Battereon

Another day in the life of Cali. Woke up in his room, in a rental inn. He stretched his body for a bit before immediately getting prepared to go to the tavern. Its his usual life style for the past two years.

However, years before that he was captured by bandits who forces abandoned children to do heavy labors for them. Since his body is too weak to work to feed himself, another child captive, a certain girl four years older than him took care of him instead. She was a very kind girl Cali would never forget. She was like an older sister to him.

The bandits were later got caught by the soldiers and the children were freed, most of them were taken to a church as orphans, some just lived on their own just like Cali did. As to the girl who took care of Cali, whatever happened to her was unknown since Cali almost never talk about her.

While the story as to how Cali ended up captured was told as Cali and his mother escaped from his father's cruel treatment when he was four, but on their way of escaping his father chased them madly, killing his mother. Cali managed to escape but he has nowhere to go. He eventually got caught by bandits in the middle of the night and were taken in the dark slums in the city where the children were held captive.

When they asked if Cali still got relatives that would take him, he said he doesnt know. That he only lived with his parents as far as he remember, and if names about his relatives were mentioned, there is a big chance he wouldnt even remember it since he was just four, he said he doesnt even remember his real name. Thus, this story of Cali gave him the name "The Kinless."

Cali left the inn after preparing and went to the tavern. The tavern was about three kilometers away. Normally Cali would be reaching it with no worries, except on times such as these when its hot outside.

Cali covered his head with his hood but the heat of the air still bothers him since confined spaces like cities traps the hot air.

Since he lacks melanin, Cali is relieved because he doesnt have to worry about getting skin cancer as his clothes covers most of his skin from the sun, but his problem about getting heat stroke isnt anywhere solved, yet made even worse by the same clothing reason. The more he gets stressed by thinking about it the more he gets tired, which made him dizzier. He tried supressing the heat on his body with his power but he cant, the overpowered protagonist finally showing signs of weakness that Im not gonna reveal just yet, although you might have guessed it already. He tried to do his plan B, he tried to search for nearby people. He detected three people coming his way, an adult and two children behind him. He tried to reach for them but he passed out in the middle of the road.

The three people who are approaching are apparently on an expensive carriage, so its easy to assume its a private vehicle.

The adult is the coachman while the two children are nobles, a lady and a young man. The dude is 17 years old while the lady is 18. They stopped since Cali is blocking the road.

The driver shouted and complained to the passed out boy.

Driver: "Move out of the way, kid! We are not falling for that!"

Then the noble lady got off the carriage to check what is happening.

Driver: "Young lady, you shouldnt approach him, he might be dangerous!"

She was then followed by the driver to assure her safety.

The lady got the gist of what is happening due to heat and she tried to carry him into the carriage.

As soon as she touched Cali, her mana starts to get drained, Cali regained conciousness almost immediately.

The girl sat for a while as she get tired from being drained and due to the confusion of wondering what the heck did he just do.

Cali stood up.

Cali: "My apologies for your bothered time, and also thank you."

Cali continues on his way.

Noble Lady: "Wait, what did you just do?"

Cali: "Im sorry, I just feel like hugging the streets. I hope I didnt creeped you out."

Lady: "No, not that. That what did you just do to me, why did I felt weak after touching you."

Cali: "Am I really that heavy? I swear its the golden accessories."

Lady: "Stop dodging my questions! You know what Im talking about, right?"

Cali: "Cant tell you, sorry." laughs mischievously

Lady: "Fine, I'll be forcing you then."

Cali: "(She gets annoyed easily, huh.. Looks like Im dead.) W-wait!"

The lady starts casting fireballs with supreme control, even though she appears to be an arch mage.

Arch Mages are type of magicians who are basically the Mages in Role-playing Games, but mostly involved environmental offense-type magic. They can exert massive amounts of mana which is useful against multiple enemies in a large area, but they have a hard time controlling them.

Given that she is an arch mage, her spells are smaller and weaker than the average, but because of this it is easier for her to control which could have benefits of its own.

Cali tried to dodge her attacks but her skills at magic control and his body physique eventually led him getting hit. He collapse on the road again.

Lady: "Is that all you've got? I could still go on if you want."

Cali catches his breath before talking: "I give up. You're pretty good."

Lady: "Pretty good? I spent about 15 years of my life just to reach this level of control. And my family who are strict about magic is proud of my level. If you want me to show you more of my magic then Im down, I wont dishonor the name of my family."

Cali: "Say, little lady. Which family did you come from?"

Lady: "I am Zeni of Rosace family, and Im pretty sure Im older than you."

Pronounced as "rosas" like the spanish word for rose. I just thought the spelling is cool.

Cali: "Rosace, huh.. This got interesting."

Zen: "How about you, what is your name."

Cali: "I am Cali the Kinless."

Zen: "Thats a weird last name."

Cali: "Thats because its not a last name, its my nickname."

Zen: "Give me your real name." She starts to get annoyed.

Cali: "I dont even know it myself."

Zen sighs: "Fine, I'll see you again, Cali."

Cali thought to himself: "What does she mean by that? Rosace, huh? I wonder how my old pal would react if he heard this."

Cali continues to walk to the tavern after he watched the carriage leave.

Cali entered the tavern as usual and ordered his usual milk.

Though what is unusual is a new waitress with a familiar face. She was about 18 years old.

She approached Cali and asked: "You look too young to be here, you cant drink alcohol yet.

Cali: "Thats why Im ordering a milk instead, also I may not look like it but Im actually older than I look."

Waitress: "Let me guess, 17? Ah, now I know why dad always buy a bottle of milk everyday."

Cali laughs nervously.

Cali: "What do you mean by your dad?"

A familiar voice: "Is she troubling you kid?"

Cali: "Oh, Mr.Kop. Not really."

Kupkop: "Her name is Mica. She's my daughter so dont even try to hit on her. I actually dont agree with her working on the bar for her safety but she keeps saying shes old enough."

Mica: "Im not a little girl anymore, dad. Besides you cant be just the only one working for the family now that theres only the two of us."

Kupkop: "Its gives me feeling of relief that everyone here is kind to her."

Cali: "Its probably because you're a kind person, sir. Thats why everyone respects you and your family."

Kupkop: "Thank you, Cali but you still wouldnt be hitting on my daughter, not as Im still alive."

Cali laughs geniunely.

Mica came back with a glass of milk: "Here it is."

Cali handed over a gold coin: "Here. Thank you."

Mica: "This is too much, I dont think we will be able to give a change."

Cali: "Keep it. Its a tip for Mr.Kop's hardwork."

Mica: "If you say it like that.. Thank you."

Cali smiled.

Hours passed and there were no new clients. It was 8 at night and the tavern is about to close in just a few hours. Cali stood up from his chair since his ass starts to hurt. Since hes already standing up, he decides to look around the tavern. He checked the bulletin board to look for something interesting. There were news but there were no requests for mercenaries posted of course. But at the corner, there was a flashy poster that says "ten thousand gold coin reward" in giant font size.

Now Cali is intrigued, so he read the whole thing.

"The annual Continental Battereon Tournament will be coming at 6/25/1820 (Month/Day/Year format), the competition will be held at the same place as the first Continental Battereon took place, The Majarlica Royal Colosseum, because this is 100th anniversary of the event! So we are more generous with the prize, which is 10,000 gold coins reward for the team who gets the first place! Anyone is able to join as long as you have a team of 5. There are only three rules in this game:

1. A team must consist of 5 players

2. Your goal is to defeat the opposite team by knocking them out, knocking them off the arena, or make them surrender.

3. You are not allowed to kill the participants.

Everything is possible as long as you follow these three rules. Find loop holes, make barely legal plays, and go crazy! Join and make this year's tournament more interesting!"

Cali: "Continental Battereon Tournament, huh? with that reward I can buy like 10,000 glass of milk. I might join, the tournament is 10 days from now so I still have enough time to make preparations."

Mica: "Glasses of milk doesnt cost 1 gold coin each, if the price is correct you can buy like a million glasses of milk."

Cali: "Now Im excited. Im definitely joining."

Mica: "Not so fast, the tournament is filled with players training for a whole year just for this tournament. 10 days isnt enough to prepare if you aim for winning. It is also a big event where even the largest governments in each country of this continent joins in and sends their strongest warriors in competition to other nations, most of those warriors are top students of the most prestigious academy of each country which are both powerful and knowledgeable in magic."

Cali: "Woah (Is that big of a deal?). Why is this tournament so big?"

Mica: "The history behind it explains why. 105 years ago when the Heartless Emperor or "Angel of Death" suddenly disappeared without a trace, all wars between nations ended. So 5 years later, they created a game where people could still fight for their own countries without risking countless lives of warriors. Thus the game Battereon was born. At first its just a battle game between the most prestigous magic academies of each countries where normal civilians could watch in a stadium, but then 60 years ago it started to accept individual fighters too in order to open up the possibilities of talented people who lack the money to enter those academies."

Cali: "Wow, you know alot. Earlier you said Angel of Death, who was it?"

Mica: "Heartless Emperor, he is called Angel of Death by his lunatic followers. He is a previous Emperor of Agham who took the position as a warlord since Agham had conflicts and ongoing wars between all large countries at that time. Those countries made alliance to take down Agham Empire, which was the most powerful Empire. Despite all that, in his reign he wins all wars then conquered the whole world. His reign was tyranny not only in the Agham Empire, but his own power extends to all corners of the world. No one can escape his rule and it was the darkest days of humanity.

Cali: "What a problematic guy."

Mica: "People are too scared for another Heartless Emperor to show up again so they go as far as trying to erase the whole idea of war, pretending war never existed, and made up a game with far less violence as a substitute."

Cali: "So thats what happened in the past hundred years. A heartless warlord would never come to existence if theres no war in the first place, huh."

Mica: "I learned it from the Great Academy of Agham."

Cali: "Isnt that school kinda expensive?"

Mica: "It is very expensive, but my father works hard just so I could attend there. I always told him I dont have to go to an academy, especially the highest academy of the nation, dad!" She said in a rising tone.

Kupkop sweats profusely and looks away.

Cali: "Hey, lets join the tournament together, so your dad doesnt have to pay for your school."

Mica: "Stop using my dad as a reason just so I wont be able to refuse."

Cali: "Is that a yes?"

Mica: "Fine, but how are we supposed to win? Our opponents would be surely top level."

Cali: "Leave that to me. All you should worry right now is that Mr.Kop doesnt find out."

Mica: "No, I have to tell him first. But I will make sure he will let me join, he doesnt have a choice."

Cali: "Alright, all I have to do is to find 2 more members."

Mica: "Isnt it 3, since we need 5?"

Cali: "I already contacted an old pal of mine to join and he also doesnt have a choice."

Mica: "When did you do that? Didnt you found out about this tournament just now?"

Cali: "Its called magic."

Mica: "Whatever it is.. Anyway, I feel relieved that there is a way my dad's problem could be solved. Thank you."

Cali smiled geniunely.

"How ironic, calling me the "Heartless Emperor" when all I did was just to express my feelings of anger. This shows how people are blind to other's feelings." -Makali Albedo