Unlike usual, Alex didn't go to train with Edric in the gym today. After all, everyone needs so ti to calm their nerves before the assessnt.
Alex was stretching his back while his mind remained focused on the upcoming battle. The Grand Master said that the opponents would be chosen based on one's weakness. And Alex was weak with magic spells.
The first potential opponent Alex could think of is Amanda, given she is a prodigy in magic and soone who lacks combat experience. However, there was Celestria and Mary as well from the third year who excelled in magic but were weak in combat. By no ans does Edric fall in that category, so Alex wasn't concerned about facing the Protagonist.
'Everything will be reported to the King....' This assessnt would help Adolf in choosing the ten champions when the ti cos. As such, it becos even more necessary for Alex to win this competition.
*Knock* *Knock*
Hearing the knocks, Alex raised his brows and jumped on his feet before approaching the door.
"Who is it?" Despite waiting for a few seconds, no one responded.
Alex heaved a sigh and asked again, "If you don't tell -"
"I-It's ..." Hearing that voice, it didn't take even a second for Alex to realise that on the other side stood the Princess of the nation.
*Click*
He parted the door and let her in before soone could see the enshrouded girl who thought that she had done a good job in hiding her identity.
However, the prominent feature of a noble, those golden blond hair, was left hanging openly.
Alex closed the door before asking, "Do you want and yourself to get expelled or sothing?"
Celestria was expecting the scolding yet she showed a pitiful sight and apologized, "I-I was just nervous....and wanted to...s-see you..."
Alex was genuinely surprised by her behaviour these days. This girl has changed so much after that incident that now, she doesn't pay attention to Edric at all unless she has to ask sothing related to Alex.
Her behaviour has taken a drastic shift, and now the Princess appears to be more attracted to Alex than ever before.
Was it the guilt? Or fear? Or both?
Alex didn't know, nor did he want to care about it, given he had sothing else more important to focus on.
"Before you ask to leave, I want to give you sothing." Celestria hurriedly spoke before she revealed a sheathed blade which she was hiding inside the long shawl she had draped over her shoulders.
Alex was surprised to see the fine details engraved on the blade handle as he took the sword from her, and heard her mumbling,
"Ehe~our fingers touched...."
Ignoring the girl, he took the sword and unsheathed it. The slow vibration from the sword might be his imagination but it couldn't be denied that he felt quite excited while holding this piece of art.
"Oh my...."
Looking at the double-edged sword with the words 'PURGE' engraved on the bottom of it, Alex sighed in admiration.
He lifted it with one hand and realized that its weight was perfectly balanced at the base and the tip. Twirling on his palm, he felt the weapon becoming one with him in no ti; listening to his command and rging with his soul. It was just...perfect.
*Shlink*
Sheathing the sword, Alex couldn't help but ask, "Where did you find such a masterpiece?"
Celestria's lips never went down from a smile since the girl was extrely happy to see that satisfied look in Alex's eyes.
Hearing his question, she casually responded, "Father gifted back when I travelled back ho. After witnessing you in the arena, I deed it would be best to give it to you."
Alex nodded. He could tell that such fine craftsmanship cannot be done in a massive producing smithy. The work of a fine blacksmith can be seen in the blade. Hours of patience and hard work have resulted in sothing so refined and perfect. Beautiful and deadly.
After a brief mont of silence, Alex asked, "Tell its price. I won't be able to pay right away, but surely I can in instalnts."
Owing soone is not sothing Alex generally prefers. And surely not from this complicated girl whose feelings and thoughts are no longer in the zone where he could expect. She is unpredictable. God knows what she might ask in return for the sword, so he better get done with it right away.
Celestria parted her lips to say, 'You don't need to pay at all!', however, she stopped herself.
She can....ask anything. Like anything??
'Oh my god...' Nurous things ca to her mind which, if a normal person had heard, they might have run away from Celestria.
Alex suddenly felt darkness surrounding the Princess and a very sinister smile spread on her lips. Her eyes were drawn to the ground, moving restlessly.
Frowning, he called out, "Celestria?"
"Ah, yeah!" She hurriedly brought her eyes to et his before she spoke, "Rember we used to sit under a tree with my head on your lap and you read a story? I want that...please?"
Alex was flabbergasted, "You....want to hear a story in exchange for this masterpiece?" Are you fucking kidding ?
Alex couldn't believe the insanity of this girl to be willing to give him this finely crafted weapon in exchange for just a simple story.
Celestria shyly lowered her eyes, the flutter of her eyes charming enough to make Alex dazed just for a single second as he heard her saying, "T-The monts I spend with you....is priceless for . So yes, I want it."
Alex sighed and rubbed his eyes as he said, "Okay, fine, after the assessnt, let's do it."
"Yeeeee!!" Celestria jumped from the bed with her eyes turning crescent in joy.
She gave Alex a brief hug before dashing out of the room while mumbling, "Date, date! It's a date!"
Alex was scratching his head, seeing her enthusiasm, before he decided to clear up his mind and get prepared for the battle.
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The assessnt would take place among all the students of third years, and the battles would be witnessed by all the instructors, professors, guests from the Capital and the other students from the second and third years.
The indoor arena was quite huge, and at the sa ti, ten matches would be held. Since so students didn't participate in the intensive training, having their goals already set in their minds, only two hundred students participated in the assessnt.
Each battle would only last for six minutes, and based on the performance, not results, the students would be recruited to a ntor right away.
It was necessary for every student to give it their all in this battle since the judges would be observing their efforts not the result.
From the Royal family, the First Prince and Celestria's older brother—Ryan Grimhold, was also present and currently sitting beside Aborne.
He was currently sitting across the second arena in which two students stood, ready to fight.
The other instructors, like Jullie and Hawk, were observing other arenas. Each arena has at least two judges and one referee.
More than six hundred students gathered around and were cheering for their favourite contestants. Since betting was not unknown to this world, they were even betting their money on challengers.
Alex was currently sitting in the waiting room, from where the whole place was visible. The waiting room was built above the stands, and the floor-to-ceiling mirror gave a complete view of the scene.
Alex was looking at the ongoing matches with an unreadable expression on his face. Within the waiting room, there were several more familiar faces but none of them were talking to anyone. No friends and lovers could be seen together at the mont, given, in a few minutes they could be facing each other in the arena.
Alex didn't have much of a thought since he wasn't naive enough to reveal his strategy to the person he was talking to. But naturally, he didn't want to disturb others while they were trying to gather themselves together.
'Not even a month has passed....' After reincarnating here, Alex hasn't been able to feel that serenity which he was searching for. Except for the ti when he remains in the infirmary, he remains moving all the ti considering he has to prepare for sothing more prominent and terrifying than this contest.
He didn't know whether he was moving on the right path or not. He didn't know what the deity would ask from him when the ti ca. He didn't know why he felt his first love was sowhere around. He didn't know whether he would be able to participate in the ascension tournant.
A lot of questions he had in mind and no one to help him. However, Alex knew, he could sohow get through all of it.
'Just like always...'
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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Guess his opponent.
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