Braun's POV
Peace
Everything was going well as I peacefully slumbered until...
"Rise and shine sleepyhead." A feminine voice calls out before I feel a powerful punch to my gut.
"ARGGH!!" I jolt awake with a painful scream as Emma smirks from the side of my bed.
"You have to get ready for the tournament today remember?" She reminds me as I glare at her.
"What the hell was that for!?"
"Well, there's no fun waking you up the normal way, you should've seen your face." Emma laughs as I get out of bed.
"You little brat." I hiss groggily before chasing after her.
"Hey let go!" She protests as I yank her by her tail before she pokes into both my eyes simultaneously causing me to fall down the stairs with a loud thud.
Good grief.
"Argh, what did I ever do to you?" I groan out as Emma smiles victoriously from a top the wooden stairwell, her emerald eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Bickering so early in the morning." James huffs as he walks in on us, Emma's face immediately falling.
"Do you want me to give you guys more chores?" He asks, his arms folded.
"No sir!!" Emma and I respond in unison as James sighs.
"Then I don't want to hear you two quarrelling or fighting with each other, got it?"
Emma scoffs as I get up from the ground and nod.
"Good, now get properly dressed, we'll be heading out for the tournament pretty soon."
And with that James leaves the room.
"You heard the man, behave will you?" I say to Emma hoarsely.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, I'm perfectly well mannered." She responds with a playful smirk as I run my hand through my black hair.
"Good grief, whatever you say." I reply before closing the door to my room shut.
After taking a well deserved shower, I change from my pajamas into a black shirt, black sweatpants and a blue jacket.
The Tournament Of Esmeraldia
I could practically feel the excitement racing through my veins as I exited my room.
"Braun, you can head out with Emma, I'll stay here and take care of the bar." James informs me as I nod.
"I'll see you after I've won." I say confidently causing James to chuckle.
"Oh you better win, you need that prize money to repair all the damages you caused during your run in with those damned bandits." Emma chimes in as she steps into the room, clad in denim shorts and a black long sleeved crop top.
"Look I said I was sorry alright." I say sheepishly.
"Well an apology won't fix all the broken windows and the freaking hole in the roof."
"I get it cat girl." I reply, smiling through gritted teeth.
"Chill out okay, I'm just giving you a kind reminder."
"You're definition of kind is very twisted, madame." I say mockingly as she narrows her green eyes.
"Want to go at it again?" Emma challenges before I chuckle and pat her head.
"You would lose in a matter of seconds."
"Don't ruin my hair, dimwit." She orders me with a faint smile as she follows me out of the bar.
"You like being patted don't you?"
"So what if I do?" She responds crossing her arms, clearly not backing down.
I give her a deadpan look before bursting into laughter as her cheeks turn red.
"What the hell's so funny!" She complains before repeatedly hitting my chest with the sides of her clenched fists.
"To think that a person as hotheaded as you can be so easily tamed."
"I may have cat-like features like my ears and tail but that doesn't make me some animal that needs to be tamed." Emma retorts before sending me staggering back with a powerful punch to my chest.
"You didn't have to do that!" I groan out, reeling from the attack.
"That's what you deserve Astern, now we better be on our way before you're late for the tournament." She says before walking off as I wince in pain before eventually catching up to her.
So very cruel.
We eventually reach our destination, the tournament arena bustling with a lively audience as I struggle to keep my excitement in check.
"You said you're not from Esmeraldia right?" Emma inquires as I nod.
"Then this must be your first time, I can tell by your boyish grin you're trying so damn hard to hide." She continues, a smirk on her face as I let out a joyous chuckle.
"I'm itching to get this started." I admit as I blissfully look towards the clear blue sky.
"Hey it's nice to see you again." Gabriel greets as Elizabeth pushes the wheelchair he's seated on, her long red hair tied into her usual ponytail.
"Great to see you too man...so sorry about the injuries." I say, feeling incredibly guilty.
"I told you to hold back that day, now you've got him on a wheelchair." Emma reminds me with a sheepish glare.
"It's okay, it's only temporary besides, his injuries are healing quickly." Elizabeth assures us with a light smile.
"That's a relief." I say, genuinely glad that he's recovering well.
"I'll be cheering you and Elizabeth on from the audience." Gabriel vows with a bright smile as Elizabeth motions to hand the wheelchair to Emma.
"Please take care of him while I participate in the tournament." Elizabeth asks, her head bowed.
"Don't worry about it." She replies wrapping her hands around the handles.
"You and Braun go ahead with the tournament, Gabe and I will cheer you guys on." Emma continues before Elizabeth gives her a grateful smile.
"Wow, so you can be kind." I say teasingly before Emma sticks her tongue out at me playfully.
"As amusing as your banter is, we have to leave and join the other participants." Elizabeth tells me before I nod.
"I look forward to fighting you, if you last that long of course." I reply with a smirk causing her to chuckle.
"Getting cocky now are we?"
"I'm simply being confident." I say with a smug face as she scoffs.
"You're an interesting one, Braun Astern." Elizabeth says before the announcer and ref gets on stage, ready for the beginning of the tournament.
"Ladies and Gentlemen get ready to view an earth shattering event between a hundred contestants from all over Esmeraldia, I hope you're ready to bear witness to an unforgettable tournament." The announcer and referee named Talis Smith, promises the audience.
"For our first match, we have the formidable Isaac Costello from Raykor city going up against Braun Astern from Pazalia!" Talis announces with vigor as I walk onto the massive white battle platform.
I look up to see my opponent, dressed in a dark blue cloak, walk towards me, his white hair swaying in the wind.
So you're Isaac Costello huh.
"Braun Astern...I heard you're strong." Isaac says to me, his voice dangerously low, his ocean blue eyes trained on mine.
He seemed quite confident despite hearing about me, strange.
Talis swings his right arm down, signalling the match can finally begin.
I smile at Isaac before raising my right hand, as blue lightning spirals from my body and towards him.
However Isaac doesn't even bat an eye as the attack doesn't hit him but rather swirls around his form before firing itself back at me.
What the--
I'm sent staggering back with a massive blue explosion whilst the crowd gasps.
So he has the ability to redirect my attacks.
Once the dust clears, blood trickles down from my forehead as I look towards Isaac with a painful smirk.
He might actually be the first person since I've arrived in this world to actually give me a challenge.
I slowly walk towards my adversary, a determined glint in my eye.
This is so... exhilarating.