54 Skill can'st beat too much Power

[2 days later]

Xiao Qiangwei and Stella were in class right now since school started again.

Right now their teacher entered the room

Yuuri: hello again guys, I heard that there is a new transfer student in my class.

Then Stella stood up and walked near the teacher and turned towards everyone

Stella: Hello, I am Stella Vermillion, an A-Rank Blazer, and I am pleased to make your acquaintances, I hope you take care of me from now on.

Yuuri: Good, Good. I am the adviser for the 1st year class 1. Oreki Yuuri. But I would be hapoy if you call me Yuri-chan, okay?

Stella: ...Eh? O-okay...

Then she turned back at her seat with a dumbfounded face.

Xiao Qiangwei: It's ok Stella, she may be... Eccentric, but she is a good teacher.

Yuuri: Today, I'll first tell you some things about the incoming 'Seven Stars Sword Art Festival', where the strongest student knight in Japan is chosen. Our school will br abolishing the system of partecipant selection through 'Ability Points'.

And will hold a 'Combat Selection with all the students participating' and then will choose the top six students as participants.

And then, can everyone put their student handbooks out?

Everyone did as she said and took out their student handbooks

Yuuri: The date and time of your selection matches will be sent there through mail. That's why you have to make sure you read it and go to the designated time and place. Or else it will be treated as a default loss, so be careful! Well, just think that there will be a match for everyone once every 3 days.

So then, let's all give our very best this whole year! Hurray!... Hurra-

Then she puked blood in the desk while smiling, scaring everyone in the class.

Everyone: Y-YURI-CHAAAAN!

Stella: AHHH!

Xiao Qiangwei: *sigh* It's ok Stella, she had a weak constitution since childhood, for this she is puking blood now...

Stella: E-eh?

Then Ikki got up and offered to take her to the infirmary, while the class accepted.

Ikki: See ya later Qiangwei.

Xiao Qiangwei: bye Ikki.

Stella: who is he?

Xiao Qiangwei: he's a friend I made at the first day, even if he is classified as the weakest in the school, don't underestimate his real power, he could even beat you if given enough time in a spar.

Stella: Eh? Is that true? So, who would win in a fight between you two?

Xiao Qiangwei: Obviously me, there aren't things that could be defeated with just skill alone.

Stella: What do you mean?

Xiao Qiangwei: Try to think about 2 cars of the same size going towards each other, what would happen if they crash in an one-way road?

Stella: well, both of them would stop...

Xiao Qiangwei: yes, but if one of the two cars would crash at the side of the other, then the latter would move away while the former would stop, now swap the former car with the skill and the latter with power.

Stella: mh.

Xiao Qiangwei: now, swap the second car with a truck, and try to image the same thing, what would happen?

Stella: the car couldn't stop the truck while the latter would just move forward.

Xiao Qiangwei: Exactly, because the 'Power' is too big to be moved from 'Skill'. Even in our fight, you used your Skill, but my power was too big for you to overcome.

Stella: Ohhh... Got it.

Then they left the class.

[later]

They were in their room now, Xiao Qiangwei was writing a letter while Stella just got out from the shower with a bathrobe, she noticed Xiao Qiangwei doing something and asked

Stella: What are you doing?

Xiao Qiangwei: I am writing a letter for my mom.

Stella: you can send letters in school?

Xiao Qiangwei: No, but with a certain trick I could do it... Done!

Stella: then how are you going to send it?

Xiao Qiangwei smiled and raised a finger horizontally and he created a little ice bird that stood over his finger with his little legs, suddenly it seemed that the sculpture became alive and started moving his wings.

Stella: That... That's so cute! So your Noble Art is using ice?

Xiao Qiangwei: 'Well, there's nothing wrong on telling her...' My Noble Art is more than that, look.

Then the ice bird became a smaller version of the Golden Crow, and was emitting golden flames.

Xiao Qiangwei: My Noble Art is 'Elemental Domination', it permits me to use any elements as I wish and being immune to it, this was why even my clothes weren't burned in your flames in the fight.

Stella: Whoa... Then... I never had a chance, right?

Xiao Qiangwei: well, I lie only when it's necessary, so... Yeah, you didn't have any chance to win.

Stella: At least be gentle while telling it... Still, you really love your mother.

Xiao Qiangwei: Yeah, I always wish the best for her...

[flashback of Stella]

Xiao Qiangwei: I loved my mother, she is the only thing that I have, without her I would not even exist, she was always smiling to me, but she hid all those tears for my dead father that I never met...

[Present]

Stella got a smile and hugged him, surprising him.

Stella: She is a really good woman then, if you like her so much.

Xiao Qiangwei: Stella? I have two things to say...

Stella: Yes?

Xiao Qiangwei: First, did Ms. Kurono told you about my family?

Stella: E-Eh?... Yes... She told me... And what's the second?

Xiao Qiangwei: Did you forget that you are almost naked?

Stella raised an eyebrow and looked down, and indeed she had only a bathrobe, she started blushing from embarassment and got a bit angry.

Stella: Y-y-you pervert!

then she slapped his face, and a yelp of pain was heard in the area.

Stella's hand was red, and she started caressing it while releasing some tears, while Xiao Qiangwei didn't have any sign of injury.

Stella: What is your body made of?!

Xiao Qiangwei: That's what I am, and it isn't my fault that you forgot to dress yourself.

Stella: True...

Then Xiao Qiangwei created again his ice bird and gave him the letter, and sent it away. Then he got up and walked outside.

Xiao Qiangwei: Tell me when you dressed up.

Stella: Ok...