The next day came quickly. Rain and Aurora secretly shared a kiss while Eve was in the shower before making their way to the tournament.
On the way, Aurora was lovingly wrapped around like a snake. Eve walked beside her, glancing suspiciously, then pulling her off him and repeating the pose on her but like a weight instead of a serpent.
Rain giggled at the sight.
Arriving now at the arena, he was escorted to the waiting room once again. This time, however, he was separated into another room with the others who had won all five of their preliminary matches.
The tension was high. One person in this room would almost be guaranteed to win, so everyone was on guard, studying each other–even the most minute habit.
Rain skipped over to Edora who had also won all five of her matches. No one really knew who she was, but Rain wasn't surprised she was here.
She was likely the biggest threat out of all the other stuck-up nobles who thought they were some sort of big deal.
Seeing Rain approach, Edora's mood darkened. She hated this guy, but it was undeniable that he was strong if he had won all his matches.
"Looks like we meet again, Miss Edora." Rain smiled at her as he took a seat nearby.
She didn't respond.
"Cold as usual, hm?" It was a rhetorical question.
But right now, above all their previous interactions, both of them noticed a young blonde haired man leaning against the corner staring at them.
It was that Adalbert heir who seemed slightly disquieted after Rain and Edora offended his authority indirectly.
He sent forth a wave of intent, making his stance clear on the two: he would not take any disrespect to his honor and authority, and he would do whatever it took to stomp them into the ground.
Challenge accepted.
"Number 109," came voice of the judge. It was his turn now.
The bracket had been formed with the remaining hundred competitors and four rounds would occur at the same time until there were only 16 left. Then, the mages would combine all the stages, forming one much larger center stage.
For his performance, Rain was given a bye round, so it only took two more quick victories before he arrived at the final 16. This was where the real challenge would begin.
Up on a high-rising lounge that overlooked the challenger's arena, a small portal opened, and through it stepped a mature looking woman donned in purple robes that reached her ankles. In her other hand was a staff made with an elderly wood and crowned with an unassuming gem.
"Who's that?" someone asked in the crowd.
"That's the vice-master, idiot!" Another one chided.
"Vice-master?"
"Is she here to watch?"
The crowd erupted into a litany of questions and awes. It was uncommon for the heads of the academy to appear in person. In fact, most students have never seen them, so it was quite the news when they made an appearance.
Rain looked up towards the stand, and surprisingly, the vice-master of the school looked back at him with piercing eyes.
It felt like she was staring into his soul. Was it her?
A slight sense of panic began to set it, but she quickly turned her head away.
"109, 7." The referee called, and the red haired girl Rain had taken note of stepped up opposite to him.
Rain had studied her previous battles; fierce, overwhelming, strong, but strip away the sheer firepower, she lacked strategy. Rain had made the diagnosis that this haughty fire mage would be someone good in warfare where targets were strewn bountifully across the battle field but weak in the wilderness where enemies lay hidden and came in staggered droves; so, just had to take her there.
"Ready! Begin!" As soon as the referee's voice rang out, a myriad of fire projectiles swarmed Rain's view.
Left left right left up up right
He had taken a mental note, and then executed, dodging them all perfectly.
The girl, however, had a smirk on her face as a flaming bullet came speeding from Rain's blind spot.
Back
Rain lowered his head slightly and the bullet passed off into the protective barrier that shielded the spectators.
"Did you know?" The girl asked, surprised.
"I saw your other fights," Rain responded, brushing off the debris from his shoulders.
It was predictable. This was the move she had used to take out many of her previous opponents, and it was no surprise she would try it again, hoping for a quick end to this match.
Seeing Rain's gentle smile, she became slightly agitated and pressed on again, in disbelief that he could continue to dodge her onslaught.
One fire ball from the left
Two from the side
Wave from the front
He cast a square shaped ice sheet towards her final attack and negated the spell.
Throughout the whole battle, he maintained that same smug grin that made the girl even angrier.
And she began to unleash spells at an even more vicious pace.
It was the first time she had shown so much force, and Rain was slightly caught offguard, sustaining slight injuries that resulted in some second degree burns–nothing major for him.
"The Aether family's youngest heir is quite good." An old man up on the higher stand.
"Indeed, but that young man is quite talented too. Do you know which family he's from?" A war-torn looking veteran asked from the side.
"Hmm? I'm not so sure."
"He's going to win," said the scarred old man.
"Looks like your eyes have gone bad from your years away from the battlefield victor," laughed the other old man, "the Aether's heir has the winning position. The young man can't even fight back."
"Bet on it. Your key to that tomb in the Northern Barren for my sword."
"Hey, old man, you can't bet your sword… the church gave that to you!" The other man retorted.
"What, scared?"
"No, it's just…"
"You were so confident just a moment ago, hm?"
"Fine old man! If you really want to lose your sword so badly, I bet on the Aether's heir."
"And I'll take the boy."
Back in the Arena, rain was beginning to pick up the pace.
The red haired mage had begun to slow down after exhausting her mana. Rain ended up being right. She could only maintain her full firepower for so long.
He was bruised heavily, but his opponent was running out of mana. It was his turn to attack now.
Bumping up his speed to the max with some basic enchantments, he dashed headfirst at the mage.
In a panic, she conjured a fire wall and sent it straight forward towards Rain.
'It hit'
His figure burst through the wall covered in flames.
'I won…' She let out a sigh.
But before she could fall to her knees, a cold knife found its way to her throat.
"It's my win."
The flames died out, and the figure melted away into the arena ground.
She was tricked. And knowing that she had lost, she put her hands up and resigned.
"Winner, 109, Rain." The crowd was silent except for one scratchy laugh that echoed throughout the whole arena.
"HAHAHAHAHA, good! I want that key in my hands by the end of the day, Caesar." The other man only looked on in disbelief, sighing about how he had just been duped by this old devil.
Rain let go of the red girl's body and collapsed to the ground, unconscious. He walked away without another look.
It was just another stepping stone for him.