In the locker room at Maxwell Colosseum, Veronica Hart was preparing for her highly anticipated match against her sister, Eliza. Her heart felt heavy as she pulled up her black thigh-high socks and carefully examined her croquet mallet, her mind racing with thoughts of the impending showdown.
A gentle knock broke her focus. "Come in," Veronica said, her voice steady but distant.
Eliza walked in calmly, her demeanor soft and mellow. She sat beside her sister, her hands clasped nervously. After a moment of silence, she spoke. "Veronica... I just want you to know, no matter how this competition turns out, our relationship won't change. I'll always be here for you."
Eliza placed a comforting hand on Veronica's back, her gesture filled with sisterly affection. But Veronica's reaction was far from what she had hoped. Slowly, Veronica put down her croquet mallet, her expression darkening. She turned to Eliza, her fierce glare piercing through the moment of tenderness.
"What do you mean by 'the competition doesn't go my way'?" Veronica snapped, brushing Eliza's hand off her back. "Do you think I'm going to lose to you?" Her voice was sharp, her words dripping with anger and pride.
Eliza's eyes widened in shock. Her intention had never been to hurt her sister or suggest she would lose. She simply wanted to reassure Veronica that their bond would remain unshaken, regardless of the outcome. "I didn't mean it that way," Eliza said softly, her tone calm and steady despite Veronica's anger. "I just want us to stay the same, no matter the result."
Veronica's frustration didn't subside. Her expression remained tense, her fists clenching slightly as she retorted, "We'll see about that in the arena. After the result!"
Grabbing her croquet mallet, Veronica stood abruptly, her movements sharp and deliberate. Without another word, she stormed out of the locker room, slamming the door behind her with a loud "Thump!" that echoed through the room.
Eliza sat quietly, staring at the closed door. She sighed deeply, the weight of the confrontation settling heavily on her shoulders. "I just wanted us to be okay," she murmured to herself, her gaze falling to the floor. After a long moment, she stood, steeling herself for the match ahead. Regardless of how the crowd cheered or what the result would be, she knew she'd have to face her sister—not just as a competitor, but as someone she deeply cared for.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/7/74/Eliza_Hart_Profile.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/c0/Versus.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/91/Veronica_Hart_Profile.png]
"Ladies and gentlemen! We now move on to the next highly anticipated match of the day!" Pat announced, his voice booming across the Maxwell Colosseum. "It's Eliza Hart versus Veronica Hart!" he exclaimed with dramatic flair as the massive billboard lit up, showcasing both competitors' names and portraits.
Samantha seamlessly picked up where Pat left off, her tone calm yet informative. "Eliza and Veronica Hart are twins, though Eliza is the older one—born just minutes before Veronica. Despite being twins, their personalities couldn't be more different. This contrast is reflected in their choice of sports and, ultimately, their fighting styles."
"Veronica Hart, the younger of the two, thrives on strategic aggression and deceptive tactics. She combines calculated strikes with disruptive maneuvers to control the flow of battle, always seeking to outmaneuver and overpower her opponents. Her fighting style is relentless and unpredictable, built to dominate through precision and sheer power."
Samantha then shifted her focus to Eliza. "On the other hand, Eliza Hart is the epitome of elegance, precision, and composure. She expertly combines offensive and defensive techniques with seamless grace. Her calm and composed demeanor allows her to stay ahead of her opponents, always one step ahead with her strategic mind and impeccable timing. Eliza's style is about balance—she strikes only when necessary and defends with surgical precision."
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Pat jumped in to keep the energy high. "It's a clash of contrasting approaches! Veronica's aggressive and disruptive style versus Eliza's refined, calculated precision. And to make things even more exciting—they're both wielding mallets, but in different forms: Veronica's croquet mallet for heavy, controlled strikes, and Eliza's polo mallet for fluid, sweeping maneuvers. This isn't just sibling rivalry—it's a battle of styles, strategy, and skill!"
The twin sisters stood across the arena, staring each other down as the crowd roared in excitement. Veronica tightened her grip on her croquet mallet, her eyes narrowing as thoughts raced through her mind.
Her gaze lingered on Eliza—her sister, her rival—and a sharp pang settled in her chest. I don't hate her… Veronica thought, her brows furrowing. In truth, she loved Eliza dearly. But love didn't erase the invisible wall that had been built between them, brick by brick, by the weight of family and public opinion.
"What a fine lady Eliza is!" someone's voice echoed in Veronica's memory, as if whispered by the wind in the arena. "Eliza has such a nice, polite personality."
Veronica's fingers curled tighter around her mallet. She had heard it all before—endless comparisons that praised Eliza while making Veronica feel invisible. It didn't matter that she excelled just as much as Eliza did in academics and sports. People always seemed to favor her sister because of her grace and likable demeanor.
A particular day resurfaced in her mind, sharp as a blade.
She had been sitting in class, silent, when she overheard two boys talking. Their voices, full of smugness, carried across the room.
"You see that girl with the red specs in the equestrian attire?" one boy said, nudging his friend.
"Yeah," the other replied with a grin.
"I could see her panty line through those snug white breeches," the first boy sneered, and they both burst out laughing, their chuckles laced with lewd intent.
Veronica froze, her heart pounded. Her sister, Eliza—polite, graceful, kind—was being mocked. Without hesitation, Veronica stood and turned toward them. "What did you just say about my sister?" she demanded, her voice low but dangerous.
One of the boys looked at her in surprise, but before he could answer, Veronica acted. Grabbing her croquet mallet, she swung it with precision and fury, smashing it into the first boy's face.
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"You crazy bitch!" the second boy yelled, lunging at her. But Veronica was ready. Lifting her mallet high, she delivered a Wicket Wallop, a powerful overhead smash that sent him sprawling to the ground, completely off balance.
Back in the discipline master's office, the aftermath unfolded like a cruel joke. The two boys exaggerated their injuries, bruises on display as they pointed accusing fingers at Veronica, who sat unscathed, her face defiant and expression cold.
"We didn't do anything," one boy whined. "She just attacked us! She's insane!"
The discipline master sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Apologize to them, Veronica, and we can let this matter rest."
"Why should I?" Veronica shot back, her voice cutting through the tension. "They're lying, and you know it."
"If you don't apologize, I'll be forced to put this incident on your record," the discipline master warned, his tone firm.
Veronica folded her arms and tapped her foot against the floor, refusing to budge. Just as the silence became unbearable, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Come in," the discipline master said, exasperated.
Eliza entered the room, her calm and composed presence immediately drawing everyone's attention. "Good afternoon, Discipline Master," she said politely. "I'd like to apologize on Veronica's behalf."
Veronica's head whipped around, her face filled with disbelief. "Eliza, no! You don't have to apologize—they're the ones in the wrong!"
But Eliza ignored her sister's protests. Walking over to the two boys, she bowed deeply. "I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience caused. I hope you can accept my apology on behalf of my sister."
The two boys exchanged smug, triumphant looks, glancing at Veronica with victory in their eyes. "Apology accepted," one said, smirking.
Veronica's anger boiled over. She gripped her croquet mallet tightly and slammed it into the wooden table beside her. CRACK! The sound echoed through the room, startling everyone.
"Veronica! Stop!" the discipline master yelled, but she was already walking out, her steps sharp and unyielding.
"Veronica, wait!" Eliza called after her, her voice tinged with concern. But Veronica didn't stop. She left the office, leaving her sister behind to clean up the mess she had tried to fix.
The roar of the crowd in the Maxwell Colosseum pulled Veronica back to the present. Her glare sharpened as her gaze locked onto Eliza standing across the arena, calm and collected, her polo mallet resting lightly in her hand.
Veronica's heart pounded, the memories fueling her resolve. Eliza may not fight for herself, but I will.
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This match was about more than just victory—it was about proving herself, once and for all. Veronica adjusted her stance, gripping her croquet mallet tightly as the referee blew the whistle. Without hesitation, she surged forward, launching into her signature Croquet Charge, swinging her mallet like a battering ram in a full-body blow aimed directly at Eliza. But Eliza remained calm and composed, activating Maneuver of Mirrors to anticipate Veronica's move. At the last moment, she gracefully sidestepped, letting Veronica’s charge strike nothing but air. As Veronica staggered, wide open and vulnerable, Eliza stood still, choosing not to seize the opportunity for a counterattack.
Veronica turned sharply, her frustration boiling over. "I hate the way you act, like you're superior to me!" she shouted, her voice shaking with emotion.
Eliza's expression faltered. Her hesitation wasn't born out of superiority—it was the conflict raging in her heart. She didn't want to deepen the wedge between them by attacking, but she also knew this was a competition. If she continued holding back, the chances of her losing were high.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/a/a2/Balance_Disruptor.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/58/Stable_Stance.png]
Misunderstanding her sister's hesitation, Veronica pressed forward with another attack, swinging her mallet in a calculated Balance Disruptor, aiming to knock Eliza off balance with a precise, targeted strike to create an opening for a powerful follow-up. However, Eliza stood firm, activating her Stable Stance by planting her feet in a wide, solid posture that mimicked the strength of a horse. She absorbed the impact of Veronica's croquet mallet without budging an inch, her body remaining rooted and unmoved by the force of her sister's aggression.
Eliza's lips parted as if to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. She had absorbed Veronica's strike, leaving an opening for a counterattack, but her mallet hovered mid-air. The internal struggle was evident in her trembling grip as she lifted her polo mallet, her hesitation freezing her in place.
The crowd's cheers began to shift into murmurs of confusion, quickly turning into boos as they noticed Eliza holding back her offense.
"Plenty of openings, but Eliza isn't taking them. Is she trying to lose?" Pat commented, his tone laced with disbelief as he and Samantha exchanged glances.
"You're right, Pat. Veronica came in strong with Croquet Charge and Balance Disruptor, pushing aggressively to control the match. But Eliza stayed calm, countering with Maneuver of Mirrors and Stable Stance to deflect and absorb the blows," Samantha explained, her eyes narrowing at the arena. "That left Veronica wide open for follow-up attacks. But for some reason, Eliza's hesitating—she's not pressing the advantage."
Veronica, sharp and perceptive, immediately noticed her sister holding back yet again. Frustration bubbled to the surface, her emotions spilling into the arena. "Can you start to fight for real?" Veronica's voice cracked with a mix of anger and desperation. "Holding back only makes me look like the villain! If I win this way, I'll hate you even more!"
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/84/Hobbling_Hack.png]
Veronica didn't wait for a response. Her mallet swung low as she launched Hobbling Hack, a precise strike aimed at Eliza's foot—a move designed to disrupt her sister's stance, knowing her previous stability would falter under this attack.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/6/63/Distancing_Drive.png]
But Eliza reacted swiftly, transitioning into Distancing Drive. With a leaping backswing of her mallet, she deflected Veronica's strike and simultaneously created space between them in one fluid, graceful motion. Landing lightly, Eliza took a deep breath, her expression shifting to one of calm resolve.
Veronica's words had struck a chord. Eliza now understood what her sister truly wanted: not pity or restraint, but a genuine competition—a battle fought with respect for both the game and their bond.
"Eliza..." Veronica growled, her mallet ready for another strike.
But this time, Eliza stood firm, meeting her sister's gaze with newfound determination. "Veronica," she said, her voice steady yet warm, "I'm still sticking to what I said—no matter how this competition turns out, our relationship won't change. But..." Her grip tightened on her mallet as she shifted into a ready stance. "This time, I'm not holding back!"
The air between them shifted, the tension crackling with the promise of a true fight. Eliza's calm resolve radiated through the arena, and Veronica could feel it.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/95/Eliza_performs_Calming_Canter%2C_circling_her_opponent_with_a_measured_pace%2C_using_her_calming_presence_to_disrupt_their_focus_and_lull_them_into_a_false_sense_of_security.png]
Without hesitation, Eliza launched into Calming Canter, circling Veronica with a measured and deliberate pace. Her movements were smooth, almost hypnotic, as she used her calming presence to disrupt Veronica's focus and lull her into a false sense of security.
Veronica smirked, her expression laced with sarcasm. "Now we're talking!" she said, her voice cutting through the crowd's noise. "Show me what you've got, dear sister. Let's see if you can actually win against me!"
This was the competition Veronica had been waiting for. A real fight. She wasn't here to settle for anything less than showing the world—and more importantly, Eliza—who was stronger, who was better, and who truly protected whom.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/7/70/Croquet_Coup.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/c5/Equestrian_Evasion.png]
Veronica steadied herself, eyes locked on Eliza as she carefully gauged her sister's every movement, noting and calculating each subtle shift in stance. With a sudden burst of speed and precision, she launched into Croquet Coup, swinging her mallet with deadly accuracy toward a critical point to deliver a decisive blow. Yet, Eliza's calm demeanor never wavered; she responded with Equestrian Evasion, leaping gracefully over Veronica's lunging attack with the fluidity of a horse clearing a hurdle. Her movements were both elegant and swift, a perfect display of her refined skill.
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As Veronica overextended from her missed strike, leaving herself open, Eliza seized the opportunity with a calculated maneuver, activating Reining Reversal to tug on her mallet and pull the unbalanced Veronica toward her. Unable to regain her footing, Veronica stumbled, leaving her vulnerable. Eliza followed up seamlessly with Elegant Strike, her polo mallet swinging in a powerful yet graceful arc. The blow connected cleanly, its precision unmistakable as it struck Veronica, knocking her off balance. She staggered and fell to the sandy ground with a muted thud, a small cloud of dust rising around her. Lying there momentarily, Veronica smiled faintly, surprised to be the first between them to take a hit, though the experience only fueled her resolve.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/8a/Strategic_Sacrifice.png]
Still in the competition—neither disarmed nor knocked out—Veronica picked herself up, brushing off the sand with a grin. "This is what I'm talking about!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement rather than frustration. She wasn't angry; instead, she relished the rivalry, savoring the thrill of the competition with her sister. With a sharpened gaze, she gripped her croquet mallet tightly, her determination evident. Without hesitation, Veronica activated Strategic Sacrifice, smashing her mallet into the sandy ground to create a debris cloud, buying herself valuable time to gain a tactical advantage. The sudden smokescreen momentarily obscured the battlefield, disorienting Eliza's view. Yet, Eliza remained calm, her composure unshaken as she carefully observed, focusing intently to anticipate where Veronica's next attack would come from.
image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/4/40/Queen%27s_Gambit.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/1/1f/Symphony_of_Steed_and_Steel.png]
Using the cover to her advantage, Veronica prepared her ultimate move, Queen's Gambit, charging through the debris with her mallet held high, her movements exuding deadly intent. Just before impact, she executed a dazzling maneuver aimed at disarming Eliza and landing a decisive strike to secure victory. However, Eliza remained calm and composed, seeing through the chaos and responding with her own ultimate move, Symphony of Steed and Steel. Twirling her polo mallet in an elegant display that mimicked a rearing horse, she unleashed a flurry of precise strikes, countering Veronica's charge with relentless precision.
The two ultimates clashed in a breathtaking moment of combat, but Eliza's technique had the edge with its series of rapid, well-timed blows. Veronica was struck multiple times, her stance faltering under the unrelenting assault. Finally, with a sharp swing, Eliza's mallet struck true, sending Veronica to the ground once more. This time, her croquet mallet fell from her hand, clattering to the sandy floor.
The referee's whistle pierced the air. "The winner is Eliza Hart!" he declared, pointing toward the composed elder sister.
"What a clash of ultimates! After a slow start from Eliza holding back, we finally have a winner in this battle between the two sisters!" Pat exclaimed, his excitement echoing through the arena.
"That's right, Pat," Samantha chimed in, nodding. "Once Eliza shifted into offense, the momentum swung in her favor quickly. Her calm demeanor played a huge role in grounding her approach, while Veronica's more aggressive, risk-heavy combat style left her open."
Samantha leaned forward, analyzing the decisive moment. "During the ultimate clash, Veronica's Queen's Gambit relied on a high-risk, high-reward tactic—designed to disarm her opponent just before delivering the final strike. However, the maneuver hinges heavily on perfect timing. In contrast, Eliza's Symphony of Steed and Steel unleashed a relentless flurry of strikes. This gave her a significant edge since multiple hits increased her chances of connecting, ultimately overwhelming Veronica."
Pat nodded in agreement, watching the sisters in the arena. "In the end, Eliza's precision and calculated approach won out, allowing her to stand tall after their ultimates collided."
The crowd erupted as the replay of the clash played on the massive screen, showcasing the moment Eliza's final strike disarmed Veronica, solidifying her victory, but to Veronica, the world fell silent. Lying on the ground, she stared blankly at the colosseum ceiling, stunned by how everything had unfolded.
"I guess Eliza doesn't need my protection after all..." Veronica thought, the realization sinking heavily into her heart.
Eliza, however, didn't bask in her victory. She let her polo mallet slip from her hand and rushed toward Veronica without hesitation, concern etched into her face. Kneeling beside her sister, Eliza's eyes searched Veronica's for any sign of pain—physical or emotional.
"Veronica, are you alright?" Eliza asked softly, her voice filled with genuine worry.
Veronica kept her eyes shut, turning her head away, unwilling to meet Eliza's gaze. She held back the tears threatening to spill over, her chest tightening.
"I meant what I said," Eliza whispered gently, brushing strands of hair away from Veronica's face. "No matter what happens here, nothing will change between us."
Veronica's lips trembled as she finally broke the silence. "Then why did you apologize to those boys... when you knew they were in the wrong?" Her voice cracked, the weight of her lingering resentment pressing down on her.
Eliza's eyes widened, realization dawning on her. She's still holding on to that...
"I was trying to prevent things from escalating," Eliza explained softly. "I knew they were wrong, Veronica. But I didn't want the discipline master to put anything on your record. I thought... I thought I was protecting you."
Veronica's breath hitched. For so long, she had believed she was the one protecting Eliza, standing up for her when no one else would. Yet now, it was clear—Eliza had been protecting her in her own quiet way.
The tears she could no longer suppress spilled down her cheeks as she sat up, covering her face with her hands.
Eliza immediately pulled her into a tight embrace, gently patting her back as Veronica sobbed into her shoulder.
"It's alright," Eliza whispered, holding her close. "Everything will be fine."
As the cheers of the crowd slowly faded into the background, the match officially came to a close. Veronica had been knocked into Loser's Round 2, still with a chance to fight her way back into the tournament. But in that moment, the competition didn't seem to matter.
What truly mattered was the bond between the two sisters — rekindled and strengthened, more resilient than before.