The school festival finally started today.
It's noisier than usual today.
There was kids running around, students and adults crowding the area.
Colorful banners were hanging from every corner, and the smell of food's filling the air.
Some students were shouting over each other, stalls lined the walkways, and the air smelled like grilled food and sugar. I didn't really know where to start, so I just walked around.
Some stalls were selling food, others were running games or showing each club's specialty.
I tried a few things, such as takoyaki, some weird sweet drink, and fried noodles. They all tasted good, I guess.
Everyone seemed to be having fun. I didn't really understand why it was that exciting, but it was nice watching them smile.
Earlier, I remembered heading to the gymnasium with the three of m classmate.
There was a haunted house held there. The lights were dark, and they had fake fog machines running. Even the smell is abnormal. It smells like... abandoned old building.
The first thing that happened was a corpse dummy falling from the ceiling.
Serene screamed so loud it startled me more than the dummy did.
Maria ran up to it, pointing at the fake blood. "Wow! The makeup's amazing! Look at the detail!"
Caleb just stood there pretending to be calm. "It's… it's fine. Not scary at all." His voice cracked halfway through.
I just watched quietly. I didn't really get it. People kept popping out from corners and screaming. It made me jumped a little, but that's all. I don't really understand why people liked it.
When we got out, Serene seems the most lifeless out of all of us, and I parted ways with them.
I headed toward the arena for Rondon's annual championship.
The whole place was much more packed than the other areas.
I could heard the crowd already cheering, even though the matches hadn't started yet. I could hear the announcer's voice echoing through the speakers, introducing the participants one by one.
Backstage was noisy, but I found an empty chair and sat down.
I tried to relax, though something felt… off. Like I'd forgotten something important. I wonder what that is.
I went through the list in my head.
Uniform? Check.
ID tag? Check.
Warm-up? Check.
I even tied my shoelaces tight.
So what was it?
I frowned, staring at the floor. No matter how much I thought about it, nothing came up.
Until, the other participant finished his fight.
The crowd roared as the announcer declared the winner, and the sound echoed through the arena.
Then it was my turn.
When my name was called, I stepped onto the stage.
The lights were bright, and the air was tense.
Everyone's eyes were on me. I don't think I have a stage fright or anything, though.
I took a deep breath, ready to fight.
And right there, I noticed what exactly did I forget.
My hands were empty.
I blinked, stared at them for a second, then at my opponent's sword. The realization hit me like a slow punch to the face.
Right. I forgot Luis's sword.
From the stands, I could spot Runa and Luis with their hands over their faces.
The trio, too, each had their own reactions. One laughed from the amusement, one laughed from boldness. The other sighed.
The announcer's voice suddenly boomed over the speakers.
"Uh— participant Allen Carolen appears to be unarmed! You may still walk out of the ring within the next ten seconds to forfeit the match!"
Ten seconds, huh.
I stood there, thinking. Do I surrender… or fight bare-handed?
Honestly, the answer was easy.
I can't just wait for another year to come around. I'm afraid that if I were to waste any more time, the person responsible for my memory loss might not even be around anymore.
Or maybe, my real family might have given up on me by then.
Or even worse, I might had already lose my interest and curiosity one year later.
I shouldn't let this opportunity go wasted. With or without sword....
"Time's up!" the announcer said. "The match begins!"
My opponent looked at me, his sword raised. "You sure about this? You don't even have a weapon."
I shook my head. "Not really."
He lunged at me.
His movement was slow.
My hand slappoed his blade to the side. There was a sharp crack, and the sword was in two pieces, the broken tip clattering onto the floor.
The entire arena went silent.
I looked at my hand, then at the sword halves. "...Huh."
"…Sorry about that, I didn't mean to break it." I said.
Before he could reply, I stepped forward and punched him in the chest.
He flew backward.
Literally flew, landing outside the ring with a thud that echoed through the arena.
Silence.
For a few seconds, no one said anything.
"Did I hit him that hard? I'm sorry."
Then, the entire crowd erupted at once, the noise shaking the air.
"WHAT A FINISH!" the announcer shouted, voice breaking through the cheers. "Allen Carolen advances to the next round!"
I blinked. "Oh. Cool."
I turned and walked back toward the backstage area. Everyone was staring as I passed by — some whispering, some wide-eyed.
One of the other contestants stepped forward, grinning. "Hey man, that was crazy! What's your ability? Strength enhancement? Energy burst?"
I tilted my head. "I don't have one."
There was a pause, then the group burst out laughing.
"Hah! Good one!"
"Yeah, sure, no ability. Biggest lie in history!"
I just nodded. "I was lying? I'm sorry."
They kept laughing while I sat down again, wondering if maybe I really was supposed to have one. And maybe I really do have strength enhancing ability. But the truth is, I didn't feel any different.
A while later, it was time for the second round.
I walked back to the stage.
This time, I remembered that I still didn't have Luis's sword. I thought about snapping another one, but after trying a light tap on the opponent's blade before the match, it didn't even bend.
Guess that trick wasn't happening again.
When the signal started, my opponent swung his sword fast.
I dodged, leaning back just enough for it to miss my ears.
What do you call a pear without an ear? Pearless.
Another swing came, and I weaved to the side.
It became a pattern. Step, duck, weave, sidestep...
I wasn't thinking much, just moving. The crowd started gasping each time the blade barely missed me.
Then, his swing went too far. It overextended.
I stepped in close, grabbed his arm, and twisted it.
The sword flew out of his hand.
I threw him over my shoulder. His back slammed into the ground hard.
Before he could react, I kicked his sword away and sent him rolling out of the arena.
The referee froze for a second, then raised his hand. "Winner — Allen Carolen!"
The crowd cheered again.
I scratched my head. "That was a hard one."
The arena got louder with every round that passed. When my name was called again, the cheering almost hurt my ears.
I stepped onto the stage and faced my next opponent.
He looked serious. Tight grip, good stance, amazing core....
This guy might be very competent.
The announcer shouted for the match to begin, and we both moved.
He swung first, fast and clean, the blade whistling through the air. I leaned aside, the edge passing so close I felt the wind brush my shirt.
The crowd gasped.
"Who is that kid?" someone shouted. "What ability is he using?"
Another voice shouted from their seats, "Maybe super speed, or even self-enhancing ability!"
Somewhere higher up, a woman's voice cut through the noise. "It's… almost like watching the Sword Delegate in his early days."
People turned toward her, surprised.
"What? You mean him?" a man argued. "He's not even using a sword!" He pointed toward the stage. "If anything, this looks more like the rebirth of the Flame-Bearer!"
Then, my opponent moved again. A sideways slash aimed for my hips.
I twisted my body and spun, letting the blade pass just under me.
My leg came up in a crescent kick, aiming for his shoulder.
He blocked it in time — the impact made a loud clang.
The crowd went wild.
Unbeknownst to me however, near the edge of the stands, a person wearing a hooded robe is watching quietly. He mumbled, voice low but calm.
"Those movements… they're natural. No ability. Pure strength and instinct."
The gray long-haired lady sitting beside him glanced over. "Excuse me, sir. Your voice sounded familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?"
The robed man didn't look at her. "You're imagining things."
I didn't know what they were talking about, and I didn't care. My opponent lunged again, and I stepped back, letting the sword scrape the floor.
Then I kicked.
A back kick, hard and fast, aimed on his stomach.
He blocked it with his blade, but it did sent him backwards for a few meter.
The impact snapped the sword in half, the sound echoing through the arena.
He froze, staring at what was left of his weapon, then sighed and raised his hand. "I surrender."
The crowd erupted again, louder than before.
I exhaled, scratching the back of my head. "Hooray."
He walked up to me, and we shook hands.
"Good match," he said, smiling weakly.
"Yeah," I said. "Sorry about the sword. Didn't mean to break it."
He laughed nervously. "...You can pay for it later."
The crowd kept chanting my name as I left the stage. I still didn't really understand what the big deal was — but it felt like the air had shifted.
Like people were starting to see something in me that I couldn't see myself.
And finally, final round had presented itself before us.
The arena is definitely louder than before.
Some people that didn't even want to see the tournament ended up seeing it anyway.
You could feel the excitement in the air.
Even from backstage, I could hear people shouting my name, along with one other.
I didn't really know why, though. All the moves I did, everyone can do it. It's not anything special.
When I stepped onto the stage, I saw my opponent already there.
Gaiden, they said.
Someone from my year. I had never seen him, though. But he seems calm, as if he had already won before this match even begins.
He held a rapier, slim and sharp, resting it lightly at his side. The way he carried it made it clear he knew exactly how to use it.
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena."Final match! Allen Carolen versus Gaiden! The battle for this year's Rondon Championship begins now!"
The crowd roared.
"I heard that Gaiden's ability is short-range teleportation," someone shouted.
"Yeah, it's about time Allen fought someone with a real ability!"
"Hey, don't disrespect his earlier matches. The first guy had green hands!"
"What does that even do?"
"Helps him garden, apparently."
There was laughter. I could even hear it from up here.
Some people were debating about fairness.
"Allen doesn't even use a sword or ability! Isn't that a disadvantage?"
"Did you not watch the last rounds? He doesn't need one!"
"Yeah, but Gaiden's no joke either. This might actually be balanced."
I looked at Gaiden as he raised his rapier. He smiled. "Allen Carolen, huh? A fighting prodigy, they called you."
"Guess I am." I said.
From somewhere in the stands, Runa's voice slapped Luis on his face.
"Allen's doing so great! I'm so proud of him!"
Luis sighed beside her. "You didn't even train him."
I stretched my shoulders a bit.
"Alright," I said, mostly to myself. "I'll try my best..."
The announcer dropped his hand. "Begin!"
Gaiden vanished.
The crowd gasped.
Even I had to blink.
One second he was in front of me, the next he was right beside me.
I barely moved in time, tilting my head as the rapier sliced the air where my neck had been.
Honestly, I didn't even see him.
I just felt like that area is dangerous and moved away.
He is way too fast, even without the teleportation.
He disappeared again — this time behind me. I ducked, hearing the blade whistle past.
He kept blinking in and out of sight, attacking from every direction.
Every time he disappeared from my sight, I would avoid standing at the exact space I was standing at.
Then, I noticed that every movement he made left a trace.
There was a slight shift in air, as if it blew past and around me.
I started following those instead of his body.
When he appeared again, I turned, caught his arm mid-swing, and shoved him back.
The crowd shouted in disbelief.
He steadied himself, panting. "You're… keeping up with teleportation?"
"I think so?" I said. "You keep disappearing, so it's kinda hard to tell."
He smirked, vanished again, and came from above this time.
I sidestepped, letting him land in front of me, then swung a kick at his hand.
The rapier flew into the air and landed a few meters away.
He froze.
The whole arena did.
The only sound was the metal clattering against the floor.
Then someone in the crowd yelled, "He did it again!"
And the place erupted.
Runa screamed from her seat, "That's my Allen!"
Luis just groaned. "He's our Allen, not yours."
The man in hooded robe doesn't even show as much as a reaction. "It's not over yet."
The gray long-haired lady glanced to his direction again. "Not over yet?"
I thought that was it.
But before I could relax, Gaiden disappeared.
He reappeared a few meters away, rapier in hands.
Wait. He teleported, and his weapon is suddenly in his hand?
The audience erupted in cheers again.
"Gaiden hasn't even shown his true strength yet". The hooded man said
The lady tilted her head. " Is that so? What do you mean his true strength?"
"Exactly what I meant." He continued.
"What was that?" I said.
He smirked. "No one's ever managed to predict my movement before. Not even once. Except my father."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "Uh… thanks?"
He chuckled and vanished again.
I moved on instinct. Dodge, duck, weaving through the flashes of light.
Every time he appeared, I was already out of reach. My body just moved on its own.
The crowd started shouting louder and louder.
"There! He dodged again!"
"What even is this fight!?"
Gaiden appeared right in front of me this time. I stepped in and drove my elbow into his stomach. The impact made him grunt and stagger backward.
For a second, I thought I might actually win.
I lunged forward, trying to end the fight as soon as possible.
But Gaiden vanished again.
Something cold brushed past me.
By the time I turned around, my vest had several clean cuts through it.
I didn't even see the blade move.
The crowd roared in confusion.
"What just happened!?"
"One blink and suddenly Allen's wounded!?"
Gaiden stood behind me, calm and steady.
"You're strong, Allen." he said.
"But without a good ability… it's all useless."
He didn't teleport — but suddenly, I felt a sharp crack on my shoulder. My armor padding split open, pieces dropping to the floor.
I gritted my teeth and rushed him again, but he blinked out of sight, reappearing at the same distance we had prior.
He did it again. He teleported backwards, but he managed to pierce my vest.
The blade didn't break skin, but I could feel the pressure in my chest.
"Just stop struggling and lose already. You're no match for The Son of The Sword Delegate." He said.
"Sword Delegate? Who's that?" I asked, keeping my stance steady and my fist close to chin.
He disappeared one last time.
Pain struck from all direction at once. Leg, shoulder, torso, temple, Adam's apple, vertebrae, ribs....
All of my vital points got hit at the same time. Those sharp, fast, and precise hits managed to stop my movement completely.
My body froze mid-step, then fell forward, hitting the ground hard.
The crowd exploded with noise, some cheering, some shouting in disbelief.
I could barely hear the announcer's voice over the chaos.
"And so, the winner of the Rondon's Annual Championship goes to.... GAIDEN! What an incredible match!"
I lay there for a moment, staring at the light blue sky.
My whole body ached, but not just from the pain, but also from the realization that I'd actually lost.
What exactly was I lacking?
Speed?
Power?
Ability?
Weapon?
Or perhaps...
Gaiden walked over and offered me a hand. I took it and stood up.
He smiled as we shook hands. "Don't be too sad. You're putting up a good fight, even without any weapon or ability."
Or perhaps... I just didn't want it bad enough...
"Woah, don't make a face like that. I might just die from the intense gaze." He said, pulling his hand back.
"Ah, did I made an uncomfortable face just now? I'm sorry."
He laughed softly. "You know, if you ever managed to become an Agent, let's fight again the next time we meet."
I took a deep breath, and exhale.
"Yeah, sure."
The crowd kept roaring as we stood there, side by side.
I could see Runa and Luis in the stands. Runa wiped her tears off with her napkin, bawling her eyes out while Luis is just clapping weakly.
I lost. My first loss ever, to Gaiden.