The Last Realm: The Blood of Clans

11: The Tournament, Round 2

The temperature seemed to drop drastically as the sunset threatened to invade the afternoon sky. Kelicia cleared her throat and apologizing before going off towards the throne room, saying the outcome of the fiery haired Andrew concerned her and Kokin. That led to Kye dusting off his trousers and standing up as well. He made a faint remark that I wasn't able to hear or make out from the distance, but then he announced his similar intentions.

“Sorry mates, but I best dash off to make sure nobody gets beheaded or anything unnecessary.” Kye looked a little pensive as he excused himself, leaving the rest of us still with an uneasy silence.

“So he was joking, right? About the beheading, I mean.” I eventually broke the quiet, with my nervous thoughts.

“Hard to say..” Vahn trailed off with reply.

“Hard to say? That's the best you can come up with?” I stared at him with my jaw set and a bit of frustration before standing up abruptly.

“Where you going?” Chey asked as I wiggled free from her grip on my hand and arm.

“I'm going to have my say with the Queen about this.” Came my blunt reply as I quickly started off with my spur-of-the-moment thoughts.

Vahn caught my arm as I passed behind our group, the others watching quietly. “You can't just go barging around and making a mess of things.”

“It's a tournament for me, right?” I shot back defiantly.

“Well, in theory.” Vahn glared to me with the warning.

“No, not in theory. Maybe you don't think things are done this way, but I have something that needs said.” I jerked my arm free and stomped off.

It was a little easier to burst through the large entrance doors than I thought, most of the guards were still out on the other end of the courtyard. Queen Chiara was standing around in what sounded like a heated debate between herself, Isidro, Kelicia, lord Andres and Kye. I didn't see either of the other two court members, Greeley or Renato Filby, as the entire room seemed to turn and look at my intrusion.

“Uh, hi.. sorry for barging in.” I stammered nervously.

“We were just arguing and getting nowhere.” Kelicia snapped coldly at the others.

“Watch your tone, young lady.” Isidro kept a stern expression as he addressed Kelicia.

“It's the truth though, we aren't making any progress.” The young red haired girl responded back frustratedly.

Chiara ignored the continued outbursts, looking directly at me as if peering through me. “So, young lord, what brings you to visit in this unusually inappropriate time?”

Staring around the room nervously, glancing from one person to the other as my voice seemed caught in my throat. I coughed lightly in hopes I could get a reply out, but still nothing came. Everyone by now had turned to look at directly at me, curious as to what exactly I was doing with my sudden interruption. I felt as frozen as the river as I tried to will myself to speak, but it seemed a futile attempt.

“I think lord James is just concerned about the state of the participants. This is supposed to be a friendly tournament in his honor, so I could imagine that he's a little worried.” Kye smiled uneasily as he chewed on the corner of his mouth awaiting some sort of response.

“We've been over this with both of you two already.” Isidro barked back. “Laws clearly state what has to happen in the event of a death under these circumstances.”

“So what brings me here?” My voice pinched as I finally pushed out a response.

“Now is not the time for any of your curiosities.” Isidro half growled towards me.

“No brother, I want to hear the young man out.” Queen Chiara swept her arm in front of the large General, quieting him. “Now is your chance to say anything, before all three of you are sent back outside.”

Taking a deep breath, I let it just barrel out of me. “If the tournament is for me and everything, then shouldn't I get some sort of say about the fighters? I believe Kelicia and Kye are here for the same reasons. They want to see what kind of fight would become of Kokin and Andrew. I too would like to see that, and wouldn't it benefit everyone if you didn't have to injure another country's champion? If it's really a bother with him being here, you can always ask the Villaluz group to leave immediately upon the conclusion of the tournament. I'm sure Kye could agree and understand that request being fair.”

I puffed out and gasped lightly for air as the whole mass explanation exploded into the room. Isidro didn't look overly pleased as he considered everything but it was lord Andres who agreed first.

“That sounds like a good case of diplomacy from a new, young heir. I don't see why those arrangements can't be allowed.”

Queen Chiara smiled faintly before nodding. “You have permission to stay within the Western City until the conclusion of the tournament, or your champion's loss.”

Kye smiled as only the left corner of his mouth turned upwards. It was a bemused kind of grin as he agreed to the new stipulation. “We're quite grateful, your majesties.”

“Well then, back to the our guests. I'm sure they might be getting a little restless from all of the waiting.” Isidro said while clapping his hands together loudly, in a signal to move.

Kelicia reached for my hand to pull me outside quickly, but was interrupted by a loud cough and clearing of a throat. We turned around to see the queen looking at us both curiously, before giving a light-hearted laugh.

“C'mon, let's hurry back to the others before those three change their mind or ask about anything extra.” Kelicia blushed deeply as he tugged me back to the seats.

“Well, so you're back in one piece.” Vahn chided lightly.

“Yeah, and we're not losing any entertainment.” Kelicia grinned, making Chey roll her eyes.

Kye sat over lightly whispering between himself, Aurelia, Kathryn and Vahn. Zale, who has disappeared just before we had gone inside, came rushing back to the center of the makeshift arena. The three thrones were once occupied, as the young guard began to appease the crowd again.

"Our opening match of the second round, pits our previous winners against each other. Both hail from the western continent of Kreshia. Touko of the Anayama family faces off against Jace from Kyzekia. Set. Ready. Bow."

Jace looked across the improvised tournament ground to the girl he was up against, the broken arm made him cringe and tense briefly. He gave a barely noticeable, to most of those regarding the match anyway, nod of respect across the way to his opponent. His first arrow rested in his bow as he met her eyes, ready to fire in an eye blink as necessary. The pause seemed to stretch between the two like a long, awkward standoff before he sent his first shot for the shoulder of the broken arm and then started reaching for the next arrow.

Touko just stood there waiting, closing her eyes and then gritting her teeth as the first stone shot released and slammed into her shoulder. Immediately after impact she darted forward full speed towards the archer, her wooden sword clutched against her hip, ready to be drawn.

Jace's own feet began moving forward and slightly to the left, almost straight into a confrontation with his younger opponent. His next arrow pulled taut inside the bow, it released as he passed the halfway point to Touko, the shaft sent streaking downwards toward her leg. It appeared to be an attempt to trip her up or slow down the girl's speed and footwork, an effort to give him the upper hand.

Touko smirked as he unleashed his second arrow, that deliberately was aimed low. She launched herself airborne in response, heels over head as she went aerial. Even as his own arrow missed its target, Jace dove into a forward roll to avoid a potential blow, twisting around as he came back up so that he still faced his opponent. He readied a third arrow at what appeared to be the easiest target, Touko's torso in a guess trajectory of where she looked to be headed for a landing.

Touko finally 'drew' her blade and calmly swatted the arrow out of her path, as she spun around dramatically to do so. The two fighters were facing each other once again as she began her quick stepped shuffle at Jace.

His next two arrows met his bow, something he hadn't yet shown in the previous fight. It took another moment for him to steady the shot and fire both together, one arrow soaring high and the other low. The arrows seemed on course for the shoulder and abdomen, Jace started placing a bit of distance from the girl.

Her eyes widened before she shut them completely and dropped into a slide, her body nearly flat behind her as she skidded the ground on her shins. She popped back up after having cleared the two arrows, just barely underneath the lower one, and slashed upwards at Jace with her short sword.

Jace grimaced before he spun to the right to avoid the incoming blow, almost. Touko's wooden sword struck his upper left arm and shoulder even as he moved to avoid it, a brief flash of pain blossoming from the impact even as he pushed through it. Jace pulled another arrow taut at melee range and released it point blank at Touko's still extended sword arm and shoulder.

Touko shrieked loudly in pain, her eyes briefly flashing red before she lost her grip on her sword. She studied Jace carefully, her discarded weapon caught between the archer opponent and herself, her next move would prove significant to the match.

Jace was backing up a couple of steps rapidly, drawing another arrow as he did so. Touko's wooden sword closer to the girl than to him. He bought himself another moment longer as he shot for a mid height blow. The frustration on his face from already having missed so many attacks.

Touko watched as he took aim and as soon as the bow released, she took the risk of another aerial, the time with a back flip, catching the shot against her boots and deflecting it away. The landing took her too long though and she was still unarmed as she landed awkwardly on one knee.

Jace wasted no time to ready another arrow yet again, picking the timing for the girl's descent and landing. This shot seemed high as he pitched it towards just below the girl's neck. Touko was frozen in place, her eyes darted back and forth between the distance from Jace, her sword and the released arrow. There was no dodge or evasion, only her eyes shut tightly as she choked while the stone shot crunched against her windpipes.

Jace stood there in disbelief before glancing in shock at his left arm. He dropped the bow and rushed forward, a look of panic about him as he cradled the unconscious girl in his arm. With his arms wrapped around her and Touko giving no sign of breathing, Jace did the only thing possible. A bit of a gasp escaped from within the crowd, moments before Touko spurned and coughed finally. Her eyes were shocked open as her opponent was kissing her full on the lips, breathing life back into her. She hastily started slamming her hands against his chest in an effort to push him off.

Jace blushed as the two separated, Zale striding back into the courtyard arena as he smiled and laughed lightly with the crowd.

“Well, well. That was quite the show to open our second round of matches. I can confidently say that this tournament has not failed to excite, and it just keeps turning up the notches.” Zale flared dramatically to all of us in the crowd.

“Looks like you've got some competition, Kat.” Vahn teased his sister's guard.

“Whatever. Like I have anything I plan on attempting with that idiot.” She fired back defiantly.

“Now, now. Rivalry is a good thing.” Chey chuckled, making me mentally facepalm and blush.

“You're one to talk.” Aurelia grinned down at the three of us. “You have a limited window to sway James, while he has to travel around with Kelicia and myself a lot longer.”

“You wanna go fight over him too?” Kye asked with a teasing laugh at Aurelia.

“Oh, bite me.” She smiled back despite the teasing between the two.

“Speaking of fighting though.” Chey started in. “I thought you were engaged, yet there you are flaunting and flirting all over the golden prince.”

“Ha, golden prince. That's a title I haven't had to hear in a while.” Kye laughed, brushing the comments aside.

“Ladies, I'm not sure this is the time of place for this.” I tried to negotiate some form of peace treaty that horribly backfired.

“Stay out of it.” They both snapped in unison.

“Leave them be,” Kelicia whispered into my ear. “They'll calm back down once this next match starts up anyway. Speaking of which.”

Zale paraded around in a small circle, as he made his introductions on the last match that would decide who faced off in the big finale. All of the conversations once again quieted as he made his announcements.

"For the second and last match of the second round, the match to decide who gets to face the young archer from Kyzekia. We have the young female knight of Tasard, Kokin against the controversial winner of the opening round matches, the brute from the desert of Villaluz, Andrew. So without anymore delay, Set. Ready. Bow."

Andrew smiled as the next round started, he got to square up against the pretty girl. The large, ripped fiery haired man pounded his fists together as he grinned with delight, a serial killer smile. Kokin however stood with confidence as she stared him down with indifference in her gaze.

Andrew closed his eyes and started punching his fists into the ground, making the ground around them start to rumble. She appeared to be calculating and searching for a weakness or opening, the ground rumbled and she kept planted firm. Andrew though, paused at irregular intervals, beating the ground around himself more until it started to take an uneven shape.

"Come to me, show me that speed." He said with a malicious smile.

Kokin rushed in at a blinding speed, taking note of the ground assault he had used. Instead of running right at him, she leapt somewhat off the ground and slammed her wooden blade hand across his face. Andrew grinned even more as he spit a small amount of blood onto the ground, right where Kokin's feet landed. He didn't seem to be phased by the strike as he launched himself from the crouched position, arms swinging wildly like a battering ram.

She hopped back twice and then suddenly rolled forward and under his wild flailing strikes. Bringing the sword harshly against his knee as she tumbled by, the other short wooden dagger would strike against the back of his calf. She followed through as she kept moving, carefully watching.

Andrew let out a small grunt but instinctively used his massive leg muscles to propel a kick through the blows and push Kokin into the air and away from him. The girl maneuvered in the air and landed with grace, no less, and immediately pressed the assault as he was recovering. Andrew once again slammed his fists together as he charged bull-like head first at Kokin.

Kokin charged in kind and threw the shorter dagger with a harsh force at the large young man's face. Andrew saw the telegraphed throw coming and easily swatted it away like a pesky fly. Her speed was almost too much for him though and her body started to lower itself in her charge, while he leapt his heavy frame into the air. His hulking mass hovering above the ground, he thrust his fist downward to the earth.

The heavy thrusting fist missed his mark and she was instantly upon him. Andrew took her boot against his back and then felt the harsh smack of a wooden blade against his head, which resonated throughout the courtyard and crowd. The strikes repeated again and again and again.

Andrew smashed into the ground with his full body weight, that terrible grin still plastered on his face as blood trickled from his mouth. The man was unconscious though, the fight was over. Kokin placed her boot on his head as she stared down at the body, that held no reaction. Without a word she quietly left, not sparing him another glance.

“Oh, boy. Can you believe that match folks.” Zale erupted in a boisterous manner, gesturing frantically and excitedly.

A young female rushed up to his side and pulled him down to whisper something. His expression tightened as he finally nodded and straightened back up.

“It seems we will take a little break before the big finale. Don't go anywhere though, because the best show yet is about to start soon enough.” Zale bounced up and down for a just a moment before rushing off the 'stage' and out of view.

“Well, I take that to be my cue.” Kye said with a combined frown and smile.

“You're going somewhere?” Vahn looked puzzled at the Villaluz prince.

“Ah well, yeah.” Kye shot a hesitant glance at me for a moment. “We're not quite welcome within the city now that our matches are over. Friendly political business and all.”

“That's ridiculous.” Aurelia start in an outburst that Vahn and Kathryn both silenced as they placed reassuring hands on her shoulders.

“I was under the impression that Villaluz and Tasard were not on negative terms.” Vahn took his time carefully with the words, directing them at Kelicia.

“This is all thanks to James.” The snow princess replied back. “The court was going to do much worse to Andrew, for his first match.”

“If Kye's leaving, my ride might be taking him without us.” Chey said with a tired smile, waving to us all and gathering her silent attendant with her.

“I imagine that Alexander might not be very happy about this turn of events either.” Kye laughed lightly as he smiled and hugged Vahn and Aurelia goodbye.

The trio started to head to the other side of the royal seating before Chey darted back in quickly and planted a peck on my cheek. “Sorry I've got to split so quick, but I'll make sure to write first chance.”

“Yeah, sorry you all have to miss the grand event.” I gulped and blushed a little, nearly swearing that Kelicia was growling a little next to me.

“C'mon now, you can seduce the lucky brat later.” Kye gave a wave goodbye as he jested to Chey, while she rushed back to catch up with him.

Watching Kye, Chey and Alexander being escorted quietly back across the bridge to the Eastern City took up more time than I must have expected and figured. Our group had shrunk back down to the people I was most familiar with now, as Troy had managed to join us at last. Most of the other contestants were now in the stands well, ready to watch the final two.

“Didn't I say that Kokin was gonna win?” Kelicia smirked proudly.

“That's a good question, did you?” Vahn shot back playfully.

“At least your competition is gone.” Aurelia laughed lightly. “Then again, James is fairly cute, in the small, runt kinda way.”

“Hey, no fair.” I pretended to sound hurt, as we all burst out laughing.

Zale stood up again in the midst of the courtyard, the thronging crowd of spectators awaiting the final, climactic battle of the honorary tournament.

"In the final fight we are pitting our weary, exhausted and battered champions in the last conflict to determine the winner. Jace, the acrobatic archer of Kyzekia will test his accuracy, speed and skills against the young, beautiful female knight of Tasard, Kokin. This girl has yet to even break a sweat against her competition, truly astounding. All the matches up until now have been sights to behold and this one will maintain, if not exceed all of the previous battles today. Champions, congratulations to you both and good luck. Set. Ready. Bow."

Immediately after the bow, Jace watched as the girl started to stalk towards him. Her eyes seemed to be calculating all of the way to go through with disposing of him, and Jace loaded up his first stone tipped arrow while he began a retreat that was paced to Kokin's steps. They both were drifting towards the left.

His bow was nocked as Kokin proceeded closer. She planned her next movement accordingly, picking the pace up somewhat as they both drifted along, slight hesitation as she looked to be decided on the kill now or later. Jace had been slowly building up his attacks throughout the matches, each match he had lost more and more accuracy as his opponent changed. Jace fired his first arrow dead for the girls stomach, immediately having his bow loaded with two arrows at once, readying a next fire.

The arrow flew straight but a sudden rush of wind surrounded and forced the arrow off course as she dashed forward. It hit the ground with a solid thunk and she was upon him just as he had finished loading up his double arrows. She moved to swing her weapon not just through him, but through his bow as well.

Jace was nearly caught off guard seeing Kokin's speed in person. It was nearly breathtaking, but as she quickly darted in and closed the gap, he pushed backwards off his heels and stretched the distance back out. He then used that moment to fire both arrows at once, while her blade fell short, swiping clean through the air. The arrows fired and another sudden surge of air violently pressed forth and repelled the attack. Kokin pressed her advantage, moving in once more.

Jace bounced off his heels, thrusting into a barrel roll to the left and springing back up to his feet, steadying another double arrow shot at Kokin's unprotected side. "Gods, your speed isn't bad, but that wind thing is quite frustrating."

Kokin didn't respond, but instead rushed at him, wind forcing up. She was careful to stay alert and on guard, as Jace was fast on his feet, but she was just a little faster still. She smirked and rushed him, but instead of swinging she waited to see his move first.

Jace quickly skidded to a stop, a light trail of ice over the dirt courtyard floor. He was reloading another pair of arrows and grinned at the girl as she started to follow his new angle. Using the sliding momentum and waiting as long as possible, he leaped skyward and soared into the air above the girl. As he floated above the battlefield, he shot both arrows straight towards the ground.

"Ice?" I asked in shock at how the courtyard seemed to be frosting over the makeshift arena. I was quickly hushed and silenced by the others watching intently.

Kokin nearly slipped as she followed the trail and went defensive under his assault. Barely timing it, she repelled the arrows once more and ended her mishap gracefully with a tumble, setting her eyes onto her opponent once again. She seemed to be waiting for Jace to land, trying to determine where he would and how she should strike next.

Jace gingerly placed both his heels into the lightly frosted field, firing a single arrow straight in front of him without checking to see if Kokin was there or not. She moved, although carefully. The arrow didn't take much effort to dodge, it was already off course and she was already moving in to the side. Kokin moved to strike him hard and quickly.

Jace ran straight ahead, following the path of the arrow and planted his foot firmly as he hurled himself into a back flip and over her blinding fast attack. Shadows formed and struck from somewhere within the crowd. It was barely visible and happened so quickly and efficiently. Blade like, the shadows lashed out at lord Andres, piercing through his throat.

"Guards!" The Queen roared loudly in rage as her father slumped dead from his throne and onto the ground.

Jace turned around slowly, looking about to see the beginning of the c*****e unfold. Kokin was no longer in the makeshift arena, and was off with the royal seating section in a frantic display of protection. Jace just stood there alone for only a moment, before the crowd erupted in panic. Men in black hoods and shrouds, shunned their costumes and began to harass and assault anyone they could.