Tournament Training Part 1

( The Next Day )

[ 08:30 ]

[ Elio Stadium, 'Prodigy Center Academy' Contestant's Training Hall ]

All contestants from the 'PCA'*, had come as they wore their training suits, except for one.

" Where is Orlando Prowl!? " said Mrs. Rita since she's the teacher who watched over the contestant's training session.

[ Name: Rita Reala ]

[ Occupation: Prodigy Center Academy's Physical Training Teacher ]

" I think he's sick, Mrs. Rita... " said Slade Sable, the second-year student, as he tells the teacher, based on what he heard in the bathroom, for he's his room partner*.

" I see him lying cold in his bed, covered by a blanket as he somehow freezes despite me not activating the air conditioner. "

" Perhaps, we should let him off for the next round, we still could use some of our 'Absence Tickets' right? " Slade asks the Teacher as he knows they're probably around eight or nine out of ten tickets left since they never even had any thoughts on using it.

" Will it be okay, Slade? " Groa Rockborn asks him, reminding him that even one of the tickets used could be used better in the finals rather than the semis.

 " Well, as the tickets are gained throughout our great striving for survival in the 'Battle Royale' Preliminaries, I guess it's fine. "

" Besides, it could only be used within the Tournament, so for you think it's exchangeable outside, it's not. " Slade tells them.

" Indeed, Slade. " Mrs. Rita compliments him.

" The 'Absence Tickets' very use will vanish after the Tournament ends, so it's wise for you to use them wisely. "

" Fine, guess we will use one for now, and as for the training. "

" We're going to have some changes... " Mrs. Rita said, which made the students confused.

" Are we going to have a different kind of training? " Carol raises her hand, asking Mrs. Rita if it is time for them to change how much they've trained since things will be more serious in the Semifinals.

" Our next opponent is the 'Arc Magus Academy'... " Donovan suddenly talks after being silent, from the other contestants, he already has his thoughts about the next battle.

" It's the academy where many of the Royals attend, including that of our Lady, Princess Alexandria Ithuriel Avalon I. " Donovan says which makes the others rub their chin.

" If the princess is also competing, then, the King must've supported the 'Arc Magus Academy' to the fullest. "

" I heard she holds great magic unlike any other, as expected from the Princess Herself... "

" If she's competing, will we be guilty of hurting her in combat...? " the other contestants murmured, realizing things would get messy if they were not carefully competing against the King's daughter herself.

" We can deal with her, trust me! " Carlos suddenly interrupts, frightening the others.

" Carlos? " Donovan looked at him, as he looked back at Donovan, smiling at him.

" She may be the princess of the Avalon King... "

" But this academy had the 'Son of House Calibur's Leader' as its contestants... "

" If something happens, I vow with my family name, that I will defend this Academy against anything that will let us down and ensure our victory in this Tournament! " Carlos, being himself, raises the contestants' spirits again, his words are greeted with cheers and gratitude while Donovan, who stands beside him, can only look at him and think to himself.

"( Yeah right, the Calibur House and the Avalon Kingdom House are equal after all... )"

"( Since we technically had two representatives of the House, perhaps we could use you as a shield if the 'Arc Magus' decides to play dirty and blame each of us who dared to harm the princess during this 'competition'... )"

 "( But, still... )"

" So, are you ready to face her, Carlos? " Donovan asks him, startling him for a bit as well as the others.

" Since you're the one with the higher status here since you're the strongest of us... "

" Should you be the one who fought her directly? " Donovan asked Carlos as it made the others look at Carlos with eyes full of worry and hope.

" Carlos... "

"( Donovan, you... )" Carol sees her nephew given such a question by Donovan, as if, he wants him to fight the princess in front of all others.

" I will take full responsibility... " Carlos stutters but manages to hide it when saying it, reassuring the others that he and his Star Magic would crave the victory that was his.

The contestants clapped and cheered for him as well as Mrs. Rita herself who smiled and was proud of him for being ready to secure the academy's victory.

" Well, well, that's some spirit you radiate there... "

" Since all of you are motivated for victory, it seems we had no choice but to skip the formalities such as one-by-one absence and just get right into it, shall we!? " Mrs. Rita says it and claps her palm in a tone as suddenly, the Hall's door is opened, entering the faces the contestants swear to knew before.

" Wait a minute, those guys, those flags!!! " said the students, recognizing the people and the flag they bring with them, the flag of the 'Amalgam Community Academy', the academy the PCA defeated yesterday.

" Amalgam Community Academy, we have arrived!!! " they all greet the contestants as the Oniro Brothers, who led the people bow first, followed by others.

Donovan follows their bows, showing respect which caught the other contestant's eye. The other contestants must not have hung with Easterion Kids enough before now.

But instead of following Donovan's gesture, the other PCA contestants began to prepare their magic, thinking this was a threat, a revenge for the ACA*'s defeat.

" Hold your magics!!! " Mrs. Rita orders them to stand down.

" But, Mrs. Rita, they're- "

" They are here to help us. " Principal Axel comes out of nowhere and not just him, the principal of the ACA also enters the place, in front of the kids as the two approach each other and shake each other's hands.

" Principal Axel... "

[ Name: Agniz Resha ]

[ Occupation: S-Rank Hunter, Warblade Guildmaster, Amalgam Community Academy's Principal ]

" Principal Agniz... "

[ Name: Axel Resha* ]

[ Occupation: S-Rank Hunter, Sharp-Eye Guild Hunter, Prodigy Center Academy's Principal ]

" Principal Axel? " Slade Sable and the other students ask (excluding Donovan) as they witnessed that.

" It's like what you've seen, kids... "

" From now on, the 'Amalgam Community Academy' will help you all in your training.

" Right, Agniz... " Principal Axel smiles as the two Reshas publically announce an alliance training between the two academies.

Which heavily frightened the PCA contestants to their core.

"( Hmm... )" Donovan sees the System, as he scans Principal Axel, realizing there's something here.

"( Principal Axel's a 'Sharp-Eye Guild' Member and a 'Resha'...? )" Donovan was so surprised, regretting his time in the academy on not recognizing the teacher's full name or even the principal as he went there.

"( Now I see dad wants me to attend this Academy in the first place. )"

"( He had people here the entire time... )"

"( Ugh! )" Donovan thinks with annoyance, meanwhile.

...

[ Black Merchant's Place ]

" *Sneeze* " 

" Hey, don't sneeze your dirty goo in my shop!!! " Black Merchant tells Duncan as he goes there to hang out.

" Sorry, Duncan wipes his nose. "

" I felt a cold, suddenly. "

___________________________________________________

Extra:

* 'PCA': Prodigy Center Academy's abbreviation

* his room partner.

Slade and Orlando share the same room, as the contestants are given a room that could be used by two people both for the male and female contestants.

* 'ACA': Amalgam Community Academy's abbreviation.

* Axel Resha.

Yes, Principal Axel, the Principal of the 'PCA' is a 'Resha'. He's related to Agniz for they're both from the same 'Clan'. 

In Easterion, instead of using the term 'Houses', the Easterion people instead use the term 'Clan'.

Not to mention, Principal Axel is also a Hunter from the Sharp-Eye Guild, which means he's Duncan's ally in the Hunter job.