Arc 3: Choosing Reality by Embracing Life
During the small break the heroes once again took to the stands, near the candidates of the throne once again.
Ophelia: "YOU WON THE SECOND TRIAL!"
The massive crowd were currently eating and speaking amongst themselves, however the other examinees were all surrounding Gray. Who was currently taken by embarrassment and anxiousness from their praise.
Musashi: "Not bad."
Rosemary: "YOU GOT US THE WIN!"
Edward: "Yeah, we couldn't have done it without you!"
Soku: "I thought you won in kinda a bullshit way."
Rosemary hugged him and turned him bright red, Edwards' nod of appreciation raised his ego, and Sokus' words fell on deaf ears. Yet the incoming barrage of other compliments would make his inner hate soften for a bit, almost making it seem strange he ever thought such a thing. As, with his great mana, his great strength, and great accomplishments, who couldn't love him now? Who could say he was worthless and that he wasn't trying and that he was a failure and he gave up and nothing. No matter how many lies he told himself to push down those surging ideas, the surging needs. they would never go away. That's what he thought at least.
Julius: "Reading between the lines, finding a way out of an unbeatable situation, I like to think that that was the purpose of the second trial. You have surprised me, I did not think you were capable of such a thought."
Roy: "Yeah…I guess you helped us."
The two brothers bonded by adopted royalty fully in taken by the cunning strength of Valatroctius. Right now they weren't showing it in the best way, so their oldest brother Lloyd grabbed them both by the ear.
Lloyd: "Be nicer you two! Without him we might not even be going to the third trial! We coulda lost Arthur the election!"
Lloyds words triggered a thought in Gray and the others' minds. "If Gray would have just lost, would that have been a better outcome to insure Kioshis victory?" But that was too late to think let alone get mad at Gray over. Gray would become very spiteful very quickly however, toward himself, and Julius words.
Rosine: "Twas god's divine intervention for you to be placed here to help me move forward!"
Gray: "I guess it's all in a day's work for me."
He smirked and felt a bit embarrassed, he felt like it was an utter lie that nobody, not even the craziest of people could believe, saying it anyway. That was something the observing Musashi couldn't help but notice, stopping himself from stepping forward.
Soku: "Oooooh so humble."
Gray: "Yeah I know."
Gray sits down, placing his feet on the top of the chair below him, putting his arms behind his head, smirking and resting his still aching mind from Satics use.
Edward: "I say we just rest until the next trial starts."
Gray: "Way ahead of yah, quick twenty-minute power nap."
Soku: "Yeah, I'm with you on this one."
The others sat beside him while the examinees walked over toward their own leaders. They could hear Arthurs berating of his squires and Elizabeth's screams to her daughter. Elizabeth's screams however pulled forth a quite frosty wind, triggering immense fear in the hearts of her own soldiers and nobility.
Rosemary: "I'll go bring us some water."
Edward: "Oh, I can do that if you want. Or I can come with you."
As Edward went to stand, Gray leapt up, used his hand to hold Edwards' shoulder down, and leapt up beside Rosemary.
Gray: "I'm all rested, so I can go get the water with yah."
Rosemary was surprised, but knowing she only asked Edward because she was too scared to bother a sleeping Gray, she blushed.
Rosemary: "OK, Um…if you want that's fine."
Edward sat back down in confusion, right along with Ophelia. Soku and Musashi however shook heads with their hands over their faces, sighing at the two blushing examinees.
Edward: "Guess I'll stay here then."
Soku: "L-O-S-E-R!"
Gray: "Shut up elf baby."
Ophelia: "I WANNA GO TOO!"
Rosemary and Gray leave to go grab water for everyone, stepping through the dense crowd and through a set of large open doors. Ophelia rushed behind them and held both of their hands as they walked. This left Soku and Edward sitting with each other awaiting their return. A dense air fills the space between them.
Edward: "Has Gray seemed a little off to you?"
Soku: What do you mean acting full of himself and overall just stupid? Because that's how he's acted ever since I've known him."
Edward: "I'm being serious."
Edward tried not to be stern, just focused, but it still made Sokus' heart skip a beat in fear.
Soku: "I don't get why you care about these types of things, just go with the flow man."
Edward: "I just want to help before something bad happens again!"
Soku: "Alright damn, I mean yeah he has acted like this the whole time but he has seemed to grow a bigger ego. This knight exam isn't helping that."
Edward: "Can you go into further detail please? To be honest I'm horrible at this kinda thing."
Edwards' voice quickly turned softer, forcing Soku to sing once again and lower her tone. Getting serious herself and surprising Musashi. Musashi would only eavesdrop and smile, happy his nephew is making real friends and that Soku was beginning to branch out alongside him. Although he would feel a burning desire in his heart, one he hadn't felt for Kioshi. His only other true student. And that was because, unlike Kioshi, Gray truly needed is help, and Gray was far closer to Musashi at his age than Musashi was to Kioshi. So much closer than an anybody else in this room could know. Als loss of life possibly being the end to that.
Soku: "Look, when I met him he acted loud and goofy, for what seemed to be a front. Like putting on airs. But ever since he beat Jeremiah, no, when he saved me from those thieves he has had this ego growing. I think it's momentary, like if you give him a lotta winds quickly he'll build up quick but if you give him time he'll calm down. But after he saved you it came back a lot bigger. Now that mask he seemed to be putting on, it seems to be his real self."
Edward: "I know a thing or two about masks. Gray, that mask is what he wishes he could act like. I think the true Gray is far darker."
Soku: "What is evil?"
Edward: "No, just...unstable. If what you say is correct then his plan of working against the Ogre and winning the second trial for everyone his ego is only going to get bigger. If he keeps going down this path of self-righteousness he's gonna break, and crumble when he loses. When he gets happy he screams and when he gets angry he does the same. His emotions are all over the place. "
Soku could only chuckle. Once again surprising Musashi, this time on just how perceptive she is.
Soku: "You're one to talk. I can see it, I can tell if people are lying, and your eyes… hold too much pain. And After Al passed you seem to be even more talkative…look I know I'm not the first person you would come to and I would be happier if you chose someone else but if you need to talk…"
Edward: "Look I get it. I'll get over it in my own time."
Soku: "Well don't crumble while you wait."
Edward: "I won't, I promise. If I did, I would be disappointing so many more people than myself."
That final line, though, made Musashi's growing need to help rise even more.
Musashi {If I could only reach them. But I'm in no position to help.}
As things moved Julius looked on at Edward and Soku from across the room, mainly putting his attention on Edward. As if he's looking into his soul, looking at something. Something scary, rageful, something that should be feared. Edward only felt it for a second, turning his head just as he heard a voice behind him.
Gray: "Alright! Got water."
Edward: "That was fast."
Gray sat down with the others, handing Edward his small cup of water while sipping on another. Rosemary would hand Musashi his own, who thanked her, before sitting with Gray. And Ophelia would run with both full cups in her hand right off the stands, almost spilling hers. Yet Musashi both caught her and her cups of water, the cups landing in Ophelia and Sokus hand while the water landed in them right after.
Ophelia: "Thank you!"
Soku: "You have fun Ophelia? Gray didn't do anything to yah did he?"
Rosemary: "Stop teasing him. Be nice Soku."
Soku: "Bleh!"
Soku stuck her tongue out, sipping her water and relaxing. They rest, waiting for the Third Trial to begin. As the seconds ticked down the rest of the crowd re-enters the room, with the announcer's booming voice echoing around them from his magic.
Announcer: "OK, NOW FOR THE MAIN EVENT! THE THIRD TRIAL OF THE KNIGHT EXAM! THE KNIGHTS TOURNAMENT!"
Gray leapt up and stuck his fist in the air with joy.
Gray: "I knew it!"
Announcer: "SHUT UP KYOJIN DON'T INTERRUPT!"
Gray would then drop back to his seat, covering his face from embarrassment as Rosemary patted him and Soku laughed at him.
Announcer: "NOW, FIRST YOU WILL FIGHT YOUR TEAMMATES, THEN MOVE ON TO FIGHTING THE WINNERS OF THOSE FIGHTS UNTIL THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON LEFT! THE RULES ARE SIMPLE, WE ARE GOING BY DUELING RULES: YOU EITHER GIVE UP, PASS OUT, OR DIE! NOW FOR OUR FIRST MATCH! BEGINNING THE KNIGHTS TOURNAMENT!"
Gray {Wonder who's it gonna be.}
Rosemary {Come on, not me! Not me! }
Soku {Ugh, Please be fair at least.}
And in that brief moment, when everybody held their breath, he screamed out.
Announcer: "NOW! OUR MVP OF THE LAST ROUND, CONNER GRAY KYOJIN PLEASE STEP INTO THE STANDS!"
Gray {DAMMIT!}
Announcer: "AND FOR THE ELF, SOKU!"
Soku: "SHIT!"
Announcer: "Now please will the fighters enter the arena!"
Gray and Soku look toward each other with a bit of hesitation, looking toward the others.
Rosemary: "Please don't be too rough!"
Gray: "Hey, as long as Soku gives up nothing bad will happen."
Soku: "Hah! A month isn't gonna get you ahead of me no matter how much mana you got!"
Gray: "Say that when you lose. You spent a whole month messing around while I spent every second I could getting better."
That smirk and last line was enough to make Soku feel like this victory might not end how she thinks, but she shook that away. And under the loud applause of the crowd they drop down into the arena, walking to opposite sides of the room.
Announcer: "NOW ANY WORDS FROM OUR OPPONENTS!?"
Gray: "YEAH! Thanks for the easy first round!"
Soku: "Thanks for the opportunity to break this clown's ego!"
Gray: "Heh! You're funny, but sorry cause you're gonna have to wait in the stands for a bit to watch everyone else finish their matches, sucks being the first one out, couldn't be me though."
Gray looks at Soku, his bravado lifted and a large smirk on his face lifting along with it. They both pull out their swords, ready to fight.
Announcer: "AND WITH THAT, BEING THE DUEL!"
The third trial begins; Gray flowed mana to his legs and leapt forward.
Soku {Shit!}
Gray {Gotta watch out for her slashes, and her speed is better controlled than mine. Where I win with strategy, pure strength, and durability. Can't give her space!}
While Soku hesitated for a second she flowed mana out all the same. She then quickly ran to the side, dodging Gray's slash, and ran alongside all of the arena.
Soku {He's gonna do something when I get near him! I need to end this fast}
Gray {I can't use Satic well and her wind will blow Cenic away. No magic, just pure skill!}
Soku continued to speed around the tight arena, focusing and landing behind Gray. Sliding and throwing the mana toward Gray, it flung toward him as an impressive volley of power. Right before it reached him he slammed his blade into the arena with a burst of mana, stabbing into it and holding on tight while the wind rushed past him. Soku speeds towards Gray right after.
Soku {Now for -
Gray {CAN'T LET HER THINK!}
Yelling and surprising Soku, Gray lunged forward while exploding mana out of his arm and his leg.
Gray {MANA OVERDRIVE!}
The rushing vortex of bright purple rushing around his left leg and right arm mana surprised the crowd. Seeing corrupted mana was already a rare sight, but seeing just how much mana Gray was using was even more surprising. Making a large blade of wind, she attempted to slash at Gray. Yet Gray slammed his fist against her sword, causing her wind to erupt around them and push them away. Then, mid-air, Soku attempted to flip and throw out a weak blade of wind. A blade that broke when Gray barely managed to rush mana to his sword, slashing through it.
Gray {COME ON DAMMIT!}
Instead of letting Soku fly backward, Gray grabs her leg in mid-air. Soku tries to use wind mana to cut Gray's arm, but Gray out-speeds her. Grabbing tight around her ankle he flung her over his head and into the ground, causing Ophelia to scream out in worry. That worried scream only made Soku feel more embarrassed, feeling his blade against her black.
Ophelia: "No way, Soku...she."
Rosemary: "Oh she's not gonna like this."
Edward: "Not at all."
Soku tries and tries to escape Gray's grasp, trying to use wind mana to push him off but with no effect. The moment she tried he pressed the sword closer against her.
Gray: "See, told ya. Now give up before you get hurt."
Soku: "Damn."
Soku welled up with rage, a beat red face, trying her best to get free without any success.
Gray: "How upset are you to speak?"
Soku begins to tear up, struggling to keep her emotions in check.
Soku: "I, I GIVE UP!"
Gray lets Soku go, trying to console her, though it's not luck. Soku runs out of the arena, crying, defeated, and embarrassed. Beaten in one motion, completely and utterly defeated. The crowd had no care, screaming and roaring with his victory. The announcer's voice was raining right after.
Announcer: "ONCE AGAIN CONNOR WINS, YOUNG LAD MOVE ONTO THE NEXT STAGE OF THE TOURNAMENT, NOW WE MOVE STRAIGHT ON TO THE NEXT BATTLE! ROSEMARY GOLDEN WIND AND EDWARD VAN HELSING."
Ophelia runs after Soku, leaving the arena and the others. Rosemary almost went toward her, but looking at Gray coming up the steps, she walked down toward him.
Gray: "Good luck on you're -
Rosemary: "Why didn't you apologize!?"
Rosemary's heightened reaction surprised everyone and instantly shut Gray up, but she surprised herself the most. She instantly went to apologize but Gray's words stopped her.
Gray: "Because trying to do that after what just happened would only make things worse."
Without giving another word, and walking off a bit coldly, he sat down in the stands alone. Rosemary looked up and felt a somber flood of emotions overtake her. Though Edwards tapping hand stole her attention back to the exam at hand, running down the stairs with him.
Edward: "Go all out alright!? Show off a bit!"
Rosemary: "I don't know about that but I'm gonna give up either."
Edward: "Good!"
Gray watches a bit angrily, twitching, envious and jealous. Everyone else looked forward as well, especially Julius. Faintly opening his eyes to truly take in the battle at hand. Gray couldn't care less about the battle, he just wanted Rosemary to win and Edward to lose. Watching Rosemary fight, hell the idea of Rosemary fighting was something he had absolutely nothing to do with. However he could not control what she wanted to do with her life, he could not take away the heroic spirit and the need to use her strength that brewed within her. He could not take away the role assigned to her at birth with the name and blood of a Goldenwind.
Musashi: "You're thinking to yourself, did I make the right choice? Right?"
Musashi's calm and introspective presence beside Gray, appearing in an instant, caused his heart to shutter.
Musashi: "Really? You didn't jump back and scream in fear or anything. I guess you really aren't doing well. Or maybe you're just over the theatrics."
Gray couldn't help but get a disgusting taste in his mouth from Musashi's words. Something that was written all over his face. Causing Musashi to chuckle.
Announcer: "NOW! WE WILL BEGIN THE SECOND MATCH!"
Rosemary immediately powers up, going all the way to the third stage. Edward takes a deep breath, pulls out his sword, and stands ready. Awaiting Rosemary's charge with his hefty might. Watching over the battle with joy was just about everyone, cheering with every action of the Helsing and Goldenwind. Now Goldenwinds were nowhere close to Helsings in terms of political strength, but they are still heralded as Heros of their era. A key force in Walgonia's last two centuries. Rosemary fought hard with everyone watching, knowing she was the supposed sole survivor of their massacre against the Sect. The great Militia falling in an hour.
And still all the candidates cared about was the yet to awaken, Mark of Providence lacking, rageless Helsing.
Elizabeth: "So that's Gotsu, the monster slayer's son. His hair isn't white, how strange."
Kioshi: "He is ready I promise. He's a defense-style fighter. A proud and empathetic warrior. A Helsing purer than any other."
Arthur: "Yeah, I got trust in him."
Down in the arena, under the pounding and building expectations, Rosemary charged forward in the third stage. She makes it to him fairly quickly, trying her hardest to get past Bjørn. Her strikes are hard, fast, and constant. Over and over, picking up enough force for Edward to feel a small amount of pain even through Bjørns dense iron, his armor, and his might.
Rosemary {Why am I fighting like I've never been in a fight before!?}
Even if she hated it, even if she wished she could throw it away forever, she still had her time in the Golden Knights; Rosemary was an experienced warrior, far more than Edward, and could use that to close the gap in a flash. So Rosemary leapt to the side and rushed forward, forcing Edward to block again. Then she stepped around, counter, around, counter, high kick, high counter.
Rosemary {Come on! I can't make all of this worthless! I need to show that I'm not weak! I need to prove to them that I'm so much more than the Golden Knights!}
Gray couldn't help but be impressed with Rosemary's showcase of strength and skill, feeling all the more bad about his own lack of such. Musashi, still sitting beside him, lit a pipe and stared forward.
Gray: "Did I make a mistake by not running after Soku and Ophelia?"
Musashi: "That ones up for you to decide. I heard your logic and I agree, but if you feel bad you can always fix it."
Gray: "What about Rosemary, our relationship is kinda weird to say the least."
Musashi: "That's just because you can't see that she likes you as much as you like her!"
Gray: "What!? She likes me!? No way!? Did she tell you?"
Gray once again exploded in the Gray Kyojin way Musashi was familiar with, making him feel like he was really helping the boy.
Musashi: "Look man, to be honest I'm horrible at this stuff. I just see how she acts around you, because you both act the same. But you both need to get over your own issues before you go further, if you don't it could be dangerous."
Rosemary forces only her leg to go into the fourth stage, jumping to the side, and mid-jump she makes her finger go into the fourth stage, shooting the wind pressure at an opening in Edward's defense.
Gray {NICE! JUST LIKE WHAT I TOLD HER TO DO IN THE MANSION!}
While Gray was busy taking credit for Rosemary's own work, Edward got the wind knocked out of him by the blast to the face. Rolling, Rosemary kicked and kicked before punching and punching against the roaring crowd.
Arthur: "Hell yeah this is a fight! Way better than that kid beating up another kid!"
Edward, feeling the pressure and pain, flung his head down and smashed it against Rosemarys. Pushing against her stages and throwing her back, allowing him to fling his massive blunt blade against her armored chest. As she went tumbling Gray exploded in an internal rage, breaking the bench beside him with a burst of mana that shook the muscles in his hand.
Elizabeth: "Guess she really is the Last Golden Knight. You've got quite the group here, Kioshi."
Kioshi: "There's a reason Musashi picked them all out. That and because they all needed his help in one way or another."
Arthur: "Stop praising the ass he's already the world's strongest swordsman, a War God or whatever, war hero for sure. Praise these dudes!"
As Rosemary slammed against the wall she froze and shook with momentary pain. Edward took the chance and began running forward, pushing his blade straight out. Then, right before he would have slammed its slightly pointed end against her, she flew her arm forward in the fourth stage.
Gray: "YES!"
Gray's scream caused Rosemary to blush, but it didn't change the fact that she stopped Edwards' attack with one hand. Edward was flung back but rolled as he did, charging forward without his sword.
Rosemary uses a burst of the fourth stage around her body to momentarily push Edward away. Her punch, even if blocked by his arms, slammed against him and shook the arena along with it. Causing the dusty floor to kick up. But then the strain of the fight at the mansion, along with the other trials, and this fight, hit her right after.
Musashi: "YES!"
Edward {She's open!}
Rosemary {No!}
Rosemary forces herself to push forward, but Edward has already rushed around her, slamming the sword against her and pushing her into the ground.
Edward: "Is that good enough?"
Edward smiled, and with a defeated sigh, so did Rosemary.
Rosemary: "Yeah that's enough. Alright, I surrender!"
Then screaming out over the roaring applause to the victorious Helsing was the announcer once more.
Announcer: "AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! THE FIRST HALF OF THE FIRST SET OF MATCHES IS OVER. EDWARD VAN HELSING HAS BEATEN ROSEMARY GOLDWIND. PLEASE SWAP PLACES WITH THE NEXT FIGHTERS. MAY JULIUS AND ROY CROMWELL PLEASE ENTER THE STADIUM!"
Rosemary and Edward quickly walk back up to the stands trying to avoid the crowd trying to speak with them. Edward was caught up in it while Rosemary felt her hand get grabbed, being pulled through the many people. Then as she made it through, she saw Gray holding her hand and smiling, having helped her and led her to her seat.
Rosemary: "I'm sorry, I'm disappointed…"
She instantly went into sorrow, yet Gray's eruption caused her heart to flutter with joy.
Gray: "YOU DID GREAT! You almost got the drop on em'! I couldn't even get that far! I'm lucky I didn't get matched up with ya, you would have beaten my ass!"
Rosemary is stunned and speechless, but mainly embarrassed, sitting beside Gray, smiling and content. But his sudden outburst after her match, his upcoming one, and the previous interaction with Soku. It reminded her of what he was doing at the mansion, but she didn't think she knew enough to ask or think to help. Just hoping he's going to be okay.
Gray: "Oh hey Edward, that Julius guy is like watching you hard. Almost like he's studying you."
Edward: "Well this is a tournament, so it would make sense since he wants to study an opponent."
They stared right toward him with Gray pointed right at him. Edward quickly pushed Gray's hand down in embarrassment while Gray and the others chuckled, still speaking anyway.
Gray: "No I mean he is eyeballing you. Like he's enamored with ya."
Edward: "I'll watch out for him then."
Then came the smirk.
Gray: "You'll have to go through me first, and I'm on a winning streak. Our last fight was just a test, and I think I've made something' strong enough to stop you."
Edward: "I hope you keep that attitude when you're giving up!"
Gray: "Ohhh who's this guy? Where's Edward and what did you do with his face?"
The two were being playful but also very distracting to everyone else in the crowd, as well as Rosemary beside them. Ready to see the rest of phase one of the tournament play out.