People of the Sun kingdom had an old tradition of competing during the Midsummer festival in the small arenas around the kingdom’s cities. Although this was not a fighting competition, the fact that it was new made it even more interesting. Thus people cheered, waved and made bets. The audience managed to entertain themselves long before the competition even started.

After participants arrived, Zia directly jumped down into arena and began to manage the event. She wore a golden costume in her usual style and as always had red belt and red headscarf. There was a red dragon embroidered on her back and she looked quite impressive with her elevated authority.

Prince Andrew watched the scenes with a smile on his face. Sitting in the seat of the honored guest he recollected how they competed with Nick the day before.

While Zia was busy with organization works, Nick used the time and invited prince Andrew to visit his cottage. Nick showed around and explained how he and Zia were usually practicing and asked if prince had any suggestions on how to improve their training.

Once again prince was surprised by Nick’s attitude. Not only he was friendly, he, as a young boy, already had proper understanding that sharing experience with practitioners from another countries or traditions could be beneficial to both parties.

They talked for a while and then it finally came time for their own competition. They knew each others strengths more or less, so each picked a discipline they were confident in and then decided on neutral one. Nick, of course, picked hundred meter dash, Andrew weight lifting and the neutral had to be the archery.

Although Nick spent quite a lot of time training to use a bow, it was a bit ‘specialized’ practice, therefore he was not confident in it at all.

The two first events went without any surprises – Nick’s speed was incredible and Andrew confidently used his older and bigger body to lift a larger weight. But when it came to archery, the ten arrow match turned out to not be enough as both boys hit the center of the target ten times. They had to increase the distance and repeat it two more times until Andrew missed target by a couple of centimeters. Was he unlucky or Nick had better endurance – it didn’t matter. None of them cared about result much and went to have another round of pizza in the “Sunshine” loudly laughing and chatting.

While Andrew was reminiscing, in the city arena it was already time for the third event. The sprint was won by a youth from Aurora and the weight lifting – by a strong youth from Nola kingdom. People were cheering non stop and making bets all over the place. Even king jokingly made few bets with his first three queens while queen Hua was lovingly watching her daughter ordering everyone around.

There was another pair of eyes that didn’t leave the energetic golden figure. Since prince Taio first saw Zia, he was more and more confident that this trip has been a success and he has found ‘the one’. She was smart, energetic and it looked like she will become as pretty as her mother. The best thing was – she had eastern features and Taio found those to be the most attractive. The fact that she was this young didn’t matter to him at all. It just meant he could persuade her father to agree to the marriage more easily, let her mature for a few years and then come back to pick her up later.

He didn’t even know how deep in his own delusions he had sunk when Zia announced the last winner of these first Olympic games. The score between kingdoms was two and two before the last discipline, archery. Possibly it was fate playing it’s tricks, but the scenario went exactly the same way it did on the previous day in competition between Nick and Andrew. Both of them were sitting side by side and chatting and, when they saw the result, they laughed with tears in their eyes.

The reward ceremony was grand and the winners proudly showed off their medals while losers looked at them with envy. After that the event was concluded and the crowd started to orderly disperse.

Meyer family invited all the participants to enjoy a friendly meal in one of their restaurants and, of course, Zia, Nick, Steven and Chris were invited as well. Mason was the organizer and Steven managed to invite princess Conny as well. Prince Andrew didn’t need much persuasion to join since he loved the ‘exotic pizza’ a lot.

Also, yesterday he received a lot of tips from Nick regarding Zia. Prince already understood that the most foolish thing he could do is to try and show off his status around her. Considering her character for now the most important thing was to become friends and then, later, see if the relationship could proceed any further. It was rare for a girl of twelve to not fantasize about marriage, bet this one was special and any advances towards her would cause the opposite reaction and may be even trigger deep dislike or hate.

Prince Andrew had grown up a lot during these years as well. Retrospectively he could only smile about his silly act trying to play adult while still being a child himself. Especially because he liked Zia, but there was no deep love involved from either side.

Thus Nick’s advice ‘relax and see where the things go’ he found very helpful and smart.

In one of the fanciest Meyer restaurants youths sat around the tables on a roof terrace and feasted on pizza. For the first timers it was an amazing experience and Mason proudly told them about the secret main ingredient that was used in the cooking.

Those from Nola kingdom were all aristocrats who had seen their share of delicacies and, even if this one was very special, they didn’t loose their heads. But for some of the youths from Aurora it was a whole different story. Several of them were from simple backgrounds and after tasting this amazing food were now thinking of ways to sneak out some of it to let their loved ones at home to have a taste as well.

Nick noticed it and called Mason over, “How much is it worth to establish a good relationship with a future Qi master or may be even a general?”

“Priceless!” Mason immediately answered while still confused.

But when he understood what Nick meant, he went over to the young athletes and declared, “Please, don’t rush and eat your full. When you leave, in case you liked it, you can each have a pizza to bring home as well. Don’t think of it much, it’s just a small token of my personal appreciation for your talents.” He smiled towards the excited commoners. In fact, even aristocrats were going to use this opportunity, but that didn’t matter to him that much.

“Why is he sucking up to them?” Zia asked Nick with her mouth full.

“Think about it. These are the strongest youths in Aurora of this generation and many of them are commoners. If I were you, I would have long invited them and offered to train to later receive positions in the palace or in the army when they mature. That way you would have reliable followers yourself and your actions would strengthen your kingdom as well.” Nick explained.

Zia didn’t think of it much since she was used to have this free of charge advisor around. Right after the feast she invited all the youth’s from Aurora to meet her the next afternoon in the palace.

If Nick could think of it, king obviously already had thought of that as well. His trusted Qi masters were taking notes during preliminaries and even during the main competition there were present masters from few sects from around the country.

Not every sect was evil and chased by the government like Holy Order. Most were more like monasteries and had very little interaction with the outside world. They were founded in secluded places and mostly were busy with developing the skills of their disciples and elders.

Even the current king, Alexander Maxwell, had spent some time in one of the strongest sects on the continent – the Sword sect. And as it happened, sword sect’s master was in the spectator seats during the competition, enjoying the show from the new generation’s talents. He didn’t come this time to find a new talent, but if there was one or two lying around, he didn’t mind picking them up on the way.

When Zia returned back to palace, she managed to surprise her father informing that the national talents will come tomorrow and she would manage them from now on. King already gave the order to contact youths after the competition was over and now he had to slightly alter his own plans.

Then he surprised Zia in return. The Styx kingdom’s delegation had requested an official audience and asked for princess Zia to be present as well. When she asked in confusion what was this about, her father honestly replied that most likely prince Taio is going to propose.

Zia then stomped away furiously murmuring curses while the king was left laughing. He already expected this result and couldn’t figure out why prince Taio would even try. Wasn’t it just easier to find a beautiful and obedient wife back home? Why would he come here and try running his head in the wall called ‘Zia’? Be as it may, there should be an entertaining show the next day.

Zia vented a little and then decided to ask her best friend for advice.

“What do you usually do when you receive such proposals?” Nick asked after hearing about her predicament.

“I just beat them up or scare away! They are all perverts – I am too young to marry!” Zia proudly replied.

“Then what’s different about this one?” Nick smiled.

Suddenly princess had revelation – she was worried for nothing! She just had to beat up the annoying prince and everything would be fine!

“Just remember to not make any promises and don’t agree to any bets! He is much older than you and can try to trick you into something.” Nick warned her before she left.

In the morning king received the Styx delegation. Queen Hua was sitting next to him while caressing the visibly annoyed Zia’s hair.

Prince Taio came in front and gave a touching speech, first thanking for the hospitality and the great entertainment during the Olympic games, then expressed his regrets that the youths from Styx kingdom could take part in this competition only after four years. Afterwards he artistically described the beauty of the Sun kingdom and compared it to the youngest princess and then confessed that he has fallen in love with Zia from the first sight and could not imagine to spend his life without her, and then asked for king’s permission to marry her.

The elders from Styx kingdom and even palace were all nodding their heads – this was a perfect speech and could move even the coldest heart. Prince also was exited, his performance was impeccable and it was definitely a success. He was so exited that didn’t notice how Zia blurted out ‘pervert’ and looked at him with a deep scorn. Somehow Taio even managed to translate it as a look of deep affection.

“Thank you for your gifts, prince Taio, but we are unable to accept them for now.” King smiled, “You see, in our family there is a tradition to always ask potential bride’s opinion. It was the same way with your oldest brother when he stole the heart of my daughter Cira. Therefore I have to apologize for being unable to grant your wish – you can only ask Zia yourself.”

He spoke like a loving grandfather to his grandchild. Although king knew what was likely to follow, he would rather go to war with Styx kingdom than to call the terrifying wrath of palace’s ‘nightmare’ over his head. In addition he didn’t want to risk receiving queen Hua’s displeasure even more.

Prince smiled towards Zia, everything was going as planned!

“I am sure miss Zia …” he wanted to continue with the prepared script when got interrupted.

“No way! Why would I marry such a weakling?” Zia snorted out loud.