Evana Dean's POV

I came into the arena later than most. I had heard that there was to be a battle between the Sapphire Star and a random empire's child. Then I heard that Sir Home had arrived and officially commenced the Sapphire Star event while approving the battle.

However, I had to use the bathroom, and with the whole house of so-called important individuals in disarray, it was difficult to find it or a reliable servant. I didn't even see Mama, papa nor Julian; they must have come here a while ago.

I scanned around but couldn't find any free seats, so I leaned on the wall and studied the fight. The almost statue-like boy had a hand raised and uttered a few incantations before wind and fire magic welled up and collided with each other.

Dual elemental combination and casting is already an advanced skill; he is most definitely the Sapphire Star. It seems he wants to finish off his foe quickly, but is he trying to kill him?

Then I looked closer at the effeminate blonde figure that he fought against; my eye twitched. It was the boy that was trying to be poached by that Dragon; what a turn of events.

Unfortunately for him, he is up against the Sapphire Star, the boy chosen by Chaos. I overheard my father talking about this child; he is one of the few powerful people who knew of the child beforehand and believed that he was already as strong as an adventurer or empire servant.

This bout is like a pebble fighting a boulder; he has no chance of winning. My eye twitch turned into a frown as the pebble wordlessly summoned walls of ice, large enough to block off the inferno.

I stood straight and crossed my arms. What is he? A sorcerer?? As another kid? What is he doing in a one-on-one fight??

It's common knowledge that empires put their kids through near hellish training so they could become powerful, but incantationless magic is hard to grasp and even harder when used on such a large scale.

It saps far more mana when not properly trained, so it's seldom used in battle, so why is the pebble using it like it's nothing? The crowd clapped, and I caught the boy smiling. Who is this Damian...Simmons?

The two went at each other again; one would thrust, and the other would dodge. Damian used his staff to parry some of his weaker attacks and evaded his stronger ones; this opened his opponent up and allowed him to land more hits.

He wasn’t using any known fighting styles, nor was he even using a sword; the runt chose a staff.

But Damian was ahead; he was effectively beating the Sapphire Star, but this wasn't going to last.

Lucia Simmons POV

Am I dreaming? My little brother is beating the Sapphire Star. I knew I should have stayed with Damian; maybe then he wouldn’t be in this situation, but I don't blame him at the same time.

He must have been so upset and confused to see his companion be treated that way, and I am proud of him for trying to protect her...he has always been so mature.

The crowd groaned as Damian landed a hot kick on Dean's face. The Sapphire Star tumbled back but soon regained his composure; Damian's bloody grin widened.

Blood trailed from his nose; he wiped it and looked back at my brother with a scowl. Then his face contorted some more; he looked vexed, really vexed, but then he looked sorrowful.

His expressions almost reminded me of a toddler on the verge of a tantrum, but then his frowns softened, and he smiled slightly; then it grew wide before he burst into laughter.

Damian took a step back, his face filled with worry. His laugh didn't stop, though; it was long and heavy and was only drowned out by the murmurs from the crowd. Then he pointed at my brother and said hysterically, "I see, you are my first antagonist!"

"Ah yes, it makes sense!"

"I'm young, so I was given just you! Don't worry though, I'll be sure to take care of you well!"

"I doubt something as small as you should be important to the story".

My brother looked at his foe, perplexed, then surprised as he burst into another fit of laughter, but his expression and many others quickly changed as the Sapphire Star blitzed beside my brother with a singular step.

Some of the crowd stood up; my brother swiftly contorted his body to try and block off the oncoming attack, but he was far too late.

His body was sent flying by the heavily fortified mana punch; he landed and rolled down to the edge of the arena and began coughing hysterically while holding his side, notes of lightning left on his body. He tried to regain his footing but fell down again; the residual lightning coursing through his muscles seemed to almost cause it to spaz.

I began to shake slightly. I have to go save him; someone does. My mother covered her mouth, but the dread in her eyes was still visible. I noticed my father's knuckles had turned white, yet he kept a focused look.

I caught myself sending glances at Sir Home, almost in an attempt to make him notice and stop the fight. We couldn't pull out for Damian; you're basically considered an adult by the age of thirteen, so children like him are taught early.

So he also knows that when it comes to events like this, duels can only be stopped by the duelists or the referee.

I rested my back on the comfortably knit cushions of my chair and pressed the arm railings. Come on, Damian, just tap out.

Dean raised his hand as sharp spears of earth shot forward at my brother from all around him, but a powerful gust of wind formed around him, flinging the attack away.

Then I noticed more notes of lightning, Damian's lightning. His body surged with lightning, and he stumbled back to his feet, a pained grin clearly visible on his effeminate face.

"You've really taught me a nice trick there".

END OF CHAPTER 17.