I continue my weapon-hunting to the other side of the shop and stop at the swords collection area, the most extensive area in the shop, it is not surprising at all since everyone love swords. If not all, at least I do. Why? Cause it's cool. The sword collection area is an exceptionally bigger than other, it has about ten rows and in each row has twenty swords on display. So, I started looking from right to the left on the seventh row since all the sword in first until sixth row prices are exorbitant, but of course, extraordinary stats, extravagant design, and all. I better choose the best I can get with my budget.
After 20 minutes has passed, I finally found the one that is fit in with my budget.
"This maybe the best I can get with my budget," I uttered.
The third last in the last line, economical and…well, fine stats, I guess.
--- [Grey Sabre] ---
[Rank: D]
[Weapon Type: Sword]
[Total Skill: 1]
[Skill: Sword Throwing]
[Ultimate: -]
[Magical Attribute: -]
[Basic Status]
Damage: E | Defend: - | Agility: D | Durability: D | Intelligence: -
[Description: A grey sabre, made with cheap but durable metal. Excellent for throwing or killing E-class monster.]
[Price: 1, 000 Zea]
--------------------
Hang on, am I always these broken? As I remember, allowance I received from that early this month was 5,000 Zea. I don't hang out so much with Quinn either. I did go to the zoo, cybercafe, testing some food at some unusual restaurants, those just take only 2,000 Zea. Ah, I remembered, I bought a new spell for my SACRED device for 2000 Zea. But the academy does give the students allowance for a year about 10,000 Zea. What did I do with that money? Rest in peace, Blade Festival.
"But it's okay Evans! You don't need to worry. As Eva said, the most important is my skill!" I try to encourage myself.
"Hey."
"Ah yes!"
I startled after being greeted by a girl from behind.
"Fancy meeting you here today."
I think I have heard this voice before. So, I turned around to see her face.
"Ah, sorry, I didn't realise… where did we—" my word halted upon seeing her face.
It is the angel… ah no, I mean the cutest girl who caught my heart before at gate. Wow, she's so wonderful today… wait, if a girl wears a cute outfit that means…
"Um, d-do you come with your b-boyfri—"
My hand instinctively slaps my own face right before finishing my unintentional dumb question producing a nice, perfect sound, reverberating my ear and whole face muscles.
I've got to reshape myself. All I need is one second! Activate Cool Mode!
"Eh, why? why did you slap your face?" she asks with a worried intonation.
"Ah no, there was a mosquito," I tried to cover my embarrassment.
"That's not possible…"
"Well, I brought it in," I stated.
She must be thinking I'm weird. Ah, I don't want that. Who the hell bring a mosquito inside a shop!?
"Hahaha, you are weird."
Right on the mark. I thought so too. But she's cute when she laughed. So, it's a win-win.
"So, what are you buying?"
"Ah, I trying to find a good sword, specifically a sabre for me to use in the Blade Festival."
"Blade festival? The Hero Armament Championship?"
"Ah, yes that one, you know it too?"
"Yeah, of course, I'm a student at the academy too."
This is my chance to show off. I should ask her to see my match.
"Well, I registered to the tournament too."
Eh? She is?
"You registered? Really?" I asked for certainty.
"Yes, but I barely know my team members because it was last minute, and I could not find anyone…"
Eh, wait a minute, this scene seems particularly familiar to me based on the knowledges I got from novels and comics I have read. This is the part where the heroine is…
"One of the members names was Quinn I think…" she continued.
There it is!!! My life has been blessed. Thank you, God. My love story shall bloom from here.
"Quinn is my friend and my team member too!"
"Eh? Really?"
"Yes!!!" I answered excitedly.
"What a coincidence!!" She was surprised as well.
AAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! I HAVE TO GIVE APPROPRIATE REPLY TO NOT SHOW I AM TOO EXCITED OR HAPPY OR ELSE, I WILL BE LABELLED 'CREEPY'!!
Here it goes. 'Cool Mode Level Two' engaged.
"Yeah, it sure is," I replied handsomely.
"Ahh, I never imagine to be in the same group with you, even the other day, we were just met and talked about the novel we read!"
"Yes, I still remember that clearly. It was a great day too," I uttered and of course, handsomely.
"Me too! Your name was Evans, right? Evans Reinhard," She recalled my name.
"Yes," I nodded handsomely.
"H-hahaha, Evans… I think that kind of creepy h-hehe…"
I can hear it. My heart cracking sound.
"I guess you know my name already, right?" she asked with a sweet smile.
"Yes, forgive me I was being rude to you before, Princess Eleanor Maximillian Stardust, first daughter of the emp—" I started to be on one knee as humbly addressed the first-born child of the emperor.
"Y-You don't have to say all of that!! S-Stand up!" She instructed with a little clumsy reaction.
Her white, puffy cheek turned reddish a little showing her bashfulness. Is it good for my health to see a cute creature like this every day? Yes, it's not and I'm happy for it!
"Forgive me, your highness," I apologised.
"You don't have to call me that! Just call me Elea."
"That can't be! Your highness is the Princess of—"
"It's okay!! Please just call me Elea!"
"Then I will call you Princess Eleanor, is that okay?"
"No! Just call me Elea, that's good enough for me."
"Y-yes, princess— I mean, E-Elea…"
She smiled and started looking at my surrounding.
"Yes, so what kind of sword are you buying?" She asked.
"This one, I think it's good enough for me…"
She took a discerning look at the information display and the sword attentively.
"No, you can't win with this weapon. You prefer a sabre?"
"Hm, yes. But I don't have enough to buy stronger—"
"It's okay, I will pay for you," she replied instantly.
What!! A princess wants to buy me a weapon!? This is crazy!
"No Princess— I mean, Elea, no you don't have too!"
Suddenly, her soft, tiny hand wrapped over my wrists and pulled me to the first row of the swords collection displays.
"Elea, these are too expensive! I can't just choose it because you want to pay!"
"Just choose! I will pay whatever cost it have!"
"But!"
"No! This will affect our victory! I want to go for the last stage in the tournament! I want my teammates to have the best weapon and best preparation to ensure our winning bet in every stage!"
That moment I realised, through her dazzling blue eyes, the spark of determination shines brightly within the sharp gaze that pierced my silly mind. I have to be determined too, for the sake of my family, and my friends.
"I'm sorry, I get what you meant. But I will use the weapon of your choice. I won't choose any from it, at least I… don't want to be fussy about it."
"Okay, if that what you want, I will choose it for you, you prefer a sabre right?"
"Yes."
She went to check on each sword on the collection while I just followed behind her.
"How about this one? I think it will suit you," She pointed to a sabre.
--- [Draconic Laevatain Sabre] ---
[Rank: A]
[Weapon Type: Sword]
[Total Skill: 2]
[Skill: Slash of Fire, Incinerate]
[Ultimate: Arcane Dragonova (A-rank)]
[Magical Attribute: Flame]
[Basic Status]
Damage: A | Defend: - | Agility: B | Durability: S | Intelligence: A
[Description: A powerful blazing sabre, made with top quality metal with imbued core of a baby of a flame dragon. The wielder will have great resistance over cold and heat are constantly radiating from the blade]
[Price: 200, 000 Zea]
--------------------
The exquisite design really pleasing to my eyes the moment I gaze upon it. The first part that attract my pair of eyes with full of interest are the elaborate complexity combinations of draconic pattern with flaming ornamental guard painted vermillion shining with particles of fluorescents red orange dim lights emitted from a crystal in the middle of the guard, perhaps the core of the weapon. The hilt is finely made with detailed craving and design to ensure the most comfort grip to the wielder. Under the hilt section, was design with golden-thin layered round-shaped pommel to prevent the wielder from accidentally throwed the sword carelessly. The blade was about 1.2 meters long, devilishly sharp edge with reinforced blade spine decorated with golden lining on the spine's border, adding the splendour of the presentation and style.
"Um… Elea, I think that is too…"
"Didn't you say that you will accept whatever I choose?"
"Uh… alright, I get it…"
A sabre made with core of a baby dragon. Does that mean human found the baby and killed it? That's kind of heart-breaking. The class of the baby dragon also isn't conveyed here.
Draconic Laevatain Sabre, it's too good for me. Even for student like me, this is an exceptionally grand choice. My team may already invincible because of this kind weapon. The attributes are already leave me speechless by an A for overall stats. Moreover, the 'A-rank' ultimate is for sure an overwhelmingly strong attack. If I can use this… maybe I really can get 'The Endless Rapier, Ristorea'. But is that how I can get it? Winning the tournament? Huh, I should not think about that for now, what's more important is…
This is the only way to know.
"Why you'd go this far?"
While she is passing the sword to me, my mouth accidentally spurred out the question. Honestly, it wasn't my intention to ask. But after Elea handed the sword over to me, she turned around, lift her head, looking on the ceiling.
"I have a target, it's not that important since it was my personal matter but…"
She turns around facing me, looking directly into my eyes.
"I want to obtain a weapon."
A weapon? Speaking of weapon, I don't see her holding any weapon yet. I wonder what she uses for the tournament later.
"What kind of weapon?" I asked out of curiosity.
"The legendary sword with the ultimate power of restoration. The Endless Rapier, Ristorea."
"…"
"Evans?"
Her objective is clashing with mine.
My heart start beating faster out of anxious. The feeling of guilty slowly eating up my mind. I can't think at what I should be saying.
"Evans? Hey what happened?" her question snapped me out of it.
"Ah, yes, sorry, I was…spacing out."
"You suddenly have a troubled face. Why?"
"Eh, really? I d-don't think so, ha-ha…" I replied half-heartedly.
"…"
"Hm, well, if that's the case I guess I worried for nothing. Let's go to the counter, I will pay for this."
"Ah, y-yes…"
We both went to the counter to pay for the sword but, I still in my awkward state, my mind became total blank for conversation. Slowly, I started to regret that I accepted the sword. Maybe I can still… reject her gift…
"Evans, the payment is done, the sword is all yours," she handed the sword to me.
Oh no. How can I reject her kindness? She already paid, and I can feel that she is sincere.
"Um… E-Elea…"
"Ah! sorry Evans I've got to go now! See you later at the tournament. Make sure you do enough preparations for that! Bye!!"
She was rushing over to somewhere, she must be busy, she is a princess after all. I was left, speechless. Unable to return the sword she had bought for me.
"Evans! What did you do?"
"Eh, what?"
Eva who was nowhere to be seen since I went to find some armaments suddenly appear in front of me, asking question.
"I asked you, what did you do with that girl!? I see it all, you and she were talking at the swords collection area, then walk to the counter!"
"Oh, she is the princess of Azaria, Princess Eleanor Maximillian Star…"
"I know that! Who doesn't know the notorious, fearful, and pretty 'Thunder Spear Princess' of Azaria Academy?!"
"Thunder Spear… Princess?"
"Yes! She is the thunder spear princess who obtain the fifth spot for last year tournament!"
"I don't know about that… She is in my team this year."
"WHATT!!!??"
Her incredible shocking reaction and loud voice successfully attract the attention of the customers in the shop.
"Sis, quiet down… we are not at home!"
"Sorry about that… but is it really true?" she spoke softly to my ears.
"Yeah. Me, Quinn and her."
"Wow, I can't believe it… your team have quite the formidable assets among all teams in the tournament."
"Why is that?"
"I did tell you before right, about last year tournament?" She claimed.
"Yeah, but until finish, you didn't."
My reply paused our conversation for two second.
"Well, she got the fifth place, while the fourth and third were final year students for last year session. The first is the prince of Azaria, Prince Richard Maximillian Stardust is confirmed on not joining the tournament this year. That leaves the second placed, Ace Cardinal, the same year as me, a final year student for this year session. Basically, your team have the second-best fighter among the participants. She was called the 'Thunder Spear Princess' for a reason. Among the best students with spear combat skill in entire Azaria, she is the best."
"Entire Azaria? That's crazy…"
"She is, during last tournament, I see it with my own eyes, she defeats her enemies in the preliminaries with just one quick frontal assault until she reaches the final stage. The reason she got the fifth places was when she confronted her own brother, prince Richard. Even when facing off with her brother, I can tell that she is as good as the second, Ace Cardinal or even better, she was quick, and her sharp spear thrust was accurate, and not showing any opening at all. Her title "The Thunder-Spear" came from her exclusive spell called 'Flash Step' enable her to move behind her enemies in incredible speed. Her spear itself has frightening skills. Her ultimate move is a magnificent ability shrouding her whole from head to toe, enhances her strength, energy and movement ability to an overwhelming level, her attack is terrifyingly fast, almost invincible. But Prince Richard was really masterful in swordplay, the most unbelievably talented man I've ever seen. He was able to defeat her sister with a dignified, overpowered dual-wield style swordplay with his two first-rate swords, The Shining Excalibur and The Cursed Kusanagi."
"So even the prince is more horrifying than the princess huh, to think someone could defeat her, but why doesn't she in the second place if she is as powerful as you described?"
"Because the tournament system classifies the victor by the round winner of the battle, and then the performance. The participant that was able to proceed to the next round will acquire higher rank than the one who have good performance but lost before proceeding to the next round."
"I see… but to think I would team-up with such well-known person, the idea itself never crossed my mind."
"Yeah… but, I would not say you can win it with just that because, I myself have quite a great team, if you have the princess as your asset, my whole is the assets itself to ensure our victory!"
"Eh… is that even possible?"
"Of course, I want to win this year! At least my team!"
"Who is in your team?"
"It's a secret!"
"Eh…"
Several minutes later after my sister done with her weapons shopping, we returned home. But I can't stop thinking, why is the princess, a spear user, want to have a sword in her possession?
Ah, I should stop thinking about that, I have an important tournament I need to get ready too. We don't even have time to practice since we registered at the last minute. So, I just continue to make preparation until the day of the tournament.