A Dance with Darkness and Light: Re-Origination

47: The First Round Concludes

The ninth match was between Arkenon Luminaire and a commoner from Donar, Haldur Runeberg. The Runeberg's were a healthy working-class family that specialized in the business of engraving weapons and armor. Though they could not be considered wealthy, they had plenty nonetheless.

Haldur impressed the audience with old and rather uncommon magic. Runes spread far onto the platform, each induced with an element, each with its purpose. They were restricting Arkenon's magic and movement in the process, while Haldur closed the gap between them and attacked melee. Naturally, even the gauntlets he wore were suffused with rune magic.

Indeed, the constant stream of runes popping up around him, and the platform had beauty in it. It almost reminded Bazuul of some sort of light or laser show back on Earth. In the end, and even though it was a close fight, Arkenon overcame his opponent. He did so by casting an impressive trap on Haldur, caging him in a shadow domain until he lost consciousness.

The staff of the arena worked quickly to repair the damage some of the runes had caused the platform before the next match started.

The tenth match would be the crown prince of Donar, Eirik Donarim against the youngest princess of Lumin, Idriel Luminaire. Now on paper, this match was also one that was rather unfair toward the young princess. What most did not know, though, was that Idriel was a magician. She did not practice magic in the system provided by the Atlanteans. Much like Haldur before, this was a type of magic passed down through a clan or bloodline. It wasn't a type of magic one could simply learn.

"Little sister, I do not wish to harm you, would you please forfeit this match?" Eirik said, trying to sound magnanimous. Truly a testament to his character, perceiving his overbearing arrogance with the sentiment of generosity. Idriel however, did not care for what her opponent wanted. She came to fight and said before abruptly attacking, "Oh, your highness, if you do not wish to fight, then it is you who should surrender."

Idriel's scythe clashed with Eirik's sword right before his neck, startling him. He didn't think that the little girl would be this battle-hungry. After all, she looked like a beautiful little doll. A little sister one would dote on and take out shopping. Not only was it this contrast that shocked him, but it was also her fighting style. The crowd was equally shocked, looking at it. Somehow, she used moonlight magic as conduct for physical battle, infusing herself and her scythe in it. Now usually magic in the moonlight category was soothing and calm, with slight healing or cleansing attributes. Yet, the magic displayed in front of them was completely different. It was offensively highly potent, and extremely oppressive even at a distance. One could only guess how the wielder of this magic would feel.

This form was an almost feral state known to the Luminaire family as the Wrath of the Light. As to how this state came to be, and even more so from the soothing magic of moonlight, was not completely clear. It was said that in ancient times, when the beast attacked, and the moon goddess lost everything, she fell into a wrathful state. For the first time then, she wielded her very essence, to slaughter its forces and fight back. As to what happened afterward, and what that beast was, that remained unknown.

After a long bout, Eirik managed to drag out enough time for Idriel to run out of stamina. He appeared behind her and knocked her unconscious with a slight jab at her neck. He had thus won the match, albeit with rather unhappy murmurs from the crowd of spectators. On paper, Eirik was four years older and three stages higher in cultivation. Yet, all he did was dodge and avoid the fight until the end.

The next match was between Kojiro Fujimoto from Shasta and Horlet Richat from the Directorate. Due to the names of both candidates from the Directorate, Bazuul assumed that they might actually be from Atlantis. What this meant for the Seven Kingdoms was of no interest to him currently. He wanted to see what a, in his theory, son of Atlantis was capable of. Sadly, he would end up disappointed, as Horlet made short of this fight. The fight ended in his victory almost as fast as Bazuul's match, if not even quicker.

The same went for the last match of the day between Nazela Amenti and William Sinclair from the Circle. Actually, the last fight turned out to be the quickest of all. Thus, concluding the first day of the royal tournament. The king congratulated the contestants that reached the second round and left along with the representatives of the kingdoms. All contestants returned to their prospective embassies and rested. This is where Bazuul, Kuzan, and Tarek then met a downcast Emilia. She felt disappointed and a little ashamed that she had been the only one of four from Ralun, to disqualify. This dent in her pride caused this young, but proud female warrior to be teary-eyed, almost like a puppy that sought for comfort.

Bazuul nudged Kuzan, trying to hint at him to say something. After all, as one of the oldest among them, and the first prince, this should be his responsibility. Seeing that his brother's expression didn't seem all too comfortable, for whatever reason, Bazuul sighed and said. "There's no need to worry about this loss. If you're not satisfied, then return it a hundredfold in three years. Now let's grab something to eat, I'm starving, STAAAARVING I tell ya."

At dinner, the elders immersed in analyzing the other contestants began preparing their youngsters for the second day.

Bazuul went to sleep right after dinner, and before he knew, the sun had risen again. The second day of the royal tournament had come faster than expected.

Bazuul, Elanar, Horlet, and Nazela sat on the balcony since they had won the fastest among the competitors yesterday.

Which in turn, left the rest to fight another match, to qualify themselves for the quarterfinals against the four sitting above their heads. All eight of them stood on the battle platform, ready to pick another marble, ready to face their next obstacle. Among them was also Bazuul's eldest brother Kuzan, who hoped that he wouldn't pick the same number as his fellow Ralunian, Tarek.

Meanwhile, Bazuul was making small talk among the four of them, as he asked the two from the Directorate. "You know, I've been wondering. Do you guys have twins? Or is that just a rumor?"

He didn't intend to get an answer out of them, but more so meant to tease them. On Earth, it was said that the parents of noble houses on Atlantis always bore twins. This once again was just another way for him to validate his theory about the two. Evident by their perplexed facial expressions, Bazuul had hit a sore spot.