Bryson walked his way into the stadium, a front-row seat was already prepared for him. Away from the main stage where the rest of his family was seated. His brother Gilles was seated in a similar front-row seat opposite to him staring at Bryson with his arms crossed.

It was a perfect place to watch their respective fighters fight while being able to coach and cheer them on. It was also an ideal place for the rest of their family to watch them from above and observe how the entire fight would take place.

Bryson sat himself down and surveyed the area, the ground was brimming with magic. Okay, that isn’t normal. Bryson thought, looking at the ground concerned. This isn’t going to be a normal fight now, is it? He thought as he glanced down to the entrance tunnel for the fighters.

He glanced around the audience looking at the many familiar faces. There weren’t too many others here in attendance. Nico Reese and a few other members of the guard were seated together, talking with one another waiting for the match to begin.

Phillipe led the Frost sisters and Florence to a specific area of the audience. It was a great view to watch the match, but very clearly they were placed in a position far from Bryson. It was too far for them to properly communicate, clearly deliberate by his parents.

Though it wasn’t just Bryson who couldn’t communicate with his allies, a group of what looked to be adventurers also sat in an area too far for them to converse with Gilles. Scanning the audience some more, he noticed a few more of the Coldwater staff, a couple of distant family, Primrose along with a few other magicians and of course, Frans Snowfield.

Bryson involuntarily scowled the moment he saw him. Frans wasn’t alone however, right next to him stood that girl Clarissa ‘The Icebreaker’ attentively. What a stupid nickname. Bryson thought.

Frans noticed Bryson looking at him and gave him a mocking wave as he plucked a grape from a bowl of fruit next to him.

“Grrr.” Bryson grumbled as he checked the time, still five minutes before the fighters enter.

“Wow, you looked stressed.” A tiny familiar voice said followed by the fluttering of wings.

Bryson looked up to see Coni Pinop, formerly divine pixie, now just a regular extra-powerful magic pixie fly over him.

“You’ve been missing for a couple of weeks.” Bryson said.

“Hey, I was busy taking care of your pet dragon in the Fairy Realm.” She said landing atop his head.

“How is she?”

“Doing well, misses you. I’ve been busy trying to teach her transformation magic. It’s her most major priority right now.”

“Right. I suppose having a humanoid form would mean she would make supply transfers easier. How did she find the most recent supply drop?” Bryson asked.

“Yeah, that's the reason.” Coni said deciding not to mention the real reason, “She liked it, especially that sourdough base that you gave her. Who was the chef who made it?”

“I made it.”

“You? Really?” Coni said in disbelief.

“You think my father allows complacency? I had to learn at least a few trades.” Bryson said flatly.

“True. You would need to know at least something with regards to the culinary arts.” Coni said, “So… Lord Bryson, I heard that you got into a fight.” She said mischievously.

“Hmm.” Bryson grunted as he removed her from atop his head and onto an empty seat next to him, “Of all the things you could’ve been told that’s the first thing you bring up?”

“What? It’s rare to see you angry enough to fight. Angry all the time, but fights are rare.” Coni said lying on a cushion and smiling at his sour face, “Hey don’t worry. I’ve seen how Kristel’s progressed; she should be able to handle it.”

“You’re probably right. But still, here I am just watching.”

“Cheer her on, and that will be enough.”

As if on cue the announcer began to announce the entrances of both Bodger and Kristel. As they entered through opposite tunnels, they stood in front of their respective Coldwaters.

Gilles leaned in and began to whisper something into Bodger’s ear. Bryson in turn did the same.

“Are you ready?” Bryson asked.

“Yes, Lord Bryson, I won’t disappoint you.” Kristel said giving a small bow.

“No matter what, you won’t.” Bryson assured her before looking up at his brother, “I don’t know how their progress is exactly. But Gilles has been angsty lately. It means that he’s worried you might be too much. Keep him scared.” Bryson whispered.

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“Yes Lord Bryson.” She nodded as a clacker sounded indicating that there was ten seconds before the match started.

“The ground is covered in enchantments, they’re likely to activate during the fight. Be careful.” Bryson whispered as his last piece of advice.

Kristel looked at the ground for a second before nodding and walking into the middle of the stadium meeting Bodger. She stared up at the man twice as big as she was, meeting his snarl with a stoic look on her face.

Duke Coldwater stood from his seat and his deep voice boomed through the stadium, “We the audience are here to watch the duel between Bodger…” Duke Coldwater paused and looked over to Duchess Coldwater who simply smiled and shrugged.

Duke Coldwater cleared his voice and re-announced, “Bodger, no last name. An adventurer to join my son Lord Gilles Coldwater in his adventures when he travels at the end of this month.” He said pointing a hand towards Bodger who raised his face in recognition as the crowd politely clapped.

“He will be facing against Kristel, also no last name. A young squire in training to serve my youngest son Bryson Coldwater. She is fighting for her right to stay as a squire.” He said pointing his other hand towards Kristel. More polite claps, however they were a bit louder.

Both Coldwater sons did notice this. Gilles gave an annoyed sneer as Bryson looked to see Bodger’s reaction. Bodger seemed preoccupied, not just busy staring at Kristel, but something else. Bryson wasn’t sure. Concentrating on the two Bryson couldn’t see anything out of place magic-wise. There was too much magic covering both of them.

“The two fighters shall begin the moment I sound the bell.” Duke Coldwater continued as he slowly sat himself down. He raised his hand and gently tapped the bell, a loud gong echoed through the stadium indicating the beginning of the fight.

Immediately both fighters drew their weapons and engaged. Bodger tried moving forward only to have to play defence due to Kristel’s longer-ranged longsword. The two clashed for a bit before Gilles grew impatient.

“Damn it Bodger! Move forward and crush her!” He shouted out impatiently.

Oh, he is a lot more clumsier than I thought. Bryson thought pleasantly. Okay, this should only be a matter of time then. Though unknowingly to Bryson, both his parents felt the same way. Bodger was clearly not ready for Kristel’s tenacity and was struggling to keep up.

“I wasted my time coming here.” Frans said looking unimpressed.

“Still it is very fun watching Kristel fight.” Clarissa said as she sipped on her milkshake.

“Dear, it would be a shame for it to end in a couple of minutes wouldn’t it?” Duchess Coldwater said to her husband.

“Indeed.” Duke Coldwater said as he reached over to flick a switch.

The ground of the stadium began to shake as the floor itself began to shift and change. Kristel was forced to stop her attack as she lost her balance. A platform underneath her feat rose up and she was now two stories in the air, at the same time, the platform Bodger was standing on, dropped by one.

“What is this?” Sable said in bewilderment.

“Just a little something to make things more exciting.” Duchess Coldwater said, “They both need to be able to adapt.”

Bryson Coldwater currently watched with his hands on his head staring at this wild display in disbelief. That’s why the ground is magic? Bryson thought as he watched the entire arena come to life.

Not only were large parts of the floor rising up and down at random instances but parts of the raised buildings were jutting out pieces horizontally and retracting. Fires were erupting all around the place and projectiles were being shot out of cannons, along with random swing blades that descended down the roof.

“This is lunacy.” Bryson said out loud.

“They’re supposed to fight with this?” Coni said in awe of the sight before her.

Gilles for his part was just as mind-numbingly confused watching this strange spectacle. In fact, the entire crowd was either busy being wowed by this display or shocked by the sheer absurdity of what they were seeing.

“Come on Kristel! Keep on him!” Lottie shouted out from the crowd.

“Coldwaters. They’re all so strange.” Frans said shaking his head.

“Watch your left!” Bryson shouted as a cannon rolled its way to the side of Kristel and fired.

Thanks to the warning, Kristel nimbly leapt in the air and avoid the cannonball that was shot at her. Bodger on his end was dealing with a wave of arrows being shot at him. He took a less graceful option of dealing with his projectiles by simply smashing them into pieces as they came in range.

The two stared at one another both trying to figure out a way to reach one another as suddenly the ground Bodger was standing on turned into a conveyor belt sending him sliding backwards.

Kristel as a result was allowed a moment to make sense of everything. She looked around, making sure that nothing was going to cause her any harm at the very moment and then once she mapped out the area she charged forward.

Bryson for his part, was having a horrible time watching this. He was also infuriated at his parents. Kristel was winning the fight, and now due to what he supposed was a mixture of boredom and curiosity, his parents set up this wild deathtrap.

All he could do was sit in his seat and hope that Kristel would win, despite everything. He simply stared in stressed silence as Kristel leapt from platform to platform, avoiding random rising parts of the arena and the occasional flamethrower aimed at her.

Bodger jumped off the conveyor belt he was stuck on and landed in a calmer area of the arena. Gathering himself he saw Kristel making her way over and he readied himself to meet her.

“Wait! Let her get tired!” Gilles shouted over to him, “Get her when she’s distracted.”

Nodding his head, Bodger slinked his way to the side and waited for her to arrive. She won’t see this coming. He thought deviously.

Kristel finally jumped over her last hurdle and landed near Bodger. As she did though she noticed a devious smirk on his face, feeling a shadow loom over her, she quickly rolled forward to avoid a falling pillar, only to land at the feet of Bodger who took his opportunity to swing away.

Kristel went on the defensive, unable to properly wield her longsword at this close range. She desperately grabbed the blade of her sword with one hand to try to shorten its length so she could parry. It worked but at the expense of her having to meet power for power against the older boy.

Still, she just needed a moment to get her footing right and then push the attack. His combat style was still rudimentary and simple, not nearly as creative or deceptive as her other opponents in the past. She could fend him off, and she could then take the offensive.

Then in the corner of her eye, she noticed a javelin hurtling straight towards her. Suddenly she was forced to duck downwards and avoid being skewered. But that itself was a mistake as she just put herself in a horrible position.

With a single arrogant grin, the massive adventurer smashed one of his hammers across the twelve-year-old's temple and for Kristel the world turned black.