It has been a month since Zephyr began training under (–or with) Minerva, it has also been a month since Sévir's encounter with an academy student whose identity we still do not know.
And it's been 3 weeks since Sévir's victory against Percival, how are our lovely characters doing?
...
Dammit! Why did she have to spot us like that in the worst time possible!? Sévir is backed into a corner with a tense look in his face, his eyes darting around to find an opening.
"You're going to explain what just happened earlier.. In precise detail." She cracked her knuckles, slowly getting closer to Sévir.
"Come on now, you're misunderstanding things!" Said Sévir.
"You see, Sévir.. I am your sword.. And your future wife! It's only my duty to keep threats away!"
"That's not how it works.. And I never agreed to you being my future wife!"
"Come on, tell me now.. Why were you and Meredith hugging earlier!?" She asked angrily.
"You're getting all of it wrong! I wasn't hugging her!"
"You were, you were, you were, you were! I saw it with my own EYES!!!" She pointed at her own eyes.
Ugh, this is annoying. I think I've got an idea how to get out of here.. Though it embarrasses me that I have to use it. Sévir cleared his throat and walked towards Sanguinex.
As their eyes met, Sévir broke the brief silence. "Sanguinex."
"H- Huh? What!?" As he said her name, she glared with a glare we've never seen before.
He held her hands gently, slightly bending down.
Wait wait wait- Why is his face getting closer!? Her glare went away as his face closed the distance.
"Hey, hey. don't be angry now.. Isn't it obvious I have my eyes set on you? And only you?" He cupped her cheeks.
As surprised as she is, her face also turned as red as a tomato in an instant. "W- W- What did you say!?"
Did I h- hear that correctly..!? He only has his eyes set on... Wait.. This is similar to how it was in my dream! A- And then he'll kiss me... Right!?
"I said.." His face got even closer, so close it looks like they're kissing.
His right hand slowly crept up and grabbed her jacket collar. "Good.."
It happened in an instant, even before she could process it, she found herself off the ground and in the air. "..BYE!!!!!" Sévir tossed her as far as he can do so across the long hallway.
"EEEEEEK!!!!!!!" She screamed as she flew across the hallway fast.
He sighed. "I still find it so easy to fool her with those embarrassing words, so easy that it's so pathetic and frightening.
Hm, while I'm out of her range, I should get away now." He walked away as fast as he could.
Oh well.. That's that for Sévir and Sanguinex, let's check the others.
...
"FASTER! SAY THEM FASTER!" Minerva shouted across the arena while she both dodged and blocked Zephyr's spells charging towards her.
Sweat poured down Zephyr's face as she tried again and again to get Minerva with her spells.
"Bekuparwa! Bekuparwa! Bekuparwa!" She shouted again and again but to no avail.
This fight has been drawn out for long enough, it looks like I'll have to end this now. Minerva darted her eyes around to find any obvious openings.
I'm starting to get too exhausted, and yet she's still dodging my attacks! How much energy does she still have!? Zephyr clicked her tongue. I've been blindly attacking all this time.. I'll have to guess she'll try charging at me somehow, maybe that's where I can make my move!
As Minerva stepped to the right, Zephyr aimed at her and shouted: "Bekuparwa! Rojtdafæ!" Instantly.
The moment the blades of ice went towards her, she quickly moved back with her cutlass pointed at Zephyr. My arm isn't extended but the cutlass is pointing at her, surely she'd notice it even if it's not extended.
Zephyr noticed the cutlass pointed at her, stepping back. "Bekuallpa!" She shouted while aiming down the ground in front of her, swiping up followed by ice expanding upwards, creating a temporary shield for herself.
Ah, just as I expected. She pulled her cutlass, ice suddenly formed on Zephyr's feet which rapidly grew to her whole legs.
By the time she broke the ice in her legs, Minerva's already shown up, tackling her to the ground with her cutlass pointed at her neck.. This seems very similar to her and Sanguinex's fight.
"I win." Said Minerva.
Zephyr wiped the sweat off her face and stood up. "Ah, you really know how to push me to my limit.. You got me there!" Minerva smiled.
"It's not that hard once you get the hang of it. You'll see how easy it is to cast away from the caster though." Minerva chuckled.
"I wish it was..." Zephyr sighed. "Most of the spells I know have to be cast on or near the caster themselves." Minerva tilted her head with a smirk. "Well that could be changed."
"Huh?" Zephyr tilted her head and looked at Minerva with a puzzled expression.
Minerva raised an eyebrow. "I take it that you have trouble casting spells on subjects other than yourself?"
Zephyr nodded as she scratched the back of her head. "Yeah..."
Minerva's smug smile grew even wider. "What you're doing is really awesome, it just needs a lot of refinement, which includes casting away from the caster."
Zephyr's cheeks started to glow a tiny bit redder. "Really?"
Minerva chuckled slightly as she watched Zephyr turn more red.
Minerva turned to face Zephyr. "So what is your next move then?"
Zephyr seemed to calm down a bit after a few moments passed. "Probably to study water magic."
Minerva raised an eyebrow yet again. "Aren't you already trying to do that?" Zephyr nodded as she seemed to shrink a tiny bit. "Y-yeah..."
Minerva's expression shifted to one with a smile. "I can help train your water magic, you know. Well, I'm already doing that, so I guess it would be better to say we have to get more intense for this week." She scratched the back of her head.
"R.. Really?"
"I'm pretty sure you aren't content with just this level of training, right? So let's make it harder."
"Well that would be great! When are we starting!? Right no-"
Minerva placed her finger on Zephyr's mouth. "You're getting too excited. I'll show you what we'll do first."
She walked towards the exit of the stadium, stopping mid-way while she looked back. "Zephyr? Aren't you going with me?"
"Oh.. Right! I'm coming!" She caught up to her hurriedly.
After a while, Minerva returned, carrying four books of similar size and length. "Here, take these two."
Zephyr nodded and took the two other books. They walked to their usual room.
Somewhere in the way, Zephyr broke the silence with a question. "Why are the uniforms here so different from the usual ones outside? Don't a lot of women wear gowns and such?"
"Random questions, huh? Well, I certainly wouldn't want to wear a gown, fancy or not in duels, it just doesn't feel right, you know? It also doesn't seem practical."
"I guess you're right."
"Putting that aside, while we're still walking to the room, how about you tell me what you plan on doing after the upcoming tournament? It's next week after all."
"I don't want to go in-detail since I'd prefer you learn about it by yourself. Though, I think what I plan to do next will be obvious."
"I guess so. What about your brother? Have you heard anything from him?"
"I haven't, he keeps me in the dark sometimes." She frowned.
"To be honest, your relationship with him is quite unusual. You know?"
She raised an eyebrow. "How is it unusual?"
"I don't see siblings that are cool with each other 24/7 and rarely argue, or maybe never. Take Meredith and Damon for example, they aren't always cool with each other and they argue a lot, but of course, they love each other, they just don't want to admit it."
"Oh.. Well, I guess we do have it unusual, I don't mind though. A lot of times, I've even seen him as a father figure of some sorts too." She smiled.
"How sweet. Oh, it looks like we're here now." She put the book on top of the other book, twisting the door knob and pushing it open with her free hand.
"We study with books today. Reading completely won't do, so go on and write while you're reading." She sat down and put the books down.
Well, that's that for Minerva and Zephyr.
...
The next day marked 6 days before the start of the tournament. All the students have been training in their respective times and stadiums, but this day marks something new.
At Stadium #2, students from 5-1 (Class of Sévir) and students from 5-3 found themselves lined up beside each other.
Between them was Ms. Ardell, arms crossed. "Listen up!" She shouted, everyone heard and all talking went silent. "I'll cut to the chase. I have brought everyone from 5-1 and 5-3 here to compete against each other, you guys must choose 3 of your classmates, then they will fight the other."
The students looked at each other, they gave a knowing nod. "Minerva, Percival and Sanguinex!" The students called their names as if it were the most natural thing to do.
"Okay then, we have Minerva, Percival and Sanguinex for 5-1, come here."
The three walked towards Ms. Ardell, she looked at the students of 5-3. "What about you guys? Have you decided?" They all nodded, the chosen three walked towards Ms. Ardell.
"So we have Thomas, Geringer and Kleiner for 5-3." She cleared her throat. "Everyone! Get up in the auditorium!" She clapped her hands hard twice, everyone but the six mentioned went up the auditorium.
While the others went up, the six mentioned went to their respective sides of the arena, waiting for Ms. Ardell to start the countdown.