Elias Leywin POV
"He he huh," I laughed as I continuously removed and stored my new sword from the dimensional ring the Greysunders had gifted me.
My father sat down on the rock next to me. "Why didn't you tell us about your arm being cut off?" he asked, looking at me with a serious expression.
'What's with that? He knows I can heal myself.'
I stored my sword in the Dimensional Ring, and I looked at my father. "You know I've survived worse than losing a forearm," I smirked as I slapped my arm.
"Could you explain what you mean by that, Elias?" he sighed.
"Remember that thing that happened a few years back at Kat's birthday?" I asked as I stood. I rolled my shoulder as I turned away from him.
"And what happened on her birthday?" Father asked impatiently as he raised a hand to his face, his elbow resting on his knee.
"An assassin tried to kill her, and I pushed her out of the way?" I explained, looking back at him, "Why are you acting like you didn't know anything about this?" I asked slowly
"That's because I didn't," he replied, the façade of calm he wore fading.
"Well, after I pushed her out of the way of an initial strike, a second attack that was meant for her struck me, destroying my left arm and that side of my torso," I explained as I rubbed my left arm.
"Holy shit, Elias!" he blurted out as he stood up from the rock.
"Dad?" I questioned him as he stood over me.
He pulled me into a hug "Dad?" I questioned again.
"I know you can heal far better than anyone, but that doesn't mean you can't feel pain" he tightened his grip around me.
"I know, Dad… though it didn't hurt that badly, if that counts for anything." I smiled, taping his arm.
"How so?" He asked, not letting me budge an inch.
"Well, because it had already healed up by the time I landed."
"..."
"..."
I struggled out of the man's arms as he ruffled my hair. "Just don't tell your mother you know how much she'd worry," he added, flashing me a quick smile.
"Of course," I said, nodding in agreement.
---
The auditorium breathed around me. Fabric brushed against wood as students shifted in their seats, whispers threading through the air in uneven waves. Lanterns hung overhead, each one holding a steady glow that washed the hall in gold. The light caught along the polished rows, turning every surface into something warm.
I sat near the front. Curtis leaned into the space on my left while Tess held the seat on my right. The empty stage stretched out ahead of us.
Curtis bounced his foot against the wooden flooring. "Any guesses what this is about?" he asked, leaning towards me.
I shook my head, eyes still on the stage. "Nope. Grandma's been on edge lately. Whatever this is, it's not small." I turned slightly. "Right, Tess?"
"H-huh?" Her head twisted to face me. "What was that, Lias?"
Before I could answer, the doors behind the stage opened. The sound alone cut through the noise. Conversations dropped off mid-sentence. Chairs stilled. Even Curtis' leg slowed before stopping altogether.
Grandma Cynthia stepped through.
Her robes trailed behind her with each measured step, the fabric gliding over the stage without a sound. She carried herself the same way she always had. Her elegance and prowess emanated across the room as hundreds of eager eyes locked onto the form of the headmistress of this magic Academy.
"Students, thank you for gathering here today." She boomed with a wide smile. She clasped her hands behind her back. "Xyrus Academy has long stood as the centre of magical education on this Continent. But the world beyond these walls is changing."
She glided across the hall, her eyes scanning the faces of those before her. "With the Council's confirmation of another continent, it has become clear that knowledge alone will not suffice. Many of you have excelled here, but some of you will not when faced with whatever awaits us in that foreign land." She stopped where she stood.
"To address this, Xyrus Academy will, from this forthcoming summer, host an annual summer tournament, where students will be able to display their talents to those from all across the continent."
She paused, letting the void she had created guide the conversation.
All around me, voices boomed. Excitement and eagerness filled the air.
Curtis lit up. His hands came together in a sharp clap before he leaned toward me, his grin stretching wide. "This is going to be great, right, Lias?" he smiled, looking to me.
"I can't believe you're so eager to get your ass kicked by a 9-year-old, but we've all got our kinks," I smirked back at the Human prince.
"You little sh-"
"Though I am surprised that Grandma would do something so public, especially when it comes to students. Right, Tess?" I asked, looking back at the Elf Princess.
"I would agree with that, normally, Li, but times are changing, and people are scared. So, showing them the prowess of the next generation is a sure-fire way of inspiring trust in the council," she smiled as Curtis and I nodded along.
Grandma raised one hand. The noise collapsed almost instantly.
"Any active student, no matter the year, is allowed to participate. The Summer Series is designed to allow students to learn from each other. Whether that's in how to improve their technique or even something as mundane as learning from losing." She bellowed, hands raised high.
Conversations resumed, and noise rose and fell.
"Students." Her voice cut cleanly through it all again. "I understand your excitement. There are details you must hear before proceeding."
She raised three fingers.
"First. Participation in the Summer Series requires submission of documentation by noon on Friday, the 14th. Preliminary brackets will be released on Sunday, the 16th, at dawn."
One finger lowered.
"Second. Qualifying rounds will take place from Wednesday the 19th through Wednesday the 26th. The final sixteen will compete over the weekend of the 29th. The round of sixteen and quarterfinals will be held on Saturday. The semifinals and final will follow on Sunday, the 30th of June."
She drew in a breath and lowered her final finger.
"All weekend rounds will take place in the Royal Colosseum of Xyrus, with the semifinals and finals will be attended by all sitting members of the Council of Dicathen."
The room exploded again.
Curtis sat up straighter and hooked a thumb toward his chest, a grin returning with full force. "I'll show Father how much I've grown."
"It's a shame for you that I'm also participating then," Tess smiled, "My Grandfather will likely be in attendance, and I can't let a human show up the future queen of the Elves."
"And I can't let a knife ear show up Humanity's future King!" Curtis said in a kind, leaning over me.
"Knife ear!?" Tess roared, leaning over me.
"Okay, you two, calm down," I placed a hand on both of their chests. I climbed from my seat and stood before the duo whose eyes locked onto me. "It's not like it matters since I'm gonna win."
---
Plates shifted across the table, cutlery clinked against porcelain, and the steady hum of conversation filled the space between bites.
Ellie sat beside me, her legs swinging beneath her chair as she poked at her food before finally taking a bite. Mum kept a close eye on her between glances at the rest of us, while Dad leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed in a way that only came when he was surrounded by family. Elijah sat across from me, already halfway through his plate. Art sat at his friend's side, quiet as always.
"Anything interesting happen today, Lias?" Uncle Vincent asked with a knowing smile.
I set my fork down against the side of my plate. "Grandma Cynthia mentioned something about a Summer Tournament, though I suppose you're already aware."
"She asked me if I would sponsor part of the competition in return for Advertising space, both ring-side and during the commercial breaks on the Sunday. Pretty good deal if you ask me." He nodded as he cut into his slab of pork.
"Wait, it's being televised?" I asked my voice louder than I had intended.
"Why wouldn't it be?" He smiled as he swallowed. "It would be a terrible business decision if it wasn't."
My mother shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Is it going to be safe?" she asked, "I mean, since you're going to be fighting against Teenagers and you're not even ten yet."
"I'll be fine, Mum." I smiled awkwardly.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her knife, the faint scrape of metal against porcelain breaking the rhythm of the table. "That's not what I asked," she said, her voice softer now, though it carried all the same weight.
I held her gaze for a moment before looking down at my plate. "It's going to be heavily regulated. There'll be instructors, healers-"
"That doesn't stop accidents from happening," she replied.
Dad exhaled quietly, setting his glass down. "Alice…"
"No," she shook her head, eyes still on me. "He's not even ten, Reynolds. And after what he told us on his birthday, I-"
"I know," he said, his tone calm. "But he's not like other kids." My father said, taking my mother's hand in his own. "Elias is strong, and I know you don't like thinking about it, but he can heal himself better than any healer on this continent."
"But Rey, I-"
He smiled at his wife as he brough her hands to his lips. He kissed them softly. "Our sons are monsters-"
"Hey!" my brother shouted.
"-and I'm sure he won't just be fine, but he'll win it all," He added, ignoring my brother. Dad looked to me, his same smile lining his lips, "Right, Lias?"
"Of course," I nodded.
"Fine then…" Mum said reluctantly, "I'll let you fight."
"Thanks, Mum, Dad." I lowered my head.
I straightened and leaned back in my chair.
"You sound awfully sure of yourself, Elias," Elijah smirked as he leaned forward.
"Why wouldn't he be?" my brother asked his friend. "he's a monster," he smirked, looking towards me.
"Oh shut up," I groaned.
Elijah let out a short laugh, shaking his head as he picked his fork back up. "You two are insufferable."
"At least we can back it up," Art replied calmly, not even glancing his way.
"That so?" Elijah raised a brow, a grin tugging at his lips. "Guess I'll have to see it for myself in the arena."
"You're entering?" I asked, leaning forward slightly.
He shrugged. "Wasn't planning on it. But now it might just be worth it?" His eyes flicked between Art and me.
"Well, it's a shame you're not a student yet, then ain't it?" I smirked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, his eyes narrowing on me.
"Only Xyrus students are allowed to enter," Uncle Vincent answered as he showed another forkful of meat into his mouth.
"You'll just have to lose to me next year."
"Aowww," Elijah groaned as he played with a potato.
---
"So, who've you got in the first round?" Curtis asked, glancing down at the paper in my hands.
"Uh…" My eyes dropped to the sheet again. The parchment crinkled slightly as I adjusted my grip, scanning the inked lines for the third time.
"Aww. I've got a bye." I groaned.
Curtis nodded at that. "That's not a bad thing, Lias. It'll just mean that you're fresh for the second round."
"I guess…" My gaze moved along the bracket, finger trailing the path laid out for me. Names passed under my touch until I found the next point. "Looks like I'll face either Michael Shipton or Chris Dixon. Both are augmenters, though Mr Dixon has a fire attribute."
We continued to walk in stride.
"Which bracket are you in?" I asked, still searching for his name.
"C… I think," Curtis said after a moment, scratching lightly at the back of his head.
I lowered the sheet just in time to avoid walking straight into someone. A tall girl loomed in front of me, easily a head above, her expression caught between surprise and annoyance.
"Sorry," I said, offering a quick smile as I stepped around her.
She huffed under her breath and kept moving.
"On here, it looks like the earliest we can meet is in the last sixteen," I smirked, looking up at him. "Though that depends on who draws whom," I added, taking a second glance at the sheet in hand.
"So I get to beat you in front of my father, then right?" he asked with a teasing smirk, "In front of Kat," he added, leaning down to me.
I took a quick step forward and lowered myself into an exaggerated bow. "My Prince, I am truly humbled to be granted such an honour. To think someone as radiant as yourself would grant a lowborn the honour of beating you in front of our great former king."
"Ass," he laughed as he stepped in and drove a fist into my shoulder. The impact thudded through me, enough to make me rock back half a step. "Then be sure to make it that far," he said, his grin turning sharp. "I'd hate for you to get knocked out early and ruin my chance to prove a point."
He started forward again, and I fell into step beside him.
"I wouldn't worry about that, your great and majestic highness," I said, rolling my shoulder once. "Though I think you should be more concerned about what happens after I do so."