The fight surprised the other examinees as it had ended abruptly. The winner was also unexpected and a few of them were confused as to what happened. However as Jack announced the cause of victory, they understood but some were still salty about it.
Xavier, Melos and Areti were also surprised at the result. They thought Hermes was going to win with the final attack.
"Hmm, that...was surprising." said Areti.
"Yeah, I've depleted my mana a couple of times before and I know how it feels. The body just gives up trying to function." said Xavier.
"Wow, really? How?" asked Melos.
"Well, let's just say it was due to certain circumstances." replied Xavier.
Looking at Xavier, Melos replied with a curious face by simply saying "Oh, okay."
"Anyways, do you think we will get a turn today?" asked Xavier.
"I'm not sure, since the tests will be today and tomorrow. We might have to come back tomorrow."
As they were having their conversation, the next fight began. As time passed, more and more people were called up to the ring and 2 hours later the three were finally called up.
"Now!!!, for the final bout of today it will be between the group of Areti, Melos and Xavier against the group of Lyfea, Mealaniel and Lyrica.
As they went up. Areti asked Xavier, "Ah yes, nearly forgot. What is your class? You already know I'm a fighter and Melos is a bard."
"I'm a cleric." replied Xavier.
Their opponents from their equipment, were a mage, ranger and thief. Knowing this Areti said to Xavier, "Looking at them, they are probably a mage, ranger and thief. So let's do it like this; I'll go on the offensive while you guard Melos from them."
"No problem." replied Xavier with a thumbs up.
With both sides ready, Jack gave the signal and the fight began.
Both Lyfea and Areti charged forward, clashing with each other. Areti was boosted by Melos' music giving him the upperhand in a straightforward fight, however Lyrica and Melaniel started assisting Lyfea, one shooting a Fireball and the other shooting arrows towards Melos. They could hear the strategy their opposition's group told each other since they were elves, as such they decided to try and force the blonde kid to move so they could deal with the bard first.
Seeing the attacks coming, Melos quickly changed the tune of her instrument to one that boosts speed to aid her brother in dodging the attacks. However the speed bonus wasn't enough and as he was about to be hit by the Fireball right in the face, Xavier managed to pull Areti to the side just in time; the fireball missing him.
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"Well, I guess we both have to attack." Areti said to Xavier, immediately rushing towards their opponents.
Seeing as how they managed to force the other boy to move, they started to target the bard. However, what they forgot to take into account was the size of the ring; as such, just when Lyrica was about to use Stun Arrow on Melos, Xavier popped up in front of her, knocking her back.
"Heh, caught you by surprise?" Xavier said, using Light of Ethel to knock Lyrica back.
"Aren't you a cleric? I thought clerics use maces." asked Lyrica, surprised at his use of gauntlets like that of a fighter.
"I'm different from the others." replied Xavier, smiling as he continued to engage with her.
Meanwhile, Areti was fighting with Lyfea with Lyfea being on the shorter end of the stick.
"Hmm, what do you think of the fight, Hermond?" asked Elfilna.
"Although the elven girls are doing alright, they will likely lose to the other side's lineup." replied Hermond.
While the 2 people of both parties were busy fighting each other, both Melos and Mealaniel were trying their best in supporting them.
With the occasional offensive spells from Mealaniel and supportive tunes from Melos, it looked like both sides were equal. When suddenly Mealniel shouted "Jump!." as she froze the small area of the ring where they were fighting.
Hearing their friend, the two elves jumped as the floor below them froze catching both Xavier and Areti by surprise, both of them slipping.
"Spark." casted Mealaniel as sparks of electricity flew towards them and hitting them before Melos could do a thing.
Down on slippery ice and partially in an electrified state, the two of them could barely move. Using this as an opportunity, the three elves decided to end the fight right then and there.
Melaniel casted Gust, Lyrica used Shock Arrow and Lyfea using Wind Cutter.
Seeing this, both Xavier and Areti thought it would be their loss. But Melos quickly summoned her contracted spirit, Syphil to blow the spells away.
Realizing that their opponent has a contracted spirit, the elven girls, knowing they have little to no chance to win the fight forfeited thus making Areti and his group the winners.
"Hmmm, so that little girl has a contracted spirit eh. Quite the young one she is to already have one." said Meril upon seeing Melos summoning her spirit.
"Your right. It was smart for the girls to forfeit the match." said Elfilna.
After the bout, the party of girls went to shake the hands of Areti and his group.
"Let us meet again someday for a rematch." said Lyfea.
"Sure, see you girls next time." replied Areti.
Meanwhile, Lyrica went to Melos, saying "Syphil, isn't that a high ranked Eathra?"
"Yes, I got really lucky with her you see." Melos replied.
"The Eathra choose their own contracted partners, so it wasn't luck but destiny. Anyways, don't forget to occasionally feed her mana stones." said Lyrica, who unbeknownst to Melos, was the Spirit Ambassador for the Elves. Despite looking like a young girl, she was already 50 years of age.
"Well, that was fun. What was that thing you summoned Melos?" asked Xavier at the healing station.
"That was a spirit, don't you know?" replied Melos." But then again, a hard head like yours probably forgot about it." she continued.
"Huh, what did you say?" asked Xavier.
"Nothing." said Melos.
Even though the two had just met that day, they had already gotten acquainted with each other.
"Done healing? Come let's go." said Areti to the two of them as they were still butting heads.
Walking out of the institute grounds, Areti asked "Where are you staying? Xavier."
"In the Drunken Barbs tavern." replied Xavier.
"Oh, okay. Me and Melos are staying at our relatives' place. So let's try and meet each other again in the institute, hopefully." said Areti.
"Yeah, see you." said Xavier as they parted ways to their place of rest for the night.