One hell of a work week. It's over now. (As in it was very very busy) :)
Giliath demands your power stones!
*
"Sure I know this kid. Naoto here is on a whole another level. And I'm not speaking in terms of battle prowess, but in nobility.", Angelica said in a casual manner as she held her hands behind her head.
"Haha. You know you're a kid yourself, Angie.", I said, retorting back at her.
"I know, but I'm still a year older than you, Naoto. We're far from Rufus though while Pattycakes is a year younger than us. And if I recall, didn't Lord Cayenne have a daughter too? I bet she's a real beaut.", Angelica said, suddenly calling out certain individuals of the Great Houses. Still, if Patrick knew Angelica called him like that...I couldn't help but inwardly sigh.
"Is it alright for you to speak of that, Angelica?", Kilika said with a surprised look.
"Why not? You're looking at two House members, Kilika my dear.", Angelica responded happily, which caused Kilika to turn back my way.
"So you're really one of those nobles then. Well, at least you're polite unlike this brat here.", Kilika responded.
"H-Hey!", Angelica retorted Kilika.
Hearing Angelica say that, we let out some laughs.
"You two seem close. I guess Angie is training under you now, huh?", I decided to ask. Kilika nodded her head in agreement.
"For now. Much like how that girl you introduced to Zin is now training under him. It hasn't been that long since we've met, but Angelica here is showing a lot of promise already. Too bad you didn't want to partake in this tournament.", Kilika continued to say.
"I wanted to be in the crowds for this one.", Angelica responded. At this time she leaned forward a bit, only to take a glimpse at Kloe who interested her. "But tegardless of that, I didn't know you had a sister Naoto. You two look very much alike. Such a lovely little kitten~", Angelica said with a tessing voice.
"Hehe. It's nice to meet you guys too.", Kloe responded to the three. But hearing that, Estelle blinked at Angelica.
"But Naoto and Kloe are--?", Estelle tried to say. The moment Estelle tried to say that, Joshua's hands moved swiftly, only to cover Estelle's mouth, preventing her from trying to say the rest of what she tried to say.
"Estelle, some things are better left unsaid.", , Joshua said, suddenly speaking to Estelle.
"Oh dear me I do wonder what this girl was trying to say.", Kilika responded, hearing Joshua say that. However, Zin smiled finally seeing Estelle and Joshua beside us.
"Haha. It seems you two haven't changed. I guess Shera is doing her job properly for once, as a senior.", Zin said, with a laugh.
As Zin said that, Joshua removed his hands, causing Estelle to blink at Zin for a moment before a light bulg went off in Estelle's heads.
"Now I remember. You're the giant bear who was with Shera and the others a couple times wherever we've visited the Guild along with Shera.", Estelle responded, which, caused Zin to burst put in laughter while Kilika blinded her eyes.
"You know these two, Zin?", Kilika asked.
"Of course. Estelle Bright and Joshua Bright. Two promising looking Junior Bracers. You guys still got a couple years to go until the Bracer Exam right?", Zin asked.
"That's right. It's nice to see you again, Zin." , Joshua said, nodding his head.
"Ugh, don't mind me...", Estelle uttered with a compliant.
"So these two are the ones...", Kilika said as a glint streaked across her eyes, uttering to herself.
"You'll so have to introduce me to this sister of yours later, okay, Naoto?", Angelica also asked as she revealed a grin. "That cutie beside her is also cute. Bit of a shame she is wearing glasses.", Angelica said, glancing over at Emma. "However, that blondie beside you is the real treasure. I wasn't expecting to see you here.", Angelica continued to say as she saw the blonde haired girl beside me next. In the stands, we ended up taking two rows. Estelle, Joshua and Emma were sitting behind us while Alfin was directly to my right and Kloe to the right of Princess Alfin.
Princess Alfin couldn't help but reveal a teasing smile hearing Angelica say that. She even clung onto my arm with her hands as she spoke.
"Oh my, I do wonder what ever could you mean by that? I do believe this is the first time we've met. But if you want to know, we are enjoying a little date right now~", Princess Alfin suddenly said as she giggled hearing Angelica. The moment she said that, I couldn't help but spat out some cold air.
Right after Princess Alfin said that, Emma's glasses became tinted, as if she began to stare down my back.
"Naoto...", Emma said, uttering in a soft voice. I quickly shrugged Emma off, and scratched my cheek a bit before speaking to Angelica.
"Haha, please pay her no mind, Angie. She's just a friend who I'm showing around the city at a convenient time. We just happened to take an interest in seeing the matches here today.", I quickly explained.
"Uh-uh. Sure looks like a date if you ask me.", Angelica retorted. "I don't know how you are here, but I guess you're playing it like that, so I won't look into it.", Angelica continued to say.
"Hmm, you definitely look familiar, but if Angelica won't pry into it, then I won't either.", Kilika also responded.
"Well in a way it seems we all know each other, through one way or another.", Zin also said with a nod.
However at this time, Estelle suddenly reached out one of her hands and pointed downward. If we followed her gaze, we finally saw the next match announced.
"Look. It seems the next match is about to start! You said this was the final match for the junior division, right, Naoto?", Estelle asked me with a curious look.
"That does seem to be the case. And as I thought...", I began to say, only to see the large grassy field down below. To the left was the winning contender of the previous match. It was a seven to eight year old girl wearing a white martial arts gi. Her medium length lilac hair made her stand out. And if one looked closely, a black leather belt could be seen wrapped around her waist, which even caused me some surprise.
"Wow, Sherryl's already a black belt?", I uttered in surprise. But I spoke loud enough for Zin to hear. He calmly nodded his head, acknowledging me.
"Sure did. Sherryl's grappling techniques are quite ferocious. You'd be surprised by the amount she had grown in this one year, Naoto. If anything, I'd say she just needs more experience in figuring out where her actual strength lays. Even I didn't know such a small body could pack such muscles behind it.", Zin said, explaining a bit.
"It is true that she will need more combat experience. But for her to make it all the way to the finals already shows how much Sherryl has come.", I said in a respectful tone.
"Are you sure you don't want to meet her afterward, even if it's for a little bit? She misses you constantly.", Zin said with a hint of worry.
"Nah. The less interaction, the more she can focus on her training, since Sherryl already resolved herself. For now, why don't we see who she will fight against for this last match?", I said, folding my arms together.
"Very well.", Zin also said, nodding his head.
After giving a short break while we arrived, the final match was soon declared by the announcer, which caused the crowd to roar in the Grand Arena. I do not know if Sherryl was camera shy, but from how she behaved right now, it seems she was already used to the many people staring down at the arena. In no time did the announcer call out the final challenger to enter. Before long, from the other entrance, we saw a small figure appear.
However, this figure was one even my eyes turned wide a bit, especially since I wasn't expecting to see someone like her appear this soon. Her outfit was quite revealing, and she seemed of similar age to Sherryl, perhaps a year older. She had medium length indigo hair that was styled into a small loop over her head, which held her hair in place. A rather big blue and purple blade could be seen hoisted on her back, but it seemed she was able to carry it with ease. She didn't have much of an expression at this present moment.
Unfortunately that thought was cut short as we suddenly heard the announcer speak out to us to declare the start of the final match of the junior division.
"I thank you all in your attendance today to the Grand Arena finals of our junior matches, in honor of our beloved Queen, Queen Alicia II. We have seen many exciting battles today from such promising children, but one can only out on top.", The speaker began to say, using an orbal device to reach directly in our ears. His voice carried quite a ways.
"And to our surprise, we even had challengers come outside from our home, the country of Liberl. One such promising child made it all the way from Calvard, and she will be challenging our contestant off to the left here, who had been undefeated until now!", The speaker continued to say, which caused the crowd to roar once more. It really was jam packed here, since it was in the middle of the Queen's birthday celebration.
Sure enough it was her, one of the more prominent girls of the Trailsverse. Rixia Mao. At this time, both Sherryl and Rixia found their way to each other, and slowly entered their battle stance.
"Now let the final match of the junior division, between Sherryl and Rixia, begin!", The speaker declared. As he did, Sherryl tapped her gauntlets together, creating a sound of striking metal, while Rixia brandished her sword as if its weight meant nothing.