[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Outside Of The Presentation Room]
[Wednesday, 1:55 PM]
Rel and Jan reached the doors of the presentation room, the 2 were frozen in place. Standing across the hall, two familiar figures stood opposing the two: Louise and Valencia. Louise's face was between the lines of anger and a disgusted look directed at Jan. Valencia shot an intense gaze at Rel, showing hostility and twisting her usual serene features.
Confused silence was what passed between the two. Jan and Rel exchanged panicked glances. Had they woken up in so bizarre alternate dinsion where their enemies were suddenly teaming up?
Jan, noticing the tense atmosphere, decided to break the ice. "Hey everyone! How's it go–"
Louise cut him off. "Shut up, Jan." His voice dripped with venom. When Rel saw this, he knew he shouldn't be caught in the crossfire and knew he had to get to the room ASAP.
"Well, I'm just gonna–"
"You're too loud." Valencia's words sliced through his sentence, cold and final.
Inside their minds, both Jan and Rel scread in perfect unison,
"WHAT DID WE DO?!"
Their silent panic was interrupted by the presentation room doors swinging open. Kolek's familiar figure stood at the entrance, impatience engraved on his face.
"What are you four doing? wondering like that? I can feel the tension from here. Get in already."
Wordlessly, the four semi-finalists filed inside. The seats were arranged as before, a line of chairs facing the podium. This ti, though, it felt like a firing line. Jan and Valencia occupied the two central seats, with Louise and Rel moved to the far ends, as the unending hostility separated them.
Kolek cleared his throat, his voice echoing in the tense room.
"Congratulations on making it this far. The guild leaders in attendance have been very impressed. Now, without further ado, let's get these semi-final matchups drawn." He moved towards the box on the podium, his hand dipping inside.
***
{Rel's POV}
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Presentation Room]
My heart pounded in my chest as Kolek's hand plunged into the draw box. I knew it was death one way or the other. If I got Jan he would make it a quick and easy death, If I drew Louise I'd be eviscerated into literal smithereens, if it's Valencia well I'd say goodnight at this point.
...
...
...
Every second felt like a lifeti, a ticking clock counting down to my demise. Kolek called the first na... Jan. The air grew heavier. "Jan Ates, you will face... Louise Villerion!"
The announcent was as much to my demise and here I thought that I could ever step foot into a final for sothing...
"I'll kill him..." Louise's voice muttered, I don't know if it was but the temperature had suddenly gotten hotter.
The hatred radiating from Louise could lt steel beams, and even from my position at the end of the row, I felt the full force of it directed at Jan.
My own situation wasn't much better. When Kolek finally announced,
"And our final semi-final match will be Rel Laurence against Valencia Freya,"
I'm dood... Every instinct scread at to run, to hide. I couldn't help but steal a glance at Valencia.
Turning towards her, I saw that smile, It was so cold I could feel the frost from across the room. It was a smile that promised slow, intentional killing.
Jan nudged my arm. "Good luck," he whispered.
I could only muster a glare in response. Luck? Was he serious? I was about to be incinerated, dissected, or both. All for... existing?
Still, I couldn't understand the intentions of Valencia and it made question myself. What cri had I possibly committed that deserved this death sentence?
If there was a god in charge of this tournant, they most likely had a twisted sense of humour.
I only ca here to do one thing and it was just to complete this Live Quest... and on top of all of that, I now have to worry about soone even more dangerous (Morwen), yet I was about to be utterly annihilated by so petty grudge I didn't even understand.
Kolek's voice cut through my rambling thoughts.
"The precise match tis will be announced through the database shortly. Please keep your watches updated and on alert for further notifications."
The dismissal was almost rciful. Anything to escape this room, this crushing dread that had settled in my stomach. The semi-finals were no longer a stepping stone on a hidden path... they were a countdown to my own execution.
Now I kind of regret even making it to a stage where I don't even belong... Is this really the life that I wanted?
I simply shook my head knowing that I had dug myself a hole, just because of a simple 'quest' so all I can hope is to see the light at the end of the tunnel once this is over.
From behind Valencia walked side by side with Jan while Louise walked slightly away from them and he appeared to be moulding over the sight of this. So I know for sure I was doing sothing right with his character.
But what was going on in Valencia's stupid head? I had to know.
[Perceptive Mind Has Been Activated!]
Flashing open Valencia's status was revealed.
FWANG!
[Status Window Of Valencia Freya]
[Age: 17]
[>Strength: 105, >Durability: 82, >Speed: 61, >Mana: C , >Elental Attribute: Lightning]
[Current Thoughts: "I'm Going To Crush Him..."]
My stomach sank. Forfeit, and lose the hidden skill... but fight, and risk humiliation, maybe worse. Jan wouldn't hold back, not if he sensed weakness.
Haaah...
It all felt so hopeless. I left the outco in God's hands. Whatever happened, happened.
***
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Allen's Cafe]
"So, Jan! Finally getting a chance to settle the score with your long-lost rival!"
Bazz declared, his stupidly loud laugh raising eyebrows at nearby tables. Their whole group knew about the years-long rivalry between Jan and Louise. This fight was gonna be legendary.
Camila, taking a delicate sip of her latte, "Well, it was inevitable, I suppose. Soone as talented as Louise was bound to end up facing Jan eventually."
Lyra, her eyes wide with excitent, bounced in her seat. "But who do you think will win? They both seem unstoppable... I honestly couldn't say!"
Camila shrugged dismissively. "Jan's just too strong. Louise doesn't stand a chance."
"Hmm," Bazz rubbed his chin, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Poor Louise probably still has nightmares about missing that chance to face him during the Little Heroes Tournant all those years ago. Talk about a grudge waiting to be settled..."
khum...khum!
Jan moved uncomfortably. He'd managed to sip his coffee unnoticed so far, but this attention felt suffocating. A well-practised cough bought him ti, then he deflected the focus.
"Enough about , how about Valencia's match..."
The question hung heavy. Valencia, caught mid-bite, choked out a startled "Huh?" Pancake crumbs sprayed across the table.
With starry eyes, Camila and Lyra pounced. "Spill it, Valencia!" Camila demanded mischief in her voice. "Who's the unlucky soul?"
Valencia grumbled under her breath, glaring at Jan across the table. Thanks a lot, Jan, for putting her on the spot.
She swallowed the last bite of pancake with a huff and mumbled, "I'm... versing him." Her voice dropped to a near whisper, a clear indication of discomfort with even speaking the na.
"Who's 'him'?" Camila persisted, tilting her head in playful confusion. A beat of recognition dawned on her face. "Oh right! You're up against Rel, aren't you?"
Lyra's surprise mirrored Camila's. Lost in the Jan-Louise hype, she'd forgotten about that other match. But now, the mory of Rel's brutal display against Carlos resurfaced.
"...!"
As if reading her mind, Camila's voice dipped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Did you watch the recording of Rel's fight, Valencia? Things got a bit… intense."
Valencia shook her head, curiosity piqued. "No. What happened?"
Camila and Lyra launched into a rapid-fire explanation, filling Valencia in on the details of Rel's fight. Valencia listened, her initial curiosity changing into shock as the full picture unfolded. She hadn't expected such a display of raw aggression from the quiet, seemingly reserved student.
"He… he did what?" Valencia breathed, her eyes wide. "That's... unlike him." A frown creased her brow. There had to be a reason. "Did they say why?"
Camila shrugged. "Not that I heard of. Apparently, they had to remove the whole match recording from the database today."
Jan, who'd been trying to disappear into his coffee cup, couldn't ignore their conversation. He regretted bringing up Valencia's match, but with Rel involved, could he have done differently?
The beat down was one thing, but Rel's words from before... Jan wrestled with a sense of responsibility, he wanted to respect Rel's privacy. With a forced smile, the best he could manage, his voice cut through their chatter.
"Let's move on from that fight, alright?"
BZZZT!, BZZZT!
Simultaneous buzzes broke the chatter as Jan and Valencia's watches buzzed like crazy.
Notifications filled their screens – the long-awaited semi-final match tis had arrived.
Jan's stomach flipped. As the group went quiet over the ti.
"Well, here goes nothing." Jan opened his watch to see his match ti...
"What's your ti?" he asked Valencia.
She checked. "3:30."
"Then mine's gotta be 3:00." Jan stretched, feigning confidence.
"Good luck, Valencia," he said, aning it.
She returned a curt nod, the two knew that they had to leave. Then, with the sa kind grace Valencia said her goodbyes stood up and left, Jan who did the sa waved and mumbled farewell.
_______________
[Match Schedule - Semi-Finals, Match 25#]
[Jan Ates (1) Vs Louise Villerion (2)] - [Ti: 3:00 PM]
[Valencia Freya (3) Vs Rel Laurence (13)] - [Ti: 3:30 PM]
_______________
***
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Authors Notes:
- This song helps a lot when I'm writing these cafe scenes - Love Letter by Cavendish Music
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