Redemption of Honor

Its the second day of the tournament.

The second round started around 10 in the morning.

More participants began observing the battles compared to yesterday.

The audience seats are still lively and crowded similar to yesterday's.

Earlier that day, our protagonists all slept in one room with just a curtain separating the boys' and girls' bed. Unfortunately, they were all decent citizens so nothing interesting happened.

Mica woke first and prepared their breakfast before waking the others.

Mica: "Wake up, you guys. The meal is ready."

It was a good morning with no signs of bad weather if you look through the window. A feeling of refreshment from the rays of sunrise that ended the passive and cold night of yesterday.

It was a morning that signals a busy day for them.

Mica: "Are the both of your injuries completely healed? Are you two not feeling any kind of pain?"

Cali: "I sure did have a pain in the ass of a lecture yesterday. Can I have a boo-boo kiss in my heart?"

Its obvious that it was a joke, no one laughed, still.

At that time, Cali realized that those embarrassing words he just said will haunt him forever.

Cali: "Alright that was kinda cringey."

Biel: "I feel better earlier before you told me that joke."

Cali: "Alright! Now that you are both fine, shall we prepare for the tournament?!" He said in a giddy tone as he pathetically tried to change the topic.

Biel: "You're making it worse."

Ceed: "I feel like throwing up."

Cali: "Shut up, Ceed. You're getting too confident to insult me now, huh? I liked you better when you were still shy because I dont give a damn of what you say!" He said in a excessive rising tone.

They were shocked of what Cali said that no one tried to reply.

Then, Cali and Ceed suddenly laughed at the same time.

Ceed: "That was a good one!"

Zen: "What's happening?"

Cali: "You guys got scared?"

Ceed: "That was obviously a joke!"

Both of them continued laughing.

Mica: "You two knew each other too well, its scary."

Zen: "Did you two planned this beforehand or something?"

Ceed: "No, I just knew how his mind works."

Cali: "No way, Im not that easy to read."

Ceed: "Yeah, sure."

Zen thought to herself: "I've never seen Ceed open up to anyone except me."

"Im glad he's finally able to express himself."

Biel: "Let's get ready for the second round. There will be third round later too, so let's prepare for the worse scenario of us taking short breaks between those rounds."

Zen: "Hopefully we wont have a tough enemy so we dont get tired from just the second round. What's worse is we might lose."

Cali: "I forgot to tell you guys but from this point I wont be helping you, except if the situation got dire. So Im hoping you guys could beat the enemies without my help."

Mica: "Why is that?"

Cali: "I dont want my magic to be revealed in early rounds, remember?"

Zen: "That strategy again?"

Ceed: "Is there a problem with that strategy?"

Zen: "Didnt he said he can just erase people's memories?"

Ceed: "Oh, I remember. The one he did to the members of The Sacrifices?"

Cali: "I dont like your sharp memory, Zen. Anyway, I have other reasons for doing that. I also wanted to see how far you guys could go on your own."

Zen: "You didnt really need a sharp memory to imprint a very dangerous spell in your mind."

"Also, you've helped us many times already. You can count on us on this one!"

Few hours later, the second round of the tournament has started. Everyone including the whole Team of Cali gathers in the same corridor to watch.

The earlier they fight, the better, but luck doesnt seem to be on their side as the round goes on.

12 out of 16 teams have already fought but theyre still not called to fight.

The battles took longer time than the previous round because the remaining teams were skilled and determined to win.

An organizer approached and told them: "Are you guys Team Cali?"

Cali: "Yes. Are we the next to fight?"

The Organizer: "Yes, sir. Please head to the entrance of the arena and prepare."

Cali: "Understood. Thank you."

The team follows as Cali heads there.

The Bell for the match rings and the battle has ended, its finally their turn.

They entered after the previous team who fought has left.

Zen raised an eyebrow as she saw the team who theyre up against.

"I just cant believe my luck, we got paired on a weak-ass team!"

His team laughed with him.

"You guys only won last round because you only fought two people, so let me show you this time what it means to be in this grand tournament!" It was the annoying guy who complained to the organizers before.

I didnt want to bother naming him but his personality just screams about bragging himself.

"Be honored as I, Asar from the noble family of Hambogg, shall defeat you." He said in an impressively loud voice.

He really made sure everyone in the Colosseum heard him.

Cali: "Attracting everyone's attention before he lose?"

Ceed: "This guy is asking for pain.." He said while he grit his teeth.

Cali: "I really dont have to worry about you guys. This is an easy win."

Biel: "You sure? I dont wanna be too confident just like him."

The bell rings.

Asar: "Hiyaaaaa!!" He screams as he run towards them.

Ceed slapped him in the face. He passed out immediately.

Asar's teammate: "Hah! Your guard is down-"

Ceed also slapped her and she blacked out.

Ceed: "No its not."

Cali: "Ceed, you really didnt hold back, huh?"

Ceed: "My slap wasnt even that hard."

"Now, I'M going to show you what it means to be in this grand tournament!" Ceed grins while his eyes starts to glow (Only for comedic effect).

Ceed dashed very quickly that it looks like he teleported, appearing behind the enemies and jumpscaring them before he finishes them, like a sociopath.

Mr. Rosace: "What?!"

Mrs. Rosace: "See, dear? The only reason why he messes up when you train him is because you're pressuring him too much!"

Kupkop: "Your son is amazing, Hig. You should be proud of him."

Mrs. Rosace: "Next time you talk to him, I want you to praise him, because he really deserves it."

Mr. Rosace: "..."

The bell rings. The match was over quickly. Everyone was laughing to what happened to Asar and his team. The audience were laughing so much that Asar couldnt talk back against them no matter how loud he screams.

Zen: "That was amazing, Ceed! You defeated them all by yourself!"

Ceed: "Thanks, sis."

Zen: "Dont worry, Im sure father saw all of that and he's now changing his opinion about you."

Cali: "I forgot that I also have to impress him, even though he's not even my father."

Mica: "Dont worry, Zen will defend you just like last time." She winked.

Zen: "Mica!"

They all laughed for a while.

Cali thought to himself: "Asar Hambogg. He was not particularly powerful magician to be accepted in this tournament. The only reason he got in was by family influence. If they didnt accepted him, he would have threaten the organizers."

Ever since he was a child, Ceed was pressured to be a great magician since he's the only son who will inherit the riches and possessions of the Rosace family.

Because of this, his father was strict towards him.

His father's training were intense and long, but no matter how tired Ceed gets, he keeps doing his best.

Unfortunately, doing your best barely matters if you cant do it properly, this is due to the accumulating stress felt by Ceed.

He always scold him everytime he gets disappointed of the results.

This led to Ceed's inferiority complex and shy reaction towards other people.

You might hate his father because of this, but all he ever wanted is for Ceed to have a good future. He might not be treating him like he deserve to be treated as but his intentions are not ill. He just didnt know how to properly interact with his children. A tsundere father indeed. Their behavior runs in the family.