Avryn walked through the tunnels and saw Rinna having a tense staredown with a taller man. He had a darker complexion and sported a fine suit. The Rosenfaust twins weren’t far behind them. He pushed through and interrupted the both of them.

  “Ah, you must be Avryn,” the man was half a head taller than him.

  He introduced himself as Oliviere Black, son of Vistella Corporation’s CEO Veltaire Black. He congratulated Avryn on a well-deserved victory.

  “It’s good to see the infamous man who was saved by god himself. You’re a curious case,” his aura towered over Avryn’s.

  Avryn held his own,

  “Well, fighting every day since I was young sure did helped. Experience factor and all that.”

  Rinna moved to Avryn’s side, her gaze still locked on Oliviere. He took it as a sign to excuse himself and leave. The tightness of the air around them subsided. Vistella Corporation, now where did Avryn read that from. He recalled from reading a textbook they were the big technology firm from the technological nation of Baradov.

  Olivere seemed like a nice fellow, but something dangerous loomed from beneath his soul. Avryn could not wrap his head around how. He turned to Rinna,

  “Know him?”

  “Once. He tried asking me out,” she replied. “He seemed pretty happy I rejected him.”

  “Interesting fellow, then,” Avryn looked to where he left.

  “He has his own personal army too. For his protection, his father says,” Leifren crossed his arms.

  Avryn stretched,

  “A guy like him? Needing protection? Not to sound cliche but I could tell he can hold his own,” he yawned.

  That was besides the main point. Avryn wanted to see Leandros Solus in action. He only saw a glimpse of it in The Academy, now he can see it for real this time. They went back into the stands to witness Leandros. He was already in the middle of a fight with his fellow senior.

  The two locked blades and traded blows but Leandros’s footwork proved to be the better. He forced an opening as easily as opening a door. He grappled his opponent quickly and threw him on his head. That earned him and awestruck gasp from the crowd, and a cheer. He brandished his sword and it glowed a fiery red. One blow and that was all she wrote. Leandros won his match convincingly and ended the events for the first bracket.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Damn, that guy is good,” Avryn praised.

  “Yeah, well our time is coming,” Harver challenged.

  A short intermission played out as a band performed some hit songs. Avryn and the rest decided to grab lunch outside of the stadium. They mostly had hotdogs, fries, chips, and hamburgers to eat. Avryn enjoyed this particular restaurant. It smelled of home to him. He looked around as he munched on his cheeseburger. He wouldn’t mind coming home to this. The jukebox was lively as it singed the happy tune of an old song.

  “Man, if we had these kinda food at home, I’d never have left,” he took another big bite.

  “So, Harver, you feel like you’re ready for your match later?” Jenilah spoke up.

  “After this delicious meal,” Harver complemented. “Nothing like good food to make you feel good.”

  Some chatter was spent that afternoon. They returned to the arena as Harver made his way through the tunnel. His match was first, and up against a fellow freshman: Roshin Jindraste, a shinkitsuri known for his bare knuckle fighting style. It was dubbed the battle of blade versus fist.

  “I’ve been looking forward to this,” Harver murmured.

  “Strength and honor!” Roshin cried out before assuming a stance.

  The announcer gave the go signal. Roshin’s fists caught Harver off guard with how strong they were. Harver was forced on the defensive, he twirled his estoc around himself and used the momentum to keep him at the sword’s length. One thrust at the right moment was all it took as he stabbed Roshin in the torso. First blood was spilled and Harver was announced the winner. The two shook hands afterwards.

  A short ceremony took place at the center of the arena with all the winners of that day’s fights in a line. Avryn was basking in the crowd’s applause. He had Leandros and Harver at the back of his mind. He was stuck thinking again, to the point the crowd’s noise was starting to become mute. He wanted this fight but he’d have to wait for the next day.

  Time in the city flew past, and day two had arrived at the Battle Festival. The next round was up. Avryn’s bracket was first again and Leandros was first. Avryn’s squad came just in time and just as quickly, Leandros had won his match in record time.

  “What the, we just got here,” Avryn and Harver were astonished.

  “You said you wanted to keep your promise of facing each other?” Rinna turned to Avryn. “You need to beat that man in the next round.”

  “Well damn,” Avryn looked down on himself.

  He made his way through the tunnel. His next matchup was against a third year Academy student named Flux.

  Avryn decided to have the gunblade for this fight. He took a good look at his opponent. His stance was lightfooted. A sign of shiftiness? The announcer signaled to start and the fight was on. Avryn initiated the combat but all his attacks were dodged quite easily. Flux shifted in ways not even Avryn thought was possible. He wasn’t even touched yet.

  Avryn grew annoyed and added a pistol in his free hand. He took to him again now with double the firing outputs. It still was not enough as Flux was toying with him with the dodges. He jabbed at Avryn at the last blow.

  “Come on, give me a real challenge,” Flux taunted.

  The battle would go awry had Avryn not pulled a trick up his sleeve. He charged the gunblade up with magical power. A pillar of light seeped from the tip and intensified. He dragged the blade down and caught Flux in the middle, forcing him out of the fight with the power of the blasting zone. Avryn huffed and was relieved it was over.

  He returned through the tunnel once more and saw Leandros. He was accompanied with his own squad. The man noticed Avryn and walked up to him.

  “Avryn Starbright, yes?” He asked. “I’m looking forward to our fight tomorrow. You’re gonna need to go all out on me. I’d like to see what you have in store.”

  He left with a quick nod, asking his friends if they’d like to eat. Avryn was beside himself. He spent too much time thinking instead of doing again. The others caught up with him, and he shared the encounter.

  “Just be ready for anything and trust your gut. You’re not the strategical type, so it’s not your…forte,” Rinna tried encouraging.

  “Right, fight with feeling,” Avryn’s voice cracked, a sign of worry.

  Jenilah patted him on his shoulders,

  “It’s alright, it’s just pre-match nerves, right guys?”

  The rest nodded except for Tvira. Valoche noticed and nudged her.

  “Huh? Oh yes, of course,” she continued on reading a book.

  Avryn looked up for a moment. He turned to the others,

  “I’ll be doing my usual sparring, you guys enjoy the rest of the day. I’ll be alright,” he reassured.

  He needed to be in order to have a chance versus one of Eyur’s potentially greatest warriors. He must.