Chapter 75 - I Don't Want To Fight.

The city of Freyan was celebrating the 7 days long Grand Selection of Ovyrus Magus Academy, which has come to an end.

Many carriages were returning with disappointment but many nobles and other candidates' guardians stayed with a bitter expression, completing the formality of the Zeroth Day.

The crowd was hurrying to the colosseum and many candidates who weren't able to make it into the Academy were also there, all of them were waiting for the last 3 rounds of the third trial to know who would rule the next hierarchy of the first first-yearn.

The sun stooped from the afternoon, the colosseum got filled and stuffed with people that walking past to their seat was nearly impossible.

The Tridents who sat on the top gallery in front, with the Senior Professors of Academy finished their short speech, while the Student council gallery was on the top in the left of Tridents' and the remaining professors were on the right.

"Quite a beautiful and enthusiastic day isn't it?" Ahren looked at the cheering crowd, 

"Who are you kidding? You are just happy that Ruth made it into the Quarterfinals, she even fought yesterday when she was supposed to rest." Tara had a scorn look and placed her leg on top of another, 

"Let's just get over it, Lilliana make it quick."

"As you wish!" Lilliana got up from her seat and walked up to the balcony, 

"Everyone, as The Trident already it was really amazing to see such raw and honed talents and skill of the candidates past seven days, now finally we have chosen our 40 students for the first year, & those who were not selected this year I advise you to try again next year, you know there is always a tomorrow when you know your limits, without taking much time, the final three rounds of the third trial and 3 duels of the Zeroth day is commenced, let me announce the lineup for the Top 8 too!..."

*****

While Lilliana was announcing the line-up, the student council was talking with each other.

"My bones are tingling with excitement! What do you think president, what's going to happen today?" Sylvie as usual was cheerful and sipping her tea.

"Nothing much, rather I feel bored." Einar's eyes were fixed on Lilliana.

"You don't look happy… aren't you going to cheer for your brother? When I heard he used the Cold Promotion, I was impressed and realized he was just like you" Sylvie chuckled with a teasing smug.

"What do you mean?" Einar moved his eyes from Lilliana to her.

"Well what I meant was crushing everything in the path to reach his goal, so you might be looking forward to what he does next--" Sylvie hid her face behind her parasol,

"Sylvie, I would ask you to mind your words when you talk to the president." Ritza was pouring a cup to Einar,  interrupting Sylvie in a cold tone.

"Let it go Ritza, she is just telling the truth, moreover as I said I don't think anything different is going to happen today, just think of this as a plain old ceremony of the academy and get back to work later-" Einar let out a long sigh.

"I don't think today will be the same." Suddenly Elena, who was distracted, clapped her hand in excitement.

Elena pulled out her Tarot deck and gave it a good shuffle.

"What now?! Your same premonition feeling kicking again?" Sylvie closed her parasol and gawked at Elena.

"Hey! I already said it's my card that sends me these feelings! And they are never wrong, you know it too!" Elena pouted.

"That's why I am interested! So tell me what your cards are saying?" Sylvie consoled her with phony enthusiasm.

Elena placed the shuffled deck in the air and spread it, the cards were floating in the air upside down, and all the student council was looking at them.

"Well then shall we?"

Elena freed her mana and three small magus circles appeared close to her breast.

Then she chanted,

"[ THE EYES WHICH HAVE BEEN SHUT, TELL US WHAT YOU SAW ]"

A card got separated from the deck and came floating and got set upon the deck, 

"[ THE EYES PEERING AT THE WHEEL, TELL US WHAT ARE YOU SEEING ]"

The second card separated and get settled,

[ THE EYES THAT FORESEES WHAT UNFOLDS, TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW ]"

And the third and final card settled in the circle.

The reaming card disappeared in blue tint, Elena's heartbeat was racing, 

Einar was amused and smiled "Elena, turn them,"

"[ UNVEIL ]"

The circle rotated upside down and the cards were revealed, 

The first card was The Tower,

The second was The Fool,

The third was The Chariot, 

Elena got stunned and bewildered, she forgot to breathe for seconds, after a long gasp, she looked at Einar and smirked mischievously.

"Guess you won't be bored for a while, president."  Elena's eyes were wide open and she was trembling with a broad smile on her face.

*****

"Well then, start!" Lillian finished the announcement and the duels began.

The battle began between the top 8, the crowd was astonished watching such battles, the quarter final was terrific, but only for the normal people, with all contestants skills and abilities in mind, all of the professors already had a good idea of how it would turn out.

Few of them were already asleep before the beginning and the duel began,

The first battle was Niran versus Derek Whitevon, where Niran won the battle effortlessly, 

The second was Luke Gram versus Caleb Neolion, won by Luke,

The third was Ruth versus Rohan Gallius, won by Ruth,

The fourth was Zia Ivy versus Phoebe Lancaster, won by Zia.

The battle proceeded with loud cheers and thrills on the ground. Though most of the professors were yawning and eating snacks they were waiting for the duel to end and go home.

And semifinal began, 

The first battle was of Niran versus Luke, in which Luke struggled to keep up with Niran, even after going all out, he wasn't able to Aurum Armour, in the end, he gave up and Niran won without a sweat.

The second battle was between Ruth and Zia. The battle was a hard struggle, While Ruth was a spirit summoner, Zia was a Demon blade user. After a great clash, Ruth won the match but was quite exhausted.

The crowd went crazy and noises were echoing continuously, and some of the professors took interest in the duel. It was a mixed feeling of excitement for watching the great battle and then going home.

And thus, the final round was brought in Niran and Ruth face to face.

"People!!! We are finally at the Finale of the Grand Selection!!!! All the matches were so thrilling and amazing I bet you never saw anything like that! Now we are here at Graaaaaand Finaaaaaaale!!" 

The announcer and referee for the duel yelled, heaving the excitement of hundreds of the audience.

"The top 2 of the Grand Selection are none other than, The Two of the Tridents Seth!

Sir Edward's Seth His majesty crown prince, Niran Omer Azeiheil!"

Niran came out from the north gate after rejuvenating his mana and healing himself.

"And Lady Ahren's Seth and granddaughter Ruth Grey!"

Ruth came out from the south gate with her mana and wounds treated, prepared for the next match, she walked to the ground and halted several feet away from Niran, she was looking down all the time.

Many professors looked at her thinking she probably had something else in her mind.

"So are you ready?" The referee screamed, "Then let's begin-"

But before he could embark on the battle, 

"Wait!" Ruth screamed, she was trembling and clutching his thumb, she was collecting his voice and breath but then the crowd started ridiculing her,

"What? What happened?" 

"Giving up before the start?"

"She is probably scared!"

"Of course! She is fighting his majesty!"

"She is definitely chickening out!"

The echoes of laughter and mocking filled the stadium.

"What happened? Ruth?!" Ahren mumbled and clenched her teeth in outrage.

"What happened Ruth?" Niran squinted at Ruth

Ruth leveled her breaths and glared at the balcony where Ahren was sitting.

"I don't want to fight!" Ruth yelled out of her lungs.

And the upheaval surged in the colosseum.

"What?!" 

"See!" 

"She gave up!"

"Hey don't laugh, surrendering is fair in battle."

"But, look at her! How she is trembling and looks like she is probably gonna cry!"

The crowd burst hysterically and laughed at her.

"Hahahahah!"

"Can't believe she, Lady Ahren Seth!"

"When these words reached to Ahren ears she marched to the balcony, 

"Ruth!" She yelled, 

"What is the meaning of this?! How can you give up after coming so far? At least fight! You won't lose anything!" Ahren spoke in a loud voice in a composed manner, to protect her family's dignity.

"Of course! I won't lose anything! But I am not the one who deserves to stand here!" She yelled, 

The crowd was now mocking her more, calling her grinch and coward.

"Laugh you all but you should know one thing, as much as I don't deserve to stand here,  the Crown Prince also has no right to be here too!"

As soon as she said that the crowd went silent, the student council's attention was also, Ahren and Einar was just observing the situation calmly,

But then Elena spoke, 

"Told ya' "