23 Chapter 23: Royal Battle Day 2!!

2 days after that, all races from first year students to fourth year students have finished. And so, the second part of the Royal Battle, Chivalry has began!

"Are you sure, you're alright?" Russell asked, as we stood in line.

The Ceremony for the second tournament just started. 

"I'm fine, you worry too much Russell" I chuckled and he complained, "It's normal for me to be!" 

Backing off a few steps away, I insisted the words, "I know, I know. But, I am really fine" 

"Make sure to tell me when you start to feel bad. After all, today is Chivalry " the plain boy remarked and I nodded, whilst going back to my position.

The plain boy then threw pressure to me, with a look and asked, "You promise?" which made me gulp and reluctantly answer, "Y-yeah…"

Russell was worried of me, because of the last events. I didn't tell him and the others that it was only a moment of regret and some motion sickness.

Well, either of it are embarrassing to admit!

But, I guess. Russell can also be a bit scary, at times. He always scold me about things I shouldn't do and wakes me up, in the morning. 

More than a friend, he is like a Mom…

"Now, now! Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the second tournament of Royal Battle, Chivalry!!" 

Despite the fact that it was already the fourth day, Shiro and the audience cheered on loudly, as if it was just the first day.

"I am sire that you all can't wait anymore, so let us start!!!" Shiro shouted, and the audience responded with, "Alright!!"

More than lively, they can be passed off as noisy now. 

A sigh left my mouth, as I looked at the roulette that Shiro had started to spin.

For the second part, the students are separated into half-half and are on different blocks to easily finish the second tournament, which is treated us the most longest part.

Including the block we are in, there are 5 blocks in all. In each Block, an MC rules the flow of the battle.

Block A have Shiro as MC, while Kuro is the MC of Block B. In Block C, Kiiro is the MC and Akari is the MC of Block D. Lastly, the Block E has Aori as their MC.

These 5 are quintuplets, who have a color in their name that represent their personalities. It's not like because that is the color of their hair, after all, they're all red haired.

By the way, these arenas or blocks are different with the arena we used for Horse-riding. 

This academy is large and has a lot of places to waste to make many buildings, as if a small kingdom is their intent, instead of a school.

"OH!" the red haired MC gasped, as the roulette stopped. "The first battle is between the third imperial prince and the son of the legendary knight!"

Gino who was beside me tapped my shoulder and grinned,  "Looks like it will be a nice first fight, don't you think?" 

"Yeah, I do"

My lips formed a bit grin that is small compared with the dandelion boy's dazzling one.

"You don't have to worry about holding back" he stated and I raised my shoulder up, "I don't have any intention to do so" 

Gino remained silent, before letting out a sly grin.

"You must be like that, unless I can't call you Ed" he laughed and I mumbled, "What does that even mean?" 

It seems like I am always facing off with Gino…

After a few minutes, every pairings were decided, and the students that have their fights occurring later were allowed to go look around and enjoy the festival.

I kinda wanted to look around, but I am on the first fight today.

My lips formed a grin.

  Well, I'll just drag the dandelion boy around, once we're done here!

*

"Are you sure it's all right, if we don't watch Gino-kun and Ed-kun's fight?" whilst looking back at the Block A, I asked Reina.

Looks like shew wanted to look around, since she didn't get to do so this past 3 days. Because of her sprained ankle, which she got during the first day.

That is why we are how leaving the Block A.

"It is fine, because I'm sure Ed will win" her words made me mumble, "You seem confident about it" 

Boastfully, she said, "Of course, Gino is kinda loser when it comes to Ed" and patted Lux, who positioned himself on her arms. "Forget about them. Let's have fun on our own, right Lux?"

"Puu!"

Turning around to the block again, I mumbled, "But, the other are watching them and… I'm kinda curious"

"Anna! I'm going to leave you, if you dazed there, all day!" called the girl, who ignored my words and went on ahead of me.

Running towards her, "W-wait for me..!" I shouted so.

*

"Let us start the fight. Ready…Start!!"  with Shiro's words the fight started. 

Gino then rushed to me like the wind and I jumped like a fly to avoid him, which made him complain, "You are unfair, Ed!" and jumped to where I was.

"You're the one telling me that?" with such retort, I went down and surrounded myself with fire.

The dandelion boy's lips formed a grin.

"Ed, are you an idiot? There's no way that fire can win against wind" clenching his fists, whilst surrounding it with wind, he said so.

Rushing to where I was, he cheerfully shouted, "Before we even started, this fight was already resolved!"

He tried to punch me and I dodge, which made us go around the whole stage, repeating the same actions.

Those who know about my Element besides Fiore, are Niel Bohrs, who is the headmaster of the Capital Academy, Mister Gustav and the student council president, Alicia.

Other professors and students believe that my Element is Fire, and I am stating so. That's why I have no choice but to use fire at publicity, like this.

I might be at disadvantage from the start, but that depends on how I use this power of mine.

"This time, I'll hit you for sure. Take this! Iron fist of Wind!" he shouted, as he tried to punch me with his wind, and I covered myself with fire.

Gino thought that he would blow my fire away, but instead his wind was the one that disappeared. 

"Eh?" everyone gasped, with dumb looking faces.

I took the dandelion boy's hate towards theoretical studies, as advantage with this. Surely, Forth is tilting his glasses up, whilst grinning right now.

As Gino tried to punch me, I surrounded myself with fire and went around the stage, which was to heat up the surroundings.

These blocks have a hole on the roof, and a barrier that separates the stage and audience seats.

So I increased the pressure here inside the block for the wind to move to the place with low pressure.

If I were to give a stupid and simple explanation to him later, I would say that my fire absorbed the wind that he tried to punch me with and had strengthened up.

A man looked down the fight with a surprised face, before mumbling, "That is…" and left the block A, quietly.

After Gino's magic faded, he tried to punch me with wind once again and it disappeared, as well.

Raising my head up, I saw his freaked out face, which grew more large after seeing my creepy grin.

Just a punch strong enough to push him straight out the barrier.

I then took a deep breath in and out, before punching his abdomen strongly with my clenched right hand.

There were three conditions to win.

First, if your opponent got unconscious. Second, if your opponent surrendered, and the last is if your opponent went out of the barrier, which can be broken with strong impact.

In Gino's case, he sent out of the barrier with a punch from me.

"The winner is Prince Edward Finn von Collins!!" shouted Shiro, and the audience that were silent throughout the battle, cheered loudly.

…

I then brought the dandelion boy to the infirmary, like how he did with me. 

"Ed..?" upon waking up, he called me and a sigh left my mouth. "Yo, Gino! You finally woke up, after a few hours"

He then turned to look around and asked, "Where are we?" 

"infirmary. You went straight to the barrier and broke it, with my strong punch over your abdomen"

With my answer, a scoff left Gino's mouth, "You won, huh..?"

"I thought I had a chance, at least a percent. Seems like I was wrong. Even though, you weren't giving it your all, I-I…"

Gino clenched his fists and hit head hid once, before mumbling, "Really. I look uncool for overestimating myself, like that…"

Unable to deny his words, I lowered my head down and mumbled, "Sorry…"

He then stood beside me, and smacked me out of a sudden, which made me gasp, "Eh? Why did y-"

I was about to complain, but he interrupted me.

"Why are you apologizing? Stop it" he slowly sat down the bed and hid his face, with bot hands. "It makes me look more uncool" 

I remained silent, whilst looking down. 

All I can do is apologize to him, but doing so would only tarnish my friend, the dandelion boy's pride. 

What kind of a friend am I?

Friend, huh..?

I do have Flora and Alicia, back then, but I didn't have any male friends. While I did have one as Hakuya, things happened and had broken our friendship.

"Gino… I can't comfort you with kind words or with gentle actions, like how you did to me that day" 

I looked down. 

"All I can do is say sorry to you, even knowing that it would only tarnish your pride. That's all I can do…" 

Rubbing the back of my head, I mumbled, "As a friend, I am no good. After all, I don't know what to do at times, like this" 

"Punch me" 

Upon seeing him stand up, whilst mumbling so and made me gasp, "Eh?" with a dumfounded face.

"Punch me on the face and we're even" he repeated and I backed off. "What the heck are you saying?!"

The dandelion boy looked at me with  serious face and I sighed, before saying, "This will hurt a lot, you know"

"I prefer it that way" 

His usual big grin made me giggle, just before I puncher his face strongly with my dominant hand.

  "It hurts…" he rubbed his cheek and I looked at him, with a blank stare. "Thought that you prefer it that way?" 

He stood up properly, whilst running his cheek.

"Never thought that you would really do it strongly" such words made us laugh, upon looking at each other.

"Ed, go win this thing, on my behalf" he punched my chest slightly and I grinned. "Of course!" 

He smiled.

"And next time we fight again. That time, attack me with all your strength to the point that I might die" I giggled, and nodded. "Okay!"

He kinda acted like a guy who is one of the protagonists. Well, I guess he is.

"Don't forget about the bet, once you win" his smirk and words then made me sigh. "What a way to break the mood. Sheesh, thanks Gino" 

He grinned, "No problem!"