Chapter 52: Two Against One
Reynold just stood outside Silla’s ring without entering. His eyes were steady on her. With Reynold’s eyes on her, Silla froze. Her bandaged arm was trembling slightly from the earlier fights. Sweat were dripping from her forehead and mixing with the dirt on her face. She held her breath, her sword suddenly feeling heavy in her hand. She did not not dare to move.
Reynold’s eyes shifted from the blood-soaked bandage on her shoulder to her exhausted face. He did not bother to step into the ring. After a long pause, a small smile appeared on his cold face, the first real smile since the challenges started.
The crowd were stunned seeing the smile. Silla blinked, her wide eyes meeting Reynold’s. She had seen him around the academy, in classes and halls, but they never spoken to each. Relief washed over her, and she exhaled deeply, returning the smile with a tired one of her own.
As Reynold turned away, Silla licked her dry lips and slumped against the ring’s barrier, using it to prop herself up. Her legs buckled from fatigue, but she did not care. "Finally," she whispered to herself, closing her eyes for a brief moment.
A highborn in the stands scowled as he clenched his fists. "What is he playing at? Toying with the highborns now?"
Reynold did not stop. He walked straight to Jaxson’s ring next. Jaxson straightened as best as he could, his body was wrapped in more bandages than Silla’s. He has cuts on his arms, a gash across his chest from holding off multiple challengers. His mind was filled with questions, but he gripped his sword tighter, forcing a steady stance.
Reynold nodded, his voice low but clear. "You fought like hell out there. Held your ground. Impressive"
Jaxson’s tense shoulders suddenly relaxed as a smile broke through his pain. "Thanks, man. Means a lot coming from you."
Reynold’s smile back for a second before he moved on. Jaxson pumped his fist in a subtle "yes," his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on his girlfriend, Mara. She was in the lowborn section, her face lit with pride. Jaxson blew her a kiss, and she blew one back, her cheeks flushing. He licked his lips, savoring the moment, a smile of joy showing on his tired face.
The arena started to buzz with fresh murmurs.
"He is sparing the lowborns?"
"About damn time someone teach those highborn counts lesson."
Under everyone’s eyes, Reynold turned and headed straight toward Briar Coldwater’s ring. Briar was still maintaining his stand, his posture were perfect, broad shoulders squared, chin high, he was exuding the effortless confidence of someone who had never been touched all day.
The crowd erupted into another murmur. "There it is! He is going for Briar Coldwater."
A lowborn voice sounded with satisfied. "Thann the flame. These highborn pricks have been lording over us for years. They been bullying and rigging everything. Time they taste their own poison."
Reynold stepped into the ring without hesitation. Briar snorted coldly, his eyes narrowing. "What in the flames’ name are you trying to prove, Starweaver?"
Reynold shrugged, his voice loud enough for people outside the ring to hear. "Maybe nothing. Or maybe I am just reminding you highborns that you don’t own this academy. No one should get stepped on because of where they come from."
He paused, letting the words sink in. "Or hell, maybe I am making this challenge fair. Looks like only certain people get targeted while others sit pretty. Kinda stinks of favoritism, don’t you think?"
The crowd gasped, as shock showed on their faces. Highborn faces flushed with embarrassment. Reynold Starweaver was stepping on their pride. His words even hit them like a slap.
Kael, still outside the rings, went pale. He stumbled back, looking for a seat, his hands shaking.
Ruling the academy and keeping the lowborns in line was their birthright. But since Reynold showed up, the system was changing and it terrified them.
One highborn kicked at the ground, cursing under his breath. "Fucking lowborn scum thinks he can rewrite the rules."
Briar chuckled and in mocking tone, he raised his voice for all to hear. "Not my fault no one’s got the balls to challenge me or any of us highborns. And it js not my fault we run this place. It’s been that way since before we got here. The Foundation has been laid and it is solid. Why mess with what is working?"
Hearing this, the lowborns snorted in disgust, their faces twisting. Briar’s confidence annoy them.
Reynold tilted his head. "Well, if you do not think it is time to change that rotten foundation..."
Briar laughed again. "Change it? Why? It was built for a reason, to remind everyone who belongs where. And do not make it sound like a bad thing. It is the same in every academy, even in the whole world. Highborns have the upper hand. Always have, always will. No reason to change that."
His tone carried that intimidating edge, like a true dragon rider.
Reynold’s eyes darkened. "I got a problem with it when it treats some like animals and others like kings. Everyone matters here. That foundation is ridiculous. Don’t you agree?"
Just then, a voice shouted from outside the ring. Jt was a magic user, his words echoing through the air. "What is there to change? The system is perfect as it is!" The atmosphere shifted instantly, as chill wind started whipping up. Everyone became tensed.
He is an air mage and he was summoning wind that howled around the arena. Dust flew, forcing people to shield their faces.
The mage, Zephyr Gale, grinned wickedly, his hair fluttering in the self-made wind.
Reynold glanced at Briar. "Tell your boy to stay out of this."
Briar smirked. "Why should I? You broke the rules first by challenging rep after rep. If you can bend ’em, so can I." He paused. "If you have got the guts, take us both on. Me and Zephyr. That is the only way I will accept your little crusade."
Reynold’s eyes shifted between Zephyr and Briar. "If I accept, that means I use my magic."
Briar eyed Zephyr, who nodded eagerly, the wind dying down. Briar turned back. "Fine. Bring it."
The crowd gasped became louder than before, a thunderous roar of shock and excitement.
Zephyr strode into the ring, cracking his knuckles.
The official hesitated, looking at Reynold. "You sure about this, cadet?"
Reynold nodded firmly.
"Begin!"
Even before the official voice landed, Zephyr was the first to struck, winds started swirling around Reynold alone, blinding him with dust, making Reynold unable to see. Reynold squinted his eye while holding his sword defensively.
The rules also shifted , no more who draws the first blood. Now it was who yields first.
Briar seized the opportunity, lunging with his sword. Reynold did not see it coming. The sword slashed his shoulder, drawing a deep cut. Reynold hissed, holding the wound as blood seeped through his fingers.
Briar and Zephyr snorted in unison. "What is wrong, Starweaver? Lowborn luck run out?" Zephyr taunted.
"Pathetic. Thought you were special," Briar added, smirking.
Before Reynold could counter, the winds intensified, Zephyr’s hair standing on end as he channeled more power. A red glow erupted around him like a raw energy. "Now, Briar!" he shouted, directing the surge to Briar.
Briar swung his sword, channeling the energy into a blazing arc that hurtled toward Reynold.
Reynold’s sword was on the ground from the fall. He dove aside just in time, grabbing it as the blast cratered the spot where he had stood. The impact shook the ring, forcing students nearby to scramble back.
The crowd gasped. The Highborns were smiling now, their earlier embarrassment was forgotten like it did not happened. "What you gonna do now, bastard?" one of them yelled.
"Starweaver is done!" another cheered.
The Lowborn started murmuring too.
"Knew the highborns would cheat their way out."
"Can he take ’em both? He’s gotta."
"Doesn’t matter, he is already proven he’s one of us."
As the murmur continues, Zephyr summoned a gale that lifted Reynold off his feet, slamming him onto his back against the hard ring floor. Pain shot through him, but he pushed up, gritting his teeth.
Briar snorted, mocking. "What now? Power fail you, lowborn?" He paused, tsk-tsking dramatically. "Gotta give it to you, though, you’re unique. Impressive, even for a scrub."
Reynold held his bleeding shoulder. "If you’ve got the guts, let’s take this to an open field. Students three hundred feet back so no one gets hurt. That way, no holding back. You’ll see what real power looks like."
Zephyr snorted. "Still got mouth, huh? Yield now, or I won’t hold back in the open."
Reynold shot back. "Neither will I. So, what is it gonna be?"
Zephyr grinned. "We’re in."
Briar hesitated, with doubt showing on his face. What was the Starweaver planning?
Reynold mocked him. "Scared now, Coldwater?"
Briar sneered. "You wish. Let’s end this."
The crowd held their breath as the three stepped out and heading for the open field. The crowd followed them, with a mix of fear and also anticipation.
Reynold’s shoulder was still bleeding a little but he did not care.