A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
****
Solana covered her eyes with both hands when the striking light after coming out of the entrances.
"Ah, my eyes. Sister, I'm blind!"
Princess Lorreign laughed and kissed her sister's cheeks.
"Silly. Open your eyes now. It's okay. Do you ant to wear sunglasses?"
Solana brushed her eyes with her hands. When she opened them, her sight adjusted, and dilated when she saw how many people are gathered. She's never seen a place as enormous as the arena, and she's never seen people as many as the ones around her. Everywhere she look, there are people!
"SO MANY ANTS!" Solana exclaimed because of how tiny people look in her perspective. The bleachers are very far. Therefore, they look so small to her.
And what she said gathered ominous attention.
Princess Lorreign covered her mouth, "Shh! What are you saying? Who taught you that!?"
"Mommy!" she proudly said.
"Look who we have here! It's Princess Lorreign, one of our favorites!"
The host, on a flying sphere, approached them to interview.
"Your Highness, long time no see. Nobody saw you for a whole year! Could it be---is she your daughter!?"
Exaggerating gasps filled the arena.
"Oh, stop! This is my sister! I don't even have a boyfriend!" Princess Lorreign laugh and smacked the host's arm, sending him to a distance.
He went right back beside them.
"KING LIOREI IS MARRIED!? WHEN!?" The host covered his mouth. No, he refuse to believe it! It's breaking his heart! King Liorei, their ultimate crush, got married in secret!?
"Sister, is he Daddy's friend?" Solana asked innocently while looking at the host.
His tears burst out of his eyes.
"No! No, I won't accept this! Everyone, our King is married!"
"NOOO!!!" The audience cried with him. Princess Lorreign laughed her ass out.
"They're not yet married. But soon. Their relationship is very complicated. How about you call him to see her mother, too? Aren't you curious who poached my Dad?" The Princess wiggled her eyebrows.
"Mister, how can you fly without wings?"
The host wiped his tears na blew his nose in a handkerchief before answering her, "This sphere was enchanted with magic so it can fly. I don't have wings."
"Oh! You must be very sad. I have wings!"
Princess Lorreign shuddered. When she can't hold her laugh anymore, she just let it out and smacked the host again. This time, he went farther.
"Princess Lorreign, may I remind you, you're a Dragunovv!" The host said from the other side and flew back to her side again.
"But to the little Princess here, why do you have wings? What is your mother?"
"My Mommy is very pretty! I love her very much!"
Their hearts melted.
"I think it's time to let King Liorei go and be with her very pretty mommy," the host cried, talking to everyone.
"Do you want to see my wings? I have lots of wings!"
That's when they stopped.
"Pardon? What do you mean you have...lots of wings?"
Solana sweetly grinned, "Yeah! I can change my wings! I have butterfly wings, angel wings, chicken wings, bee wings, and my favorite among them all is my fairy wings! Do you wanna see?"
"F-Fairy---!"
Solana asked the Princess to put her down so she did. She took Solana's bag so she can reveal her most favorite three-layered wings.
A fairy. A sight to behold.
Solana fly around. Her flying is still unstable, but she will learn how to fly properly soon. In the midst of the crowd she found her Mommy and Daddy, disguising themselves using hats, robes, and sunglasses.
"MOMMY! DADDY! Look, I'm flying!" She showed them, twirling around in the air before flying towards them.
"You get that thing. I ain't getting that." Skadi Eira nudged King Liorei.
"What do you mean? That's your daughter. She called you first." King Liorei pushed her forward.
But Solana landed on the both of them. The flap of her wings sent their hats away, revealing the colors underneath. Solana hid her wings.
King Liorei sighed in defeat and removed his sunglasses. Exaggerated gasps filled the arena once again.
"The King changed his hair color!?"
King Liorei tenderly kissed Solana's cheek and carried her properly. When he noticed her mother sneaking away, he grabbed her by the ring on her head and pulled her back.
"Ah! How dare you! That's so rude!" She froze his hand and removed his grip on her by breaking his frozen fingers.
"Kyaaah! Mommy, what have you done! O-Oh, no! Daddy, does it hurt!?" Solana panicked and reached out for his hand. Her lips trembled.
"D-Don't cry! Look, wow~ It's complete again~ Yeyyy~" Skadi Eira clapped her hands after healing the King's hand.
Solana smiled and lean over to kiss her cheek.
"Thank you, Mommy."
She gave Solana a fake smile.
"Fuck this shit! I can't see!" Then she removed her sunglasses and angrily threw it against the floor.
She crossed her arms and glared at everyone who's looking at her with stupid faces. She flipped her hair back.
"I know, I know. I understand. I'm very pretty. Fine, look however you want. It's because the people you thought are pretty were not pretty at all," she boasted and fan herself.
King Liorei hissed and left her side.
"How dare you!" she opened her palm and created a huge snowball. She threw it to King Liorei. It hit his head, and it stopped him from walking.
When she heard him sigh, and put Solana down and told her to go to his sister, her heart skipped a beat.
He turned around with his hunter eyes craving for a taste of her.
"P-Peace?" Skadi Eira lift her hand and gave him a peace sign. It didn't change the seriousness of his face.
When he charged first, she teleported to the other side.
"HA! LOSER!" She taunted, but her victory didn't last when the King unexpectedly and shockingly teleported behind her.
Spiky chills traveled all over her body when the King grabbed her by the waist and pulled him close to her. He lowered his head to the level of her ear and whispered,
"You can never run away from me again anymore. Once is enough. Pay what you owe me."
Skadi Eira lifted her hands, and clapped once.
She swapped places with Solana.
Solana looked up to her Dad and gave him a gummy and eye smile.
"Hi, Daddy! Are we playing? But I'm going to school!"
"In your dreams. Pay what you owe me. Bitch!" Skadi Eira mocked and gave the King a dirty finger before vanishing from plain sight.
Solana laughed, too, when King Liorei started laughing. But there was something in his laugh. He's annoyed. He's pissed off. He can't catch the cat.
"I'm gonna make that woman a cripple soon."
***
"25," the staff called, preparing the different individuals but with the same number as they will be the ones who will duel next.
Ori raised his shaking hand.
For the last time, the nun blocked his way.
But she's not going to stop him anymore.
"For Moon," her voice cracked. Ori lowered his head and passed her by.
Most laughed. It's such a funny sight.
"Just who the hell recommend that praying mantis? He's probably the first grandpa of those Earthlings!" An entitled Academian taunted and laughed with his pals.
"I did."
The entire arena was silenced by his arrival.
Their eyes followed his pace. Wattroid gave the staffs a sign to replace the table with a much longer one and two more seats for his Master and Valor Teivel.
Watts stopped and looked at the Academian who talked shit.
"I recommended him. Who recommended you?"
The boy's throat dried instantly. Ohms came next while yawning.
"I am asking you. Who recommended you?"
His friends switched sides and avoided him like he's infected by a plague. He tried seeking their support but his friends won't look his way anymore.
"H-Her Highness Princess Eowyne's e-eldest brother, C-Crown Watts..."
Princess Eowyne slightly covered her face, ashamed that he mentioned her name instead of her brother's alone.
"Take him out. He's expelled."
He ignored their shocked reactions and walked to where the rest of the Crowns are, but he got frozen when he saw Sun, sitting prettily with her legs crossed. She's even smiling at him, one like Moon's.
His breathing became shaky. His palms sweat and his heart palpitate.
"Greetings, Crown Watts. You're flushed. Seeing her ghost in me?"
Watts gasped for air and stepped forward, about to charge and end her once and for all when his brother held him back.
"As the Crowns' adviser, I forbid you to." Sun is his to bully in his brother's stead.
Ohms nodded at Valor Teivel. So, he nodded at him and wrapped his arms around his brother.
"What are you doing?" Ohms gritted his teeth.
"I am comforting Crown Watts," Valor Teivel answered and placed Watts's head on his shoulder. He pat his back, "It's okay. You'll be fine. Hush, little baby~ That's a good boy."
Ohms pulled out a dagger from his sleeves and was more than ready had Prince Maxigaufeas got between them while laughing nervously.
"Please let him go, Valor. You'd get us all killed."
"Okay."
Crown Thirdy finally arrived with Crown Miss President and Crown Aleoxolt. Crown Aleoxolt went straight to his sister. He bent his knee and kissed the ring on her finger as a greeting and stood beside her.
Watts composed himself.
"Let's settle down. We're not the stars of this event."
Crown Thirdy subtly pushed Valor away to distance him from Ohms Xirquit. He's still holding his dagger, shooting blank yet sharp gazes at him.
After settling down in the long table, the staff gave the newcomers the files of the next fighters. They truly arrived just in time.
"From the left side, we have the finalist from the first phase, Ripo! His ability is very unique, possibly the first of its kind. Essence Draining! On the other side, we have Ori, recommended by the one and only, Crown Watts Xirquit!"
Ohms threw Ori's file away the moment he saw how empty it is. He's rather interested in the other guy. Quite the opposite of the weakling and skin and bones Ori. He's fit and though he hasn't mastered his ability yet, what matters most is that he knew how to pull its strings just right. But what annoys him about Ripo is he looked a lot like his nephews. Ripo is a farmer, too, with a clean background. No history of aggressiveness or crime committed.
"I know I've seen that Ori before. Is he one of the peasants Moon used to nurse?" Sun blatantly quipped, provoking him.
"Is that a hoe I hear? Slut."
Sun chuckled at Ohms, "Talking to yourself, are we? Between us, you're sluttier, Ohms Xirquit."
"Perks and privileges. Who wouldn't want a Xirquit? C'mon, you used to tail me around when you were younger. You're attracted to toxicity since then. Didn't surprised me when I heard that you were sucking your nephew's dick."
"Kuya. That's enough."
Ohms whistled and looked over to Sun to grin at her. He stuck his tongue out and pressed his middle finger on it while grinning mockingly.
Sun blew him a kiss.
"Fight!"
Watts leaned back and crossed his arms.
The contenders faced each other. Ripo, born with a good nature, is having an internal crisis. His heart tells him to give the win to Ori, believing that he probably need it more than him. He's capable. He's a strong and healthy lad. He can provide for himself and his families even though he earn very little. But Ori is the complete opposite of him. He should be in a hospital, doctors attending to him and all.
But his mind is telling him to seize the moment. Ori is an easy target. What can he do? Without his stick, he'd be on the floor long before the phase could begin. His knees are trembling like he's a newborn fawn. A skeleton is right in front of him and even the spectators won't deny that. Easy win. It'll be his win.
Ripo carefully closed the distance between him and Ori.
"I-I'm sorry... But I'm in great need, too. Forgive me."
Ripo placed his hand on Ori's shoulder. Little by little, he drained the essence sleeping in Ori. He sucked it out, taking it for himself.
At first, the essence he's stealing from Ori was few. He felt relieved to know that his win for this fight is guaranteed. But with each passing moment, the magical energy grows stronger. Ori's essence is warm. It's soothing. However, the more essence he absorb from him, the hotter it becomes.
Soon, Ori's bottomless essence burst from his chest and entered Ripo's body.
"A-AAHHH! HELP! HELP ME! IT'S HOT! HELP ME!" Ripo cried out and pulled his hand away to back out when Ori grabbed his wrist and placed his hand against his chest. There, he gave him more.
And more.
And more.
Until his essence is enveloping Ripo's entirety, burning him alive.
"HELP ME! IT HURTS! IT HURTS SO MUCH! MY LORDS! AHHHH!! WATER! PLEASE! I'M BURNING!" Ripo desperately cried out. He's throwing his hands on himself and around. He rolled over the floor, hoping that the fiery essence will be extinguished, only for it to burn hotter and grew bigger.
Every anxious eyes shifted to Watts Xirquit. He's watching intently and seriously. But when he nodded, the host immediately announced the winner. The water mages came running and helped the poor boy. But the moment they showered him with cold water, his body exploded into twinkling dusts.
Everyone was too stunned from the horrifying event they have witnessed.
An Ancient, an immortal...returned to the Heavens.
"Oh my...god..."
Princess Lorreign hugged Solana. The girl is watching the twinkling dust rise to the sky with her innocent eyes.
Ori breathes in. Each heave of his breath is whistling. With baby steps, he began to walk away from the ring, going to the table where the Crowns are seated.
The essences that Ripo drained from many, as well as the one he took from him, followed Ori in a luminescent trail. It went in through his back as he continue to go to the Crowns' table with his eyes closed.
Solana stared at him. Rather, to the balls of light that are floating around him.
The Crowns hold their breaths when Ori stopped before them, facing Sun.
Tension hangs thick in the air, a palpable sense of unease gripping the spectators as they watch with bated breath.
And when Ori flashed her a maniacal grin, not only Sun felt it, but all that seen it, felt the cold shivers course down their spine; a primal instinct warning them of impending doom.
"Who seeks for the truth?"
Their throats dry. Sun felt her guts wrenching. How her heart beats fast, so loud and heavy that every beat is making her head throb, too.
"Show me." Watts Xirquit fiercely dared despite the fear from a being unbeknownst to him.
Is Ori a threat or an ally? He have no idea.
The stick Ori is holding fell to the ground when he let it go. He lifted his hands to his side.
"Let's see... But not everyone is here."
And when he strike his palms into a clap, they were frozen in place when everyone---from the Dragunovvs to the Earthlings, excluding Prince Astaroth and his family, were summoned and gathered in one place within the vast arena.
King LIFE looked back with confusion on his straight face and dropped the sword he's using to his side.
"What's the meaning of this? What's happening?" He asked and roamed his eyes around. He found his wife with her servants and head maid, sitting on her throne. They avoided each other eyes.
"Bring the King a shirt," the Empress ordered her servant. King LIFE is without a top, for he was spending most of his days lately in the training grounds, swinging his swords for hundreds of times.
Prince Maxigaufeas stand up and gone to his mother. She's crouching down, petting the cats when she was summoned.
"Mom, stand up. You can't sit like that," he told her and helped her up. Emperor Claxiord stood beside them and picked their cats.
"Meow!" Nekoko scratched his face and escaped from the Emperor's grip to jump on his master, the Prince.
"I hate him very much," he sighed. Prince Maxigaufeas awkwardly laughed and cuddled his cat.
"What is this all about?" Prince Izaac entranced he's not looking very well. He's annoyed. He's confused. He's irritated. He was handling Imperial matters awhile ago and now, he's summoned in the Academia? Every second matters.
"Open your eyes and see the truth for yourself."
Ori slowly opened his eyes, but they didn't caught a glance of it when their surroundings began to glitch.
"Sun, you are nothing but a star. It's time for you to explode."