-------------------- [Treatment Room] --------------------
I heard… someone is calling my name… it sounds far away but… it's getting nearer.
"EVANS!!!"
I opened my eyes slowly upon hearing someone calling my name… that voice was…
"Evans! Are you okay? Thank goodness!"
"Mom…"
There is mom, Eva, Quinn, and Elea in front of me. I am lying down a bed, most probably in treatment room. I feel like waking up from a deep sleep. My memory slowly coming back to me mainly about the incident occurred during the tournament. I was…
"What about the match?"
"The match has ended," Quinn replied.
"Who wins?"
"It's Ace," This time Eva replied.
"It wasn't Elea?"
Elea just standing at the corner of my bed in complete silence. Her expression displays full of guilt and sadness.
"How does it end?"
"After you were severely injured by the skill and collapse, the match was stopped for a while because the arena magical safety wall suddenly breaks to pieces from the explosion. Elea immediately ran to you and try to wake you up, but you aren't showing any signs to wake up," Eva continues.
"Then what happened?"
"She… well…" Eva mumbled and her tone got slower.
"Sis, I can't hear—"
"She withdraws," Quinn interrupted.
"Eh?"
I avert my eyes directly to Elea. She was looking to the floor.
"Elea, why?" I asked to her.
Her face shows extreme guilty. She started to cry.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" She sobbed.
"Hey, Elea…" I tried to calm her.
"I didn't think… I would… hurt you… that much…I'm so—"
"Elea, it's okay, look, I have been healed completely," I try to move actively to show I'm in great condition but she's still crying.
"We'll be back okay Evans, you will attend the closing ceremony, right?" Mom asked.
"Yeah," I answered.
"We'll find a seat for you."
"Sure mom, thank you."
Mom and Eva take the chance and bring Elea along to console her. It really wasn't her fault, as in competitions, this is what to expect.
"I am really glad that you are okay," Quinn states his concern.
"Thank you, Quinn… you know what…uhm… it's nothing."
"What is it? Tell me." He asked curiously.
I want to tell him about the voice but, I guess I should keep it to myself for now. I wonder whose voice it was and where did it come from…
"What?" I asked to Quinn.
Quinn suddenly smirked at me. He come nearer to my face as if he has something to say.
"So, what relationship do you have with the princess?"
"W-what? No!! Nothing… at least not yet…"
"What with that attitude?! If you want her then just go to her and say like, 'Hey, I like you, let's get married!' and boom! Evans and Princess Eleanor live happily ever after."
"What are you talking about?"
His smirking face is becoming more annoying.
"Well, I do like her…" I answered, a little bit embarrassed.
"AW!!! LOOK AT HOW PURE THIS LITTLE BOY IS!!!"
"Sir, can you please keep your voice down? There are other patients here," a nurse informed us.
"Sorry…" we both apologised simultaneously.
"How are you feeling now? Feel like going to closing ceremony now?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah, let's go. Let me change first."
----- [Grand Arena] -----
The closing ceremony have started. I went to the seat that have been saved for me. The ceremony started with Principal's speech which is long as expected, followed by students shows and then the award ceremony. The award ceremony started with all the other tournament that held during the Blade Festival such as various quizzes, lucky draws, games, Magic Item Innovation Tournament, Core Manipulation Contest, and finally the main event, Hero Armament Championship. Each winner from every tournament goes up to the stage that have been specially rebuild and designed solely for awarding ceremony with some kind of S-class magic.
For Hero Armament Championship, every participant who succeed to reach stage two are awarded with consolation prizes. The special prizes are awarded to contestant that thrives to the final stage and of course, the top three will get the best prize of all. As the person that won the third place, I was awarded with a silver medal with astonishing elaborated carving, cheque worth of 50,000 Zea, and a bouquet of red rose. Elea won the second place and was awarded with gold medal, cheque worth of 100, 000 Zea and also a bouquet of white rose. Ace, who is announced as the champion of the tournament was awarded with the platinum medal, cheque worth of 300, 000 Zea with a bouquet of rainbow coloured rose which is the specially made with magic and particularly expensive among various flowers in Azaria.
The best prize of all for sure is the Conquering Gram, a sword imbued with core of a Grand Dragon which is considered to be a S-class. A full-fledge matured dragon where usually labelled as typical dragon is usually an A-class, but a more powerful than typical dragon is called Grand Dragon, lives for more than 100 years, can be classified in S-class or SS-class. The most dangerous dragon of all, Dragorath, are classified as Majestic Dragon and the only T-class monster known so far. The Conquering Gram is forged with the best metal in the world, Axiarium. There are about three to four weapons other than Conquering Gram that have been made with Axiarium in the entire world.
Now we are at the end of the ceremony, I check the time. It's already 10.15 pm. Looks like the end of the ceremony will be closed with the emperor's speech. Apparently, I didn't realise he was already here from the time I was in the match. Everyone starts clapping their hand and cheers for the emperor. The emperor raises his hand as sign for everyone to calm down.
"First of all, I want to present my gratitude to my best friend, Professor Tony Valent the principal of Azaria Prominent Heroic Academy, the Blade Festival management team who have work diligently to establish this event, the people that involves in the Blade Festival and my beloved citizens of Azaria. My dear citizens, far before the existence of Azaria, the world was plunged into chaos by the domination of the monster but fortunately, three heroes appeared to save the humanity. Those three are Emperor William Maximillian Stardust, Alisa Frosty and Arthur Astrea. With a sacred blade gripped tightly in their hands, they went on a journey to reclaim the land that were once belonged to the human. They ventured through the harsh environment with high possibilities to be killed anytime by the monster for days, weeks, months, and years to find the one who leading the army of monsters, Dragorath. After three years, they finally found the dreadful dragon and referred it as the Emperor of the Monster. The fought and the grandest battle with the fate of humanity on their shoulders. With the strength, cleverness, and leadership of Emperor William, they finally emerge victorious. But for great victory means to sacrifice something which was, the death of Arthur Astrea. It's worth the peace and everything we have now."
Honestly, it's annoying how he only mentioning the only royal blood hero deeds and how he says sacrifice of Arthur is just worthy as 'something'.
"And you don't have to worry from now and onwards, my dear citizens! I would love to announce that we, as the proud citizens of Azaria have been granted with two new sacred blade wielders. Now I call Prince Richard and Miss Lilith to present themselves as the descendants of the legendary heroes."
Prince Richard and Lilith appear from behind the stage and walk to the side of the emperor. The whole arena and even everyone at home are watching this because the match is being broadcasted the whole time. They both draw and raise their sacred blade to everyone. Dominia is emitting it's dazzling yellow and white light while Ristorea emitting its enchanting purple and blue light. After a while, they lowered their swords.
"Maybe some of you doesn't know, but this is the second time for 500 years, two of sacred blade wielders are chosen consecutively in a same year, from the same generation! This is a sign, a divine power that granted, bestowed upon us from the heavens. I as the current emperor of Azaria empire shall now declare a complete eradication of the vicious monsters entirely from existence within 3 years from now with the ultimate power from the emergence of these two heroes!!"
That's true. They are the asset of the humanity. Everyone stands in amazement, applauding the emperor with his brazen words and the newly announced 'hero' for this century.
In a sudden, I thought of how I don't really want to be a sacred blade wielder or something but, it just came to me, 'I wish it was me who is standing beside the prince'.
I guess that's what we called fame craving. Is my desire to save my family started to waver?
"If possible, can I have two of you to give some encouragements to our beloved citizens?"
The emperor asks Prince Richard and Lilith to give some words of wisdom. Prince Richard goes to the rostrum as the emperor go back to his seat.
"Thank you very much I bid to the emperor of Azaria for giving me the opportunity give a word to the beloved citizens of Azaria. I am Prince Richard Maximillian Stardust. So where should I start? Maybe back when I was still a snotty little kid?"
The crowds laughed a little.
"Alright. I have a story. Long ago, there was a prince who is loved by the emperor and the citizens at the time. At the young age of 16, the prince was appointed as commander to lead the army for war because of his fit body and strong determination. Not only that, but the prince is also very skilful with a sword. He is a very loving person and kind-hearted. One day, in the middle of a war he led, he had lost half of his battalion, and so he commanded everyone to fall back while he stayed on the battlefield to buy some time for his fellow soldiers. He regretted that he failed to save his soldiers so he wanted to face off the huge, deadly dragon knowing it will be his demise. But he stood confidently to fight for his final battle. Despite having hundreds of wounds all over his body, blood dripping down from his head to his toe, with the last ounce of energy he had left, the prince lunges forward to attack the dragon. For one second, it seemed like hope has abandoned him, but a miracle happened. The cloudy sky with flashing loud thunder crackled suddenly dispersed, displaying the vast blue sky before a beam of light flashed so bright that it blinded every single creature on the battlefield for a minute. When the blinding light subsided, a sword fell from the sky, slamming itself down stabbing the ground mightily. Shaking off the feeling of shocked and amazed for a second, he continues on focusing on his unwavering determination, he grabbed the hilt of the glitzy sword and fought with the dragon. Whenever he swung the sword with absolute confident, an immense energy in a form of striking wave of light was released from the sword. He uses the power against the dragon and not long after the gruelling battle, the dragon falls to the ground at last. His name was Emperor William Maximillian Stardust, the first ever known sacred blade wielder."
Everyone listens so closely and claps for the story. There are even some who shed tears.
"This story was told by my father and until now, I still remember it. This story is what keep pushing me to this point and with this blade, I will achieve my dream, I will be the strongest man ever lived, stronger than the first hero himself and bring ultimate peace to the world! I will prevent every harm and threat that will unease the heart of my beloved citizen of Azaria!"
Once again, he raised his sacred blade upwards and in a sudden it glowed brightly. The crowds' cheers and applaud for his words which have been packed with determination and bravery. He retreats from the rostrum, inviting Lilith to go for her turn. Lilith is hesitant at first but after the prince give her some encouraging gesture, she goes to the rostrum.
"Um… my name is Lilith. Um…"
All of a sudden, the whole arena is shaking a little. Everyone becomes quiet instantly. Then the shaking become stronger and frequent. Everyone starts panicking and some girls start squeaking hysterically. Prince Richard goes to the rostrum and speak through the microphone to calm everyone.
"What is happening!!!" Eva's panicking.
"Let's go out from the arena quick!!" Quinn suggested.
"Yes, let's go," I agreed.
We start moving with the crowds in an extremely rushing situation. The whole arena is in uproar. There are some visible flying creatures are entering the arena from the opened hatch at the top of the arena.
"GARGOYLES!!!" Someone shouted.
The situation becomes worse. Everyone is so panicking until there even pushing on each other. Some of the student and trainer go to fend off the gargoyles from attacking the crowds.
"Evans, I have scanned the gargoyles and they are all roughly typical one, E-class and D-class. We can take them on!" Quinn said to me.
"Yeah but at least, I want to escort my mum out from the arena first!"
"Alright, let's get this done quick!"
The number of gargoyles keep increasing and start catching some people.
"Damn it! Didn't we have sensors all around the academy to alert us!!" A guy screams.
That's true, but if the wall has been breached, why we didn't been informed? Whatever. We continue advancing in rushing state, until we successfully got out from the arena.
"Eva, get mom to somewhere safe, I will stay here."
"What?! No! You have to come with us!" Eva said.
"There are plenty of students who doesn't even reach the second stage but still fighting for others. How can I, the one who attained the third place in the tournament didn't lend a helping hand?"
"Then that's the same as me!" She insisted.
"You already have your task. Take care of mom! It's more important!"
Eva silenced. Then she continued.
"Alright, but make sure you make it back!"
"Don't worry, that's a given," I assured her.
"ALIVE! YOU GOT ME?!"
"Roger that!"
I and Quinn rushed back inside the arena.
"How are those things can even come inside the academy? Our academy should be complete with security measures at maximum force! Isn't this academy have the best security compared to other!?" Quinn mentioned.
"I'm not sure either. Maybe someone had turned off the security or something!"
"Is that even possible?"
"Quinn, you take care everyone here! I will cover there!"
"Got it!"
I moved to the centre of the stage, try to see any area that still not covered by anyone. I see Ace currently protecting the emperor, escorting them to the outside of the arena. Maybe he has been ordered to protect the emperor.
"AAA!!!!!" A girl screamed.
"Activate Enhanced Jump!"
I quickly jumped to her direction and slice through the head of the gargoyle.
"Now hurry! I will cover you!"
The girl runs as quickly to the exit. There are still a lot of people need to be covered, the stage is too vast and looks like we are short-handed here! The amount of the gargoyles is just unbelievable!
"ROOAARRRGHHH!!!"
"Ergh!! What a deafening roar! Where did it…"
As I look up to the night sky, there is a huge flying creature, shining beautifully with the reflection of moonlight on its body. It's beautiful but most probably… deadly. I tried to remember as I think I have seen that rough pattern of its body somewhere and it is from the news that I've read before. I think it's called…
"Crysdraga."