Chapter 422: Proof

    Mid Evening - Mid Winter : Eikasi?a | Eastern Bahamut

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    - Krystallo Ragnarok ~

    "Hooooh..." Letting out a nervous, but controlled breath, a chill passed down my spine with a shake before I slowly opened my eyes to see the sandy arena just beyond the closed, dark iron gate. -It''s finally time...-

    *Clank* *Clank* *Clank* Hearing the heavy metallic steps of the knight coming to open the door, I quickly looked over my wing to see a tall, armor-donning dragon coming toward me with a smile. "Are you ready, young miss?" He sounded just as excited as the announcer outside. "Since you are the underdog in this fight, they will be sending you out second. Just as with your other fights, sit tight until I open the gate, then head on out and have a good time, alright?"

    "Okay." I was quick to nod. -If that''s the case though, I should have an extra minute or so...- Promptly turning back to the gate, I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the vast mix of excitement and anxiety brewing in my mind in hopes of settling it.

    But my mind never eased, and my focus never steadied. "Hooh..." -There''s no need to be nervous... I just need to focus...-

    *Tsssss* Using ice magic in my breath gland to distract my mind from the stressful events at hand, steam began blowing out of my nostrils with every breath, but ever so slowly, my shaky paws steadied.

    It was an old technique Mother had taught me to keep my head level. "Hooooh..." -I got this...-

    My time for preparations rather quickly came to an end though. After hearing the announcer rile up the crowd for some time, he began the introductions and called us out.

    "Now, please welcome to the stage, the division''s leading champion, Alyssa Epo?meno!" Hearing the announcer call her name, I slowly opened my eyes to find the slender, white-scaled girl walking up on stage with her eyes set on me.

    She was confident, but also looked excited, as if knowing this rematch wasn''t going to be the same as before.

    "And now, for her opponent, we have the lower bracket champion, the flower that blooms with blood! Let''s give it up for Miss Anthisi, the Berserker Flower!"

    *Cl-Cl-Cl-Clang* Watching as the gate lifted and my path to the stage was lit, I finally got up and walked out into the crisp evening air.

    But unlike what I expected, as I walked out, rather than the roaring crowd getting louder.. their cheers became muffled and distant, and by the time I had gotten on stage, had vanished completely.

    For that instant, I wasn''t in the arena, but rather in a vast empty space where it was just me, the stage, and Alyssa.

    Watching her begin walking to the center of the stage to exchange greetings, I was quick to follow her lead, turning and tapping wings before turning again to tap tails.

    It was time for me to prove myself, but as I made it back to my side of the arena and spread my stance, it was clear that I wasn''t the only one.

    As Alyssa lowered her head, nearly to the ground, her excited smile started fading with a bit of nervousness creeping into her eyes.

    But I was already prepared for her to fight harder than she had ever fought. *Puff* Letting out another huff of steam, my snout lowered, and claws dug into the stage.

    Before finally, without any warning, light zipped across the stage.

    *WOOSH* Instantly lunging forward, my pupils sharpened, watching as Alyssa raised her wings to move, only for the area around her to be lit up by the glow of countless runes. -Ice already, huh...- *CRUNCH* Slamming my paws into the center of the arena, I stopped on a dime before flapping my wings as hard as I could. *WOOSH-CrAcKLE* In an instant, the entire arena behind her, leading all the way into the stands, was covered in a thick layer of ice while the air was filled with the glimmer of snow.

    I wasn''t going to let the same trick happen twice.

    And she now knew that.

    Watching her pupils thin with vigilance, she lowered her body before opening her mouth just enough to expose the glow of magic. -That''s a feint...- *WOOSH* Lunging forward, I finally closed the distance between us before she darted to the side, trying to catch my neck with a razor-sharp block of ice on her tail in a moment of distraction.

    -W..what in the world...- Giving her a weird look in response, I didn''t bother hiding my confusion. -She.. doesn''t even know who I am...- But, her announcement did give me a chance, so I played along. "R-Right... Please contact them, they will be able to reach me..."

    "Haha, then it''s settled!" Making his voice boom again, the towering announcer turned back to the crowd and gave them some closing messages before the other divisions would begin their fights.

    But while we were dismissed, and told to walk off stage, rather than going out her gate, Alyssa followed me. -W..what the hell is she scheming...-

    It wasn''t until we got well within the side of the arena that she finally burst forward with excitement. "Look, I''m sorry for being weird but you are Krystallo Ragnarok, aren''t you?!"

    Jolting back, I gave her an awkward look. "Uh..."

    "Please introduce me to your brother!"

    -Uhm...- "Did you surrender.. just for this..?" Feeling my stomach churn with anxiety thinking my one opportunity to prove myself was cut short for something so petty, I felt sick.

    But she was quick to shake her head. "Are you kidding? If we fought again it would have been even more one sided... I''m sure you noticed that I had no chance of beating you with magic, and after trying to flip you again.. well.. let''s just say I was made aware of the gap between us..." Opening her mouth, she gently lifted her paw to show me several loose and chipped teeth, with one completely falling out in the process. "Ugh.. in any case, I need to speak with your brother about something pretty urgently!"

    Not sure what to think or do, I let her ramble.

    Little did I know, that would be a mistake. "My mother wants to arrange a marriage between me and your brother."

    I instantly jolted.

    "I know my display on stage wasn''t exactly flattering.. but I want to meet him just in case! Maybe we can start as friends and hang out until I can win him over! I didn''t see anyone else that stood out in the competition though, so is he not a fighter?"

    Seeing her look of determination, I felt sick. The thought of her being with my brother was.. more than a little repulsive.. but regardless of that, I was rather confident I had nothing to worry about.

    At least that was until we made our way outside and found him waiting for us.

    At that point, I thought seeing him would be enough to deter her.. but it seemed to do the opposite. Simply laying eyes on him made her eyes gleam like stars.

    -Oh no...-

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