Inside the arena...

Hiiro, please take care of Aria.

“Greetings, lady Emily,” the butler greeted.

Lady?

“G-Good morning.”

“I’ve read Master Oliver’s letter to the King. It seemed lady Marina had adopted such a peculiar child.”

Master Oliver? Lady Marina? My mother?

“Y-You know my mother?”

“Yes. Lady Marina and I met 50 years ago near the -Elven Kingdom-,” the butler replied. “My condolences for her loss.”

“The battle between Emily Scarlet and Satrillo Stradivarius, now begins!” The gong was hit, signaling the start of the battle.

The battle already started, however, none of us decided to attack.

“Please Satrillo, do you know where my mother’s remains is? ”

Satrillo looked at Dullahan and spoke, “Your Highness, can I have a request? Can lady Emily and I talk for a bit?”

“Your request is approved,” Dullahan replied. “There’s no time limit anyway.”

Satrillo then looked at me. “I’m truly sorry lady Emily. I don’t know where lady Marina’s remains is right now.”

“I see.” Looking down, my hope was shattered. “Then… How did you know my mother?”

“Before I met lady Marina, I was a dying treant,” he answered.

“A treant?”

“Yes. When lady Marina found me in the forest, she used her magic to help me,” he added. “I then decided to serve her with my life as thanks.”

“Mother.”

“Judging from that young skeleton earlier, I can say that you were the one who taught him elemental magic, yes?” he asked.

“Y-yes, I did.”

“I see. So you’re just like your mother; both of you use necromancy and elemental magic.”

“W-why are you telling me this?”

“My apologies, lady Emily.” Satrillo bowed. “I just thought that it’s quite unfair that I know a lot about you, my opponent, but you know nothing of me.”

“That’s why I’ll show you first my power.”

As he flicked his fingers, his skin suddenly changed. It became darker, rougher and harder. His skin turned into bark; he became a wooden man.

“My intense training with Lady Marina turned my body into this,” Satrillo spoke as he drew his sword. It was a long, single-edged blade. “This sword came from the -Elven Kingdom-, my home. We call this a katana.” Suddenly, eight wooden tails sprouted out from his back. “Let me introduce myself again.” Satrillo bowed. “My name is Satrillo Stradivarius; a treant, a master swordsman and a user of .”

Standing, I was looking at him, waiting for an attack. Suddenly, his eight tails moved towards me, attempting to pierce my body.

He’s capable of long range attacks? And he didn’t even wrote a rune.

Quickly, I wrote an earth rune. “.” However, the wall was destroyed by his attack.

Good thing I jumped. He just destroyed a high level earth magic.

Suddenly, he appeared in front of me.

What?

He then slashed me with his sword; I blocked using my scepter, yet my body was thrown away. However, I received no damage since I used air magic to prevent myself from colliding to the wall.

First, I need to blind him.

“!!!” Suddenly, a tornado appeared carrying clouds of sand with it. Visibility became zero, however, using Terra Sense, I could sense him. “!!!” Ghosts then appeared below him and grabbed his feet, immobilizing him. Controlling the sandstorm with my hands, I compressed and concentrated it to his position increasing the spell’s speed and power.

“Satrillo, I’m sorry.”

While I was writing a fire rune, I sensed something below me. “!!!”; It was his tail, coming from the ground, and tried to attack me.

That was close.

“Lady Emily, you’re not the only one who can see in a sandstorm, you know.” He then swung his sword; the force dispersed the sand and destroyed the ghosts. “You might be confused, but we treants can use wood manipulation magic without writing a rune,” he spoke. “Our body is just like a magic tool.”

That’s amazing. Then, I’ll have to attack him from the sky.

Flying around, I cast several fire magic. However, he easily blocked every one of it.

This is bad. I can only fly for a limited time. I need to disarm him.

“!!!” The whip went and attempted to grabbed his sword, however, he stopped it with his tail.

The fly magic’s time was up. Slowly, I landed to the ground. Satrillo used this opportunity to attack. He appeared in front me and slashed my body. “Ahck!!!” However, that was a trap. “!!” Casting a spell, I landed far behind him.

“A water clone?” Satrillo asked as the water from the clone enveloped him.

“!!!” The whip successfully grabbed his sword and threw it outside the arena. However...

“It seems you forgot something, Lady Emily,” he said as he slashed the water prison.

“What... just happened?” Shocked, I looked at him. He was holding a wooden sword.

“You forgot that I can use wood manipulation magic; I can manipulate all kinds of wood, even my own body,” Satrillo explained. “That also includes reshaping them into anything I want.”

“This… This is actually my first encounter with this magic.”

“Is that so? My apologies then,” he replied.

Suddenly, another sword appeared in his left hand.

“Dual wield?”

This will be a hard battle.

Meanwhile Hiiro...

Troubled by this feeling inside me, I was walking left and right inside the recovery room.

Emily...

“Hiiro, you’re worried about Emily’s fight, right?” Aria spoke.

“Yes. I feel uneasy right now. It seems something bad is happening to the arena,.”

“Then, maybe you should go and see her.”

“But… I can’t just leave you alone.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.” Aria stood and walked towards me. “I’m okay now.” However, she fell down. Good thing I caught her.

“Aria, please, don’t push yourself!”

“Don’t worry; I’m okay,” Aria replied while I assisted her to bed. “It seems my energy still haven’t fully recovered but I’m okay.”

“Aria.”

“Actually, I’m also worried about Emily right now. I… I have a feeling that she’s too troubled about me so she couldn’t fight well,” Aria added. “Please, go to my sister.”

Looking at her eyes, I couldn't say no. “Ok. I’ll go see her.”

Aria smiled. “Then, I’ll give you something you can use” She then touched my forehead with her two fingers.

Huh?

“Hiiro, can you hear me?” It was Aria’s voice, however, she didn’t moved her lips. The voice was coming inside my head.

“What?”

So you can hear me. I’m am currently using telepathy. [Aria]

Telepathy? [Hiiro]

Yes. I use this to communicate with someone using my mind even at a distance. [Aria]

That’s... kinda cool. [Hiiro]

Hiiro, I want to tell Emily something, however, with my current strength, I can’t use telepathy to communicate with her from here. [Aria]

I see. [Hiiro]

So I tweaked your mind for a bit. [Aria]

‘Wait, what?”

I’m sorry. I gave you telepathic powers so you could communicate with her even you’re afar. I just want to deliver a message to her. [Aria]

I-I see. Wait... I can use telepathy? [Hiiro]

Yes, however, since you’re not an esper, it has limited effects: One, it has a time limit; two, you can only talk with one person at a time and three, you can only talk with someone you’re looking at. [Aria]

Limited time? Then I’ve been wasting it just by talking to you? [Hiiro]

“Hahaha,” Aria laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

Don’t worry. I didn’t activate your telepathy yet. [Aria]

I see. [Hiiro]

Aria then told me her message to Emily.

You know, it’s kinda funny since I always thought you were the silent type. It seems like you’re very talkative when using telepathy. [Hiiro]

“What’s wrong with me being talkative?!” Aria shouted.

“S-sorry.”

Sorry. I didn’t mean anything. It’s just that, I’m kinda happy having to know one of your cute sides. You’re also cute when you laugh. [Hiiro]

Silence enveloped the room.

Hello? Aria? Hello?

“You won’t hear me; I turned off my telepathy,” Aria spoke.

“Oh. I see.”

“You should go now. Emily is waiting.”.

“You’re right. I should go then,” I said while walking through the door. Then I looked at her. “Take care Aria. We’ll visit you later after the match.”

“I will wait for you two,” Aria replied. “I’ll activate telepathy now.”

As the young skeleton ran to the arena, the necromancer then lay down on bed. She then looked at the ceiling and said, “Emily’s sister and friend, huh.”

Back in the Arena...

Exhausted, I was fighting him for a long time.

He’s too strong.

“What’s wrong, Lady Emily?” Satrillo spoke. “Don’t tell me you’re going to surrender now?”

“I-I will not surrender!” I shouted as I wrote a rune. “I call thee from the land of the undead giants, !!!” Suddenly, an earthquake occurred as a huge skeleton came out from the ground; it then attacked Satrillo.

I need a distraction.

Using fire blast, I attacked him while being distracted by the skeleton. However, he blocked all of my attacks with his swords and tails. Suddenly, he appeared in front of me and slashed me with his sword. However, it was a water clone; I was at the top of the skeleton.

“Hoh. So you’re the type of person who uses the same spell.” Satrillo then jumped away from the clone.

“!” While writing another rune, a giant tornado appeared and sucked him inside. “Combine with, !”

This is not enough. I have a feeling that he can just get out from there .

Writing another rune, I instructed my skeleton to punch him into the ground.

“!”

Using life drain requires the user to touch the target, however, it will also activate if I use my familiar.

While draining my opponent, I jumped down from the skeleton and wrote another rune.

“I summon the flames from the pits of hell. Help me create this destructive spell. Annihilation comes to all my enemies. From the ground, burn all of their bodies!"

Satrillo then slashed the Skeleton’s hands, destroying it. However, I already finished my rune and cast it in point blank range. “!!!” It was the strongest fire spell I know.

Meanwhile, Hiiro...

“I finally made it.” Looking in the arena, I saw a giant skeleton punching the ground.

“Woah. That’s one big skeleton!” As I looked at it carefully, I saw Emily jumping from above.

“Emily?”

She landed near the skeleton’s fist. Then, the fist got destroyed by something. “!!!” she shouted as a huge explosion occurred, blasting away from her. She then jumped back, exhausted.

The explosion subsided, a silhouette of a human appeared, standing. The smokes then disappeared as a wooden man with eight wooden tails come into view; his top clothes were scorched by the fire.

“A wooden, eight-tailed mannequin?” I asked as I looked at him. “Damn abs, he’s so macho!”

The man then spoke, “Too bad, lady Emily.”

Lady?

“My body became sturdy from training with lady Marina for 50 years,” he added. “That also includes her using fire spells every fight.”

Emily’s mother?

“No, this… This can’t be.” Emily fell on her knees.

“EMILY!!!” As loud as I can, I shouted at her. She then looked at me. In the perspective of others we were just staring at each other, however, that was not the case.

Aria is ok now. You don’t have to worry. [Hiiro]

“Hiiro?”

Aria said you don’t have to worry about her. [Hiiro]

Is this Aria’s telepathy? [Emily]

Yes, Aria gave me this temporarily so I can talk to you. [Hiiro]

Aria… [Emily]

She said she’s ok and you don’t have to worry so just fight seriously. [Hiiro]

… Sorry, Hiiro. I… I don’t think I can win. [Emily]

Emily? Why? [Hiiro]

It’s no use. I already cast my strongest fire spell. I did damage him a bit, however, preparing it takes a lot of time. I don’t think he would let me use it again. [Emily]

“Emily.” Staring at her, she looked depressed, however, I thought of something.

Emily, can you still do what you just did before? [Hiiro]

Hiiro, it’s useless. Even if I can pull another one, it won't make a difference. [Emily]

How about casting multiple spells in one go? [Hiiro]

Hiiro, it’s not that easy… [Emily]

No. What I mean is, how about using a loop? [Hiiro]

A loop? But I don’t know how to make a loop. [Emily]

I will teach you. [Hiiro]

As hard as I can, I concentrated the image of a loop rune. In my mind, I thought maybe I could send a picture to Emily just like an email. And it did; it sent both the loop and the code to add a condition for it to stop.

Hiiro, I can... I can see it. [Emily]

I’m glad. By the way… Aria has another message for you. [Hiiro]

Aria? [Emily]

Yes. She… said that… if you lose… she will start calling you Flatmily. [Hiiro]

“I am not flat!!!” In the perspective of others, Emily just shouted out of nowhere.

Geez. That sister of mine. [Emily]

I’m sorry. It’s not my fault. She said that I MUST tell it to you no matter what. [Hiiro]

It’s okay, Hiiro. Also, thank you. [Emily]

Time was up, the telepathy was gone.

“Lady Emily, are you finished now?” said the macho mannequin.

“Yes, Satrillo, I’m ready,” Emily replied.

Wait a minute. That’s Satrillo-san?

Satrillo then dashed to Emily. He was fast, however, Emily defended with phantom shield. “Hoh. You’re using a different strategy now,” Satrillo spoke.

“!” Suddenly, flames blasted in a circle with Emily at the center. Satrillo, jumped away. “!” A large number of whips then appeared from the rune.

I see. Emily is using a loop.

Satrillo then slashed everything using his swords and tails. “Oh, spirits who are unable to rest, help me with this quest, !!!” Suddenly, a portal appeared behind her and call forth a lot of ghost-like creatures which then attacked Satrillo.

Back to Emily’s POV...

Satrillo is amazing. Each of the ghost have life drain, however, it seems he’s not affected by it.

While the ghosts distracted Satrillo, I ran around the the arena and wrote a rune. “!!” A tornado then sucked Satrillo with the ghosts. He was having a hard time fighting with them inside the tornado. “!!”. The tornado was filled with fire; the place was so hot. However, he just slashed everything like nothing happened. He fell to the ground and continuously attacked me using his tails from afar; I dodged them all. He then blinked in front of me tried to slash me, however, he was stopped.

“What?!” Satrillo asked. It was a water mine; I planted it while running.

Hiiro, I’ll borrow your strategy for a while.

Jumping away from Satrillo, I tucked my scepter to the ground then wrote several runes using both of my hands. “, , , ...” As fast as I can, I cast a number of immobility spells.

I need to make sure he can’t escape since this is a one time spell.

“I summon the flames from the pits of hell. Help me create this destructive spell. Annihilation comes to all my enemies. From the ground, burn all of their bodies..." Several runes then appeared around Satrillo.

“!” Dullahan shouted. He cast it to protect the people outside the arena.

Thank you, Dullahan. Now, I don’t have to worry.

“!!!”

The explosion was too strong; the shock waves almost destroyed multiple barricades that I cast to protect myself. While the smoke was dispersing, a silhouette of a man was seen standing.

“It can’t be.”

However, as the smoke finally cleared, the man fell down, unconscious. “The winner of the final match, Emily Scarlet,” the host announced.

Back to Hiiro’s POV...

“Emily, you did it!” Immediately, I ran to to her. She then smiled at me and fell down, but, I caught her. “Good job, Emily.” Dullahan then instructed the guards to carry Emily and Satrillo to the recovery room, however, I requested that I would carry her.

On the way, Emily woke up. “Where… Where am I?” Emily asked.

“Good morning. The fight is done and you won.” Ispoke as I carry her, piggyback.

“H-H-Hiiro, w-w-why are you carrying me?” She blushed.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I’m carrying you to the recovery room.”

“I hate you,” she said, pouting. “After I told you to take care of Aria, you left her.”

“Ehhh. I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you.”

“Bu---t. I’m also happy that you came and see me.” She smiled. “T-Thank you, Hiiro.”

“Your welcome.” We were blushing when we saw the guards smirking in front of us.

Oh yeah. I forgot about them.

Meanwhile…

Far from Hiiro and Emily, a succubus and a treant were talking.

“Master Satrillo, you let her catch you, right?” the succubus spoke. “There’s no way you would fall from that trap.”

“Well, the King did said to hold back,” the treant replied. “After all, he was planning to keep them after he read that letter.”

“Yeah. I think he’s just bored so he organized a trial~” the succubus laughed.

“Hahaha. Unfortunately, Robyn couldn’t control her anger,” the treant spoke.

“Well, it was an eight year hatred after all~” the succubus replied. “By the way, Master, the lottery was also rigged right? I mean there’s no way they would be paired with the three strongest generals of this castle by some random chance.”

“I don’t know. I think you should ask the King himself,” the treant said. “Still, lady Marina’s daughter is amazing, and also very beautiful.”

Several days later, Hiiro’s group found out about this truth.