The long awaited day of the championship has arrived.
The event would take place near the same forest where I trained, in an open area. But it will be at a point in the forest that I have never been to, so I won't be able to use anything to my advantage.
Not at the moment.
The place was open only to the battlefield, there are large trees around, somewhat distant.
Around the fighting field there were bleachers for the public to watch. The most incredible thing was that "the public" was composed only of the teachers of those who will be evaluated.
Eleanore, Stephen and I were facing the main entrance to that place that will make me a future hunter.
It's now or never.
Eleanore: Look, you need to understand that everyone here is dangerous, everyone has gone through the same training as you, so be very careful with everyone, okay?
Emilia: right!
Stephen: Apparently, you are the only female participant in the competition. You can use this to your advantage, they will try to take it easy because you are a woman, take advantage of it.
Emilia: right!
The two times that I agreed were with excitement.
Stephen: be very careful, maybe some of you have already mastered Moonlight, if they did, you will be in very bad shape, I hope it starts with a soft spot.
Emilia: You should be encouraging me to go out there and fight everything, but that's okay.
Still at the entrance to the arena, I could see all my opponents passing me heading towards the center of the battlefield.
I don't seek attention, what I seek is to be the best. But seeing all these guys - some even look younger than me - passing me by, without even noticing me, made me think...
Am I really just one more?…
Eleanore slaps me on the back of the head and says "wake up and go to the field, idiot!". It really hurt…
I think this is my cue to position myself.
I joined them in the queue.
My opponents are all lined up in the center of the field, all looking in a specific direction.
A big stage in front of us, on top of that one on that stage, there was a man sitting on a golden chair, he was big - both in height and width - his hair has a pure red tone, he had a big, well-groomed beard, as if he was someone extremely important.
He watched each of us with a look of contempt and boredom.
All of my opponents carry a single blade in their scabbards for battle.
Which means that the single sword is quite common, but even the most common weapon is used by big names among hunters.
So I cannot fail, if not, it was already for me.
Come on Emilia, it was two long years of continuous training, it will not be now that you will fail, right? Of course not! Now we are going to face our opponents, I hope they are all very weak.
The man in the golden chair gets up, two men quickly appear off the stage and run towards that man, taking a table with a small box on top.
The men with the table quickly reach that man. He storages them waving at them, then they leave to greet.
I didn't understand anything either...
The man puts his hand inside the box and takes out two papers. He opens the papers and speaks loudly for everyone to hear:
"Emília Baldric!… Your opponent will be Bellard Blackburn! Good luck…"
I looked to the side to see who this "bellard" was, all the participants leave the field, and only one boy remains.
That boy was looking at me with contempt.
Bellard: If you really think you can defeat me just because you have different equipment than the rest of us here, you are completely wrong!
He removes his sword from his scabbard and points it at me.
Bellard: I have a dream. I will become strong enough to overcome the biggest pillars among hunters, and I will not hesitate at any time, I will spare no effort to achieve that goal, even if for that I have to overtake people of your type.
Despite having a giant Ego, it has a goal, just like me, but it is not you who will prevent me from protecting the future.
Emilia: idiot, you talk too much.
He doesn't even know me, how dare he speak "of his type" in front of me?!
Bellard: get ready!
Hmm…
I take the sword out of its sheath.
We advance on each other, our swords collide with each other, over and over again.
He strikes again, I use one of the swords in my hand to defend myself and the other to attack.
Still... He reacts!
I take advantage of the opening of it to be focused on the sword and kick it in the stomach, throwing it away.
He falls on his back on the floor and feels the shock.
He's on the ground, but he still doesn't give up.
He stands up with a confident look.
Bellard: idiot, do you really think you can beat me?! Me, BELLARD BLACKBURN?!!!
Emilia: I don't even know you.
He thrusts his sword hard into the ground.
I move forward again to make the final attack, to make him give up for good.
But something went very wrong.
Something is holding my legs. I look at my leg and am amazed to see that branches, attached to trees were holding me back, preventing me from carrying out the attack.
I looked deeper to know where this branch came from, because it is so real that it looks like a tree branch.
I checked the origin of the branch, and realized that it came right from a tree.
Such that?!
Without thinking twice, I cut the branches that were holding me. However, the trees around the battlefield have stirred and countless branches come towards me at an absurd speed.
I didn't even have time to react, all the branches grabbed me by the leg and hurled me against the sky
The branches that had released me in the air, grab me and leave me upside down.
I get desperate because I was wearing a skirt and didn't want to let it show.
Obvious.
Bellard: silly, did you really think you could hurt a Moon Light carrier? [...] *Tisc tisc tisc* [...] there is only one way for you to get out of there, it is to raise your hands and beg for mercy, only then will I let you out of this alive.
Emilia: you pervert, my panties will show up !!!
Bellard: tell me to give up, then I'll let you go.
Lost in my thoughts.
Emília: this shitty pervert has the Moon Light of the wood style. He will know how much he knows how to control this thing […]
I look at my hands and realize I am still holding the swords.
Emilia: Stupid Emilia. That's it [...] I will do it, the rest I will do on impulse.
I use swords to cut the branches that are holding me. It didn't even take much effort or strength to cut the branches, so I start to fall.
I'm falling, even so I don't lose focus and I start falling straight.
More and more branches appear in my field of vision to grab me.
Emília: relax […] remember to relax […] Emília […] shhhh […]
Still falling and the branches approaching, something inside me is incorporated.
I start shredding all the tree branches he was using to attack me so easily.
Near the ground, I change my position and use only one foot to contact the ground.
Banging sound.
I finally fell against the floor, the dust lifted, covering the area around me.
As soon as the dust settled, Bellard and all the people watching were finally aware of what had really happened to me as soon as it fell.
I was standing with a confident smile on my face, covered in a small orange aura, an aura that resembled a flame. It was my resistance technique, finally activated.
Bellard: impossible! […]
Emilia: "Nothing is impossible if you believe it can be possible" […] It was a friend who told me that once, she doesn't usually make mistakes.
As I spoke, the aura dissolved from my body.
Meanwhile, in the stands of the arena where Emilia and bellard were fighting:
Eleanore: Emília […] YOU CAN, Emília!!!
Stephen: my eardrums were blown up […]
Back to battle:
Bellard: Shut up, BITCH! Enough, I'm tired of being a nice person with you.
He spins the sword three times in the air, then drives it to the ground. At that moment several branches of trees come towards me with murderous intent.
I try to cut them, but it was no use. There were many at once, I started to run from the trees and branches advancing on me.
Bellard: Now you don't escape me! It will be crushed!!!
The tree branches became more violent and faster.
I had a bad impression about all of this.
I kept advancing on it and at the same time dodging the thick branches of tree passed by me
Some passed by me and made light scratches, thinner branches passed over my face, legs and arms making superficial cuts.
But that didn't stop me.
Bellard: bastard! […]
I went so far that it was already considerably close. I grip the handle of the two swords and calculate a double cut.
Already very close to him, I carry out the attack.
Emilja: don't think you are-
In that instant I could feel something holding back my attack. I look at my leg and a branch grabbed it.
Emilia: ah! - oh, not again--!
The branch drags me, I slide and hit my forehead. The branch of the tree throws me upwards with absurd force. For a brief moment I felt like all of my bones had jumped out of my body.
I could have died now, but if it weren't for Stephen, that would certainly be the end of me in every way.
Emilia: come on Emilia, you just need to believe in yourself! Come on!!
A thick tree branch holds me in the air and hurls me from a ridiculously violent fort against the ground.
He falls flat on his face and a part of the arena breaks. Once again all the dust around me lifts, covering the entire field.
Making everyone watching the fight from a distance, go blind for that moment.
Bellard: that's it! [...] That's because you […] you little bitch, so as not to challenge me […] Never!!
I grab your foot.
Bellard: what the fuck? How are you still alive?!
He kicked my hand and walked away in fear.
Belllard: what's going on here?!!
I get up.
An aura with a red-orange color, intense and uncontrollable, was covering my whole body.
My body, which should have been ripped into pieces on impact, was whole and healthy.
With just a few scratches.
Apparently I ended up taking my skill to another level because of my situation, but even I don't know how I did it.
I'm staring at the floor, the air is heavy, I couldn't feel my legs and my heart was beating slowly.
I walk towards Bellard.
Bellard: this girl [...] What is this girl?!
With every step I took the floor would break - my foot would sink into the floor - was my body too heavy or was that the material weight of magic? Being heavier makes it harder for me to stand, but I won't give up until he falls in front of me
Panting.
Emilia: never!! […] call me!! […] Of a bitch!!!
Bellard: what-!
I punch him quickly and hard in the face.
Bellard was sunk to the ground and passed out right there.
This gave me the victory and I qualified for the eighth finals.
Later, only 16 participants were left out of more than 30 who came to the championship.
I'm a little anxious about the next opponents.
Round of 16:
We've been fighting for some time now, and all this guy knows how to do is copy my movements, even though I use both swords. His name is Iwadate Yūta, he - somehow - knows how to copy all my movements, knows everything I am going to do before I do it.
Unnecessary moment...
I stop attacking and shout:
Emilia: I give the butt!
He stops too.
Yūta: I copy your movements and not your lines, stupid girl.
I pointed one of my swords at him.
Emilia: what did you call me?
Yūta: I called you stupid.
Emília: you know, if I wasn't the protagonist of this story, it would be at that time that I would fall in love with you.
Yūta: we are not in an anime shonen, stupid girl.
I advance in it again, in addition to attacking with swords, I started to use my legs more to attack - which until then, I was not using - he did not foresee an attack with his legs, I see an opening!
For a brief moment he was off guard.
Maybe I can hit a kick and when he's on the ground, I make him give up the fight.
I'll do it!
I start to put the plan into practice, I try to give another kick in the belly, but, he deflects throwing the body backwards.
Yūta: too naive!
He kicks my shin hard and nudges my forehead. For a brief moment everything went white and a buzzing came to my ears.
I fell hard on the floor. I couldn't react to anything.
Yūta: Didn't your masters teach that you can't underestimate your enemy?
He's right, I underestimated him and now I'm in this terrible situation. He has the advantage, I'm on the ground, helpless...
He puts one foot over my head.
Yūta: give up soon, don't be stupid and give up.
He kneads my face more and more on the floor with his foot. He even stepped on it.
He comes close to my ear and says the following words:
"Give up! Or I will be forced to disappear with your family."
I soon thought that he couldn't do such a thing. He doesn't even know who I am!
"Do you really think I don't have the power for that? Stupid girl..."
At that moment I felt like I had been stabbed by 100 swords.
My heart sank.
A small stone falls from the sky, hitting the boy with an intense force, making him hit the ground.
With some difficulty and staggering a little, I get up, even with blood dripping from my head and mouth.
Eleanore: what just happened?! […]
The boy also got up and walked away as blood dripped from his head.
Emilia: never!! [...] Never!! [...] never!! […] Mention something related to my family!! […] I don't want to hear that!!! [...] not coming from your shitty mouth!!!
Yūta: bastard!! This will not go unpunished!! No way!!!
He starts running towards me. I take a deep breath and let him come.
Eleanore: this is- […]
Stephen: yes! […]
He sends a direct attack on my face. His drill was murderous.
A disturbing smile grows on his face.
Emilia: very slow.
I avoid the attack using one of the swords.
I didn't defend myself from his attack, I did something to the height.
I also attacked.
My attack was so intense that my opponent's sword is thrown away and smashes into the arena wall.
He was really not understanding what had just happened.
Where did all my strength and reaction come from?
Then I kick him in the back and play at a reasonable distance, but I persist and run towards him.
As I advanced on it, a disturbing smile grew on my lips.
I was really experiencing immense pleasure at that moment. I wanted to kill him.
The man in the golden chair - who was watching us from a distance - gets up, and intervenes with a shout:
(…): enough!!!!
Even so, I didn't stop and kept going.
I jump forward and tilt my swords back, then start to spin as I fall towards him.
(…): Someone stop this girl!!!
For a brief moment I could see that boy's head being cut off by my swords.
However, at an absurd speed and without me even realizing it, Eleanore appears before me and my attack intervenes, catching me by the collar of my shirt and dragging me to the other side of the arena.
She pressed me against the wall and put her blade on my neck.
Eleanore: Are you crazy, Emilia?!!
His gaze conveyed despair and anger.
After she appeared, I was healthy and aware of things again.
The battle ended, the judges decided to give the victory to me.
I won the octaves.
After announcing that I was the winner, the man in the golden chair said that all participants deserved at least 1 hour to rest.
And so it was done.
We all went to a locker room, each participant received a separate room for teacher-student meetings.
I'm a little afraid of what Eleanore and Stephen are going to say to me.
On the way to the locker room, Eleanore didn't even look me in the eye, but she looked like someone was furious. Stephen, as calm as ever.
Finally we arrived after crossing a huge corridor, finally in the locker room. Here are benches and lockers. I couldn't expect anything more.
Eleanore: what the fuck did you do?!
Emília: eeh […]
Eleanore: don't give me any "eeh"! Do you realize that you could have been expelled or even killed if you had done that idiocy!!
I bowed my head in shame.
Emília: I'm sorry […] it won't happen again-
Eleanore: of course it won't happen again !! […] Who knows what they could have done with us too! What if they blamed their stupidity on Stephen and me?!
Emily: …
I didn't even know what to say in the face of the situation.
Eleanore: you put us all in danger! Do you know that, Emília?!!
I lift my head and look deep into her eyes with my crying red eyes.
Emilia I-! I'm so sorry!! […] Buaaah!
I started to cry without stopping.
Eleanore: don't cry to me right now! Don't play the retard!!
She slaps me in the face so hard that I fall to the floor still crying.
Stephen finally intervenes Eleanore to continue and moves her away and drags her to the wall.
Stephen: Eleanore, please! She was wrong, but she is no longer a child. She needs to understand right and wrong for herself!
She still angrily takes Stephen's arm off her shoulder.
As I sat on the floor, restless, leaning against the wall while tears were streaming from my eyes.
Eleanore: right! […]
Despite being furious and with a strong desire to slap me more in the face, she did what she loved me, like my Sensei and friend.
She felt she had a duty to protect me, but when she saw that I was in danger, she despaired.
After about 20 minutes of extreme silence, just looking at Eleanore's face in anger and Stephen using the Healing on me.
Me in a chair and she in the front seat, until finally someone decided to say something and break that strange silence.
Eleanore: you've been very lucky so far, I'm afraid of the last two.
I was also surprised to see that it was she who initiated the conversation and not Stephen.
Stephen: Actually, it was very unlucky to face a Moon Light holder just in his first fight, but it proves that you grew up.
With an uneasy tone, I say:
Emilia: In what sense […] did I grow up?
Stephen: I think you can say that anyway, miss. I still remember you sitting on the top of the mountain, asking the Moon to help you.
Eleanore: I think the only thing that really grew was your front steward! In the past you were kind of spiteful! A complete board! Gyaahahaha! […]
She was laughing...
Emilia: hey! This is not funny! Huh [...] Humpf! [...] Ehehehe!
Stephen: now let's get down to business. I heard that your next opponent is used to solving everything with a single attack, so he is likely to give his all in the first attack, better prepare yourself.
Emilia: sure!
I ended up stuttering a little.
Eleanore: I had an idea, but you will have to do whatever I say.
Emilia: right!
A huge and beautiful smile was on her face...
Semi-finals:
I'm already on the field.
I have a vision of my opponent, but he is a little distant.
As Stephen said, he is used to solving everything in a single stroke, and being far away, he will have more force of impact.
I need to use that information against him.
However, while I know about his "weakness", he may also know some weakness of mine.
I need to avoid this. I need to end it.
This battle cannot go on.
It advances towards me with surprisingly fast speed.
But, I know how to get it over with.
I run towards him, throw a sword at one of his legs, he jumps to deflect, with that opening I accelerate my step, throw myself on the ground and hit him in the neck.
With the kick, he flies away.
I run towards him as he tries to get up.
I push him against the floor with one leg and I point the sword at his face.
Emilia: I won.
I won the quarterfinals.
I'm almost there, just two more fights and I'll be able to advance a little more in achieving my dream.
Semi-finals:
If I win this one, I will be one step closer to achieving my dream.
I'll do it!
The boy I was going to face now in this fight is called "Natsui Takeharu" he appears to be a year or two younger than me. He displayed an air of confidence, his way of dressing makes him look like he is a very humble boy. He is also known as "thunder" because everyone in the stands - his teachers and others - shouted that name and they certainly weren't talking about me.
The battle doesn't even begin and when I realize it, my opponent was practically right in front of me, already going to attack.
How did he get to me so fast? I don't know either, but I need to do something.
I defend with both swords but the impact throws me away.
I stop rolling on the ground when driving the sword into the ground. Annoyed, I lifted my head and looked at him with contempt.
Emilia: So this is how you fight? Coward! Taking advantage of your distracted opponent?!
Natsuo: shut up, bitch!
I keep my swords in the scabbard and decide to go for it on the basis of ancient martial arts, in my hand.
Emilia: you don't deserve it.
I advance in it, it does the same. He tries to strike straight at my shoulder. I deviate throwing my body aside.
I take advantage of this, take his hand that holds the sword and give a tremendous kick in the stomach throwing him away and taking his sword for me.
As soon as he fell, the impact made him roll about seven times on the ground, and then get up in anger.
I return your sword to him. He joins it from the floor and stands up.
He does not give up and attacks again with another direct attack. Frustrated, I raised my leg as far as I could and stopped his attack by kicking the surface of his sword and driving it into the ground.
I punch him in the ear and he hits his head on the floor. Blood begins to drain from your head, ear, nose and mouth.
He opens his eyes with fury and grabs my foot.
I make a fist in the face of the situation and still standing, I whisper only to him.
Emilia: reaching the final just by cheating is a failure. You don't even deserve the time your masters wasted on you! Fight me seriously!! Only then will I recognize you as an opponent.
Natsuo: you wouldn't understand!!
Emilia: wouldn't I understand that? […]
I pull away and he lets go of my foot. After a full two minutes of standing just staring at him and refusing "the victory" they were offering me while he was still on the ground.
I waited these entire two minutes for a fair fight.
He finally gets up and stands guard as he grips his sword with both hands.
I move forward, he waits for me to reach a reasonable range for his sword attack to catch me.
Already reasonably close, he makes a horizontal cut.
However, I learned in a fight today that the farther the attack is made from the opponent, the higher the chance of a stronger cut being made.
The impact of my sword with his was so intense that half the blade of his sword breaks. Before my blade cut into his face, I had already prepared a leg attack.
I kick him in the chest, making my blade pass him and throwing him away.
Eleanore: Emília, how do you-? [...]
Emilia: how could I not understand? I spent almost 3 years getting ready for this day […] everything I do is for a peaceful future for everyone.
I walk towards him and point the sword at his face.
Emilia: it won't be someone like you who will stop me. I won.
Natsuo: it's not just you who want to save someone [...] we all dream about it [...]
He mumbles.
Natsuo: I fight for the one I love!
He holds my sword by the blade and his hand starts to bleed.
He pulls my sword away by pushing it aside with his hands and takes advantage of it and punches me in the mouth. Making me take my foot off the floor for a few seconds and then fall flat on my head.
He wastes no time and goes after me. But before he tried anything, I looked to the side and saw one of my swords.
I pick it up and quickly point it up. I ended up closing my eyes with nervousness.
At that moment I could feel something going through my sword.
My hand was shaking, already predicting what had happened.
I opened my eyes and saw that young boy in front of me, with my sword across his chest.
He falls on my side without making a reaction.
I despair. I try to scream for help, but my voice doesn't come out.
I couldn't hear anything or anyone, just a hum.
I dragged myself to him and kept pushing him begging him to wake up.
But words don't come out...
All the hunters who were watching, ran to help.
Eleanore was the first to arrive. She came at me and took me off the boy and dragged me away from him.
I swore she would scold me, but she just hugged me. He held me tight.
It was the first time that I hugged someone in the last few years...
While several other hunters got together and took the boy somewhere, in a hurry.
Meanwhile, Eleanore was shaking as she hugged me.
I look at my hands and they were stained with blood.
I couldn't take it and started crying too, while sinking my face into Eleanore and hugging her with those dirty hands.
What did I do… …?
Time passed and I was still there in the middle of the arena, with Eleanore sitting next to me.
Emilia: what did I do? [...] I [...] I killed that boy [...]
She runs a hand over my head and says, "come here." I let her lead me. She put my head on her legs and said:
Eleanore: he'll be fine.
Emilia: my hands […] They are covered in blood […]
Eleanore: Emília, this happens frequently in fights. You will have to get used to blood on your clothes now that you are one of us.
One of us?... But I lost…
I look at her and Eleanore is amazed to see my eyes filled with tears. She smiles and runs a hand over my hair.
Eleanore: one of us […]
Later that day they gave me the victory of the fight against Natsuo.
Not long after they sent me - in fact demanded - that I fight the finalist.
And I went. I didn't want to go, but after the conversation with Eleanore in the arena, I couldn't say another word.
I entered the arena and saw that my opponent was a masked person.
When the fight started, I didn't move forward, I remained motionless, staring at Natsuo's blood on the floor.
I collapse on my knees and start to cry.
After that they gave victory to my opponent, with the excuse that I had no conditions to fight. So they didn't think it was "fair" that he had to pay for it just because I started crying in the arena.
I have the slight impression that it was all set up to give that worm victory...
But they were right. I was in no shape for another fight.
I was shaken and depressed.
I gave up on my dream for a stupidity that I did ...
I really am a complete idiot...
Stephen and Eleanore took me back to our camp. While Stephen cooked the food while Eleanore tried to cheer me up in every way.
I still hadn't fully recovered from what had happened earlier.
And I will probably never recover.
I couldn't finish my dream, I couldn't avoid the death of that boy.
I'm a complete fool.
Eleanore: hey, don't be like that. These things happen [...] you need to be strong.
With a sad look, I stared at the fire in front of me.
Eleanore: um […] I- I will not leave you […] I will be your Sensei until you become a hunter. Even if it takes another three years.
I heard your sweet and sincere words. As a reaction, I curl up on his shoulder.
While I rested on her shoulder, she was flushed with embarrassment.
Some time passed, It was past midnight and we still hadn't gone to sleep, because Stephen and Eleanore kept talking, while I didn't want to move or say anything.
Until a sound of approaching footsteps could be heard from a specific point in the forest.
A light appears, more and more lights appear pointing at us from a specific point.
The guy behind the lights appears and something finally steals my attention.
It was him... ...
Accompanied by his 6 henchmen who also carried swords with them.
It was him... ...
(…): Good to see you again, Baldric-san.
That old man who sat in that golden chair and lived with a look of contempt whenever I went to fight.
What does he want with me...?
To be continued...