The Lands of Ralosia & Ranuulo (Books 1-3)

Comet Tournament Chapter 19- Prize Money

~Chapter 19- The Prize money~

After the final match, Jirro faced his greatest challenge. Interviews. Everyone wanted to speak to the new champion and know everything there was to know about him, asking how he learned how to fight, where he grew up, how it feels to be champion. Jirro simply answered the best he could on the spot. As Aero watched his cousin get asked question after question, he was almost thankful that he lost to him.

Once the crowds had left Jirro alone, he had a chance to see his family and friends, all of them ecstatic that he had won.

Cho called all the finalist's together to administer their prizes.

Round 1 combatants Corri, Ruben, Seraphi, Modi, Hathi, Granul, Watt, and Tyro were given 1,000 Ivases each. The quarter finalists Nout, Hita, Celcius, and Oshu were given 5,000 Ivases each.

The Semifinalists Efilon and Emil were given 20,000 Ivases each.

The runner up, Aero, was given 100,000 Ivases.

The Champion of the tournament, Jirro, was given an incredible 500,000 Ivases.

Emil and Modi looked to put their earnings towards their shop in Dialtown. But as they spoke about their future, Tyro, Hita, Kika, and the other members of Fighting Academy approached them.

"You did well out there Emil," Tyro said, "We were talking, and we think you should rejoin the Fighting Academy."

Modi furrowed her brow, "But he was banned, there's no way my sister will ever let him back in."

"I think Dama will reconsider after hearing about your exploits today. We'll be there to talk with her as well," Tyro explained, "What do you say?"

Emil paused for a moment, "I think I'm good. Sorry everyone."

Tyro and Hita looked to each other in surprise, "But you'd be so much help to the academy!"

"Maybe. But I'm a lot happier where I am now. I would like to visit my sis Hita sometimes, maybe you could put a word in with Dama so I can."

Tyro nodded, "It's disappointing that you won't join us, but we can do that for you."

------------------

Aero, Jirro, and the Masked one met after Cho handed out their prizes. The masked boy was eager to hand over his check.

Aero pulled the assortment of colored orbs out of his pockets, "Just promise me again you won't do anything bad with these, alright."

"I promise," The masked boy said without a moment's hesitation. They exchanged the money for the orbs, "You have no idea how much this means to me."

The masked boy turned his back on them and flew out into the night sky, disappearing from sight.

Razan placed a hand on his son's shoulder, "You did well out there. You two are almost as strong as we were at that age."

Aero raised his eyebrow at his dad, "Almost?"

Razan shrugged, "More or less."

Jirro looked at Lucar and Razan, "What're you going to do now that the tournament is over?"

Lucar sighed deeply, "We'll probably have to go into hiding again. I'm not sure when we'll be able to see you, and I don't think you should go into hiding with us."

Jirro and Aero glanced at each other and smiled, "What if you didn't have to?"

"What do you mean?"

Jirro smiled, "If you do exactly what I tell you, everything will work out."

------------------------------

In Dialtown, a lieutenant was overlooking the prison when Jirro and Aero came in with two men in custody. The lieutenant was used to seeing Jirro, for the past few years he'd been bringing in some of the lands worst criminals.

"What do you have for me today kid? Another bounty?" The lieutenant smiled, keeping a cigar in his mouth.

"A big one," Jirro gestured to the two bearded men behind him, "I have Sky Bandit 3 and 4 in my custody. I'll hand them over to you if the bounty on them is still 40,000 each.

The cigar fell from the Lieutenants mouth. He looked at the men closely, then to bullet board of bounties. He compared their images with the portraits of the sky bandits. They appeared older, but they were certainly them. "How... how did you capture them?"

"They surrendered to me," Jirro responded, "Can I get the bounty on the both of them?"

"Of course! One moment lad!" The lieutenant rushed to grab the ticket for the bounty, as well as fetching some of his fellow officers, "There you go kid, now we'll take these two off your hand-"

Jirro raised a hand up to halt him, "Hold on. Now that I've gotten my bounty, I'd like to make bail for them."

The lieutenant furrowed his brow, "Why would you do that? Besides, it'll take a lot of coin to pay for bail on these two!"

Jirro reached into his bag and began to place several tickets on the nearest table. Aero reached into his pocket and placed one of his own. The blonde-haired young man gestured to the tickets.

"What I have here is me and my cousin's prize money from the tournament, as well as the contestant Efilon's and some of my own money. With the 80,000 bounty I just got by bringing them in, that should add up to over 800,000 Ivases on the table here. If I remember right, the price of bail on these two is 400,000 each."

The Lieutenant and the other officers looked over the money, counting it carefully. He rubbed his temples and looked at the boy... "This is a lot of money kid. Why would you waste it all on these two?"

"They're my dad and uncle."

The lieutenant ran his hands through his balding hair, "Are you sure about this?"

"Positive. If you can assure me this money will go towards helping the people the Sky Bandits robbed," Jirro replied.

"It'll be a start. There were seven Sky bandits, so they stole a lot more than this. Would your... dad know anything about where they are?"

"He'll never talk if he does. I've tried to ask, and I'm his son. If he won't tell me, he won't tell anyone."

The lieutenant sighed heavily before saying, "Alright... They're free to go. I'll spread word around that the bounty on these two is no longer active. I'd advise that they keep a low profile until enough time has passed. I'll be keeping an eye on them too!"

Jirro nodded, "I'll make sure they don't cause any more trouble, sir."

Lucar and Razan left the prison with their sons. After decades with a bounty being on their heads, they were finally free. Lucar wrapped his arms around his son, hugged him and picked him up into the air, "Thank you so much my son! I don't deserve this!" Lucar had tears in his eyes.

Jirro coolly replied, "Just don't ever say I didn't do anything for you, Dad. You too Uncle! Now can you set me down?"

Razan was thankful, but was more hesitant to show it, giving a simple thank you.

The group traveled to Dialtown together and decided to celebrate to Aero and Jirro's success in the tournament and Razan and Lucar's freedom. Ralosia's Comet flew out of sight into the empty expanse beyond the sky, and a new year began.