arias asked, just to be sure.
"I'll tell you about it later, so let's stop this for now okay?"
"I-Is that so…"
Hearing that answer, Arias can't help but lower her hand and look at Regis in wonder... All she knows is that the pendant something made from magic.
"Come, we have so many things to catch up." said Regis as he approached Arias and extended his right hand.
In a very natural manner, Arias grasped the offered hand in front of her. This gesture from the princess didn't go unnoticed by the onlookers.
The surrounding students froze. With eyes widened like it will fall off, they stared at the pair in front. They are speechless on what they saw. Someone even collapsed while muttering 'The princess held a man's hand' repeatedly.
It's been so long since the last time they held hands but they always did it in the past. It doesn't matter if many people are watching but for some reason, her face was flushed red.
'His hand is rough, so big, but also warm...'
As the two of them walked off the area side-by-side, a very content smile blossomed on Arias' pinkish face.
To accompany the boy's dream to become a top magus, she'd devoted her very being on learning magic. And that's why—
Regis suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to her.
Arias who was holding hands with him also stopped. The two pairs of eyes met and for some reason, Arias' face was flushed red.
"Let's do this again sometime time. But please go easy on me, okay?" said Regis as a gentle smile flashed in his face.
"...I don't want to."
Arias suddenly turned around to avoid his gaze. This time she displayed a rather cute expression. The cute Arias Regis came to know.
From the looks of things, regardless if she was the princess of the royal family or a student magus, she was still just a sixteen or seventeen years old girl that he liked.
Once again Regis smiled as he walked away with Arias, leaving the onlookers dumbly like they are seeing the pair off.