Another day has passed and the third round of the tournament is staring. This round match up for Raye was a bit of a coincidence and unpleasant for Raye. It was someone he had known for a long time. It is not that he does not want to meet that person, it's just....his relationship with that person was not that good.
[Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, to the semi final of the sword fight tournament!]
The same announcer once again announced the tournament. As usual, the crowd roared in response.
[Now then, on our left side, our first match of round two winner, Raye Winston!]
Partial of the crowd roared and cheered as the announcer continued.
[And on our right, we have the winner of the third match of round two, our guest of this tournament, those who fought against her all scram in fear, here with have the sword empress....Viera Winston!]
A woman came out of the opposite gate of Raye. She wore a black vest, shoulder pads and knee pads unlike Raye who is covered in all armour except for his head. She wore a white clothes behind those vest. She has bright purple hair, just like all of the Winston family.
[Wait...both of our candidates here are from the Winston family...!? This is basically a brawl between the siblings of the Winston family!]
The crowd roared in laughter upon hearing the announcer's joke.
Raye's face darkened upon seeing his opponent is his sister. While Raye is adopted into the Winston family to become their heir, Viera Winston is biologically part of the Winston family. She was their child before their mother was not able to conceive later.
Raye walked up to her sister as they held their sword in an angle. Before the match start, Viera whispered to Raye, making his mouth curved and twitched a little.
"Don't disappoint me,"
Raye stood silent for a moment before responding to Viera.
"...I won't,"
They never talk since then.
[Let the battle.....beginnn!]
Raye and Viera leaped back and then swing their sword against each other. Sparkles came from both swords as they collided against each other. Raye and Viera both swing their sword a few more times before stopping and drawing some distance against each other.
Viera Winston, age 29. A swordsman since 4. Her talent was discovered while training with a knight in the Winston manor. Since then, she had been training her sword style and achieve the title 'Sword Empress' at the age of 16, which is the title for swordsman who surpasses the level of sword king.
Raye Winston who is just lower than a sword master against Viera Winston who is a sword empress, the battle does not seem that fair to begin with. People muttered among themselves as Will lean back onto his seat.
Raye dashed forward and swings his sword at Viera who simply swings her sword and block her attack. As expected from a sword empress I supposed. Raye was praising her sister while also being irritated by the way this match is going.
I'm going to lose at this rate...fortunately, I have trained with countless people above my rank so....just you wait!
Raye then leap a few feet back, drawing a great distance with Viera. She look surprised but waited for his little brother. Raye enter the state of calmness in his mind and uses technique, Water dance.
Raye closed his eyes as he moved. Viera was shocked upon seeing Raye's movement. Although she had watched Raye's first two matches but seeing it in person and against it...she can tell that her brother must have trained hard.
Raye moving as if water was flowing towards Viera and swings his sword swiftly but powerful at Viera. Viera using only her right hand holding her sword blocked the attack and then swings her sword at Raye. Raye parried it and then thrust his sword at Viera which she swiftly dodges it by just moving around.
Raye was a little irritated which disrupt his state of calmness in his mind. Be calm. Raye reminded himself as he took a deep breath and dodges Viera's swings.
"Not bad, but this is far from becoming a sword emperor, let alone a sword king. If you're gonna take on that role, you have to become stronger!"
Raye parried Viera's attack as she exclaimed. Suddenly, a brutal swing at Raye so fast that he barely reacted to it. Although he manages to block it on time due to the excessive training with Kolt about his reaction, the impact was powerful enough to send him rolling onto the ground.
Viera stopped as if she was waiting for Raye to get up. Her purple eyes were blazing, commanding Raye to stand up and fight her. Raye stabbed his sword onto the ground and bring himself up.
Damn it, despite training with Sir Theun and Lord Kolt, it is still not enough to stand ground against the sword empress Viera Winston. All the time he trained with them, hoping he could reach the level of a sword master, Raye still determined to continue.
He stood up and then used Water dance once again. Viera stood unfazed as this time she decided to take the lead and attack Raye head on. Raye blocked the attack and retaliate with a swing. It was powerful but Viera blocked it easily by changing the course of the sword aim. Behind Viera was a huge explosion caused by Raye's attack.
She was caught off guard by Raye's attack that she did not noticed another swing from Raye for it is dead silent. She manages to parried the attack as Raye continues to thrust his sword at her.
Finally, Raye manages to make Viera break a sweat. Raye who was drenched in sweat while his sister who just only has a drip of sweat rolling down her cheek. She then swings her sword in all her might that broke Raye's stance and sending him crashing onto the wall of the arena.
He coughed out blood as his vision was blurry. Huff huff....he was panting hard. Sweat pouring onto the ground as he tries to stand up. Suddenly, Viera appeared in front of him as he thrust her sword at Raye's head. Using all his strength, he moved his head to his left as the sword thrust into the wall. Raye slid down onto the ground and he was called unable to battle.
[We have o-our winner! Viera Winston once again defeated her opponent in ease! While sword empress Viera Winston will proceed to the final, Raye Winston will continue in the loser round to determine whether he will proceed into the final and...]
Raye raised his hand which caught the attention of the announcer.
[Do you have any question Raye Winston?]
The floating platform descend onto the ground as the announcer listen to Raye's request.
"It's not a question but...I decided to drop out of the tournament, there is no need for the loser round to be held,"
[Did you hear that? Raye Winston wants to drop out of the tournament!? W-well, if it's what you want then we will respect your choice, since the loser round is no need to be partake, the final will be held three days later!]
Viera stared at Raye as he has a smile on his face. She quickly turned her gaze away and walked to the opposite side of the gate, where she once entered into the arena. Raye then exited the stadium and reunited with the Everlight party.
"Raye? Are you sure you want to quit the tournament?"
Raye was bandaged for he met with the nurses in the stadium to have his injury treated.
"It's fine. Besides, I joined this tournament is for me to test my skill, and I have understood it now,"
The rest of the Everlight party did not respond immediately for they don't know what to say. Just then, a question arose from Will which caught the curiosity of the rest of the Everlight party members.
"...What's the relationship you had with your sister?"
"Ah...well, let's go somewhere to talk about this matter,"
The Everlight party returned to their inn as Raye sat on the bed and Will sat on a chair opposite of Raye. The rest all sat on the ground as if they were little children listening to story.
"...I was adopted into the Winston family since I was 5, which my sister who you know as the sword empress Viera Winston was 9 at that time. At first, my sister loved me as we were actual siblings. Everything was fine until she turned 16 where after she became a sword empress, that was when she discovered my purpose in the Winston family, the reason why I was taken in. She who thought her mother wanted a son but can't conceive decided to adopt one, all were shattered like glass as the truth unraveled before her. The reason for her training so hard, using her talent to its potential was to take over the Winston family in the distant future, but it was all gone,"
Raye had a melancholic smile, somehow similar to Will when he talks about his past.
"She became harsh to me, giving me the cold shoulders every time we met, maybe she was training me, trying to improve me onto becoming worthy to take on the Winston family, but I can't be sure..."
Will did not say anything. He just closed his eyes and stayed silent. Amethia seeing Raye's broken expression, decides to cheer Raye up by suggesting a way to get on good terms with his sister.
"Well, maybe you could try getting on good terms with your sister, like buying a gift for her maybe?"
Amethia looked towards Al and Auoun. Her gaze was threatening, as if she was forcing them to agree with her.
"I don't think the would work but...it's worth giving a shot,"
Al gave his feedback which Auoun nodded vigorously. Will did not respond which Amethia take it as a yes.
"What do you think, Raye?"
Raye simply smiled at them as he raised his head and looked at Amethia.
"...Thank you, for trying to help me. If that's what you guys want to try, then shall be it,"