Two men came onto the arena carrying a new board that showed the pairings for the final two matches. First Alice and Edgar would-be opponents. Then the winner of that match would go against me to compete for first or second place. If I were to win that match, I would be the winner of the whole competition. If I were to lose that match, then I would have to fight the loser of the previous match to compete for second or third place.
Before that set of matches began, there was a short break. Some servants brought food (more stew) and some water for us. Edgar ate ravenously, willing his full strength to come back with the more food he ate.
Alice prepared for her match by taking in deep breaths and sipping lightly on the water and only having one mouthful of stew from my bowl. I could tell that she was quite nervous, maybe it was because of the whole crowd full of spectators or the fact that she as representing the Marcellus's. I doubted that it was because she wanted to win though... It wasn't that she was unhappy to compete in the contest, it was just that she didn't particularly want to either. Alice had told me earlier that she was here to represent her family, she didn't mention anything about winning. Edgar, on the other hand, was dying to win; he had a mission, a dream. This was probably something that he had been chasing his entire life...
"The two mages please come down to the arena!" Called out the announcer.
"Congratulations on making it to the third round! Let me remind the audience of our two competitors. On my left, we have the passionate and courageous Wind and Lightning user, Edgar. And on my right, we have the beautiful and powerful fire Mage from the first rank noble family, the Marcellus's." The crowd applauded for them both. The crowd was split between supporting the distinguished noble or the peasant boy who worked hard to achieve his dream.
"Let the game begin!"
Alice once again summoned her fire magic phoenix, only it was a bit different this time: it was much bigger, much hotter and much more refined than the first time I had seen it.
"Father of the Phoenix rise from the ashes and let the world know your might!" The crowd jumped up and applauded. Cornelius caught my eye from across the arena. He looked very proud of his little sister, but not prouder than I was of my friend.
"God of the heavens lend me your power. I beseech you to grant me the storm of all the ages!" With those words, a mini hurricane formed in the middle of the arena. The crowd went ballistic with praise and cheers and shouting.
The tornado in the arena started spinning towards the phoenix, and the phoenix flew towards the tornado after letting out one of its ear-splitting screeches. The screech only further pleased the crowd, the crowd was hungry for more magic. I could tell by the way they were reacting that they didn't get to see such displays often. The magic was addictive to them, they wanted more, they craved more. They wanted to see everything these two magicians had to offer.
Then the announcer was so moved by the magical display that he felt the need to begin narrating the matches again.
"Oh! The Gods have blessed these two people! Has anyone ever seen anything like it?" He asked the crowd, really playing up his role as the announcer.
The crowd was so enthralled in it, that they all started answering back at the announcer as if he wasn't asking a rhetorical question. I giggled into my hand as I heard Rosalie and Cedric answer, "No, I've never seen anything like it!" They to were engrossed in the match.
While the phoenix and tornado were battling it out, Alice and Edgar continued fighting, Edgar threw wind scythes at Alice, and Alice sent fireballs hurtling towards Edgar. The crowd got even louder as they started hurling projectiles at each other. I heard people chanting Alice's name and I heard equally many people chanting Edgar's name.
I stood up and chanted both names because I still wasn't sure who I wanted to win...
I looked over at the Royal family. Although they were in perfect form, their eyes were fixed on the match.
Then I looked over at the Marcellus's They had completely lost their form, Lady Marcellus was cheering and shouting for her daughter and so was Lord Marcellus. Cornelius was applauding at the magnificent display, while the two little ones, Audrey and Tyrion were jumping around and cheering and screaming in delight.
I turned to look at Edgar's family in the stands. I saw that he had three older brothers and his mother and father. They like the rest of the crowd were going crazy: they were jumping up and down with pride, crying, and chanting.
Suddenly I missed my family back in New York. I hope they were doing well. Without me.
Then, I barely heard Edgar's voice through the thunderous noise of the crowd, "Lightning spear... weapon of the gods... I beseech you to grant me your power!"
Then a magnificent spear of crackling lightning formed in the air. The spear shot through the air headed straight for the phoenix. It pierced the phoenix through the heart. The phoenix gave one last battle shriek, before fading into the air. Edgar had defeated Alice's bird; he had won the match. Alice wasn't upset though. She was a good sport and congratulated Edgar.
"And the winner is Edgar Heathson!" Announced the announcer. The crowd applauded. Nobody was really upset with the match since it had been such a good display.
Edgar was elated, truly and utterly exhausted but elated, nonetheless. He had made it to the finals, he had beaten three nobles, his dream had come true, and even better, his family had seen it all...
"There will be half an hours break before the final round!" Called the announcer.
Edgar was taken off to the healing stand, where about five healers used their magic on him to restore his full powers so that he could fight with me.
I was getting quite excited about the match, but too be honest I wasn't very nervous. Even though everybody in the crowd seemed to think that this display of magic was amazing, which it probably was, I was very aware of how much greater my powers were than both of theirs. My powers had increased significantly since the first text message from God's office, but even with my initial power levels, my power was still much greater than their power levels (that I had checked with my appraiser skill).
I knew I was going to win. But since Edgar was such an honest passionate guy, I wasn't going to overpower him and embarrass him. I wasn't going to be excessive and use all of my powers, I was going to do what I had intended to do from the very beginning and give the crowd a good show: use visually appealing spells, stretch the match out a bit, make people sit on the edge of their seat – make both Edgar and myself look good.
Alice had also been taken to the healers, so I was sitting on the stands next to Dimitri.
"Try not to get too nervous, just do your best." He encouraged.
I smiled at him. He probably mistook my contemplation for nervous anxiety getting the best of me. Nevertheless, I appreciated the comfort.
"Thank you," I said warmly.
After the half-hour was over, I heard the booming voice of the announcer calling us to the arena once more.
I made my way down there taking deep breaths as I moved – I still wasn't comfortable with the whole arena's eyes on me.
Edgar and I were in place and Edgar looked completely recovered.
"Let the game begin!"
Above all other things, this country revered the symbol of the dragon the most. The symbol of a dragon was even on Girannon's coat of arms. So, this time I decided to go with a dragon water monster instead of my basilisk. The great creature that was also inspired by the Harry Potter movie (the white dragon) was created as the water on the ground rose up to form the great beast.
"Great dragon of water, Give me your powers!" I added on quickly at the end, almost forgetting to chant.
I smiled as I heard the cheers and shouts of the crowd when they saw the dragon. I even saw the King giving me applause.
Then I let my dragon take flight and the crowd cheered even louder.
Immediately Edgar summoned a colossal tornado to the middle of the arena, which my dragon started to do battle with. Much like in his and Alice's game the dragon and the tornado were equally matched. Then the same as before, Edgar created a spear of lightning but this time I countered by visualising a bow and arrow made out of lightning which I shot at him.
The announcer also felt passionate enough to start announcing again, "Heavens, they share an attribute! What magnificent Lightning magic!" he cried out.
The audience responded with calls of agreement. Edgar and I kept on throwing spears and shooting arrows of lightning at each other, but I could tell he was getting tired: His spears were getting less powerful and his tornado was shrinking. He was breathing heavily just how Dimitri had in our match. I decided to decrease the power of my dragon so that it would be equal to his tornado, soon after that, the dragon and the tornado struck one last blow at each other which caused each of them to combust in a magnificent explosion of water and wind. The water sprayed onto the audience who gasped and laughed in response.
Edgar had enough strength for one last attack. He began to chant, "Lightning ball!" he spelled a small but powerful lightning ball in his hand and threw it at me.
The crowd gasped, waiting for it to hit me, but I waited until the last second, and then disappeared before everyone's eyes.
"What? What has happened? Where had she gone...?" asked the announcer shocked and confused.
The lightning ball crashed into the wall of the arena and caused a big hole in the wall.
A second later I appeared a few meters away from the announcer.
He stumbled back shocked and confused. "Heaven forbids! What spell did she just use!" he shouted frantically "What kind of magic was that?"
An eager member of the audience shot up and spoke, "That was dark magic! Yes! It was a transportation spell that only dark magic users are capable of!' Called out the audience member.
I smiled pleased that someone recognised it.
"Did you hear that ladies and gentlemen... Miss Riley is able to use Dark Magic!" The crowd erupted like a volcano. Applause, shouting, cheering, it made my ears ring. But it felt good having people cheering for me.
I decided to make this next move, the final move.
"Oh, Dark magic of the ages bring forth your spears of darkness!" I chanted, thinking that that sounded ridiculous. I almost laughed at myself, but I kept a straight face.
Dark magic was my favourite magic because it was so versatile I could practically make anything with dark magic.
For the black mist of dark magic surrounding me, I visualised portals opening in which daggers and spears and knives started shoots out of, flying towards Edgar. I only did this because I could tell that he still had some magic left in him. He used a windshield to block them. But once again one of my swords got through his shield and slashed his leg causing his blood to spurt out.
After that, I ceased to fire the weapons at him. Edgar was clutching his thigh, trying to stop the blood from spilling out.
The announcer then called the match and declared that I was the winner. The crowd did one final eruption of cheering and applause. I curtseyed to them gratefully. My cheeks felt hot and I knew I was blushing.
The announcer announced that Edgar had come in second place and that and that Alice had come in third. I quickly trotted over to Edgar while the announcer was saying something to the audience and quickly healed his thigh.
"If I had to lose to anyone, I'm glad it was you." He told me earnestly as I helped him off the ground.
Aww... this guy was too cute.
"Thank you, Edgar."
Then Alice joined us, "Come on, we have to go and take our bow." She said. What bow?
"Now we call upon the three finalists to come and greet the royal family." Said the announcer. We all walked to in front of the royal family's private section in the arena. Alice and I did a low curtsey while Edgar bowed.
"Congratulations," Said the King, "It was a splendid tournament."
With that, the Royal family got up and left the arena. Shortly after that, all the other people left. Edgar waved goodbye to his family and Alice and I waved goodbye to the Marcellus's as they left
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucian on the stand waving at me. I waved back excitedly. I was glad that he came.
"Well we can't stand around here all day, we have a ball to get ready for." Said Alice enthusiastically. Gosh, how did she still have so much energy? She grabbed my hand and started running with me.
"Goodbye, Edgar! We'll see you at the ball!" I called back to him. He waved happily back at me.
Ughh, I really wanted to just take a nap.