Amenza

Chapter 20

   They go to an area in the large room where the group can't hear. "So, what's up? Asking me out?" Ophelia jokes. "Funny. I want you to surrender."

   She laughs. "You're joking right?"  He keeps a serious face. "You're.. not joking. Why should I surrender?" She questions. "It's dangerous, you saw what happened to Lew, Collin, and Staciap." He answers. "Yeah, but I can do this."

   "No. I don't want to see you get hurt." He says. "Aww, does Amenza have emotions?" She taps his face. "I know you're worried, but I already have a plan in mind." She turns and walks away. 'Dammit, Ophelia!'

   She gets back to the group. "So, what's your plan?" Staciap asks. "Well, that's easy. It'll be a surprise." She has a smug look on her face. "So, what did Amenza want?" Lew asks. "He wanted me to forfeit." She says.

   "Hm? Why would he want that?" Collin asks. "He is worried about me getting hurt, I suppose." Amenza goes up to the group. "I have to go now, but I'll see you guys later." He walks away limping. 'Why is he limping?' Collin asks.

   He gets to Waywrighth's office and sees Helgardner in the office, alone. "Didn't this already happen in January?" He asks. "Amenza," Helgardner says, seriously. "I don't want you to take it easy on Ophelia. Do what you need to." He says. "You can't be serious. You want me to brutally damage your daughter?" He sighs. "That's not what I'm saying. I just want you to not go easy." Amenza gets in his face. "I understand that you are my guardian, but I will not do this."

   Amenza is about to use special magic but stops himself. "No. End of discussion." He walks out. "Humph."

   Amenza changes to normal Spri in a bathroom, then walks around. 'He wants me to just beat her? I can't do that! I'm human, and she's practically my sister!' He walks around the campus thinking until it turns tonight. "When did it get dark?" He asks no one in particular. He goes to the room and just sleeps.

   In the morning, Spri gets in his Amenza costume and walks to the dining hall. It's empty, and he summons a bottle of liquor. "What do you have there?" He turns and sees Ophelia. "Oh, princess. How nice to meet you." He puts his hand out for her to shake, but she slaps it away. "You're stressing out everyone, you know?" She asks, rhetorically. "Hell, I'm stressing myself out." He says as he exposes his mouth, and he takes a sip of the liquor. 

   "I hate being strong." He comments. "Why?" She questions. He looks at her, then leans back into the chair. "You get all of these expectations set on you. You aren't free to just do whatever you want. Sometimes you are, then you go on a rampage. I  just wanna live where no one else is." She scoffs. "You sound like the actual Amenza. He said that one day, he's just gonna disappear, and live in the woods. And only select people would know where he is."

   He looks back at the drink. He sighs, and the drink disappears. He stands up, and moves his mask down, back to covering his face. "It was nice meeting you. Good luck." He walks outside. "I hope he's OK.."

   "Alright everyone, it's the time for the finals! We'll begin in 5 minutes!" The entire team is telling Spri how good he's gonna do, while Spri has his head down. "Boys, may I talk to him for a moment?" He looks up and sees King Cas. "Ah, your highness." He bows. The team leaves the locker room and goes to the stands. "King Shward is out there hyping up Princess Ophelia. So, I decided to come to tell you that I'm rooting for you." Spri takes a seat. "I appreciate it, your majesty." He smiles at Spri, then walks out.

   "Alright everyone, introducing the finalists; Amenza, and Ophelia!" They walk onto the stage. He summons a rapier. She brandishes a sword. "I hope you're ready." She says. He stands there, silent, until. "For this battle, I will standstill." The audience starts murmuring. Both kings are standing next to each other. "Wanna make a bet?" Cas offers. "Sure, I bet 20 gold that Ophelia will win," Helgardner says. "20 that Amenza will win." They shake hands.

   "Three, two, one! Begin!" She rushes at him and starts slashing. He blocks all of the attacks with ease. "Is that all?" He asks. She's knocked back by a burst of energy. 'All part of my plan.' Her blade is now engulfed in flame. "I didn't know anyone in this time had your magic!" She yells as she attacks. He parries and blocks all of her attacks. 'What is your plan?'

   Another burst of energy knocks her back. Her blade is now covered in ice crystals. "It's gonna hurt like hell when I hit you!" She yells. She keeps attacking, but she doesn't do anything. A large burst of energy makes her fly a couple of feet away. "Now!" She starts to mutter under her breath, then she spreads her arms open. Two more Ophelia's appear. "What's this?" The announcers and the crowd are astounded.

   All three of her attack at once. He still manages to block all attacks. A giant burst of energy sends her to the other side of the stage. "Now, if you keep this up, you're gonna be badly damaged." She smirks. "You're right. So let's cut this charade. I'm on my last leg." She smirks. "You're not that scary!"

   She zooms, slashes his leg, then pushes him off of the stage. "And the winner is Ophelia Shward!" The crowd goes wild. Spri just lays on the floor. 'I got a nice view of the sky view here.' He slowly floats up and heads into the locker room, horizontal. Helgardner puts his hand out. King Cas grunts, and hands him the 20 gold. 

   Coach Budore is in there alone. "Good job, Amenza. You did well. The carts are ready." He says, about to walk out. "Give me a few minutes, I have to say bye to some people." He nods and walks out. Spri transforms into normal Amenza and his clothes. 

   He walks up to the Royal Aristocrats. "Oh hey, Amenza." Lew greets. "Hey, guys. I have to go back to Sternews Grove, the city where Whinter's Charter is." They all nod, and Lew hugs him. "Don't you want to say bye to Ophelia?" Amenza looks over at her on the stage, smiling, with Helgardner. "No, I don't want to spoil this for her. I'll see you guys later. Go burn in a lake of fire, Collin." He limps away, as Collin notices that there is blood on his pant leg.

   He becomes Spri and gets on the cart. The carts start driving away. 'Looks my good days are behind me again.' Chabus is on the cart as well, and he looks ill.

   The next day, Headmaster Merlben has a school assembly. "As most of you know, a student got to second place in the tournament and took down all of GSMG's Royal Aristocrats. Because of that, we will have a field trip to a field in Rigalpu next week. It's not much, but it's something!" He says, and after that, everyone is dismissed. Spri walks out of the auditorium to head for his class but heads back in because he forgot his jacket. He goes back in and sees a student with blueish-grey hair and emerald green eyes standing there, also getting her jacket.

   That week passed by fast. No one even noticed Spri. Not one wall was broken that week. They get on the busses, and they start moving out. Everyone on the cart is already asleep, so Amenza summons a notepad.

   'I don't what I'm going to do. I have four months until I get to go back. Things will be different, I'm sure. I just feel as if I currently have no direction in life. I feel lost. I'm sure I'll find it one day.' Soon, the carts reach Rigalpu. They stroll through the streets, and out of the first town. 

   An hour or so passes, and they reach the field. The students get off of the carts, and Headmaster Merlben greets the man in charge. He's short and has a brown, fluffy beard. His ears are pointed, indicating he's an elf. He seems to be in his early thirties or late twenties. "Ah, hello Headmaster, mind if I say a word to the kids?" Merlben makes a movement that implies for him to go ahead.

   "Attention students. My name is Wolay Wilfmun." Spri's eyes widen. "What...?"