The crowd is roaring. Metal clashes upon metal as two blades contact each other. It is the first day and the first round of the Rankings. Everyone is cheering on their friends. One battle finishes and I watch as my good friend Jason walks up one of the platforms in the arena and faces his opponent, a girl with waist-length black and red hair coupled with gold-speckled-brown eyes.
The girl bows. "My name is Akane Nishino, may the best fighter win."
Jason bows. "I am Jason Phillips, the best to both of us."
"Likewise."
Akane points at Jason with her sword. Both of them get into their sword stance. The bell goes off and she rushes at Jason.
Jason sidesteps and Akane follows up. Both their Blade meet again. Jason continues to dodge. Akane's movements seem to be very calculated because she wasn't rushing her swings.
Akane stops and takes a step back.
Jason whispers. "She's strong."
***
A girl with flowing brunette hair sits calmly in front of me. "Sylvia Axia, aren't you supposed to be watching the Rankings? Your brother is going next."
I make a half smile. "I'm confident that I'll be able to watch the fight don't you worry."
"Why did you have such confidence in someone who hasn't even emitted a spark since he's started here?"
This girl… I have to grin and bear it. An Axia can only hold out one's fury for so long or our emotions will take over. I'll be taking control of this conversation.
"What brings you from Vale? Shouldn't you have better things to attend to than being here on this backwater planet?"
The brunette girl wiggles her finger. "Tut tut Sylvia. Just because I'm here doesn't mean I'm not busy." A wide grin crosses her face. "I'm only here to witness."
I frown. "I don't know how you found out about my family, but witness all you want. If it weren't for the treaty, you all would be behind bars."
The girl gets up from the table and moves closer to my ear. "Join us Sylvia. If it weren't for the powers at hand we'd already taken over this planet. The whispers are ever so sweet. Your family has been rejecting them." A cold dull blue glow shines from her eyes. "So tell me, where is it?"
I could feel chills rolling down my spine. I could hear her breath so close to my ear.
"Soon, unknowingly, he will lead us right to it. The first loooockkkk." Her footsteps afterward soon gently fade into silence.
***
Akane continues as Jason drops to his knees and ducks a swing aiming for his head. The blade makes a complete arc missing him by about an inch from below the head.
Jason feels for his neck and blinks. He heaves in relief. "Woo, that was a close one. You nearly nicked me at the neck."
Sara rushes to the edge of the platform and cries out, "Jason, are you already?!"
"I'm alright." Jason waves at Sara in reassurance.
I let out a breath. That's a relief. That swing was too close.
"And you told me to have faith." Sara shakes her head and rolls her eyes at me. Her purple pink eyes are full of determination for Jason.
I give a short nod of acknowledgment. "I know. I know." Yet I spoke too soon.
Jason recovers and bolts back at Akane. His brown hair is currently whipping around as he closes in. Akane sidesteps and dodges by a hair's length.
Akane butts the end of her sword into Jason's abdomen. Jason lets out a gasp of shock. Akane takes advantage of this and knocks Jason in the head, sending him to the ground. Jason passes out.
Akane crouches beside Jason's passed out body. "You were good but I was better. I look forward to the next time we cross our blades. She looks up at Sara. "Your boyfriend has an opportunity to grow. I look forward to facing him."
Akane bows and walks off the floor.
***
Meanwhile as everyone is watching the fights, a cloaked figure approaches Stephen and Serena in the stands. Stephen could see a faint smile from under the hood as the figure approached.
A girl's voice comes from within. "Excuse me, you're Stephen Moore correct?"
"I am Stephen Moore. What do you need?"
The smile grows wider. "I have a feeling we could benefit from each other. We share a mutual adversary."
"Who do you mean?"
"Deep in your heart you know exactly who I'm referring to."
Stephen smiles. "I have an inkling."
"How about a boost in power?" The figure takes out an object from inside her cloak. It is a pill. "I heard about the line up and surely you both will be facing each other in the end."
"Isn't this cheating?" Stephen inquires confused.
"It only allows an influx in pressure to enable you to expand your sixth sense and increase your strength."
Serena gives Stephen a smile. "You'll be able to win."
Stephen grabs the pill. "Of course I want to win. I'll put him in his place." He takes Serena's hand. "He is nothing, just a speck in a huge pond."
The figure departs but right before, the figure pulls its lips close to Stephen's ear. "Just make sure you finish him off. I'll be sure to reward you."
"Consider the task complete already."
***
Sara's eyes are about to bawl. We both watch as two people from the medic team come with the stretcher and pull Jason off the floor. She takes off to follow the stretcher. Before she leaves my sight she calls out to me.
"I'll be back soon! I'm just going to see how he's doing!"
I call back to her. "You're fighting soon, don't be too long! Hold on, I'll come with you!
Sara fades out of sight.
Thinking back, everyone here will fight once. So exactly one half of the student body will go on to keep their rightful place in the rankings. I currently wonder what my rank is, but no one currently knows their own. I'm sure that us six in the Nansronian classes were ranked pretty high up.
Both Becky and Hank had won their matches early on. Both winning through sword skill alone. I'm sure I'll be seeing them in class next semester. They both were keeping their rank.
Up next, Emily and Sara were both facing each other. I feel positive that Sara isn't going to let Emily win, Both Emily and I had yet to see Sara's lightning sword technique.
A little information about the lightning sword technique. The technique is something that Sara had been practicing all semester long alone here at the training grounds. As part of the Elda Family, she had to qualify for the Elda Family Trials. As the last of the Elda Family, a weight had been placed on her shoulders. The twenty-one families have to be represented, Axia Family included. Mastering the lightning sword is only step one.
I caught up with Sara and we walked into the infirmary. With many others, Jason lays there on his own bed, finally conscious.
"You both came pretty fast."
Sara takes his hand. "You did a good job."
Jason grips his blanket. "Not good enough though. I was hoping for at least a stalemate. I got wiped."
"There's always next semester. Hey, we'll be on another planet!"
We hear footsteps.
"Sara, Will, you both here?" Emily walks through the door. She notices us standing by Jason's bed.
"Jason you alright?!"
Jason ruffles through his hair. "I've never felt better. This is a first for everything."
"I just wanted to stop and see you before Sara and I's match. Fate is just cruel."
Sara faces Emily. "You better give it your all Emily. I'm not going easy on you."
"Likewise."
"Bring it on."
***
Sara and Emily both stand across each other. Emily draws her blade and moves into a sword stance. Sara moves her hand holding onto the scabbard.
I move closer to their area to get a better view. I feel a tap behind me. I turn around and Sylvia is standing behind me.
"Hey brother." She smiles.
Why is she here?
"Sylvia, why are you here? Aren't You supposed to be helping out with the event?"
"Do you think I'd want to miss Sara and Emily's fight? I got permission to watch yours as well."
"Ah nice."
"Mmm, you know who you're facing right?" Sylvia's red amber eyes focus on me.
"I face Stephen," I reply. "I'm not really happy about it." I sigh. "He probably has something in store for me."
Sylvia then looks forward. "Both Sara and Emily can emit their elements now right?"
I shake my hand. "Not at the moment. If Sara can then Emily is finished if she's struck. From what Sara has told me…"
The bell rings.
Emily and Sara pounce.
"Heyah!" They both scream. Their blades clash in a fury of sparks. The sparks soon turn the color of Sara's purple pink eyes.
Clouds soon pour in and flashes of light flicker in the sky. Emily swings downward and Sara tumbles to the side.
Lightning flickers again. Emily grinds her teeth in frustration. She must be thinking, Why can't I land a hit?
Sara's eyes start to glow.
Sylvia gasps. "It's coming."
Everyone stops for a moment, even those who are currently fighting. A bolt of lightning strikes Sara's blade. You could see visible electricity coursing around the blade.
Sara and Emily rush at each other one last time. With a jolt and a butt of Sara's pummel, Emily drops to the ground.
I stand there frozen to my spot. Is Emily dead? I drop to my knees.
Sara picks Emily up and brings her to the side for the paramedics. They give her a few jolts and mouth-to-mouth.
1, 2, 3.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Emily taking shallow breaths on the stretcher.
"That was frightening." Sylvia hugs me, "I thought she was gone."
"I did too. I think Sara gave enough current for a taser."
The lighting sword technique is powerful. If Sara wasn't careful, Emily would be dead.