A Dance with Darkness and Light: Re-Origination

53: A Dream For Many

Back in Ralun's embassy, multiple forms of energy, which created several layers of mist floated about in Bazuul's chamber as he meditated. Today's match had been a big harvest in many factors. Obviously, the opponent was a skilled martial artist and a highly adept magician. Someone that could defeat him if not taken seriously. Not to the extent of Jian Zheng but strong nonetheless. It was his type of magic. A form of magic he had dwelled on all the way back on Earth. Although the user would summon objects, it was not genuinely summoning magic but ether magic. A revelation to him that roused waves of inspiration within his innermost being. While a summoner's spells were able to create objects out of nothing, unlike summons created with ether magic, these creations would eventually fade back into the void. Of course, the latter's invocations could not become a reality altogether, it needed an energy source it could continuously feed off. That's where the actual difference between the two lied. The former could only fuel itself with its summoner's magic, while the latter was far more flexible. Legends said that a particular famous pyramid, among many other structures, was created with the help of ether magic back on Earth.

On his way to the embassy from the arena, Bazuul had taken a detour and checked up on Elanar. Her condition had stabilized, but she still seemed a little weak. Seeing her in this condition hurt him, but at the same time, he felt a sweet current stir inside his heart. It added an incredible cuteness to her charm. Somehow, he felt the urge to brew her some tea, tuck her up in bed, and cuddle her to sleep.

Of course, Elanar had already heard about the match's result. She felt happy that he had won, and relatively unharmed so. At the same time, though, conflicting emotions troubled her when she thought about the fact that both would have to fight each other tomorrow.

~~~

The sun stood at its highest point, and its rays poured down on the arena, presenting the people within with a rich source of warmth on this late autumn day.

Bazuul and Elanar sat on the balcony above and watched the ceremony below as they held hands.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome each and every one of you. Today is the day where we hold the final match of the royal tournament." The king of Donar started before he went through a detailed road map of each participant this time around. "Look at these two young finalists, and you may see your dreams of old. The dream to stand where these two do today. Who of us has not fought for a spot in this final when young? How many have succeeded? Even I have not." A short pause of complete silence prevailed as the crowd of viewers unconsciously held their breath. "Now to our finalists. An intriguing story, with an even more interesting conclusion. We believe it was the first day the fourth prince of Ralun had entered our capital city. We do not know why, but this young one felt the urge to take a stroll at night."

At this point, slight waves of shock whipped through Bazuul. Then again, it was after all his son that had caused this incident. Obviously, the king would know about it one way or another. Even the fact that he knew it was his first day in Leizyr made sense after some thought since all kingdoms arrived that day.

"Eventually, the prince landed in an alley where he found the first princess of Lumin surrounded by three assassins from the shadow of the blade." this revelation caused an uproar among the crowd of spectators. Even Bazuul and Elanar felt the little hair on their bodies stand erect. Completely unperturbed, the king continued, "After the fourth prince disposed of the three assassins, and unaware of who the unconscious woman was, he dragged her back to his inn to let her rest. That was the day these two youths became friends." The king then left out the coming days and immediately jumped to hidden dragon trials. He went over the numeral encounters Bazuul had in the trial, without forgetting to mention the attacks from the shadow of the blade. This disclosure of information rattled the people in the stands. After all, if what the king said was true, then this thirteen-year-old youngster had fought against and killed eleven assassins — seven of them with higher cultivation, and two of them even a whole realm ahead of him. Even still, the boy stood there in the arena, sound and safe.

The king let the crowd digest this information before he ensured them that this would not endanger the fourth prince's safety. Then he went on and led the people present through a narration of his own, detailing the path to the climax of the royal tournament. Today.

Then for one last time, the king's voice rose, "Everyone, please welcome Elanar Luminaire and Bazuul Ylvazad!" At this moment both Bazuul and Elanar began walking down the stairs and toward the battle platform where Tyr Helson awaited both of them. Meanwhile, the crowd went wild. People from Lumin and Ralun cheered for the candidate of their nation. Young maidens and men wished both of them the best. Some of these lovelorn young men even threatened Bazuul on the way down. He couldn't help but shake his head while he chuckled sardonically.

When both reached Tyr, he asked them if they were ready. When both nodded, his voice rose and reverberated throughout the arena. "Everyone, the moment has come, are you ready?!"

A mixture of violent tendencies came to life by the rampant stomping of their feet, their expressions filled with ecstasy, and then the crowd's roars rose in unison. "AH-UH! AH-UH! AH-UH!"

Once more, Tyr Helson's voice erupted, "Then let the final match of the royal tournament begin! FIGHT!!!"

As always, silence prevailed right after the fight officially started throughout the arena. The two youths stood across each other, not uttering a single word and not moving an inch.

Bazuul crossed his arms and chuckled lightly before opening his mouth. "I surrender!"

Only the breeze of the wind was perceivable, the spectators stood and sat as they did a second before as if frozen in time. Elanar's face was as blank as a sheet, and Tyr similarly stood on the stage, his brain unable to currently process the young prince's words. Elanar regained her composure the fastest and immediately walked toward him, already attempting to convince him to do otherwise. Before she could complete her sentence, though, the crowd gasped and exclaimed in unified shock,

"EEEEEH?!"