"The winner of this match is..."
Silence envelops the whole arena. Those who are making a ruckus earlier tried their best to stay quiet as they waited for the announcement of the winner.
It was an unexpected match wherein both parties are considered to be special in their own ways. Especially Aran as he made an ending in which it surprises most of them. Some of which were trying to assess what just happened at the end. His sudden nature turned grim for a minute and then he countered Huck like it was nothing.
And despite all of that injury, he made an attempt to slit his throat. It gave Huck the fear that he never expected.
Everyone is appalled by the abrupt decision-making of the board members above the balcony. The announcer stopped for a few seconds waiting for the other people to read the mood of what's happening.
His hand dropped after invoking the situation. He then finally began to speak.
"The winner of this match, according to the board members, Aran Crossford and Huck Revera's match ended with a draw. Both warriors have shown exquisite and exceptional skills and abilities and their determination is pretty amazing. They have concluded that both warriors will pass this examination. Congratulations." He declared.
Much to this surprise, everyone suddenly voiced an exaggerated cheer that resonated throughout the entire arena.
Within the scene, Lisa looked upon Aran who is on the verge of losing consciousness. Her dismayed look a while ago fades away in an instant after hearing the great news from the announcer.
"Aran... We did it!" She said softly with a smile on her face. She couldn't help but embrace Aran forcefully without a warning.
"Y-Yeah... Ow ow ow! Lisa– That hurts!" Though his body was injured so Lisa immediately let go.
"Oops! Sorry!"
Aran was still struggling to convey a message. But his mouth was curved, understanding that he accomplished a major achievement in his life.
"I'm..." After coughing a few times, he let out a muffled word that Lisa didn't quite hear. She moved her head closely near Aran's face.
"Thank you, Lisa... For believing in me... We're finally one step towards our goal." He said. Lisa slowly panned herself away with a nice expression on her face.
(Aran... No, I should be the one who needs to thank you. Without you, I wouldn't be able to have that much courage.)
After resting for a few minutes, Aran walked outside the arena with Lisa supporting his arms. They sat on the bench near the gate in order to get away from the huge crowd. After all, it is now the last match and everyone is pretty excited about it.
The previous match conducted by Lisa and Aran managed to entertain everyone's tastes and the amount of fulfillment they received felt relieving.
Numerous groups approached the two of them but they have declined it. Aran was the one who initiated that since he was pretty unsettled that Lisa might be leaving him if she were to join a party that is more popular and strong.
Throughout the examination, it was generally a custom that those who passed the entrance examination would be joining a group or a party. They did that in order to know each other and befriend everyone.
Most likely, those who made an astonishing result from the exam would be given the chance to join numerous parties since they have something to show as a promising result. Lisa experienced that quite a bit after her match ended.
"Can I ask you something?" Lisa leaned closer to Aran. He was pretty tired because of the match but he is still in a condition to talk.
"Hmm?"
"Were you upset earlier because you thought I would accept the invitation from the other groups?" She asked.
"—!" Aran felt shocked by the question that he unintentionally widened his eyes.
"E-Eh? W-What are you talking about?" He was trying his best to make it look like that it wasn't obvious from his face but Lisa caught him.
"I saw you standing far away from the group. You're looking at me with a sad face. Perhaps I'm just imagining it but you're really easy to read when it comes to something like that. Does that mean that you don't want me to associate with the others?" She was on point.
Certainly, there was a time when Aran couldn't speak with Lisa because she was swallowed by a lot of men and parties that is inviting her to join them. Apparently, she dismissed all of them as she made an excuse. Though Aran was happy about it, there was something that is making him feel unsettled.
"W-Well" Aran tried to speak. He couldn't lie with Lisa at this point.
"Hmm~?"
"It would be a lie if I said that I'm okay with you joining the other groups. But when I imagined it happening, somehow it hurts my heart. I feel unsettled whenever I think that you're going to leave me sooner or later." He didn't deny it.
"Hou? Does that mean that you don't want to hand me to somebody else?" Lisa asked with a bit of a flirtatious tone. Aran moved his head slowly to the opposite side as he felt embarrassed about it.
"Y-Yes..."
"Pfft! Hahahahahahahaha!" Lisa guffawed.
Aran got irritated for a second but then he visualized what would've happened if Lisa actually joins them.
The reason why he was feeling unsettled was because of his close relationship with Lisa. She was the only person who stayed behind in order to accompany him. She helped him grow up until he was able to forget about the negative things that happened. For him, Lisa is the most important person in his life when he strayed away from the light.
"Please don't tease me. It certainly hurts if you are going to join them eventually. But, realizing our status, I have already expected that this would happen." Aran said.
"Expected? What do you mean?"
"Lisa, have you realized that our position and status has a large gap? The difference between you and me is that you are noble and I am a commoner who just happened to live inside the capital because of an incident. You are strong, independent, reliable, and beautiful and I'm... nothing." As he conveyed what he meant, Lisa gasped for a bit as she switch her expression to something worrying.
"I... I do know about that but..."
"I'm sure you are well aware of that. It is just that, there would come a time wherein you and I be parting ways and we won't be able to see each other frequently. You and I are in a different world so it is expected that you will shine brighter than me. And if that happens, I'm sure you will be spending most of your time with them rather than me. I feel like, I'm hindering you from befriending the others because you care so much about me. I am saying that you are kinda throwing away your privilege and status as a noble in order to stay with me. That makes me..." He couldn't continue his words.
"Aran..." Lisa might've realized that by now.
"I know that it is inevitable. But I'm preparing myself when that time comes. That's why I told you that it hurts because you would be leaving soon enough. That's how important you are to me, Lisa." As he said that, Lisa's cheek flared up. She was teasing Aran a while ago but now she was the one feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.
For her, that seems like an indirect confession. Though Aran might've worded that out differently.
"So that's what you are worried about?" Lisa placed both of her palms on Aran's cheek. She turned his head slowly until their eyes met.
"Are you an idiot?"
"Eh?"
Clueless, Aran tried to get away but Lisa locked him.
"Status, being a noble, popularity, reputation, skills, abilities, intellect... None of that matters as long we're together!" Lisa cried.
"E-Eh???" He probably don't know what she was saying.
"Didn't I tell you before? That I'm not going to let you go. We are all in this together. Both of us wanted to accomplish our goals. If those things that I mentioned will hinder them then I would throw them away." She followed.
"What are you talking about, Lisa? Those are important you know?" Aran asked.
"Then just like what you have said earlier, 'you' are also important to me," Lisa answered with full determination. Aran was surprised by this.
"Even if the academy were to put us on a different section, I would find the time to be with you. Every opportunity I could get, every advantage, I would stay with you. You don't have to worry about me leaving you because that's not going to happen. You are someone that I hold dear, there's no way that I would abandon you!" With that, Lisa hugged Aran again.
Some tears were swelling in her eyes but she toughen herself. Aran might've considered the opposite of what she was talking about because he didn't pay attention to her feelings. And now that that was revealed, he couldn't help but feel idiotic about it.
Realizing all of that, he smiled. He used all of the remaining energy he had to embrace Lisa tightly as well.
As she felt his embrace, Lisa's heartbeat immediately rise. The battle maiden who's supposed to be tough in a battle was love struck.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Aran felt a slight shake and then–
"Ow ow ow!" He cried. Lisa pushed him away and caused his body to feel the pain.
"S-Sorry! Don't do any unnecessary movement for a while. You've taken a lot of damage from that guy. It is better if you fully recover first. After this match, we'll go straight home to our farm and have you treated." Acting like it was nothing, Lisa carefully supported his arm as she treated the small scratches.
"Yeah... I'm sorry if you have to support my limbs, I can't really move my body right now." Aran replied while enduring the pain.
"It's fine, you have no reason to apologize. It is the result of your hard work after all. We've won and that's fine."
While they were watching the final match, a familiar face showed up in front of them.
"Uhh... Now I see why I got rejected."
It was Huck who has gauzes around his body. Apparently, he saw the intimate action between the two.
Aran made a serious look when he noticed him.
"What? You're here to beat me up again?" Aran asked. Huck's expression was neither surprised nor full of intent to kill. His calm demeanor returned and the serious face becomes friendly all of the sudden.
"No. I'm here to apologize to you." Out of the blue, Huck bowed his head instantly. Both of them were shocked about this.
"I know that I have discriminated against you earlier, even before we fight I've had bad talks about you and your weaknesses. I was so arrogant that I have failed to beat you and I have underestimated your abilities. I even caused enough trouble for Miss Alliere here." He apologized.
Aran paid attention to his words but he kept his mouth shut.
"Please forgive me." He bowed once again while closing his eyes. And after that, he bowed once more in front of Lisa.
"You too, Miss Alliere. I apologize for my attitude."
"Man, don't worry about it. I'm used to being discriminated against. Even the kids in our village didn't find me decently as a person and as a game player. Also, I already know that your personality is pretty twisted that I didn't even bother getting mad at it." Aran said followed with a laugh. Huck curved his lips after hearing this.
"You say that though, I have a question for you..." Huck walked to the side of the bench and leaned his back on the brick wall near Aran's right side. He looked at Aran directly with a confused expression.
"Mmm?"
"You said you're going to defeat me with your knowledge or something, you didn't say anything about quick reflexes or godlike speed, like how did you even manage to pull that off? You're already beaten up and you have a lot of wounds, there's no way that you still have the strength to do something extraordinary. Are you perhaps hiding your true strength?" Doubted by this, Aran shifted his head on the ground while looking at his left palm.
"Now that you mention it, Aran, your movements earlier are somewhat different. It is like, I am looking at another person. Are you secretly training or something? Far from what I know, you're just going to the caves and forest to train with your dagger. Did that training actually make you good?" Lisa supported the consultation of Huck. Based on their reaction, they were pretty curious about what happened to Aran in the arena earlier.
He sighed with a serious look.
"To be honest, I don't really know what is happening. At first, I thought it was just a by-product of Adrenaline or it is the hormone itself. You guys know that?" Aran asked them.
"Adrenaline? Mmm, not that I am knowledgable, but isn't it like fuel or something that makes our body exert more movement?" Huck guessed.
"That's right. According to the medical book that I have read, it is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion. It is the main source of fuel that enables our body to withstand exhaustion and to temporarily cease any kind of nerves or pains." Aran explained. The two of them made a confused look.
"Uh..."
"Basically, whenever we move or exert ourselves, we produce adrenaline. And adrenaline levels up our organ's capability to function. A good example of it is when you are fearing something or your heart is beating fast because of running." Aran explained it in layman's terms.
"Oh! Now I get it!" Lisa replied.
"Wait, so, that means you have a lot of adrenaline?" Huck asked.
"That is a logical assumption. But, that it is far from what the symptoms convey in my own experience." Aran answered.
"What do you mean?" Lisa asked.
"Well, to put it simply, this condition of mine is similar to secreting adrenaline, but the function is entirely different. Instead of neutralizing my condition or leveling them up, my body feels light and my muscles are nimble. They are so light that I can move so quickly. And then, my left body including my left arm and leg feels numb." He answered while twisting his left arm.
"Oh, that's actually a different scenario then. What else do you feel?" Huck followed a question.
"Well, when my body becomes numb, my pilot senses quickly get eradicated within my system. I feel like someone is controlling my body. That's probably the reason why I managed to dodge your attacks. My reflexes and senses were pushed through the top and I can't even fathom what I am doing during those times." He answered.
"That's definitely weird, do you think it is an illness?" Lisa asked with a concerned look.
"Not that I know of. There's no illness that explains my symptoms. And I have been feeling this kind of thing ever since I was a child. It comes every now and then and I don't know why. It is probably rare." Aran answered.
"Rather than categorizing it as an illness, it is more like an ability that is not trained. It saved you from losing you know?" Huck made a joke.
"Haha yeah, I know right? It is pretty cool at some point. But I'd rather not feel it again because it makes me uncomfortable." Aran replied while he chuckles.
"Hahaha! Yeah! Well, you're like a wolf who moves so fast! Hahahaha!"
Suddenly, Aran's laughing stopped. His face becomes pale and almost looks like he remembered something from the past. He tried to recall what was it but to no avail, he didn't get to know what is it. He instantly became light-headed for a few seconds.
"Hey, are you alright?" Huck bent his body to check on him.
"Y-Yeah... Just a little headache." Aran answered.
"I'm really sorry about beating you so hard man, I hope it doesn't actually cause you any trouble." He apologized once again.
"Yeah, don't worry about that." He replied.
"Come on, lie down here." Lisa grabbed Aran's neck and carefully placed it on the top of her thighs.
"Eh?!"
"What? You have a problem?" She menacingly asked.
"U-Uh... N-No. I'm good." Aran answered. His cheeks became red for some reason.
"Let's take a rest here for a while." Huck declared.
Meanwhile, inside the arena, there are two females who wear a robe that fights each other. One of them is using fire elemental magic, while the other once uses poison magic. It was a magnificent fight for the rest of the audience.
"They're good..." One of the grandmasters commended them.
"Yeah, with their firepower and skills, we won't even need long-ranged soldiers. Their magic alone is enough to eliminate a lot of enemies, don't you think?" The other grandmaster replied.
"That's true. That woman who uses fire magic is good for killing a lot of monsters. And that poison magic-user can create a spell that slowly kills monsters. I'd say, both of them are exceptionally good and they should be accepted."
"But, if we decide without the accountability of their skills, aren't we just breaking the rule of this examination?" The other one puts up a discord.
"Yeah, well, we have just broken our rule earlier with the previous match. That guy who has a muscular body can be a strong front liner, while that boy who uses a shadow blade art technique can be an effective decoy or scout."
"Decoy? That's pretty inappropriate, I'd say he can be an assassin..."
"Yeah, that one works as well. With his quick reflexes, he can easily sneak up an attack. This is the first time that we've had a candidate who doesn't rely on willpower, but instead relies on the idea of knowledge. That is pretty new in my defense."
"I agree. That's why we can just put these two magicians on our team as well. If we continue to develop their skills, we can take the higher-ups and improve our battle points. Not to mention that each division wants a lot of stronger warriors."
"Wait, what will happen if one of them got knocked down though? Aren't we just playing with ourselves? We did say that if someone were to surrender or get knocked down, then that will end the fight."
"Don't be such an idiot, these magicians were fighting nonstop for the last four minutes. And neither of them has any wounds or damage. They are pretty good."
"I agree with him. Let's just wait for them to finish their match, have it as a draw and tell them to start preparing for one week."
"We have a lot of things to do, and training these kids is one of them. I doubt this old man will still be capable of teaching anyone."
"Yeah, no, that's pretty stupid. You're one of the strongest spearmen here. I don't think your old body will be a hindrance."
"You fool, everyone needs to retire someday, you know?"
"Not until you finish this year's batch."
"AHAHAHAHAH!" Everyone laughed.