I threw my bag off my back and landed face first onto my new bed.

I'm finally here. Being so far away from home, I'll have to make this place my own.

"Feeling tired, sleeping beauty?"

"You know it."

Good thing I brought a slice of home with me; Darwin "Dusty" Clay. A friend from over yander (or as he calls it "the San Fernando Valley"), he also managed to get into Seidoukan.

"Well, get some shut eye. It's gonna be a long day tomorrow. You hungry?"

I shook my head.

"Ah. Well, see ya when I see ya."

He grabbed his coat and left. I went back to napping. About 5 minutes later, a light knock rang out.

"It's unlocked!" I shouted.

A tall, blonde girl roughly my age sauntered her way in.

"Hello there," she said as she closed the doors. "Getting comfortable, I see?"

She lightly planted herself on Dusty's bed, across from mine.

I nodded and sat up. Can't be looking like a slob with her around.

"So, you're the American student people have been talking about, huh?"

I looked behind my back, making sure she wasn't talking about Dusty.

"Me?" I pointed to myself.

Everywhere I go, I'm showered with praise. People call me the second coming of Ernesto Gutierrez, but I'm never impressed with my performances. He's the greatest, and I am but a mere protege.

"Of course, silly~ Not everyone can say they won the Great Western Festa."

She's not wrong.

"Yeah, well, I guess you're right..."

"Don't play coy with me. I know who you are, Fernando Gutierrez."

Yeah, being humble is kind of hard when you're the grandson of the greatest swordfighter in California.

"And just who might you be?"

"My name is Claudia Enfield. I'm your student representative."

"Huh. Well, pleased to meet'cha, Claudia." I shook her hand heartily. "So, what brings you here tonight?"

"I just wanted to stop by and welcome you and your roommate."

"Well, you just missed him. I'll take a message, if you'd like."

"Oh you~ Quite the jokester, I see."

"I try." I said with a mock bow.

"Did you two settle in just fine?"

"As well as we could. Not easy being thousands of miles from home."

"I think you two will be just fine here."

She pulled a flyer out of the folder she was carrying.

The Old Knight's Festa

"Just a little something to think about as you settle in. I know someone close to you has won it." She winked.

"Oh... I see you've done your research." I nervously laughed.

"Of course~" She got up and smoothed her skirt out before heading for the door. "Well, if you ever need me, you know where to find me."

"You're in that fancy mansion not too far away from here, right?"

"That's right." She peered through the door. "Don't be afraid to stop by; I get real cold and lonely at night~"

The door closed.

The Old Knight's Festa? One of the most prestigious competitions in the world. Every year, a city is selected to host the Festa. My home town, the Old Los Angeles Area, has hosted it 2 times; Once in 1962, about 30 years after Intertia and the third city to host it, and again in 1974, when it was hosted in a neighboring town; Pasadena.

Later that night, the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Pizza Hut. How may I take your order?"

I knew who she was. Those rolled 'r's gave it away.

"You called me first, Mama."

"Oh, how is my big man doing? Are you not happy?"

"No no, Mama. I'm doing just fine. How's Grampy?"

"He is so happy that you are out there in Asterisk. He says 'Scarlet, you should not be sad! He is going on to do great things. He will change the world'!"

"That's Grampy for you."

"Are you two talking about me?"

"No, Papi!"

I heard footsteps.

"The nerve of some people- Who is this!? Don't you know she's married?"

"I do. She's the one I popped out of. How're you doing, Grampy?"

"Que? Como es 'Grampy'?"

"Oh, I think I have the wrong number then. Sorry, I'll-"

"Bah, you're no fun, Champ."

"I am related to you, after all."

"Oh ho ho, getting cocky, are we? I see; you move out and now you think you're hot? Gimme back my sword, then we'll see how hot the Young Zephyr truly is."

We both laughed.

"How are you, Champ?"

"Doin' fine. Not all that exciting without you here."

"Yeah, it's not the same without you. But, I feel like you'll go on and take that school by storm!"

"Heh, well, that makes two of us. Don't feel too sad; I'll be back by Christmas."

"Great! I'll be counting down the days. Oh! Did you hear that Old Knight's Festa is in Asterisk this year?"

"Yes I did. I have a flyer for it."

"Are you joining it this year?"

"I don't know."

Come to think of it, it'll be my first international Festa. Maybe I should join it...

August 17, 1974

Today is the day I start traneing for the Old Knites Festa. Its the first time its in Pasadena and why shouldnt I try? Who knows, maybee I can win and get a lot of money! Or maybe a new Lux?

Anyway, I asked my dad and he said I should try it. Papi knows best!

-Ernie