SATURDAY came around, and it was the day of the Combat Tournament.
I had skipped class on Friday to go into the Citadel of Ancient Gods, but right before the tournament started, I joined the others for practice.
The participants all had the best grades in the sword and magic practical courses. It was a huge event that included all three years of students in one tournament. This year, there were thirty first years and thirty second years, then four third-year students. Out of my group, the people participating were me, Eric, Vern, Zeke, Milia, and Sophia. I guess I should also mention Marth, the son of the cardinal, was also taking part.
The reason there were so few third years participating was that most noble students become busier in their last year taking on their family work. On top of that, third-year students who performed well had nothing to gain and everything to lose in terms of reputation, depending on whether they won or lost, seeing as everyone assumed they were going to win anyway. That’s why most third years didn’t bother participating even if they were selected.
The winner last year was Keith Jordan, and he probably hadn’t intended on participating, but Eric asked him to, and he couldn’t exactly refuse.
Eric wanted Keith to make an appearance as part of his plan to force Duke Jordan into a corner. If Keith lost to Eric, a first year, his reputation would plummet, which would have a significant impact on his father’s ability to draw others to him. And if the duke retaliated, it would be a good excuse to arrest him.
I decided to leave Eric to handle Keith, so I didn’t necessarily have to take part in the tournament, but there was a chance the duke would fall for Eric’s scheme and attempt something. Going to the tournament meant I could be closer to everyone, allowing me to react immediately if something did happen.
The Combat Tournament was held at the Academy’s stadium. It was a bit like a colosseum surrounded by spectator seats and had four rectangular fighting rings marked on the ground of the vast space in the center.
Matches were meant to mimic real fights, so participants used real weapons, skills, and spells. They were held inside Special Barriers, the same ones used in our magic practical class, to make sure no one got seriously injured.
Special Barrier nullified harm, visually representing the damage value inflicted as numbers displayed over your head. What was different from our classes was that the Special Barriers weren’t limited to 100 points. The match continued until one person surrendered or the Special Barrier broke from an overaccumulation of damage.
Most people surrendered before the Special Barrier broke, unless it was a very close match, because it was embarrassing to have points scored against you without you being able to do anything.
The seats were overflowing with student onlookers. In the separate VIP boxes were King Albert and nobles who had been invited. The Combat Tournament was the biggest event of the year at the Academy. King Albert, my father, and all of the Three Great Dukes, including Duke Jordan, were in attendance.
“Arius, will you watch my match today?” Eric asked with his usual energizing smile.
“You really did things your way, didn’t you?” I replied.
“I really have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He might play dumb, but his first opponent was Keith. The matches were determined by lottery. The first-year students were in a separate lottery that ensured they were paired against a second- or third-year student so that they didn’t advance to later rounds on luck alone. Even so, it was far too convenient for me to believe Eric just happened to be matched with Keith.
If the previous champion of the tournament were to lose against a first year right in the beginning, well, that was going to do the most damage to Keith’s reputation. If I were in Eric’s shoes, I’d have thought up the same plan.
“You students who have been selected for the Combat Tournament either carry the future of Ronaudia on your shoulders or represent your home country abroad. I ask you all to fight with honor and dignity,” King Albert finished his opening remarks, and we quickly dove into the first-round matches.
“Prince Eric!”
“Lord Keith!”
The students in the spectator seats suddenly burst into a ruckus at the upcoming showdown. Their first-round match was taking place first in the rectangle marked out right in front of the VIP boxes. In the first round, four duels were held at the same time, but the majority of people weren’t paying attention to the other matches.
“Keith, go easy on me, won’t you?” Eric called out. He was wearing half plate armor made of fairy silver and had a longsword. There was a magic crystal embedded in his left gauntlet. They were all magic items, but it was Eric’s standard equipment. The lack of gaudy ornamentation was yet another way in which Eric was the perfect prince.
“You’ve pulled something amusing, Your Highness,” Keith said as he fixed Eric with a glare. “But it seems you haven’t heard how they say schemers always drown in their schemes. It doesn’t matter who they are.”
Keith’s equipment was plate armor with a sword and shield for a standard fighting style. The armor was rather flashy with gold ornamentation, and one look told you it was an expensive magic item.
“I’ll have to ask you to say that again after I’ve won,” taunted Eric with an invigorating smile. He was just stirring Keith up at this point.
“Fine. It’s the duty of the greatest of the Three Great Duke houses, House Jordan, to show you reality!” Keith activated a skill the moment he heard the signal for the match to start. “Ice Sword Dance Flurry!”
Ice Sword Dance Flurry was an advanced one-handed sword technique that created ice swords to strike on their own and had the additional effect of slowing the target down with the chilling air.
Three ice swords flew through the air to attack Eric as Keith sped up, closing the distance between them. Four swords were attacking Eric simultaneously. That kind of attack would be hard to block for someone at the level of most Academy students. Apparently, this was the skill Keith had used to win last year.
“You show no mercy, Keith, using a powerful skill from the start,” Eric said.
Just before the three ice swords struck, a wall of flame surrounded Eric. He had silently cast the tier-four Fire spell, Wall of Fire, and melted them instantly.