First Blood

Brannersport was the second largest city on the continent, built on a large island located in the middle of the Kalle sea, southwest of Viridale.

Surrounded on all sides by calm blue seas, the people of Brannersport depended mainly on it for their survival. They built a strong seaport connecting the island to the mainland, as well as ships to cross through.

This made Brannersport a large and mostly successful trading city, where they exchanged sea and crafted goods with the city of Viridale, and the rest of the mainland.

The city boasted of a few noble houses, but for the past two centuries, House Borain had held control over the city, ruling with an iron grip through their bloodline affinity to Body Enhancement Magic.

This magic, also known as Body Affinity, was invented by Marcus Borain, the first Grand Mage, and the first ruling noble when they took power.

They are a series of spells, ranking from E to A tier, primarily designed to enhance the human body, and push it past its natural limits.

I never fully mastered the Body Affinity spells because I never had a need for it, and despite all my years as the Grand Mage, I never fought against a noble who wielded the spells either.

But I had heard rumors that Marcus Borain, the first grand mage, used his magic to create a valley by punching a mountain into two.

It was just a legend, but many believed it to be true, myself included.

If Baron Borain was anything like his grand mage ancestor, I was in for one hell of a grand beating.

*****

During lunch break, I decided to head to the library to learn as much as I could about the Body Affinity spells.

Once again, I locked eyes with Lucy in the building courtyard, but just like before, she averted her gaze and walked back into her class.

I actually wanted to know how she was doing, but this was definitely not the time.

The tournament was in three days!

I casually walked out the classroom building, through the hallway connecting it to the library, when I was cut off by two students.

The first was a huge, bald-headed, brown-skinned male with biceps as big as my head. His uniform blazer was a deep shade of red, the colour of House Borain.

And beside him, was Freya Lillith.

"Hi Rin," she greeted with a wide grin.

I sighed. "Please go away."

"Oh no… One of my friends wanted to meet you, so I promised to introduce you to him. This is Baron, your first opponent."

Baron stepped forward with mechanical stiffness, like a puppet on strings, and extended his arm forward, offering a handshake. Not minding the imminent intimidation, I accepted his hand.

His palm felt like steel, and when he gripped mine, I felt a slight crunch in the bones of my fingers.

"Nice to meet you, cheater," he said with a smirk on his face.

"I see my reputation precedes me," I replied, turning to Freya. She simply smiled and caressed her long green braid.

Baron released his grip, and I quickly pulled out my hand and placed it in my pocket. Freya then took a step forward, her cold smile turning into a grin.

"Isn't this exciting?" She beamed. "You'll be going up against Baron here, while I'll be going up against your sweet, sweet Lucy. Wonderful, right?"

I had forgotten to check for Lucy's name on the tournament roster, but her match up seemed like a shady coincidence.

"When the fight ends," Freya smirked. "She's going to need a good healer."

"No," I replied. "You are."

Freya's smirk disappeared.

"I suggest you focus on your own problems, cheater," she said, her eyes darting towards Baron.

"And I suggest you focus on putting your ego in check."

"Hey," Baron cut in. "Don't talk to her that way."

"What are you?" I asked. "Her bodyguard?"

Baron clenched his fist.

"Mind your next words, Stormborn."

"Mind your temper, baldy."

Immediately, he lunged forward.

I saw the left hook coming from a mile away, and I evaded it effortlessly. What I didn't expect was the right hook which quickly followed the first one.

Baron landed a clean blow on my face, and I staggered back a bit. The force of the blow was intense, and I could feel the spot redden and swell in real time.

"Oh," I smiled. "You're going to regret that."

Immediately, Baron gripped my neck, lifting me up and choking me against the wall.

Freya grinned in satisfaction. "Sorry. I forgot to mention that Baron has a short temper."

I clawed at his hand, desperate to break free from his iron grip. Damn this fragile body!

His grip around my neck tightened, and I couldn't breathe. But I wasn't going to let some random noble choke me out before the entire school, so I slowly reached for the dagger in my sleeve.

"Let him go," I heard a cold voice yell.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucy. Her eyes were molten with rage, and the air around her seemed to radiate it.

"Well, well," Freya threw her braid back and folded her arms. "The cursed girl comes to save her boyfriend."

"I said, let him go," Lucy snarled.

For a moment, the earth beneath began to rumble, just like on the day of the entrance examination. When Baron noticed this, he released me, and I dropped to the ground, coughing.

The rumbling stopped.

On cue, Freya turned around.

"I'll see you at the tournament," she sneered, and walked away. Baron trailed after her, like an obedient beast leashed to his owner.

After they left, Lucy knelt beside me, analyzing my face.

"I'm sorry," she said, reaching out to touch my wound.

I slapped her palm away, ignoring her. Without uttering another word, I left.

My cheek burned, but what really hurt me wasn't the blow. It was the fact that I was pretty much powerless against him.

Baron picked me up like I was made of straw, and the scary part – that was just his natural power.

I'd hate to see what he could do to me with his bloodline magic.

The thought of facing him at the tournament scared me, and once again, I was determined to get my powers back.

So to do that, I finally turned to the one person I initially tried to avoid.

*****

I marched into the administrative building, filled with a new resolve. Without hesitation, I turned to the first door on my right and pushed it fiercely.

The door swung open and hit the wall with a loud thud, scaring the tutor who jolted in her seat.

"Rin?" she gasped. "What are you doing?"

I walked into the room and took a seat opposite hers.

"I need your help, Miss Fumiko."