Kaiser and Isha Collide
As Atta and Reyan returned to the balcony, Atta glanced at Princess Isha, who was still standing there.
"Well," he asked with a small smile, "ready for your match?"
Isha turned toward him, calm and confident. "Yes. I am."
"Then best of luck."
She smirked. "Are you really going to support me, even though I'm fighting against a noble from your own kingdom?"
Atta's gaze shifted to the arena as it refilled itself for the next battle. "Of course not. I'll support no one. If Kaiser fights fairly and wins, I'll be proud to call him my subject. If you win fairly, I'll be glad to see my friend victorious."
Isha smiled faintly and walked toward the exit. "Atta, you really have a way with words. You always impress me." With that, she disappeared down the stairs.
Reyan leaned close, smirking. "Bro… you do realize she's flirting, right?"
Atta blinked. "What do you mean?"
"She never smiles at other guys. Never even talks to them—royals or nobles. But with you? Different story."
Atta chuckled, turning away. "Maybe she is. But for now, I have a match to watch."
"Oi, don't change the subject—!" Reyan groaned, but Atta ignored him.
---
The stadium grew silent as Princess Isha stepped gracefully into the arena, her expression calm yet unyielding. Across from her, Kaiser Aacon entered with his hands casually stuffed in his pockets, his eyes half-lidded but sharp.
The tournament speaker's voice rang out:
"Next, a battle between two familiar faces! Both competitors fought in last year's Theoms, but never clashed against one another. Let's see how they fare today. Match begins in 3… 2… 1!"
Atta leaned toward Reyan. "They both joined last year?"
"Yeah," Reyan nodded.
"What place did they finish?"
Reyan kept his eyes on the arena. "Kaiser fell in the quarterfinals. Princess Isha lost in the semifinals."
Atta raised an eyebrow. "So who defeated them both? Let me guess—Prince Ethan, since he won last Theoms?"
Reyan smirked. "Nope. Not Ethan. His rival, the dwarf prince, Yoni."
Atta's lips curved into a smile. "A dwarf prince, huh? Interesting…"
---
Back in the arena, Kaiser walked toward Isha. "Princess Isha… you should know I didn't want to face a woman."
Isha smiled, stepping toward him as well. "Don't tell me you won't raise your hand against me."
"Of course not," Kaiser chuckled. "My mother raised me with manners."
Isha arched an eyebrow. "So what then—will you fight me with words?"
He shrugged. "Honestly, I hadn't thought about it. But go ahead. Attack me. I'll figure something out."
On the balcony, Atta muttered, "Isha once told me she was a mind reader. But what's her real magic?"
Reyan answered without looking away from the match. "She's an ice mage."
---
In the arena, Isha's expression hardened. "Then don't die clinging to your act as a gentleman."
She raised her hand, summoning ten jagged ice spikes that burst forward in a deadly volley.
Kaiser's smile widened as he suddenly took flight, dodging the shards with ease. His voice echoed down. "Princess, is it alright if I touch your neck?"
Her brow furrowed.
In a flash, Kaiser appeared behind her. Isha flinched, and his breath brushed her ear as he whispered: "Don't be shy, princess. It won't hurt." His hand snapped forward, aiming for a sharp chop to her neck.
Without looking back, Isha twisted and drove her heel into his stomach. Kaiser flipped backward, landing gracefully.
He chuckled. "See, I don't want to hurt you badly—it goes against my principles. But traumatizing you… that's different."
Then his eyes glowed an ominous yellow. His body shimmered, breaking apart into a swirling murder of ravens. The birds cawed, black feathers scattering across the arena floor.
Atta's eyes narrowed. "...Raven magic?"
The entire crowd gasped as Kaiser vanished into the storm of wings, encircling Princess Isha like a predator closing in on its prey.
---
To be continued…