The New Dawn Series.
The first academy tournament to be held since the arrival of the new heroes. As a grand welcome to the New Dawn, this new era, it was a contest not to be missed. Many people stirred, interested to see which academy would come out on top this year.
The New Dawn Series will be held at Suntory Amphitheater. The aftermath of the magic concert had been cleared up, the field primed to allow the participants to properly fight.
Broadcasting stations had been set up in many regions throughout the empire. Those that didn't have the opportunity to enter the colosseum would be able to see it on large screens prepared in each territory. It was an expensive setup using the limited artifacts they had in order to accommodate as many people as possible.
The events were broken up into two main chunks. The first phase being an all-out battle royal to select the top 64 which'll proceed into the second phase– which were the typical duels.
Tickets to the seats for the preliminary phase were almost sold out. No one from Sequencee's friend group bought the tickets. One owing to the factor of price, second was that they had felt that it wasn't worth going. After all, they were not directly involved in the duels– until now of course.
"Do your best."
"You can't kill him, no matter what."
"Be careful. A third year student chosen amongst an entire academy shouldn't be underestimated, otherwise he wouldn't be here in the first place."
"I'm sure you'll do fine."
"Good luck."
"I will," Sequencee said, adjusting the bag on his shoulders.
Schwii, Nynim, Daizo, Quora and Dorry.
Leticia was absent.
"I'm going."
"Stay safe," Schwii said again.
"I will."
Sequecnee headed out of the campus– towards the largest colosseum in Rika Nation.
…
..
.
"Yo."
Someone tapped Sequencee's shoulders.
He turned around, feeling the strands of loose her black hair brush against his skin. His eyes met a pair of bright golden irises.
'Shit–'
Sequencee was about to close his eyes when she giggled like a normal girl.
"I overheard it. The situation must be quite severe for you to be involved like this."
"..."
Seeing Reese like this gave him a very different impression of her. She looked like an honor student– an untouchable black rose.
"It's lonely going alone no?"
"How did you.."
"Reese! Wait– huh?" a male student from the sparse crowd called out just to stop short on his words.
"Eh? Who's that?" there happened to be not just one, but two.
"Oh, what a coincidence. Sequencee, meet my friends, Eugine and Dimitri," Reese introduced with a smile.
'.. so she actually took my words seriously and made friends?'
"Nice to meet you, I'm Eugine Dimitri," he who had a head of spiky brown-blonde hair greeted.
"I'm Harvey. Just your everyday commoner," Harvey's hair was dark blue, with long sideburns.
Both were males; both dashing in their own right.
'Wait, friends? No.. is this her harem..?'
Sequencee was awaiting a girl to come– but it didn't happen.
"These two are also going to take part in the tournament," Reese remarked.
"I'm Sequencee. Nice to meet you, Euigine, Harvey," Sequencee greeted lightly.
"Come on, no need to be so stiff now," Reese grinned.
"Nice to meet you, Sequencee.." Eugine looked displeased, seeing how close they were.
"How did you two meet?" Harvey asked with a stiff smile.
'You don't want to know..'
"It just happened. You know, he gives a lot of points so that's why I got close to him," Reese said.
'Points?'
This was the first time Sequencee was hearing about it.
"Points?"
"Yup."
"Ugh.."
'Points? She's getting points by sticking close to me?'
"We'll literally be swamped if we don't go soon," Harvey warned, looking towards the streets.
"I know– everyone come close, you too Sequencee," Reese beckoned.
"What?"
"Her unique gift. [Shadow Magic: Shadow Empress]," Eugine remarked.
Harvey and Eugine both took their places on both sides of her– Reese only needed to reach her arms out to pull the two boys to her waist.
'Harem.. I'm not part of her harem..'
"It's fine. I'll walk," Sequencee turned away.
"Don't be like that silly."
A black mass spread out below, engulfing Sequencee along with it.
'Fuck..'
Sequencee sank into it.
'They didn't even need to stand close to her in the first place..'
Everything turned black.. or not.
Sequencee found himself back in the mysterious space– the shadow domain. Harvey and Eugine were also present.
'Are they aware of Reese's other identity? Maybe.. I shouldn't ask.'
It may be a secret she's keeping–
"So where did you first meet her huh?" Eugine step forward.
"I'm curious to know too. I've never seen you before," Harvey followed up.
"..."
'Okay, this is messed up.'
"Okay, I'll be honest here, we don't mean to be obtrusive. We're just curious, that's all. Reese is not someone just anyone can get close to so easily," Eugine explained.
"Sure, well.. that, I bumped into her during a mission I had.."
"A mission?"
"She did something to you?"
"Something like that.."
Sequencee's reply caused both of their faces to scrunch up.
Harvey turned to Eugine. "Damn it, you're enough of a problem, now we got him to deal with?"
"Chill man. You don't know if he's just a friend," Euigine raised both his hands in arrest.
'Can I get out of here?'
Just as Sequencee thought he would have to face a plethora of complaints, he felt his stomach lurch. He staggered, the sudden appearance of daylight forced his eyes to a squint, having been expelled from her shadow domain.
"We're here," Reese's voice rang.
"What the.."
It didn't even take five minute.
"Speaking of which, how are you going to enter?" Reese asked.
They were at a giant hall with booth counters at the second entrance of the colosseum.
"I need to find someone first," Sequencee muttered.
"Said person is not around at the moment, right?"
"He would in a bit, maybe."
'I was told to wait somewhere near the entrance of this place or something..'
"Which instructor?" Harvey asked.
"It's not an instructor, it's an external party."
"You're a junior, so why are you here? Are you participating in something?" Eugine asked.
"Something like that.."
'It should already be listed on the schedule, right?'
"Guys, look," Reese grabbed the itinerary document.
"Hm? A duel death between students? The winner of the magic concert.. eh?! So you're that guy?!"
"Yes, he's that guy."
"No way.. but why a duel?"
"Wait, wait. Hold up, aren't you a magic concert mage?"
"Partly? I'm from the enforcer course, though."
Harvey and Eugine went silent.
'What?'
"I fought him once. I'm not sure if you two would be able to best him if he gave it his all," Reese grinned, trying to put her arm around Sequencee when– he titled his body away to dodge. "Hey."
"I'll go now. Good luck on your fights."
"Hey!"
Sequencee fled from the scene with cold sweat running down his back.
'I should avoid getting involved..'
The cold stare he got from those two boys.. they definitely have a thing for Reese. No doubt about it.
Coming to a quieter corner, Sequencee heaved a sigh. He scanned the crowd, the students of different academies coming in groups to register their names. He felt like a fish out of water.
'Where exactly should I wait?'
Trhumen didn't give him any details.
"You lied to me."
"Yeah."
"What's wrong? Uncomfortable being around my friends?" Reese pouted with both arms to her waist.
"Are you dense?"
"Oh no I'm not. I'm aware they want me to become their follower."
"Follower?"
"Sex partner."
"What religion permits a cardinal to say stuff like this.."
"The Savior's religion of course," she stuck out her chest proudly.
"You're not registering?" Sequencee looked towards the counter. He had enough of her bullshit.
"I'll wait until you find your target. By Iona's request."
"What?"
"You don't know don't you? Some things are going to happen to disrupt the peace of the event."
"What do you mean?"
"Kids like you don't need to know," Reese reached up to try and pat Sequencee by the head. He evaded. Her eyes turned sharp.
"Don't touch my head," he said.
"Why?"
"Just don't do it."
"I'll do it."
Reese tried again, this time, activating shadow magic to trip Sequencee over.
'Fuck–'
Sequencee thought to use magic to break them apart. But before he could do any of that, his face was pressed into her cleavage.
"There, there."
Sequencee pushed her away and tried to get up.. except that his feet felt like they were stepping on goo. He couldn't keep himself upright.
"There. As I thought. You're not human," Reese grabbed his horn.
'Fuck.'
They were out in public for god sake.