Emperor Luminas said wisely, smiling calmly:
«Lloyd is very clever in battles, and these skills will benefit him in future conquests.»
Raymond replied, leaning back in his chair with a sharp, arrogant look and a malicious smile:
«He resembles his father a lot, doesn't he, Ron?»
Ronald clenched his jaw and turned to him with clear annoyance, saying sharply:
«Don't call me Ron.»
Raymond's smile widened, and he said with deliberate coldness:
«Alright… Ron.»
Rage ignited in Ronald's eyes, and he exclaimed:
«Are you trying to provoke me again?!»
Raymond didn't reply, merely offering a silent smile that made things worse. Meanwhile, the other emperors exchanged calm glances, some smiling lightly, others closing their eyes patiently awaiting the next match.
---
In the stands, Arkan's young children were trying desperately to see the arena.
Sophia stood on her tiptoes, but saw nothing, so she shouted in annoyance:
«Ah! I want to see! Move aside… your heads are too big!»
Noor quickly grabbed her and said reproachfully:
«Sophie! It's shameful to say that to people.»
Sophia frowned and said irritably:
«I don't care! I want to see properly!»
She looked behind her and saw Richard sitting with majestic calm, motionless as a statue. Her eyes sparkled, and she quickly approached him, saying with feigned sweetness and coyness:
«Hello, Grandfather… may I sit on your lap?»
Richard raised his gaze to her with a cold, sharp look that made Sophia tense and retreat half a step. Without a word, he extended his arms, lifted her, placed her on his lap, then said calmly:
«Is this good?»
Sophia's face beamed, and she waved her hands enthusiastically:
«Yes, yes! You handsome old man… aaah, I mean, my handsome grandfather!»
Richard slowly raised an eyebrow, looked ahead without comment, then calmly closed his eyes as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Noor chuckled softly, while Sophia sat up proudly, finally watching the arena… as if she had won her own personal battle.
Zeer said, hopping lightly into the center of the arena, his voice full of excitement:
«The fight was truly amazing, Prince and Princess! And now… it's time for the next match!»
He grabbed the wheel and began to spin it, while the crowd held its breath.
The names danced rapidly, then suddenly stopped.
Zeer raised his arms and shouted:
«Princess Agnes of the Wind Empire!»
The stands erupted in applause and cheers.
As for Agnes, her face suddenly paled, and she felt slightly dizzy.
She said to herself in panic:
"Me?!… Really me? Oh God, please don't let my opponent be scary… I just don't want to die here."
The emperors looked at her.
Akalis chuckled lightly and said:
«It seems the princess is nervous.»
Regas smiled calmly and looked at Agnes with a kind, fatherly gaze:
«That's natural, it's her first experience.»
Zeer spun the wheel again, saying:
«And now… who will be the opponent of the Wind Princess?»
The wheel stopped firmly.
Zeer gasped, then shouted:
«Princess Misha of the Ice Empire!»
Cheers rose again, while Agnes slumped to the ground, saying in despair:
«I'm finished… I'm completely finished.»
Agenor approached her and patted her back gently:
«Compose yourself, sister. You are capable of this.»
Agnes and Misha descended to the center of the arena.
Agnes was nervous, smiling hesitantly, while Misha stood in complete calm, her features as cold as the ice she controlled.
People began to whisper:
«She's the Wind Princess!»
«This is the first time I've seen her!»
«She's beautiful…»
The whispers reached Misha's ears, and she was slightly annoyed, thinking to herself:
"Why all this attention on her? She's ordinary… no, less than ordinary."
She raised her gaze towards Agnes and noticed her embarrassed smile as she waved shyly.
Misha hesitated for a moment, then waved back with a slight smile, so as not to be misunderstood.
Zeer quickly moved away, waving his hands:
«A battle of Wind against Ice! Get ready… and let the fight begin!»
A heavy silence fell, then Misha stamped her foot on the ground, and ice spread around her as if winter had suddenly descended.
Agnes clenched her fists and whispered to herself:
«Calm down… just move.»
Misha waved her hand, and sharp ice shards shot forward.
Agnes screamed in fear and jumped back, rising slightly with a push of wind.
Misha said coldly:
«Running away won't save you.»
Agnes shook her head, trying to steady herself:
«I'm not… running.»
She raised her hands, and a strong wind blew, pushing the shards away and scattering them on the arena floor.
The crowd's cheers rose, and the battle began to intensify.
The fight grew fiercer; Misha was harsh in her attacks, her strikes direct and cold, which made Agnes wonder at her intensity, but despite her fear, she was repelling the wind with noticeable force.
From above, the emperors watched with interest.
Raymond said in a calm, slightly provocative tone, leaning forward a little:
«Don't you feel that Princess Agnes is starting to control her power?»
Regas looked at him out of the corner of his eye and said in a steady tone that hid pride:
«She hasn't controlled it yet… but she's no longer running away, and that's progress.»
The fight intensified further.
Agnes's breath was ragged, and Misha began to feel a heaviness in her arms. Both were tired, but neither retreated.
Zeer jumped up, watching, and said while stretching lazily:
«Hmm… the fight still isn't decided? I'm starting to get bored.»
Suddenly, Zeer's eyes gleamed, and he nimbly jumped towards the emperors' seats, leaned down, and whispered in Emperor Arkan's ear.
Arkan smiled faintly and said:
«Hmm… a brilliant idea.»
Emperor Arkan clapped his hands distinctly.
Everything stopped immediately.
The crowd, the princes, and even Agnes and Misha froze in place.
Tarkan said in surprise:
«Father? What's happening?»
Emperor Arkan stood up and said in a loud, calm voice:
«Zeer suggested an idea to make the fight more exciting.»
Agnes whispered fearfully:
«More… exciting?»
People began looking at each other questioningly.
Zeer hopped back to the center of the arena, while Arkan sat down.
Zeer said with a broad smile:
«We're going to bring in demons from the Savage Lands!»
Silence fell.
Then an explosion.
Agnes's eyes widened, and she screamed inwardly:
"D… demons?! The Savage Lands?!"
Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she looked at Zeer, who was laughing wickedly.
Zeer said enthusiastically:
«Brost! Brost! Open the gate now! And let the demons enter!»
Brost opened one of the arena gates.
Out came demons, large and small, with terrifying forms, long fangs, and glowing eyes.
Agnes trembled and said in a shaky voice:
«W… when did they arrive?!»
From among the crowd, Diana shouted with all her might:
«Agnes! You are strong! Don't be afraid!»
Agnes said to herself, trembling:
"I can't…"
On the other side, Misha had immediately started fighting, striking demons one after another, her ice sharp and swift.
Agnes tried to gather her courage and pressed her fists together, saying:
«Enough, Agnes… your father and brothers are here. You have to be brave.»
Suddenly, a strange demon appeared, fat, resembling a raccoon, with very long ears and short hands.
It raised its short hands and roared, then started running towards Agnes.
Agnes screamed:
«Aaaah!»
And she turned and ran with all her might.
At the same moment, Misha jumped behind the demon to kill it.
The scene became chaotic.
The demon runs.
Agnes flees.
Misha chases.
And from among the crowd, Diana shouted, laughing:
«Huh?! Who's fleeing and who's chasing?! I'm completely confused!»
Laughter rose from the crowd, while the strange scene continued in the center of the arena.