Normal POV
1 week later...
"Oh yeah! We're finally here!" Hauser raised his arms high as he walked through the busy streets of Byzel. Griamor trailing behind him while looking around the variety of merchandise being sold. "I've been waiting a whole week for this!"
"Don't get too excited. We haven't even registered yet." Griamor says. There might be a possibility that they'll be tardy for registration.
"You're right. Guess we better get a move on. Hey Alther! Get moving!" Hauser called out. Behind them was Arthur following them silently with a hood covering him.
"Guys, I am not showing my face in public." He complained.
"Oh c'mon Al. It's not that bad. You look fine." Hauser assured him.
"You wanted to come didn't you? Well here you are. Now, why are you backing down? Do not let this appearance hinder you." Griamor had a point.
"But still, Merlin could have picked a different way.." Arthur was bound to get looks from the people.
"Are you in or are you just gonna let this stop you?" Hauser kept prying. Arthur sighed. He had to pay the price for getting permission from Merlin.
"Fine. I'm taking it off. Just..don't laugh okay?"
"No promises..." says Hauser. He was already containing his laugh. Griamor looked away to hide his.
Arthur clutched the hood. He finally mustered up the courage to take it off in the crowd. As the hood was out of sight, Hauser's laughter slipped through his fingers. Arthur stood in the middle of the busy street with a thick coating of PINK DYE.
"Oh gosh! You look like a girl, Alther!" Hauser's laughter caught many people's attention. In this era, people will laugh at your attempt to imitate a girl.
"You promised that you wouldn't laugh." He glared.
"And I said NO PROMISES..." Hauser wiped the tear from his eye. Arthur's new look seemed to have caught nasty looks from the spectators.
"This way, Merlin does not have to worry about her 'STUDENT' embarrassing himself on her behalf." Griamor stated. Merlin has a reputation to uphold. Anyone studying under her rule must be perfect. Her apprentice represents her and her teachers in every way. Not too many people in Byzel have heard of ALTHER DRACO, so Arthur's reputation is well hidden.
"The tournament hasn't even started and I already want to throw in the towel." Arthur sighed.
"Stop being so negative. Everyone's minds will change once they see how much you can kick some butt!" Hauser was super excited. That sentence alone changed Arthur's mood.
"I guess you're right." He did a small fist pump.
"Let's go. The registration might be closing soon." Griamor led the group through the crowded street.
***** Later...
Griamor went in the booth to register the three of them to quicken the long line. While he's doing that, Hauser was exploring the area and what kind of battle field will they be fighting in. Meanwhile, Arthur stood right outside of the booth waiting for Griamor. The line was very long that Arthur gave up on waitng. He decided to go look around like Hauser. He walked around unraveling the mysteries of his competitor. Men from different size, shape, color, and walk of life gathered in the time square showing off their assets before the tournament starts.
"Wow...the world sure is vast." He can see how manly and strong these people were. Looking at the side, Arthur could see the women leaving the time square. Most of them had fear, jealousy and sadness plastered on their faces. Arthur frowned. The women in this era are treated so lowly. Even though women have a lot of rights like education, the right to choose, the right to be heard, and the right to safety...they are treated like lower class citizens by the people with high status.
If a woman is born royal or married to someone of noble blood, She will be freed from this miserable world and live the simple life. Women in the royals category can do whatever they want. Sometimes, they even join in on tormenting the lower class females. That's how much this era reeks of evil. The only time that these women will feel important is the love from their families, friends, and loved ones OR treated as play toys for men. It's disgusting how the world treats humanity.
Arthur glared at the sky. His mind portrayed a world where everyone is equal. Someday, if he ever becomes King, he will change the course of history and free the women in the land. To him, hurting a woman is like hurting your Mother...your grandmother...your nannies...or...or...Merlin. To the loving and caring women out there, he will do everything in his power to change everything.
As he passed by the Byzel forest line or as the Mayor of Byzel call it as a PARK, he heard a couple of screams and then whimpers. He became alert and went to the scene of the crime. There he found three men cornering two women.
"See? Your mustache scares all of them women.." says one of the men.
"What? She likes it. Don't you sweetheart?" the other man brought his face closer to the girl. He licked her cheek. That earned a slap from the female.
"You wench! How dare you!" Arthur gritted his teeth and readied his sword. Looks like he's going to get a little training session before the tournament starts.
All of a sudden, a flash of red ran past him. There was a person in a red cloak charging towards the three. He grabbed one of the men's arm and flung him to the tree. He then kicked the other on the groin then kicked his face as he knelt clutching his manhood. The other man charged himself at the cloaked figure. He easily jumped up and grabbed a tree branch and latched his legs around the man's neck. The red cloaked guy did a flip causing the man to follow the flip. He face planted unto the ground knowing him out cold. "T..Thank you..." says the woman. She hugged the other girl to calm her down.
"A..amazing..." Arthur's jaw dropped. He had never seen someone fight as good as him. it only took about a minute or less to knock out all three. The cloaked person nodded at the women. They both ran away back to the main street. Arthur stayed put to watch him on his next move. He couldn't see his face. The person was facing Arthur with his back. In a single jump, the cloaked figure jumped from branch to branch away from the crime scene. Arthur tried to follow him but he was nowhere to be found.
"Who..was ...that?" He questioned. Something tells him that he was gonna meet that defender again. "Maybe...at the tournament?" He hopes. Arthur looked at the direction of the arena. Fireworks went out. "It's starting..." He quickly ran back to the booth.
"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome to the Annual Byzel Fight Festival!" the announcer shouted out to the crowd. Everyone was gathered on top of a giant flat boulder
"This place is huge!" Arthur surveyed the entire arena. It's at least the same size as the castle's grounds.
"They could have picked another venue." Hauser crossed his arms.
"What are you talking about? This place is amazing!" Arthur cheered.
"For a first timer but to me and Hauser, who has been entering this competition every year, the venue is a total bore." Says Griamor.
"Yeah yeah yeah...It's boring to you but not me. I'm excited to fight!" Arthur kept on cheering. His cheer dance caught the attention of some men.
"The rules are simple! In the Elimination round, The competitors must fight to stay in the ring! Those who fall out of the arena will be disqualified! Then we will draw sticks on who gets to fight who in the Preliminary round! Remember, no using of weapons! The elimination round will solely rely on hand-to-hand combat!" the announcer kept on yelling.
"Hey girlie...this isn't a tea party, go play somewhere else." One of the buff competitors came over to Arthur and teased him. His minions follow along.
"Hey where did you get your hair? from the doll store?" Many laughed at Arthur's thick pink hair. He glared at every one of them.
"Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?" Griamor towered over the buff man's statue. He felt intimidated by his cold stare.
"Where did you get your clothes? From the garbage?" Hauser retorted at the guy making fun of Alther's hair. He did wear something out of the garbage can. Both of the bullies backed away.
"Tch..you're so weak girlie, that you let your friends do your fight for you..pathetic..." the buff man walked away.
Arthur wanted to fight but Griamor gripped his shoulder. "Don't. We'll get them back by winning, Alther..."
"I guess. But I really wanted to punch his face." Arthur was tempted to do so.
"So do I but not right now. Save the fighting when the competition starts."
"The winner of this year's tournament will receive this!" The announcer pulled out a special kind of sword. It was indeed a prize worthy to be won. The sword was of JADE GREEN COLOR. The way the blade was formed. It sparkled silver under the sunlight What got everyone's attention was the fact that the handle of the sword was in the formation of a DRAGON WITH A RUBY FOR AN EYE.
Many gasped at it's glory. Only one kingdom is recognized by that logo. "The winner will receive the sword of the rebel kingdom, DRAGON'S SIN OF WRATH!"
Arthur could not believe how an item that precious could be in the hands of an announcer. "This sword was rumored to be lost thousands of years ago by the Demon King. It has never been found until today. The one who holds this mighty sword shall be granted great power."
His gaze was fixed on the item. "I am so winning that sword!" Hauser did a fist pump to himself.
"That sword...not one detail of it is fake. I must have it." Even Griamor joined in the fuss. Almost every one of the competitors were motivated to win the competition. Thinking about it properly, if he were to get his hands on that sword, he can use it to his advantage when confronting the current Demon King in the future.
"I'm gonna win this..." he said to himself.
"Participants, come into the circle!" everyone got on the platform. It was a tight squeeze but the more movement, the more risk of falling. At the other side, Arthur could see a figure. His eyes grew wide at the sight. It was the red cloaked figure from the park. Arthur was right, he too joined the tournament.
"I better stay away from him..." He mentally noted. Everyone was getting into a fighting stance. Arthur took his place within the sea of people. At the sound of the starting gun, the Byzel Fight Festival started.