03: CLASH

Jalon walked back to his changing room, favoring his abdomen as he clutched to it. Every breath he took was laboursome and he could not remember the last time he felt such irritating pain. Individuals he met along his way congratulated him for his victory, some wanting to ask how he was able to make the lone wolf submit. He simply gave them a forced smile and tried as much as he could to cover up the pain he was under. He finally reached his changing room and got some alone time, time to cry out for all the pain he was ignoring. He growled and groaned as he struggled to unzip the suit he had on.

There was a large window to his side and as he peered outside, he could see the large screen on the stadium rooftop, displaying his name and a tag spelling out the name ‘winner’ flashing and disappearing. It gave him the consolation he needed. Luciana walked into him, changing his top, and couldn't help but giggle as he heard him groan in pain.

“What the hell do you want now? Can't you just let me cry in peace?" Jalon said as he watched Luciana enter the room. Luciana walked over to a table close to Jalon and noticed his sword resting on top of the table. She ran her fingers over the blade, inspecting the traces of elixir that stained the blade. 

 "Did you really think your vile minefield strategy was good enough to work against the lone wolf? He was a tough one to beat. And how in the hell did you manage that? " Luciana asked, wiping off the stains of potions that dumped her glove. Jalon grew one last time before placing the jacket and then taking it off. His ribs hurt like hell, and only helpful was a remedy to numb the pain. He didn't name to answer Alicia with the sass that he usually had.

 “I thought I told you I had it under control. I have to agree she was a tough one to beat but in the end, all of my opponents fell to the blade. I hope this is the last time you doubt me, princess, "he said, battling to contain a cough that was ravaging to explode. Luciana turned to face him. She took up the Sword and handed it over to him.

  "From what I heard about him I would have thought he could have been harder to beat, which I thought was right. You tricked him with your thread out of the explosive, didn't you? The same one used against Nelanian when he ate the fast food you like on campus, " Luciana said, as Jalon took his sword and rested close to his feet. "So you do remember. It was my last option,” Jalon added.

 "So you do admit he was better than you. Because in my perspective, he was hit away from defeating you in combat. And the way you called yourself the greatest swordsman to ever live,” Luciana mocked him, cracking a laugh at the end of her speech. Jalon was too tired to get irritated by her pestering. He began tying his boots as he spoke.

 "You know, if I were you I wouldn't be here mocking myself. I would be in my Chambers training my head off to prepare for my next flight. Aedmer Todd is even stronger than the other foreign students. So if I were you I wouldn't be in high spirits. I would be thinking of a week surviving an encounter with that little beast,” Jalon said, the young king of the boot on his right leg. A significant amount of the portion had seeped into his socks and as he removed the shoe, the skin on his toes had curled up. 

“Eww, that's disgusting. I think I'm going to show my way out, and I'm not worried about that little kid. If he beats me, then I'm betting it here and now, I will not continue with the trials. That's how confident I am in myself. Unlike the two of you, I don't need an elaborate strategy to fight that taking a toddler. I will show everyone how a true Alchemist fights Battles,” Luciana said. She grabbed hold of a cup filled with an energy drink that rested on the table, close to Jalon.

  "Hey! Give that back, go get your own,” Jalon said, attempting to get up to his feet. He was hit with a wave of unbearable pain that sent it back down and Luciana couldn't help but laugh at him for trying, "I would have pitied you for trying, but this is too great of a chance to miss out on torturing you,” Luciana said as she walked out of the room. 

As she was busy minding her own business, strolling along the whole way, and fantasizing about ways to mess with Jalon, she abruptly collided with someone else. As she looked up, her eyes met with his, and their eyes locked on each other for a moment, before she pulled away.

“Oh sorry, didn't see you there, princess,” Stanier said. He ran a towel through his hair, and it was still damp like he did know how to use towels. Luciana stepped aside and continued walking away as if nothing had happened.

“You know, if we are going to stay at the same hotel and meet up at the same complex every day, I think talking to me for a moment wouldn't hurt,” Stanier said. He seemed to take offense to the way Luciana kept ignoring him or evading him every time she saw him. He did not want to get pissed off by such things, but he hated being a stranger to other people and wanted to make friends with almost anyone he met. Luciana was making it tough for him, and he didn't like one bit of it.

 she finally turned towards him as he was making her exit and left her hand slightly towards him.  he responded with a bright smile that immediately just Luciana away like it was a hostile one.  he didn't mind though,  he just shrugged his shoulders and continued to work towards his original place in mind.   as he strolled by Jalon’s room he saw him struggling to massage his abs.  Jalon looked up and saw him staring him down.  it was not a hostile stare,  it was more like a look of fascination.  The two studied each other down for a moment before Stanier took out a bottle of ointment.

 " Here take this. It might help with the pain,”  he said as he went to the bottle over to Jalon. Jalon got it in mid-air,  but he was forced to engage his abdomen which resulted in serious pain.  he groaned as he waited for the bottle and wrap it under his arms. 

“ That was considerate of you not to mess with my beautiful face,”  the lord said jokingly as he opened the bottle and put the ointment onto his hands before it began to apply it on his chest.

“ I wouldn't call you considerate.  After I was done with your ribs it was your face that was next.  a formerly you hadn't interrupted me with that threat of yours,  your nose will be broken and your eyes will be swollen by now,” Stanier  said,  resting the towel on his shoulders and gripping it at both of its ends.  Jalon smiled at him, saying,  "well let's just hope that we don't meet again because next time I wouldn't be so kind to warn you of my strategy before you  engaging it,” 

 they nodded to each other before Stanier locked away and Jalon got back to massaging his ribs.

“ Ladies and gentlemen hold onto receipts because the next month is about to begin. this will be a battle for the ages.  The next month will constitute a battle between the Princess of Ithea herself, Luciana Vonner,  going up against The Prodigy from the North, Aedmer Todd.  Now,  we have been informed that Aedmer Todd will delay for a couple of minutes as he is tending to his weapons because they need some repairs done.  but once all that is over he will be with us at the moment's notice and the fight will begin so don't go anywhere,”  the announcer said.  The steel crowd erupted into applause as the screen focused on Luciana,  making her way back to the front row of the seats and giving the Judges a piece of paper.  She conversed with one of the judges for a long time before he got up and signaled to the announcer.  The paper passed along and eventually increased the announcer’s hands,  crumbled and wet with sweat.

 He soon began to read the contents of the paper out loud through the crowd, “ and ladies and gentlemen we have just been informed of the State of one of the candidates Norval Greensmith.  The doctors have evaluated him and said he is not fit to continue with the tournament and will be out for the rest of the tournament.  but not to worry because he will resume the trials after his injuries have healed.  this means that Wardric Waller  will officially be granted entry into the semi-finals,”

There was a mixed response from the crowd. Some felt bad that he could not continue with the tournament because they wanted to see more of him. All in all, they were glad that he was okay.

Soon enough Aedmer Todd’s crew could be seen approaching the stadium.  As Luciana was getting back to her room to change, she met Todd along the way.

 "So,  are you ready for our match my princess?”  Todd asked Luciana. Luciano couldn't help but smile as the kid confronted her.

"I should be asking you the same question. I heard you had some issues with your equipment,”  she asked crossing her arms.

 "don't worry about that,  you have to worry about me.  You better watch out, princess I want to be lenient,  I have a reputation to uphold, and most importantly,  I have endorsements to represent.  so I hope you bring your A-game tools are going to bring mine and I wouldn't want any of us to be disadvantaged,”