Chapter 95

[Third Person's PoV]

Iris was seen getting ready to go towards The God of War festival, but before she left she heard the sound of the door knocking.

She was at first confused as she wasn't expecting any visitor, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Alexia"

Iris' expression was that of surprise as the last person she expected was her sister after their last debacle. She quickly opened the door and saw Alexia standing there with an awkward expression.

"Uhh I came here to tal–" but before she could finish Iris pulled her into a hug.

"We sure do" Iris mutters, before breaking off the hug and inviting Alexia inside her room, "Come in, we still have time."

Alexia nodded as they both sat on Iris' bed, they both sat in an awkward silence before Alexia was the first to break it.

"Before anything I want to apologize, for slapping you" Alexia said while bowing to her which took Iris by surprise.

"I know this is no excuse for my actions but my emotions were all over the place when I confronted you and I shouldn't have taken it out on you and for that I apologize once again"

Iris let out a sigh, "Please raise your head, there's no need to bow your head, and I accept your apology, but can you help me understand what occurred to let me grasp the full picture"

Alexia let out a sigh of her own as she then began to explain what occurred to Cid and how he was mistreated.

"I see…" Iris muttered, "It looks like i am somewhat to blame for this"

Alexia shook her head, "I have done some thinking after our fight and realized, you didn't know, they were following Zenon's order. The only ones to blame are the Diabolos Cult"

It was then Iris' turn to shake her head, "I take some of the blame as well, those men were under me, so any wrong doings they have done I must take partial responsibility. Even if they were spies or under cover working for someone else, they were still part of the Knight Order that I commanded. And it looks like I someone to Apologize to"

Alexia smiled at that, glad to have finally made up with her sister.

Iris seeing her smiling gained a teasing smirk, "It looks like you must really love Cid, huh? You were even willing to fight me for him."

Alexia started blushing and nodded her head. She didn't deny Iris' words which caused her to raise an eyebrow as she expected Alexia to get flustered and refuse her statement not agreeing with her.

'Wait a minute…' Iris thought, looking at Alexia closely, "You two are actually dating aren't you?"

Alexia covered her face feeling shy and nodded her head at her.

Iris looked at her with slight shock before sighing, "Well that's good then, I'm happy for you. Just don't take it took far"

Alexia just turned her head away as she couldn't look Iris in the eyes causing Iris eyes to widen in surprise.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?"

…

Cid was seen looking at the ongoing God of War festivals from the audience seat waiting for his turn to be called. As he watched he kept thinking on how he wanted to end it, and what a good grand finale for the arc would be.

As he started forming an idea on how it would go Cid realized that his turn was next, without anyone realizing he disappeared from where he was standing and reappeared inside the corridor leading to the arena in his Julius disguise.

"We will now begin the 12th match of the third round! Julius Blindman vs. Gonzales!" The announcer shouted.

Cid walked with his black walking stick in front of him leading the way, while Gonzales, a broad, muscular man with a buzz cut carrying a large sword over his shoulder walked towards the Center of the arena.

As they stood in the middle facing each, Julius heard the mocking and disbelieving talk between the crowd.

"You think he's finally met his match?"

"How is he still here?"

"Hmm all of his previous opponents were too weak, I think this is as far as he goes"

"Is he truly blind?"

"He doesn't even have a sword in his hand or side, how did he make it this far? All he has is that walking stick."

Gonzales started to enhance his body with magic, a hint of his magical energy oozing from his body as he took a fighting stance.

"I don't like to bully the weak, so I'll finish this quickly, you can thank me later" Gonzales said

Julius didn't say anything as Gonzales ran towards Julius with his sword ready to strike.

As soon as Gonzales' foot stepped within Julius range he suddenly collapsed to his knees, dropping his sword and holding his stomach in pain, coughing up blood before fainting.

As he fainted Julius was already seen walking away from the Area, while everyone stared in shock unable to believe what they were seeing.

"The… The winner of the twelfth match is JULIUS BLINDMAN!"

[The next day…]

Annarose was seen sitting down with her legs crossed and her chin resting on her palm.

"Hey there Missy, talk about a coincidence. You're here to see the match as well I presume?"

"And if I recall you're Quinton" Annarose responded as Quinton sat next to her.

"You watched the third round yesterday, right? His opponent, Gonzales, is someone I know, so I was there. So about the match, what do you think? Annarose of 'Belgata's Seven Swords"

"I already discarded that title, now I'm just Annarose."

"I see… sorry about that then. The results of the previous round just don't sit right with me, Gonzales isn't someone to just toppled over and cough up blood for no reason. That brat did something, I know it, I just don't know of it's an artifact or poison or whatever i just know he did something"

"Well I can't deny the possibility. I also have my reservations about how it ended, his opponent didn't just decide to cough up blood for no reason" Annarose said in a serious manner.

"A moment before the fight ended all i managed to catch was his hand holding his walking stick twitch before this Gonzales guy held stomach in pain." Annarose explained what she saw.

"What does his hand Twitching have anything to do about it? And are you sure that's all you saw?

"It has everything to do with it and yes I'm sure, I enhanced my vision to watch his every move, do you have any idea what that means?"

Quinton looked at Annarose in shock, understanding what she was implying, "Are you saying that even with your enhanced vision he was too fast for you to follow his moments?"

Annarose nodded her head, "That's exactly what I'm saying"

"So his next opponent… Goldoh doesn't stand a chance?"

"I have been in many tournaments in several countries, throughout which I was up against Goldoh three times. But not once was I able to defeat him."

"What?! Even someone as strong as you lost to him?!"

"Of course not" Annarose scoffed, "He just calls it quits if his opponent is too strong. He only fights if he's sure he can beat his opponents"

"So then he's sure he can beat the Julius kid? He's walking towards the arena confidently as we speak."

"I believe he thinks Julius is weak and only won due to luck and I believe that's Julius' strategy…"

"His strategy?"

Annarose nodded her head, "Appear so weak the point they underestimate you and pull a quick victory over their heads before they can go all out, or so I believe"

"But that's cowardice!! That's no way a Knight should behave! Especially if he's as strong as you're making him out to be!"

Annarose shock her head, "It may cowardly for you but it's actually a smart tactic, though I'm only guessing, so my inferences could be wrong"

Quinton wanted to retort but shut his mouth once he realized the match between Julius and Goldoh was underway…