I cannot stop thinking about what has happened since last four days. It is too unreal to be true. This is not some adventure story where a family is harmed and suddenly the one member of the family become the chosen hero to save the world. This world is already at its peaceful times. This is driving me crazy.
"Evans!"
"EVANS!"
I regain my consciousness from my deep thought after being called several times by Quinn.
"Oh, sorry, I was spacing out."
"I know. Look, I am sorry for what happened. I think most of our classmates knew about it too, but I can't help but feel uneasy seeing you like this."
"Yeah, I am sorry," I apologised as I lowered my head.
"Evans…"
I feel so worn-out from that unfortunate day. This morning, my mom awoke earlier than usual and immediately go to the hospital to take care of dad. Apparently, she is really worried about him more than ever. Sister too, she seems quite unmotivated and unusually get up later than me, so today we got to school together but still, she seems a little bit down.
"Evans, the class has finished, do you feel like eating something at the cafeteria? My treat."
Quinn asked with his soft voice is probably an attempt to coax me and help me regain my motivation. Maybe I should not let him worry more than he already is.
"Okay sure if it's on you," I agreed to his invitation followed with a chuckle.
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
I get up from my seat and walk out of the class with Quinn beside me. We walk but both are unusually reserved today, me particularly.
--- [Cafeteria] ---
"I guess I will have the chicken rice and onion soup today. What about you, Evans?"
"I think I will have the spicy lamb rice today."
"Okay got it, you wait here, I will order it."
I choose to sit at the two-seats dining table beside the large transparent glass. It is warm even with the scorching sunlight was touching my vulnerable skin directly. It is rather pleasant on my skin. As I try to gaze outside the window, I realise there are a packed of students gathering with an important looking guy at the middle giving a briefing on something. The cafeteria is currently crammed with students and here relaxing, eating, chatting, and enjoying their time here. I try to focus on hearing their briefing even though separated by the glass window.
"For anyone who want to join the Hero Armament Championship during the Blade Festival, please fill in your name and information in this form and return it to the student council office by this evening!" The guy announced.
"Blade… festival?" I wondered.
I am back in my deep thought, thinking of what the man that called himself 'shadow' said before. He wants me to draw the legendary sword. If I could get my hands on that sword, I can save my family, and everyone around me. There is no other choice.
There are three legendary swords in total. But for now, only The Endless Rapier, Ristorea is the only one I possibly can get my hands on. I have heard a little about its skills and potentials, quite powerful sword. I have heard during previous tournament around 70 years ago, there is contestant that was chosen by Ristorea as its master, the probability is exist but it's extremely low. Nevertheless…
"Hey Evans! Here is your…"
"It's decided! I will join the Blade Festival tournament!"
"What?!"
And so, I explained about wanting to join the Blade Festival to Quinn.
"Oh… you want to join the blade festival… that is cool, but why do you want to join it this year despite of rejecting my proposals from last two years?"
"Well, I just feel like it this year…"
"Weird, if you want to say about savouring your last memories here in the academy, you can just join it during our final year."
"I just feel like it, that's all!"
"Hm, okay sure, if you insist…"
I could not tell Quinn the reason behind my enlisting into the tournament. I must ascertain this out by myself because that is the safest way to do things. Maybe I am being watch from somewhere. Any wrong step would lead my family and friends to danger, and I will do anything to prevent that from happening,
"This spicy lamb rice is really good Quinn! Here! You should try it!" I offered my meal to Quinn to taste it.
"You know I cannot handle spicy foods right…"
"Hahaha, yeah I know. Hey Quinn, tell me about the Blade Festival tournament! You have been participating for two straight years, right?"
"Uh… sure… Where should I start…"
I start to listen to him attentively, this will be my only opportunity will be on my side if I can figure out the plans before start fighting with the opponents.
"Okay first of all, Blade Festival is not about fighting only, there are also student booths that sells foods, drinks and exhibitions…"
"Let's skip that."
"But—"
"Skip."
"But—"
"Quinn."
He silenced.
"Skip," I said.
He nodded. The disappointment is clearly seen on his face.
"Yea…okay… then the core part of the Blade Festival is the tournament called 'Hero Armament Championship' referring to participant which is labelled as 'Hero' in the last stage who will force their way to conquer the stages of the tournaments to obtain title of champion. Each hero can use at most 2 set of any weapon. During qualification stages, participants usually will have to make team of three of four students during registration. Referring to last year tournament, the second last qualification will have each team to fight among themselves to determine the one who will enter the last stage. For stage one and stage two is where all participants will have qualification process to reach the final stage, like previous tournament last stage, one versus one battle. Every year will have different type of qualification process."
"I see… so for the qualification, the students who lose is filtered."
"Yes, and customarily, only eight last standing hero from hundreds of participants will reach the last stage."
"Even though I did not join, I do know the number of enlisting students, it was eight hundred, right?"
"Eight hundred and thirty-two to be exact. Who told you that?"
"My sister, she joined it last year."
"What? I did not see her anywhere last year."
"Do you remember a female participant that wear a rabbit mask during the tournament?"
"Oh, the one with masterful archery skills and … wait…"
"What?"
"SHE WAS YOUR SISTER!?"
"Quiet down Quinn!"
"WHY I DID NOT RECOGNIZE HER!! HER ARCHERY SKILLS SHOULD HAVE MAKE ME REALIZE OF THE ARCHERY CLUB PRESIDENT!!"
Some of the nearby students started looking at us annoyingly.
"PLEASE FORGIVE MY ANNOYING FRIEND!" I apologised to everyone.
"HEY! What do you mean by annoy—"
"You better keep it down before more students watch us, Quinn."
"But… ugh… I am so foolish to not recognize a maiden that I were lost with. What a shame…"
"You lost to my sister?"
Everyone stopped looking at us after Quinn finally able to control himself.
"Yes!! She was exceptionally good! That time, it was the second stage, my team versus her team. She was just standing at the back with her bow. We thought that she will just do some backup to her friends, so we all charged to defeat her team. But she shoots an arrow to my team leader until he was not able to move. We learned that she was the main threat since her friends were not so good at close quarter fighting, we easily beat them, but she shoots another arrow at my teammate till he collapsed. Then I quickly go to her to reduces the distance and put her into disadvantages with her bow, but she cut me down with a freaking arrow!"
"HAHAHA! Now that is a good story!"
"It is not a laughing matter Evans, that sister of yours is a true monster on the battlefield!"
"I was what?" a girl voice appeared.
"You were a—" Quinn stopped his sentence.
"Hm?"
Eva suddenly showed up right there, standing behind Quinn. Even I do not realize she was there since when.
"Hye sis, he was telling me about the Hero Armament Championship last year."
"Oh, why is that? Are you interested in the Hero Armament Championship, Evans, sweetie?"
"Sweetie…" Quinn sighed.
"Sis, stop that, we are at academy. It's embarrassing."
"Aw my cute brother is being shy, so cute!"
"Cute…" Quinn sighs again.
"Sis!"
"Alright! sheesh, so what do you want to know? I have quite lot of knowledge since I succeed to enter the final stage but lost at the first matchmaking. I do watch all the final contestant though…"
Eva offered me some information while pulling a chair from other table and sit beside me.
"I want to know about the participants that entered last year."
"Okay, so first, there was 12 people from total of four team who reach the final stage last year. There were some people I don't remember that probably the seniors that have graduated and other students I can't remember but aside from them were the prince, the princess, Ace Cardinal, Rigel Vincent, Zyon Draken and…"
"And...?"
I asked with full curiosity.
"The most powerful and beautiful contestant, The Angel of Dawn, Eva Reinhard, your beloved sister," she smirked.
"What are you smirking for?" I said to Eva.
"I agree, you are beautiful, but you are the last place to be said most powerful is a little bit …"
Without hesitation, Eva smacked Quinn's skull along with his smooth long blonde hair.
"Quinn, are you okay?" I asked to Quinn while refraining myself from laughing.
"Ah, I am being hit by an angel… it feels good…" he answered while rubbing his head trying to ease the pain.
Masochist.
"So, who got the first places?" I continued the conversation with a question.
"Um… if I not mistaken, it was—"
The bell rings.
"Ah, it's already time to head back to the class! Ask me again at home Evans! Bye!"
The bell rings interrupted my conversation. I could not even hear the name yet. I would like to avoid from asking her at home though. Well, maybe I will just ask Quinn again.
"Quinn, it's time for class! Let's go."
"Okay."