A few weeks had already gone by into the Royale Preliminaries. It was already starting to near the end. The final results would determine the order of participants joining the Royale. As for the Royale itself, there were two stages nationals and international.

The top-ranked Familiars in the Royale Nationals would then be funnelled into the Royale International.

Essence and Armgiers reason to include the Royale as part of Familiar training was to create a sense of rivalry and being the best. So it was no surprise that all Familiars around the world are hard at work.

Trying to achieve the best results before the Royale Nationals commenced.

The third-year students had just finished their Royale Preliminary matches. Students from all four years converged on into the main courtyard awaiting the final results, it was mainly down to interest and gossip. But students within the same year would be more interested in reaching number one.

However, Aiko noticed that many third-year students didn't seem to fuss about the outcome of the Royale Preliminaries. Many of them seemed to be having a good time and a laugh instead of feeling anxious. Suddenly the screens started to make a chiming noise as they started to light up.

Aiko along with many other students were looking at the holo-screens with interest. As she looked at the screen she saw the following names.

1st - Ashina Corrigan

2nd - Wendy Florente

3rd - Mia Vasquez

4th - Jade Haven

5th - Ayano Urawa

Aiko recognized the first name as Ashina was one of the first people she met at this academy. As for the other names she had no idea who they were. However, she was interested to find out what they looked like so she could put a face to their names.

As she looked around she noticed that the third-year students that were waiting for the results were not at all bothered with the outcome placements. Is it expected to see these five girls in the top five places? Aiko thought to herself contemplating on what this could mean.

"Did you hear? Today is the final day of preliminary matches for the second years!" A student nearby called out her friends.

The mention of second years reminded Aiko of the conversation she had with Sachika not so long ago.

One week ago...

Aiko was waiting in the main courtyard where Sachika said to meet her. She had been waiting for at least five minutes now, to past the time she decided to look at her cell phone to see if anything new came up for the academy. It wasn't long before she could see Sachika in the distance walking towards.

"H-Hey" Aiko spoke nervously.

Sachika was blushing slightly, "Hey" muttering her response. There was a moment of awkward silence between the two of them.

"Say, h-have you got a partner yet?" Sachika asked.

Aiko just shook her head.

"I was thinking that maybe...we could seal a Blood Contract between us" Sachika suggested.

At first, Aiko was shocked at the suggestion not because she didn't want to, but because she wasn't expecting it. Especially not from the likes of Sachika.

"I-I don't know what to say" was all Aiko could say.

Sachika was about to say something when suddenly a chorus of shouting to could be heard across the courtyard. Turning around she could see Hibiki with some second years shouting out to her. She was trying to say something couldn't get the words out with the constant wailing in the background.

"Just think on it, please?" Sachika asked before she jogged off to meet up with the second years.

Aiko just stood there with a mix of shock and confusion to Sachikas' proposal.

As Aiko thought back on that conversion the speakers surrounding campus came alive.

" The final matches for the second years Royale Preliminaries starts in ten minutes...all matches are on at the same time"

Upon hearing the announcement Aiko decided she'd spectator Sachikas' last match in the Royale Preliminaries. She didn't waste a second to get to the arena where it'll take place.

Aiko sat in the stands as both Uli and Bethany met up with her. The trio waited in earnest for the match to start as did the other girls.

Essentia took no shortcuts when it came to making their arenas that staged Royale matches for the students and the public to spectate freely. The stands could house at least a good few thousand people, even if all the students attended the match it would still have enough space for hundreds more.

It wasn't long when the entryways to the arena slowly opened up as the announcer announced the girls' name for this match. The anticipation within the stands of the arena was nothing like Aiko had seen before.

On the left Sachika stood, her silver hair making it easy to spot her. On the right was Yuki Urawa, her hair was bleached white and it was made into one big braid, unlike Ashina's braid.

Urawa?, Aiko thought she recognized that name.

"Oh, it's Ayano's younger sister!" A gleeful voice rang out.

The trio of friends turned around to find it was Ashina Corrigan, the student council president.

"Student council president?" Bethany looked at Ashina rather perplexed.

"Oh please, why wouldn't I be here?" Ashina asked.

"Well...it's just unusual to see you attend something like this unless you're participating" Uli answered.

Ashina laughed at the comment.

"Just because I'm student council president, doesn't mean I'm glued to a desk all day..." Ashina seemed to daze of as if remembering something from her past.

Before anyone could say anything, the announcer spoke.

"And now for the most anticipated match of the Royale Preliminaries...Sachika Eto versus Yuki Urawa!"

Both Familiars conjured their Essence Armament Weapons. A blue aura surrounded Sachika as for Yuki hers was orange. They both were wearing their nanotech suits. Sachika with her bladed gauntlets, as for Yuki, she conjured a single gauntlet.

However here had long sharp claws that were rumoured to rip through almost anything.

"So we meet at last Sachika Eto...or should I say The Phantom Queen?" A grin appeared on Yuki's face.

Sachika readied herself in a battle stance.

"Enough chatting, let's finish this White Devil" replied Sachika.

Upon hearing her nickname Yuki gritted her teeth in anger. The two of them got into their battle stances.

A robotic melancholy voice spoke throughout the arena.

'Let's go ahead

'3'

'2'

'1'

'Battle start!'

Upon hearing the last words both Sachika and Yuki used their supernatural speed to charge head first into one another. Without a care in the world for what was to come next.