THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

In the evening, the first day of the tournament is over. Keltia and Cordel's team won both of their matches. Each team had to fight three times today for the preliminary phase. Then tomorrow will be the semi-finals and the final match.

"It seems Cordel will win again this year."

"I am not so sure. You have seen Samson's accuracy with the bow? It was almost my level."

"Even so, if he can't pierce through Esteressa's gauntlets' shields, it will be useless."

"Yes, that's true."

The heroes are walking a bit ahead of me while talking.. I just follow them from behind while thinking about the way Lanuvel fought. It instantly reminded me of her mother: Rose. But it was a bit more beautiful, more elegant, more gallant. Like she is trying to prove something, to show something.

Speaking of which, where is her husband?

"Romas Silonia, was it?"

"Hey."

"Hm!" As I come back to reality, Farner's face is right in front of me.

"We have arrived."

"Whe-Ah, okay."

They said that I should accompany them to the church since Farner and Excia were leaving.

In front of us, there is a large immaculate white building. A huge tower at the center of it with a bell the size of three horses at the top. The bell looks like it was all made of gold. Weird enough, I never heard it ring.

The doors of the church open and more than twenty priests come out and kneel, creating a sort of alley for the heroes.

"WE GREET THE HEROES OF LEGEND, SAVIORS OF HUMANITY."

They all say that in unison then cross their hands and hide their faces behind them.

"As tiring as ever..." Excia murmurs something rapidly.

They all enter while I wait at the entrance. I don't think I should follow them. No, actually, I don't want to. Especially since Rebecca or William could be inside.

"What are you doing?"

"I will wait here."

"Why?"

"Leave it, Farner. Let's go."

"Hm…Hmph!"

Farner throws her head away, making her beautiful hair sway to the side. The priests then all follow them inside and the doors close behind them.

***

One hour later, the doors finally open, but instead of Roxcia, it's Farner who comes out, followed by the same flock of priests. They kneel again but she doesn't pay attention to it and comes in front of me.

"Let's go." Her face is red. Is she angry?

"You didn't go?"

"No, I didn't! You big doofus! It's all your fault!"

"Eh?" My fault? When I didn't do anything? "Why?"

"Let's go I said!"

She grabs my hand and drags me off to the school.

It's only when we reach the dorm that she finally lets go of my hand. My heart was beating like crazy the whole time.

"You know, I have been meaning to say that for a long time now but…You have one crazy heartbeat."

Of course, she noticed.

"Must be a disease."

"It can't be cured?"

"I don't know."

"I will ask the saintess, then."

"Hm-hm. So, why didn't you go?"

"The pope said he would prefer if Roxcia and Excia were the ones to go. Since I CAN'T BE DELICATE ENOUGH."

"Pua..."

"Don't laugh!" And she smacks my head again.

"S-sor…Puahaha!" I can't hold it in after all.

"Stop mocking me!!" Farner jumps on me and we both fall right at the entrance of the dorm. She keeps hitting me but gentler this time, much gentler.

"Sorry, sorry. I won't laugh anymore."

"Liar! I am sure you will!"

As our eyes meet, something changes, is it the atmosphere? I don't know what is happening but I feel…I feel...

Suddenly, the door of the dorm opens, Farner has just the time to get off me, leaving me on the floor.

"What are you two doing?"

It's Peter who opens the door and sees me on the floor with Farner kneeling right next to me.

"Nothing?" Farner answers in a questionable manner, Her face slightly red.

She then stands up and goes inside.

I stand up as well and look at Peter who blinks with his eyes. It's the sign that Frankher is calling us.

***

"Greetings, Sir."

As we reach Frankher's office, the two knights from before are already there. We all kneel in front of him and greet him.

"Greetings."

"You have called for us and we have arrived. What are your orders?"

Esteban, the oldest one of the two knights speaks for all of us. He is a man in his forties, fast and strong. From what I have seen so far, he has three elemental Angas. I don't know if he has some special scripts, though.

"Thank you for answering my summon." Frankher is sitting on a couch in front of us with his legs crossed like some king in front of his subjects. Well, we are theoretically his subjects. Though I don't like this too much.

"Oh, please, Sir. Of course, we would answer." The second knight, Pedro, answers with a large smile.

"And I thank you all for that. You know…" And there he goes, telling us the story of the first time he met a Longinus, then he will talk about his wife before finally introducing the real topic at hand. We all know that by heart now but nobody ever says anything.

"...Anyway, the spies have found something interesting. A small cave located at two hundred kilometers of Syldavie. From what they said, the cave entrance was so small a human can barely pass through it. Even so, out of the thirty people that went to inspect that area, three only came back."

"I see. Is there a possibility that…"

"No, I don't think they are traitors. Although they weren't wounded, their role was principally to support the other teams. So, they were observing from a good distance."

"I see... And what should we be prepared for?"

"I don't know. They said they didn't see anything. They could only hear the scream of their comrades as they were slaughtered. I am afraid this will be your most difficult battle yet."

"We will not fail. I can assure you."

"The worst case would be that there are Longinus there. It wouldn't surprise me coming from that witch but still, you should retreat in that case."

"Yes, sir. We will make sure to judge the situation accordingly."

We all stand up, greet him a last time then get teleported out of his office. I have a somehow bad feeling about this.