Part Twenty-one

Flora, her voice barely above a whisper, leans in towards Kaida. "Hey Kaida, I think these people are all crazy," she observes, her eyes flicking warily towards Thalia's group.

Kaida nods in agreement, her expression solemn. "They look half dead already," she adds, casting a skeptical glance at the weary faces of Thalia and her companions.

Meanwhile, Oliver ceases his work on equations and potions, stretching with a wide yawn. "I can deal with them if you want. I have new potions I wa—" he starts to suggest, his tone hinting at excitement over his concoctions. However, he's quickly cut off by a chorus of resounding "No!" from the others, their memories of Oliver's unpredictable potion-induced antics still fresh in their minds.

Clicking his tongue in mild annoyance, Oliver resigns himself to a spot next to a tree, returning to his equations with a huff. "Ugh, alright," he mutters, his interest in the battle visibly waning.

Observing the other group's interaction, Thalia blinks, a realization dawning on her. "I think they think we're lazy," she remarks, her tone a mix of amusement and contemplation.

Dax, overhearing Thalia's comment, nods in agreement. "Indeed, someone finally recognizes our brilliance," he says, a hint of pride in his voice. "Our dedication to laziness is an art form."

Gideon, joining in the conversation, adds with a nod, "We do try hard to be as lazy as possible. It's a skill not everyone appreciates."

Rhea, putting away the cube she had been tinkering with, pops her gum casually. "They have a lot of weak spots, but this fight is pointless without finding their king," she states matter-of-factly, her eyes scanning the opposing team for any signs of weakness.

Thalia, touching the tip of her crown, sighs heavily. "This is an unfair fight," she concedes, her gaze settling on Aira and her team.

Liam, taking charge of the strategy, begins to assign roles to his team. "Flora, keep an eye out, provide distance support, and make sure no one gets to Kaida and the others. Rai, you're going to focus on that man with the broadsword—" His instructions are abruptly cut short by Aira's sharp interjection.

"Don't tell me what to do," Aira says, her voice laced with frustration as she strides forward, clearly not in the mood to be directed.

Arin, following close behind, tries to reason with her. "Aira, you're healed, but your stamina is still low," he cautions, concerned about her well-being in the heat of battle.

At this moment, Oliver reaches into his bag and pulls out a potion with a swirling green liquid. "Catch," he calls out, tossing the potion to Aira. "It will refill your stamina completely for 15 minutes," he explains, offering a temporary but potent solution.

Aira, without hesitation, downs the potion in one swift gulp. "I'll deal with their king," she declares, setting her sights on Thalia.

Upon hearing Aira's challenge, Thalia touches the tip of her crown thoughtfully. "She wants to deal with me? What do you think she's dealing?" she asks her companions, seeking their input on the situation.

Dax leans in, whispering his thoughts. "I don't know, but I heard those from the great empire are really greedy, so she might try scamming you," he conjectures, offering his perspective on Aira's tactics.

Gideon, adding to the conversation, shares a cautionary tale. "My uncle's sister's nephew's step-cousin's grandson's friend's grandfather once signed a contract with someone from the royal family and got tricked and scammed out of everything they had. So, you better be careful," he advises, emphasizing the need for vigilance.

Thalia's expression turns serious as she considers their words. She gazes at Aira, her resolve strengthening. "I see, I better be careful. I didn't know they are bad people," she muses, her wariness evident.

Isabella, stepping forward, announces her own intentions. "I'm dealing with the other girl," she states, referring to Rhea, her determination clear in her stance.

Liam, observing the unfolding dynamics, lets out a deep sigh. He then directs his attention to Dax. "I guess I'm dealing with the 'heater'," he says, resigning himself to facing Dax in the upcoming confrontation.

Aira, with a sense of determination, unsheathes her sword and exhales deeply. She charges towards Thalia, her movements swift and focused. Gideon, preparing to step in, is caught off guard as Rai appears next to him with even greater speed, his blade poised to strike.

Thalia, quick to react, casts a magic circle, enveloping her hand in a layer of hardened, mana-enhanced ice. To minimize damage, she strategically allows Aira to push her back. "What are you doing? I thought you were going to deal with me," Thalia questions, a hint of confusion in her tone.

Aira, enhancing her sword with an aura, replies assertively, "I am dealing with you. Why else would I be attacking you?"

Thalia, landing from a defensive jump, taps the ground, causing long, thick spikes of ice to extend outwards. Aira, caught off guard, leaps back to avoid the icy assault. "I don't understand. Aren't we supposed to trade or sell something to each other?" Thalia asks, her understanding of 'dealing' seemingly rooted in a very literal economic sense.

Aira blinks in disbelief, her expression a mix of frustration and incredulity. "Are you pretending to be stupid or are you just stupid?" she asks, her question genuine and tinged with exasperation.

Thalia, with a smirk and an air of unwarranted confidence, places a hand on her chest, pointing at herself. "I am simple-minded," she declares proudly, her smile unwavering despite the absurdity of the situation.

Aira, scratching her head, finds herself at a loss for words, unsure how to respond to Thalia's unexpected self-assessment.

Rhea and Isabella stand facing each other, the tension palpable in the air. Rhea casually pops her gum and, with a hint of playful arrogance, asks, "Am I that beautiful?" while subtly fidgeting with something hidden in her pocket.

Isabella brandishes her wand, her expression serious. "What artifact are you hiding? My wand is twitching," she inquires, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

In response, Rhea nonchalantly spits out her gum and replaces it with a new piece, a smirk on her face. "Your wand is afraid of me," she taunts, challenging Isabella's assertion.

Unphased, Isabella unleashes a series of spiral wind and fire elemental attacks, her wand guiding the powerful magic. "It only twitches when there's a higher concentration of mana around," she explains, as the attacks swirl towards Rhea with increasing intensity.

Quick to react, Rhea takes out an orb and throws it to the ground. The orb instantly creates a protective barrier around her, shielding her from Isabella's onslaught. As the elemental attacks cease, Rhea picks up the orb, examining it with a frown. "Ouch, you damaged the runes," she complains, her tone a mix of annoyance and admiration for Isabella's power.

Isabella, observing Rhea's actions, spots a life indicator on her right sleeve and a device wrapped around her arm. The device glows to life, signaling Rhea's readiness to retaliate. Wasting no time, Rhea begins to unleash a series of high-speed mana blasts towards Isabella

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Des, her voice crackling through the earpiece, speaks to Ash in a hurried tone, "Alright Ash, I just chatted with Kael. Sooo, I need to find Lila."

Ash's response comes through, tinged with concern, "What, why? That witch! She's going to do something to you."

Des huffs, her frustration evident even through the earpiece. "Hmph! First off, she's not a witch, and she's Kael's age, so they might know each other. Although, he did tell me I can't tell her about anyone..." She pauses, rubbing her head, trying to make sense of Kael's instructions. "I'm just going to do as Kael says."

As Des navigates through the huge crowd watching the competition, she can hear people betting on the classes, many of them doubting Isadora's chances of winning. She frowns, glancing at the guards surrounding the area where the queen is sitting. "The queen is over there," she mutters to herself, her gaze drifting upwards to where Queen Celeste sits, looking down at the match on the screen with an air of boredom.

Pondering how to get the queen's attention, especially as a child in such a guarded place, Des rubs her chin, pacing back and forth. Finally, she decides on a bold, albeit not the most sophisticated, approach.

With childlike enthusiasm, Des starts jumping up and down, calling out in a loud, cheerful voice. "Queen Celeste! Hello!" She continues to jump, smiling and enjoying the attention she's drawing from the crowd. "Queen Celeste! Can you see me? Please say hello!" she shouts, waving energetically at the queen, hoping to catch her attention.

Des's excitement is palpable; she adores Lila and has always dreamed of getting a wave from the queen herself. Her actions reflect her youthful innocence and eagerness, oblivious to the bemused looks from the surrounding crowd as she continues her spirited attempts to reach out to Queen Celeste.

-

In the royal viewing area, Queen Celeste watches the match unfold with a critical eye. Sitting with the poise and grace befitting her status, she analyzes the strategies being played out below. Her attention is particularly drawn to Biana, who seems to be orchestrating chaos with her words and actions. "Hmmm... Rosalind's child. She purposefully angered them to attack her," the Queen muses. "She assessed her surroundings immediately upon waking, gauging the number of enemies, their roles, and the state of the battle. Then she provoked them into attacking. She set the stage, and they all fell for her trap."

The Queen shifts her focus to the other screens, scrutinizing the competitors. "They are not weak but lack strategic understanding. They are vigilant but don't plan or evaluate properly," she observes. Her gaze then settles on the screens showing Isabella and Isadora. "Isabella, Aurora's daughter, has a profound understanding of magic and a strong desire for growth. Isadora, Alister's daughter, is a hero candidate leagues ahead of her peers. Her swordsmanship, aura control, and mental fortitude are exceptional."

Closing the screens, Queen Celeste's attention is suddenly caught by a familiar sight. A young girl, Des, is waving energetically at her, trying to catch her attention. The Queen, maintaining her composed demeanor in public, silently instructs, "Get my double."

Retreating to a private room, she transforms her appearance, dyeing her hair purple and making herself look younger. Stepping out, she spots Des, still eagerly waving at her stunt double. The Queen approaches her with a disguised appearance. "Hey Des, do you remember me?" she asks with a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Des's eyes light up with recognition and joy. "Lila! I missed you," she exclaims, rushing forward to embrace her warmly. The Queen, despite her disguise, returns the hug, sharing a moment of genuine connection with the young girl.

Des, still holding on to Celeste in her youthful guise, beams with delight. "I came looking for you," she says, her voice filled with the innocent candor of a child.

Celeste, playing along in her disguise, chuckles softly and responds with gentle humor. "You were looking for me? It seemed like you were waving at the queen," she teases, patting Des's head affectionately.

Des releases her hug and looks up at Celeste with earnest eyes. "You see, my-... A man told me you would appear if I bother the queen," she confesses, her expression a mix of mischief and innocence.

Celeste's smile falters for a moment, replaced by a brief look of contemplation, but she quickly recovers with a shake of her head and a knowing smile. "Oh, is that so~ Can you tell me where I can find this man?" she inquires, her tone light yet probing.

Des frowns, caught in a dilemma. She knows the answer but hesitates, torn between her loyalty and the urge to protect her friend's identity. "I-I don't know who it is," she stammers, her reluctance clear in her voice.

Celeste sighs softly, her expression understanding and patient. "It's okay, you don't have to lie to me," she reassures Des, taking her hand and walking alongside her. "Did that man tell you to give me anything by chance?" she asks, gently steering the conversation.

Des stops in her tracks, visibly troubled. She fidgets with her foot, looking down at the ground. "P-Please help Ash," she whispers, her voice cracking with emotion. Her eyes fill with tears.

Celeste's eyes widen in concern, and she quickly envelops Des in a comforting hug. "Don't cry, what's going on?" she asks, her tone laced with concern and urgency.

Des sniffles, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "I-I don't know, Ash is in the academy but he s-sent me a message saying there's a huge storm and so, so many scary monsters attacking. He is hiding, but I don't know how long he'll last," she explains, her voice trembling with fear.

Leaning into Celeste's embrace, Des looks up at her with pleading eyes. "T-The man that told me how to find you said you could fight. Please help me," she implores, her expression one of desperate hope.