February 4, 2023
After walking quite a distance, dragging Sizhu and Yaoyao away from the girls' dormitory, they arrived at the sixth level—the place where the tournament would be held.
Levels 6 to 9 were the main buildings of the academy.
Many green, yellow, and black bamboo trees were planted around the lower level's borders and each corner, with lanterns lighting the paths, forming a rectangular shape that extended upward, as wide as the combined area of the boys' and girls' dormitories.
On the white stone steps, the girl with twintails was panting, exhausted from dragging Sizhu and Yaoyao.
They sat on the steps near the wide gate leading to the sixth level.
"Hah… luckily, we survived."
Sweat dripped from the white-yellow face of the cute girl with twintails. She wore the senior uniform with three stripes, the same symbol as on the bell hanging at the girls' dormitory entrance Sizhu had seen.
"Survived from whom, Mei Mei sis?" Yaoyao asked curiously. She kept asking about the woman who had made her temporary older sister so scared.
Mei Mei glanced at Sizhu, then quickly looked away, feeling her cheeks flush just by gazing at his face.
"Ah, yes? We survived being drowned by Teacher Xuangyao."
"Drowned?" This time Sizhu asked as he sat beside Yaoyao and the girl with twintails.
"Teacher Xuangyao is the dorm supervisor for the girls' dormitory, especially the lake dormitory. If anyone breaks the rules there, she casts a water spell that traps the offender in a giant water sphere, drowning them."
Mei Mei shivered as she told the story, she had experienced it herself.
Sizhu quietly responded, staring at Mei Mei with interest.
Water magic? Creating a giant water sphere to drown people? That's incredible.
Mei Mei's face grew even redder as she noticed the sparkling look in Sizhu's eyes.
She quickly pretended to look away at something nearby, while passersby could only shake their heads watching them.
"Brothel Sizhu! Yaoyao missed you so much! Since you went to fight the monsters in the village, Yaoyao and brothel Qing have been waiting for your return! But… you just slept."
The five-year-old girl hugged Sizhu's arm beside her. Sizhu actually felt very guilty thinking of that night. He had promised to save their father, but instead, he was the one who had to be saved.
Gently stroking the little girl's head, Sizhu neither smiled nor looked sad. He felt anger and frustration towards himself.
Mei Mei noticed this emotion.
"Sorry."
That was all Sizhu said.
"Why is brothel Sizhu crying?"
Unconsciously, tears fell down. Sizhu showed no expression—not because he had no heart, but because he did not yet understand the meaning of such feelings.
His eyes streamed tears as he gently caressed the little girl's head beside him, his face lowered. Tears soaked his cheeks.
"Sorry, Yaoyao. I failed to save your father."
The two girls were silent. Seeing a man cry over failing to save someone was not a common sight.
Yaoyao shook her head and tightly held Sizhu's right hand.
"Brothel Sizhu saved Yaoyao and Brothel Qing. That means brothel Sizhu is our hero. Brothel Sizhu did not fail to save anyone."
"Yaoyao…" Mei Mei saw the little girl crying too. The little girl hugged Sizhu's hand tightly, closing her tearful eyes.
After a few minutes filled with sadness, Sizhu wiped the tears from his face. Then he warmly hugged Yaoyao beside him.
"Thank you, Yaoyao. I promise I will become stronger than anyone."
Yaoyao hugged Sizhu's neck tightly, then let go.
"You must promise to be strong! Brothel Sizhu must save more people besides Yaoyao's father!" She smiled widely, raising her tiny pinky finger.
Sizhu raised his pinky finger too, then Yaoyao linked hers with his.
"Dad said if you make a pinky promise, you must keep it! Otherwise, brothel Sizhu must swallow a thousand needles!"
Sizhu chuckled softly at that.
"I promise. I will be stronger and save many people."
Mei Mei, who had been watching all this, covered her mouth. She was speechless, overwhelmed by the touching scene before her eyes. Her eyes were swollen from crying tears of emotion.
If Mei Mei were not shy person, she would have hugged Yaoyao and Sizhu together, even though she just met them that very night.
So touching… sob.. sob..
"By the way, who is she?" Sizhu asked, pointing at Mei Mei, who was still caught in the mood.
"Oh, this is sister Mei Mei! Yaoyao just met her when Yaoyao fell into a pond while running, and sister Mei Mei helped me and gave me new clothes!"
"Oh." Sizhu made no further comment besides softly saying "oh." He did not feel the need to befriend or get to know the girl better.
But Mei Mei's thoughts were different. After seeing the scene just now, she was determined to help Yaoyao and Sizhu with all her soul!
"You… ahem, Sizhu. You're very lucky to be here tonight! Because if you want to be stronger, this sister can help!"
Somehow, a surge of confidence arose in Mei Mei. She smiled widely, pointing to herself.
"I can help you register in this academy as a student recommended by the top student of the magic academy."
But Sizhu responded flatly.
"No thanks. Someone told me I will join the Zhan Dou tournament, and I will surely win it."
Like a green leaf newly sprouted from dry earth, he felt the bitterness of the hot air in that land, then withered and dried, blown away by the wind.
"Eh."
Mei Mei blushed, embarrassed by what she had said without thinking. She hid her face behind her small hands.
"B-b-but! I-i-I can still help you! Hmph!" Mei Mei pointed at Sizhu, standing and trying to look convincing, though her face was still completely red.
Sizhu then stood and invited Yaoyao to go see the main school building.
"No thanks. I can do it alone. Let's have a look, Yaoyao."
Yaoyao nodded enthusiastically as Sizhu pulled her hand.
"Let's go!"
Meanwhile, Mei Mei remained frozen in place, feeling the first time she had been ignored and unwanted by someone. Usually, every day she was busy with people asking for help in the academy, and she would help them with a wide smile.
But seeing a stranger, someone she just met, reject her help, left a scratch on her pride!
He won't last a single round in the tournament! I must make him beg for my help so I can help him enter the top ten!
Mei Mei ran up the stairs and blocked Sizhu from entering the sixth level area. She raised both her hands to the side.
"No, no, no. You still need me. Without me, you will be seriously injured and disqualified in the first round of the tournament!" Mei Mei said loudly, smiling proudly.
A few seniors passed by without paying much attention. Their minds were busy preparing for this year's lantern festival.
Still, they noticed it was the first time senior Mei Mei, who was well-known, was so insistent on offering help to someone. Usually, she was selective about whom to help.
Sizhu looked at Mei Mei with lazy eyes.
"I really don't need—"
"No, you do need me."
They locked eyes. Sizhu felt an uneasy premonition if he refused her, but also if he accepted her help.
Seeing this, Yaoyao tugged Sizhu's shirt sleeve.
"Just accept sister Mei Mei's help. Although sister Mei Mei seems stingy, she's kind!"
"St-stingy? Hmph!"
Sizhu thought for a moment, looking at Mei Mei's face, making Mei Mei blush.
After a deep breath, Sizhu finally nodded.
"I will accept your help—"
Before he finished, Mei Mei grabbed his hand forcefully like she did when escaping the dorm supervisor.
"All right then, let's get ready!"
"Yay!"
***
There are many people here. Master Alice told me to study magic in this country. I'm curious what made her tell me to learn magic in a foreign land.
A beautiful girl with blonde hair tipped with unique pastel pink and blue.
Her face clearly showed noble western bloodline. Fair skin with a pointed chin, a fairly sharp nose, thin eyebrows, and golden blond eyelashes framing sapphire-blue pupils.
When she smiled, a sweet dimple appeared, and a clearly visible philtrum above her thin pink lips. She looked like a beautiful doll walking amidst other contestants.
Wearing a noble white gown without excessive decoration. But people knew it was an expensive dress, reserved only for western nobility.
This caused many assumptions among other contestants.
"A noble princess competing in a tournament in a faraway land? She will be an easy winner."
"Looks like maybe she's an important guest in this year's tournament. Ah, my chance to enter the magic academy this year is getting slimmer."
"There are many strong contestants here, including foreigners. Especially that noble princess. Seems like this year's tournament isn't meant for locals."
"Heh, I bet I can easily defeat the princess! One round, leave a mark on her face or dress, she'll scream and give up! Hahaha!"
And many more whispers targeted at the blonde princess.
Hah, I should've asked Master Alice to let me bring Jean and Paul here. I regret coming here alone.
In her heart, the noble princess felt lonely. Though she had often felt the same feeling back home, but standing among strangers and hearing them talk about you was very uncomfortable.
Until she met that figure. The man that made her feel something new inside.
***