"Next!" The host announced. "Keith and Evelyn!"
Killian's fists tightened beside him, as he turned to Evelyn. She had a flat expression, staring at the door. Killian followed her line of sight.
Keith.
"When did he arrive? Why is he even competing?" Killian sighed, digging his hands into his pockets.
He hadn't seen him there before. But now, he stood completely away from the rest, almost merging with the darkness at the edge of the hall.
Killian almost pitied him but then he still had loyal henchmen, despite his current reputation.
He's just being an edgy shit.
It is really embarrassing that he still has fangirls who would buy him mana restoration vials.
"You can definitely drop out if you want." Killian told Evelyn. There's no need to get wounded by him.
He didn't see her reaction but when he glanced at her, he instinctively took a step back because of the death glare she sent him.
"Why? Are you worried for your brother?" her voice dropped so low Killian thought he heard his father.
"N-No." He cleared his throat, regretting voicing those earlier words out. "Don't mind me. Just remember that your elements are bad match-ups—"
"Wind and Lightning are contrasting matchups," Evelyn said coldly, strolling towards the arena.
"It could be bad for either of us depending on our output and precision."
She held the arena's ropes that protected the space. "If you feel like I hit him too hard, give me a signal." She jumped into the arena.
Killian said nothing but gave a nod, while his head was filled with thoughts.
In output, Keith has greater affinity to his element.
Precision, debatable.
That was also the only edge Evelyn had as a Wind User as Lightning was a harder element to control.
Then there was the physical aspect. Evelyn might not be physically stronger than Keith, but she had more stamina than he did.
Killian swallowed hard. I really don't like this but I should have faith in my teammate.
The host calmly wrote down words on his tablet, frequently looking up at the two standing at the arena.
There were murmurs amongst the rest, some asking who Evelyn was, and the rest wondering why the pairing had been a girl and boy for the third time.
Killian noticed Elaine and her friends creeping up on him. Elaine kept her distance while a friend, who Killian recognised as a C-Rank student like Elaine, nudged him lightly.
"Hello, that's your twin brother, right? The Fraud?"
Fraud? Killian turned to the girl.
He had never spoken to her before but she must've seen him a lot of times at school to confidently walk up to him and call his brother a fraud.
Why do I feel protective? He really is.
"Do you want something?" He spared her a glance.
She frowned a bit and straightened her posture. "Tch. You don't have to sound like that. I wouldn't want my girl to get hurt by your brother, that's all."
How would talking to me help their match then?
The host dropped his tablet and stepped towards the arena. Other times, he stood at a distance watching but he seemed invested now.
Killian also noticed one of the four boys turned towards the match. He recognised him then.
The Board of Director's son.
Since the only match he had interest for was Keith's, it was easy to understand why he was indifferent to him during the illusion incident.
Killian shook his head, and snapped his head back to the announcer when he said.
"Start!"
The hall became silent.
Killian predicted his brother's first move, but his hand going into his pocket wasn't one of them.
Others murmured as Keith took out a mana restoration vial, and drank it without shame, in front of everyone.
The girl beside Killian curled her fingers tightly, like she wanted to jump in herself. "That is shameless! Sir, is that allowed?"
The host had a faint smile on his face as he nodded.
Killian understood it was technically allowed, but that didn't make it less annoying to do that in front of his opponent.
Evelyn had only the flat expression, as she tilted her head. Wind whooshed around her fists by her sides, and her white manicured nails became tinted green.
Killian watched quietly, checking for small details like tension building up between them, but Keith had a blank expression even though Evelyn's expression was beginning to have life.
The newbies gathered around the arena. Killian was restless so he sat at the back where his feet tapping wouldn't bother anyone.
The match started without anyone saying a word to each other, unlike the other matches.
Evelyn moved in with quick steps, and her fist swung forward with wind wrapping around it like a tight spiral. Her other hand grew a vortex around it.
Keith trapped her hand with his palm, dispersing the wind instantly with the lightning flickering around his fingers.
The clash pushed air outward, but his face didn't change at all.
Evelyn's other hand slammed at his arm holding hers, and the current threw his arm off hers. She pulled back fast and created distance.
Keith lightly massaged the reddened spot she hit, but there was no expression of pain or even mild annoyance. It was as if he didn't care for the fight.
Frustration was building up in Evelyn and Killian could see it. He stopped his right leg from tapping and crossed them.
Evelyn stepped in again. Her pattern was clear as if trying to give him a hint on how to move. She punched, dodged him, and jumped back with clean timing. Yet Keith never went forward.
Using the wind to push her leg movements, her hits came faster and heavier as she closed the gap again and again. While Keith only destabilised the wind, and remained relatively in one spot.
Most might see it as a clear power difference but Killian's frustration was that he wasn't even trying.
And the one person he did it to was Evelyn who was competitive and had wells of energy to keep up till he did.
I can't tell if he's waiting for her to snap, like Kirara had done.
Killian looked around the arena and the others were growing frustrated as well. Evelyn had slowed down.
Or is he trying to embarrass her? Frustrate her?
The tendrils under his legs flared out widely while the thoughts moved in his head, slithering under the seats and moving towards the arena.
Killian clenched his jaw tightly, glaring at Keith who looked at Evelyn's hit like it was a mosquito bite.
My cowardly little brother!