“Hey Fred, you thinking of attending the schools’ Tournament?” Rudy enquired.

“Yeah, I want to try for the 1v1 Sword and board, infants’ tournament, what about you?”

“This is our first year, we are not really capable of competing in the junior bracket, maybe next year though?” the tournament matches for the lower years were split between the first 3 years being infants and the second 3 years being juniors. “You must share your secret, how are you so strong to ski 2 years for combat classes?”

“If I shared my secret, I wouldn’t have the advantage now, would I?”

“That’s true.”

“Are you going to watch any of the matches?”

“I’ll watch yours, but I also wanted to watch the 20-man and 60-man battle,” Rudy responded.

“Same as me” Delphine responded.

“Thanks, guys, I also wanted to watch the big teams matches, so I’ll join you for that.”

___

Later that week, Fred handed in his application and was listed into the preliminary rounds, he would have to face 4 candidates to make the cut. In the tournament, each person would face off against someone from the opposing school in the first round. Then it would be knock out rounds, until the top. He will face his first opponent for the preliminary rounds next week.

“Hey, Fred, the list is out for next week for who you are facing,” Rudy said, they were in class 5 minutes before it started,

“O, do you know who I’ll be facing?”

“Yeah, it’s a 3rd-year student from Normandie, the names Gerald, I think there is something fishy going on, he made it to the tournament last year and got 5th out of 32”

“Gerald, I’ve come across him in combat classes, he’s quite good.”

“You think this is a ploy Rudy,” Delphine was the one to ask.

“Isn’t it obvious, Fred’s caused a ton of fights against Normandie, and we’ve been winning most of them, it’s probably not that hard for them to tamper with the listings.”

“If it’s so easy why don’t parents try and get their kid’s easy opponents in the preliminary rounds.”

“If the kids are not good, they would prefer them knocked out in the preliminary rounds where there’s no audience, rather than have them make a fool of themselves on stage. It would be so easy to be suspicious if one of the contestants was a huge flop.”

“I see your point, but I’ve thought Gerald a few times, in sparring sessions, he doesn’t have a clear advantage against me for someone to put in the effort. He might have the most wins between us, but the last two times, I slightly came out on top.”

“Maybe he started to hold back in the spars, giving you a false sense of security.”

“Could be.”

___

Another week passed and it was time for the first preliminary round, if Fred lost, he would still participate in the other 3 matches, and then candidates would be drawn from the people with the most wins.

Rudy, Delphine as well as toby and Ronald came to watch Fred’s match. Jackson and a few others from the Aquitaine families were participating in the juniors matches in different categories, but he was the only one for infants in sword and board, Ronald was going into sword and board as well and his junior match would be happening after Fred.

Fred met up with Gerald and the fat kid, below the stage.

“Well, well well, if it isn’t the school Bastard.” The fatty was the first to run his mouth.

“Your entire existence is to make others look better by comparison,” Fred responded while pointing at him,

This caused the guy to turn red with rage and embarrassment. While behind him Fred could hear bursts of laughter. Fred noticed that the insults used in this world were tame by his standards, and so he had a knack for causing a lot of shock with his words.

Even Gerald was trying not to smirk at this statement. “Are we going to fight or are we just here to run our mouths?”

Fred Gestured towards the stage, “Ladies first.”

Gerald chose to ignore Fred’s jab and just walked up anyway.

Fred followed and the Referee told them to get into positions, the contestants wore an iron helmet, iron chest plate, strapped around the back with leather and had a round wooden shield and wooden short sword.

Gerald had his sword next to him on full display and his shield to the side on his left,

Fred had his shield on his left hand but pushed forward to hide his body and sword. This wasn’t a traditional way of fighting in this world, but a practice, albeit with rectangle shields, with the Romans from old earth. Furthermore, Fred’s shield was bigger on him compared to Gerald, even though they were the same size, allowing Fred to pull it off more easily.

This had caused Gerald to hesitate a bit, he couldn’t see Fred sword and didn’t know where it would swing. But he charged in any way with an overswing.

Fred lifted his shield to parry and gave two stabs with his sword, Gerald had managed to block the attacks but caused his left hand to become unsteady, giving Fred another stab at his chest, while he was wearing the chest plate, Gerald could feel the impacts and it had winded him a little, Fred followed up with a shield bash to Gerald’s shield causing even more unsteadiness.

Fred had gone on the offence here, he wasn’t looking to do any fancy moves, just go in for the kill as quick and as fast as possible. Gerald was slightly panicking here, Fred normally wasn’t like this, cold, ruthless, and calculating during spars, but that was because Fred was more interested in testing out technics he learned at school.

Fred gave another 3 strikes before he managed to rest his sword on Gerald’s neck. “Winner Frederick de Ansul.” The Referee called out, causing Gerald to drop his sword. There were beads of sweat dripping down his neck, Fred didn’t look like he would stop until right at the last second.

Fred shelved the wooden sword and offered Gerald a handshake, Gerald took it and then they left the stage towards their separate group.

“That was amazing, Fred. Where did you learn to fight like that, it doesn’t match the normal stances?” Rudy was pumped after watching that match.

“Haha… I just erm… something I came up with.”

They stayed till Ronald won his first match as well and then it was home time.

___

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, you couldn’t beat that little bastard, do you know what I spent to fix the match, well not much, but that’s beside the point.” Percy was pissed.

“His fighting style is unique, I haven’t come across it before, it had the upper hand against the normal ones we practised,” Gerald argued back, Percy might be older, but Gerald didn’t have to take crap from him.

Percy Glared at him, but dropped the matter, “Fine whatever, but how do we deal with him now, he has been nothing but a pain to us since he came here.”

“Why do you care, you’ll be moving over to seniors next year, and we will be getting Fresh blood joining, it should be enough to even the numbers.”

“That’s beside the point, won’t it look like I’m running away if I cannot retaliate against him once before then,”

“Then just challenge him,”

“He’s 4 years younger than me. How would I do that without losing face?”

“I can’t help you there. Actually, get the fatty to pick a fight with him.”

“He would lose, how’s that resolve anything.”

“You can come in to protect him, you’re just looking out for your family members.” Gerald shrugged.

“Your right, but we can’t make it obvious that Jamie started the fight, at least not out of the blue.”

“You up for that Jamie,” Gerald looked at the fatty.

“Won’t I get hurt,” Jamie said with worry.

“Fuck Jamie, he’s already punched your face a few times, and would probably do it again without this plan, what’s one more if you get to see him beaten”

“Ok, I’ll do it,” Jamie said with vigour, him seeing that bastard get beaten was worth receiving another punch.

“So, when do we do it, I’d suggest after the preliminaries and before the tournament, you might be able to knock him out of that,” Gerald offered.

“Yes, that would be the best time, bring all his efforts to nought.”

___

Fred had won the rest of his matches, in a similar fashion and was now onto the tournament. It wouldn’t start till Tuesday next week, but the opposing school would arrive here tomorrow on a Saturday.

“What do you think of your chances?”

“Well, our school has become familiar with my fighting style, I was struggling with the last match a bit, but hopefully I can get some easy wins against the other school. Before having to adapt.”

Fred, Rudy, and Delphine were walking through the corridor while chatting.

“Do you think you could get to the top?” delphine asked.

“Hopefully, I at least think I could get top 4.”

“Ha, you won’t be able to make it past the first round.”

They heard an annoyingly familiar voice from upfront, it was the fatty. Fred just stared at him without comment.

“You got lucky in the preliminary rounds, but everyone will see how much of a loser you will be on stage.”

Fred still didn’t comment and continued to stare. This got Jamie flustered.

“What, what are you looking at?”

“I have no idea.” He then turned to Rudy, “Do you know what I’m looking at?”

Rudy and Delphine were also just looking at Jamie, “I have no idea mate.”

This got Jamie upset and ran over with his fist raised “You bastard!”

At this moment Percy and Gerald were around the corner. “Idiot, I said when he was alone,” he commented to Gerald.

“I’ve rarely seen Fred alone, this might have been our best chance, to be honest.”

“Alright, as long as he doesn’t screw it up.”

As Jamie got within striking distance Fred just jabbed him in the face, dropping him to the floor, Jamie didn’t have much experience and had left himself open for that, even if his intention wasn’t to be hit. Jamie was on the floor with a bloody nose and started crying, a lot more than usual, causing a scene.

At this moment Percy and Gerald stepped out, “Oi, you little shit, I’m going to beat you for that,” and he ran over to engage with Fred. Rudy quickly whispered to delphine, and she ran off, Gerald tried to give chase but was stalled by Rudy.

These weren’t a match up either Fred or Rudy could win. Fred was putting up quite the defence, but he could feel the difference in power from Percy. Most of Percy’s swings were parried by Fred’s guard as he took a boxer’s stance, but even then, he managed to get one into Fred’s gut and another two to the face causing him to bleed from his mouth and nose.

Rudy was doing much worse. He had grabbed Gerald in a hold and took his head to the side when Gerald tried to go after Delphine. But this gave Gerald free rain to hammer his back. Rudy didn’t last long until he slumped to the floor at which Gerald resorted to kicking him in the stomach as Rudy tried to cling onto his legs. This had prevented Gerald from getting a good swing, so the power had lessened from each kick.

Fred was now backed into the wall trying to dodge and block, his nose and eyebrow had started to bleed at this point as well, but he managed to clip Percy in the jaw when he let his guard down.

This had only further infuriated him. So much so that he didn’t notice the punch to his left cheek, this had spun him away, he was shocked, did Fred suddenly gain strength, he didn’t think much into it and turned back to continue when he was suddenly hit again, dropping him to his butt.

This time he noticed a new person there, it was Jackson, he had rushed in without Percy paying attention and quickly got the upper hand. Jackson went in, not giving Percy chance to recover.

‘Shit what is Gerald doing,’ he rolled out of the way of Jackson’s next attack and got to his feet in time to parry another, this managed to buy him enough time to glance over to Gerald who was being hounded by Ronald, and Jamie who was stuck with Delphine. ‘Fuck this isn’t going according to plan’ he managed to scoot over to Jamie, scaring off Delphine and shouting over to Gerald, “Retreat.”

“O no you don’t” Jackson tried to keep them, but Percy was able to hold him off for Jamie to get to his feet and Gerald to draw in close. Allowing them an uncontested withdraw.

Jackson went over to Fred, who had slumped down the wall and was in a daze. He crouched down to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “How you doing kid.”

“Just a flesh wound” he smiled, showing off his bright red bloody teeth.

Ronald and Delphine had rushed over to Rudy, who looked like he received the worst of the beating.

At this time a few more members of their family rushed over, and they were able to pick up Rudy and Fred and took them to the medic room.

___

Fred and Rudy had fallen asleep as soon as they hit the ward beds.

“How is it, doctor?” Jackson asked.

“Well, they should be able to recover fine, although Rudy would require a longer stay.”

“Will this affect Fred’s participation in the competition?”

“Luckily, he knew how to protect himself well, despite the difference in strength, the bruises he received suggest his attacker was aiming to knock him out of the competition, but he should be able to make a full recovery by Monday.”

Jackson let out a sigh of relief, the competition was a big thing to the kids, and he knew that Fred was aiming for the win, to not be able to participate from this would be upsetting. He’d have to get Percy back for this, but Percy could hold his own, in a one on one. He would have to resort to getting Percy off guard to retaliate.

___

It was currently Sunday, Isabella was going to surprise Fred by showing up to his game to watch and had already entered the city, but when she heard of the fight Fred got in and that he was currently in the school hospital bed, she rushed over.

Fred was chatting with Rudy in the next bed, laughing along, when they heard rushed footsteps coming in,

“Fred, Rudy.” It was Isabella, she came over and hugged Fred, and then Rudy. “Are you two boys alright.”

Rudy was shocked to receive a hug as well but appreciated it.

“Yeah, mom, it was just a scuffle”

“Yes, Aunty, we’re ok,”

“No, you are not, look at you.” They were both bandaged up and Fred had a black eye, albeit was nearly gone compared to on the night of the incident. And Rudy was bandaged around his chest and head. “Where’s that Little shit, I’m gonna rip his spine out.” She exclaimed with more vindication than Fred had seen from her in the combined 6 years he’s known her.

“Mom, it was just a kids fight, if you get involved it would just escalate the situation” Fred wasn’t sure if her words were metaphoric or that she would actually do such a thing. And quite honestly, didn’t want to find out,

“Kids fights doesn’t result in a hospital stay for several days.”

“Mom, I need to resolve this myself, I can’t have you fighting my battles for me.”

Isabella put on a puppy cry face, “Do you not need mommy anymore?”

“That’s… not what I meant”

“Right, so tell me who he is.”

Fred let out a sigh, while Rudy burst out laughing, which caused his chest to hurt, and he started coughing.

Fred looked over. ‘Serves you right.’

“How come you are here anyway, I only got hurt 2 days ago and you shouldn’t have received the news so fast.”

“Silly, this is your first tournament, I came to watch. I had just arrived this morning when Delphine had told me.”

Delphine had stepped out from behind the wall, she didn’t want to be a part of such an embarrassing scene, “Hi,” Fred could tell she was trying to suppress her laughter from his mother’s antics and shot her a glare.

“Well, I’m being discharged tomorrow, thanks for coming to watch, mom.”

Isabella let on a grin and hugged Fred, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”