Midas rubbed his tired lids; he could feel people he most likely will never interact with stare down onto him from every angle with anticipation - his body felt limp. Looking down onto the dusty rubble floor of the arena reminded him of the desert floor, as if he did all of this and didn't make any progress at all. Swallowing his yawn, he unsheathed his rusty sickle as if it was the same piece of metal that had accompanied him since Almas's death - having slotted a sunshard into his covered-up rune long before he arrived in the city, Midas slowly raised his head to a blonde boy roughly his age.
Only able to frown tiredly at the cheeky grin and spiky hair of his opponent, he was able to feel the sun now shine directly over their heads - as only the viewers surrounding him were allowed to make use of roofing. Unsheathing his sword from the holster that was worn on his shoulder, Midas was able to make out a blue shine from the handle of the blade, most definitely a water stone. Right over his opponent's head was a guarded sitting area - someone definitely sat there; however, their faces were obscured by the light blue silk.
After the sound of a bell being hit, the royalty wasted no time to dash towards him - his teeth flashing as if he was eager to finally get to attack a southerner. Barely five steps away from Midas, he conjured water from thin air to accumulate around his blade - ramming it into the ground. Closing his eyes for just the fraction of a moment, Midas was able to see invisible movements through the dark of his lids - mana was transported into the ground, directly going to shoot up into him.
Judging by what he had known of vine bending with a plant stone, Midas leaned forward, accumulating mana into his calves and foot muscles to leap forward into his opponent. He aimed for the wrist holding onto the sword, barely able to unstick his blade in time - his swing was blocked by the sword. Hooking the enemy's weapon with his curved blade in place, Midas swiftly formed a fist with his right hand, able to land a gut punch.
With a dimm groan, his enemy stumbled - just as he lost his footing the back of Midas heat was hit by a splash of water, making him fall to one knee as his vision dimmly blurred by the impact of the shot. Just as his eyes focused on the wide grin of his enemy, Midas had to press against the sword of his enemy with both of his hands on his sickle - defenseless against the kick that quickly followed against his blocking blade.
Being launched back onto the dry ground, Midas head continued to ache, his jaw clutched as he tried his best to get up again as his opponent looked down at him, stomping into his stomach as Midas torso tried to move upwards - securing him there. The knight began to count down; with dry groans, he clutched the ankle of his enemy. Water bending seemed to differ from vine bending with a plant stone, as there didn't seem to be the need of a constant mana flow to move the mass of water once a general force and curvature were applied.
Hearing a snicker hull not only from above him but also through his own mind, Midas eventually gripped the ground with his bandaged right hand. Burrowing his fingertips into the ground, he was able to feel sand accumulate at his palm as whatever debree and dust began to circulate into his hand - just before the last letter was spoken, his enemy had been hit with a ball of compromised dust and sand. Taking advantage of his enemies suprice, Midas used the same Null Ability that allowed him to leap forward, mana accumilating in the forearm of his left hand that grabbed the ankle of his foot.
Making the blonde roll out of the cloud of dust and sand, the counting halted as Midas was able to throw him off of him - the chances of him winning now equal, as his enemy dragged himself up again. Midas could hear people accuse him of cheating, shouting "cheater" down onto him repeatedly, just as the dust settled - he looked up to the light blue cloth again, time momentarily stilling.
Who now watched him was none other than the now head general's son - his stern brows sharp as his eyes were locked onto the battle, without being able to deny it, stood Skye - her smile much broader than what he had seen of her. Almost forgetting about his battle completely, Midas's eyes snapped onto his enemy again - the tip of his sword already stuck in the ground. He had no time for this anymore - his priority was getting Skye back, not amusing the one capturing her, even though he felt unsure of that detail now that he saw her expression.
Rubbing his forehead, Midas chose to stay in the remains of the dust cloud - able to feel the presence of mana rushing underneath him before it ultimately disappeared. Able find out the rough timing of when the shot of water would arrive - he ducked deep onto the ground as the orb of water shot over his head. Using the position on all fours, he accumulated mana into his calves once more, leaping forward while using the won momentum to directly sprint at his enemy.
Stepping onto his blade just as he tried to push it out of the ground, Midas unsheated his sickle, the mana ability now applied to his triceps as his pull out motion directly transitioned into a downwards slam of his weapon - making the metal tip of his weapon sink deep into his shoulder. With one foot still on the enemy's sword blade, he used the other to kick him forward against his chest, making the cut rip deeper into his tissue while launching his opponent away from his sword secured under Midas's sole.
"That's enough...!"
The blonde boy stared emptily onto his limp right arm as blood expanded from his shoulder - the crowd erupted in booing while the knight and another adult hulled in a green robe rushed to the bleeding opponent. Whatever happened around or above him was not important to Midas, as his stern gaze was only fixed on the general's son that looked down onto him. Seeing his expression not change, he eventually turned arround to disappear - Skye lingered longer, her hands clutched onto the wooden railing, before eventually heading through the light blue robe after him.
Midas was guided out of the arena swiftly; the knight put his palm onto his upper back, almost shoving him out of there, as things began to be thrown down onto the fighting grounds. The attendees watched in silence as he was given a stamped paper scroll and a key that was bound onto it - the knight quickly disappeared again. The few elites that stood in the waiting room with him looked away as his eyes scanned the room tiredly - the only ones staring at him were a few Gihin boys whose glance was able to be felt through their masks.
Exiting the building, Ivyda eventually was able to catch up to him - the fact she was watching his fight as well was completely forgotten, as Midas's head still continued to buzz from the battle - holding onto his forehead, he sat down onto the grass.
"God, you already made yourself popular... Didn't I suggest that fighting against nobles is a pain...?"
"Didn't you see who watched...? I just had to get this over with."
"Right - he still got your girlfriend..."
"Stop suggesting that."
Midas dragged himself up again with a sigh, hearing Ivyda snicker to herself at his reaction - she eventually grabbed his wrist to drag him towards the academy building's main entrance. The double doors were made of massive wood planks, framed with metal parts and patterns of flowing water carved perfectly mirrored into both of them.
"They have many more professions here - but the library can be accessed by anyone, and joining the academy guild is quite easy for you too since I'm sure you already have a guild card."
"Yeah, that's nice and all - but where are you leading me to...?"
"Oh, you'll see."
Marmor pillairs and bluish granite spanned the floors and halls of the building - resembling more a castle than an actuall academy, Troi'Facon seemingly had a lot of rescources to spent if they were the reason this academy is as fancy as it is. Passing a bunch of closed wooden doors and eventually being dragged down a set of stairs, Midas found himself quickly standing in an unfamiliar alley in the basement of the building - lit up by lanterns that radiated the same bluish glow as the streetlights at dark.
Opening the door, the two of them stood in front of it without another word - Midas stepped into a crammed storage room, turning at Ivyda with a concerned frown; he watched her lift up a particular box, revealing a wooden hatch underneath it.
"This place used to be a bathhouse for the working class... any remnants of it above ground were completely destroyed - however, there are some underground water canals that still remain, having been forgotten by the king that instructed the construction of this academy. Ever since this room was used by students from the south as a place to retreat to when any of the elites became too bossy..."
"Clearly shows that there's a problem we have to handle..."
"Yeah, good luck with doing so on your own; don't get too far ahead of yourself only because you tricked one cocky noble."
Without a reply, Midas followed Ivyda down the set of wooden stairs that emerged from the hatch, closing it behind himself once he was down there. Able to hear multiple voices hull from the dated stone brick walls of the narrow corridor they descended, he found himself in a dimly lit alleyway that was clearly built during the time of Gilts life - still able to pick up the faint smell of water. Between opened crates, discarded wooden stools, and scattered books stood a long table at which a group of familiar people grouped around.
To Midas's surprise, he was able to see Javelin and his sister Jevaila, Haya, and Jakal looking at each other with stern expressions as they grouped around to discuss something seemingly urgent. To the side sat Inaya - silently taking care of the young Fudula, the light of the candles lighting up the dark room reflecting in her mask. Patriq silently noticed Midas, his hands crossed silently behind his head as his feet rested ontop of the table - his eyes unchanged as he looked at him.
"If we dont change anything about how they treat us we will have to obey them forever - he definetly is right, it happened to him when he was at our age - and it will happen to us as well... we clearly outnumber them, so im sure we can make sure that the people that enroll at this academy wont have to go through this..."
"I just don't think we are suited to handle this... plus, I honestly want to make use of the payment members of the knighthood receive..."
"Then what if your sister is their next victim...?"
At the swallowing silence between Haya and a clearly concerned Jakal, Midas eventually joined them at the table - their attention quickly drawn to him as Ivyda made herself comfortable. Fudula stopped scribbling on the paper as even she noticied the tense silence - able to see the bitter expression of Jakal light up at his arrival, Midas quickly noticed how eager he had become, eventough his reserved nature quickly set in once he failed to sway Hayas opinion on whatever they had discussed.
"I have read the news paper. You... delt with the sandstorm, right...?"
Reluctantly nodding, Midas sighed as he took his seat - Javelin quietly looked at his daggers as his sister awkwardly watched him; their argument seemingly faded completely with him present. Rubbing his lids, Midas was able to hear Gilt complain inside of him - his pride hurt by Jakal's assumption.
"What were you discussing...?"
"Ivyda brought us here as well... there was this man named Qayid - he is an older student like her; he let us stay here in case we want to talk amongst ourselves or pray... he told us stories about his first Trestempo he spent at this academy - how poorly people that don't originate from the water kingdom are treated... Don't you agree with that? The free rein the son of the head commander has with Skye is clearly evidence of that...!"
Just as Midas opened his mouth to reply, someone emerged from the set of stairs behind him.