Skysin Rillem-

"GOOO!!!!" The crowd all shouted.

When they did, I made my cutlass appear on my palm, and Elaine lowered her stance, prepared for combat. The question is…what's an adequate way for me to fight against her? It's obvious that I have an advantage when it comes to reach, but I doubt that'll hold Elaine back. Plus, if I get too close, she'll overtake me in close range.

However, I am faster…

With a resolute plan, I tapped my toes on the floor, then moved at high speeds, blitzing Elaine. Just as I surfaced in front of her, I noticed Elaine's cinnamon eyes broaden from surprise. Using it as leverage, I clinched the grip of my sword and swung down towards her head. But Elaine reacted swiftly, shifting to my left and shot a jab to my face.

I bobbed my head, narrowly dodging her fist and rotated, swiping my blade to her torso. Elaine bended back, completely avoiding my sword and brought her legs up, swinging her toes towards my chin. I lifted my head, barely dodging her kick as it drifted past my nose.

When Elaine stood once more, she lowered herself while spinning her body, brushing her foot across my ankles. Yet, I managed to leap over Elaine's leg, and veered my blade down diagonally. Elaine rolled on her back like a hedgehog, evading my blade as it sliced the ground open. She shot off to the air and performed a solid backflip, landing back onto the floor, setting herself back into a battle posture.

All while the crowd continued to roar from our small bout, "that was awesome!! These kids are fantastic!!"

"GO ELAINE!!"

"I'm sorry princess! But win SKYSIN!!"

Elaine's surely agile…even if I'm faster than her, I can't underestimate Elaine's reaction speed and nimbleness. But that's the bizarre part, I'm sure she couldn't track me, yet Elaine was able to act quickly. What's her kinetics?

Stirring up another ploy, I raised my arm, causing multiple tentacles of ice to sprout from the ground. As they all swayed and slithered in place, I unleashed them, all speeding over to Elaine.

Elaine backed away, jumping, spinning, weaving under my attacks. Although, I discerned a faint, yellow hue glow on Elaine's gauntlets. Before I knew it, masses of large yellow spheres emerged from thin air behind Elaine, causing my brows to furrow with question.

'What is that??' I cautiously asked myself.

As Elaine continued to circumvent through my frosted tentacles, she waved her arm, firing the spheres at high velocity towards me. My reflexes kicked in, eluding through the barrage of mini suns as I blocked some with my blade.

But I came to witness some stragglers smiting the ground, causing it to basically evaporate…

While I examined the damage from her kinetics, it clicked in my head. 'Wait…? Is this plasma?!' I questioned in my head.

Just as I dodged another ball of plasma, I looked up, unable to espy Elaine anywhere. However, I caught sight of a small shadow before me. I gazed at the sky, coming to see Elaine plummeting to me with her leg extended, coated in translucent aura. My eyes widened as I leapt back, allowing Elaine to collide into the ground, shooting debris of brick everywhere as smoke materialized.

I anxiously gulped, looking at the destructive force from her attack. Elaine's a heavy hitter for someone who looks so…ingenuous.

Promptly, another ball of plasma shot from the nebulous smoke, heading right towards me. When I weaved to the left dodging the sphere, Elaine was dead in front of me…

When she launched a fierce hook to my stomach, I briskly reacted, lifting my elbow to obstruct her fist. But Elaine resumed her bombardment of attacks, sending punches, kicks, elbows, and knees.

Elaine raised her leg into the air and slammed her heel down to my head. Just before it came into contact, I slid to the right as her foot crashed into the ground, then swept my blade towards her stomach.

Randomly, an unknown force made me loose grip of my weapon, causing me to grow dumbfounded. 'What the hell just happened??' I asked myself, staring at my palm in disbelief.

Before I could contemplate about anything else, I felt a heavy force strike my gut, propelling me back into the ground. I grasped my stomach as I stood, gasping for air. Her attack power is monstrous…

But I couldn't help but smile. Although I'm not the fondest of fighting in hand combat…still, it wouldn't hurt to see how I'd do against someone my age who's experienced in that area…

Elaine seemed to have noticed my idea and began to awkwardly fidget as she released a deep bow. In which I hummed in a questionable tone, maybe a sign of respect?

So, I followed suit, making a respectful bow. Next, Elaine took her stance again, and I did the same.

When we both dashed towards each other, I increased my speed exponentially, moving at the speed of sound. Just as I got behind her, I shot a rigorous hook to the side of Elaine's kidney. Just as my fist was about to land on target, Elaine turned around, catching me by surprise. She quickly swerved past my attack and chopped my wrist.

As she whirled another fist to my cheek, I ducked under her knuckles and sent an uppercut to her chin. But Elaine bobbed her head to the right, slightly dodging my attack. But I continued to follow through, blasting a knee to her stomach, knocking her from me.

This is weird though…the only people who can honestly react to me is dad, mom, and aunt Savitra, only because they're far stronger than me. Even Crim struggles to rival me when he uses his flames to match me in speed. I'm positive that Elaine couldn't act against me, but she did. If plasma is one of her kinetics, then what's the other?

When Elaine materialized another sphere of plasma, I created two sharpened lances of ice on either side of myself. We both fired our kinetics, shooting a chaotic barrage of plasma and ice. Then Elaine rushed and lunged to me, firing a punch at my nose.

I pivoted my foot, swiveling past her fist and high kicked Elaine's chest, projecting her into the air. But Elaine managed to fix herself and aimed her hand at me, producing a ray of plasma at me. I leapt to the left of her attack and made a javelin of ice on my hand, flinging it to her. To my surprise, Elaine actually caught it, and sent it back to me.

Fart baskets…

Before the javelin was about to thrash me, I made it disperse into nonexistence. And when Elaine landed, she dashed right to me, which I did the same, ready to end this battle. If I keep fighting like this, I won't hold out much longer…

When Elaine shot another punch to my face, I fell onto my knees, sliding under her arm and quickly stood, sending a kick to her back. Elaine maneuvered, twisting her body from my foot. Just as Elaine released another punch, I extended my arm to her chest, and made my cutlass teleport onto my palm, keeping the keen blade right by her neck. Causing Elaine to cease movement.

As we both gazed at each other taking heavy breaths, Elaine closed her eyes and showed a soft smile as she raised her arm.

"THE WINNER IS SKYSIN RILLEM!!!!" The announcer shouted in amazement.

While the crowd all roared, I made my cutlass disappear into my pocket dimension and extended my arm to Elaine. "That was really fun Elaine! You're very strong," I remarked with a bright smile.

Elaine grew a bit flustered as her cheeks flushed in red. She gently clasped my hand with both of hers, "th-thank you…" She timidly replied with a bow.

The announcer had teleported onto the stage and approached us, holding something behind his back. He lifted his arm, showcasing a grey sheathe with a katana inside. "Congratulations on your win, Mr. Rillem! This is your prize," the announcer grinned.

I smiled collecting it, "thank you mister!"

The man bowed then grasped my arm, lifting my hand into the air, "our winner of the preliminary matches! Skysin Rillem!!"

All the people had stood from their seats, jumping as they waved their arms into the sky.

"WAY TO GO SKYSIN!!"

"GREAT BATTLE KID!!"

"FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE!!!"

I can't lie, it's really astonishing to me. Hearing the crowd cheer, shouting my name… It feels great.

Elaine and I both walked to the gem, teleporting back into the box. Being greeted by Audrey, she gave us a hug, "that was amazing kids!!"

Raine patted my head, "you're quite the warrior kiddo! Would you like to be Elaine's personal guard??"

Elaine hastily grabbed Raine's large arm and tugged him, "father…please don't…"

Raine laughed it off, "hahaha, nonsense. Hell, I'll even allow marria— Audrey pinched his waist, interrupting Raine, "Raine, honey…they're only seven. In due time, of course…"

All I could do was stare at them; I had no words. All while Elaine's face grew beet red, even her ears changed into the same color.

When we returned to our seats, Elaine grew happy and ran over to Ru, wrapping her arms around Ru's waist. Which Ru let out a small smile as she embraced her. It seems Ru and Elaine are pretty close, like an aunt and niece of the sort.

While we had taken our seats, and Elaine sat next to me. Mom began kissing my cheek infinitely, causing me to grow embarrassed, "mom, please…" I groaned trying to move my head.

Mom only chuckled as she rubbed my head, "but you're just soo cyute~!"

As they all laughed, dad spoke, "it's about that time, are you ready Ru?"

Ru gave a firm nod, "of course brother."

When the announcer appeared on stage again, he seemed a bit anxious, "hello everyone, we've gained news that Rolland is still unconscious...so, Delilah Opherey will be placed in third."

"Heh…" I heard dad's disembodied voice give a light chuckle, until he grew silent when something heavy had hit him, probably mom…

The announcer continued, returning to his ecstatic tone, "But…now the event will finally begin!! For our first contenders, the…Mew-Man?" The announcer lifted a brow as he looked at a piece of parchment he held. After a sudden pause, he went on, "as for our other contestant, Ru Valorrey!!"

When Ru had stood and grabbed the blue sheathe of a katana beside her, both Elaine and I cheered in sync, "good luck Ru!"

Ru smiled as she walked to the gem, "thank you." Then she teleported onto the stage, standing before tall, muscular man. Wearing light leather armor over his body, having short black hair, and a long-tamed beard falling over his broad chest. For his weapon, a bronze-colored mace held in his palm.

Ru grasped the grip of her weapon, unsheathing a wonderful black katana, its blade similar to her obsidian-like eyes.

"BEGIN!!" The announcer shouted.

The man yelled fiercely, raising the mace over his head and slamming it down to Ru. Yet, she casually turned her body to the right, narrowly dodging the man's weapon as it clashed the floor, causing the ground to uplift in heaps of rock.

Ru leapt into the air and swept a kick onto the man's face. As he faltered back, Ru twirled her body and brought her blade down towards Mew-Man's head.

Mew-Man lifted his mace, using the pole to block Ru's attack. But Ru's pure strength cause the man to shoot back, crashing into the ground. While Ru stood there, as if not having a care in the world, the man created multiple spears of water.

He waved his arm, firing an onslaught of water spears at Ru. However, Ru maneuvered through all of them flawlessly, twisting her body as she leapt past the sharpened liquid. Her movement is beautiful, exquisite even. The way Ru moves is like an elegant ballerina. Or a blade of grass, flowing in a gentle breeze.

When Ru had entered striking distance once more, she kneed the man's stomach, making him lose grip of his mace. Then, Ru launched a sharp palm dead on his large nose, smacking him off the stage, and into the walls of the coliseum…

I was completely awestricken by Ru's battle. It was utterly one-sided, and the guy barely lasted fifteen seconds at most. If anyone's going to win this tournament, I bet it's Ru.

*****

Rolland Oreland-

I opened my eyes, staring at the shadowed brick ceiling above me. I noticed that I was laying on a soft, makeshift bed, made from cotton. When I sat up and gazed to my right, I noticed the sky above had grown darker, it must be the evening.

Then I looked out to the arena floor as the crowd roared and cheered, coming to see Ru Valorrey standing in the middle of the stage, her fist raised into the air proudly. She must've won the tournament…

THE TOURNAMENT?!!

I've been unconscious this entire time?!

"Son! You're ok!!" My father's voice rung in my ears with concern. I looked over my left, coming to see my dad on a seat, wiping his somewhat sweltering face with a small white cloth.

I clasped my forehead, trying to recall what occurred, but nothing appeared. "What…happened?" I slowly asked.

Dad spoke in a dejected tone, still wiping sweat of his cheeks, "you were…knocked unconscious by Skysin, son. You've been asleep the entire day."

My eyes broadened as I remembered my experience fighting against that girlish boy, Skysin Rillem…no, a monster!

I erected to my feet, "did Elaine win??" I hastily questioned.

Dad shook his head, "no, Skysin Rillem had won the preliminary match. And you were placed fourth, due to you being unconscious."

I clinched my fist out of spite, cursing inwardly to myself. 'How could I lose to such a dimwit…? I know I'm stronger than him. It's just a bad day is all…yeah, it happens to a lot of fighters,' I figured to myself.

As all the spectators began to leave, so did me and dad. But I still had this horrible taste in my mouth, losing so pathetically. Hopefully, Elaine won't view me differently.

While me and dad traveled through the halls of the coliseum, I came to see three children huddled together, deemed to be conversing. Delilah Opherey I assume, Elaine, and that monster, Skysin Rillem…

Elaine and I knew each other since we were five. We used to attend the same institute where they taught us how to battle, which is how I learned to handle my broadsword. However, due to an incident that transpired between another kid and Elaine…she decided to leave. But that didn't stop me from trying to pursue her.

Hastily, I approached them, trying to make sure Elaine wouldn't fall into the hands of such a vile, treacherous beast. "Elaine! Are you ok?!" I quickly questioned, standing before the three.

It sounded as if Elaine had vaguely squealed like a tiny mouse, growing a bit surprised from my appearance. Yet, she briskly fixed herself, "y-yes…are you, Rolland?"

I nodded, "yes, I'm fine."—I took a knee, extending my hand to Elaine— "you should come with me Elaine. This boy…Skysin's a danger to society!"

The three all stared at me like I was crazy, and Elaine only sat a finger on her lips as she looked at me with confusion. Causing me to grow a bit anxious, "wha…what's the matter Elaine??" I hesitantly asked.

"I think I might've hit you too hard…" Skysin remarked in an unconcerned tone, his violet eyes looking at me with a blank stare. In which, Delilah had let off a small chortle.

Then Elaine had shook her head, "I-I'm fine, Rolland."—Elaine released a brief nod— "But thank you for your concern, I hope your head feels better."

Elaine and Skysin had said their goodbyes to Delilah, then walked off towards the opposite way of the hall. Next, Delilah had bowed, "I'm sorry that you had missed the match. I hope your head gets better." Delilah spoke in an apologetic tone, walking away as well.

All I could do was watch Skysin and Elaine giggle with each other as they ambled down the hall. Making it feel as if I was slowly plunging into a large body of water.

Just as I was about to follow, I felt a man's hand grasp my shoulder. When I turned around, dad was already dragging me back with him. "Come on Rolland. You need to lay down, I think that head injury is messing with you."

*****

Skysin Rillem-

While Elaine and I walked through the halls with our family, a sudden question had emerged in my head. "Hey Elaine? How'd you react so fast?" I inquired with wonder.

"Oh, my other kinetic is telekinesis. You could say I made a small bubble of my kinesis to sort of pinpoint where you'll appear. It's also how I made you release your grip on your sword," Elaine explained.

It all makes sense now…it's pretty clever to come up with that. If she couldn't match my speed, she'd have to utilize other resources to at least predict my movements and actions.

"Have you learned any fighting techniques by chance? You seem very experienced in hand combat," Elaine remarked.

I gave off a bashful chuckle while scratching the back of my head, "hahaha, not at all…"

"Wh-What?!" Elaine exclaimed. "So, you're telling me…you did all of that based on instinct or something??"

"Yeah, pretty much," I shrugged my shoulders. "My parents only taught me the basics, just in case I didn't have a weapon with me."

Elaine simply tilted her head, staring at me in surprise as her cinnamon eyes gleamed from the amber gems installed in the ceiling.

After exiting the back of the coliseum, we approached two carriages waiting for us. Audrey informed us that taking the alternate exit wouldn't allow our walk to protract. Including, having to deal with other civilians. Since two large gates were parallel on either side, and the carriages blocked any view of citizens, we didn't have to worry about any people.

While everyone said their goodbyes, Ru patted my head, "once again, it was nice to meet you Sin."

"It's nice to meet you too Ru," I replied with a smile.

After telling Audrey, Raine, and Elaine goodbye, I walked off to the carriage where mom and dad waited for me. But just before I could take a step to the door, I felt a small hand clasp my wrist.

I rotated, looking at Elaine who had a crestfallen expression. "Um…"—Elaine slightly fidgeted— "Will we ever see each other again…?" She asked in a sorrowful tone.

I smiled and patted her head, "of course! Come by whenever you want Laine."

Elaine nodded with a smile as she released me "ok…"

After that, I entered the carriage with my parents, heading back home.

"So, did you enjoy the matches?" Dad asked as him and mom snuggled together.

"Yeah! It was awesome, and fighting against Elaine was great!"

Mom nodded, "I'm glad you enjoyed it. And you're pretty talented in hand-to-hand as well. I'm surprised you lasted so long against Elaine."

I'm shocked that I did as well. I would've lost if we kept fighting with bare hands alone. I had to use my cutlass at the end to finish the match. And she really packs a punch…I nearly lost my breath from her attack.

Dad then sat forward, sitting his elbows on his knees, "would you like to learn more?"

"Yeah!!" I responded without a second thought. I always thought hand combat was mediocre at best, especially with dad teaching me how to use a sword since I was practically a toddler. I figured I'd test out my own strength against Elaine, just to see how far I'd get. But it turns out to be very exceptional, and it really caught my interest.

Dad chuckled, "hahaha, I'll ask a friend if he can teach you. I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem."

"Ok!" I cheered from dad's words, and looked out the window, gazing at the wonderous array of luminescing stars in the darkened sky.

Things just keep growing to become more exciting, and when I'm strong, and old enough. I think I'll go on a fantastic adventure, just to explore the planets. And I can't wait for when that time comes…