SSR - Chapter 86: Finals (1)

Rylan looked at Sarah with a helpless smile as she fixed his robe with a serious expression. Her hands ran over his torso, straightening his clothes.

“…I’m not going to a ball, Sarah. All of this will probably get burned or torn to pieces, anyway,” he said.

She shook her head firmly.

“It’s the final match. At the very least, you need to arrive at the arena while looking like you’re giving this match its due respect. And,” she looked up from his chest and frowned at him. “Please don’t take the possibility of severe injuries as certain like that, young master. I’m sure you were very used to pain in your past life, but Rylan is the one I take care of, not Roland.”

Rylan’s smile was genuine.

“…Thank you, Sarah.”

From behind him, Aelfric threw his arm around Rylan’s neck.

“She’s right about that, you know. It fucking sucks to see you getting injured,” he said.

Rylan turned to look at his younger brother. Aelfric was smiling at him, but his expression was tinged with concern. Shaking his head, Rylan put his right hand on his brother’s head and his left one on Sarah’s.

“I’ll be fine, you two. Come on, let’s go. It’s time.”

His chest felt warm.

…I made progress.

Their words only made him realize that he was now closer to rebuilding his relationship with the people who mattered. Aelfric had never really left his side, but their bond had changed. There was no longer a power dynamic where Rylan exploited Aelfric’s trust for his own again. Instead, he could say they had truly become what brothers should be over the months after Evenon’s death.

Rylan glanced at Sarah. She eyed him up and down, likely seeking anything that still needed some tidying up.

She’s different.

The mask of indifference that she had worn for several years had completely disappeared. Her smiles were now commonplace, as were her encouraging words. The biggest change happened after he revealed the truth about his reincarnation to her and his family. As his thoughts reached this point, Rylan furrowed his brow. He still hadn’t had any contact with Regis, Lillia, or Elizabeth after that day. It meant he had no idea about how they felt about it.

Sarah glanced up after straightening his shoulder area.

“Something the matter, my lord?” she asked in a low tone.

Rylan inwardly sighed. She knew him too well.

“No, nothing.”

She grinned at him.

“I guess even the Sword Saint gets nervous before a difficult battle?”

Rylan replied with a light flick to her forehead. Walking past his now pouting caretaker, he opened the door and left the room. Sarah and Aelfric caught up in a second. Together, they made their way out of the small hotel and into the streets. Rylan looked around with a whistle.

It’s even busier.

He didn’t know why or if it was related to today’s match, but Caer Rhelon’s streets were even more lively than usual. This only became more obvious as they waded ever deeper into the city, closer to its heart and the royal castle. Rylan saw their destination before long.

The massive stone stadium stood imposing and proud some distance away from the royal palace. It looked like a magnified version of the arenas he’d been in so far, but it would certainly be different in more ways than one.

Why did they build it so close to the castle? Is the stadium meant to be protected or something?

Rylan clicked his tongue in slight disapproval. Any important city should have the structures that mattered most close to its heart, in case of an enemy invasion. Still, it wasn’t a terrible choice.

The closer he got to the stadium, the more obvious its size became. The streets only became more packed, carriages and people making their way through them in large groups. Most of the pedestrians were dressed in elaborate clothes, but the carriages were the ones that were truly impressive. As if they were in a tournament of their own and trying to outdo the others, they virtually glimmered with a refined atmosphere. Their styles were different, but without fail, all of them were beautiful.

He appreciated the sights before finally reaching the coliseum.

“Good luck, my lord.”

“You can do it, Rylan!”

Rylan watched Sarah and Aelfric leave and climb a flight of stairs that only led to another.

At least they’ll be in a good location.

As the people he had chosen as his ‘companions,’ they could sit in a reserved area instead of among the endless crowd. Shaking his head, Rylan turned his gaze to the man standing in front of him.

Right hand over the heart and the left one against his side, the man bowed. He had orange hair and beard and brown eyes. Rather surprisingly, he didn’t look much older than Rylan himself.

“Good morning, Master Rylan. I am Leo, and I’ll be the one to help you with everything you need before the match,” he said, still bowing.

Rylan nodded at him.

“Nice to meet you, Leo. Since I arrived before time, is there a place where I can stay?”

Leo raised his body and nodded, his face the very picture of calmness.

“Of course, Master. It’s the first thing I was planning on introducing you to. Please, follow me.”

The young man turned around and started walking deeper into the corridor. Rylan eyed his back and the wand on his waist with curiosity.

“How old are you, Leo?” he suddenly asked.

“I’m 22, Master.”

“And how long have you been working here?”

“A few years. I was the one assigned to you because my superiors thought you would feel most at ease with an attendant near your age.”

Rylan nodded. It made sense and would have been true if he didn’t have Roland’s memories.

After some time, he followed Leo into a room deep within the stadium. It was lavish, to say the least. Even though it was just a waiting area of an arena, it was far better than his hotel room in every way. A purple carpet covered most of the floor and the meticulously-placed plush chairs gave the room a noble air. Even though the walls and ceiling were made of simple stone, they were completely straight, without a single indent or slope. The paintings on the walls and red silk curtains were the finishing touch.

There was no one else in the room, but it wasn’t surprising. Since this was the final match of the tournament, it was entirely possible that the entire stadium had been reserved for this fight alone. Nodding to himself, Rylan sat down on the nearest plush chair and made idle talk with Leo for a few minutes. Afterward, he focused only on his breathing.

The whole waiting room vibrated with the steps and cheers of the audience above. Rylan’s sharp senses caught every shake.

At least a few thousand people. Probably more.

Still, that wouldn’t change the way he fought. The pressure born of an audience of this size couldn’t shake him in the least. The same likely wasn’t true for his opponent.

Hayden of Lindsor.

Rylan’s eyes shone with interest. How good did a commoner have to be to beat several noble scions and reach this stage? Without Roland’s judgment and battle senses, even Rylan himself would have been defeated earlier on. Anticipation filled his chest.

Finally, the moment arrived.

Leo bowed at Rylan, changing his standing posture for the first time in twenty minutes.

“It’s time, Master Rylan.”

Rylan stood up with a savage smile.

“Let’s go, then.”

Leo led him through a maze of different corridors and pathways, At the end, the corridor opened up into a huge circular space. Once Rylan reached the opening, Leo bowed again.

“I wish you luck.”

“Thanks.”

Rylan entered the arena proper, withstanding the rumbling cheers of the audience. The first thing he observed was the arena itself. Unlike the previous ones that consisted of nothing but a square stone floor, this one had columns and walls of different sizes spread throughout it. Slopes and holes marred the ground, which was a mix of stone and earth. Rocks and other obstacles could also be seen.

So they want to make it closer to a real battlefield.

His theory about why the Royal Magic Academy had organized this tournament was confirmed. This was about creating and identifying actual battlemages.

He raised his gaze to the first row of the audience. All around the circular space, there were several separate areas with only a few people. With simple but elegant thrones and curtains, the reserved square spaces housed only those dressed in lavish clothing.

Rylan glanced at the audience in the upper rows. Thousands upon thousands of people were packed into the stands, their shouting voices echoing. Among them, there were those who were clearly wearing finer clothes.

Ordinary nobles are in the big audience.

It meant that this first row had been set apart for only truly important people. Rylan ran his eyes over them again. He identified Alice Carmesim, who was staring at him while sitting among other crimson-haired men and women. Right next to her area, Gael Astassier sat on a throne of his own in the middle. Rylan didn’t give him a second glance; his eyes were drawn to the woman standing next to the throne.

Mother.

She was smiling sweetly at him as if she could feel his gaze, despite the distance. He immediately circulated his mana. His senses became sharper and clearer, including his eyesight. He only wanted to see her better. Elizabeth was dressed in a beautiful purple-and-blue gown that he was sure she hated.

On the other side of the throne, a man stood. Brown hair and hazel eyes, just like Gael and Elizabeth. Unlike her, however, his expression was cold. His eyes were tinged with a strange desire as he looked at Rylan, making him frown. Spinning in place, he managed to find Aelfric and Sarah a few rows above on the opposite side of the stands, separated from the audience.

Finally, Rylan looked at Damian Gassiec and Henry Belmont, who were sitting side by side in an area seemingly reserved for them alone. Their thrones were the most intricate ones, with golden engravings that depicted animals and beautiful scenery in a harmonious combination. The feeling Henry gave him was the same as when he looked at Damian – an enemy that couldn’t be defeated yet. Like before, Henry’s staff didn’t resonate with mana at all, looking like a piece of decoration.

Shaking his head, Rylan walked to the center of the arena, avoiding the pillars and walls. It was a small circular space without any obstacles. A black-haired announcer already awaited him, dressed in fully white clothing and with his wand close to his mouth.

“The first combatant arrives, ladies and gentlemen! Soon, the legendary match between the tournament’s two greatest dark horses will begin! Rylan Flameheart, the man who reached this far despite being at the Second Circle and Level 25 at eighteen years old!”

Rylan cracked his neck and waited for the announcer to finish. He found this whole routine pointless, but there was nothing he could do about it.

“With combat abilities beyond even the tournament’s previous favorites, he clawed his way to this match! A Mage and a swordsman who will one day reach the pinnacle! The one that represents skill and power! But he isn’t the only impressive one in this match!”

As if on cue, a tall youth walked out of the corridor on the other side of the arena. Rylan immediately looked at him. The boy looked young, about the same age as Jasmine, without a hint of stubble. Surprisingly ordinary black hair and beautiful golden eyes complemented his appearance, as well as fair skin. Dressed in a simple white shirt and brown pants, he walked with a composed gait as he neared Rylan and the announcer. The boy was staring straight at Rylan with sharp eyes.

Rylan nodded at him. Hayden nodded back. The announcer turned toward him with a huge smile, as if he had planned this entrance all along.

“Our second fighter! Hayden of Lindsor! A commoner who proved his worth by defeating nobles and other commoners alike! Third Circle, sixteen years old! It is said that he hasn’t been injured even once! Will Rylan Flameheart finally be the one to reveal this abyss’ depths?”

Hayden arrived at the small circular area and stood a few meters away from Rylan. The announcer continued to speak, his voice booming throughout the stadium even louder than the previous announcers, but Rylan and Hayden looked at each other alone. Rylan eyed his opponent. Hayden’s body was well-built and his palms were marked by calluses.

Manual labor.

It was only natural, as Hayden didn’t have a noble house financially backing him. Of course, his whole life and fate would change the moment this tournament ended, regardless of whether he won this match or not.

“You must’ve worked hard,” Hayden said as he eyed Rylan up and down, his voice barely distinguishable in the cacophony created by the audience and the announcer. “As expected of a swordsman.”

“You’ve worked hard too,” Rylan replied loudly, pointing at Hayden’s hands. “Good work.”

Hayden smiled.

“I’m glad you’re not the type of man who thinks little of something like this.”

Rylan shook his head.

“Effort should never be dismissed. You did what you had to do. That is all. It is because of that effort that you’re here today.”

Hayden’s smile widened. After some time, the announcer finally finished hyping up the crowd. Rylan glanced at the audience. Many had stood up and were waving their fists in the air with red faces as they shouted. Somehow, the noise had become even more deafening, and the atmosphere was boiling with anticipation. The announcer had been effective.

“Now,” the announcer shouted, looking at Rylan and Hayden, who drew their wands at the same time. The man walked to the edge of the arena with large, hurried steps and started climbing the stairs behind him. A blue mana barrier coalesced around the arena. It had taken shape as quickly as the previous ones, even though it was much bigger. “Begin!”

Rylan lowered his center of gravity and readied himself to shoot to the side. However, he stopped in place once Hayden didn’t even move and furrowed his brow in confusion.

“Since you’re a swordsman,” Hayden suddenly said, his voice sounding much louder now that the announcer had stopped speaking and the crowd’s voices were dying down. “Draw your sword.”

Rylan raised an eyebrow. The audience had quickly gone almost completely silent, as if trying to listen in.

“My sword?”

Hayden nodded. Rylan smiled.

“I might,” Rylan continued.

Hayden smiled back, his expression tinged with a savage edge.

“No, you will. I’ll make sure of it.”

They moved at the same time.