When I got to the center of the town, a lot of citizens and elemental users are there. I looked through the crowd trying to see if there's anyone that is familiar to me. Finally, I spotted Elly."Elly!!! Your safe and passed the test!!," I yelled. Elly turned to me and started crying."Carmen!!" Elly said."Come on give me a hug," I said. I found Elly, now we need to get to Kaley, Samuel, and Sophie."Are you participating in the contest?" Elly asked."I dunno, I just got here from the elf village." I said."You met elves?!" Elly said in awe. This reminds me that Elly had this obsession of cosplaying as elves and other mythical beings."Do you have a picture of them?" Elly asked."I would if I got the camera from my house. But, I do have a bow made by them." I said as I took the bow from my back and gave it to Elly."A bow made by REAL ELVES!!!" Elly screamed. Many people turned our way."Sorry," I said."So, Elly what was your test?".....I had to grow flowers in a graveyard" Elly said terrified. Elly is the type of girl that is easily scared but, will always willing to help or make you feel better in the worst situations."What is this contest anyway." I asked."A duet battle, a team of two. One must be support class. The other can be either offense or defense class. The winner of the contest wins the legendary nonling fruit. To make it simpler, the nonling fruit can be made into an enhancement pill that can help you break through ranks easier. I'll explain it to you later on" Elly said."Okay, got it. Do you want to join me?" I asked."Yes, you came just in time." Elly said. We went to sign up for the contest. Apparently, there are leagues and you can keep on battling with different people. In the end, the teams with the highest amounts of wins will battle against each other and that will determine the winner. We went onto the ring."Carmen, I sense some danger around here." Veldora said. Who are they?, I thought."There two people around here. I can sense there presence. Be careful." Veldora said. Got it, I thought. Elly and I are facing two guys."So, we're going off with two chicks. Ha, this is easy, I can beat them without using my skills." One of the guys said and the other started laughing."Morons," I murmured."What! What did you say! Say it louder I can't hear you." the guy said."I said you two are Morons trying to act high but, in reality, your pitiful losers. Oh, I wonder how you even pass the test. Probably the elemental orb pitied you because you peed your pants." I said with a smirk."Damn you," one of them yelled. Fire came from his hands."I'm gonna beat you to a pulp," he said. I activated the dark fire and punched my opponent in the chest. He was knocked off the ring into one of the buildings."What did you say? I didn't hear you." I said mocking him. I turned to the other guy and walked towards him. He crawled near the edge of the ring. I stood in front of him,"Fall," I said. And he fell off the ring. The bell ringed and we won."You were so cool Carmen!!" Elly cried."It's nothing," I said in an embarrassed tone.
After many battles, Elly and I made it to the finals. Now, I have to be more careful with how I face my opponents. Next up was us against a team of a guy and a girl. When the fight started the guy directly charged at Elly. I stopped him and kicked him back. The girl seems to have given him a speed and strength boost. His punch became stronger over time. He strikes at me on the stomach and I coughed out blood."These two are what I sensed!" Veldora said quickly. Is there a way for me to defeat them?, I thought."Here's a new skill, Shadow Travel, you can travel to any shadow. In order to do this, you need to focus and imagine where you teleporting to. A tiny disturbance can cause you to teleport somewhere else." Veldora said. Got it, I thought as I received another punch to the stomach. The pain is eased a bit by Elly since she was healing my wounds from afar. I need to take out the support first. I looked ya the girl's shadow, and imagine that I was behind her. Then, I was actually behind her. I smacked her towards the ground and she fainted. The guy was aiming at Elly and I traveled behind him and kicked him on the head. But, he grabbed my leg and threw me back. I coughed out more blood."Carmen!!" Elly screamed. I struggled to get up, but someone I managed to get up and charged at the guy. He went into a blocking stance. And I traveled behind him and punched him off the ring. The bell ringed, meaning we won! I fell down on my knees and coughing more blood. I looked at my foot, I have been poisoned. When the guy grabbed my leg, he used a poison needle on my leg."Carmen are you all right, hang in there. You'll be fine. I had someone get me my healing pills." Elly cried with a worried face."Don't die, we promised to see everyone again."I won't, I will always keep a promise and you know that about me." I said.
I tried keeping myself awake with the poison inside my body. But, Elly finally the healing pill and I ate it so, the poison can be deal with. When I woke up again. Elly was by my side."Elly, is the contest finished?" I asked."Not yet, they allowed us to be able to win if we beat the team which beats the rest of the other teams." Elly said."Here's some water." Elly handed me a cup of water. I drank the water and felt a bit refreshed. I got out of bed. And looked around,"Is this your room?" I asked."Yeah, we're at the dorms of the academy I study at." Elly said."Are you really studying still?!" I said."Yes, but it's not that bad. I learn about medicine or healing spells."So, you're going to be a doctor?" I asked."No no no, you got it wrong. I just want to help, but I can't fight so I found interest by helping by healing or boosting others stats." Elly quickly said."Okay, then let's get back to the contest." I said."Huh? Already? Are you sure, do you not need any more rest?" Elly said with worry."Yes, I'm a hundred percent fine now. Do you have any clothes that I could borrow?" I said."Yes, I think," Elly said as she looked through her drawer. I went get the bag where I put the coins and where Veldora is hiding. I took out Veldora," Sorry for keeping you there Veldora." I said quietly. "It's fine, but I want a reward for my help," Veldora said in my head."Sure, what do you want?" I said quietly."The nonling fruit," Veldora said in my head."Are you sure?" I asked."Sure what?" Elly said. I hide Veldora under the blanket quickly."I-I mean are you sure that you still want to keep on competing in the contest, heh heh heh?" I said with hesitations."Yes, the nonling fruit is one of a kind! We must get it." Elly said with a determined tone."Also, here's some spare clothes."Thanks," I said. Elly got out of the room and I changed into the spare clothes Elly gave me. When I was done, I put Veldora inside the sleeve of the shirt. The outfit felt more normal since I would wear it at home, my original home. I got out of the room, Elly and I started heading towards the center of the town. When we got there, us and the other team got onto the ring."Prepare to meet your demise," one of the girls said. This time we're facing off a team of two girls. They looked like they dressed up to seduce their opponent. But, I don't get how it's going to work since we're both females. The attacker girl charged at me and pushed me onto the ground. I tried to get up but, she someone pinned me onto the floor."Let me go!" I yelled. But, she closed in on my face. My face started to flush, I was not gay but I can't help but blush."Carmen are you all right?" Elly asked. I calmed myself down and traveled behind the girl, grabbing her and holding her up and I was about to throw her. But, I felt that my body is rebelling against me."Now, put me down and attack your partner," she said. I looked at Elly, I started walking towards Elly."Carmen don't do it please!" Elly cried. I grabbed Elly by the neck. Cheering came from the crowd for the other team. Elly started to run out of air, and she fainted."Now, come to me and I'll give you a reward for being a good girl." My opponent said. I couldn't do anything to stop myself, I felt useless and how I attacked Elly. The girl held my chin up to her face, she was about to kiss me. But, through my grief and anger, I finally gained control over my body."You dare hurt Elly! You attacking me is fine but, making me hurt my friend is unforgivable!" I bellowed. I grabbed her by the neck and smashed her onto the ground, I looked at the other girl. I charged and threw her so, she crashed through many buildings. The girl who I smashed onto the ground staggered and said,"Punch yourself!" I felt that my body wanted to punch myself but, I held the feeling back. The ran towards the girl and started smashing her side to side. Finally, the contest was over, Elly and I won! I received the nonling fruit, after receiving it I got Elly and got her to her dorm quickly. I checked her pulse and she was still breathing but, just unconscious. I sat by her side waiting for her to wake up. When I was waiting for her to wake up, I fell asleep from fighting.
When I woke up, Elly was gone.