Realm of Monsters

Chapter 319: See You At The Semi-Finals

Chapter 319: See You At The Semi-Finals

The coliseums southern gate slowly opened with the sharp clank of chains. The crowds cheered the name of their beloved and feared ruling House over and over, THORN, THORN, THORN!!

Freya watched from the other end of the arena, pacing back and forth in the white sands, staring at the dark tunnel entrance.

Calex Thorn stepped out with a soft, measured gait. His silver hair shined with a lustrous glow under the noon sun. His white robes seemed to almost blend with his hair and pale grey skin, making him seem almost ethereal. He smiled serenely and waved at his people who cheered even louder.

Freya spotted the black scabbard hanging from his white belt and furrowed her brow. I thought he didnt use weapons

Decided to take up sword training the last few days? Freya called out.

Calex looked at her in silence for a moment before he took a deep breath and spoke with a quiet voice, Freya of the House of Goldelm, I humbly ask that you please forfeit this match, for both of our sakes.

What? What did you just say? Freya shook her head.

Before the Heralds begin this match, declare that you have forfeited this match. It is the only way that this does not end with bloodshed.

Freya glared at him and hefted up her hammer, Im not afraid of a little bloodshed. Or are you such a coward that you rather run than fight?

Maybe I am a coward, he whispered. If it were up to me I wouldnt fight you. Id surrender right now.

Then why dont you? Freya asked skeptically.

I cant, he said painfully, I have someone I must protect.

Protect?

Please, Im begging you, surrender, Calex bowed his head.

What are you what are you saying!? Freya frowned.

Who was this timid, fearful drow? This wasnt what she had envisioned at all. Calex was a powerful, aloof genius, a being who stood above others. She had been prepared to face a vicious, cold-hearted foe, not this!

She didnt understand. None of it made sense!

And what if I refuse!? she shouted.

Calex smiled sadly.

MAY THE 12TH MATCH OF THE CHALLENGE OF SPELL & STEEL BEGIN! Jane and Mark yelled in unison.

Goodbye, Calex whispered.

Freyas golden eyes widened in alarm. Orange mana surged from her heart and flowed into her legs. Her veins darkened to a grey as the agility spell took hold.

Move! her instincts yelled.

She jumped to her right before she saw it. A flash of white light whizzed right past her, searing a black spot into the arenas wall behind her.

Calexs fingers moved with quick and short gestures. Small flowers of white light blossomed above his head before bursting into beams of white light, streaming across the arena.

Freya kicked off the ground and zigzagged across the sands, ducking below the beams as they struck in rapid succession. The sands exploded around her in explosions of white light, blurring her vision.

Her heartbeat thrummed in her ears and her chest felt tight. But through the blowing sand and her hazy vision, she saw a white silhouette ahead of her. He hadnt moved. Her target stood still, confident in his abilities to keep him safe.

It didnt matter how fast of a spell-caster he was if his focus was broken.

Freya gripped her hammer tight, pulled her arm back, and flung her hammer at Calex. The hammer whirled and threw the air, spinning in a blur, straight at its target. Calex stiffened at the sight and his hands froze. He threw himself to the side and landed on the sand in a roll. He quickly jumped to his feet, but Freya was already above him, her clenched fist poised to strike.

Freya struck at Calex's face. His blue eyes grew cold, he did not flinch nor try to dodge. Calex leaned into the blow as yellow scales wrapped around his grey skin in an instant. Freyas fist slammed into his scaled forehead and bent at an awkward angle. She screamed as pain shot up her broken wrist. Calexs head snapped back from the blow. He stumbled back a step but he quickly regained his footing.

Freya jumped several meters away and held her broken gingerly while staring at her opponent warily. She cursed silently at her own foolishness.

I shouldnt have let go of my hammer, she thought and glanced at her weapon lying in the sand a few paces away.

Sylvie dashed at him with blinding speed. Calex raised his scabbard to block, but the blow came too soon. He grimaced in pain as his body was launched away like an arrow. He spun in the air and managed to land on his feet with a wobbly stance.

Calex looked over his body in shock. Pain stretched across his shoulder, his arm hung limply at his side.

H-how?! he thought, baffled. The woman had surprised him, but he was the one using agility magic! He should have been easily able to react to her attack. He had underestimated her, she was faster than he expected.

Calex stared across the arena at the vampiress, Now where did you come from?

Freya looked up at Sylvie, confused at what she saw. Her giant friends usual warm-hearted smile was cold, bereft of feeling.

Sylvies massive shoulders heaved up and down. Her breath was rough and her hands were clenched tight. Her blood-red eyes seemed to almost glow with a fury that wanted to come out. Her lips curled back with a malicious smile, Come back here, you cowardly excuse for a duelist!

What? Calex frowned.

You heard me! You think Ill just let you kill my friend, you fucking coward! Sylvie roared. How about you face someone your own size for a change!?

Calex narrowed his eyes, ...I see. I have to take this one seriously, he whispered and gripped Nightshades pale pink hilt.

STOP! Ophelia screamed from her terrace and leaped down. The wind carried her above the coliseums stands and dropped her softly on the arenas white sands.

The crowds looked at their queen with surprise and began whispering amongst each other.

THIS IS A SURPRISE, FOLKS! LADY THORN HAS DESCENDED UPON THE ARENA, HERSELF! Mark yelled.

Sylvie stared at Ophelia cautiously and stepped between her and Freya.

Get off the arena, you foolish girl, Ophelia snapped.

Make me, Sylvie growled.

Ophelia sneered, You have interfered in a duel of Spell & Steel and have therefore broken the rules of our sacred tourney. As such you are banned from this tourney henceforth.

What!? Thats not fair! Sylvie shouted.

Are you resisting my judgment as host of this years tourney? Ophelia smiled, amused. Then I shall punish you accordingly.

You will do no such thing! Ismene shouted.

A funnel of water wrapped around Ismenes legs and ferried down from the stands and released her next to Sylvie and Freya.

I thought you were more prudent, Tempest Archmage, Ophelia clicked her tongue. Will you go against our tourneys sacred rules as well, then? Believe me, not even you will come out of this unscathed.

Ismene rested both hands over her cane and stared at Ophelia with a steely gaze, Sylvie committed no crime nor broke any rule. Freya announced her surrender quite clearly, as the thousands of people here today can attest to. Calex had ample time to back down, but he chose to strike Freya down anyway. The duel was already over. Sylvie was just protecting her friend from being murdered in broad daylight.

Murdered!? Ophelia shouted indignantly.

Quite so, Ismene said calmly. And as you know, a tourney competitor killing one of their adversaries outside of a Challenge is a strict violation of the tourneys sacred rules.

You dare threaten my son YOU DARE!? Ophelia screamed.

You may think yourself all-powerful in your own city, but I assure you that the representatives of the other Great Cities standing in this coliseum will not abide by such blatant disregard for our shared treaties.

Thats! Ophelia clenched her jaw.

Now, of course, perhaps your son was simply caught in the heat of battle. He is still young and may have simply forgotten himself for a brief moment. If that is the case, then this is all just one big accident and should be left Just. As. That. Do we have an understanding, Lady Thorn? Ismene said smoothly.

Ophelia took a deep breath and nodded, ...We do, Lady Ismene for now. She spun on her heel and left.

Good, Ismene slammed her cane into the ground. Sylvie, take Freya to the infirmary.

Yes, professor, Sylvie nodded. She glanced at Calex in the distance and smiled coldly, Ill see you at the semi-finals.

Calex nodded solemnly, So be it.