"Ladies and Gentlemen a big round of applause for Yuin Cardamon. We will take a short break while the tournament grounds are cleaned up but our next bout will begin soon, please keep your seats."

"I have to admit, I didn't expect to see this much magic being used," I say slightly nervous over the sight I had just witnessed. The man had used some kind of water magic. He generated a large ball of water and dropped it above his opponent, immobilizing them in moments.

"Well, Cole you should know most people aren't able to become B rank without magic of some kind." Clove says from seated beside me.

We were in a large box near the top of the stadium. I expected this would be considered a bad seat but apparently, the king loved watching it from above.

Oh, right the king is here too. And the queen of course. As well as Franz and his kids. The prince, however, is in the first bracket so he is down with the other contestants in his bracket.

Apparently, this was unusual for the prince, typically he showed up moments before the final round.

That's right he rarely even fought his first bouts. He knew they would bow out so he came only in time for the finals, and each time it was a battle between him and his sister. But this time was different, the prince was different.

I heard rumors from the princess that he personally apologized to over a hundred noble families. I still wonder if it was perhaps an act to further his position for the crown. Now that he thinks I sit on the princess' side he would surely do anything he could to gain more favor. But maybe I'm wrong, maybe he really has been reborn.

Either way, he now sits and waits patiently in the barracks for his first match. The same as the rest of the contenders.

"Any idea who's up next?" I ask after a lull in the Princess and Queens conversation.

"You don't know?" The Franz asks with a surprised look.

"Should I? I really didn't look too closely at the bracket. Why? Is it one of my crew?"

"That's right, its Aqua versus a man named Brute Armstrong." Clove answers.

"That's a beefy name."

"He's a beefy man. Behind you, I would guess he's the strongest man in the country."

"Have you ever fought him?" I ask curious about Aqua's chances. She was strong, we spar from time to time and she's hard to keep up with. She is light on her feet and her spear strike is fierce.

"Yes, once. His muscles aren't what Aqua needs to be wary of, it's his magic."

"Oh? What can he do?"

"He's a rock magic user. When we fought he threw hundreds of boulders at me, he was persistent. If it weren't for my barrier type magic I would have been screwed."

"Barrier type?"

"Oh, I thought I had shown you. Well, I say magic but it's actually a magic tool." She lifts her blouse exposing her belt. On it, I see four stones around an engraved buckle. "For decades it sat in the royal family vault. Nobody knew its purpose. I found it when I was young and after studying it for awhile I figured out how to operate it. It's one of a kind."

She leans closer and looks around to be sure no one is listening. The coast seemed to be clear so she continued. "I asked Aquarou and she said it wasn't her design, so I think it might have been the Spirit of Magic."

"I see, and this was able to protect you from the rocks? How do you think Aqua will fare?"

"Well, it's tough. That fight was years ago, he has surely gotten stronger. I can't imagine whats going to happen. I have seen a bit of Aqua's skill, no matter what this should be an interesting fight."

"I can't help but be anxious though. I hope she will be ok."

"If she can keep up with you surely Brute will be no problem."

Evan who was sitting a half dozen feet away suddenly has a thought. "Say, Princess. You are in the same bracket as Captain Moedy, do you think you will be able to beat him?"

I turn to the princess and smile. To be honest I was curious about that too. All I have is strength. I have a sword for the event but I have never used one in real life. I will likely be awful with it. I have never trained in martial arts, I honestly have no real fighting experience at all. And to top it all off she has a barrier of some kind, and she's a sword expert.

"I think I will have absolutely no chance of standing against him."

""Really?"" Both me and Evan ask with a shared expression.

"Yes, Evan come closer to me." The princess says beckoning him closer to the two of us.

"O…ok." He says with a cocked eyebrow. He steps forwards twice and then emits a pained grunt. He attempts to step again but is practically frozen in the air around three feet from us.

"You see, my barrier is always up. It's how it works. But Cole has no problem standing within it. Honestly, it's terrifying, I have no defense against him."

Oh, that's what that tickle under my nose has been? I thought I was holding back a sneeze. I even tried to force it.

Before I can respond the announcer's voice cuts back in.

"Attention ladies and gentlemen. Match Four of the Prince Bracket will now begin. Introducing our contestants. First on the left side is…"

"The brackets are named after which of the royal family is fighting in them?" I ask quietly as to not distract the King and Queen who were watching intently.

"That's right," Evan replies to my whisper. "You are in the Princess bracket. Though maybe it should be called the 'Captain bracket'."

Right.

"…And, on the left side, a new contender from Lord Carrington's Port Marrow. She is one amongst a small group participating from Marrow. For her debut tournament, let's have a big round of applause for Aqua Moedy."

"Oh God…"

The stands erupt into applause for Aqua, dressed in her typical white button up and green slacks. She smiles around until she spots me. She waves her arms wildly at our box and then jumps onto her side of the ring.

"Cole… Do you remember what we talked about a little over a week ago…"

"Yes I do, don't look at me. The girls registered themselves, it seems Aqua did that on her own accord."

The King, overhearing the conversation smirks and holds up a sheet of paper covered in lines. "She wasn't the only Moedy registered. There is an El Moedy and a Rou Moedy participating as well. And I think I heard that delicious dish over there was made by a chef by the name of Mirna Moedy. I had no idea you brought your family to town with you."

The king laughs at his own words and the Queen seems to smirk to herself as well.

"Well, it's news to me. I suppose I'll worry about that later though the match is starting."

"We aren't done with this conversation." Clove says crossing her arms and turning back to the ring.

Aqua and Brute were currently shaking hands before both turning to the direction of the box and bowing gracefully. I notice the king nod and then the announcer begins again.

"Well then. Let the match begin!"

At the signal both Aqua and Brute step back. Aqua takes a single step that is equal to two of Brute's. She raises her rounded spear and takes a defensive position. This was different than her normal style of just attacking me mercilessly. She appeared to be observing her opponent.

Her opponent, on the other hand, paid little attention to Aqua. After his steps were complete and distance had been made he clapped both of his hands and dropped them to the rock of the ring.

"Rock magic?" I ask towards Clove.

"Mhm, he spreads his mana to the ground and can control its shape to an extent."

As the princess' explanation wraps his magic begins to take effect. But it's not boulders. A thick line extends down the center of the ring. The 'V' shaped crack widens slowly spreading beneath Aqua's defensive stance.

She takes quick action and without letting her defense down, moves a step to the right. This would have been my move as well. But was it the right one I wonder?

The crack continues unperturbed by her movement. Brute glances up at her and smiles as if in check. Suddenly the left side of the ring begins folding like a book. It appeared it would crush them both, but the side where Brute stood had a doorway shape carved through it.

So he would try to crush her? Would that work? She could probably climb up if it weren't such a smooth surface.

But Aqua had another idea. She grips her spear tightly and swings it like a baseball bat, striking the folding earth. A loud crash echoes through the stadium tossing up a massive cloud of dust.

Everyone in the stadium waits impatiently as the dust settles but I figured it was probably long decided already.

Just how much power does she have though? She destroyed stone more than a foot thick.

"That was…?!" Evan starts.

"Incredible," Princess answers with slack jaw over the sight of Aqua standing beside a crumpled Brute.

"So your crew isn't just pretty faces?" The king asks with a wide grin.

"I guess not," I reply with a grin of my own. This really was somewhat unexpected. I didn't know she could put that much power into her spear. We have never really faced a difficult enemy so it difficult to gauge my crew's power. Perhaps Aqua's level 24 is something incredible.

Aqua, still in the ring politely bows to the silent crowd. When she completes the action the whole auditorium burst into roars.

"That was magnificent spear work ladies and gentlemen. Let's give a huge round of applause for that performance. It seems we will again be repairing the ring so please feel free to purchase refreshments in the lobby. Also, to the owner of a white 'Simon's stagecoach,' your horses are still tacked."

~ ~

The next of my crew to fight was El. There were three matches between that time. One featured a man who could shoot a bolt of fire that seems to follow its prey. The princess said it was able to follow magic presence, but I wonder why it wouldn't just turn around and attack the magic user?

There was also a tall older man with rabbit ears. He carried two short blades in either hand and almost seemed to teleport, though I quickly realized he was just extremely fast.

I wonder if his magic is something to do with increasing his agility or maybe strengthening the muscles in his legs. Either way, both seem like difficult opponents moving forward.

"So El is next?" Evan asks glancing at the bracket in the Princess' hands.

"Yeah against, surprisingly, another Elf. Donwyn Eldermaple." The princess answers reading over the bracket carefully. "It should be an interesting match. Donwyn uses a bow and arrow with the help of wind magic. Against El who uses a spear gun powered by a wind magic stone. It's like the past vs future."

"El won't use her spear gun," I explain simply.

""What?"" Both Evan and Clove ask.

"She claimed it was too dangerous against human opponents. She said it would be too easy to kill them on accident."

"Then what will she do? And does she not realize her first opponent is an Elf?"

"She claims to have a plan, Triff helped her."

"Hmm, you realize if she wins this match and then the next…"

"Yes, she will face the Prince in the fourth round."

I had done the math. Honestly, I'm not sure the result. I wasn't able to gauge the prince's strength when we met. But El is strong, she will surely make it to the match. "Well, we cross that bridge when we come to it I suppose."

"Right."

"Now ladies and gentlemen we have some examples of the diversity of our great country in this next round. Please welcome from the Elven forest Donwyn Eldermaple. And for his opponent, an Elf who claims to hail from Marrow. El Moe… Moedy? Wait didn't we have a human named Moedy just a few rounds ago?"

The two elves who had been introduced enter the ring to a thunder of applause and cat calls. El's opponent looked to be in his twenties but I assume that must means he's decades older than the child-like El.

"I feel bad shooting down a bird who has lost her wings," Donwyn says with a sneer towards her. Was this some sort of Elf insult.

"My wings aren't clipped. On the contrary, this name gives me power unlike any you have seen in your backward village."

"Oh?!" Donwyn says becoming enraged by her words.

This was surely El antagonizing her opponent to draw emotion from him. I know for a fact she loves her home dearly, if not for the circumstances of her marriage she would have returned immediately after our rescue.

"Oh, ladies and gentlemen it seems our opponents are ready to start before we are. Then without further ado. Start the round!"

The two move instantly, beginning to circle each other in the square ring. Donwyn draws an arrow from his back and knocks in on his bow. His steps don't pause even a moment. He draws the bow string and releases the arrow a few steps ahead of El.

El continues on her path without avoiding at all. The arrow nears her and she draws a small purple stick from her sleeve. She flicks it once and the arrow drops like a stone.

Donwyn looks at the rolling arrow in disbelief. He shakes his head and recommences his moving assault. He draws another arrow and releases it but again El waves the stick before quickly cutting the distance and gripping the arrow mid drop.

She spins on a heel and lobs the arrow towards the Elf. Its speed catches him off guard and he barely blocks it with his bow. But it was too late. His defense broke for a moment, and that was all El needed.

She sweeps his legs, and before allowing him to fall strikes him squarely in the chest with a kick. He soars for a moment before striking the stadium wall with a heavy thud.

The man collapses to the ground and El after glancing around sends a cute smile and double thumbs up towards the Box where I watch from.

Again a roar from the audience.

"Are they all so…" The king begins to ask with Evan nodding beside him.

"Well, no. Mirna and Alice are relatively 'Normal'. Rou is skilled with a firearm but she too won't be using her main weapon in this tournament for fear of danger." I explain to the two giddy children.

"Forget that Cole, what was that magic tool El was using?" Clove asks shaking my shoulders firmly.

"So it was a magic tool? It must be something Triff designed."

"But for a magic tool to interrupt magic is…" The princess begins thinking about it carefully. Her words have mostly becoming mumbling so I have trouble making out the rest of her words.

"That's right, I heard you hired a magical engineer. So she is skilled? Where is she?"

"Oh, I promised I would introduce her to a friend of mine when we came to the capital so she is currently learning under them."

"I see, I see. And I understand Mirna has commandeered my kitchen staff but what about the other noncombatant, Alice was it?"

"Alice is…" I begin, turning in the direction of the door. "Alice can probably better explain it herself. It doesn't exactly make sense to me."

Alice, overhearing the talk opens the door slowly and steps inside.

"It would be impolite for a slave such as myself to be in the presence of the ki…"

"And as I have explained to her before she isn't a slave and we have your permission to come watch the tournament from the box," I explain filling in the rest of the situation to the king.

"I see. Well no matter how you look at it, this is your fault, Cole."

"Right, it's absur… What?"

"As I said, it's your fault she is acting this stubborn. If you treat her the way she wants this problem wouldn't happen. She wants to be dominated so dominate her." The king says blatantly, tossing a piece of popcorn into his mouth.

"Dad?!" Clove asks with bulging eyes. "What are you saying?!"

"Well, just listen. Alice," The king says putting a large handful of popcorn in his mouth before continuing with half stuffed cheeks. "He rescued you from slavery, Yeah?"

Alice nods but he doesn't allow her to get a word in.

"So then you fell in love with him the moment he rescued you am I right? And he cared for you and was kind. But then he let you free or 'abandoned you', as you see it. He paid attention to you as a slave, but not when you were free, so you have no choice. And now he's even rejecting your attempts to get close to him again. That must be painful, and you seem to be putting up so much effort." The king turns to me who is speechless. "She doesn't want to stand in the hallway, you're terrible. Treat her as your slave and command her to sit down beside you and watch."

Is that it? It is, isn't it?

Ah, I am terrible, aren't I?

This person who knew nothing about us had understood Alice's action even better than I had. "Alice I'm sorry I had no idea I…"

"Wrong." The king says firmly.

"Wha… Oh, I see. Alice, I command you to watch the tournament. Disobeying this order will result in severe punishment."

The Queen who was watching the exchange with a smile finally pipes in. "No, no. See that's just encouraging her to disobey. She wants the severe punishment the most."

"Mom, dad? Who's side are you on?" Clove asks with a quivering lower lip.

~ ~

"Great work you two," I say patting the two champion's heads. Now that the first round of the Prince bracket had finished it was my turn. The results were mostly to be expected, El and Aqua, of course, won their rounds, same with the prince. Apparently, there were a few other upsets but I paid little attention to the other matches.

This should be fun. I have never fought against magic before. And it seemed both Aqua and El enjoyed their bouts.

But I must say, the pressure on my performance is high. I couldn't live it down if I fall in the first round.