In side of the carriage, mother couldn't stay still thinking and worrying about Arthur. She keeps on saying things like something bad might happen to Arthur during the competition. Sigh. Mother keeps on worrying towards things that is guaranteed will happen. Of course, something bad might happen to Arthur since he is entering a competition. It is a battle like competition so what do you actually expect? It is normal to get bruises, wounds, dislocated bones or bleed during battles. She should be thankful that Arthur might just get those than being once step to his grave yard.
I told my mother all that is in my head and somehow, she yelled at me once again.
"How can you say that to your brother? Are you not worried about him?"
"…" I just remained silent,
"Duchess, Lady Silvestine is right, even though it is a competition it is still a battle so something might happen but there are healers around so don't worry. The pain they might feel is just temporarily. I know, because I once joined the competition." Corra said.
Oh right, Corra studied at the imperial academy before so she probably knows the event. I asked her a lot of things and she answered me according to the words I wanted to hear. If you are going to compare us, Corra and I are similar yet different. Her ways of thinking are somehow calculated yet slow. More like she needs approval first before actioning while I execute my actions before asking for approval.
We arrived at the arena where the competition is going to be held. There are a lot of people who are going to watch the joust and most of them are higher ranking nobles. Our family sat down near to the battle grounds and of course before the competition begins, there are a lot of formalities. Corra's parents went to greet us and from what I can remember, she is actually from a marquis family. They sat near to us and were excited to watch competition together. How annoying.
However, I suddenly felt irritation because I am aware now that we are actually sitting next to a marquis. I think I developed hatred towards marquises. Corra is exceptional since she is now part of our family but her family is not part of my family. They even ask why Silvester couldn't come.
"Marquis Jester, I know that you are aware why Silvester couldn't come right? What are you trying to say asking that obvious question knowing the answer?" I looked at the Marquis.
"… I didn't mean to offend, but I'm just wondering why." The marquis stuttered.
"Father, Silvester couldn't come since the North shouldn't be left without someone to oversee. It is the same reason why Lady Silvestine couldn't be able to come to my wedding before." Corra answered her father's obvious question.
"But isn't it North being the safest border of the kingdom?"
"Being safest doesn't mean there is no danger lurking, father." Corra answered.
I looked at Corra seeing that smile of her, somehow, I can feel something sinister to that smile. It is kind and warm but it is not real. There is a hidden meaning to that smile, I felt that I should look out for it. However, those smiles aren't directly pointing towards us. Whatever it is, I am still proud hearing her answer because she sounds already like part of the north.
The marquis just nodded and looked away.
After few more minutes the participants walk in the center of the arena wearing their armours and the crest of their respected houses. I glued my eyes on Arthur who doesn't look so nervous at all. Well, I warned him before that once I see him walking in without confidence, I will let him feel the pain of the thousand ice needles.
(Author: Ice needles is the spell that Silvestine used to the guards when she trains them.)
The competition begins by showing each division of mages, warriors, augmenters and knights. Arthur was categorised as part of the knights therefore his battles are more quick-witted fights. The only difference to the warrior division is that the participants are to be battle with a monster. From my own opinion, warriors are a lot stronger than knights. Knights are usually needed to protect the royals; it means that they don't fight outside the palace or outside the kingdom. They don't know the terrains and geography of the outside walls. While warriors can both fight in both environments.
Silvester and I didn't study in the imperial academy, in fact we both study in the north respectively. Silvester was taught by countless masters and scholars that's why he is eligible to handle the north without even attending the academy. While, I am being taught by mages and I gathered my experiences through the battlefield. The scholars are teaching us both, however, I usually sneaking out to go to the barracks joining the soldiers to raid bandit's hideouts. I only learned a little information of the society's law through the sermon of Silvester. That's why I only know few of the nobles' laws.
In a young age, I experienced the hardship of being in the battlefield and Silvester usually dealing with the schemes of the enemy. He strategizes things and I am the once executing it. That's why killing is no different to me because I grew up fighting to live. The borders have harsh environment to live in but our parents still send us there. I don't why, I just heard that it is part of our blood to be called in the north even if we don't want to.
In Arthur's case, he still has a year and a half to stay in the capital before going to the north. Although I am too harsh on him, I still want to protect him and I know that Silvester will also do the same. I am training him to survive because I know too well the environment he will soon to face. He has to face both schemes of nobles and the threat of the enemies and the beasts. This joust is just a beginning to the wounds and bruises he will get in the future.
The joust begun. The whole arena was cut into four sections so that each division could fight in the same time. As we are watching I noticed that there are few mages and most of them are females. Their competition ended pretty quick and their final round will be held after the other division finish theirs. The augmenters are opposite to the mages, mostly of them are males.
The warriors and knights have the greatest numbers of participants. There are many aspiring warriors and only few in the category of the knights. Arthur manage to survive the competition reaching the semi-finals with only few wounds. Yet my mother besides me is making a big deal out of it. Corra's little brother is an aspiring augmenter and he also reach the semi-finals. There are only four contestants left in the mage division, four in augmenter, twelve in warrior and six in knight division.
These aspiring participants are talented in their own divisions. The finals came and only two left in the mage division, two in augmenter, six in warrior and four in knight division. Unfortunately, Corra's brother didn't reach the finals.
The proctor of the competition declared that the only four participants will win. It doesn't matter which division they belong and the four who will fight until the end will win.
"This year's joust will be different to test the capabilities of our youths. All the participant will have to work together to take down a special monster that our warriors successfully caught. Don't worry, this monster is extremely weak and our young participants will be able to subjugate it if they are going to work together. However, this monster is extremely difficult to subjugate because it is actually an S-class monster but it is still young. If something wrong happens our mages and warriors are on standby to take it down."
What monster could that be? If its S-class then probably it is going to be difficult but the announcer said that it is still young. Well, if it's still young then probably it is around D-class. This is going to be fun.
"I've never seen a S-class monster before, what do you think of them Lady Silvestine?" Corra asked.
"S-rank monster is extremely difficult to subjugate specially to people who have never fought with them. Warriors are often called to subjugate monsters, mages and augmenters are their support. At least six warriors, three mages, and three augmenters is needed to subjugate an S-class monster. Of course, those I mentioned earlier to subjugate them should be around S-class as well or at least an A-class and the lowest is B-class." I explained.
"Hearing from you, means it is tough to fight with it. I just wonder why would they allow that?"
"The announcer said that the S-class monster is still young. If the monster is still young then it is at least it is around E-class and the highest is D-class. Those kids could handle it if they just work together."
"Do you think your brother will be safe?" Mother worried.
"Yes… if not there are people who will save them, mother. So please stop worrying about things."
"I'm so worried. Your brother has never seen a monster before. What if something really goes wrong? I can feel that there is something wrong." Mother's voice suddenly become softer. I can tell that she is extremely worried about Arthur. Suddenly I realize and ask myself, is she also this worried when Silvester and I went to North?
"Sigh. If something really gets wrong, I will personally jump in that arena and save him. I don't care if the other kid dies but I will surely save him. So, don't worry understand."
Mother look at me and she smiled. But that is just in a split second since she realizes what I said. She sermons me again about saying that I don't care if other kid dies. She nagged me that I should not say that again.