Seiji watched Lirio and Selene make short work of Cadet Lyssa and Servant Oliver. According to the glimpses of the videoboard the camera managed to catch, Lirio had reached Tier 8 at some point over the last two days. He wasn’t surprised by that at all. If he was being honest with himself, it seemed like a given that Lirio would achieve the final Tier in preparation for their final battle.
“They aren’t trying at all,” Cora said, pointing at the screen through their embrace. “They’re dragging it out.”
“You told them to impress you, didn’t you?” Seiji chuckled. While her words had been general, Seiji knew they were directed specifically toward Selene and Lirio.
“I did,” Cora nodded. “I want to see them fight at their best.”
Cora spoke with far more finality, Seiji began to realize. There were no ifs in her thoughts. She knew that she would win the Valkyrie Exam and instead seemed to focus on what they would be doing after they passed. It filled Seiji with a level of comfort he didn’t know he needed, especially considering his confidence in his ability to defeat Lirio.
“It’s a shame we didn’t get to practice against the Pit Demon before today,” Seiji mused. He had no interest in the weak beast, but he wanted to know what Cora would say in response.
“I don’t think so. We’ll be challenged more by Selene and Lirio. Those two don’t have an ounce of Dominion between them, yet they fight like they do. Once the Valkyrie Festival ends and I return from my retreat with my mother, we can travel to Enphilix. We’ll have far more opportunities to train against truly powerful beings there.”
“Valkyrie Festival?” Seiji asked. That was the first time he’d ever heard that.
Cora looked up at him. “I could’ve sworn I told you about it. The minute the Wing Ceremony ends, there’s a week-long, city-wide celebration called the Valkyrie Festival where everyone in Haven celebrates the rise of a new Valkyrie. Both of us will take center stage, but we’ll have plenty of free time at the end of each day–”
She was interrupted by the familiar pop of Thea’s teleportation ability. They turned at the same time to find her standing behind Endora and Akio, both dressed in silver and gold armor. Thea waved at them, smiled, and teleported right out of the room.
“Endora! Akio!” Cora shouted, standing from the couch to gather the Valkyrie and Servant into a wide hug.
“It’s only been a day and a half,” Endora laughed, though she still looked down tenderly at Cora.
“Don’t worry, Cor. I know places like the Silent Antichamber can mess with your perception of time,” Akio mused. “I appreciate the warm greeting.”
Seiji stood from the couch and waved. Endora gave him a sharp look, summoned an Aqua Silhouette, and had it drag him into the group hug. It, again, filled him with a level of comfort that he didn’t even realize he needed.
They separated after a while, making their way over to the couch once again. Endora and Akio sat on opposite couch handles while Seiji and Cora returned to their familiar spots beside one another on the couch. The fight with Selene and Lirio was still going on, though Seiji imagined someone should probably call it off soon. Cadet Lyssa and Servant Oliver were practically running from their opponents who chasing them around the arena like cats hunting mice.
“My mother told me you two trained Selene and Lirio,” Cora began, her eyes still focused on the screen in front of them. “Any hints for us?”
“Lirio hit Tier 8 and they both managed to develop decent mental defenses for Dominion,” Endora responded.
“Do they have any Dominion of their own?” Seiji asked.
“Not yet,” Endora revealed.
“I see,” Cora mused. She turned her head to Endora, but continued to watch the screen. “Do you suppose it could be taught?”
“Akio and I have begun to lay the groundwork. Before I can teach them to wield it, I need to teach them to defend against it. I think you’ll be impressed by our handiwork.”
Cora nodded slowly, turning back to face the screen. Seiji wasn’t sure what was going on in either of their heads. While he just wanted to know more about his opponents, Cora and Endora were clearly thinking of something else. Just as he was going to ask what they were thinking about, Selene finally landed the finishing blow on Cadet Lyssa – a simple kick to the stomach.
Sir Lasko announced their victory as a black ball formed before Selene and Lirio on the stage. As the audience roared, Seiji couldn’t help but wonder how Cadet Lyssa and Servant Oliver were feeling. He would’ve said as much, but it seemed like the wrong thing to ask with Endora and Akio present, all things considered.
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“Now, Selene Andris of Lower Haven. Do you have any words for the audience? Any words for your fellow Cadets?”
The view changed to Selene’s face, who stared into the camera – the black ball – with a look of utter defiance.
“Are you impressed?” Selene growled. Even through the screen, it felt as though she was staring directly at them, though it was far more accurate to say she was staring at Cora. Everyone in the room turned to her as she muttered, “Not just yet.”
The audience, for one, loved that response from Selene. They roared as Sir Lasko began to announce his and Cora’s upcoming battle against the Alex Twins. Seiji recalled the looks of boredom and disinterest they shared on the stage. This fight was the closest thing to a formality they’d ever had during the Valkyrie Exam. He still wanted a good fight, but he supposed he could wait for the actual final battle for that.
“You know, I think I’m going to miss the Alex Twins,” Seiji said.
He meant it, too. Strangely, it was thanks to their failed attempt on Seiji and Cora’s lives that they’d even gotten to this point. Besides, they were endearing in their own way. It was no surprise the townspeople loved them.
“I won’t,” Endora scoffed. “Get rid of them quickly. Embarrass them.”.
During their Dominion training before the Favorite’s Rites, Endora had made it abundantly clear how she felt about the Alex Twins’ little stunt. She felt disrespected by their assessment of Haven’s Valkyries, and felt even more disrespected by the ‘interest’ her father took in them.
“Don’t worry, Endora. Their Valkyrie Exam will end with us.”
“Good.” Endora nodded. “They aren’t fit to fight under us.”
Akio, who’d been silent this entire time, stood from his seat and stretched. At the same time, Thea popped into the room and called for Seiji and Cora.
“Make it quick, yeah? If you end it quickly, they’ll probably have you two stay on the stage to finish the Exhibition. If that’s the case, this’ll be the last time we see you two until the Wing Ceremony.”
“I didn’t think about that!” Endora said.
She walked to Akio’s side and wrapped an arm around his waist, spreading the other out wide. Akio did the same, calling for Seiji and Cora to join them. They hugged again, and Seiji again felt the warmth he’d begun to appreciate. A bit too in the moment, Seiji called for Thea to join them, which Endora seemed to vehemently agree with. The entire moment was–
“Ten seconds, Thea.” Sir Lasko’s voice called from the box at Thea’s hip. She shuttered.
“Shit! Okay. Princess, Otsuki, let’s go.”
----------------------------------------
While they stood on the stage, Sir Lasko talked about the highlights of every person on the stage. It was clearly for the crowd moreso than it was for the fighters. The Alex Twins, for one, seemed to be just as disinterested as ever, though they both seemed to light up the moment Sir Lasko focused his attention on them. There was something there, but Seiji had no idea what it was. Rather than dwell on that unknown, he decided to focus his attention on a different unknown.
“Are we going to be using our new abilities in this battle?” Seiji asked.
“Of course not,” Cora answered. “It needs to be a surprise for Selene and Lirio. Don’t worry, though. I know you’ll be quick to adjust.” She smiled. “I may need to rely on your Veil Aspect a few times, so please look out for my signal.”
Seiji gave her an incredulous look. “You knew?!”
Cora laughed. “Father told Mother shortly after you awakened to it. Congratulations, by the way.”
“No! That isn’t fair, you don’t get to know my new technique but you can’t tell me yours!”
She gently pushed his arm. “Oh, please. You’ll calm down the moment you see how powerful our Resonance is with my new technique. I practiced it against my mother and she called it dangerous! Do you know how strong an attack has to be for her to call it dangerous?”
“Fighters, begin!” Sir Lasko shouted.
“No, but I need something to work with. At least a hint..”
The Alex Twins cloaked themselves in a blazing inferno, kicking off at full speed for Seiij and Cora. Just like in the Hell Pit, they both had a decent hint of Dominion.
“I deserve to know after you–”
Seiji and Cora released Dragon Bursts at the same time. The Twins flew back into the crowd, stopped only by the invisible aura barrier guarding the audience from the battle. They fell into the sandy edge of the arena and did not stand back up.
“...learned about mine!”
Cora rolled her eyes and shot him a mischievous smile. “How about this, if you guess correctly, I’ll tell you.”
“Victory to Cora Lambros and Seiji Otsuki!”
“Is it Dragon related?” Seiji shouted over the audience’s booming applause.
Cora laughed pretty hard as Thea teleported beside them, handing them both a recovery elixir. She drank it down, coughed, then spoke.
“Everything I do is Dragon related. Be more specific!”