Quarter Finals, Part One

Round 2 concluded in about 2 and a half hours. The sun had begun to set, and the evening had arrived.

Four students made it out of the round, and the brackets for the quarterfinals were finally set.

"Match one.

Tomoe Yoshinaka vs. Leonard Carrey.

Match two.

Hugh Fitton vs. Edith Musson.

Match three.

Gawain Rolfe vs. Aldrich Niels.

Match Four.

Arnis Gasper vs. Joshua Hayes."

Godwin was excited.

"Finally."

His brother would be back in action. He looked at his mother, only to find that her attention was preoccupied with someone else. She traced the direction of her sight to know what she was looking at.

'A girl?'

blonde hair, green uniform. Their eyes met, meaning that she was looking directly at them. Most of the nobles recognized and ignored her, almost as if they had a hint of distaste left in their mouths as she made her way towards their seat.

Stopping right in front of them, she said,

"Are you comfortable here?"

Her voice was calm and respectful.

Regina scanned her once from top to bottom.

"Not really. But who are you?"

Godwin asked in an upfront manner.

She turned to look at him with an icy gaze, completely different from her expression from a moment ago.

"You must be Godwin."

The Holy Brother. She subdued her hatred for the religious hierarchy and said,

"Gawain's brother."

He could tell that she didn't like him.

'As long as she treats mother with respect.'

She had to be Gawain's acquaintance.

"Are you Joan's sister?"

Regina intervened. Any more of them staring, and people would start calling them weird.

180-degree shift in character.

"I am glad that you recognized me."

Her face slightly blushed. She lowered her head slightly and said,

"I am your son's senior, Celia Romée."

She raised her head.

"Are you feeling alright in this place?"

She began to show concern for Regina's well-being while completely ignoring Godwin.

"This place is fine."

The chairs were comfortable, and there wasn't any problem with overcrowding. more than what she could have asked for.

"I am taking your word for it. But if you feel any sort of inconvenience, I will be visiting you now and then. For now, I have brought some snacks and water for you."

Snatching the chance, Godwin said,

"Only for her?"

Celia answered in a cold tone.

"For you as well."

She handed him a pouch of salted wheat crackers and a water bag made out of goatskin.

"Not exactly a delicacy."

"Oh? Since when did you start hating wheat crackers?"

Regina didn't let him tease her. Godwin sighed and took a cracker out.

"Mother..."

Celia bowed once again and said,

"I will take my leave now. I am sorry that you cannot meet your son today, but he will be able to spend the last two days of the trials with you."

That is when the senior trials will begin. Gawain will get two days off.

'Probably to ensure that the students aren't paid off by the nobles in the audience to deliberately lose for their wagers.'

Godwin hit the nail on the mark.

"May Athena bless you."

Regina raised her hand in blessing. Celia smiled and said,

"Thank you."

After showing her gratitude, Celia left for the house chambers.

"She probably hates people from my profession."

'Crunch!'

He devoured the first cracker. Regina smacked his hand and said,

"Close your mouth."

He complied and started to munch on his snack silently.

'It must be something that happened to her in the past.'

She took a wheat cracker from the pouch.

"If this continues to be the case, then she cannot be my sister-in-law. "

Her attitude was fooling no one. She was obviously in love with Gawain.

'Smack!'

A shot to the back of his head. He almost spit out his snack.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

'I must find a way to break her defense.'

Leonard Carrey. The student who barely made it through the second round.

Tomoe Yoshinaka. The first true seed is chosen by the Overseer.

For the 6th-seeded student, this was probably the most intimidating confrontation he could have had in this competition. And unlike the other students, his house hadn't given him any solid information on his opponent.

'I will only get one chance.'

She won her first match with a simple but terrifyingly proficient counter. As a witness to her speed, he was unable to gather enough confidence in himself against that move.

The officiator walked in front of them.

"I hope you both remember the rules. Do you want me to go through them again?"

"I am fine."

Her answer was ready.

"Same here."

He followed her example.

"Very well."

He extended his arm in front of them.

"Take your positions."

Leonard went to his spot.

'Defensive.'

He simply raised his sword forward.

'Let her come to me.'

In response, Tomoe didn't take a stance. Her sword was by her side, waiting for the officiator to raise his hand.

They were both expressing the same intent.

The officiator looked at them once and raised his hand.

"Begin."

'Strong base.'

He prepared his feet to absorb the first move.

In the stands, the Yoshinaka Elder smiled and said,

"Fool."

'Swish!'

Tomoe burst into an unnatural speed, tearing through the air resistance.

2 steps, covering 4 meters. The view of an unstoppable sword slicing towards its target with no obstructions.

"Forfeit the match."

A gentle whisper, followed by a wave of air crashing at his neck.

Her left leg was stretched backward. Her right knee was forming a 90-degree angle. The left hand was holding the giant blade, that was just ahead of his neck.

"5 points! "

'Thud.'

Leonard fell backward with his sword in hand.

"Is he injured?"

The officiator rushed to his side, checking for any injuries.

"No significant injuries."

Standing up, he said,

"The opponent is unable to continue."

"Winner, Tomoe Yoshinaka."