On the third day of the tournament, the final stages of the Path Of Kings were about to start. Lumios and Leon were casually strolling through the stalls around the Coliseum. The finalists all had to be at the Coliseum by midday which wasn’t for another two hours.

Leon and Lumios were very young, they were both respectively 11 and 12 years old, they were taller than your average kid at that age and they were the youngest two participants in the finals. They were casually strolling through the market happily chatting, what they didn’t notice was that they were the centre of attention the whole time. When they entered a stall they’d be gifted with free food and other delicacies, this was because everyone in the city new about these two finalists: Lumios Rakel the ‘Genius Commoner’ and Leon Kaiser the young master who has a Strange power but no Vision.

“Lumios have you noticed that people are talking about us and openly taking glances.” asked Leon happily, this was the first time people were looking at him with respect.

“Yeah I know. I think it’s probably because we’ve entered the finals of the tournament, and also because we’re the youngest in the finals,” replied Lumios.

“Let’s forget about that for now, Leon let me show you this store that’s two streets away, they make the best sweets out of all the shops in Reon.” Said Lumios, his eyes twinkling with delight.

“Let’s got then,” Leon impatiently said, both Leon and Lumios had a sweet tooth, so they would search through different stores to find the tastiest food and deserts in the city.

They both strolled through the streets nonchalantly, however they automatically became the centre of attention, the citizens would look at Lumios and they’d be welled with pride because he was a commoner and when they looked at Leon they’d be respectful, he was the direct descendant of Noah Kaiser.

The young girls in the streets that were a similar age to them would steal glance at them and then giggle to each other. Leon and Lumios didn’t notice this, but they were constantly stared at. They became very popular after entering the finals.

—————-

When they were nearing the store there was a big ruckus and a large crowd was around the shop. Lumios was confused, very few people knew how excellent this shop was, but today it was packed with people.

Leon was eavesdropping on a group of women conversing: “It seems a participant from the Path of Kings, has taken a fancy towards the shop owners daughter,” said a woman.

“The one who took fancy is a 7th rank Awakened and he’s got a huge group protecting him, it seems we can’t do anything to help the girl,” said another.

From this Leon and Lumios understood what was happening, Leon turned to look at Lumios who looked slightly distressed by this, so they both pushed their way forward through the crowd of people.

When they reached the front of the crowd they saw an arrogant young lad wearing training apparels, he looked like he was around 16 to 17 years old. He looked rather ordinary however he was guarded by six muscular, bulky men that all had an exceptionally powerful blood thirsty aura that only comes about when you’re constantly facing life and death battles. Lumios sensed were all at the level of a 9th rank Awakened, and on the floor there was a young girl who was the same age as Leon and Lumios, being held by a middle aged man who must have been her father. The girl had brown hair that grew to her waist, silver eyes, long eyelashes and full thin eyebrows, she was an enchanting young girl, in a few years she would definitely become a beauty that could cause cities to fight for her sake.

The young man stared lecherously at the girl, this disgusted everyone that was watching but they couldn’t do anything because the lecherous boy was guarded by very strong men.

The young man abruptly broke the silence, “Little girl come with me and I’ll take you away from this trashy city, I can give you status, money and power, all you have to do is come with me a 7th Rank Awakened who is in the tournament finals.” He said proudly without bothering to hide his intentions.

The girl was frightened for her own and her father’s well being. Earlier in the day while she was sweeping the floor in front of the store, this young man surrounded by his guards were walking through the streets and he had unintentionally caught sight of her and was bewitched by her instantly. that young man walked towards her, he wanted her, he desired her, because of that this situation arose and now they were troubled by this young man who is now trying to force her to leave with him.

“Young master Romeo, why do you want her? My daughter is just a young girl?” said the girl’s father unwillingly.

“Shut up!” Coldly said the young man called Romeo as he swept towards the middle aged man and gave him a kick in the stomach which sent the middle aged man crashing into the store window.

“DAD!” Screamed the girl.

The middle aged man was stabbed by small shards of glass, blood was slowly staining his clothes as he coughed blood, blood stains were appearing on his grey hair. He slowly staggered up, he was unwilling to let his daughter go with this shameless Bastard.

The girl was crying as she saw blood come out of her father’s mouth and head, his clothes were patched with blood.

At that moment Leon turned to look at Lumios and saw a grotesque expression on his face, he was staring coldly at the young man. Leon was shocked at first and then seemed to understand: Does Lumios have a relationship with that girl? Leon guessed why Lumios was staring at Romeo resentfully, but he wasn’t sure.

Lumios took a step forward and then vanished from his spot, he appeared between the girl and Romeo, out of nowhere he sent his fist crashing into Romeo’s face, sending him tumbling into the store. Lumios didn’t even turn to look at the young man’s guards who were preparing to attack and turned to the girl crying on the floor, he was looking at her gently wanting to comfort her but he didn’t know what to do.

Romeo stood up, his nose was crooked as blood ran down from it, he stared at Lumios with resentment. “You Bastard! how dare you punch me, do you even know who I am?!”

The bystanders that were watching were shocked, a young kid had appeared in front of the young man without a trace of fear and struck at him with rage. That very boy had blonde hair, blue eyes and a lean figure, the crowd of people immediately recognised him: “That’s Lumios, the one who got invited into the Sarien Institute by Elder James,” shouted a man.

The crowd went into a huge uproar, Leon appeared next to Lumios, preparing to defend against the muscular guards if they attack.

“He’s Lumios,” Romeo’s eyes widened, Shit… Why is he here? he instantly regretted asking such a stupid question in front of Lumios, and when he saw Lumios’s gentle and loving gaze on the girl he was shocked. He likes that girl? No wonder he attacked me. His expression instantly turned from shock to a mischievous grin.

Lumios looked at the girl and spoke “Risa are you alright?”

The girl looked up as tears rolled down her face, bewitching Lumios. “Lumios why are you hear?” her gentle trembling voiced with surprise.

Leon was now looking over Risa’s father who was slowly walking towards them.

A voice abruptly broke this calm and gentle scene, “Okay since the ‘Genius’ Lumios’ has a relationship with this woman, I won’t do anything. Just think of this as a mistake, but first let me introduce myself: My name is Romeo Dias, the grandson of a senior instructor from the Dual Sword school. I’ll apologise for my mistakes, so I’ll politely take my leave then, young genius Lumios and young master Leon.” he said with a smile which anyone could tell was fake, but Romeo couldn’t provoke Lumios.

Both Lumios and Leon didn’t have a good impression of this young man, so they didn’t give him any more attention and naturally lowered their guards against him.

When Romeo turned and walked towards the six men he gave a sly smile and gave them a signal, the six men gave a bloodthirsty smile and one of them rushed at Leon. Leon had lowered his guard so he didn’t notice the man until it was too late, he barely had enough time to create a small membrane of concentrated external armour as the man kicked Leon on the chest sending him crashing into the wall of one of the shops. The bricks came crashing down on Leon, on the corners of Leon’s lips, blood rolled down his chin and dripping onto the concrete floor and debris.

“Haha, so what! if you’re protected by the Sarien institute as long as I don’t hurt you Lumios or your family, I can still take care of your friends.” Howled Romeo as the other five guards surrounded them, they were all 9th ranked awakened.

“You bastard.” Coldly said Lumios.

“Hahahaha!” Laughed Romeo.

Leon’s figure staggered up from the rubble and slowly walked towards Lumios, blood coming from his forehead and his mouth.

“Romeo you’re despicable to have attacked me from behind, don’t you care about you’re school’s reputation… Don’t you know you’re status is nothing compared to mine” Mocked Leon, staring disdainfully.

Romeo’s expression darkened, “What?! What kind of crap are you spouting? You’re clan died out so long ago, how dare you act arrogant in front of a member of the Dual Sword school.” Said Romeo, suddenly he laughed, “Hahaha, I remember now, you’re that trash young master from the Kaiser Clan, you don’t even have a Vision, how can you be arrogant towards me, when you only reached the finals because of your luck. ”

Leon frowned, his appearance changed from a frown to a cold smile, “If I remember correctly Romeo, the first headmaster of the Dual Sword school owes our clan a great debt, do you remember why? I’ll tell you why it’s because my ancestor Noah saved his life. And now you, you of all people dare to act against me, a descendant of Noah. Have you no shame.”

“…..” Romeo’s expression turned grotesque, he never knew that this kid that looked no older than 11 was so smart. Leon had turned the entire situation around, if Romeo attacked him and the news spread he would be severely punished, because everyone in the school knew that the old man of the Dual Sword school had his life saved by Noah. This would destroy the Dual Sword school’s reputation.

Romeo had nowhere to release his anger. Shit… This kid is pissing me off, If I attack him, I’ll be punished and expelled from the school even grandfather won’t be able to help me.

“Okay I won’t do anything, but you can’t stop me from taking that girl.” he said reluctantly.

Lumios instantly turned cold, “You still have the guts to ask for Risa… Okay, if it’s like that I’ll tell you something, Risa’s my Wife. Now she and her father have the protection of the Sarien Institute as well, so you can get the F*ck out of here now.”

Risa’s cheeks turned red as she heard Lumios confess this, she turned to Lumios standing there steadfast, hatefully staring at Romeo, he then suddenly turned at her and his gaze switched to a tender look, Risa blushed her cheeks turning into a deeper shade of red and quickly turned away from his gaze. Even Leon was shocked at Lumios’s sudden outburst, he just figured out Lumios liked Risa but he wasn’t sure and now he shouted it out for everyone to hear confirming his thoughts.

Romeo instantly went into shock, he came to take this girl away, but he never expected that because of Leon and Lumios, he lost the chance to take the bewitching doll like girl home with him. He hesitantly turned and left, his expression was full of hatred, he turned around and walked through the crowd that opened up for him and his guards.

The crowd was shocked at how the situation changed in a matter of a minutes and at how Leon’s sharp mouth dissolved the situation with a few words that forced Romeo to give up.

After a few minutes the crowd dispersed leaving Leon, Lumios, Risa and her father alone.

“Dad, are you alright?” said Risa.

“Yes I’m fine Risa. Lumios, thank you for protecting Risa.” the middle aged man said appreciatively as he turned to face Lumios.

“No, it’s fine uncle Sadri, I couldn’t just stand there and watch him do that,” replied Lumios. Lumios turned to face Risa, suddenly her cheeks went red again.

“Lumios, thank you for saying something that you never meant to protect me and my dad.” said Risa regretfully when she calmed down slightly.

Lumios frowned, “What I said wasn’t a lie, I want to marry you… not now but when we get older, Is that alright with you?” Lumios smiled as he said this, he scratched his cheeks, slightly embarrassed.

Risa blushed again, she couldn’t help it, she secretly liked Lumios from the first time she met him and this felt unreal for her and now he came to protect her, “Y…Yeah.” She said while looking down.

Lumios pulled Risa up from the ground: “Now this means you’re coming with me to the Capital, including uncle Sadri.”

Risa and Uncle Sadri nodded.

“Cough… Cough…”

Everyone turned around to face Leon, who felt very awkward watching this, he wasn’t sure if he was meant to be here, so he coughed to ease the tension for himself.

“I think you’re forgetting someone,” Leon smiled awkwardly.

“Ah! Sorry Leon,” Lumios said embarrassedly for the first time. “I forgot to introduce you; Risa, uncle Sadri this is my friend Leon, the young master from the Kaiser Clan and Leon this is my ‘future Wife’, Risa and my uncle Sadri.” Lumios said, while he teased Risa. “Risa here is a 3rd ranked Awakened water Visionist and she only reached this level because of my help, her talent isn’t that bad is it.” Lumios smiled haughtily, puffed up his chest. To Leon this was another side of Lumios that he hasn’t seen yet.

“Okay, okay. Anyway Lumios, the finals are starting in about twenty minutes, we better head out now. If you want you can bring these two to the Coliseum and for the store,” Leon thought about it for a moment. “I’ll pay for the damages.”

“No we can’t let you do that Young Master Leon,” exclaimed Uncle Sadri.

“Don’t worry. The cost for repair is minor and any friend of brother Lumios is a friend of mine, so you’re included sister Risa and Uncle Sadri,” said Leon thoughtfully.

“Okay Lumios let’s go now or we’ll be late.”