Familiar People

Few hours later, round one is close to ending. Most of the participants who were spectating to battles have left and gone back to each of their rooms to rest. The first round was long because of how many teams are partaking. Although its nothing compared to tens of thousands of teams who tried to join the tournament.

Only the teams who won the preliminary battles are the ones who are accepted to participate since watching thousands of teams fight one at a time takes countless days.

Some nobles on the other hand used bribery or family influence to join the game without participating in the preliminary matches.

Cali have thought of this as ironic considering he just met someone who did the same but appears to be against it themselves, which is hypocritical.

Cali: "If life turned into a joke then those people are the clowns."

Those words are not that deep when you think about it but people will still manage to create different meanings behind it because each of us have different perspectives. Sometimes you just need to get straight to the point or your message will just get lost in the expanding void of confusion that is the sea of assumption.

A sprinkle of a joke and an irony right there.

Or you could just make the idea of your message as realistic as possible so that your audience wont misunderstood it, hopefully.

All of this is what's going on inside Cali's mind right now.

Speaking of misunderstanding, the rest of Team Cali heard of what Cali said and are now confused on what he is possibly talking about.

Ceed: "Huh?"

Biel: "Dont worry, he sometimes blurt out things like that. You will get used to it."

Cali: "Arent you guys going to rest back into our room just like the others?"

Mica: "Im staying to watch."

Ceed: "Im tired, are your going with me, sis?"

Zen: "Yeah, im a bit bored here too."

Biel: "Cant blame you, I feel the same."

Zen, Biel, and Ceed left.

Cali and Mica sat on a stone bench while watching.

Cali: "Are you tired?"

Mica: "A little. How about you?"

Cali: "Im fine. I didnt even moved an inch back when we fought those two. So I have no excuse for being tired." He laughed.

"Also, why didnt you follow them to rest if you're tired?"

Mica: "I want to take this tournament seriously, you already know the reason why."

Cali: "You're too kind for your own sake, havent anyone told you? What if you get exhausted and got sick one day? Are you still going to worry for others?"

Mica: "Yeah.."

Cali: "Thats no good. Just because you worry for them doesnt mean you will be able to help them. You wont be able to take care of others if you havent taken care of youself first of all."

Mica: "I understand your concern, Cali. I will keep that in mind.."

Cali: "Stay here, I'll buy you a snack."

Mica: "Thanks but, dont you have a magic to cure tiresome?"

Cali: "None. Tiresome is due to ur body not having enough energy. Energy doesnt just appear out of nowhere, you have to eat something for it."

Mica: "Where did you learn that? Do you study in the academy as well?"

Cali: "I learned through experiments.."

He left.

Mica: "Im pretty sure they dont teach that in the academy.."

Cali goes outside the Colosseum. There stand many stalls of different kind such as merchandises and of course, food.

Cali bought two cold fruit beverages and a bread using a gold coin.

Cali: "Keep the change."

Vendor: "Uh.. Thank you, sir.. Huh?"

He goes back to Mica.

Cali: "Here you go."

Mica: "Thanks."

Cali sat on the bench.

Cali: "I feel like we're dating."

Mica: "Dream on." She said in a joking voice while laughing.

Cali died on the inside.

Cali: "Alright, you dont have to laugh that much.."

Mica: "Wait, were you serious?"

Cali: "Yes..."

Mica: "Oh, sorry."

Cali grinned: "Hah! I was actually joking! You shouldve seen your face." He laughed nervously.

"Am I really that good of an actor?"

Mica: "Stop!"

"I couldnt even focus on watching anymore."

Cali: "Yeah, sports are boring when you're not the one who's playing. Unless you are invested in someone else' game."

Mica: "I think so too, but there are times that you get intimidated of the enemy and wishing not to face them in the next rounds."

Cali: "Are you talking about the Victland Team?"

Mica: "That one especially."

Cali: "I noticed how they still hold grudge to Agham even though were already in a peaceful age."

Mica: "Hmmm.. I think those conflicts got passed to other means, the Battereon Tournament is the best example of that. The game gets them heated up sometimes which ends up to participants talking trash against their opponents, and past conflicts are probably big influences to that."

Cali: "Ohh! That makes sense, actually."

"That's smart!"

Mica: "Thanks."

Cali: "Oh? Did you get flattered? Are you probably falling for me???"

Mica laughed.

Cali laughed.

Cali thought to himself: "Im hopeless." while crying deep inside.

The bell rang and it attracted the attention of the bored audiences including Cali.

Cali: "Oh, so that was those gigantic bells are for."

"Alright. Im hoping to see an interesting fight this time!"

The fighters stepped in the field. A group of young adults entered with almost their whole body being covered by a dark colored cloak. A familiar type of uniform.

On the other side of the arena, theyre the national team of the land of Nisshoku from the east. These people are comparable to our world's asians, more specifically japanese people.

The team is popular for their skilled players and are expected to win this year's tournament.

Their leader who seems to be their Arch Mage said: "Try not to use your special moves as much as possible."

The rest of their team: "Understood."

Meanwhile, the cloaked team have no communication between each other whatsoever.

The match has started and the cloaked team's Arch Mage casted a powerful spell that suddenly raised the earth where the opponents are standing on, ejecting them into the air then to outside of the arena.

Nisshoku Team's leader used his magic to elevate five tiles from the arena for them to step on and immediately jump back in the arena.

Nisshoku Team's Rogue: "These guys are tough."

Their Ranger: "Looks like we have to go all out."

Cloaked Arch Mage: "I will take on all of you myself."

Nisshokujin Rogue: "This guy is getting ahead of himself."

Nisshokujin Leader: "Let's show them what we got!"

Nisshoku Team's Warrior and Rogue ran towards the Arch Mage. The Warrior ran from the left side while the Rogue is on the right.

Meanwhile, their Ranger is charging up her arrow with intense mana but more difficult to control.

Their Arch Mage shoots a bunch of fireballs.

With the cloaked Arch Mage powerful and accurate control of mana, he created stone walls from the stage which block the fireballs and slowed down the Warrior and the Rogue.

Then he created earth spikes from the ground that stabbed and pierced the opponents limbs, making them unable to make any move.

The crowd was shocked on what just happened.

The Nisshoku team screamed in pain and the match ended quickly to treat their injuries.

Cali: "What the?"

Mica: "Thats awful."

Cali: "Do you recognize them?"

Mica: "Yes, I think theyre familiar and I have a guess on who they are."

Cali: "We think the same."

Biel arrived.

Biel: "Guys, theyre about to announce something in the building. Lets go."

They've gone back to the building and listened to the announcement in the long hallway.

Event Organizer: "Round one has ended. Tomorrow, we will be having our second and third round. You can sleep in those rooms designated to your team or just go home. I suggest you to stay for the night here so you wont get late tomorrow just in case. You can ask us about the building if you want to find the toilet for example. Is everything clear?"

"I guess none. See you tomorrow."

Mr. Rosace entered the building and approached Cali: "I thought I made it clear that I dont want you to be a deadweight to my daughter, but all you did back then was nothing. So if you want money, I can give it to you, just leave this team."

Zen: "He's not leaving."

Mr. Rosace: "What? Are you defying me?"

Zen: "Yes, Father. I like him.. to be my ally and leader."

Mr. Rosace: "What did you just said?!"

Zen: "I meant everything I said."

Mr. Rosace sighed in disappointment and frustration then said: "I will talk to you after this event."

Their father left the building to go home.

Ceed: "Looks like father found out your secret. Its pretty obvious."

Zen: "Shut up!"

"Sorry about that, Cali."

Cali: "Its fine. I understand the situation."