Author's note: I am so sorry about how long it's been, my life is a comedy skit, things get in my way. This chapter is a little short, but at least it's here right. Right? By the way, it's not edited yet. I feel sheepish.

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"It would be foolish to start fighting in this room, but your highnesses have realized this already, I'm sure. So I suggest a move to one of the practice fields."

Clover just called them out didn't he? He gets up to do just as he said. I'm right behind him, but everyone else takes a moment before they follow.

Now at the field, everyone is getting ready to fight. Adalric and Jacob both have classic long swords, Ferris and Sevi are using scimitars, and Melody is wielding a staff.

"Clover, you're the only one here that doesn't use a weapon. I told you that you should train with one."

He adjusts his glasses annoyed.

"I don't need one. More importantly, how are we going to determine the strongest?"

"Through fighting?"

"Battle royal? Round robin? We are obviously fighting, but what style of fighting are we going to use?"

I didn't think of that. The others hadn't either. Round robin makes the most sense, but compatibility is important, so the luck of the draw would matter a lot. A battle royal would make people team up, so that isn't good for individual strength. Individual fights for every matching would take too long, but they sound like the most fun. Hmm...

"It will be round robin of course. It's the fairest way to decide."

Adalric really like to take charge. If he's like this all year it's going to get annoying.

"There are seven of us, round robin only works with an even number."

"That just means that one person will fight one less battle. We can draw lots to decide who fights whom and which one of us gets to skip a battle. After all, luck is a type of strength."

I bet it's Clover who'll get to skip a fight, he's always super lucky, I don't know why. Surprisingly, Sevi is the one who provides some paper and a pen to make the lots. Clover wrote down the pairings. This is how it ended up:

Melody vs Sevi

Chaise vs Ferris

Clover vs Jacob

Adalric vs no one

It's a bad matchup for Clover, that surprises me. I'm not actually sure who will win that battle. Adalric got lucky instead I guess. Hmmm, so I get to fight Ferris first? That's not too bad, at least it's not Clover or Sevi, I've defeated Clover several times and Sevi is too unstable to really put up a good fight.

Melody and Sevi move into the marked area of the field, the rest of us stay where we are.

"I'll be the referee~"

Everyone looks at me in surprise for a moment before nodding. They can already tell that I am the least partial of the group and we need a ref. They give a polite combat bow to each other before getting into their stances. Sevi settles into a crouch with her sword turned edge up. Melody stands ramrod straight, her staff held out firmly in front of her. These two are way to tense in their stances and their combat will suffer for that, but now isn't the time to tell them that, is it. They both look at me and nod before returning their attention to each other.

"Ready~? Begin!"

Sevi charges forward with her sword jut out in front of her, chanting to shape the mana building on the ground she passes. Melody starts chanting too, but stays where she is. Melody's magic is completed first, two separate serpents of fire and water respectively appear beside her and strike out at Sevi. Sevi jumps and flips around the fire and slides under and past the water.

That was amateurish for both of them. Those snakes only moved in a straight path, of course they're going to be dodged. Sevi's movements are hesitant and exaggerated, she wasn't ready for anything to change in her surroundings and could have easily been taken out if anything did change. She didn't even stick the landing to her flips, I saw a wobble.

I see Ferris smirk at Adalric, who's face flickers to cold indifference before controls it and is back to his expected look of 'warm concern'. Clover and Jacob are just normally watching the fight.

Three steps out of weapon range from Melody, Sevi's magic bursts into action, literally. Large vines burst out of the ground and attack Melody in partner with Sevi's swordplay. Melody suddenly spins her staff and begins to wield it defensively, smashing it into the vines to change their trajectory and block Sevi's sword. A few vines lash her put none do real damage. Sevi knows it and becomes angry that she isn't landing any real hits, I doubt Ferris's appreciative whistle helped her temper. She fights more fiercely, rage giving her strength and speed, but stealing her strategy. Melody is hard pressed and nervous because she is failing to block more and more attacks. She is beginning to panic, but she has the advantage. Her spell hasn't ended, her serpents are coming back. The two serpents went far on their first charge and Melody is distracted, so it took them a few minutes to get back. The two serpents between two twine together and form a smaller, weaker version of the the steam dragon Melody displayed for the entry test. It hits Sevi full in the back and she screams falling to the floor, her vines crumble around her.

I decide to make the call before anything else can happen.

"Battle end! Melody wins!"

Melody relaxes and the peanut gallery come forward and stand next me. Then Adalric and Ferris pass me and crouch next to Sevi to check on her. I look behind me and signal Shiva and Asura to come over here, they were having an epic training battle against each other which no one else noticed. Shiva was fighting defensively while Asura attacked. It was a much better fight than Melody and Sevi's. I gesture for them to go to Sevi, I called them over so that they could take her to the infirmary.

"We should take her to the infirmary, her back is badly burnt."

Adalric states the obvious. Ferris is mildly concerned for his sister, but notice the wolves and, instead of saying anything, helps them pick her up.

"Is she going to be alright Ferris?"

I didn't really get a close look at the burns.

"Yeah, my sister will be fine...

He shakes his head, let's out a breath, and his attitude clears up.

"We should get back to the fights. You and I are up next right?"