May 25th, year 024 Angels Descent
The day for the big fight had arrived, and the entire school day had been cleared of lessons to allow everyone to attend. The main arena was already filling up with students from all years throughout the various schools that made up the Academy.
In the Vip box with the best view of the arena below was a selection of cushioned seats where several nobles that had made the trip to watch the bouts. Alongside these people were various other important dignitaries and a woman dressed in rags that most in the know suspected was Crozonia in disguise.
“Greetings, it is a pleasure to welcome all of you,” Professor Michael said as he genuflected towards the crowd. As he greeted them, the door to the room opened as Alex entered, followed closely by Yuu, Elissa and Gorm.
“Yeah, hi,” Alex added, giving the crowd a quick wave while Michael seethed at the blatant disrespect Alex was showing. In the end, he decided to hold his tongue, deciding to let the human embarrass himself in front of the people he will need backing him.
“You know, young Alexander, I can be magnanimous.”
“Oh, you can?”
“Yes, I know it is hard for your human brain to comprehend. But we Orcs are very morally upstanding individuals. So I shall grant you this boon only once, forfeit your match to me now, and you can save face.”
“Save Face?”
“Yes,” Michael replied with a nod. Alex, though began moving his hands over his face touching it from various angles.
“No thanks, my face feels fine, thanks,” Alex replied, to which a few of the observing nobles chuckled.
“Very well, don’t say I didn’t give you the option,” Michael said as he chuckled at the barely educated peasant standing before him. He couldn’t help but feel delighted at how badly Alex had misunderstood his offer, only reaffirming his stance in his own mind.
As Alex greeted the various dignitaries individually, Michael spotted the person he had been waiting for all day. He had researched all that was publicly available about her and provided her favourite food and drinks.
“Greetings, everyone,” Mimi announced as she entered, followed closely by her two aides and Serena. Michael abandoned everything he was doing and briskly approached her.
“It is a deep honour to meet you, General Sangui,” Michael said as he offered a bow.
“Huh? Oh yeah, sure, nice to meet you, I guess,” Mimi replied.
“I can assure you that Maelsteez is by far one of the best candidates on today's fights. If anything, he could win it alone; such is the prowess of my teaching when combined with your eye for skill.”
“Maelsteez?” Mimi repeated, turning to her two aides.
“Ma’am, it is the pickpocket that tried to outrun you in Port Staine,” Cassandra explained.
“You put him into the military academy recognising his ability, and he is set to start the officer's course in the Octogram starting next year,” Dorian added.
“Oh yeah, I remember now,” Mimi said as she snapped her fingers.
“No doubt the lofty role of a general leaves your mind so focused on work you let many things slide.” Michael’s suggestion was met with a gaze from her aides that would put the word value of a picture to shame.
“So, who are you?”
“Oh, my apologies,” Michael said, giving a deep bow. “My name is Professor Michael; it is an honour to make your acquaintance.”
“Charmed, I’m sure,” Mimi replied limply, shaking his hand.
“Now, where is the other one?” Mimi asked.
“Other? Oh, you mean Alexander… Between you and me, ma’am, he is not the right sort to associate between the likes of our kind,” Michael whispered conspiratorially.
“Right sort?” Mimi repeated as she cocked her head in confusion.
“Yo, Mimi,” Elissa said, beaming as she walked up to the group.
“Hey, Lissy,” Mimi said as she embraced the elf in a hug.
“I should’ve known you were acquainted with the elven princess. Especially as her family are big players in the military circles.”
“Huh?” Both Mimi and Elissa said, both looking thoroughly confused.
“What does the military have to do with me knowing my baby brother's fiancee?”
“Baby… Brother?” Michael repeated, feeling a deep pit begin to form in his stomach.
“Mimi, you spoiled it!” Alex whined as he approached. “He didn’t know we were siblings. I was hoping he would spill the beans on nefarious schemes he’s cooking up.”
“Sorry, Ali,” Mimi replied as she ruffled Alex’s hair.
“So you two are?”
“Siblings, yes,” Alex answered.
“So you have a sister who is the head of a legion?”
“Yeah, I’m sure I mentioned I have family in the army,” Michael actually did recall when Alex had told him that, but he had assumed they were a city guard at best. No the famed head of the fifth legion.
Just as he was about to spiral into a pit of despair upon realising Alex would be a far bigger fish to deal with, he spied a pair that Lord Sloth had invited himself. Two of the four great mages from the Elementals Adventurer clan.
“Ah, Lord Hadean and Lady Rozoic, it is this old mage’s deep honour to greet you,” Michael said with his most ingratiating smile. Only for the pair to walk right past him and up to Alex and Mimi.
“How are you doing, Ali?” Rosy said as she approached Alex.
“I’m fine,” Alex replied.
“What about you, Mimi? Staying out of trouble?”
“You’re only in trouble if you get caught,” Mimi replied as she embraced Rosy in a big hug.
“I do wish that wasn’t the lesson you learnt from Meso,” Hadean said with a sigh as he embraced Mimi in a big fatherly hug.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but how do you know each other?” Micahel asked.
“Oh well, we met when me and Mimi were both adventurers,” Alex replied.
“Ah, yes, that does make sense,” Michael said with a nervous chuckle.
“You only see us as old adventurer buddies?” Hadean said as he dramatically began to cry and wipe away his crocodile tears with a handkerchief. “We clothed you, fed you and gave you a roof over your heads, and you still don’t see us as your adoptive parents?”
“I’m sorry old man… I mean… DAD!!” Alex dramatically replied as both men leapt into each other's arms and embraced in a big hug, where they kept lifting each other off the ground, all while Mimi and Rosy watched with deep grimaces.
“Seriously, it’s a miracle those two didn’t run away with the circus,” Mimi muttered.
“Oh, they did a little while after you joined the army.”
“As clowns?”
“Alex was a dragon tamer, and Haddy was a fire eater. Kind of cheating, considering Hadean is immune to the flames he conjures.”
As he watched this exchange, Michael could only go an even paler shade of white. He was now face to face with all the connections Alex had. Even with the help of the few who didn’t like Alex, he had way too much support for them to deal with him directly. Even with his ironwood connections aid, it would still be their loss.
“Alright, enough of the family get-together; the opening ceremony is about to begin; the referee and announcer are entering right now,” Sloth said as he manifested himself from a cloud of smoke that had suddenly risen from the ground.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Looking down into the arena, they could see a pair of men walk into the centre. All the faculty in the VIP box, as well as many students, recognised the larger of the two. It was Professor Lincoln, chief of the disciplinary body.
“WOOO, LINCOLN, THERE'S MY BUDDY!!!” Alex shouted from his seat.
“ADMIT IT, YOU MISS US, BUDDY!!!” Yuu added.
Lincoln looked up to the VIP box with unrestrained hatred directed at the pair who, for some ungodly reason, became regulars in his punishment chambers when they were students. His biggest frustration was he never broke them. The only people who regularly got into trouble as much as they did had certain predispositions, and even they broke in the end.
Standing next to Lincoln was a man Yuu and Alex recognised just as well as Lincoln. He was the announcer from their part-owned tavern. When they spoke to him about a fight tournament that would be the fight of the decade, he had volunteered and even insisted he be given the job of commentator.
“ARE YOU READY FOR TO SEE A FIGHT?!!!” The announcer shouted into a noise amplifying device. The crowd of students went wild in response.
“WELL, WELL, MR LINCOLN, IT SEEMS THE CROWD DON’T WANT TO SEE THE FIGHTS IN THE END. I ASKED IF YOU WERE READY TO SEE A FIGHT?!!!!” The crowd went even wilder.
“THAT’S MORE LIKE IT!!! WE ALL KNOW THE RULES ALREADY, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON’T, HERE THEY ARE. FIGHTS ARE TILL KNOCK-OUT. THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORFEIT IF THEY SO CHOOSE. THEY NEED ONLY VERBALISE THEIR WITHDRAWAL. IF VERBALISATION IS IMPOSSIBLE, HOLDING UP YOUR THUMB, FOREFINGER AND PINKY FINGER IN DEVIL HORNS WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTED!!!”
The crowd of students all made the devil horns and began pumping their fists upwards in response to his words.
“Now let's tone things down and get serious, aye, kiddos!” the announcer said, bringing his voice down to a more acceptable volume.
“This fight is like a trial of Champions. Though instead of the general sending forth one, they are sending forth six… the winner will have all the glory!!! THE LOSER WILL FOREVER WEEP IN SHAME!!!” The announcer declared as he held his fist up high as he began shouting again.
“First up to represent Team Michael we have. The one, the only, GENTLEMAN JACK!!!!” As the announcer shouted the name, an explosion of colourful dust blew up outside the arena. Everyone in the crowd was wondering what was happening until they saw a figure flying through the sky.
There on the back oif a sky-bound chariot being pulled by a pair of skyboars was Jack. She was dressed to the nines in a suit better suited for meeting royalty. She flew around the top of the arena waving with her top hat as she brought her vehicle in to land inside the arena.
Jack approached the line marking where she was meant to stand as she began blowing kisses to the crowd, who were going entirely too wild at the sight of her arrival.
“Hey, Alex, she one of yours?” Hadean asked.
“No… I’m kind of disappointed she has the right kind of showmanship I love,” Alex replied.
“If she’s not yours, then I call dibs.”
“Dammit… fine, you can take her should she want to join you.”
“Next up for Team Alexander, we have Maxwell Greyback!!!!” The crowd gave an enthusiastic applause as the gate to the lefthand side of the arena opened, and in staggered Maxwell, who looked like he had had a single-digit count to the hours of sleep during his past week.
“What a lacklustre entrance!!! DID GENTLEMAN JACK SET THE BAR WAY TOO HIGH ALREADY?!!! NEXT FOR Team MICHAEL, WE HAVE SIMON THE DRAGON SLAYER!!!!”
The gate to the right side of the arena opened, and much like Maxwell, Simon walked steadily to his mark. The only thing of note about him was his pristine white robe and the staff in his hand.
“Next for Team Alexander, we have the man of mithril himself. Gunter Lockheathe!!!” The crowd gave a more subdued applause as the fervour of Jack’s entrance had begun to wane.
Though their anticipation began to rise as loud metallic footsteps began to thud down the tunnel, slowly but surely stepping out into the light was Gunter in a set of ornate full plate mail. In each of his hands was a tower shield that looked more like a fortress door. At this sight alone, the crowd began to cheer.
“Team Alexander has a man of mithril, but Team Michael is no slouch either when it comes to armoured giants. Please welcome Ironsides the dragonslayer!!!”
From the right-hand tunnel stomped out an equally large figure in full plate mail. The only difference was his armour wasn’t decorated in any way. The only noticeable mark was the obvious bitemark along the breastplate.
“Oh cool, a blue dragon bite,” Sithy commented.
“AH!!! When did you get here?” Alex asked.
“I’ve been here since the start,” Sithy replied, looking heartbroken.
“You, sir, have a discerning eye. My students slayed a filthy bestial dragon without any help from outsiders,” Michael bragged.
“Uh… I am a dragon, just so you know.” Michael, upon hearing this, began to sputter as his mind rapidly tried to find a solution to his faux pas. Only to have Sithy throw him a life preserver.
“It’s ok; dragons don’t become sapient till they reach a certain level of manastores. It was probably a young dragon that was still a wild beast.” Michael exhaled a deep sigh of relief at the out Sithy had given him.
“Next up, we have Tasha, the elven war maiden!!!” The announcer declared as he gestured to the lefthand tunnel. Stepping out into the open, Tasha trudged to her mark. Only this time, the entire arena was deathly silent. It was so silent you could even hear a pin drop.
Tasha's clothing and armour were so torn up they left little to the imagination. In fact, they left so little to the imagination that a number of nearby authors and artists experienced serve blocks as the universe tried to fill the void of imagination her appearance left.
“Elissa…” Alex began turning a baleful gaze to his fiancee.
“Y-yes honey…” Elissa replied, avoiding eye contact and trying but failing to whistle inconspicuously.
“Why is she all but naked?”
“Well…..”
“I’m sorry, are you Alison? If not, you have no right to speak to me in that tone of voice. Tell me why she is in shredded rags?”
“She is a berserker!!” Elissa answered as she retreated behind Mimi.
“A berserker?” Alex repeated, surprised. “They are rare…”
“I know, so I trained her, and the result is her clothing and…” Elissa began listing off a dozen other reasons why Tasha was dressed so scandalously, only to have Alex hold up a hand to stop her.
“Elissa… My heart… my other half… you do know berserkers do wear armour, right? Like often heavy armour.”
“They do?” Mimi and Elissa responded in unison.
“I thought they fought naked with only a bear skin on?”
“No!!! That is an old wives' tale. They were effectively heavy troopers. That’s why they were so difficult to take down. Any idiot fighting naked would just be run through!!” Elissa lowered her head in apology as the rest of the VIP box returned their attention to the arena.
“Next for Team Michael, the blur, the speedster. Maelsteez!!!!”
A yellowish blur shot out of the right-hand tunnel and began moving, creating a blurred line. From the perspective of the audience, they could see ‘Maelsteez’ written out right before their very eyes. Only for it to vanish as quickly as it appeared as Maelsteez stopped on his mark.
The sight of this burst the bubble of energy Tasha had left in the wake of her arrival, leaving the crowd going wild. They were screaming and cheering for all the fighters. One group of teenage boys, in particular, had somehow fashioned a Tasha banner already.
“Next for Team Alexander, we have the WORDERER HIMSELF!!! KLINE!!!!!” The entire arena turned their attention to the lefthand tunnel only to see nothing arrive.
“I said, THE WORDERER KLINE!!!”
The arena went quiet as a few voices began murmuring as to where he was. The few that knew him suggested he may have run as he had more of a flight than a fight sense about him, only for a deep clawing noise to begin to echo out of the tunnel.
Kline was slowly crawling out of the tunnel dragging himself by his fingers. The boy was covered in bruises and paint and looked like he had seen hell and decided to stay for a while. Even his classmates, who had all been kept in separate waiting rooms, were appalled by his appearance.
Some of the audience began to laugh at how much of a coward he appeared. A few even started to throw bits of food towards him. Spying the food falling from above, moving faster than anyone could see, Kline weaved his way between each piece of food arriving at his mark. The rest of the fighters decided not to comment on the kitty whiskers drawn on his face.
“Ok… Well…You ok, Kline?” the announcer seemed genuinely put off by Kline's arrival, only for him to nod and gesture for him to continue.
“Very well… Next for Team Michael, we have the ball of cotton candy sweetness Mana Hannah!!!” Hannah walked into the arena to a smattering of applause and cheers as she nervously waved back to the crowd.
“She is one of my best students, you know?” Michael bragged to everyone in the VIP box. “She brings pride to the Orcish race.”
“Ins’t she a twinblood?” Alex asked, confused.
“Of course she is…” Michael paused to look at the gathered dignitaries and smiled. “We at the Academy strive to include beings from all walks of life. I can say this without hesitation I am proud she is one of my students.”
The dignitaries and various nobles all lifted a glass to toast his sentiment—all but one hooded figure that looked mightily uncomfortable by Michael’s statements.
“Next up for Team Alexander, she may be small but don’t let that fool you. Beezlebub Blackgate!!!”
The audience turned their attention to the lefthand tunnel only to see a haggard-looking Bea trudge out. Slowly shuffling up to her mark only to grab only Kline’s trouser leg for support before falling asleep standing up.
Seeing this, Kline bent down to gently shake her awake, only to feel a serpentine movement wrap around his arm. Before he knew what was happening, Bea had his arm secured in an arm breaker lock.
“Huh… Oh sorry… I haven’t slept much this past week… Mimi is demanding with her training,” Bea apologised as she released Kline’s arm.
“Next for Team Michael. You all know him. You love him, or you hate him. {Adlib, some other duality example, and don’t read the note out loud, Thomas}... Heh, sorry, folks… THE MADMAN HIMSELF, THE CRIMSON RIOT!!!!!”
The crowd was awash with cheers and boos as stomping out of the righthand tunnel, Red appeared. True to his moniker, he was decked head to toe in red armour; even his face was painted bright red with war paint.
“Now last and by no means least, From Team Alexander, we have Daisy!!!”
From the left side of the arena, Daisy marched out decked in a new set of combat robes with a Dragon spiralling around an open book embroidered on its back. Walking to her mark, she stood to attention, ignoring the looks of her more exhausted-looking classmates.
“NOW WE HAVE EVERYONE HERE, REPRESENTATIVES. PLEASE OPEN THE COMPETITION!!” The announcer declared, gesturing to the VIP box. Walking onto the balcony, Alex and Michael stood there for all the crowd to see. They then spoke the opening prayer of competitive battle.
“May the sand be soaked in the blood of your enemies. May Glory be yours, and may the hearts of the crowd ever sway in your favour!!” With this opening prayer given, a loud gong was rung.
“THANK YOU, THE FIRST ROUND WILL BE BETWEEN SIMON THE DRAGON SLAYER AND THE MITHRIL MAN GUNTER!!!”