He stared at the number next to his, having now appeared at the top of the dome. Seeing it was over two thousand, dismissing the rest of it, one of them likely already defeated this opponent. Watching the crowd, seeing who would make their way towards him, nodding his head as one person stepped through.
They were looking down; I saw their slumped shoulders at having caught eyesight with Norbert. Their golden tinged armour glistening in the light. As Norbert continued to stare almost seeing sparkles start to shine off it, pixie dust almost falling off, when it touched the ground would disappear. The area smelling like sugar, getting stronger with the warriors every step. The hilt of a sword poking behind his head, sword strapped to their side over their back. Norbert rubbed his head as he tried to remember.
The barrier flashed red around them. Norbert's opponent is just standing there.
"Can't believe you were a scout." The man said to himself.
"What?" Norbert asked him, trying to hear what he was saying.
Only receiving a dismissive wave before unsheathing their sword, Norbert followed suit, pointing it at the man. His opponent had two hands on his sword, pointing it towards the air.
Seeing it stop flashing, Norbert pushed himself with energy as he charged forward, viewing the man's blade as it slowly came down, like in slow motion. Norbert swung his sword into his opponent like a baseball bat, watching as a golden barrier erupted around the man, centring around his armour.
The sword slowly goes down, Norbert spinning to the side, having their two weapons clanging together. His opponent's sword went backwards; Norbert watched as it went backwards, a look of acceptance appearing on his face. Norbert went forward, slamming his shoulder into the chest of the man.
His opponent stumbles backwards, passing through the barrier. Norbert is watching above him, seeing only his number stay up there, his opponents having disappeared. Norbert returned his eyes to the man, watching as he shrugged his shoulders, sheathing his sword and walking away from the dome.
Norbert watched the crowd ask him about it, shaking his head as he continued through them. The others around him are just making way, some patting his back. I wondered what they were discussing, but no sound was going through the barrier.
He was waiting for the following number to appear, sheathing his sword again, not wanting to hold it for so long. As he waited for the next opponent to appear, his sense of fear stopped, and the butterflies were no longer in his stomach. Taking over its place was one of dread, for him to fight one after the other for days.
Shaking his head, Norbert looked up at the numbers, seeing the next one appear. Not even paying attention to the number now appearing, "Enjoying the battles, Luck?" He asked. Watching as the crowd parted, his next challenger appeared.
***
He no longer keeps track of the number of fights he was up to after the fourth, not even seeing the point of drawing the sword and rushing in towards the opponent, only changing his pattern if they seemed to be charging a spell beforehand. He let a dagger fly from his hand, dodging to the side before rushing forward and moving them out of the dome.
When his number disappeared, I breathed a sigh of relief; his fate would be out of his hands if he made it through. The precise record has to be helpful for his chance to continue to the next tournament; I'm wondering what it would be about that one compared to this one.
Walking through the crowd, I see Count von Count standing there, Norbert's backpack in his hand, watching over the dome. Obsius is on his shoulder, looking towards him. Norbert is happy that the bird is finally out of her funk.
He walked forward, rolling his shoulders, not realising the tightness he had during the battles he had just gone through. Breathing out, his shoulders slumped, Norbert grabbed his backpack from Count von Count's outstretched hand.
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Turning around, not seeing Lily around them, asking the question in his mind, "Where's Lily?"
Count von Count swirled his hand to the stands, "Somewhere up there. Had some important business to attend to or whatever." The vampire said.
Norbert looked up to where he was pointing, not seeing Lily, though surprised at who was staring back at him. The commentator, still announcing the next fights the same as before as they concluded, constant noise in the air.
As Norbert stared at him, the commentator speaking, the noise drowned out, to Norbert's lips moving, without any sound coming out and wondering what the man had to do with him. Standing at him, Norbert did not want to break eye contact with the man as the hairs on his neck stood up.
Feeling a breeze come up the back, not paying attention, just continuing to stare back at the commentator. Seeing a hand reach behind his opponent, tapping them on the shoulder, turning around to speak to whoever was there, currently blocked by the balcony rail.
Turning around, I saw Count von Count staring between them, raising an eyebrow, asking Norbert what that was about.
Stepping closer, Norbert just replying, "Heebee jeebies. Anyplace to rest for a bit?" Norbert asked the vampire.
Obsius twittering in his ear before taking off into the air. Norbert walked forward, following the bird after him, wondering where she was leading them and continuing to the centre of the room, seeing the stairs leading down.
Alighting on the railing, Obsius chirping appeared before him. Norbert went forward, hopping onto the railing, his backpack still slung over his back. He was kicking his feet in the air, whistling to himself. Count von Count joined beside him, whistling too. Obsius, the last in the trio, also joins in, the three singing three different tunes, none mixing, just clashing together and becoming an ear-sore.
The crowd slowly walked away from the three of them, Norbert keeping an eye out for Lily, wondering when she would return, as he wondered what the next part of his journey here would be.
Or was his time in the Halls of the Mountain King over?
***
The speaker read out all hundred names and made it through the round. Norbert was still resting on the rail, listening as he half-paid attention to the proceedings. He was listening in, having heard his name come and go.
Nodding his head in approval, Obsius turned to him now and chirped for him to succeed. Count von Count, and Obsius trailed behind him, holding his backpack over his back. The bird landed on his shoulder.
Walking forward, Norbert headed over to the section intended for him. Meeting the group there, right in front of the commentator, the others around them with each name passing sighing, pain shooting through them on every word.
"And last but not least, 101 Finekus Mage." With the last name being called out, the others looked around, already heading towards the stairs leading to the lower levels and the portal rooms to leave the Halls of the Mountain King.
"Thank you all for the other contestants who failed. Luck will be with you for the next time and your future journeys. Please head towards the portals and exit here; it would be much appreciated." He said as he stopped talking, waiting in silence as those not in the circle with Norbert were already making their way down.
As the final one finally went, Norbert noticed it was the warrior in the armour he had fought before, the gold trim and sword—the two of them locked eyes. With a nod of his head, he departed as well. Norbert nodded in return, saluting him with his hand lowered, receiving another nod as they went together.
Norbert turned around, facing the announcer again far above. Watching as the announcer stepped over the balcony, falling onto the floor with them. Landing on the stone, dust going everywhere, much more than what should have been created.
Quickly changing to magic vision, Norbert was hit with a wave of colours. Some sparkling and pulsing right under his eyes. Before changing it back to normal, the dust could still be seen with his magic vision before it slowly disappeared.
"Now, follow me, all of you." The announcer said. Norbert noticed his head wholly lost in the crowd, unable to see him between everyone else's shoulders.
Following the rest of the group, Norbert looked back and saw Commander Sally standing on the balcony edge, hand grabbing over the side; Norbert saw a bit of dust coming down. Wondering what could have made her so uneasy, Norbert saluted to her, hand far above in the air.
Only receiving a nod in return, Norbert went forward, following through with the others. Count von Count was already looking behind, seeing the interaction between the two before turning away, leading forward as he looked at them. Norbert is catching up, jogging to make it there.
Meeting up with the group, Norbert saw another staircase leading further above. Wondering what would be there, Norbert continued walking in silence.
After several minutes of this, Count von Count started whistling. The guide stopped, and so did everyone else in turn. Norbert saw their eyes bulging and appearing on their forehead. Norbert, grinning, opened his mouth and joined in the whistling as well.