CHAPTER 226: COMBAT V

Laura’s infamous meat sauce would have been enough reason to win this last battle, even if the Queen’s rewards hadn’t been attached to it. Thinking of it now as I sauntered into the battlefield brought out the hunger pangs that had managed to stay hidden for a while, under the layer of fruits and water. I was hungry.

"Wait, until I am done with this." I muttered to myself, flexing my hands. Laura should have better prepared my favorite meal to celebrate my win, because I wouldn’t settle for less. Not when my mind was already clouded with meat sauce.

Rachel was already waiting for me in the field, her arms folded across her chest, disdain notable in her eyes. I didn’t bother mirroring the same, I just wanted to be done with this, so that I could go home and eat.

’That’s a good attitude, keep it up.’ El spoke then, causing me to pout.

’Is that sarcasm?’

She chuckled. ’Not at all. It’s good that you’re not nervous, considering the principal’s insight, considering that it lowers your chances of winning.’

I shrugged my shoulders, aware of Rachel’s scrutinizing gaze. She must be wondering at my movements. I thought, checking out her battle gear. It was fine, but not as good as mine. Adam’s scarf around my neck didn’t help my cause in her books either.

’That’s okay. I trust you, El. You can come out. Let’s be done with this, once and for all.’

Without much ado, I gave full control to El, full because I didn’t want to distract her from dodging Rachel’s blows, which I knew might be too deadly to take. Yes, It was better to dodge them all together.

I retreated to the spot where El stayed, and watched as my body was controlled by my significant other.

"Sometimes I don’t understand you. Just now, the energy around you shifted. Is this your battle mode?" Rachel asked, and I(El) shrugged my shoulders again. "Let’s just battle over, princess. I’m craving my aunt’s meat sauce."

Rachel laughed then, shaking her head. "You are really something. Let’s battle then. Let’s make your loss as quick and painless as possible... well I won’t promise you painless, but still..."

I was already moving, interrupting Rachel mid sentence. She raised her hands to fight, fear sharply resurrecting in her eyes, but I stopped three feet away from her, and laughed. "I thought you were fearless. What’s that in your eyes..."

As I spoke, I played with the scarf around my neck, my ears picking the angry grunt of the Queen; she knew the tactics I was employing, knew that it was working. Let’s see if her daughter was as wise as her.

Rachel wasn’t.

She gritted her teeth, and struck out a punch, a weak ass punch laced with magic, but I jumped out of the way, before the punch could land.

"Is that all you got? Come on, you can do better, you know he is watching... don’t you want to show him that you are stronger, that you are fit to be his luna, even though your hair has no whiteness in them?"

Immediately she screamed in rage and ran up to me, throwing punches packed with magic. She was fueled with so much rage, that she lost control of the subtle magic.

I could see that it was bringing forth magic residue, but I didn’t call her out. I wanted to win this battle fair and square; the taunts had been because she and her mother had tried to cheat the games. But it seemed that luck wasn’t on their side.

She kept throwing punches; her hand hitting the air like a mad woman, because before the punch landed, I was already out of her way. She kept on, and I fingered the scarf to fuel her, until she stopped and bowed, hands on her knees, heaving in and out. She was tired.

"Tired already, Princess..." I jibed, folding my arms across my chest. "Well, it seems you won’t be Luna anymore. I even heard a rumor that the king had canceled the wedding... considering your stealing scandal at the beauty pageant."

Rachel looked up then, confusion marring her forehead. She looked at her mother, who I noticed was now standing upright, by the bleachers. She had left her seat.

When our eyes connected, I gave her a satisfied smile. She gave off no emotion. Too bad, her daughter wasn’t as strong as she, well not in the face of El’s strength.

Then the Queen signaled professor Zokel to come. The professor obeyed. I watched as she spoke to him, watched as he climbed to the podium to say what I already heard. I would be disqualified if I kept up with the prancing. I should fight.

"Dora Akwoods, any more of the prancing and discussion, you would be disqualified. This is a combat; so fight."

I gave a curt nod, and turned to Rachel. With all pleasure, my Queen. The first damage was already done. ’Are you ready?’

El nodded.

This was it, dodging the attacks of a calm conniver. The small tap out from the Queen, had allowed Rachel to take control of her emotions. She has reclined back to her cool as cucumber state, and her fists were raised up as boxer.

In my hyper sensitized state, I could see the magic cloaking her fists. It was mighty. One would be enough to finish the battle; she had pushed her rage into the punches, it was more lethal now.

She came at me first, but under the full influence of El, I dodged it, and used my elbow to drop a hit on her back; a soft tap, not wanting to cause her a hard injury, yet she landed on the floor, biting dust.

Cheers echoed around us.

’It was just a tap.’

’I know, El. Just do your thing.’

When Rachel stood up, there was no blood trickling from her mouth, but there was pain—it was evident in her facial expressions.

"What was that?" She asked, wincing.

I said nothing. Talking would warrant my disqualification. I beckoned her to attack instead.

But she didn’t.