Tiffany hadn’t recovered enough to fight Cecil in a head-to-head fight and with their healer missing it would be too risky for her to risk injuring herself or her opponent before the following day’s match.
Thus the awkward predicament had come to pass. Cecil sat next to her on her left side while a white-haired young man sat on her right. It wasn’t that she didn’t know the guy. It was more that this was a part of her life she wanted to keep far away from the school.
Cecil seemed utterly oblivious to the tension as he took notes on his potential competition.
“Listen Tiffany. I understand that you’re your own woman but joining a harem…”
“Andres it isn’t like that at all. I explained everything to my father in detail. He should have informed yours as well.”
“So you aren’t in a harem?”
“It’s complicated. Andres.” Tiffany shook her head.
“I heard tales of this harem back home. Did you know that there are books about their debaucherous nature?”
Tiffany tensed, and Cecil scowled. “I do not.”
“So you haven’t heard of, Hardships of the Concubine in red?” Andres asked bluntly.
Tiffany sighed. “Right…That. No, things are not actually like what's listed. There was a traveling author that came to inquire about Cecil’s Harem. Our late Captain Kyrion met with them and answered questions over tea and cookies. Our former captain is a bit innocent when it comes to carnal desires and was very blunt. The author was a seductress and yet he hadn’t reacted to her in the slightest. Thus when the questions started containing concepts he didn’t understand he just answered to the best of his ability.”
“So he was messing with her. No boy stays innocent this long.” Andres scowled.
“He’s different, and it's why I know that all I can do is look out for him. Sadly that time seems to be at an end.” Tiffany raised an eyebrow.
“Listen, I’m fine calling off the marriage…”
“Wait what?” Cecil turned his head to look at the two with surprise.
“Didn’t I mention that I have a fiance?” Tiffany raised an eyebrow.
Cecil thought for a moment. “I just thought you were trying to turn me down gently.”
“We’re all friends here, don't get your knickers in a twist. No, it wasn’t anything serious. I’d rather forget about it.” Tiffany cut that train of thought off.
“I see.” Andres sighed.
“So I hear your captain of the Tetsan school.”
“Correct.”
“How did your fight with Damian go?”
“I’m sad to say that I wasn’t prepared to fight someone that strong so early. He only needed one sword to beat me.”
“You would have known he was strong if you bothered to take my letters seriously.”
“You were an early fledgling then and a lot can change in five years. Didn’t realize the flowing river had people who could fight on that level.”
“Excuses excuses. I still made it further in the solo tournament.”
“Yeah, you won two fights. The first against a captain no less. Why didn’t you try for three?”
“Ander going down leaves me with the responsibility of winning this thing.”
“Where does this Ander guy rank on your team’s scale?”
“Around three.” Tiffany stated.
“Two if I'm not counted or ill prepared. My power lies in preparation and adaptation, you could say.”
“What kind of school is Drisil if your number three can put on a show like that and not be number one.”
“You have met Rion right?”
“Yeah, he said your original leader died. Some say it was to make a strong candidate disappear.”
“I see. Well, let's just say our current leader makes the person they saw in the colosseum look weak.” Tiffany added.
“Doesn’t answer the question.”
“The teachers at Drisil do their utmost to teach us but they aren’t the secret behind our success.”
“Rion has a habit of knowing what people need to grow. He also tends to see the best in most people. So when someone like that proves that they can beat you as easily as breathing, but avoided doing so as to not hurt anyone’s pride, shows them what real power is. What happens?” Cecil asked curiously.
“So, he shared his knowledge with everyone else. Does he not fear becoming weaker?”
“Doesn’t matter to him. It isn’t about power right now, it's about results. In a fair one on one fight Ander could probably beat our captain. But that doesn’t make them stronger if that makes sense.”
“Can we not talk about him right now? Aren’t you trying to get rid of those rumors?” Tiffany asked.
Cecil turned his head and watched as a shadow user was pummeled into a heap by a pugilist with black gauntlets that seemingly absorbed light.
“Physical… based, with a gimmick. A powerful one at that. I’ll have to use a lot of ammunition to take him down.”
The shadow user sunk into the ground attempting to get some distance only for the gauntlet-wielding warrior to follow them in.
“Space, or something else.” Cecil adjusted his vizor.
Atim appeared outside of the arena, his body beaten and battered with multiple open wounds and broken bones.
“With that brutal showing Milo makes the semi-finals!” Meh Thod bellowed.
“Looks like I will fight him tomorrow.” Cecil left the arena to go get some air.
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Somewhere in town, a battered Midas has been approached by a figure in a white hood and a golden mask.
The figure was shorter than him but not by much. “A sorry showing for a royal. I’m surprised you haven’t run off in shame.”
The voice was monotonous and didn’t give away any gender.
“A king doesn’t retreat.” Midas said stoically.
“A king rarely survives a loss in this world and keeps their kingdom. Do you think you could win if you could fight the same opponent again?”
“Of course!”
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“And if you lose?”
“Then I’ll just fight them again. I won’t give up until I'm victorious.”
“Good. I offer you a chance to reclaim your crown, a chance to succeed after you have failed. The power to alter fate.”
“Power? Give it to me then.”
“First you must drink this potion.” The figure handed Midas a red vial.
“What is this?”
“It may give you the capacity for a second spirit.” The creature in front of him said.
“A second spirit? Will I be more powerful?”
“Much more.”
“Then give it to me!” Midas snatched the vial. Much to the masked creature's mirth.
“Good.” The mask fell to the ground after Midas consumed the vial. In that instant, the masked creature became a large blue-skinned creature with six arms, and three sets of solid black eyes. The creature then jumped into Midas’s body and attached itself to his corrupted core.
“What was that?”
“Right. Now you just have to trigger the power.” The alien creature said from inside.
“It’s quite simple really.” Midas’smouth spoke without his command and his hand seemingly moved towards his head.
“Why is my arm moving on its own?” Midas asked internally.
“You just need to die.” Midas pierced his skull with a golden spear.
A hawk-faced figure watched the proceedings next to a large red-haired man with green eyes.
“You were right to summon me here. That rank of demon is dangerous. Only the one posseed should be able to remember previous iterations.”
“I’m sure your son will hunt them down regardless. A missing temporal demon will put him on edge.”
“That's what I’m counting on.” The large man turned and jumped into the air as batlike wings shot from his back. The ruler of the Beast Blood Empire flew off into the distance.
----------------------------------------
“That was useless Karl. I didn’t learn anything.”
“Maybe we aren't performing it right. I’ll go check on the ice and see if it's melted.” Kyrion left the room and saw that the ice had indeed melted. Although the sun had set and he was quite famished.
“I need to get something to eat.”
“The minimum is done. Seal the entrance, and be on your way.”
With a stomp on the ground, the staircase vanished behind a layer of stone that was then covered and camouflaged by plants, grass, and dirt.
“Right.” Kyrion left his grove and found his way toward the city, his hair and eyes changing to match his public character Rion.
“I can’t believe it’s night already. Maybe that time dilation thingy didn’t trigger.” Kyrion made his way through the city in the trees with natural ease. As though he had lived here his entire life.
Upon passing by the residential district he noticed an elderly woman carrying a load of groceries to her home. Good habits die hard and three hours later he found himself cleaning another elderly person’s gutters.
By the time Kyrion remembered he was headed towards the restaurant he found that it had been closed for the day.
“Didn’t realize it was this late. Guess I’ll find the headmaster.”
Kyrion made his way to his room in the inn and sighed as he noticed Bastion laying on the floor headfirst. His blanket pooled onto the floor next to him.
“Sheesh. You sleep bad.” Kyrion lifted Bastion and laid him back on the bed before making sure he was tucked in well.
Then he walked through the wall and entered the headmaster's quarters. “Sorry I missed two days of fighting.”
“Two?” The headmaster turned around.
“I did only miss two right?”
“You only missed one. Have you seen Ander? He ran off spouting something about secret training and breaking through his barriers. His first opponent must have scared him.”
“I see…And Lin, have you seen her?”
“She’s been gone for the past two hours, something about ringing your neck, for playing with her emotions.”
“...” Kyrion scratched his head.
“You don’t remember doing something like that?”
“No. Oh I did slip up and call her by her name. Didn’t realize she was that much of a title snob.”
“You didn’t say anything misleading?” Caeden raised an eyebrow.
“I didn’t say anything I didn’t mean. I was really happy she brought me food.” Krion stated.
“Oh god why…”
“Why what?” Kyrion said with a deadpan expression.
“Wasn’t talking to you. But…”
“But what.”
“What does love mean to you?”
“Something I really really like and will fight to protect.” Kyrion squinted.
“Do you love people?” Caeden scowled.
“I love all my friends and everyone on my team or in Cecil’s Harem. I also love my family even if they do get on my nerves.” Kyrion said with a face that betrayed no embarrassment.
“Did Gamodren ever give you the talk?”
“Why are you asking that…”
“Just trying to figure out where you are there.”
“Well if you're talking about that twisted kinda love then sure, I guess there’s someone I tollerate a little more. But that's none of your concern.” Kyrion walked towards the wall that led to his room.
“Just keep an eye open. Others may try to take advantage of your nature.”
“Right.” Kyrion waved goodbye as he passed through the wall back into his room with a grim expression.
----------------------------------------
Kyrion ate breakfast with the team and watched the second day of fights. The only oddity was the fact that Ander had not shown up for his fight with Damian.
This oddity was enough for Kyrion to wonder if something happened to his friend. That was when he left to go find him.
That was when Kyrion missed seeing, Nicole evade an attack aimed at her head and countered with a strike aimed at Midas’s head knocking him unconscious on impact.
Kyrion checked all the training spots he knew of including the rooms he had rented earlier. Kyrion made his way to a river to cool down and relax before the sound of kids at play were all he could hear nearby.
“What's that kid doin!”
“I dunno! But he’s sitting under the waterfall!”
“Why do that?”
“I dunno. Maybe his mom didn’t tell him to avoid it. That pressure can rip skin from bone.”
The kids seemingly gathered around a small green-haired figure on a boulder, his back facing away from them. As water crashed down upon him rapidly.
“What is he doing?” Kyrion muttered as he neared the waterfall.
Ander was in a state of complete focus as his mana circulated throughout his body.
Kyrion hadn’t been certain of who he was watching so he used the one method that would work with him. “Hey shorty! You shouldn’t be playing near waterfalls!”
Kyrion turned and dashed into the forest towards his grove.
In a flash Ander appeared right next to Kyrion, his eyes like slits. Lightning crackled around him.
“What. Did. You. Call. Me?”
Kyrion ducked under the punch aimed at his head. Before pushing backward with a strong leap creating a gap in their distance.
“That didn’t work as well as I thought.” That was all he got out before blades of lightning passed through his chest in five places.
Kyrion crashed on the ground seizing from the blow as his body’s recovery was used against him.
“That. Was. Low…. Even for. Someone. Of your. Stature.” Kyrion spoke one last line before going stark still as though he were dead.
“If you can talk, you're fine. Now get up, I have training to do. Still can’t believe I lost.” Ander scowled as he held Kyrion up by his head which was quite the sight as Kyrion had brought both of his feet off the ground attempting to make himself too heavy to lift.
“Yeah… You missed your fight with Damian. What was that about?” Kyrion stated as a foot touched the ground for a brief instant.
“I fought Damian yesterday, you idiot. Didn't you see it?” Ander shook Kyrion's head.
“Weird. Because the announcer said that you and Damian were fighting in the second round of the tournament and all our teammates seemed confused.” Kyrion stated as he felt the vice grip slip.
“Do I have time magic?” Ander asked himself.
“Tiffany won her fight and Cecil won his. From what I’ve heard, Tiffany will surrender to Cecil due to injuries sustained from the previous fight.”
“I heard most of this when I woke up from my fight with that lightning cutter yesterday.”
“Who?” Kyrion seemed surprised as he blinked rapidly and took a step back.
“Damian. He can cut through lightning. Caused me to waste a big attack.” And thus the grip was forgotten about for a brief instant.
“Hmmmm…Where were you last night?” Kyrion asked as he slipped from Ander’s grasp.
“The waterfall, doing resistance training.” Ander replied.
“Go there again later tonight. I have something to show you. But for now I need to find Lin.” Kyrion waved his friend goodbye.
“My training!”
“Don’t worry about it!” Kyrion faded from sight.