“Mmm… Once you know the equation, it is simple to alter it a bit to fit your needs.” I explained with a smile. What I did not say, though, was that I already planned to take this creation a step further and create what I would like to call ‘Gates of Faithylon’. I know the name is not the best, but I figure it would be cool to transform the spell into something not only deadly but beautiful at the same time. Just imagining thousands of whirlpools of flames appearing in the air to have thousands of flame swords come out of those whirlpools makes me shiver in excitement. Of course, this is not an original idea. I once read a novel online that had such things in it. At any rate, it was a neat idea, and now that I have a sword that can burn as well as slice, I am very happy to begin crafting such a spell.

“To think you are able to change the spell in such a short time right after it was created.” Runa seemed a bit exhausted. I guess I would be the same if the spell I had been working on for so long was easily pulled apart and transformed into a new spell in almost an instant.

“Hmmm… But you can do a lot with this spell, using the same equation and changing the element like so.” I waved my hand and created four different magic circles that each created a different elemental sword.Â

“This is so not fair! Faith, you like to bully people, don’t you?” Runa asked with a pout. It was not that I wanted to bully her, but I finally found someone other than my father, who was a magic freak like myself. So I was just kind of showing off.

Runa and I talked into the early morning hours. The fighting on the stages was still going on, so after a long yawn, Runa decided to head back to her inn room to rest up. She did ask me where I was staying but cried about the fact that I was moving after the tournament was over and would be starting school. I think her exact words were: “I will go talk to the king about this!” So I can only guess that she plans to get a form of residence on the floating island and maybe even enter the academy. This, however, was only an assumption.-.

As for me, I stayed to watch the last of the battles. Sir Derek had won his battle after punching every person off the battle stage. Sei did the same as well, and Gesel threw each person off the stage after toying with them for a while. While the way they went about things was a little off, I had already expected them to win their stages. This now left the tournament with one thousand people in the next round, which was one on one fights. I can only guess this will be a progression match system done on multiple stages.Â

I did not have to wait long to find out about this either. Because as soon as the last battle ended, the announcer appeared and was standing up on the high stage once more. “As all the battle stages have finished, and we have all contestants here in the stadium, we will now display the one versus one battle chart.”

The announcer waved his hand, and a battle chart with the names of each contestant appeared high in the air. But what I did not understand was that he said all contestants were here. Runa left a while ago. “Faith!” A whiny voice filled my ear, causing me to turn to my left. I saw Runa, who was covered in dirt, had her hair all standing straight up, walking over to me with a face full of tears.Â

I was not really sure if I should ask or not with how Runa looked, but I figured I would ask because I was very curious as to why she looked like she rolled around in the dirt. “Uhhh… Runa…. What happened?”Â

“When I tried to leave, the guards said I couldn’t leave until the round was over as I am a participant. And well, I yelled at them and even threatened to use magic on them, but they wouldn’t budge. So I tried to climb the wall, but who would have thought that it was rigged to electrocute people who tried to climb over it!? I was so tired I ended up passing out there. But then the guard kicked me and told me that I couldn’t sleep there!” I truly did not know what to say to this silly elf girl. Who in their right mind would just fall asleep where they fell after getting electrocuted if they were still conscious, to begin with!? Yes, I understand she was tired, but still, this was just too much!Â

I mean, she knew I was still in the stands. Why didn’t she just come back and sit by me!? I guess I will just never understand how some people’s brains work. While she was a genius at magic she seems to be an air head when it came to other things. It actually makes me wonder just how she got to the capital in one piece. I find it quite amazing how your perception of someone can be ruined by a single incident. Like, say, a boy who really liked a girl who he thought was kind hearted and sweet. Only to one day hear her swearing and kicking someone while shaking down the person she was stepping on. It was a difference between night and day. While it was not to such an extreme in this case, it was still quite surprising to see the sudden shift in personality after showing me the magic crazy side of her, who was intelligent and knew exactly what she was talking about.

At any rate, I guess the same could be said about me as well. Although, I will deny it to the ends of the world. “Runa, look up at the sky.”Â

“Oh?” Runa looked up at the sky and frowned. “I am not going to have to fight now, right? I am really tired!”“I am not sure the announcer has not said anything since creating the….”

Before I could even finish my words, the announcer once again spoke up. “Battles will be held tomorrow morning! Make sure you are here by first morning bell. Now go and get some rest!”

“Looks like we can finally leave. To be honest, I expected the first round to take much longer.” I did not think the first round of battles would be done in a day and a night, but then again, once people started getting tired, it was only a matter of time, I guess. Fighting for so many hours was bound to make people with lower stamina quickly tap out.

“Now we can leave!? Then why did they keep me here in the first place!? Why did the wall electrocute me!? Why did the guard kick me!?” Runa seemed very stressed out.

“Well, Runa, I will see you tomorrow. I need to get plenty of rest for my next battles.” I shook the still sleeping Sophie to wake her up. She groaned but still raised her head and looked at me while rubbing her eyes. “Is it over?”

“Just the first round. We are heading home now.” I answered as I stood up and stretched. Annie seemed to have already been awake, so she shook the other two maids to wake them before standing up herself.Â

“Young Miss, should I prepare some breakfast before you go to sleep?” Annie asked.

“Mmm… I am sure Sei will complain if she has nothing to eat. Or she might have dragged Gesel off already. I am not sure. She never came to see me after she won her stage.” I answered. But for some reason, I could feel a set of eyes burning into the side of my head. “Runa, if you have something to say, please say it.”

“Can I come over to eat as well!?” Runa asked. I sighed and nodded. I mean, there was no reason not to invite her over. But…. “No magic talk. After we eat, I want to sleep.”

“Yes, mam!!” Runa answered as if she was talking to a teacher. I am starting to wonder if Runa was younger than I thought.Â

“Runa, I know this might sound rude, but how old are you?” I decided to give in to my curiosity and ask.

“Me? Fourteen this year!” Runa answered while putting her hands on her hips and raising her nose in the air. While I was confused as to why she was so proud of her age, for her to be only fourteen surprised me. I mean with her knowledge in magic at her age truly makes her a genius. While I have a photographic memory due to my stats, the idea of someone without such a thing being able to remember so much truly amazes me. Then again, I do not know much about elves in the first place. And it is not like I can ask if I can dissect her to try to figure out how she ticks either. Not that I would.

But now that I am thinking about it. I wonder if she thinks the same as me since I am almost a year and a half younger. Or maybe she is just saying she is young but in truth she is two hundred and fourteen!? Well to be honest I have no right to say she is lying nor do I have the right to say she is telling the truth either. I can only go by what facts are laid out in front of me.