Chapter IX
2 months later, Beacon Arena:
-Over my dead…argh!
A battle in the arena between the leaders of team CRDL and team JNPR, Cardin Winchester and Jaune Arc, was in progress in the arena to show the progress of the students in combat at the moment. From the beginning, Simon knew that it was unfair to put those two and make them fight, since Cardin had the advantage since the beginning.
Jaune began to fall on the ground after the sudden kick in the belly of Cardin and his health counter was dangerously low. Cardin was preparing a final blow with his mace….until an alarm sound was heard, meaning the combat is over.
-Cardin, that's enough. , said Glynda, stopping the battle at the right moment.
She approached herself to the public and opened a little screen device, showing the stats of the two fighters.
-Students, as you can see, M. Arc's Aura has now dropped into the red. In a tournament style duel, this would indicate that Jaune is no longer fit for battle and that the officials may call the match. M. Arc, it's been weeks now, please try to refer to your scroll during combat. Engaging your Aura will help you decide when it is appropriate to attack or when it is better to move to a more…defensive strategy. , said Glynda, trying to give an advice to Jaune.
In return, Jaune lets out a moan, disappointed by how he lose that fight.
-We wouldn't want you to be galled by a Beowolf, now would we? , warned Glynda.
-Speak for yourself. , said Cardin, while putting his mace on his shoulder and going out of the stage.
-Remember everyone! The Vytal festival is only a few months away, it won't be long for students from the other kingdoms to start arriving in Vale, so keep practicing! Those who choose to compete the combat tournament would be representing all of Vale. , continued Glynda.
Simon was particularly excited for this tournament, since it looks like it has been months since he fought a hostile humanoid enemy. But he noticed that something was wrong with Emma since the announcement from last week. She kept going nervous every time she hears the announcement, looking like she was scared by it. Maybe he should talk to her later, just to verify it.
Since last month, every students are allowed now to put their armors and weapons on them in case of an attack, but nothing major was happening now. Most of the students are happy, since they feel a little more secure with them.
When they got to the cafeteria, the team sat at their usual table. Not far from them was the table of CRDL, in which a fauna (people with animal properties) was with them. The team was mostly harassing her, laughing at her bunny ears.
-What a jerk, I can't believe there are still people like this in this Academy. I thought most of the people here were respectable. , said Emma.
-Yeah, me too. Faunas are good people though, it's not their fault if they are born with things like that… , said Simon.
Suddenly, when Cardin was pulling the Fauna's ears to prove they were real, Anna got out of the table, started to walk to Cardin and took her weapon in hand. When she got behind Cardin, she retracted one of the blades of her staff and put it right next to Cardin's neck.
-You touch her another time and I'll make sure you'll have a swift death. , provoked Anna.
Everyone returned themselves to the scene, including Cardin's team it selves, and Cardin slowly began to return its head, calmly.
-Do you have…a problem with that, beauty? , said Cardin, provoking Anna.
Tyler came to her sister's back and put his hand on her shoulder.
-He is not worth it, don't do it. , said Tyler, trying to calm her sister down.
-He's right, don't do it. , said Simon, who approached the scene slowly.
Anna, who calmed herself back, retracted the blade of her staff back and put his weapon on her hip.
-Let her go first.
Cardin stopped his bullying and let the girl go.
-Good, at least you are not more of a jerk than you are.
And Anna got out of the cafeteria, looking pretty angry. Simon never saw her like that, most of the time she was happy and very social. Tyler and Simon returned to their table.
-''sigh'' It's kind of a long story. When I was a boy, I was adopted by Anna's family, the Windcliffs. My parents were a human, Aaron Windcliff and a Fauna, Tracy Naolong, but I didn't actually knew that my adoptive mother was actually a Fauna for about a year until I saw a tail growing in Anna's back. So…yeah, she is a Fauna. But a tail is easier to hide than ears, so there were not a lot of people knowing that. But…well, now they kinda know. , said Tyler.
-Well, now we have our source of this outburst at least, but I would have done the same thing if it were my case. , said Simon.
-Maybe I should go talk to her. , said Emma, going out of the cafeteria.
At this moment, Cardin came at their table and tried to start a sentence, but he was interrupted by Tyler.
-You can go away, you racist jerk. Even if my sister's gone, I can still defend myself.
-Let me take care of this. , said Simon.
Simon, then, cast a Dust Stun spell, making Cardin not move and punched it to his table.
-Things done, let's go check on your sister.
When Cardin regained himself from the spell, he shouted:
-I ASK FOR A DUEL IN THE ARENA!
Simon stopped himself just in front of the exit of the cafeteria and returned himself.
-Hmph.
Then, with his Aura, he teleported himself in front of Cardin.
-Then a duel is what you'll have.
He then teleported back to Tyler and said:
-See you in an hour at the arena.
He then exited the cafeteria, leaving everyone in it surprised.
-Why did you even accepted this? , said Tyler, which he expected from Simon's nature.
-Because I want to prove that he is only a coward and that he is not strong enough to fight someone that is strong enough to fight him.
-That doesn't even surprises me from you, but you should be careful. These people will always try to win, no matter the cost or the rules.
-Okay then. I will bring you three once you are ready. You'll be in the crowd and if something is happening, then you'll go in. , said Simon.
-Fine for me. , agreed Tyler.
Meanwhile:
-Anna, wait! , said Emma, trying to catch out Anna while she was going to the team's chambers.
-What? , said Anna, abruptly.
-Anna, why did you do this? I know you are a Fauna and all, but it doesn't mean to act like this in front of everyone! You could have be-
-I'm sorry, but do you know how hard it is to suffer the racism from Humans since the very day I was born? Do you know how hard it is to try to hide my tail? Do you know that, Emma?! My people are protesting the civil rights of the Faunas as we speak, because even the human government does not treat us equally! , said Anna, almost shouting to Emma.
-But you don't have to kill to achieve that. , said Emma.
-I…I know, but I am….I am just very tired of all this thing about us…Technically, we are still Human, aren't we? , said Anna.
-Look, let's get back to the others and you'll be able to forget all of this, all right? , said Emma.
-''sigh'' Okay.
When they started walking towards the cafeteria again, people were running out of it.
-What's happening? Hey, excuse me? Could you please tell me where everyone is going? , asked Emma to one of the students running towards the arena.
-Cardin Winchester has defied Simon Seablue in a duel in the arena and everyone's going to see them fight! , said the student.
-What?! , said Emma.
-Emma, we've got to go. I think something will go wrong. , said Anna, worrying.
-Right. Let's go! , said Emma.
And the two girls stared to run to the arena.