"BEGIN!" The flag bearer yelled, echoing all across their stadium; Stadium #1
As the two contestants heard it, one hurriedly drew their sword, their hands trembled, it resisted to face their opponent.
The other aimed their hand on the contestant with the sword, closing an eye.
And as soon as it began. It had ended. A narrow, yellow ray of light speeded through the arena, the contestant with the sword, unable to react, winced in pain.. It burned.. It burned so bad.
The contestant dropped the sword and held their shoulder, where the ray of light shot through. And just as the pain started to sink in even more, they suddenly dropped to one knee..
The contestant looked down, it was yet another hole, this time in the thigh. The contestant groaned in pain, it was as if extremely hot coffee was poured over his skin.. Or even worse, even something hotter than extremely hot coffee.
"I...- I GIVE UP!" The contestant on the ground shouted with a pained voice.
The flag bearer in a safe distance raised a flag towards the standing contestor's side. "VICTORY FOR NOELLE TRYSTA!" The flag bearer yelled.
As soon as the flag bearer yelled it out, the crowd of Stepan students cheered and applauded, chanting her name non-stop.
She flicked her long blonde hair as she turned around. I apologize for ending our duel so quickly.. But clearly, you're not worthy of fighting me. But even so, her face was a puzzle, as it did not hint at any emotions at all.. She wore it as she walked away from the arena.
"Woah.. The duel ended so fast!" Said Zephyr, she was still trying to process what just happened.
"Indeed.. I'd say it's overkill." Minerva replied. "It's very much safe to say nobody has lasted 2 minutes in a duel with her.." She let out a downcast sigh. "Not even me."
Sanguinex rolled her eyes. "Princess Trysta doesn't seem to be that strong, you know..?" She had a grin on her mouth. "The only one I'll never beat is Sévir!"
She stood up and was about to walk away until Zephyr grabbed her sleeve. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to sign up to be Noelle's next opponent!" Sanguinex replied enthusiastically.
This idiot.. Minerva facepalmed in utter disappointment.
"But she's the First Undefeated! She's extremely powerful!" Zephyr protested, but eventually, she sighed and let go of her. "Whatever makes you happy, I guess." Once Nex has her mind on something, she won't stop.
Sanguinex nodded and marched off, the grin was still on her face.
...
Sévir and Percival turned back to the sound of distant cheers. "What's with them?" Sévir asked.
Percival chuckled. "Seems like Princess Noelle won again."
Sévir raised an eyebrow as he looked at Percival. "How'd you know it was Princess Noelle?"
"The crowd always erupts that much when it's Noelle.." Percival shrugged. "I don't know if it's a forced thing though, just because she's a princess."
Knowing those damn Trysta bastards, that could be the case.. Sévir's mouth etched to a frown which Percival could not fail to notice.
"Uh, are you okay?"
Sévir leaned closer. "Tell me everything you know about Princess Noelle."
Percival raised an eyebrow with a smug smile. "What's gotten into you, Sévir? You got a thing for her or something?" He chuckled. "I mean, I understand, a lot of peo-"
Sévir slammed his hand onto his mouth, preventing him from speaking. "If you don't want to tell me, then just say so."
Percival gasped for air the moment Sévir let go. "Okay, okay. I'll tell you what I know."
Percival leaned closer to Sévir and whispered. "A long time ago.. Nearly 17 years to be exact.. A girl named Noelle Trysta was born to Faris Trysta and Elle Trysta..-"
Sévir nudged his shoulder. "Dumbass, I don't want to hear that part."
"Okay.. Then-
Princess Noelle joined when she was 12, around the same time as Minerva. Ever since she joined, she was treated with high levels of respect and admiration.." He sighed. "I guess that's normal when you're the princess of a country."
I can relate.. At least for the first 9 years of my life.
"I guess you could say she's quite the prodigy.. I've never seen her face difficulty in battle either."
Sévir nodded. "Okay. You can stop now."
A woman beside Sévir nudged his arm with a smug smile. "When I told you about Minerva, you didn't tell me to stop." The woman chuckled teasingly, Sévir turned to her side, only to see Ms. Ardell. "Do you have a thing for Minerva? If you have, I can help you!"
He shook his head, crossing his arms. "So, what brings the witch here?"
Percival's eyes widened when Sévir called Ms. Ardell a witch. Witch!? HE'S DEAD!
Ms. Ardell let out a downcast sigh and pouted. "Can't I see my adorable little nephew?"
Sévir clenched his fists and glared at her. "I'm not little.. I'm not adorable."
"Nephew..?"
The two cast their gaze at Percival, who wore a completely puzzled face. "Ms. Ardell is a.. Doren..!?"
The two shook their heads. "She's just a close friend of my mother." Sévir let out a disappointing sigh. "I definitely would've fallen head over heels for her.." He shrugged with a smug smile. "If only she was younger.. And a little kinder-"
Ms. Ardell slapped him in the back of his head, the pain stung hard as if he got stung by multiple bees. "What the hell!? What was that for!?!"
"That was for basically calling me old, and mean."
He rubbed where he got slapped. "Damn.. How's your slap so powerful?"
Ms. Ardell flashed a big, prideful smile. "Don't underestimate the slap of a Stepan woman! We hone our slaps to give men a clear message." She giggled.
Stepan women are crazy.. The image of Sanguinex appeared in his mind. I should definitely leave this country.
...
Sanguinex and Meredith stood at opposite sides of the arena. It was dead silent as they stared each other down.
Sanguinex.. I haven't seen you in a while..
Meredith.. Sanguinex frowned. You're not laying your hands on Sévir this time.. You guys are just engaged in the eyes of the law! It no longer means anything after all these years!
"3!.. 2!" The flagbearer yelled.
Get out of my way, Meredith! I'm gonna fight Noelle! Sanguinex drew her wand from her pocket, anger flowed through her whole body, the only thing that's motivating her right now.
Sanguinex seems angry... Why's that the case? Meredith noticed the unsavory look in Sanguinex's face.
"1!... BEGIN!"
"GLOBUS AHI!" Sanguinex casted out with such speed, it would seem like she wasn't speaking English at all.
The ball of fire that formed in front of her wand blasted and speeded towards Meredith. Oh, fire magic.. Again.
Before the ball of fire could hit her.. A small hint of purple sparks suddenly disappeared.
What!? How did it disappear!? Sanguinex took a step back in shock. What appeared to her, and the rest was Meredith's arm extended, with a Zinarius coin clipped between two of her fingers.
Zephyr cast her gaze at Minerva. "What did she do!?"
Minerva had a knowing smile on her face. "She cancelled out Sanguinex's magic."
"What do you mean.. Cancelled out?"
Sanguinex casted her attacks again and again, only to disappear when it reached Meredith's range for no profound reason.
"What do you think 'cancelling out' means in magic?"
"Cancelling out..." Using magic to counter their magic? But if that's so, then what she's doing isn't special at all! Because it's either you do that, or dodge it!
"She's a miscellaneous magic user who uses source style."
Zephyr nodded. "I know that.. But what magic does she use exactly?"
Sanguinex backed off, dodging here and there as Meredith threw coins at her, it sparked non-stop as it landed on the ground. I don't know what these coins contain.. But I can tell they're dangerous! A sense of urgency grew, and grew all around her as the seconds, and the coins flew by.
"From an outside perspective who doesn't know what's happening.. Throwing coins like this in a duel seems really.. Ridiculous." Minerva crossed her legs. "But then again, coins are hard. You can't avoid getting hurt when it lands on you."
Zephyr frowned and turned her gaze towards the two contestants. It seems like Ms. Minerva isn't going to tell me..
Sanguinex kept dodging and dodging, it's as if she was the prey being hunted by the predator. But what's so dangerous about these coins anyway?
You still haven't changed, Sanguinex. You're still great at dodging things coming your way.
Coins stopped flying towards Sanguinex and Meredith took a step back. It's not easy storing magic in these coins fast and throwing it.. She took another coin from her bag and kept it between two fingers. If I don't hold it correctly, the anti-magic will get to me and take me out of the fight.
She beckoned Sanguinex to come closer, ready to cancel out her magic anytime.
Sanguinex frowned at Meredith's beckoning. You're telling me to come over..? Hell! I'd do that if I only knew what your magic was! I don't have the slightest bit of idea what magic you're using!
The two stood at opposite sides, neither having made a move. What's wrong, Sanguinex? Why aren't you attacking me?
Minerva raised an eyebrow in curiosity as she realized something amidst the duel. "Is it just me? Or is Sanguinex glaring at her with such hate?"
"Aprins Sciana!" A thick, flaming wall of fire encompassed the whole middle of the arena, splitting it in half.
Meredith stood back, weirdly, a smile formed on her face. That's a big wall you've got there! Your walls were incredibly small then.. It wasn't even as tall as us!
Zephyr nodded. "Nex sort of hates Meredith, I guess ever since they were kids."
...
A room filled with elegance surrounded the three kids. One was grabbing onto the second one's arm. She had long, brown hair all tied up in a ponytail, and beautiful, violet eyes with an elegant, royal-esque dress.
The third one had short, blood red hair with two pigtails on opposite sides, and menacing, blood red eyes. She too was grabbing onto the second one's arm.
The second one had short, silver hair complemented by his remarkable golden eyes with a prince-esque outfit. He was being pulled left and right without any say.
"Nooo! Sévir is mine!! Let me play with him!!!" The red-haired girl cried out with a loud, high-pitched voice.
"I'm only here every now and then!! I should get to play with him!!!" The brown-haired girl too, cried out with a loud, high-pitched voice.
My head... It's spinning! Meredith and Red-hair don't wanna stop!! Sévir could no longer feel the weight of his brain, it's as if it just disappeared.
"Oi.. Oi!" A boy called out to them as he inched closer, they stopped and took a look at him.. It was a tall boy, definitely taller than them by a few inches. His long bangs covered his eyes. He had his arms crossed, his voice was menacing enough to make any children cower.
"Damon..." Meredith blurted out.
"The Shih Tzu..." The red-haired girl blurted out.
"Hehehe..." He let out a slow, evil laugh as he put up half of his bangs, revealing a violet eye.
"Give up your prey to me now.." Damon struck a stern, bravado pose, his hand stretched as he held his bangs up. His other hand, even more dramatically outstretched as if he was about to cast a spell.
"If you don't.. Then fear me! For I will destroy this world in the blink of an eye!" He exclaimed with a deeper and commanding voice.
"Fluxus Lucis..." He mumbled under his breath, his eyes glowed. "Make your choice."
The room was silent.. Mainly because Meredith had facepalmed in sheer disappointment, in sheer silence. Whereas the red-haired girl has fallen to her knees, holding in her laugh as much as possible.
Damon raised an eyebrow. "Are you guys not intimidated by my sheer, intimidating presence..? Why not!?" He was now confused.
...
"G-Give me.. GIVE ME BACK MY CANVAS!!!!" The red-haired girl yelled as she was on the floor, crying her eyes out.
"Why is it you and Sévir, and not me and Sévir!?! I'm his fiancée!" She eyed the sketch of little Sévir and the little red-haired girl. "Though, I will be honest. This is a pretty nice sketch."
She cleared her throat and turned around, walking towards the door with the canvas in hand. "Good riddance!"
The red-haired girl glared at her with such hate.. She stood up and aimed her hand at Meredith. "Globus..." Fire circulated in front of her palm, slowly forming a fireball.
Meredith stopped and turned around, her eyes widened. "GLOBUS AHI!!!!!!"
...
Minerva nodded. "I see..."
"Yeah.. Ms. Meredith was sort of.. A douchebag back then." Zephyr looked back at the two once more. "That was the last time they..–We saw each other before the coup d'état."
"Globus Ahi! Globus Ahi!" Sanguinex casted again and again, shooting the coins mid-air before it can reach her. It was the same–the ball of fire disappears, and a purple spark appears.
Meredith stepped back, and with a swift and forceful motion, she hurled the coin towards Sanguinex fast, and in a curved approach.
..It's so fast! Sanguinex took a step back and aimed her wand at the direction of the coin, her other arm was raised to cover her face. "GLOBUS-"
But it was far too late. "ARGHHHHHH!" The purple arcs of what seemed to be electricity danced all across her body, she was frozen for a second.. Until she fell to the ground, her eyes shut.
After five seconds, the flagbearer raised a flag. "VICTORY FOR MEREDITH GALENA!!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Zephyr stood up in shock.. What happened to Sanguinex!? What happened!?! She turned to Minerva with a troubled expression, hinting at worry and confusion.
"Now you were able to witness the skills of the.." She held in a giggle. "The master of coin throwing.."
Meredith smiled as she looked down at the unconscious Sanguinex. "Our magic oppressor–Tryannus Magicae."