Chapter 19 – Some elites are frightening

Fights continued and I must say, some of them were really good. I never even expected certain uses of elements like using fire to create glass wall, surrounding opponent with sand water and creating statue and many more. I know that using your surroundings to your advantage is main point in fights but some guys really took it to heart but now, I learnt from this and will do the same.

There are hundred of us and 50 fights in round one. Some fight took a minute some 15 minutes so we are already sitting for more than an hour but thrill is still there. To learn from your opponent’s fight is something I always knew I will follow and with my shadow training I can use this chance to its fullest.

Finally, after dozen fights, Irel was chosen and went to stage. His opponent was earth mage. It was woman and when fight started, she created several earth spikes but Irel dodged all of them and when he came closer to her, he slashed but she parried with earth shield but he used his fire element and destroyed the wall and just put his sword to her neck. It was fast.

Then it was Sani’s turn and she just wrapped her hands into fire and pummeled her opponent.

Lili’s fight was much more interesting and even before the fight. When she was chosen, commentator said she was ranked 3rd in test and there was uproar about one of the best’s fight. It looks like the best three are worshipped during the fights and whenever one of them goes to fight they are mentioned and they rank is told too.

But that still wasn’t the best. When she went on stage, I looked at Voltan and I could see he was holding not jumping and waving banner with ‘My cute Lili, WIN!’. Of course there wasn’t such banner, I hope or else she would die from embarrassment but he is capable of that. He really is doting parent. You could see it in his eyes. I wonder how his wife is. I would want to meet Lili’s mother. If she is the same as Lili than it would be nice opportunity for some teasing. Lili is the best for that.

I went too far from the subject. Anyway, when fight started, she was immediately hit with several water bullets. They strength is not much and they can’t penetrate your body at her opponents level but they are quite fast. Everyone thought she was defeated right then but she surprised all of them. I wasn’t because I trusted Lili. She wrapped herself in wind tornado and all bullets’s trajectory was changed. Without even giving change for her opponent, she fired air blast and he was thrown directly at the wall and lost consciousness.

After her fight, there was a break to eat, drink and just stretch our legs. Sitting for so long would hamper fights. All four of us went together and just enjoyed ourselves but we were called to back to our seats and fights started again.

After several fights rank 2 stepped to the arena and it was none other than the guy who was number one in Enchanting. I thought his name was Shank? Maybe it’s his alias? No wonder when headmaster told the name of rank number 2 I did not know it was him. So Fulminas Moonlock, show us what you can do.

I regret I said that. He was a water mage and had on himself enchanted ring and his attacks were devastating. Power in those could not be compared to the others. His opponent surrendered even before any attack hit him. It was the shortest fight and I can’t blame him. From what I saw his opponent never had the chance.

47th fight was mine and my opponent was strong one. It was wind mage and when we were called to the arena, I immediately knew that he was one of the best that I saw today. We both waited for countdown to end and then our fight started.

I want to get better in close combat so I did not use any weapon and just stood there. He started to attack me with wind blades but I just dodged them without any problem. I could attack him but I did not and just tried to perfect my movements for next fights. Now there is lot of us so lot of time to recuperate and get back stamina so perfect chance to get experience in fight.

I slowly got closer and closer to him but then he grinned at me and started seriously fight. Four mini tornadoes surrounded me and started to close on me. I wanted to jump over them but above me were several wind balls, creating mine field. With no place to go, I surrounded my body in mana and jumped straight to the mine field, trying to dodge as most of them as I could. I could shoot them with mana balls but it would lose the point of training my movement skills.

Thank god they were static and could not move or else I would definitely loose. My mana protection just strengthens my skin but it still hurt but nothing I could not handle and I got just few bruises and some cuts that were bleeding but nothing serious. I finally got out but because I was in the air I could not do anything against wind blade that went straight at me, not even my strengthen skin could stop that but I knew something like this could happen and did something simple. I shot mana ball directly between four tornadoes and when it hit the ground, huge explosion occurred and the wind blade and I were hit by shock wave and it did not hit me and wind blade disappeared. My opponent was thrown several meters back and sand screen was around him but I could see his rough position as I was still falling.

I quickly reached to him, sand hurting my eyes, and as I was directly before him, he could not even understand anything and I hit him directly at the stomach, making him vomit and before he could invoke magic, I hit him with my leg and he went flying, losing consciousness in the process.

The fight did not go as planned because I had to use my mana and was hurt but it was good experience of how to fight while surrounded. The guy was by no way weak because using so many magic at the same time is not something anyone can do but I was his opponent and to make me use mana is commendable.

After fight I was healed with help of the staff members and went to my seat. All three were worried about me but I did not pay any mind to it and just calmed them down.

Next two fights were boring but the last one was something else. Rank number one was chosen and the guy had red hair, lean, muscled body and was definitely handsome but his eyes looked bored. When fight started though, he was like ferocious beast and without using magic and with just his body, he decimated his opponent. This guy is dangerous was my first thought. His opponent was even stronger than mine and he defeated him much more easily than I.

Fights ended and only 50 of us were left. Commentator started to talk once again.

“Ladies and gentleman. First round ended with spectacular fights. We all hope you enjoyed today’s fights and tomorrow will be even more hyped up as we will see 50 best students in action. Now for the students. Because of the number of fights in the first round, second round will be held tomorrow but because there won’t be so many fights, round three will be held too and on the third day the winner will be decided. Use this chance to prepare yourself because it won’t be so easy anymore. Now everyone, applause for our fighters.”

Huge cheers were heard and slowly the stadium quieted and we were sent home.

You probably think than in the arena nobles wouldn’t cheer and you are right. In the arena were our upper classmen because those in first and second years are not allowed to be here and even know about this tournament, same as we did not know it until the start of the third year.

When I got back to the dorm, Alice looked at every inch of my body to see if I was hurt but calmed down when she saw I was okay. We ate together and when she went home, I meditated and used shadow training to review all today’s matches, especially against rank 1. I spent the whole night like this and the day of the second round started.

While I was meditating, I understood another part of status. It’s about levels. Level is tied to your stats not in a way that it will increase them but in a way that it will increase their limit. What I mean by it is for example that at lvl 1 all your stats can reach only 200 and at lvl 2 300 and so on but every person is different and maximum isn’t fixed for all stats so in STR you can have 400 at max while lvl 1 but in AGI only 50. This changes many things. You cannot just train your body at the same place but travel and get experience to level up too. I figured it out when I was reminiscing about days of my hellish training with master. There are many things hidden in simple words if you think about them deeply.

(Author: I’m really proud of this idea. Never saw something like this in any novel I read.)

I woke up from my meditation because I could hear someone opening door to my room. The one who appeared was Alice. She came to me and as I stood up, without any chance to react, she hugged me.

“Please, be careful. I know you don’t want to make me worry and so you are hiding your state but please, don’t go too far. Please. *sob sob*”

As she started to cry, I started to pet her head and hugged her too. We stayed like that for some time and when we stopped hugging, I held Alice’s shoulders, with smile stared directly into her eyes and said.

“Don’t worry. I would never do anything that would hurt you.”

This is lie. It’s true I don’t want to see her cry but I will do anything I can in fights, no matter what will happen to me and I still have my trump card and even if I will be hurt, I will be healed after fight and death cannot occur so easily either so she won’t find out but woman intuition is scary. Trust me. I know thanks to my little sister. She was always able to find me and whenever I asked how, that’s what she told me.

Alice stopped crying and with firm expression, gripped her hands and trusted me. God how I want to tease her so why not?

“Alice, will I get something if I win? Something sweet, warm and soft that is mostly done at cheeks between friends and at lips between lovers?”

As I said that, she pondered for a while until she got red as strawberry and just with almost invisible movement, she nodded.

I was just joking. I knew she would probably nod but I need to fix that.

“Alice, are you misunderstanding?”

As I said that, she looked at me, still embarrassed.

“I will be the one who will do the part.”

She blushed once more and it really worked. I never expected it will go as I wanted. My plan is to make her close her eyes and slowly come closer to her while holding her hand and when our breaths can be felt at each other’s skin, kiss her hand. I just said I wanted kiss but never said where. I just said how it is mostly done and not how I will do it. I really love to tease but I won’t do something like kissing her at cheek or lips. Something like that will be done only with woman I will truly love. I swore that long ago.

I hope I will really meet a woman who will be able to make me feel love. With my condition it won’t be easy but I still hope.

I’m sorry, I was just reminiscing a little about the past.

“Let’s eat something, Alice.”

We both smiled at each other, embarrassment long gone and I even told her about first day of the tournament. She looked eager and excited but when it came to my fight, she almost cried due to her worry about me but never said anything else but I could see she was holding it in. She is really a woman I wish to protect, just like little sister.

When we were done, I bid my farewell and went to the stadium. My fan club was once again waiting for me, even though I said not to do it but what is done, is done so I just went to them.

When I reached them a girl, who was in her second year spoke to me.

“Hello, Risiel senpai. I am president of your fan club. We never met before but I’m glad to meet you.”

She was a cute girl, with light blue hair, like sky and light green eyes.

“It’s nice to meet you too. I’m worried I never heard your name before?”

“I’m sorry, my name is Stela Fiera.”

“Stela Fiera, cute name for a cute girl.”

I really meant it but when I said it, all girls froze and looked at her, with jealousy in their eyes but at the same time, they looked at me and I knew problem is coming.

They all ran to me and started to introduce themselves to me like a herd of hyenas. There was no way for me out of this mess and so I did the only thing I could. I smiled at them and then ran away! On my way I took Stella with me and before they could understand what was happening, I was already long gone. I’m really grateful for my phantom step. The reason why I took Stella was simple but let’s first talk with Stella.

“Are you ok, Stella?”

She looked at me and started to murmur.

“Ah, I don’t think my heart is ready yet but if it is with Ris senpai then. Ah, uh……….”

Wha? She really thought I wanted to do something with the girl I just met. She is bitch or really pure person. I think latter is more probable.

“Stella, Stella?!”

As I was shouting at her, she finally paid attention to me.

“Stella, I don’t know what you think will happen but I just wanted to talk with you about my fan club. You are president after all.”

She finally calmed down, embarrassed and dejected? This girl is scary in her own way.

“Stella, it really troubles me when I have to go through such crowd of people or when they stealthily shadowing me whenever I go.”

She looked worried as I continued.

“I don’t mind that you all think so highly of me even though I’m not as great as you think but everything should be kept at a certain limit.”

She almost started to cry.

“That means I can’t admire you, Ris senpai?”

“No no, what I’m saying is admire me if you want but don’t think of me as some person to worship. I would rather just be friends than admirer and admired. What’s more, I don’t want to ruin your future because I did not do anything about it.”

“What do you mean by running my future?”

“You are leading a fan club and every morning even assemble before my dormitory, stalk me and all those things take time. You should rather study and train rather than do such pointless things. I want you to be someone who others look up to and I know you can do it. Take is as advice from your senpai.”

It looks like she decided. Her firm gaze says it all.

“I understand, Ris senpai. I will become a woman who can stand by your side rather than behind you.”

Wait what! She really is scary I need to end it, soon.

“I s-see, but rather than stay by my side, you should stand on your own and find those who wants to be with you.”

She started to have tears in her eyes.

“Am I a bother?”

What should I do? The answer is simple and so with a smile I told her.

“Yes you are.”

She looked at me as she misheard.

“I had to mishear.”

“Listen Stella, it’s not good to stalk someone and even want to do things you thought I wanted to do with someone you never even met and it’s bother for me to see you waiting before my dormitory.”

She wanted to run away but I did not let her.

“Stella, we need to talk seriously.”

She stopped struggling and we talked for some more.

“I know you don’t want to bother me but you need to learn some things shouldn’t be skipped. I hate girls that throw themselves at men without even understanding them and the same goes with men that use women as their toys and that’s how I see you right now.”

She once more thought about my words.

“I understand Ris senpai, I won’t bother you again.”

“Huh, why?”

“What do you mean Ris senpai? You said you don’t want to be bothered by me.”

“I just said you are bothering me with your actions, I never said I mind you. Just learn some self-restrain and don’t act like you are a thing to be used and I’m sure we will become good friends.”

“I-I’m not just a thing to be used? DO you really mean it?”

“Of course.”

She started to cry and jumped at me and started to hug me.

“Thank you, thank you.”

She thanked me and I stayed with her until she calmed down. Something must have happened in her ife.

“Did you clam down?”

She wiped her teary face and answered.

“Yes.”

“That’s good then.”

“I swear to you, Ris senpai. I will become a woman you won’t be bothered with and you will be glad to stay by your side.”

“I can’t wait for that.”

We both looked at each other and smile. I had to go so I said my goodbyes and went to the stadium. As I reached the stadium. I looked at the beautiful sky and went to the stadium.

Second round, here I come.

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IMPORTANT! READ AT LEAST THIRD PART!!!!

Hi, first of all, popularity contest just ended and here are the results.

6th place – Kristy with 0 votes

5th place – Sani with 4 votes

4th place – Sylvi and Irel with 6 votes

3th place – Lilian with 14 votes

2th place – Elizabeth with 21 votes

1th place – Alice with 27 votes

Huge thanks for all those that participated!

Next on the schedule would be me, looking for proofreader (editor).

He would be the first who would read the chapter and I would discuss the story with him if he would want it.

Now for badly good news.

In one month, I will start going to university again and schedule I got last year was from Monday to Friday from 7 A.M. to 6 P.M. so I have no idea how I will get time to write anything but that’s why there is a good news in it and that is I already know how story will go and I can do summary of it with all points I wanted to do. It will be your choice but I will probably do it if I won’t have time to write or releases will be at snail’s pace.

That’s everything from me. Hope you enjoyed.