If there was any day that I didn’t want to see then that was today. I don’t understand...How the hell did LUKE defeat Tarand?! Was he really that weak?

That’s right, yesterday’s tournament wasn’t won by me but Luke took that final fight and won. I am here thinking to myself, “Am I a joke to you?” It really pisses me off that I wasn’t of much help.

First of all, I am here in the infirmary and secondly, I am here thinking if I am the weaker one here. Likely seriously, was Tarand that weak or was I too weak to defeat him?

I sigh.

For now, all I can do is watch my fist and question myself.

Big brother is out working and I am pretty sure the normal classes have started again so the students don’t have the time to come see me but as soon as I am back to normal, I am going back to the academy.

*Tap*

Carly bumps the back of her fist on my chest. That’s right, she has been here with me since today morning and now, it’s already afternoon.

“What are you so upset about?”

Carly asks me.

Of course, she would be the one to catch me when I am down. She is just familiar with my habits at this point.

I sigh.

“You know, I didn’t do much in this tournament. It doesn’t feel like I deserve to be here teaching those kids.”

I say.

“Yeah? I believe that you did enough.”

Carly sits near me.

“I mean come on, you and me, we both had some serious injuries in that fight against Umba. I know that you feel bad for losing against Tarand but at the same time look at the bright side, your still here for your students.”

Carly says.

“I guess...You are right.”

I am still disappointed though, that I wasn’t able to defeat Umba.

I take a sip of the coffee that is on the table near my bed.

“Hey Dan, how strongly do you think was Luke’s brother when he went berserk?”

Carly looks to be lost.

“Very strong...I must say if Ulric didn’t stop that blast from Rook, in my current state, even I wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”

I say. I look at Carly who is lost.

“Why do you ask Carly?”

I ask Carly.

“That’s because...”

Carly takes a deep breath.

“Okay, don’t freak out but...”

Carly is hiding something from me.

“I won’t freak out, just tell me what’s on your mind.”

I say to Carly.

“Alright...”

Carly takes another deep breath.

“I did some research on Luke’s brother after that crazy match and found something out. I thought that I will share this information with you after you were done with the tournament and I know it’s only been like 3 to 4 days since then but I have been withholding this stuff from you for almost 4 whole days and I am sorry-“

“Carly, Carly, Carly! Chill out okay, just Chill out.”

Carly was getting all anxious. This doesn’t normally happen to her since mostly she is...Umm...How do I put it, pretty bold and free of words type of woman. I try to chill her out and it seems it worked out.

“Just get straight to the point.”

I say to Carly.

Carly nods and takes another deep breath.

“Rook, Luke’s brother was found entering the Church of Fracia along with Tarand and that Reaper guy I fought the other day in Carliva.”

Carly says.

Carly shows some pictures to me on that were on her phone. It seems that Tarand, Rook, and some other guy whose face I am seeing for the first time are entering the Church of Fracia.

I remember that name Reaper, he was the one that made my student fear. He had an immense bloodlust. I could sense his bloodlust all the way in that jungle where I was fighting Umba.

“Thanks for telling me about it Carly.”

I say and give her phone back to her.

Carly takes her phone and looks at me.

“Hmm?”

I am confused as to what she wants.

“HUH-“

She suddenly pulls me close to her and kisses me. Our lips seem to be locked. It doesn’t seem that I can escape either. She is holding my face with both her hands and I kinda don’t wanna escape myself either. I mean why would I? She is kissing me...CARLY IS KISSING ME! My mind is blank, I just don’t know what I am saying at this point.

After about 20 odd seconds, our lips finally separate.

“What was that for?”

I ask her.

“I am leaving my mark on you.”

Carly says and points at me.

“Huh?”

I am totally confused about what she is talking about.

“This way...I can make sure that no other girls take you away from me.”

Carly looks away and her face is all red. It’s almost as if she is...Blushing. That’s a rare sight.

“I am all yours you know and no one is going to take me away from you.”

I say to Carly.

“Good! That’s how it should be! I hope that you don’t get seduced by either Horrell or Izumi, alright?”

What’s with her evil smile now?! What the heck?! Big bro Sam...Please save me.

“Anyways, I think you should be fine to leave soon.”

Carly walks near the door that leads to the hallway.

“See ya soon, Dan.”

Carly looks back at me and gives me quite a cute smile. It surprises me sometimes at how cute her genuine smiles are. She normally doesn’t smile like that.

“I just want to get discharged man! I am getting bored here sitting all alone. I want to go out there and help out my students!”

I get back to my bed and sigh.

XXXXXX

Somewhere in the Kingdom,

“Hey, it’s you Tarand.”

Ulric stands near a hotdog stand and looks at Tarand who is also standing there.

“What are you doing here, Ulric?”

Tarand questions Ulric with a smile.

“What are you trying to do, Tarand? Getting defeated by that kid on purpose and now sitting here eating hotdogs. I don’t understand how you are going to kill The Princess like that.”

Ulric says as he eats a piece of the hotdog.

“Who knows what tricks I have up my sleeves?”

Tarand says with a smile and eats a piece of his hotdog.

“Whatever you have under that sleeve of yours better be good or else I might stop you in your tracks.”

Ulric says.

“Ulric my friend, even you know, you can’t do anything when the Bishop of the Church himself has said that the girl’s sacrifice to Ares is necessary.”

Tarand says with a smile.

“I never said that I would be the one to stop you, Bishop Tarand.”

Ulric smiles at Tarand.

“Is that so? If you’re talking about Dan ThunderField or that boy who defeated me, sorry to disappoint you, they were too weak for me. They only made me use like 30% of my power.”

Tarand says with a smile.

Ulric smiles.

“Why are you smiling?”

Tarand asks.

“Not only were you holding back, but both Luke Inach and Dan ThunderField were also injured while fighting you. So don’t take them lightly.”

Ulric smiles and eats his hotdog.

Tarand finishes his hotdog.

“Here’s the-“

Ulric pays before Tarand does, “I paid for his hotdog too.” Ulric says with a smile.

Tarand’s smile continues to be on his face as he leaves.

Ulric’s face turns into quite a serious one, he calls someone on his phone, “This might be a bad one chief...I hope that Dan is good enough to take on a whole goddamn church or else, Tarand’s quest to perform the taboo might come true.”

XXXXXX

Somewhere in a light and bright jungle where a clean river flows, “I understand Ulric. I guess I need to show up, don’t I?”

A man is on the phone with Ulric.

“Does the Third Commander of The Court seriously plan to show up?”

Ulric asks the man on the phone.

“I don’t know. If the situation gets really bad, yes I do or else I think Little Boy Dan should be enough to take that Tarand down.”

The man on the phone says.

“You put a lot of faith in that boy.”

Ulric says to the man.

“Of course I do, after all, he is *Blank*”

The final word from that man on the phone puts a smile on Ulric’s face.

XXXXXX