Athia kept attacking with everything she had, launching spell after spell at Javier. Her flas crackled, wind blades sliced through the air, and bursts of magic erupted around the arena. Yet no matter how fast or powerful her strikes were, Javier dodged them all easily, his grin never fading.
"Ehehe, you're persistent," he teased, sidestepping another fiery attack. "But don't overdo it, beautiful. You'll run out of mana."
Athia ignored him, her focus solely on trying to land a hit. Her heart raced with determination as she put all her energy into her attacks.
But then it happened—her mana reserves ran dry. Her movents slowed, her knees wobbled, and her vision blurred slightly. "Ugh..." she muttered, swaying on her feet.
"Whoa!" Javier reacted quickly, stepping forward and catching her by the waist before she could fall completely.
For a mont, everything seed to freeze for Athia. The loud cheers of the crowd faded into the background, and all she could see was Javier's face inches from hers. The sunlight glinted off his hair, and his eyes glow with warmth.
Her heart raced. "W-what is this feeling?" she thought, her cheeks turning red. To her, the scene felt like sothing out of a romantic story, complete with an imaginary soundtrack of "Oh My Sunshine~" playing in her mind.
"You okay?" Javier asked casually, tilting his head in genuine concern, completely unaware of the effect he was having on her.
"U-umm..." Athia stamred, her voice barely a whisper as she looked up at him, totally taken by his charm.
The crowd didn't notice the mont between them, too focused on the excitent of the match. To them, it simply looked like Javier had stepped in to catch Athia before she fell.
The announcer squinted at the scene, tilting his head in confusion. "It seems... Athia Gaz Harbor is unable to continue!?" he announced, unsure at first, but gaining confidence as he raised his hand. "The victory goes to Javier De Armand!!"
The audience erupted into cheers and laughter, so impressed by Javier's skill and others amazed at how he managed to dodge every attack without breaking a sweat.
anwhile, Athia remained in Javier's arms, her face burning red as her mind raced. "What just happened!?" she thought, her gaze fixed on the boy who had completely disard her—not with magic, but with his infuriating charm.
Athia, still cradled in Javier's arms, looked up at him with a deep blush on her cheeks. Her heart raced uncontrollably, and before she could stop herself, the words spilled out:
"I love you," she said softly but sincerely, her eyes shining with emotion.
Javier blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Huh?" he replied, clearly caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"
"I love you~" Athia repeated, her voice filled with genuine affection. "Please... be my boyfriend."
Javier's expression froze for a mont, then he quickly stood up, releasing her waist as if she had suddenly beco too hot to hold. "Ah... no thank you," he said bluntly, waving his hand as he turned toward the exit. "See ya!"
Without waiting for a response, Javier rushed out of the arena, his pace casual but clearly wanting to leave the situation behind. As he stepped into the corridor, he muttered to himself, "What is wrong with that girl?"
The crowd, unaware of the exchange, cheered for Javier's victory, while Athia remained on the ground, her face still red as she watched him leave.
"H-he rejected ?" Athia whispered, her heart caught between disappointnt and admiration. Her face flushed as she clutched her chest, feeling her heart race. "He's even cooler than I thought..."
Suddenly, a realization sparked in her mind. Father~ Mother~ she thought, her eyes sparkling as a dreamy smile spread across her face. I finally found him... the one I'll marry!
Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red as her mind raced with visions of her future. The youngest son of Count Armand... Javier De Armand... She sighed softly, her earlier frustration and exhaustion replaced by a newfound determination.
The crowd continued to cheer for Javier's victory, unaware of Athia's inner thoughts as she silently vowed, No matter what, I'll make him mine!
As Javier returned to the Class F bench, the other students watched him nervously. So wanted to congratulate him for winning yet another match effortlessly, but none dared to approach the "delinquent noble." His laid-back attitude and unpredictable behavior had earned him an intimidating reputation.
Javier, completely unbothered by their hesitance, plopped down on the bench and imdiately turned to Liana, his mischievous grin already in place. "Lianaaaaaaa..." he called out softly, catching her attention.
"Yes, Young Master?" Liana asked, tilting her head slightly as she stood by his side.
Javier leaned closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "I want chuuuu!"
Liana's cheeks turned faintly pink, but she kept her composure and shook her head gently. "Not in public, Young Master," she replied in her usual calm tone.
"Haaa... fine..." Javier sighed dramatically, leaning back against the bench with an exaggerated pout. "You're no fun sotis, Liana."
Liana smiled softly, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear. "There's a ti and place for everything, Young Master," she said with a slight chuckle, her voice filled with affection.
anwhile, the rest of the Class F students exchanged nervous glances, none daring to interrupt their conversation. "He's acting like a kid, but why does it still feel intimidating?" one of them whispered, earning quiet nods of agreent from the others.
However, Javier was too focused on teasing Liana to notice their reactions, already plotting his next joke for when they were alone. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire
The battles continued in the arena, getting more intense as the number of competitors dwindled. Spells lit up the sky, weapons clashed, and cheers erupted from the crowd as the students fought hard for their place in the next round.
By the ti the number of remaining competitors was down to 22, the sun had begun to set, casting a golden glow over the arena. The once-energetic crowd now buzzed with a mix of excitent and exhaustion, eager to see what the next day would bring.
The announcer's voice bood once again, capturing the attention of the spectators and participants alike:
"Ladies and gentlen, what an incredible day it has been! We've seen amazing talent, fierce determination, and unforgettable matches!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their energy reignited by the announcer's words.
"As the sun sets and the evening draws near, we'll be concluding today's matches! Out of the original competitors, only 22 remain!" The announcer paused for dramatic effect before continuing, "And let's not forget, our esteed Princess Kliatana will join the brackets once the list narrows to 11 contestants tomorrow!"
Excited murmurs rippled through the audience at the ntion of the princess, her upcoming participation adding more intrigue to the already thrilling event.
"Thank you all for your enthusiasm today! We'll resu the battleground event tomorrow morning! Until then, rest well and prepare for another day of unforgettable battles!"
The crowd applauded once more as the announcer's voice faded. Students began filing out of the arena, so limping from injuries while others walked with their heads held high, their determination clear.
At the Class F bench, Javier stretched lazily and let out a loud yawn. "Haaa... finally," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "That took forever."
"Young Master, let's return to the house," Liana said gently, already preparing to escort him out.
"Yeah, yeah... but first, let's grab so at on the way back," Javier replied with a mischievous grin, already thinking about his next al as the arena emptied around them.
As Javier and Liana walked toward the area outside the arena where Buddy and Pikko were kept, Javier stretched his arms and yawned loudly. "Haaa... I wonder if I can just skip the event tomorrow. It's so boring," he muttered, kicking a stray pebble along the path.
Liana glanced at him with a calm yet knowing expression. "Sure you can, Young Master," she said with a slight smile. "Well... if you're okay with being scolded by Lord Garius."
"Eeep!" Javier froze mid-step, his face going pale as he rembered his father's sharp gaze and strict voice.
"Rember, Young Master?" Liana continued, her tone gentle but firm. "What Lord Garius said at the dining table yesterday."
"Ugh..." Javier groaned, scratching his head as he reluctantly echoed, "Try not to lose in the early match."
"Good," Liana replied with a satisfied nod, her calm deanor unshaken.
Javier sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. "Fine, fine. I'll show up tomorrow... but I'm still not excited about it," he grumbled, though a small grin tugged at his lips. "Let's hope Buddy and Pikko are having more fun than I am."
"I'm sure they're fine, Young Master," Liana said reassuringly as they continued on their way, the sound of squawking Pekkos growing louder in the distance.
( End of Chapter )
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