Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 51: Rachel Foster

Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 51: Rachel Foster

"What did you do?" Austin asked Emily.

"?" Emily did not know what Austin was asking.

"That last moment against Samuel. Your staff obliterated his fangs and tiger. There's no way you only did that with simple Ein." Austin looked curiously at Emily. The tiger and Samuel's spell should not have been crushed like that.

Emily kept walking as if Austin wasn't there.

"I'm no longer an enemy. I just want to know." He said truthfully. There was no more enmity to be had. He had given up on his revenge on Frederick and decided to move on.

Emily sighed and glanced at Austin, who tensed up. "Of course, it was a spell. Everyone doing missions at a steady pace should have made enough for an extra spell. Though that number is not very large."

Missions were hard work and also life-threatening. Some people only went on them occasionally or did other things to get points. Emily, Frederick, and Oscar did easy to medium-difficulty missions to grind their points.

"The spell I used was 'Heavy Impact'. It increased the weight of my staff a thousandfold."V/\IssịT n0(v)eL/b(i)(n).co/m for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce

"No wonder it was so overpowering. Hmm? Wait? How were you able to lift that much weight?" Austin became more curious about Emily's unnatural strength.

"I only used it right as my staff made contact with the tiger and Samuel's fangs. It was already in motion, and so the weight carried it through. I'm not some burly gorilla to be able to carry that much weight."

Austin remained silent since he sensed Emily was slightly angered at his question.

"I'm going to check out Frederick's match. That dolt makes me worry at times. He may just lose because his opponent is a girl." Emily had a slight frown while walking away.

.......

"Please help Os win." Frederick clapped his hands in prayer to any gods that may listen. Oscar's opponent, Phillip Raeven, made Frederick worry for his friend.

"You need to worry about yourself rather than Oscar. Rachel is a scary opponent." George said. When the group separated earlier to focus on their matches, George tagged along with Frederick. He had a particular interest in Frederick's opponent, Rachel.

"I know. The recordings showed me enough of that." Frederick stared at George in annoyance. "You refused to tell me anything useful against her."

The entire time, George did nothing but gaze at Rachel in the recording. There was no denying the entranced look on his face at the time.

This would be his first match against someone with a higher Grade Exolsia. To make it worse, Rachel would have also seen his recordings. He and Oscar were certainly in dire straits.

Frederick respected Oscar's tenacity and hard work, but part of the reason Oscar won his matches was due to the element of surprise. No one would neglect to learn about their opponents in this serious competition if the information was out there.

"I can't help you." George said.

"You are hopelessly in love with her." Frederick scoffed.

"S-Shut up! She's just a great friend." George stammered. "What about you and Emily?"

"There's nothing between us. I like a different type of girl." Frederick immediately shook his head and looked offended at George.

"No one is stuck to one preference." George teased further.

The two argued the entire way to the stages. Neither was willing to admit to anything. Finally, they reached Frederick's stage, where a young girl was waiting. She had tied her blond hair into twin tails and stared at Frederick and George with those ruby-red eyes.

"George? How are you doing?" Rachel smiled and waved at George, who flushed a bit.

"Hey Rachel, it's been a while since we last worked together. I came here to say hi."

"Really?" Her eyes narrowed as they glanced at Frederick. "But you're with my opponent?" She asked with one eyebrow raised.

Terrified, George immediately took her side, "I didn't say anything. We're friends, but I wouldn't betray you."

Not letting go of this chance, Rachel jumped toward him and stabbed her polearm down. The long sharp tip reflected the suns as it neared Frederick.

'Wind Steps!'

Frederick escaped as the polearm stabbed into the stage and created a single thin crack telling of its immense sharpness and power. The polearm was a weapon that swung powerfully like an ax but also sliced cleanly like a sword and pierced like a spear.

His bird anima came swooping down right as to Rachel's exposed back. But she quickly turned to cut it down.

The bird dodged Rachel's polearm with a spinning maneuver and continued its attack. But even the bird's beak could not break through Rachel's wristguards.

While Rachel was distracted, Frederick made his move.

'Brilliant Slashes.'

More streaks and slashes of light made their way to Rachel but were easily destroyed by her polearm or blocked by her wristguards. With no choice, Frederick used his 'Wind Steps' to escape.

Frederick breathed heavily on the other side of the stage, a good distance from Rachel. He was consuming his Ein at a rapid pace.

Not good. Rachel was already more advanced as a Middle Apprentice Exalt, meaning her supply of Ein and stamina was larger. Frederick only worsened this disadvantage by overusing his Ein.

'Nothing's working.'

Rachel looked bored at Frederick, who was half-kneeling on the floor. Rachel pointed her polearm at Frederick with her teeth clenched. "I expected more. Where is that boldness? Where is the person that tried to blow himself up to win? I'm disappointed. You're not even making me use my spells."

George interrupted by saying, "Rachel, please don't treat him harshly. He's already done pretty well against you."

Rachel looked irked and chastised George, "This is a serious competition. If he doesn't take it seriously, I'll beat him down to make him understand what happens to lazy morons."

Lazy....Frederick was about to say something when another person intruded on the conversation.

"What are you doing, Frederick?"

Rachel, George, and Frederick turned to the intruder. It was Emily who had her arms crossed in anger. Next to her was Austin.

"Emily?" Frederick asked.

"You're just going to humiliate yourself like this? I didn't waste all that time training with you for nothing." Emily sternly gazed at Frederick.

"Is this a joke?" Rachel stared at Emily with cold eyes. "I don't think this man of yours has any fight left in him."

Emily raised her eyebrows and said in a chilling tone. "You don't know him. So don't prattle on like an idiot."

Rachel was angered at Emily's complete disregard and tried to retort before being interrupted.

"Frederick. What are you fighting for? Is your goal so unimportant that you'll give it up like this? You weakling!" Emily shouted and yelled. She didn't want to see Frederick lose like this.

The question crashed like thunder in Frederick's mind.

The proctor came forward and said, "No interruptions from the audience. I will punish you if you speak further."

Emily shrugged her shoulders but complied. She had already said what she wanted to say. This was her way of giving him a shock to make him more driven.

At this moment, Frederick was stuck in his thoughts. Coming to the Pavilion was natural as a noble's son, and becoming an Exalt was natural, but it wasn't his dream or purpose. What was his reason for doing all of this?

Only one name echoed in his heart.

'Teresa....'