Chapter 8

Matteo Samoq approached Kyle and Ladd on the bleacher stands and sat next to them. He yawned.

Sylvie Wiosenne barely spared him a glance, but the two boys between them stared. He yawned again. Kyle and Ladd looked at each other.

“You should’ve said something if you were Lin’s cousin.” Matteo covered his mouth this time. Kyle leaned forward to stare at him from behind Ladd, who was openly glaring. Kyle nudged him with his shoulder.

Matteo took a swig from his water bottle. Ladd slid away from him. Matteo frowned. “What.”

“You’re my opponent.” The kid put his arms up, crossing them in front of him.

“Oh, yeah? Is that how you treat the guy who rescued you?”

“Linette rescued me.”

Matteo lowered his water bottle. “You realize your friend here wouldn’t be sitting with us right now if it weren’t for me, right?” He paused. “Why didn’t you do anything? Back then.”

“Do what? Fight?”

“You’re a Water mage. You should have been able to take those idiots. You’re even in the Tournament, you know?”

“I was weak before.”

“Oh, ho. So, you’re saying you changed that much in two months?”

Ladd nodded. “I can protect him now.” His hand reached for Kyle’s.

“What are you talking about?” Kyle debated pushing Ladd’s hand away. He was so weird sometimes.

“Don’t worry.” Ladd squeezed. Kyle made a face at him but decided to leave it alone.

Director Wiosenne waited a few moments longer before breaking her silence.

“Are neither of you going to introduce your friend to me?”

Ladd flinched in his seat. “What friend!?”

“Yeah, what friend.” Matteo echoed, cold. He peeked at the Director from the corner of his eye. “Matteo Samoq.” He stretched a hand across the two students. “Everyone calls me Theo.”

The Director smiled and shook his hand. He retracted it quickly.

“Good to meet you, Theo.”

* * *

Linette’s chest heaved. She took a long breath in through her nose and blew it out in a strong puff of air.

That was one down.

Her senses registered the crowd cheers, and she smiled. Aria Stock was still kneeling on the platform. Linette walked up to her and offered a hand to help her up. Aria took it with a loud slap, her drenched sleeve spraying Linette’s hand. Aria stood, and the referee came up to them.

“All clear?” The two contestants nodded, and Lana Romeio smiled. “Outstanding performance, Bathory.” Linette let her take her hand and swing it up. The cheers doubled in volume.

Lana patted Aria’s back. “Good game. You played well.” Aria sniffled, the excess water on her face irritating her. She tried to wipe some of it off, but her sleeve just transferred more water. She laughed.

“I knew this was going to happen as soon as I saw the line up.” She faced Linette. “Congrats.”

“Thanks.” Linette felt the urge to curtsy, but she settled for tucking her hair behind her ear.

“See you at one,” the referee tapped Linette’s shoulder and then walked away. Linette pursed her lips, huffed out more air, and nodded. She waved to the stands as she strolled off the arena stage.

“Damn,” Matteo whistled. He watched her exit and stood up. Ladd pinched his arm. “Ow.” He looked down at the child, who was slouching further into his seat. “What was that for?”

“Don’t say bad words.”

“What?” Matteo stared at him for a few seconds, then scoffed. “Whatever. Are you staying here?”

“Yeah.”

“Why, you wanna watch Cedric? Or Tulie?”

“Sure.”

Matteo raised an eyebrow at him but said nothing more. He slipped away from the stands. Kyle followed him.

“I’m gonna go nap. Enjoy the next round.”

Ladd nodded. Ladd napped, too, instead of watching Cedric Maikel take Tulie Freceas down. He woke when someone shook his shoulder.

“Wha...” Ladd sat up groggily.

“Hey.” Tristan Efaz grinned at him.

Ladd wiped the drool from his mouth. “What time is it.”

“Twelve-forty. Are you skipping lunch?”

“Oh... I meant to watch...” He rubbed his eyes. “I’m hungry.”

“Go eat. I'll save your seat.”

Ladd rushed to the food court and back, bringing the warm container with him.

“What’d you get?”

Ladd popped off the lid, revealing spaghetti and meatballs. Tristan glanced between Ladd’s happy face and the food.

“You’re such a child.”

“Yeap.”

Ladd shoved forkfuls into his mouth, slowing only when the contestants stepped onto the platform, but not for that reason. Matteo was causing a stir trying to get through the stands before they started. He almost growled at Tristan.

“That’s my seat.”

“Is it?” Tristan looked at Ladd.

“Nope. It’s Tan’s seat now.”

“...Shove over.” Matteo pushed his knees into Ladd’s and claimed Kyle’s seat for himself. “I don’t have time for this...” he muttered to himself.

“You should’ve come earlier.”

Matteo ignored him.

Linette and Cedric shook hands, and Lana stepped aside to the edge of the stage.

“Go.”

The match was over in less than fifteen minutes. Linette tried not to look pitying when she shook Cedric’s hand again.

“You’re a beast,” he said in admiration.

She wiped the sweat off her lip.

“I appreciate the compliment...?”

“Good.” He flashed a smile and moved out of the way while she took her spotlight moment.

“Linette Bathory, winner Day One!” Lana beamed at the crowd. She whispered to Linette. “Sounds like they’re happy to see your victory.”

“Yeah? I think they’re happy to go back early.”

“Ahaha! Maybe that, too.” Lana put out her hand. “I can’t wait to see what you pull off on Thursday.”

Linette’s face let slip some of her worry.

“Hm?”

“Ah... well. You’ll see. I hope for good results, too.”

“I’m sure you’ll do great.” Lana waved once more before leaving. Linette looked up, searching the stands. She gave up after a few seconds. There was no way she’d see her friends from here.

Linette walked, then ran off the platform and joined the throng leaving the Arena. She headed to the practice room in the study labs and waited outside Tristan’s reserved room. Her entire face lit up when the group approached.

“What are you all doing here?” She glanced between Ladd, Kyle, Matteo, and Tristan.

“The same thing you are–” Matteo’s response was cut off as Ladd bumped past him and jumped on Linette. She braced for impact and caught him in her arms.

“Hi, there!” Her smile scrunched up her nose and eyes.

“You were so cool!” Ladd gushed, squeezing her.

“Yeah?” She gripped his arms and set him to stand straight, signaling for him to let go. He was too busy being happy to argue, for once. “So, you’re all together?” She looked at Matteo.

“Yeah.” He inched closer. Just a little. Tristan pushed him from behind.

“Hey-”

“This one wants a hug, too.”

“Huh!? No, I don’t!” Matteo’s voice rose in panic.

“Don’t be silly,” Linette scolded the oldest. She waved. “Hi, Kyle.”

“Oh. Me, too?”

“Didn’t you come to say hi?”

“I... just followed everyone. But sure, hi.” He stretched out his hand. She laughed and shook it.

“Is anyone practicing today?” Tristan brushed past the kids and unlocked the door. They streamed in, checking in with each other. They settled on no. “Okay, then. I’ll go get some snacks. You all chill here.”

“Okay.” The rest of the students pulled out chairs from the stack on the wall and arranged themselves around the table while Tristan slipped back out.

* * *

“Matteo Samoq, year two?”

“Yes.”

“Norman Gings, year three?”

“Yes.”

“Both of you are still at Level 2, correct?”

“Yes.” They answered together.

“Okay, then. Whenever you’re ready.” Lana put her hand in front of her, and the two contestants clasped each other’s at the indicated point. Lana jogged to the side while they separated, each judging the distance as they liked.

“Go.”

Matteo Created his Water at lightning speed, and Norman dodged. They continued for several rounds in this way, about an hour and twenty minutes, until Norman could no longer pull the Water out of Matteo’s control. The scores hit in quick succession. Lana blew her whistle and returned to the center of the stage.

“Great work, boys.” She reached for Matteo’s hand. “That was perfect execution, Theo.” Lana raised the winner’s arm, and he bit back a smug smile. He walked off, exhausted but proud.

Lana Absorbed the Water on the stage and went to the side to grab a bite of her protein bar before the next tournament. Stewart Calfenowe came to find her.

“Good morning, Professor,”

“Good morning, Miss Romeio. And good work.”

“Ah, it’s all fine. The kids are behaving.” She took a swig of coffee from her canteen. “Although I’m surprised how many second-years made the cut this time. They’re more powerful than I remember from my time, too.”

“I was telling Margarette something similar at the beginning of the school year. The students are extremely impressive.”

“Hm.” She smiled with a glint in her eye. “But not as much as you, huh?”

He turned to face her. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“Oh, come on. No one else comes close to your talent. Fastest Water mage in Academy history to reach Level 2. What was it, four months? And you totally devastated the Tree daughter.”

“You should keep watching. My record was broken.”

“You mean the first-year?”

“Mm-hm.”

Lana sat up straighter. “I’m curious about him.”

“You should be.”

“Aw, come on. You’re not going to tell me anything? At all?”

“I can’t affect your work. Just watch the kids.”

“Tsk. Fine.” She chuckled. “I guess I have no choice.” She stood and stretched her back, glancing one last time at the enormous clock on the north side of the Arena. “I’ll see you.” Lana stepped out of her corner and strolled to the platform, running the last-minute double-checks with the maintenance crew. The one at the front gave her a thumbs up, and she mirrored it. She turned her head to the two students waiting at the side and beckoned them to join her.