Ratella sat perched on the end of the arena wall, only a few feet away from Olivia and her opponent. It would only be a waste of time to find a suitable seat; the outcome would be the same as the rest of Olivia's battles—an instant death for her opponent. Why anyone challenged her after her first battle was a mystery; the everlasting search for glory and the infection of stupidity ran rampant throughout the participants.
Olivia's fight began with the announcer's countdown, like always. Olivia disappeared from view, reappearing behind her opponent. Her rapier swung in a crescent, discarding the crimson sheath forming around it.
Her opponent's head did not fall this time; the only injury to the woman was a bloody gash below the nape of her neck. A stream of scarlet flowed down her clothes, staining them.
"You won't take me down that easily with a single trick! I have fifty wins for a reason, don't underestimate me!"
"What a shocking turn of events! It seems that Lucia Watersprout has learned the trajectory of Olivia's attack, but she wasn't unscathed! By that wound, she doesn't have long left until she succumbs to oblivion!"
"Olivia has still scored a clean score, making the score 1-0."
"But you're already dead, your throat is slashed. You may have guarded against being beheaded, but that caused your own blade to be pushed into your throat," exclaimed Olivia, tracing her foot into the dirt, making circles, awaiting her opponent's death.
Lucia was in no shape to perform a counterattack, the gallons of blood forming a small river below her being testament to her dire state.
"I won't give up no matter my injuries. I'll fight until the end," said Lucia softly, her voice weakly stuttering between laboured breaths.
"A courageous soul, honorable. I shall grant you the relief of death."
Olivia walked past Lucia, the woman was too weak to move, only following Olivia with her eyes. A steeling resolve still burning bright within them, her intent to still fight despite her sorry condition.
The whistling of Olivia's rapier rippled through the arena as it cleaved the woman's head off, freeing her from the immense pain and granting her the wish of an honorable death.
"You should have forfeit, a warrior of your resolve didn't deserve to die here."
"With two strikes, Lucia Watersprout goes down, signaling Olivia's overwhelming victory in this tournament. We now have our two winners of this week's two tournaments. Ratella Evergarden and Olivia Lifebloom!"
Ratella dropped down from his perch, seeing the announcer's words as his signal to make himself known to everyone in the crowd. He stood at the center of the arena next to Olivia, a ripple of cheers escaping from the crowd at his appearance.
"Looks like I'm more famous than you now," exclaimed Ratella, nudging Olivia, trying to annoy her into another violent flurry of attacks.
"I have no want for fame. I am not that fragile to rely on others for validation," retorted Olivia, causing Ratella's brow to twist in annoyance, being put on the back foot of his taunts.
"I'm not fragile."
The crowd's cheers and discussion eventually quietened down as the announcer's voice boomed from the upper deck of the arena, covering every inch.
"The victors of the two tournaments will each be given seventeen golden coins and a chance to have an audience with me, your humble and divine announcer. Seraphina Vulcan, the Dominion of the Sun!"
"How obnoxious. This is going to get on my nerves, I can tell."
"I feel like everyone gets on your nerves, though."
"It's because of you. My patience has dropped ever since I met you."
"You didn't have any patience to begin with. A loner can't claim to have patience when they don't interact with people."
"Your only friends are a manipulative witch, a greedy scientist, and a walking, talking set of armor. Being alone is better than that lineup. And don't think we are friends, I'm only here for Memaru and for Nuit's order."
"You obviously must like me a little, or else you wouldn't have shown yourself that day. We have the same ideals after all, so we are automatically friends."
"That's not how that works, but I'll admit you are tolerable when you aren't being annoying."
"See, we are friends."
"Think whatever helps you sleep at night."
Olivia's cheeks puffed out slightly after their little argument came to an end.
"If the victors of this week's tournament would like to accept the offer of an audience with me. Please enter the doors in front of you!"