Chapter 96 - Freshmen (4)

Elior came back to the dressing room, whistling his way in. in the dressing room, there were still that few people, looking at the replay of his match. It had not lasted long after Ethan let go of his sword. ELior twisted his leg around the arm, and then put him into a lock, twisting his arm, until    Ethan gave up in the test.

Only when he appeared in the room did they glance at him, congratulating him. Even his old friend Leroy congratulated him.

"It was certainly a show, brother," Shin said in envy. Probably thinking if he could do that as well. Elior had been training him in those things for a couple of weeks. Not the way he helped him and Lara, but another special training, only to bring out his best. So far he had failed in the main thing, though he could actually move around a little freely using the waves.

"Still, Lara's one swing had more impact on the audience," Elior said and took a seat next to them. "So who's next?"

"None of us," Ileana answered, biting her lower lips. As she watched all her friends win in such a fashion, her mood had stiffened the future. She was really happy for them, but fear for her own match could not be hidden. It only heightened the further she watched them win. "It's a match between two upperclassmen."

"It's that senior who volunteered for our dungeon travels. What was his name again?" Shin added fumbling for the name and then saw the name on the screen. "Gaivan. Yes, that's right. It's him and someone I don't know."

Elior nodded and raised an eyebrow. He was certainly familiar with Gaivan—but he can't be called friend. This timeline or the other. This youth certainly has potential, and as far as his memory goes, Gaivan held a certain important position in the association when he was at his peak. Then again, he was possible of some Guardian heritage family and had an easy way in the climb.

'Could he possibly have had something to do with those lots coming at me?' Elior wondered, looking at the handsome youth coming into the stadium. 'Who was the next president after Aanya in the other timeline? Gaivan? No, it was Leroy.' He wondered further. In the previous timeline, he was nowhere near what he was now currently. All he did in his first year in the institute was a struggle in the artificer department, as the professor was not ready to teach him, and the upperclassmen were too busy for that.  Aanya had helped him some, but that was after he got approval from her father.

in the other time, she had not asked him to be the president--that caught the attention of many upperclassmen now. the person she asked was none other than his old friend Leroy. There was no memory of any conflict between Leroy and Gaivan in the other timeline, though he reckoned only a few morons went after Leroy, with his grandpa sitting at the very top of the association.

"Maybe I am an easy target," Elior muttered looking at the match.

"What are you mumbling about?" Ileana asked, her borrowed wand in her arm, prepared.

"Something stupid." The match actually did not go for more. It was the second shortest match after Lara's. It was Gaivan's victory, and his opponent actually gave up after exchanging a few blows. "I was wondering when I will have to face him."

"Do you have the confidence to win against him?"

"What do you think?" Elior smiled and his eyes drifted off towards Leroy. Yes, he could beat Gaivan, though it would be troublesome if he wanted to hide most of his spatial ability, but when it comes to Leroy, he was not sure if he would be able to win if both of them went with their full power.

Elior actually had no idea how powerful Leroy was, but he was damn sure, it would be nothing to scoff off. Elior might be able to kill him, if he released his force in a suddenness, catching Leroy off guard. But if both of them have nothing to hide, then perhaps it would be both evenly matched.

'Nah, I would have the edge,' Elior thought, shaking his head. 'Though it's most likely, my old friend gave up after fighting for some time. Unfortunately, I can't say anything about his sneaky behaviour.' Well, he could, but most of them will be useless. So why finger something when he was not prepared. After all, he had a lot more to worry about.

The matches continued one after another, and now currently more of the upperclassmen are going on. By the way, the freshmen finally had one defeat, it was someone named Robert of their section who went against someone who was not actually especially on combat, but still lost. Well both of them were not combatants, so it was not so surprising.

What surprised him was how Hasan managed to draw with an upperclassmen archer. Both archers in the end had lost all their arrows and in hand to hand combat, nothing came straight, both agreed with a draw. Then Shin went on to another victory though this time it came far harder, still, he got the better of his opponent, keeping his real ability secret.

The others of the freshmen went to battle as well, and most of them actually came in defeat, but certainly, a few of them showed some resolve. Peter was one of them who performed well, though still lost. they were certainly not with the intention of going for the trial, just here to get the experience, and they certainly got good experience. They had learned how far away from their upperclassmen as well as their own classmates.

Shin and Elior could not wait for the lunch break and went outside to buy something for everyone. 

"Did they forget about me?" Ileana muttered, as Shin and Leroy had their second match and yet she had none. This was scarier than anyone had assumed. She was certainly not the type that takes thrill in these. Though she always wanted to get better at many many things than males, the battle was never one of them. Now here she was, biting her nails.

"Can't wait for your match, can you?" Enna asked her as the boys vacated a few moments ago. "I reckon you will get a victory like them."

Ileana laughed, not sure how to reply. Then she saw her image appearing on the screen with another girl of the upperclassmen. Someone named Katherine. Ileana cursed her luck at the very moment. Not to mention the wand she borrowed from Aanya, she would not even be able to win if Aanya gave her the sceptre of dream. It was all about how much she could wield, and that was not a lot. she could not even use most of the functions of the borrowed wand.

"Not an easy target I reckoned," Lara muttered, seeing Ileana like that.

"Not easy at all," Ileana muttered and stood up. Katherine was one of the best when it comes to magic. her talent in spell could be called second only to professor Aleister, though she was far way from achieving that level. Still, it would take a dozen of Ileana to defeat someone like Katherine.

At that very moment, Shin and Elior came back, with a packed meal with them and it appeared they were already eating.

"Hungry?" Shin called looking at them.

Ileana swallowed her worry and reckoned she did feel hunger, but there was no time to stuff her stomach.

"You are the last one of us?" Elior said, finding her on the screen. His eyes glinted out, still chewing his food. "Give that girl hell."

"Yes, yes, you can do it," Shin said too. "Make our Sensei proud."

"Yes, if you lose to someone like this, I might decide to throw you out of my tutelage."

"You guys," Lara shouted, did not understand why they were so mean to Ileana, but the girl in question laughed out.

Ileana burst into laughter and breathed in to finally calm her mind. "I will make you proud, sensei," she said dramatically, bowing. 

Elior nodded. "Try to look dauntless and if you can surprise her, go with it." he advised, knowing Katherine will most likely finish the match if Ileana appear like a lamb.

Ileana nodded and walked out of the room.

"Ileana got it hard on her very first match," Elior muttered.

"So, it wouldn't be an easy win?" Enna asked knitting her brows.

"Let's see in the match," Elior only said, knowing the win was far away from Ileana.

As he had mentioned before, spell casting needs time to progress. It's very slow compared to physical arts. Though Ileana had trained a lot in these few weeks, Elior was not sure about her chances. Not against Katherine. Ileana will lose for sure, all it mattered now was how badly it would.

Let's hope she won't cry after the match, Elior thought.

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