Chapter 23- Lyriq fanclub gone crazy - Part II

Two days before Round Three.

Lyriq sat on his bed, deep in thought.

"So far... every round's been one-on-one. But what if the next one's a group match?

He rubbed his chin like a dramatic scholar.

"I need another sword. Left hand still wobbles like jelly. If I don't train both sides, I'll get folded"

He stood up.

"Let's go. Just buy a sword. In and out. Like a shadow. No distractions."

He opened the door.

A mistake.

"BRAT!!!"

The same emotionally unbalanced hurricane of an old man from yesterday flew at him like an arrow with feelings — latched onto Lyriq's knees like he was summoning a sacrifice.

"YOU HAVE TO MARRY MY DAUGHTER!! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!"

Lyriq stared up at the sky. "...What debt am I paying in this life?"

"She's been affected!"

"...With what?"

"LYRIQ WINK SICKNESS!!"

Lyriq blinked twice. "THAT IS NOT A MEDICAL TERM!! Stop turning my eye into a pandemic!!"

The old man sobbed. "She bought your statue, combs it and hugs every morning and whispers... 'Sword clench'

Lyriq replied, "Even I don't do moves like that!!"

"She feeds the statue soup and calls it... Spoonstab!"

Lyriq gagged. "I HATE soup!! "

"She glued a white wig on our cat! Named our cat Lyriq Junior and tried teaching it swordsmanship! Now the cat ran away!!"

"The CAT is the only one with sense!!"

"Please! Just marry her! I'll give you silver! Gold! Goats! Land! My left kidney!"

"STOP TRYING TO BRIBE ME WITH BODY PARTS AND FARM ANIMALS!!"

Lyriq wiggled free and took off like a startled chicken.

"I JUST WANTED TO BUY A SWORD!!"

Lyirq Ran from that oldman

He ducked behind a pillar, breathing like he outran destiny. And then...

Behind the pillar, a group of ladies whispered excitedly:

"Did you hear? Our princess Bellania Carcel and Lyriq were lovers in their past life!"

"Yes! But they were separated by Zaren Raveline — current Ravelinora king, the demon king in their past life!"

Lyriq choked. "YOU MORONS! THAT'S MY DAD!!"

"They were reincarnated by the gods to finish their love story in this life!"

"Lyriq ran from Ravelinora to find his lady love in Carcel!"

Lyriq glared at the pillar. "Lady love!? I haven't even figured out what's for lunch today, and you're giving me destiny arcs!"

"He entered the tournament to prove he's worthy to marry the princess!"

"I ENTERED BECAUSE IT WAS FREE!!"

"Bellania calls Lyriq her 'snow puppy' because of his white hair!"

Lyriq banged his head against the pillar. "I want to disappear. I am now a snow puppy!"

"Prince Laedor and Caviern found out about their love and planned to kill Lyriq during the tournament!"

He paused. "...Okay. If rumours spread that one might be true."

"We must support their love! Sword and heart together!"

Lyriq whispered, "I am the sword. WHO THE HELL IS THE HEART!?"

Suddenly, a crowd cheered.

A huge banner scrolled across the scroll post:

"WILL LOVE BLOOM BETWEEN BELLANIA AND LYRIQ?"

"ONLY ONE MAN STANDS BETWEEN THEIR DESTINY—"

The drawing: Naron Carcel, standing between Lyriq and Bellania like a final boss.

Lyriq groaned. "Why am I the Romeo of this circus!?"

****

Royal Castle — That Evening

Inside the golden war hall, King Naron Carcel sat with his war council.

In his hands?

RAVELINORA'S RAVELINE OF LOVE — VOLUME 1

Page One: Bellania slaying a giant dragon with a frying pan. Lyriq lies behind her in a princess pose.

Naron glared. "She can't even slap a mosquito! Who DREW THIS!?"

The room exploded with laughter.

Page Two: Lyriq firing a glowing Cupid Arrow from his sword. Bellania catches it. Hearts everywhere.

"LYRIQ SHOOTING LOVE BEAMS!? THIS IS HIGH FANTASY NONSENSE!!"

Page Three: Bellania and Lyriq holding hands under the moon. Laedor and Caviern spying with spyglasses from the bushes.

Caption: Even fire and ice cannot stop fate.

Naron choked on laughter. "Get those two idiots here! I want to read it with them!"

A guard rushed in.

"Sire! Queen Ellina already finished it."

"And?"

"She said Volume 1 deserves to be carved into palace marble. She's ordering Volume 2."

Naron wiped tears. "I swear... I'm the only wall between this boy and my daughter."

He rose slowly, dramatic.

"I... AM THE FINAL BOSS... OF LOVE."

The entire room burst into chaos.