Chapter 29: Unexpected Visitor

"Ugh, I am here once again" I mumbled, as I saw the ceiling of the infirmary.

"Thither we embark, knowing there is no merit for us to walk this path.

With the wish to grow stronger as our only goal, we took our first step. With our shadows visible at the bottom of the hill..." A familiar voice mumbled beside me.

"Fiore?!" I jolted, as I saw his familiar red hair. "Hahah, been a while, Ed!" He said, with his usual smirk.

"W-why are you here?!" I asked. "Well, I was on the midway of my travel, when I heard about the royal battle. So I decided to watch. Should I have not?" He smirked.

"Well, I didn't say so. Since, when were you here?" I said, as I went back to bed.

"From the start. Well, I can't believe that "that" brat who nearly fell off the Cliffside, have managed to win that race. I was pretty much impressed" He chuckled.

"I-I see…" I mumbled. "Wait, if you were here from the start, why didn't you talk to me?" I asked.

"Well, I wanted it to be a surprise. Plus, it's boring if you will just normally greet me, unlike your reaction earlier" He said.

"You are still a creep, no matter how many years passed" I said, as he laughed.

"Never mind that, what are you doing nowadays?" I asked. "Hmm, writing stories, I guess…"Fiore said. "Huh?" I mumbled.

"Aren't I a novelist, so that's normal" Fiore said. "Huh? You're a novelist? Since when?" I asked.

"From the start, I was a novelist. It was the reason I left the palace, to continue my job as a traveling novelist" Fiore stated. "Huh?!" I said.

"I was merely passing by the Emerald Palace the day I saved you when you berserk, and found it interesting so I stayed and used it as a reason for a vacation" He grinned.

Really, this Guy..!

A knock interrupted our chatter. "Come in..!" I said. Following my permission, everyone came in. "Good day sire…" They greeted Fiore, with a bit confused look on their faces.

"Good day" Fiore greeted back. "Ed?" Fiore looked at me, as if he was saying, "Do the honors" to me. "Ah, right! Guys, this is my former teacher, Fiore Gunrlink" I said, as Fiore smiled.

"Name is Gino Borther. Wait, you already know that, right sire?" Gino stated. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Some things happened and I got to meet him when he was 9. Well, he is the son of the legendary knight so it's just normal for me to know him" Fiore stated.

"Nice to meet you again, Gino-kun" Fiore added. "Ah, yes!" Gino nodded, as he shook hands with Fiore.

Gino's father, the legendary Knight, Christophe Borther, huh?

It seems like he got that title about 28 years ago. Kinda wanna meet and know what kind of person he is.

"Me, as well. It's been a while, Mister Fiore" Kirt stated. "You know Kirt as well?" I asked. "Yes, he was the escort of Princess Arianna when I tutored her" Fiore stated.

"How is the princess doing after I left Kirt-kun?" Fiore asked. "She was frustrated a bit" Kirt answered. "I see, that's so like her" Fiore laughed.

Princess Arianna fei Reagan is my cousin, the eldest and the crown princess of Benigrul Kingdom.

To think that Fiore tutored her as well and that Kirt was her escort. I can't imagine these two calmly serve her. With that attitude of hers, that is given I guess…

"Next is Forth Torthen. Well, I'm sure you also know him alrea-…Fiore?" I stated, as Fiore suddenly stood and approached Forth.

He pinched Forth's cheeks, making Forth surprised. "You really haven't changed much since then" Fiore stated.

"Wai-!" I was about to stop him, when I kinda saw Forth get a bit angry. But, Fiore suddenly stopped.

"T-thanks?" Forth stated, as if he wasn't sure if he should say it or not. He seems to be thinking, "Was that a compliment or an insult?"

I guess he really knows him, as well.

"I am Russell Figmorth" Russell stated. "Oh, you're the son of Sir Lloyd. Haven't seen you ever since that time" Fiore mumbled.

Russell smiled, "It has been a while" Fiore smiled, as well.

Lloyd Figmorth, the commander of the royal knights of Gothiceln. The called righteous and admired knight is Russell's father.

I thought they were only a relative, never would think that they're father and son.

"Next is…" I was about to introduce Reina, when she suddenly interrupted me. "My name is Reina sen Arledimeth, been a while Sir Fiore" Reina stated.

Fiore hummed. "You're right, about 5 years, isn't it?" Fiore said. "Yes" Reina nodded. "Hmm?" I mumbled.

"The crimson dragon form she showed that day, I was the one who fixed her when she transformed into that form 5 years ago" Fiore stated.

I see. Then, maybe Fiore knows how to easily erase the burn marks on Reina's body without taking much time. I should ask him later.

"Lastly is Ana Kirthyln" I said, as I followed it with a silent sigh. "H-hello" She mumbled, as she hid behind Reina.

I spoke, "Sorry, she's a bit bad around men and is shy to strangers" Fiore shook his head. "I know that" he stated, as he stood from the chair and went near Anna.

"It has been a while, Anna-chan" He crouched, as he smiled. Anna nodded at him.

Your smile is really what I fear the most. The smile that shows thousands of ulterior motives you're hiding down there.

"Well, nevertheless I'm kinda happy you got so many friends Ed" Fiore patted me, as he stood.

I chuckled. "Did you mistake me for a loner?" I asked. "Kinda" Fiore laughed as he walked to the door. "Then, see you later kids" He bid goodbye and leaved the infirmary.

"That was kinda like a storm" Russell mumbled. "He is that kind of a guy…"Reina stated, as I nodded in agreement.

"It seemed that the semifinals will be held for three days, excluding the fourth day as the finals" Russell said.

"I see…was it already shown, the fighters for tomorrow?" I asked. "Yeah, Block B's Earl, and Block D's Rath" Gino said.

"Hmph, I don't like that Earl guy" Reina said. "Even the audiences hated him, even though he was one of the favorite to win" Russell said.

"That arrogance, he was too proud of himself" Kirt said. "But, isn't it a given that he will be your opponent someday, Ed?" Forth who had gotten closer with us after that incident, said.

"Wait, aren't you saying that I'll win already?" I asked. "You can do it, everyone believes in you Ed-kun" Anna encouraged.

"You are one of the favorite to win, also" Reina said.

I-I can't do it, with pressure. But, well maybe Forth was right, someday that Earl will be my opponent and maybe that is near already.

The next day came. I wasn't discharged in the infirmary until the midway of the battle. When, I came running over the arena. I entered seeing the stage in a bizarre situation.

Rath was hanged down the midair, while Earl was smirking down. "Stop..! The fight is stopped, if you do more than that you will be noted as disqualified Earl!" Shiro said.

"Tch…" He said, as he putted Rath down. Rath was already bleeding and that they said Earl planned to kill him, by shattering his body with wind slashes.

Oi… oi! Don't tell me I have to fight such guy with so much killing intent!?

No way…!