The captain had woken them up, to prepare for the king's arrival. They got dressed and went to the dining hall, where they took their breakfast and waited for the king. Everyone looked a bit anxious, as they sat down waiting for him, only the Captain and the vice looked normal, but if they were pretending, then they were doing a good job at it.
Three hours had passed and there was still nothing. Most of them were already sleeping, but their eyes sprang open as they heard a loud noise outside. They all ran outside only to see a blue magic circle, looking at the magic circle, Malcon remembered Eckhard, the man who had teleported them to meet the king for the first time.
Speaking of the devil, Malcon muttered under his breath. Eckhard walked out of the magic circle, his blue hair still tousled in a messy yet stylish way, his blue eye glowed more than the magic circle itself.
Following him closely was the dwarf of a man. His cold deep sea blue eye scanned them as he stepped out of the magic circle, as though he was trying to sense any threat, after a while he raised his aristototic face of an archbishop and stepped aside. The king stepped out of the magic circle with a warm smile on his face.
"You've all grown up" he said, smiling. And they all bowed on seeing him.
They were asked to go and train while Ecard and the dwarf prepared the battlefield. The captain and the vice had taken the king to a private place where they were probably discussing Sam.
After about an hour, the vice captain called them all to assemble in front of the house.
"I will be sending you all to an arena where the duel will take place," Eckhard, raising his hand, and a blue magic circle slowly appeared.
"Perfect Eckhard" the king commented on seeing the magic circle.
"Thank you, your grace," Eckhard said, bowing. "If it pleases your grace," he added, stretching his hand toward the portal.
"I'll meet you at the arena, kids," the king said, still wearing a warm smile on his face." And I am expecting a lot," he added, walking into the magic circle, and the dwarf followed suit.
"Please, you will all be entering one by one" Eckhard instructed.
As Malcon entered the portal, he saw himself standing beside a chair, with the number fifteen embedded in it.
"Malcon take your seat" bane called out.
Malcon was still staring at the structure of the arena. The arena was bigger than what he expected, and the chairs went around, enclosing the arena.
"It's a nice place" bane commented as Malcon sat down.
"Very impressive," Malcon added.
A few minutes later, Ecard appeared inside the arena. "Hope you like the place?" he asked, smiling, and they all clapped and cheered.
"The rules are very simple" he said as a small box slowly appeared in his hand. "Inside this box, contains the number of the various seats you're sitting on" he said, as he slightly lifted his hand and the ball floated In midair, going up to where the king sat.
"His grace would randomly select two of any paper in the box, and if the number of the seat you're sitting on is called, you make your way to the arena," he said, arranging his tie.
"Listen carefully," Eckhard's voice echoed.
"Only two rules will apply in this tournament. One, once your opponent says yield, you cease to attack.
Two, never kill your opponent." he instructed, with a cold voice. "With that understood, may we begin."
"Candidate number five, and candidate number three, the king called out.
Diana slowly walked into the battle arena. She was a tall girl with short red hair that barely passed her neck, and her thick red eyes glued with determination to win.
The second girl walked into the battleground, not looking so determined as Diana. Susan was an average girl with black hair that lay down in waves across her back, she had watery black eyes and looked as though she wanted to forfeit the match. As if she knew her faith if the match was to commerce.
She walked toward the wall of weapons that had appeared in front of her, and selected two small daggers, while Diana selected two long spares.
They both stood at a measurable distance, with Eckhard standing in between them. He slowly turned at both the opponents. "Begin" he signalled the match to commerce as be vanished, leaving them
To fight.
Diana quickly conjured up a fireball and sent it toward Susan. On seeing the fireball, her brain jogged back to reality, as she swiftly evaded the fireball.
Malcon was very familiar with both Susan and Diana. Diana's was the third-best fire mage among them and equally well skilled. Susan, on the other hand, was also a fire mage, but less specialized compared to Diana. But with both of them as diagon, their fire element was practically useless, and this would probably be a battle of skills, Malcon assumed.
Not wanting Susan to stand on her feet, she conjured up another fireball and shot it at her. Still of balance, Susan saw the fireball coming toward her, knowing fully well that avoiding the fire was impossible, she quickly shot a fireball, letting the two fire collide.
And out of the black smoke that hovered in midair, from the coalition of the fires, she met Diana's cold gaze. A gosh of air wave escaped from Susan's mouth as Diana's fist made contact with her stomach, sending her crashing through the sand.
Opening her palm, Diana shot out another fireball that chased after Susan who was still crashing through the sand. On seeing the fireball, Susan crossed her hand, bracing herself for impact.
As the fireball came in contact with Susan, it seemed as though Susan had vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Diana was not the only one surprised at how Susan had suddenly vanished; she quickly attempted to turn and scan the battle arena, But was stopped as Susan's legs wrapped her neck and her dagger pointed closely at Diana's neck. Not minding her condition, Diana mustered all the strength she had and jacked Susan off her body, slamming her to the ground.
Seeing that Diana could not be easily threatened, Susan shot out a fireball, Diana quickly moved her face upward and the fireball went past her. Within the split seconds she was distracted by the fireball.
Susan twisted off the floor and with her left leg kicked Diana, slamming her head to the ground.
She gave Diana some space, trying to catch her breath.
Diana slowly stood up from the ground, dusting the sand off her face. Not wanting Diana to attack first, Susan ran towards her with her two daggers clenched tight in her fist. On seeing this, Diana pulled out both her spears standing on guard.
As Susan got closer, Diana threw one of her spares to Susan who was at full speed, hoping to get her unbalanced. But she swiftly evaded the spare. Getting alerted, she grabbed her spare firmly and spined it around her to avoid Susan from attacking.
On seeing this, Susan twisted herself In midair,
Away from the range of the spare. Still In midair she took a deep breath and on opening her mouth came a large burst of flame burning Diana.
Diana quickly rolled out of the flame, throwing what was left of her burned spare to the ground.
Fire erupted from both her hands and feet as she was propelled with great speed towards Susan, who was still in midair. Susan's eyes widened in surprise as in split seconds Diana was standing in front of her, with her hand clenched into a fist.
Channelling her strength to her hand, she punched Susan's face. A large amount of air wave escaped as Diana's fist made contact with Susan's face, and Susan was sent flying through the battlefield.
Not giving her any breathing space, Diana with her flaming feet chased after Susan, who was crashing through the sand.
Susan, ignoring the pain she felt, tried to get a hold of herself before Diana closed on her. Fire erupted from her feet as well to break the fall. After a few attempts, she finally took control of herself and, with her flaming feet, propelled upward trying to avoid Diana.
Diana chased after her through the sky, stretching her hand, she grabbed Susan's left leg and with great strength threw her down to the ground.
Wanting to end the match with a single blow, Diana's arm slowly turned red, as if covered by flame.