&$ sorry for the late post ^---^$~
"Hey, hey! Look alive people! We still have a few fights left in us," General Zard tried encouraging everyone after Merlik's match.
The injured elf had been rushed to the medical centre in record time the second she was stabilized and out of the red. Our ref had joined the healers on their way out, no doubt to change his get up and maybe cool down a little too.
Merlik had yet to turn up, her 'word' with the king taking a lot longer than it should be, and with good reason. I'm not gonna go into details about that, but I'll just say that how the king grabbed her and disappeared together with the Elf King....Woof, she's in for an earful.
"Um... So, anyone saw anything?" Ben asked as we began discussing the match... or at least half of it. The only thing we could do while waiting for the kings. Some representatives also did the same.
"If you're talking about the fight, we saw absolutely nothing there," Clare scoffed.
Mrs Kelly, who was just now standing near the observation glass sat down and placed her hands in front of her face with a serious look. " Not what he was asking. He meant, did you see her face, her power at least?"
Somehow I find that very irrelevant nor related to anything that just happened in the match. " Um... principal, is that really–"
She gave me a cold look that immediately shut me up. "F–Fine, whatever! D–do what you want,"
"Spineless half-wolf,"
"What was that, Queen?"
"Nothing"
"Hmm... She still had that mask of hers on. And I didn't see much of anything either so I've got no idea, " the General answered. He's taking this serous too?
"I'd say she's a half ogre. Power, air magic," Sally commented.
"Probably the only thing you could come up with, air head!" the most injured person in the room mocked her friend.
"Oh really? You're gonna talk to me like that knowing full well I'm holding you're crutches? Pretty bold,"
"Hey wait a second! Don't –"
The viper master cackled as she run away with Claire's crutches.
"Are we sure she's one of us let alone a grown up?"
Claire's words flew to the wind as the rest of the warriors we busy arguing what race and power the soul reaper was. I had the actual answer about what she was, not like they would ever believe me or anything. Speaking of who, the soul reaper suddenly walked in with that nonchalant look of hers.
The room quickly died down.
"What?"
"Nothing!" Everyone went back to their business like they weren't just talking about her.
*Cough* *cough*
"So um...We're back! Let's continue with the competitions," the Beast king echoed through the arena. Hey, when did they get back in here?
Both kings were back in their thrones. The elf King had a frown on his face but other than that, they both looked like they had calmed down.
"Back at the matter at hand. We've all come to a conclusion, and have agreed that the Soul reaper will advance to the elites, right Fenrick?"
"Sure. Whatever," the elf King grumbled.
There were approving nods all around. Well... Except from the elf representatives of course.
"Moving on. We'll continue just as planned. REF! Let's get this ah....where's that intern of mine?"
"Had to leave with the elf, Beast king. Couldn't be helped," one of the servants informed the king.
"Ah, I see. Do we have a replacement for–"
"Don't cut me out yet!" A voice echoed from the hall.
Everyone turned their attention to the voice. The second the Beast king so who it was, his face grew a few years older. "Dear gods, Kevin! What are you wearing?!"
Kevin marched in with a kind of suit armor that looked a bit leathery, had a red strap on and a sword at his side, and essentially covered his entire body. Basically, a samurai armor.
"Really Kevin?! The sword? Now you're just milking it!"
"You dig? Got it as a Christmas gift from me grand Ma. Has that efficient speed too. And finally... " he tugged on a line around his neck and suddenly, he was covered from head to toe with tough shield.
"I should really consider hiring someone else as a ref. Ignore him everyone. Next match up on your screens,"
"Ah, high wizard, you're up. Go get them for us," Mr Ben said.
"Yeah, sure. I'll do my best," he smiled but I could tell that it wasn't genuine. He's been awfully quiet since the appearance of the golem. Must have something to do about his religion. His opponent was already in the arena, the hood on as always. Definitely one of the leaf, not the ones called by the king.
"Well folks, we've got ourselves a match up between a high wizard and an equally qualified elf head to head. Now's just the matter of when he's arriving," the announcer was back.
"Hmm? Strange. Where's my Wizard?" the Beast king asked no one in particular.
"Hopefully dead in ditch somewhere."
"Now Fenrick, no need to be bitter. I'll go check up on him,"
"Some king you are," King Fenrick muttered when the Beast king vanished.
Murmurs began rising from everyone. The king appeared a few minutes later, the smile on his face gone. "This match is for the elves. The high wizard has forfeit his place as an elite,"
The crowed erupted in anger when they had what he had just said.
"Do they think we're weak cause of all the other matches?!" someone roared from the crowd.
"That's because you are weak!" someone screamed back.
"Oh yeah?! Them's fighting words!"
"I'll take you on any day, elf!"
Guards marched up to the two heated parties to suppress the situation as the rest of us wondered why Harold just quit out of the blue.
"Just when I prepared for this. Not cool," the hooded elf muttered before leaving the arena.
"Why are you giving me this win, Jason? You looking down on us?" the elf King asked, his face scrunched up in anger.
"Tell you later,"
The screen light up again and the next match was issued.
"I'm next, aren't I?" Queen asked.
"Yeah you are! Knock'em dead for us!" Sally said with enthusiasm. Queen turned to me and nodded her head. I nodded back and she was off to her battle.
"That girl should be really careful,"
"Wait why, general?"I asked.
"Remember the guy Ben fought against? Well, this elf the princess is supposed to fight against is a similar case. He isn't part of the elites but was recruited for this position."
Queen met her opponent reared up and ready to fight. No hood on him thank the gods.
Well...isn't this interesting. He looked around his late teens, as he stretched his smooth arms back and forth through the blue trousers and shirt he had on. A necklace made of sea shells was firmly attached to his chest, glittering through the burning rays of the sun.
He would have easily passed for a human, but the naturally beautiful face and sharp eyes gave him away. Queen made her way to the ref, he eyes brimming with confidence.
"Well then, let's get this started," the ref was still in that weird get up of his, and he looked proud of it.
Both acknowledged each other and then Kevin declared the start of the match.
Almost immediately, the elf launched a huge canon of water at Queen, which she easily blocked with her ice magic. The elf nodded like he was taking notes, then adjusted his output and suddenly, Queen found herself struggling to block the new attack. She tried using her ice magic again, but immediately the ice got in contact with the water, it immediately melted and Queen had to dodge the dangerous waters coming her way.
"Damn!" she clutched her arm in pain as she was caught by the new waters against her.
"Hey, I'll understand if you give up. After all, anyone put up against me will always lose, especially a kid, like you. They don't call me Val for nothing," the elf adviced.
Queen stared numbly at the cocky elf. She calmly stood up and dusted off the dust, then she faced the elf again.
"Hmm... Interesting. I'll crush that confidence of yours!" Val laughed and released a huge amount of water with excellent precision. Queen moved well for a fourteen year old. Most if not all the water breezed passed her with the exception of being partially blocked by her magic.
Val's sharp aim all went to waste with how quickly Queen easily dodged them. You could tell by the sweat on his face. Everyone was completely mesmerised by how intense the fight was.
"Is that all you're good at?! Dodging!" Val screamed, clearly frustrated.
Queen looked tired, but still ready to continue dodging. At this point, everyone wondered what she was up to. Val seemed to be heaving since he used a good amount of mana. Must have been difficult to heat water and still create it at will.
"What...is...your...goal...here?"
"Proving a point," Queen answered with a smug smile.
"And what's that?"
"I can beat you without my power,"
The elf immediately froze up. That's gotta hurt his pride. Though he didn't show it. His attacks became even more relentless until it reaches a point that Queen looked completely red due to her white skin being constantly blasted by the hot water she couldn't dodge.
"Really now, you should respect your elders more, girl. Where's all that big talk about not using your powers? STILL THINK I'M NOT WORTHY OF IT?!"
Yup, he's definitely taking this personally. Queen suddendly turned towards our podium.
What is she doing?! Is... is she staring up at me. Is that a.... Ah I see, she's challenging me. Or, at least I think she is. It's not always certain with her.
"I'LL TEACH YOU ABOUT IGNORING ME!"
Queen returned her attention back to the fight, her eyes glowing blue. He tried using up the rest of the mana he had for one final attack, but when he shot it at Queen, it immediately froze it the second it came close to her.
"How is that possible?! I made that water specifically to beat ice!"
Queen shook her head. " Val, Val, Val. You lost the second you were put up against me. And yes, I am a 'kid' just as you said,"
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Queen snapped her fingers and Ice quickly covered the entire arena. And Oh! No surprise, the ref was frozen in his tracks. At this point, I just feel sad for him. He should really look from another profession.
Val and a clean circle around him were the only ones clear from the ice.
"Good work holding out against my first attack,"
"I have trained through every imaginable form of water. Do you really think that a rookie like you could dare challenge me?!"
Two large fists made of ice rose from the ground and headed towards Val. He quickly jumped out of the way just when they were close enough to plummet him to the ground.
That wasn't the only thing he had to face though. Various types of ice shards quickly rose from the ice made by Queen and relentlessly attacked the poor lad. He was quickly overwhelmed even with his hot water that should be backing him up.
The impact made by the ice shards was so powerful that cracks began forming around. Soon, the mist cleared and we all so that the elf was in his last legs. The look of defiance in his eyes said he didn't want to lose this easily.
"That... all... you... got?" he huffed as he struggled to stay upright. He looked like a bloody mess. How he survived until now is a miracle no doubt. There were many holes plunged deep through his arms and legs. But he still looked like he had some fight in him. His necklace remained dangled stubbornly on his neck, like it didn't want to leave its owner.
"Nope! I refuse for this fight to go on. Since the ref can't declare it, I'd just say it, this is my win!" the Beast king said.
"But sir, I can still–"
"No you can't. You did well, Val. But this is your defeat," King Fenrick continued. Val looked like he had something to say, but he was no Merlik. He nodded and accepted defeat.
"Yo Fenrick! What's going on with your elites. We too good for them?" the Beast king mocked as Queen unfroze all the ice. Anyone injured was taken to the med bay, including the ref. If it's not frost bite that will do him in, then it'll be his job.
"You know damn well why we can't fight to our fullest! Besides, this isn't a competition about who has the stronger warriors. This is a test." King Fenrick answered defensively.
"Yeah, that's exactly what a sour loser would say,"
"Hmph! Well, next match is definitely mine. You're new warrior will have no chance against mine,"
"Well see soon enough,"
They're talking about me, aren't they? But whom, I wonder, will be my opponent? Must be the same person who threatened Cathy to take me for a fool. If it's him, he's definitely gonna answer for his actions.