"And wonder boy Tjer does it AGAINNN!!!! A praise-worthy performance from BOTH MEN! Make yourself heard FORRRR TJER AND CROW!!!!"
Acclamations from the crowd made the arena shake, even the dust at our feet rose, and his spear bounced again.
Not just my name rung, no—even the loser was praised.
It was a fight that scratched every itch.
Crow kept a single hand raised, with his head hung.
Should I raise my hand as well? I looked down at my half opened fist, slowly reaching above my head, my fingers trembling as I opened them up, unable to follow it with my eyes.
"He finally acknowledges those that have supported!!! You guys are the ones to enchant this fighting-obsessed boy!"
Fighting-obsessed? Should I have raised my hand from the start?
We turned our backs to one another, and walked off the field.
My legs trembled as the sounds grew softer, until I was covered by a roof again.
I forgot—I still need to fight after this...
'T, what did you think of this fight?' I dropped myself onto a stool, almost leaving my seat as I stretched my legs out.
'I think you did great against a difficult opponent—one you haven't fought against ever before.'
My fingers were still wrapped around my sword, it was something outside my control—I slowly brought my fastened breathing down.
I took my hand off the sword, and put both on my lap staring at them,
'...Why is my body still this strong—I can compete with adults, even when there is no essence flowing through me anymore.'
'Even now, I can feel myself getting stronger...'
'Yes... I have noticed it as well. The only option is for it to be in your source, something outside my reach, and something outside yours—you won't find anything you don't know about.'
'You should just see it as a gift for now.'
'It surely is a gift... it's the only reason I can keep up—' A slight smile appeared,
'I don't know anything about myself, T...
'Yes, you are right... but it'll come—I'm sure of it.'
And before I could respond my name echoed through the arena—whether it was the crowd, or the announcer was indistinguishable.
Who am I fighting now? I knew that it couldn't be Caleb yet—the one on the other side of the bracket.
The only time I could fight him is in the finals.
"Samed—another spear wielder Tjer will have to pass before reaching the undefeatable Caleb." My name sounded even louder through, loud enough to drown out Samed's name.
Another spear wielder? I hope that he won't be as troublesome as Crow—at least I know how to fight them. I looked at my opponent who couldn't hold his spear still—It could have been either his own trembles, or the crowd's voices.
"Are you READYYYY!?" Both of us nodded at the announcer who swung his hand, and screamed,
"START!!!"
Once again we lunged forward, my path getting hindered before we could meet in the middle—leaving the room behind me smaller than his, it was troublesome against a spear.
While I deflected his thrusts, openings appeared—ones that seemed too obvious.
They are even using the same techniques... is he simply weaker than Crow?
Each of his attacks seemed to be slowed down, even the transitions he did—everything was lacking.
It would impossibly be a fight like before.
I can just do the same thing as before.
I jumped forward, and before I jumped back—the cold steel of my blade had already reached its target.
"ANDDDD it's Wonder Boy Tjer that goes through to the semi-finals!!" Followed by the crowd that screamed my name, not even a single letter of Samed's name sounded.
Wonder boy... I still don't know what to think of that name. I sighed, forcing my back to stay upright while I walked back.
The next fights came quicker as not even minutes passed before Caleb had won again, and my turn came.
It was another swordsman who stood opposite of me,
This is more like it.
As soon as the fight started I met his blade, before he could reach the middle, it was my offense now—requiring three strikes to break through his guard, and for my blade to reach his neck.
"It's your win—congrats." He said as he let his sword fall, gathering the dust of the ground.
I had reached the final.
My opponent had been decided, before the next match was even fought.
It was the person I expected it to be from the start.
It was Caleb whose name was announced as the winner.
"A long awaited match—a match of titans, a match of equals. Not a single cut on either of their bodies. Their presence could have been seen as unfair to their foes."
"Before I even call their names, you already know who are coming" From the shadows opposite of me a single leg appeared as mine vibrated by the screams that sounded.
"Knight's apprentice Caleb, and Wonder Boy Tjer—" Black hair appeared—heated by the sun's warmth.
"YOU CAN BOTH ENTER THE FIELD!!"