Second weekend of March, the first year students organized an internal wrestling tournament, a friendly competition between them, it was a 16-player, three-round tournament until they defined the final, it was an interesting competition, and after many fights the final was about to happen, and as it couldn't be different, the students were betting, no wonder, it was a final between Artemisia and Megara, these two didn't get along, the students were betting heavily on the fight and Erik Quasar was responsible for the bets.
– Let's bet, let's bet... The mage Hecatrix against Hashik, two award-winning high school wrestling competition winners at state, regional and national levels, a rematch for the last national... Minimum bet of 20 celesios! – Erik spoke, who showed himself to be an excellent clandestine betting manager.
– Erik! Here, 30 celesios in Artemisia! – Apollodro said making his bet and with a sling on his arm.
– Your bet you can pay in another way later. – Erik said with a wink, he was into Hecatrix. – And why is a medical mage still in a sling? –
– Healing broken bone is more difficult than it sounds, Megara ended up with me in that fight... And of course, leaving here we can go somewhere, cinema, my dorm, or yours. – Apollodro laughed flirting with Erik, Apollodro was not thrown that way, in fact he wanted that maybe his behavior "easy boy" away Nathan from loving feelings for him and prevent both suffering, in addition to hook up with Erik quasar who was a hot thing.
Nathan was around and he was jealous and sad, but it didn't change, he just watched the fight with his head down.
– 100.00 Celesios at Megara! – Alana bet confidently.
– Ivory, biggest bet so far. – Erik smiled, he was bisexual, he had his eye on Apollodro and Alana, he had already hooked up with her, now the other was missing.
– Mommy here needs a new dress and the money's been running out. – Alana joked.
– And those hotties from the third year? They could be paying for you. – Erik said.
– Let's say that I do not intend to depend on men or my magic to conquer them. – Alana laughed.
– Dear, you don't even need to use this magic, I'm already yours. – Erik said with his flirtatious air.
All the youngsters were placing their bets, it was a good way to profit and for some to get back the money by entering the tournament, it could be something very amateur and specific, but it was well organized and laid out by Erik and his friends Baron and Bianca, they would split the profits among themselves and the students had fun, they were born entrepreneurs.
– Bets closed, 95 to 82 for Hecatrix, organizers don't bet, 6,500 celesios, jackpot 15% for the winner, 15% for the organizers and the rest prorated among the winning bettors. – Bianca announced excitedly counting the money.
– May the best mage win! – Baron said, starting the fight.
The crowd was excited and the fight started, the two mages were in the center and the fight was going to be ugly.
– It's time for the Hecatrix rematch, this time I'll win, you spoiled little one. – Megara shouted, who was already taking a leap and making a skim with her leg emanating cosmic energy, a black starry energy and from the hands blades of energy of order, a white energy with a strong indigo tone.
– I never said you were bad, just that I'm better, accept. – Artemisia laughed, who with acrobatics managed to escape and then spat a fire dragon against Megara.
Megara did not let up and attacked, the right fist and left foot emanated energy of order, the other fist and foot emanated cosmic energy and so she was fighting and trying to hurt Artemisia that in a similar pattern emanated thunder and fire, there were two Very skilled energy boxers, the two best first-year fighters without a doubt, they knew how to use interesting spells already, and it wasn't the first, second or third time they fought, they had a perennial, intense rivalry.
– I'll break you all up, and it won't be just an arm like I did with your brother… Kozumikkubaree (Cosmic Ballet). – Conjured Megara in Nihondess, it was a special spell, temporarily Megara's body seemed covered by a layer of cosmic energy, and then went on an offensive full of punches, kicks, knees and violent headbutts, although the two are considered level rivals, Megara was a much better melee fighter, while Artemisia was better at combustion and projectile techniques than Megara.
Megara landed a series of very efficient blows and kicked off with cosmic energy that hurled Artemisia against a wall so violently that it left the marks of the mage's body.
– Honestly, I respect you as a warrior, as a mage, I don't understand why you are so angry with me, you were never the type of sore loser… Dynamic Spyral! – Conjured Artemisia using her projectile spell, she launched a comet of pure fire and thunder, fed and expanded by the wind furiously.
The blow was very versatile, Megara tried to stop him while still bathed in cosmic energy and with her arms in an "X", but the comet deformed and hit her from the sides, Artemisia was really full of tricks, she was an excellent fighter with a good body, but Megara at that moment was more, she had to adapt.
– I've never lost a fight, until I met you, and I won't accept after so much hard work, so much effort, losing to a spoiled brat who always had everything in her hand... I don't accept losing to someone who always had everything, I skimmed to get here... Hall Of Order. – Conjured Megara who was already without the cosmic cloak and lit the room with the energy of order, it was so bright, dazzling and even blinding, and taking advantage of this situation she hit Artemisia several times with her fist emanating cosmic energy, when the mage Hecatrix she wanted to escape, disoriented by the light, was hit in the abdomen in an accurate way by the opponent.
Artemisia was quick to rise, she never surrendered, and the effect of Megara's last spell had worn off.
– So what if I was born into a traditional family? So what if my mom and dad are famous? That my uncles, especially my aunt, and my grandmother are famous? That aunt Otrera and grandma had great fame at the top of the Royal Guard? I didn't choose to be born, I didn't choose to be born a Hecatrix, and as much as I really had maybe one or two perks because of my clan, I also suffered because of my father, and I wouldn't be here either if I didn't trained like a doomed... If I'm here it's not because I was born Hecatrix, but because I did my best with what I was given, so don't blame your inability to defeat me in my family, they have nothing to do with it. – shouted Artemisia, who got up and went to fight, she was hurt, but she wouldn't give up, she moved around trying to dodge Megara's kicks and punches and launching small vortexes of thunder and flames fed by the wind.
– Maybe I took it hard and I actually got a scapegoat to deal with something new that was defeat for me, but it doesn't change that I had to make myself from scratch, while you had the support and pampering of the nobility and even the queen, you may have made an effort and this merit does not take you away, but that you enjoyed many benefits that many here, even the nobles, do not even dream of having. – Megara said that she fought like a maddened beast, Artemisa's vortexes were good, but the Nihondesa managed to dodge and hit more blows on the opponent who was already injured.
– I understand, you struggle to show that no matter if you are noble or commoner, everyone has the same potential, that is noble, but your judgment becomes corrupted from the moment you are putting the blame on someone who is not at fault for having born in this milieu, but what we can do is work together to build a world where these differences and "perks" don't happen so much, and for your respect I refused all the favors, and Polo too, we've done everything in the race and still went through the agony of being afraid of maybe not going in, my last name may be Hecatrix, but you're facing me and not my family, until you realize that, you won't win... Fiery Living Missile. – Conjured Artemisia who now understood Megara's reasons, her rancor and her anger, but that wasn't the right way, she was willing to help in that way, her spell turned her into a living fire storm missile going into a bolt against Megara to hitting it full on and defeating it.
Megara was on the ground and definitely defeated, she had no recourse or question.
– Winner... Artemisia Hecatrix, our flaming mage... Jackpot for Miss Hecatrix's 95 gamblers... Enjoy the rest of the weekend. – Erik announced.
Artemisia goes to Megara, not with a feeling of superiority, but reaching out to her.
– Why this petty now? – Megara said, looking away and tearing up. – I promised myself that I would no longer lose to you. –
– Leave that pride aside... I never looked at you crookedly for being a commoner, nor did I consider you an unworthy opponent because of that, quite the opposite, I saw a powerful warrior, the best in melee of our age, in this regard No one, not even Polo, is on your level, but I thought you were arrogant, stupid and conceited, but I learned over time to look beyond that force. – Artemisia said, holding her hand out.
– I have to apologize, I blamed you for my inability, but it's frustrating to climb so high and be knocked down by someone who was born with everything in their hands. – Megara said emotionally.
– I can't deny that this happens, that there are many young commoners with formidable skills that don't enter because of favoritism and segregation, but this is gradually decreasing and working together this can change even more... Being defeated is not in if you fail, it's learning, knowing your limits and deficiencies and becoming stronger with them... The fight ends when you give up, not when you get knocked down. – Artemisia said smiling, she couldn't explain, but she was blushing.
– You're not even the annoying preppy I thought you were. – Megara admitted that she didn't know what new feeling was forming.
– And you're not such an ass, I said "so", you still do some questionable things... But nothing prevents us from being friends and from evolving together. – Artemisia said sincerely.
– Thanks, I think it can be a good start for us. -Megara smiled without losing her tough air.
– There are still two beds in my dorm and the girls, what do you think? – Proposed Artemisia.
– It would be an honor ... You showed an incredible nobility, I really need to remember the humility. – Megara said that she was already resigned to the defeat.
– You're going to our dorm today. – Artemisia said that she couldn't explain, but she saw the Nihondess with different eyes, she thought it was excitement for having a friend/rival now.
– Artemisia, don't think that I won't blame you when you say something nonsense that you usually talk about. – Provoked Megara not to lose the habit.
– And neither do I when you're a bitch. – Artemisia replied, I could see that it would be an intense friendship and full of friendly provocations, it was interesting to have all kinds of relationships, each friendship was unique and a new one was being forged.
In the distance, the other members of the group saw it and commented.
– I give two days for them to be trading punches. – Apollodro laughed, fixing his sling and seeing all the numbers the boys wrote on the plaster.
– I do not even give the time to take the bags to the dorm. – Alana laughed.
– It's nice to see the group grow, different people. – Gale said happily, she was raised among the Gallards, it was good to live with normal people.
– With different life stories, but that come together for a feeling of friendship. – Said Adam.
– I liked that Hashik came in, she's puffy, but she's nice, and hot. – Keith said he could not explain, but he felt something similar to the day he found Artemisia in the lake at night.
Nathan lacked to let go of bursts of happiness when he saw that Keith was keeping an eye on the Nihondesa, he was less of a suitor to worry about, it was almost as if he had a "mini" Nathan celebrating in his mind. That championship had been intense, but it really was the final that showed something great, more than a great fight, it demonstrated the strength of ties and the construction of new friendships, a bridge that represented the future, more than complaining about inequalities and social differences it was necessary to do something to change them, and for that it was important to count on help, not to demonize the opponent, but also to seek to learn from him. Megara learned that her arrogance and disdain for nobles wouldn't change things, she might even be better than almost all first-year nobles, but did that help other commoners in what? Together with Artemisia they would try to change that, create a way for nobles and commoners to have equal treatment, starting with the friendship between them, the best among the nobles and the best among the first year commoners, equals, battle sisters in the name of Celestia, for after all, that was the ultimate goal of all who were there, to serve and protect Celestia.