Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 118: Another Year's End

Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 118: Another Year's End

The proctor remained silent the whole time. This fight was naught but a waste of time for him. These two were clearly not focused on winning or losing; they had discarded their weapons and fought without Ein.

Any further, and he may disqualify the two of them. The battle before him was naught but an insult to the Grand Gathering.

On the platform, Oscar's hand was stretched out, waiting, hoping for Frederick to grasp it. His obsidian eyes looked on pleadingly at his friend.

'Take it. Take my hand.'

Frederick gazed at the open hand. His eyes flashed with a small glimmer. He slowly moved his hand up, inching closer to Oscar.

Oscar's heart began to beat faster, even without the overuse of Reis.

'Closer. Please.'

However, Frederick bit his lip as the glimmer faded into indifference. He leaped off the floor and closed his hand into a fist, slamming it into Oscar's face.

This time, Oscar had disabled his Prinstyct, thinking Frederick was giving in, so he was wholly unprepared for this, leading to more pain than usual. Slight tears dripped down his face, not from the pain but from the sadness and shock.T/his chapter is updat/ed by nov(ê(l)biin.c/o/m

"Bastard Fred." Oscar regained his balance and put another fist into Frederick's stomach. He was about to speak more when the proctor stepped in between them.

His pressure as a Knight Exalt forced Oscar and Frederick to the floor without a struggle. He glared from Oscar to Frederick. "You're both disqualified. This is the Grand Gathering, not a squabble."

"I don't care about that. I need an answer from him. Tell me, Fred, are you so certain about this?" Oscar forcibly turned his head to face Frederick.

"Enough! The quarrel between you two is not related to this Grand Gathering. Settle it in your own time. You may leave first." The proctor released the pressure on Frederick and allowed him to leave first. He wanted to avoid them causing more trouble during the Grand Gathering.

Frederick got up and retrieved his two swords. He stepped off the platform but not before turning back and giving Oscar one last look.

Oscar ground his teeth in anger, staring at the proctor with a struggle. The proctor did not move at all, unaffected by the gaze of a mere Apprentice Exalt. Thus, Oscar could only helplessly watch as his friend disappeared in the distance.

Who knows when he will have this chance again?

.......

Oscar sat near the place he and Emily designated to meet up after a fight. He did not go to the medical station, so his face was still bruised. Some people nearby took strange glances at him like an animal in a zoo.

He ignored the weird stares but his brows furrowed. Did he fail? Was Frederick meant to be alone and continue to sink into the swamp of misery?

"Oscar." Emily finished her fight and saw Oscar waiting. "What happened to you? Go to the medical station."

Slowly, his vision began to dim and blur from drowsiness. He continued to read because he didn't want to leave this place.

Oscar dropped to the table, snoring softly.

Hours later, Celestina came into the Archives to find Oscar sleeping. She got an early look into the results of the Grand Gathering and saw that Oscar was disqualified. His opponent was his friend, Frederick.

So, Celestina thought Oscar might come here to read. She understood that Oscar often retreated into books when he was sad or weary. She suspected this case would be no different.

"You like to make people worry." Celestina reached into her space pocket and pulled out a blanket. She draped it on top of Oscar and piled up his books, returning them to the shelves with great care. "Have a good night."

The next morning, Oscar woke up feeling much more refreshed than usual. His body felt lighter and relaxed.

"What is this blanket?" He noticed the blanket with a confused look and saw the books were cleared from his table. Did a librarian do this? Why didn't they wake him up?

He decided to leave the blanket at the Archives counter and made his way out. A new day had dawned to welcome the new year. Oscar felt the cool air with satisfaction.

"Hello, Elder Saul, How are you on this new year's day?" Oscar ran into Elder Saul on the way back.

"Another year of tending to the gardens and grass while ungrateful students trample all over them." Elder Saul scoffed as he joked a little. His eyes looked over Oscar. "It must have been an eventful day yesterday."

"It was. Some unexpected things happened." Oscar did not look as sad or depressed as earlier. It was a more tame and neutral expression.

"Do you consider that a blessing or misfortune?" Elder Saul asked with a hint of interest.

It was by his designs that Oscar clashed against Frederick, so like a gardener, he wanted to see whether it had born good fruit.

"Depends on what the outcome is. For me, I will ensure it was a blessing." Oscar uttered softly.

"I won't keep you any longer then. Keep trying, and perhaps you will achieve it." Elder Saul went back to his usual gardening with a small grin. Oscar smiled thankfully to the elder with a bow.

The time continued to pass as Oscar continued his training like a machine running endlessly, only stopping to sleep, eat or talk to Emily or Celestina. He drank the elixirs he had been stockpiling, except for the Ein Burst Elixir. However, the path to Elite Exalt was tough.

.......

Three months have passed since the Grand Gathering. Oscar woke up from his dorm and opened the door from the constant knocking.

"Ms. Klein?" Oscar was shocked to find Ivanka Klein waiting for him outside. As a Judge, she should never be here unless on official business. Her cheeks were sunken in with reddened eyes. Her usual elegant appearance was gone.

"Oscar....Save Frederick!"