“Huh, seems like some of Rouclier's 3rd years show some promise this time.”, Fortescue mentioned derisively, but Calros ignored his snide remark and decided to counter with a taunt of his own.
“Oh, is that so? Well, the next round will be between your students and mine, right? Let's see if your trainees can deliver after all that boasting of yours!”
However, Fortescue just smugly leaned back in his seat before answering:
“We will see indeed, won't we?”
Corvo, Mira, and Crevier moved the front-rows of the viewer-ranks, as those among the cadets of Rouclier who did not participate in the tournament had managed to reserve some seats for those waiting for their next fight. After they were congratulated for their first win, they sat down, with Mira making sure that she was sitting next to Corvo, but not next to Crevier, as though she did appreciate his help until now, she was still not able to completely forgive him for trying to hurt her friends. Crevier noticed this, but chose not to comment on it, but Corvo was too focused on the two groups entering the arena.
“Imperial Majesties and Her Holiness, Ladies and Gentleman! The Quarter-Finals go into the 3rd round! From the East-Gate, once more, a team from Rouclier! Give it up for Team Riddar!”, yelled the announcer, as Sean, Brom, and Eleonora stepped onto the platform.
The crowd around Corvo erupted in applause and cheers, to which Mira, Crevier, and he himself joined in.
“And from the West-Gate, coming from the Lanceur Academy, give it up for Team Piaget!”
This time, however, the students of Rouclier did not join in on the thundering applause of the other viewers, as was to be expected. Unlike Corvo's and Sean's team, Team Piaget seemed to consist only of damage dealers, which confused Corvo.
“Huh. What do you think about those guys from Lanceur?”, Corvo asked his friends, and Mira was the first to answer him.
“Eh, they don't look like much, especially since they neither have a tank, nor a healer. This is probably going to be over rather quickly!”
Corvo knew what she meant, as it looked like the team consisted of a mage, which seemed to be the one named Piaget, some sort of rouge, and a warrior who was only equipped with a rapier.
“I am afraid so, though maybe not how you think.”, Crevier added as he looked at the team.
“What do you mean? Do you really think that Sean and Eleonora wouldn't be able to deal with them with Brom's help?”, Mira asked him angrily, as she felt that his comment had insulted her friends.
“I did not imply that our friends were lacking in skill, though I admit that I fear they lack in preparation for such an opponent. Not all teams need to be balanced in such a way as ours, and if Riddar and the others are not careful, we may see the living proof of this today. However, I saw Riddar's ability to adapt on the fly first-hand, so I am optimistic to meet him in the half-finals later today.”
“Eh, you worry too much, I'm sure they got this.”, Mira replied dismissively, though no longer angry, as Crevier's correction of his previous words had calmed her down.
However, Corvo could hear him add, almost inaudibly, that he would still prepare a strategy for the other team as well, just in case.
As both teams had stepped on the arena, the announcer spoke up again:
“Team-Captains, you know the deal! Step forward and shake hands!”
Sean took the hand of Piaget, who seemed to whisper something to him, which seemed to cause Sean to become slightly irritated as he stepped back.
“GET READY! 3...2...1! FIGHT!”
As soon as the fight started, Sean's team began to move towards their opponents, as Sean started to buff his team. However, before they managed to make contact with the other team, their team captain aimed a spell at the floor right before their feet, which caused an enormous dust cloud to expand outwards from where it had hit. Within seconds, the entire arena was shrouded in a thick dust cloud, which made it impossible to see what happened within.
However, the announcer immediately managed to appease the disgruntled spectators.
“Dear viewers, worry not, despite the visibility issues caused by the spell which was cast by Cadet Piaget, my eyes are still able to follow every move done by the contestants, and I will relay them to you as soon as they happen! The dust definitely managed to fulfil its purpose, as Team Riddar no longer knows where their opponents are!”
Meanwhile, in the spectator seats, Mira, among other cadets of Rouclier, began to loudly question the fairness of such a spell. However, their cries were ignored, and the clashing of metal could be heard from within the dust-cloud.
“And the sound of the first attack rings throughout the arena, as Cadet Riddar masterfully blocks the blade of Cadet Rodier, the duelist from Lanceur, who had aimed for his throat before vanishing in the dust once more!”
More sounds of metal against metal began to fill the arena, before the announcer called out again.
“Three flying daggers make their way towards Squire Galahad, the aspiring paladin of Team Riddar, courtesy of Lanceur's assassin, Cadet Gallois. All three were blocked, though a fourth one, which was secretly thrown from a different angle, found its target, cracking the pendant of Spire Galahad, though he is not yet out of the fight!”
Shouts could be heard from within the cloud, which Corvo recognised as coming from Sean. Shortly after, the sound of spells being activated followed.
“Cadet Riddar tries to get his team to meet up in the middle of the arena, though only Cadet Boreas, the Ranger and third member of Rouclier's team manages to reach him, as Squire Galahad gets hit by a barrage of Arcane Missiles, which despite him managing to block some of them, boot him out of the competition, as his pendant was turned to dust.”
“WHAT!”, Mira shouted, as the three watched Brom appear outside of the arena, next to one of the combat-medics standing-by outside of the combat zone, as he was probably the one who removed him from the arena.
“Cadet Rodier tries to take advantage of the confusion and goes in for the kill on Cadet Boreas, though he is not only anticipated, but taken out himself, as Cadet Riddar managed to increase her visibility with the help of his bard-skills! With 1 team-member out on each side, it is anybody's guess who will manage to win this fight!”
Mira started to cheer, and Crevier nodded approvingly, before adding:
“As I said, he is quick in his decision making.”
However, before anything else could be said, the sound of metal rang out once more, as did the sound of spells being cast. Then, there was silence.
“AND WE HAVE A WINNER! Medics, please clear the area!”
One of the medics started to cast a spell, and the dust began to settle, revealing Eleonora and Sean sitting defeated on the floor with their pendants shattered, and Piaget and Gallois standing a few steps away from them, raising their weapons in victory.
“In a display of perfect cooperation, Cadet Piaget and Cadet Gallois managed to take out both of their opponents at the same time. Though only a few of you may have been able to see what happened, I hope my commentary managed to paint you a proper picture of this rather unusual fight. Now, give it up for the winners of the 3rd round: TEAM PIAGET!”
“DAMN IT ALL!”, Sean yelled as he punched the wall of the waiting room with his fist, only to quickly regret his action as he had hurt his knuckles.
“Calm yerself, Sean. There's nothing tah be done about it.”, Brom called out to him as he inspected his damaged hand. Seeing a nothing was broken, he decided to leave it be, as though he could heal it, using miracles to heal minor injuries went against his believes.
“How can I calm down after this? First that prick mocks us, then they wipe the floor with us with underhanded tactics. It's not fair!”, Sean said as he leaned on the wall with his back and sunk slowly to the floor.
Eleonora knelt next to him and laid her hand on his shoulder.
“Come on, it's not over yet. Corvo and Mira are going to go against them next, and since they now know what they will be dealing with, there's no chance that they'll lose.”
Sean sighed deeply, before rising back to his feet.
“Yeah, you're right. Let's go upstairs and meet up with them.”
After joining with the others, the 6 started to rant about how unfair the fight had been, and what Corvo, Mira, and Crevier should do once they got their chance to deal out revenge. Their plotting lasted only for a minute, as the final round of the quarterfinals finished much sooner than anticipated, and they were interrupted by the words of the announcer.
“INCREDIBLE! THIS HAS TO BE A NEW RECORD! Winners of the 4th and final round of the Quarterfinals: GIVE IT UP FOR TEAM MARTINET FROM JAUNPéE!”
The three unarmed fighters raised their right fist into the air in victory, before lowering them to their heart, turning their gesture of triumph into a polite bow, before leaving the arena.
“Damn, we became too occupied with our fight ahead, so we missed the opportunity to see what our potential opponents for tomorrow had up their sleeves.”, Crevier cursed.
“Eh, it doesn't matter, we still get to see them at least once, right?”, Corvo reassured him.
“Hm...true, I guess.”
Before anyone else could at to their conversation, the announcer called out to the spectators once more.
“Imperial Majesties and Her Holiness, Ladies and Gentleman! Today we got the opportunity to get a glimpse of what the next generation of our Empire's guardians have to offer, but we are not done yet! After a two hour break, we will return with the first round of the Semifinals, where Team Crevier from Rouclier will face off against Team Piaget of Lanceur! I hope to see you then! Peace!”, the announcer concluded and raised his right hand, his index- and middle-finger forming a V, before vanishing with the help of the