"We welcome you all back after a short break for our contestants to recover. Now that they are all in peak fighting condition let's get the next matches started!" The announcer shouted out to thunderous applause across the capital.
"Competing in Ring A we have Rena von Petra from Arcadios! The opponent facing off against her is the Keinydd representative, Desmond Adler!
"In Ring B we have Thomas von Petra! A cousin to our dear Miss Rena and the chosen representative for Arcadios in this competition. Facing off against this handsome man is none other than Lady Elize al Famyn! Do not let her beauty fool you folks, I hear she strikes as quickly and deadly as a viper!"
Desmond Adler looked at his opponent. She was an attractive young woman, who was very clearly trying to downplay her noble heritage. It was something Desmond could understand. Though he did not know her circumstances, his issues with his family led him to sympathize with whatever it was she had going on.
Looking at the other ring, he noticed that Thomas von Petra was undoubtedly Rena's cousin. They looked similar and had similar colored hair. Though, Rena's was more crimson than the young man's. Thomas' opponent on the other hand was a peerless beauty. If Desmond did not have as good of control over his faculties as he did, he probably would have lost all sense of reason right there.
"Are you quite finished gawking at someone other than your opponent?" Rena called out.
Desmond rubbed the back of his neck from embarrassment. "Yeah, sorry about that. I will put my all into this fight. So don't hold it against me?"
"I will only hold it against you if you hold back," Rena shouted.
"Of that, I have no intention. I assure you." Desmond responded with a smile.
She was right. He needed to get his head in the game, otherwise he would not achieve his goals. If he let himself be distracted now, there was no way he would win.
"Fighters, at the ready! And... Begin!"
Desmond opened with an ice spell, paired with a spear attack. "[Glacies: Ice Spear], [Spear Arts: Twin Impact]"
Desmond maintained the pressure of his spell, making sure she wore herself out from the struggle. When the water dissipated, Rena was on the ground, face up and locking eyes with Desmond. He had the head of his spear pressed slightly against her neck.
"Good fight." He said.
"So it was." She agreed, though her face belied a hint of sadness. "I concede."
*****
Rena lay there on the ground, drenched from head to toe and to the core of her being. Her opponent was a handsome-looking young man with Violet hair and blue eyes like the depths of an ocean. She could tell that he had a reason for being here as much as she did.
Though she felt sad that she had lost to him, she could not bring herself to be upset with him. In the end, the stronger of the two won. Rena had already heard in the middle of her fight that Thomas had won his battle with Lady Elize. This meant that Desmond would go on to fight Thomas in the final four.
"Do me a favor, Desmond."
"Yes?"
"Thomas..."
"You want me to go easy on your cousin?"
Her face contorted in anger. "No, I want you to humiliate him."
The man paused for a moment then laughed. He offered a hand to her to help her to her feet, then nodded and returned to the entrance to the arena. Waiting for him was a young woman who looked a lot like him with the same color hair and eyes. She latched onto Desmond the moment he approached, which brought a smile to her face.
"It seems that is who he is fighting for. Good luck Desmond."