In the end, Vern won the match. Considering the difference in their level and stats, Vern really had to pull off an overwhelming victory.
“Getting hit with Dark spells isn’t great. I need to dodge better…” he breathed. Looked like he was catching on. He should be fine because he was now thinking it through.
“Sophia, seems to me like you’ve decided you are going to enter the tournament,” I commented. “It kind of feels like you’re thinking of examining your own skills and spells or testing yourself to see how far you can get.”
“Milia says this all the time, but you never seem to miss anything. You’re right. I’ve decided to do what I can and give it a go because it’s a good opportunity to gain experience.”
“You’re always so diligent. You’re right, it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about thinking about what you can do when you’re faced with obstacles. Dark spells aren’t suited to one-on-one matches, but they’re effective for making a strategy. Fights would be a lot easier with you around.”
For some reason, Sophia turned red at that and looked away. “This is just all I can do right now with the power I have. You really don’t overlook anything, do you?”
Next was Noelle, whom Milia asked to spar with. But to be entirely honest, Noelle was no match for anyone in the group right now.
Milia didn’t use support spells and instead used her shield to block Noelle’s attacks, but there was nothing Noelle could do once the fight had turned to close combat. It was over in an instant.
“How was your match with Milia?” I asked her.
“A-Arius! W-Well…there’s just no way I can win.”
Noelle did have that oak staff of hers, but she must have been afraid of close combat because when it came to it, she just froze and squeezed her eyes shut.
“I’m sorry I pushed you to spar with me,” Milia insisted, looking apologetic.
“Oh, n-no, it’s all right. I’m sorry I didn’t make a very good sparring partner…”
Milia was making an effort to talk to Noelle and befriend her, and I got the feeling Noelle knew that as well.
“Hey, if you want to, you could try teaming up with someone and using your magic to support them,” I suggested. “It would help the others because then they could feel like they’re fighting someone stronger than them in the tournament.”
“Uh, I guess, I don’t really mind…”
She didn’t seem to really understand what I meant. Maybe it’d be best to have her try it out.
“Would you like to team up with me first?” Sophia chimed in. It seemed she understood what I was trying to do. High-level opponents could use combined elemental spells, so this combo was possible.
“This sounds interesting. All right, I’ll be your opponent,” volunteered Vern, and that was the start of a match with Vern fighting against Sophia and Noelle.
“Shadow Thorns!” Sophia attacked first, restraining Vern. “Dark Missile! Darkness Spear!”
“Stone Shot! Stone Shot!”
Sophia and Noelle focused fire on Vern. Each shot didn’t do that much damage, but it was steadily adding up as Vern wasn’t able to dodge them all. He couldn’t even close in on the duo because of the hail of bullets.
“Hey, hold on! Don’t think I’ll let things end like this! Fireball!” Vern countered.
“Stone Wall!”
But the Stone Wall Noelle created blocked most of the Fireball, meaning the two girls took nearly no damage.
“Thank you, Noelle! I’ll keep attacking,” Sophia shouted.
“Tsk, looks like I have no choice but to power through and get close. Shattering Blade!” Vern activated his skill and approached with every intention of taking some hits in the process, but the two girls fired more attacks than he could handle. He was at their mercy and, in the end, it was their win.
“I-I can’t believe it. We won…” Noelle gasped.
“And it’s thanks to you. I wasn’t able to win against Prince Vern on my own,” cheered Sophia.
“N-No, Lady Sophia, that’s not true. I-I just cast a few spells…”
“Let’s just say we won together. And no need for the ‘Lady.’ I’d like you to talk to me normally. We’re friends, after all.”
“Uh…all right…Sophia.”
“That’s better. Let’s fight together again sometime,” Sophia said with a soft smile.
“Hey, you don’t get to hog her. Oh, and Noelle, you don’t need to be formal with me either,” Milia jumped in.
“A-All right…Milia.”
“Yep, that’s good. You and I should team up next.”
“I guess I’d be your opponent then,” I started. “I bet you didn’t ask Noelle to team up in the first place out of consideration for everyone else.”
Right now, Milia was the strongest in the group. If she teamed up with Noelle, they’d wipe the floor with their opponent.
“You’re always like that, Arius. It’s seriously unfair,” Milia pouted, her face red.
Did I say something I shouldn’t have?
“Hey, Vern, don’t let this loss get you down,” I offered. “You brought everything you had, but there wasn’t much you could’ve done to avoid that loss.”
“I know, friend, but I’m going to have to handle that number of attacks if I’m fighting someone more powerful. I need to improve my abilities.”
It looked like he wasn’t dwelling but looking to the future instead.
“We only have two weeks until the tournament. It’d be hard for you to learn a new spell or skill, but what you can do now is hone the skills you do have.”
“You’re right. I’ll take what I can do right now and fight with everything I have in the tournament.”
After I sparred against Noelle and Milia, Noelle paired up with the others for more matches. She seemed happy to have found a role for herself and was opening up a lot to Sophia and Milia. I was really glad I’d decided to invite her.
Once we’d basically finished up the matches, we ate the snacks that Sophia and Milia prepared again today.
“I’ll prepare the food for next practice,” Sasha told them. “I feel bad having you two do it every time.”
“Thanks, Sasha, if you don’t mind,” replied Sophia.
“U-Um, I c-could too…but I’m not a very good cook…” Noelle joined in.
“Could you handle the drinks then?” Sophia suggested.
“Y-Yeah, I could manage that!”
And so, with Sophia’s help, it was all arranged. I did think it was wrong for us to rely on only the girls to make the food, but it also wasn’t my place to barge in.
“Sasha, do you want to practice with us next time?” asked Milia. “It’s fun practicing with everyone.”
“No, thank you. I came to watch Prince Zeke practice. But I suppose it does look somewhat fun.”
“It is. Right, next time, you’re joining in!”
Sasha wasn’t going to be taking part in the tournament and so probably hadn’t planned to join us, but seeing Noelle take part might have made her want to as well. She still spoke formally to all of us, but she’d told us that was just easier for her.