CHAPTER 17
"Wow! This is amazing!" I exclaimed after almost eating everything that was on the plate. It's true though, it is indeed very unworldly delicious. Maybe because of this dish not being on our kingdom and it's my first time tasting it so, it's new for my tongue. My stomach was already fool that it was kind of hard to breathe but it's worth it. Kaval chuckled beside me and cupped his head while looking at me with a fond smile.
"You've been saying that every thirty seconds Alex." A proud smile was etched on his face as he looked at me. I cleared my throat as I realized I wasn't acting that much of a prince at the situation but if anyone dares to complain, I'd have their tongues cut off. Not that I would do it but I would impose various threats. I'm pretty sure that anyone in my situation would react the same, some may even react a lot worse.
"Ah, was I? Apologies, the dish was rather too spectacular that I lost my stance as a prince." I said with a grin. A girl appeared from an opening in the room. I assume that this is Kaval's aide. I have seen her somewhere in the academia but I wouldn't have known as unlike my aide, she doesn't follow his master as if he was a kid. She smiled at me and took the cutleries before retreating back to where she came from.
"I assume that you are full now?" Kaval asked. I only nodded in response as I struggled in my sitting position as my stomach was pressing on my diaphragm. I almost released an obnoxious burp but I stopped it at the last second, remembering that I am a prince and that I should act proper under any circumstances.
"Can we talk about the upcoming clash now?" All of my jolliness that I felt from eating the delightful food that Kaval prepared vanished at the moment he mentioned the certain event. Knowing that I am included in the clash, makes me worry as my powers are not that certain yet. Although I had a sign from the water but that small sign can't signify my stance as a powerful royalty. I looked at Kaval and motioned him to discuss.
He stood up from the bed and went to a nearby bookshelf. It had some books that were very thick and huge. Some had a weird writings on them that I can't decipher. He came back with a booklet on his hands. It was small but I can see that it had a lot of pages.
"This is a booklet about the clash. We got it as soon as we got here and joined the clash. I'll try my best to explain it to you so you must listen as I am not a very good at explaining things but it will work for as long as I have a knowledgeable listener." His tone was serious and his face held the same. I only nodded at his remarks and prepared myself. I caught a glimpse of the nearby and the sun was already setting. Almost to disappear. Kaval dusted the book with his bare hands. I figured that it was left untouched for quite some time now.
"I'm going to start now so you better listen as I only give a single crash-course to my only student." I laughed at him and so did he. Somehow, his attempt to lighten the situation worked at it took away some worry away.
"The clash has been around for sometime now. It started back then when the land started to unite back together from the "Great Fall of the Unknown". It was when the academia was constructed under the provisions of our ancestors where our family originated from. The purpose of the Great Clash was to honor the strongest predecessor with an unyielding valor. It is also to honor the unity and sacrifices of our ancestors for us to be able to live in peace. Ancestors from our kingdom was said to have given up something dear to them for them to be able to win from the darkness that once wanted to rule the land. They gave their pride away and pushed the one who yield stronger power and will to defeat the evil. And that is how they won and were able to provide the peaceful world that we live in today." I listened to Kaval with very much intent as if I was etching every word on my brain.
"The Grand Clash only allows a single contender from each kingdom and those contenders must be a person with royal blood and is the one next in line or it can be a delegated participant which is hand picked by the acting ruler of the said kingdom. An example for this is your kingdom where in the past years, during your absence, your father has picked a substitute for your kingdom to have a contender in the clash. He won the last three consecutive years which gives me a bitter taste in the mouth but, now that you are here, you will be the one participating. I do recommend getting advice from him, given your situation." I nodded in understanding as I was staring at him.
"Now this is the important part, the clash is not about winning alone. It's about cooperating with the team you will be put together. Now there are only five kingdoms in the land and sea and if the rules went with that, the situation will be biased and unfair. So our ancestors have decided that a group of elite and highly capable students from the academia can join the clash. This group can only have four members and these individuals are chosen by the acting Headmaster of the academia."
"Now remember about not winning alone? The academia is going to have an introduction ceremony of those who are able to participate in the clash. In that ceremony, the grandmaster will announce who is going to be paired with who. Second is the rules. During the clash, we, the contenders, enter inside a dome and in a separate zone. No one knows where the others are and usually, some group would either decide to lie low or go aggressive and start hunting the others. Now this is where it gets nasty. We are allowed to use all that we've learned about our powers in the academia and some of us has already learned a lot so we can tinker our power in many ways. The brutal part is, one can use his power on anyone as long as they are a part of the clash. Now in order for a group to fully eliminate another group is to vanquish them in a physical fight or in a power-based fight. Given that we have powers, we usually go with power-based fighting but sometimes, when our stamina are drained, we have no choice but to resort into physical fighting."
"Remember this Alex, a group can be eliminated if, one; they are severely injured. Two; when they yield to the one who has the upper hand and lastly; it is when they pass out from the battle. Despite this, the academia has guaranteed that not a single student will die from this event as each contestants are bounded in a single rule. "Kill a contender to kill yourself" where it means that if a contender kills another contender, that individual will be up for a quick trial which is guaranteed to give the individual a death sentence. You will know that a team has fallen when you hear an explosion. The dome will then glow with a color that corresponds to the fallen group. Now those are the only thing that we need to know. But as for you, I am going to advice you, not as an upcoming enemy or an ally but a friend. Seek advice from the contender that your father chose because with your current situation, once you step into that arena, you are a dead meat for sure. So train as hard as you can, there is still time. Don't worry, I'll do my best if we are paired together."
My head was aching with that much information given to me in such a short period of time. I looked at Kaval and I could see the genuine worry in his eyes. I was touched at his gestures and smiled at him reassuringly. I was wrong about him after all. Despite our first meeting being awful, I think I can say that Kaval is a good person with how he is showing myself to me now. I don't know if this is just an act but I've seen different kinds of people in my kingdom so I should know which one is fake and which one is not. And Kaval is genuine with what he is showing.
"Now, go and train Alexander. And pray to the gods. That you end up paired with Hade because if not? Me, Dianne and Apollo won't hurt you that much but Hade is another case. He might end up killing you."