Chapter 385 - Duels
No matter whether it is an academic institute or not, everything has a special point for something to work optimally. That is the basic qualification of getting better at something.
Knowing how to optimize the work you are outputting. That was the same for Arcadia Hunter Academy.
While considering the wellness of the students who would be dueling, the academy also needed to consider the existence of the audience and how to grasp their interest.
At the end of the day, one week was a huge time period for the people who would be coming to the academy to watch the duels, and they could not possibly watch every fight.
The schedule needed to be arranged in such a way that even those on tight times would force themselves to create the time to watch the deals.
The excitement needed to be preserved. Therefore, in a way, the academy would check for the importance of the duels, and the ones that were deemed as the most anticipated ones would be pushed to the end of the duel week.
That was so that the anticipation would be top-notch at the start. However, that didn't mean the academy was empty at the start of the week since the relatives of the lower-rank, middle-rank students would still be there.
Of course, there were also countless different stalls that were opened in this time period by the students and the clubs who finished their finals. Sophomore(second) and Junior(third) year students would already have finished their semester finals as well as their projects, and they would be free to roam on the campus.
Many used this chance to make their own money or experience how it felt to work, though the money wasn't needed for most of them. After all, a student with poor economic status is rarely admitted to the academy, though they certainly did exist.
As Garrett and Reina entered the bustling grounds of the Arcadia Hunter Academy, they were immediately engulfed by the electric atmosphere. The sprawling campus was alive with activity, students and visitors alike moving about with palpable excitement.
Stalls lined the walkways, offering everything from enchanted trinkets to exotic snacks, manned by enterprising upperclassmen eager to showcase their wares.
Garrett, with his imposing build and stern expression, cut a formidable figure amidst the crowd. Reina, walking beside him with an air of confident grace, drew her own share of curious glances.
"This place is really something," Reina remarked, her eyes scanning the lively scene. "Hard to believe all this is for a bunch of student duels."
Garrett nodded, his gaze sweeping over the various booths and the throngs of people. "The Academy surely knows how to put on a show. Keeps the relatives entertained and the students motivated."
They walked further, passing by a group of sophomores enthusiastically demonstrating a new combat spell to a small crowd. The air was filled with laughter, chatter, and the occasional burst of magic.
"So, where do you think he is?" Reina asked, glancing at Garrett.
"Probably getting ready backstage," Garrett replied, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the crowd. "I'd like to see how he's holding up before his match."
They approached the arena where he would fight, the grand structure looming impressively with its high walls and tiered seating. The excitement here was even more intense, the noise of the crowd a constant hum in the background.
Reina nudged Garrett with her elbow. "You seem nervous. Worried about your protégé?"
"…No…"
"You are not worried?"
"From the announcement, he seems to have chosen a student of his caliber. Though, I didn't expect him to be ranked 1729."
That was certainly a surprising element of Garrett. Being the person who trained that kid, he knew about his prowess. In the industry, the kid certainly held the potential to become someone valuable.
But, in this place filled with monsters and kids backed by behemoths, the potential to become someone valuable turned into someone who could be easily cast away.
That was the cold reality of the world; thus, he didn't have many expectations even before coming here.
Yet, he got a valuable surprise.
"Indeed, that is surprising," Reina stated, her eyes narrowing. "The organization didn't send any help to him, yet he managed to do this on his own. Interesting."
Garrett kept his expression neutral, though his mind was racing. "He's resourceful. Always has been. But this place… it's a different kind of battlefield."
"Indeed. But, even if it is still a child's play." Reina mumbled.
"I doubt that. A lot of these kids do have the strength of an average hunter just at this age."
"No. Considering the real Hunter world, this place is nothing. Though they certainly have strength, they won't survive if they are left there now." Reina said, looking at the arenas across the place.
Many students were dueling with each other, displaying their prowess. Each one of them had their own strength. Some were fast, some were strong. Their capabilities were superhuman, but that didn't change anything at all.
"But well, that kid needs to do it at least."
Garrett's eyes remained sharp. "You think he's ready for that?"
"He has to be," Reina said firmly. "There's no other option. And you know it."
The crowd erupted in applause as the first match concluded, drawing their attention back to the arena. The next participants were already making their way to the stage, their faces set with determination.
There, Garrett's superhuman eyes, he easily saw the person he was looking for. But, the moment his eyes met with his figure, Garrett's eyes were narrowed.
'That kid….He looks a bit different.'
Something about him told Garrett that the kid had changed. The way he carried himself….
'Not bad.'
And that somehow made Garrett proud. Knowing the kid that he trained and looked over was doing this well.
It was not like he had too much share in his prowess, but he felt proud nevertheless.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Garrett replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "For now, we focus on what's in front of us."
Reina sighed, her gaze drifting to the arena. "You always were good at taking things one step at a time."
"It's kept me alive this long," Garrett said with a smile. For now, he really didn't want to overly complicate things.
"Right." Reina smiled and then turned her focus to the stage.
One of the stage lights focused on a young student making his way to the center.
His slightly long black hair with bangs framed his face, and he wore the academy uniform with an ease that belied the tension of the moment.
His build was lean, not particularly muscular, but there was a certain fluidity to his movements, a hint of precision and control. Something that Reina could see with her trained eyes.
His presence was faint, almost blending into the background if not for the light washing over him.
Reina observed him intently. "So, that is him."
Garrett's eyes never left the student as he nodded. "Yes."
"He's a dagger user, correct?" Reina asked though the question was more rhetorical, given her knowledge over the kids past. After all, she came from that organization.
Garrett nodded again. "Yes, he is."
"Not bad," Reina commented, her tone appraising. "He passes."
Garrett narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting to Reina. "You mean his prowess, right? Not other things?"
Reina's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Of course. His affinity as a scout. What else would I be evaluating?"
"….." Garrett didn't say anything, but his gaze said everything.
At that moment, on the screen, two names appeared, and a monotone robotic voice read the names.
"Challenger, Astron Natusalune, Ranked 1729."
"Challenged, Wilfred Gibbs. Ranked 1589."
The two students stood on the opposite side of the arena.
"His opponent is a swordsman," Reina remarked, looking at the student named Wilfred, who was looking at Astron with a focused gaze.
There was a certain aura in his gaze that even Reina could sense from that distance.
'He is being underestimated.'
It was a common occurrence. The students of this academy tend to be prideful, after all.
"Then, let the duel commerce."
SWOOSH!
The moment the voice echoed across the arena, the swordsman rushed towards Astron with his body coated with mana.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Yet his advances were cut short. After all, instantly, a bunch of arrows came right before him, limiting his movements.
"Tsk."
Seeing the mana coated on these arrows, the swordsman named Wilbers clicked his tongue. Even though he knew it was not completely logical, the fact that he was appointed by someone lower than him as a target scratched his pride, and he was planning to end this as quickly as possible.
Yet, it seemed like his opponent wasn't someone simple after all.
CLANK! SWOOSH!
Some of the arrows passed through him, while some of the arrows were deflected by his sword.
"Didn't you say he was a dagger user?" Reina asked, watching the spectacle unfold. This kid suddenly brought out a bow from his spatial storage, surprising both his opponent and the overlookers.
"…." Garrett didn't answer, but his face told everything. Even he was surprised to see the kid using arrows against his opponent.
'Pretty crafty, aren't you? Did you do this considering the possibility of your opponent underestimating you because your rank is lower and you are not checking your weapons? Interesting.'
Reina analyzed, assuming his thought process.
"Well, he is quite good. But that won't be enough to beat that kid."
His prowess with the bow certainly looked good, considering he must have switched it after being admitted to the academy. The amount of time he could train with it was four months at most, and that was even assuming he changed weapons right at the start of the semester.
But still, his prowess wasn't as strong as a natural swordsman.
At the end of the day, Wilbers had the skills required for a swordsman underneath.
"Come on, brother! You can do it!" A young voice echoed from the side. It was a little boy with his fists clenched. "Show him!"
He was cheering on his brother with a smile.
"Huf…."
Letting out a long breath, Wilbers emptied his lungs with a smile on his face.
After all, he had a brother to impress.
Chapter 386 - Duels (2)
"Huf…."
Letting out a long breath, Wilbers emptied his lungs.
And then, feeling the familiar surge of energy from his skill, tightened his grip on his sword.
The air around him shimmered as his mana concentrated, ready to propel him forward with devastating speed and power.
Blade Charge.
Astron, noticing the subtle shift in Wilfred's stance and the gathering of mana, swiftly drew another arrow from his quiver. With a practiced motion, he nocked the arrow and aimed, his eyes narrowing as he noticed that his enemy was charging for his skill.
SWOOSH!
The arrow flew straight and true, aimed directly at Wilfred's chest.
However, Wilfred had anticipated this move. He had faced enough archers to know their tactics, and he was well aware of this particular vulnerability in his skill's activation.
'Not this time.'
He quickened his skill's activation, his body blurring as the mana surged through him. At the last possible second, he deflected the incoming arrow with a swift flick of his sword, sending it spiraling off course.
CRASH!
With an explosive burst of speed, Wilfred charged forward, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the sheer force of his launch, sending debris flying. Astron's eyes widened in surprise as Wilfred closed the distance between them in an instant.
Wilfred's blade gleamed as he swung it down, aiming for Astron's midsection. The speed and precision of the attack left little room for error.
CLANG!
Yet, Astron managed to draw his dagger just in time, deflecting the blow with a desperate parry.
The force of the impact sent shockwaves through his arm. His body shook a little.
'Ho…He withstood that.'
Reina was impressed, seeing he didn't fall down immediately. It was a natural response; after all, in general, most dagger users relied on agility.
CLANK! SLASH!
Wilfred's relentless assault continued, each strike faster and more powerful than the last. From Reina's eyes, it was evident that he had the upper hand.
'So, he realized he was not a match against him in terms of strength. And now he is using his speed, and pretty effectively at that.'
He weaved and dodged, narrowly avoiding each lethal strike, looking for an opening.
'He's fast, that he must be thinking now. Yet, his eyes are analyzing for a weakness.'
Wilfred pressed his advantage, his blade a blur of motion. Each swing was aimed to overwhelm and incapacitate, his technique refined through countless battles.
Yet, despite his fury, Astron managed to stay just a step ahead, his instincts and training guiding his movements.
Then, Astron saw it—a brief hesitation in Wilfred's movements, a momentary lapse in his relentless assault. It was barely noticeable, but to Astron, it was enough.
SLASH!
Seizing the opportunity, Astron feinted to the right, drawing Wilfred's attention. Then, with a swift, fluid motion, he switched directions and lunged to the left, his dagger aimed at Wilfred's unprotected side.
'Nice feint.'
Wilfred, caught off guard by the sudden change in direction, attempted to recover, but it was too late. Astron's dagger found its mark, slicing through the fabric of Wilfred's uniform and drawing a thin line of blood.
"Urgh!" Wilfred grunted in pain, stumbling back.
The crowd erupted in a mix of gasps and cheers, their excitement palpable as the duel reached its peak.
Astron took a quick, steadying breath, his eyes locked onto Wilfred.
'Now, what will you do?'
Wilfred, clutching his side, glared at Astron with renewed determination. The pain only seemed to fuel his resolve, and he quickly adjusted his stance, preparing for another assault.
"You won't get lucky twice," Wilfred growled, his voice filled with both anger from pain and respect for his opponent's skill. However, he still maintained his cool, his eyes focused.
Astron didn't respond verbally; instead, he maintained his focus. And then, he instantly switched to his bow.
'Huh?'
Wilfred was momentarily surprised, as they had been clashing blows in close quarters for a while now.
SWOOSH!
The arrow instantly flashed, aiming right towards his face.
'Wind psions for swift and precise attack? If you were capable of doing this, why did you let him charge with his skill?'
The arrow was faster than it was supposed to be. Something that Wilfred couldn't react to.
Double Register.
Even though he had used his skill [Double Register], which was a common rank skill that enabled him to increase the speed of his skill's activation.
He hadn't used it previously since he didn't feel the need to.
It took a lot of mana to use, after all, and most of the time, he did it to surprise his enemy and finish them. He was planning to do the same now as well.
That was why he was a tad bit late using his skill even if he had activated his skill and then utilized his trat.
Circular Blade.
SWOOSH! THUD!
The arrow went past through the circular blade formation that had just formed, and then, in an instant, it pierced through his shoulder.
"Argh-!"
With his right shoulder dislocated, blood splattered everywhere across.
"Gasp! Brother!"
"Wilhelm."
His family, who was watching him, gasped, especially his little brother, with his eyes wide open.
SWOOSH!
Astron instantly appeared right before Wilhelm, his dagger shining.
'No! I must not lose!'
Yet, Wilhelm refused to lose his family in front of him. Even if he was ranked 1500 across and it was middle, he still had the ambition to be better than now.
And he couldn't afford to lower his rank.
Blade's Fury.
Thus, he activated the strongest ability he could use. The ability that originated from his trait [Blade's Attachment].
Stage 3 of his trait. He had just recently stepped into the territory of stage 3, and his control over it was still lacking.
Yet, Wilhelm knew he couldn't afford to think about those things right now. The mana surged through his body, psions enhancing his fibers. He felt like even his cells were feeling angry, and the blade in his arm was shaking.
Despite the pain in his shoulder, he refused to back down.
Astron, unfazed by the sudden increase in Wilfred's power, launched into a relentless onslaught. His movements were fluid and precise, each strike of his dagger aimed with deadly intent.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Wilfred's sword met Astron's dagger with a series of rapid, powerful clashes. The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the arena, the audience on the edge of their seats.
Each time Astron pressed the attack, Wilfred countered with a forceful parry, his blade movements enhanced by his trait.
Seeing it, Reina realized.
"So, that was why. You knew about his skill. Talk about being cautious." Reina mumbled. As she was watching the kid's prowess, she started liking him more. Not because he was strong or anything but because he felt like a professional.
Someone committed to his occupation and serious about everything. There weren't any childish movements in his fighting style.
"….." She threw a quick look at Garrett to gauge his reaction, only to witness that he was frowning with a serious face. Though, there was a small smile in his eyes.
"But well, I guess it will end now." In front of her trained eyes, what Astron was doing was obvious.
On the scene, Astron weaved and dodged, narrowly avoiding each lethal strike, looking for an opening.
Wilfred pressed his advantage, his blade a blur of motion.
'Only thirty seconds is left.'
Each swing was aimed to overwhelm and incapacitate, and his technique was refined through training.
Yet, despite his fury of attacks, his opponent didn't fudge at all.
'Why? Why can't I hit him?'
He was doing his best, yet he couldn't hit his opponent, not even once, as if his attacks were being read effortlessly.
'Come on, focus. He is lower than you. You mustn't lose your calm.'.
Yet, over the course of the semester, if there was one thing he learned, it was to keep his cool no matter what. However, that was proving to be harder than ever before, with adrenaline rushing through his body and his trait affecting him.
'Analyze.'
As he analyzed his enemy's posture, he saw it.
'An opening.'
His left shoulder was open when he attacked, even though it wasn't easily visible.
Seeing the opening, he didn't miss the chance. He couldn't. After all, he knew things were bound to get troublesome if he did.
SWOOSH!
He attacked instantly.
'Huh?'
Yet his attack met with nothing. Instead, something else happened.
It was a faint! Once again!
Astron feinted to the left, drawing Wilfred's attention, then quickly spun to the right, aiming for Wilfred's exposed side.
'I knew it.'
Yet this time, Wilfred anticipated the feint, bringing his sword up just in time to block the dagger. The force of the block sent shockwaves through both of their arms, but neither combatant wavered.
SWOOSH!
"You're good," Astron admitted, his voice calm and measured. "But not good enough." For the first time today, he was speaking.
'He is even utilizing psychological attacks.'
Reina could see where he wanted to go with this.
'What a crafty kid.'
Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Astron dropped low, aiming a sweeping kick at Wilfred's legs.
Wilfred jumped to avoid the kick, but Astron was already moving, using the momentum to propel himself upwards, his dagger flashing towards Wilfred's midsection.
Wilfred twisted in mid-air, using his enhanced agility to narrowly avoid the strike. He landed awkwardly, his wounded shoulder protesting the movement, but he didn't let it slow him down. He charged forward, his blade blazing with energy, and launched a powerful overhead strike at Astron.
Astron sidestepped the blow, his dagger coming up to deflect the sword. The impact sent sparks flying, the force of the collision momentarily pushing both fighters back.
That was how it was supposed to play, yet Astron did something unexpected. Utilizing his flexibility, he twisted his ankles, pushing his mana into his legs. Then, he rotated his body, using it as an anchor to the ground, and he used the force of the sword as the torque.
Wilfred's eyes widened.
SWOOSH!
Because, suddenly, an attack occurred from his side!
'Another dagger?'
His eyes had been tracing the dagger Astron held in his hand, yet that made him miss the other dagger.
'When?'
Wilfred noticed this too late, and his reflexes kicked in. In an instant, his sword was on his right side, aiming to deflect the attack.
Yet it was too late.
Wilferd didn't manage to pick his posture up to the utmost efficiency.
THUD!
That particularly forceful strike from Astron sent Wilfred stumbling back, his grip on his sword faltering.
Astron seized the opportunity, lunging forward with his dagger aimed at Wilfred's heart. Wilfred, using the last of his strength, brought his sword up in a desperate block.
CLANG!
The force of Astron's blow sent Wilfred's sword flying from his hand, the blade skittering across the arena floor. Wilfred fell to one knee, clutching his dislocated shoulder, his breathing labored. Astron stood over him, his dagger poised for the final strike.
"Yield," Astron commanded, his voice steady.
Wilfred looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of defiance and resignation. He knew he was beaten, but he refused to let the fight end without dignity. With a slow, deliberate movement, he bowed his head.
"I yield," he said, his voice barely audible.
The arena fell silent for a moment, the tension thick in the air.
[Winner, Astron Natusalune.]
Then, the crowd erupted into applause, their cheers a mixture of relief and admiration for the combatants' skills.
For the first time today, they witnessed such a good fight. None of the other ones could compare to that since most of them ended rather quickly.
Only this one was this toe-to-toe.
Astron stepped back, his expression calm as he lowered his dagger.
Garrett and Reina watched from the stands, their expressions thoughtful. Garrett's eyes shone with a mixture of pride and concern as he observed his protégé.
"He's grown stronger," Garrett said, his voice tinged with approval.
Reina nodded, her gaze still fixed on Astron. "Indeed."
And then she touched the necklace on her chest.
[The record has been sent.]
After hearing the notification, she turned his head to Garrett.
"Then, should we go greet him?"
"….Indeed, we should…."
Chapter 387 - Duels (3)
Every student in the academy needed to do at least one duel. The number could go more than that; everyone had at least one.
Though, on average, the number was two duels for each student, there were rare cases in which the two people appointed each other as the duel application.
This was exactly how it was for Irina. After all, from the moment the finals started, both Seraphina and she were adamant about appointing each other.
Otherwise, it would be a clear act of disregard. No matter how hot-blooded Irina was or how annoying and scheming Seraphina was, at the end of the day, both of them couldn't afford to make such claims with their own actions.
Therefore, both of them appointed each other.
And, because of the importance of their duel, it was postponed until the end of the week, which left Irina with a lot of free time.
She only needed to train. One would think she would train for the duel specifically, but there wasn't any reason for that.
Since the moment she was born, she had always been in a rivalry with Seraphina Frostborne, and she had already trained for such cases.
For these reasons, Irina decided to use her free time to do something she had been curious about for a while: watching a certain someone duel.
With her rivalry with Seraphina postponed until the end of the week, she had ample time to observe Astron's abilities firsthand.
And since the academy directly announced when each fight would take place, she didn't have a hard time finding Astron's either.
It was on Monday, 10.15 AM.
At the time of Astron's duel, she made her way to the arena where the lower-ranked students were scheduled to fight.
She could see that these duels didn't attract large crowds, aside from some family members and a few scouts, which meant the arena would be relatively empty.
She didn't want to attract unnecessary attention or spark any rumors, so she donned a simple disguise—an overwhelming make-up, black wig, brown eye lenses, and casual clothes. With her disguise, nobody would suspect her to be Irina Emberheart.
This was not her first time doing this in any case, so she was confident.
As she found a seat with a clear view of the arena, she noticed the atmosphere was indeed much calmer than she had expected.
The absence of a bustling crowd allowed her to focus entirely on the upcoming duel. She settled into her seat, adjusting her disguise to ensure her anonymity, and waited patiently for the match to begin.
The duel between Astron and Wilfred began with a palpable tension. Irina watched intently as Astron drew his bow, his movements precise and calculated.
She observed how Wilfred countered, and his skill and determination were evident in every motion.
When the duel intensified, she leaned forward, her heart racing with excitement.
Astron's strategic maneuvers and Wilfred's relentless attacks were a passable display of skill and tenacity.
The clash of their weapons echoed through the arena, each strike filled with intent and power.
'That guy…..He really is good at acting.'
Irina couldn't help but think to herself. The fact that he was being pushed by such a student was mind-blowing to her since she herself knew that Astron was capable of dealing with a much stronger demon contractor, as well as a demon itself.
But aside from that, his fighting style hadn't changed. Even from the start of the semester, Astron had always fought with his techniques and strategy focused. Even now, rather than relying on his mana or skills, he only displayed his weapon prowess.
'This alone shows his talent. And it also makes sense that he lacks skills with his background.'
Everything perfectly fit into a story fabricated, and Irina knew if she didn't know beforehand, she would easily be fooled. Even after knowing that she had almost been fooled since Astron's acting was pixel-perfect.
[Winner, Astron Natusalune.]
The announcement of the winner was met with applause from the small audience. Irina remained seated, her eyes fixed on Astron as he stood over his fallen opponent, his expression calm and composed.
She watched as he stepped back, his dagger lowered.
But then, just like how it was supposed to be, the crowd returned to normal not long after. Since several other cadets appeared in the arena, and nobody knew him enough to care too much.
Some scouts were taking notes, but many of them were unimpressed.
'Well, that was interesting, at least.'
Irina smiled inwardly. She didn't come here expecting much, but strangely enough, she felt herself immersed in the fight. Albeit lower rank, it was somehow filled with twists.
'Well, I am just making excuses, aren't I?'
Thinking about that, she stood over her seat. Now that she had given her time to watch this guy and come here, it was now his job to do the same, wasn't that right?
After all, she had a plan in mind.
With one last glance at Astron, who was exiting the arena, she turned and made her way toward the exit as well. After all, she needed to catch him there.
Irina made her way toward the backstage area of the arena, her steps purposeful. She wanted to catch Astron before he left to gauge his reaction….yeah, his reaction.
As she approached, she saw his lone figure packing his things into a locker. He had already changed into his regular clothes, but the signs of the intense duel were no longer seen.
"Brother, brother…Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot? It was really scary! Is this what you always do?"
On the other side of the room, Wilhelm was surrounded by his family. His little brother stood close by, his eyes wide with worry as he asked if Wilhelm was okay.
"Come on, Rain. Don't you see your brother is completely fine? Something like that won't hurt me, don't worry."
"Liar. I saw you were almost crying just now."
"Hey! I was not crying…It was just I got dirt in my eye for a second."
"Really?"
"Really. When did you ever see your brother cry?"
"Never."
"That is how it should be," Wilhelm said with a smile. Though from the outsider's perspective, it was evident that he was trying to mask his feelings underneath.
But then suddenly, the woman beside the two ruffled the little brother's hair.
"Rain, your brother is tired. How about you check how other brothers and sisters are doing."
"Other brothers and sisters? Really!"
"Yes. Don't you want to watch them?"
"Yes! Thank you, Mommy." With a beaming smile, the little brother rushed out of the backstage, shooting forward like a bullet.
Then, the woman turned to face Wilhelm, looking at her son with pride, and reassured him. "You really improved yourself," she said, her voice filled with warmth.
Wilhelm, though visibly disappointed by his loss, seemed to find some comfort in his mother's words. She caressed his head, saying, "You did well."
Watching this tender scene, Irina felt a pang of conflicting emotions.
A shudder ran through her as she averted her gaze, unable to bear the sight any longer. It was really uncomfortable; she hated seeing this.
She hated it.
Memories of her own past resurfaced.
–Young miss, you still have yet to finish this week's goal. You are not allowed to go to bed."
"But-"
"There are no buts. Matriarch ordered me to watch over you. Until you finish using stage-1 magic without looking at the description, you won't leave this place."
A scene from the time when she first started learning fire magic.
–Is this all you can do?"
"…."
"Answer me."
"N-no."
"Then, why are you wasting your time?"
"...I understand, mother."
A scene from the time.
The memories were slowly taking over her mind, even though it wasn't the place for that. She didn't even notice the fact that her fists were clenched.
[Winner, Jacob Rahel.]
Yet, the announcer's loud voice woke her up from her memories. And the moment her
Irina snapped back to the present, her memories dissolving as she focused on the scene before her. Astron was quietly readying himself to leave, his movements efficient and deliberate.
There was no one beside him, no one to greet him. He was alone, just like she often was.
Irina remembered the fact that he was an orphan without any family. The arena, which had been bustling with activity for moments, seemed to isolate him further. Aside from her, there seemed to be no one else present for him. He was completely alone.
Yet, Astron carried himself as if this solitude was normal. He exuded a quiet resilience that intrigued her. Irina found herself smiling, mumbling to herself, "What am I doing?"
Was she the only one in this world with a situation like this? Weren't there many people with conditions worse, yet they still fared better?
How did this suit Irina Emberheart?
She prepared to walk towards him, her footsteps echoing slightly in the otherwise empty space.
Just as she was about to approach, she sensed two presences entering the backstage area. One was a bulky man with a huge build, his presence commanding and intimidating. The other was a woman with a mature aura, and her demeanor was composed and confident.
Astron looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he recognized one of the newcomers. His gaze was locked on the bulky man for a second, and then he turned to the woman beside him.
"….."
He assessed the woman for a while, his eyes narrowed. Knowing him, Irina could easily say that the woman was someone he had never seen before, and like a feral cat, he was now baring his fangs.
A thing that he did to every stranger he met.
"Kid."
Yet, the voice of the bulky man took Astron's attention back to himself.
"….."
"….."
The two continued to look at each other without speaking.
Irina couldn't make any sense of what was happening here. Who were these people, and what was happening? Why was nobody talking?
Finally, the mature woman spoke, her voice calm and measured. "So, you really found each other." She glanced at the bulky man, a hint of amusement in her eyes, and then turned her face to Astron again. "I didn't expect to see Garrett 2 here. It is really interesting."
Garrett, the bulky man, looked over the woman.
Reina turned her gaze back to Astron, her expression thoughtful. "You've grown since I last saw you, Astron. Garrett has been speaking highly of you."
Astron glanced between the two of them for a second.
"Do I know you?"
To Irina, it felt like a play was happening right before her eyes.
Yet, she hadn't noticed that two people other than her were also watching this spectacle.