Rising of the Weakest Mage

Vol 11/Ch 106 - Effort and Results

The Semi-Finals of the Annual Magical Knights Tournament have finally concluded. Simon Windblade has won against Isaac Terrastone, and Allen Fleming has won against Stephen Windblade. Both Simon and Allen shall proceed to the finals, where they shall face each other to determine the winner of the tournament.

"So much has happened in so little time," Allen muttered to himself, as he stood alone in the training room.

Only a day has passed since Allen won against both his friend and rival, Stephen. While his injuries were more or less still healing, Allen decided he needed some alone time to go over his thoughts, in preparation for what is to come.

From winning against Nathaniel Rivertide and Rose Marion, passing his condition to win four consecutive duels, and now winning against Stephen Windblade, Allen has come so far in the weeks the tournament has lasted. Despite managing to win against a lot of the best the academy has to offer, Allen still couldn't help but feel weaker than ever. His academy year was already almost over, but he still had a major hurdle to accomplish - to win against Simon Windblade.

Only knowing a little bit of what Simon is capable of from Thomas, Allen can already tell that his chances of winning against him are closer to zero than anything else. If Simon could best his friend Thomas within mere seconds, then just how well could Allen pose against him?

This whole situation will pose a huge problem for Allen, as his goal right now is to try to stand out as much as possible, in an attempt to overthrow Ellen's ridiculous ideals and methods, in order to return his former mentor William Windblade to his rightful position as Head Director of their esteemed academy.

"William, just how would you deal with this situation?," Allen asked out loud, as if William would answer him. "How would you try to beat an opponent stronger than everyone else?"

Without warning, the doors to the once quiet training room were opened. A familiar figure walked in, surprising Allen. They had an all too familiar grin on their face, almost brightening the previously dark room.

"Y'know, I just couldn't help myself," they said out loud, as they closed the doors behind him. "You did tell us you wanted some alone time, but something told me I needed to ignore it"
"Stephen?!," Allen said, taken aback.

"The one and only," he pointed at himself, right before walking up to him.

Just out of anyone that could've bothered me, it had to be both who I defeated yesterday, as well as the son to my former mentor, Allen thought, as he sighed.

With a few of the scars left from their duel yesterday, Stephen managed to keep a brief pace as he approached Allen. Out of the two of them, Allen arguably suffered the most damage, but that didn't mean Stephen still needed time to heal and recover.

"We're both fortunate that despite us both going all out, not one of us needed a trip to the infirmary," Stephen casually said, as he finally stood next to Allen. "Crazy, right?"

"I can hardly believe it myself," Allen sighed, as he took a seat on a nearby bench, with Stephen following him. "And yet..."

"Yet you have worries, don't you?," Stephen asked, right on point. "You're worried about your future duel"

"You saw right through me," Allen admitted, as he kept eye contact with the floor, unable to look Stephen in the eye. "But why are you even here?"

"I thought that would be obvious," Stephen answered, crossing his arms. "One of my friends is worried, and you expect me to sit idly still and leave him be?"

"Yeah, but-"

"No buts," Stephen cut him off. "You'd do the same for me, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah I would," Allen admitted.