CHAPTER 107: THE GAMES BEGIN

Eirin’s forehead creased. "What was that?" she muttered as she looked at Coleen and Link, who were still wide-eyed completely in awe of the encounter. "Did you know who that was, Coco? Why were we called here for just that?"

Coleen’s eyes quivered, her voice still laced with reverence. "O-Of course! She is Azaleia Carlisle, known for her fiery red hair and stunning appearance. She’s the daughter of the Prime Minister, the leader of the Ministry of Proprius," she said, still shaken by the encounter.

Even Link, who was usually composed and analytical, seemed taken aback, his usual stoicism replaced by a bewildered expression. Instead of being asked for a performance, Eirin had been surprised by this sudden, unsettling introduction.

Eirin patted both Link and Coleen’s backs, a gesture of shared bewilderment. The encounter with Azaleia Carlisle had left a lingering sense of unease, a question mark hanging in the air. "I wonder why someone of such high status would come to our academy? Is it because of the sports festival?" she mused aloud, her brow furrowed in thought.

As if a light bulb had flashed in his head, illuminating a new possibility, Link raised a finger, his eyes sharpening with intellectual curiosity. "What if the Ministry of Proprius is scouting intelligent and excelling students? Not for immediate recruitment, perhaps, but as long-term investment. Just a theory though," he added, ever cautious.

"Oh no, what if they scout Eirin?" Coleen gasped, her hand flying to her chin, her face etched with a sudden, comical worry. Eirin, however, laughed it off, waving a dismissive hand. The idea felt preposterous, given her recent tumultuous experiences and her own doubts about her place here.

The three walked towards the sprawling open field where the sports festival would soon commence. The air grew thick with anticipation, the distant murmur of student voices growing louder with every step.

"I hope we’re on the same team," Coleen said, clinging to Eirin’s arm, her small hand clutching Eirin’s shirt as they walked side by side, weaving through the growing crowd.

When they arrived at the open field, Eirin’s eyes widened at the sight. It was transformed. A grand, multi-tiered stage had been erected at one end, adorned with vibrant banners depicting the academy’s crest, a majestic phoenix with its wings gloriously spread. The phoenix is rendered in vibrant shades of deep pink, with its feathers tipped in glowing gold.

A lively, upbeat melody, permeated the air, its source invisible but pervasive. Someone, most likely a student with a Flair for sound manipulation, must have been using their skill to amplify the tunes, creating an immersive, festive atmosphere that hummed with magical energy.

Students were gathering in enthusiastic packs across the field, their excited chatter mingling with the music. As soon as the trio reached the edge of the crowd, Trixtan spotted them, a wide, carefree grin splitting his face. He deftly navigated through the bodies, approaching them with his usual boundless energy, calling out Coleen and Eirin’s names.

"What took you guys so long? Oh, Link’s here too," he said, slinging an arm around Coleen’s head in a playful, almost affectionate gesture, ruffling her hair. He glanced around the milling crowd. "Did you guys see where my best friend is? I thought he’d be here by now."

Link’s forehead creased. "He’s still not here? Shade said he’d come straight here."

Trixtan shrugged, his expression unconcerned. Just then, Mr. Blade’s booming voice amplified by an unseen Flair, resonated through the massive speakers positioned around the field. Everyone instinctively looked towards the stage, where the imposing figure of their professor stood, mic in hand.

"Are everyone ready to party?" he bellowed.

Eirin blinked multiple times, her expression mirroring the collective bewilderment that swept through the crowd. A beat of stunned silence enveloped the entire area after what the professor said, followed by a few hesitant chuckles. It wasn’t exactly the inspiring opening address one might expect from a prestigious academy’s sports festival.

Mr. Blade cleared his throat, a low rumble, perhaps sensing the awkward pause. "We’ll begin the sports festival with a bang! Here come our cheerleaders!" It was, undoubtedly, an awful opening, lacking the typical grandeur of academy ceremonies, but the students, eager for any form of entertainment, cheered as Kara and her friends, the group Eirin had seen earlier, stepped onto the stage.

The music swelled, shifting into a pulsating beat, and everyone cheered louder as Kara and her friends began their performance. Their movements were sharp, synchronized, and undeniably energetic.

Eirin focused and watched politely, appreciating the effort, but Coleen kept frowning, visibly uncomfortable with the suggestive, almost provocative movements they were showcasing. She mumbled under her breath about ’lack of decorum’ and ’unnecessary revealing outfits.’

"What a wonderful performance!" Mr. Blade’s voice returned, his enthusiasm genuine this time. But it’s not over, ladies and gentlemen! Let us welcome the golden voice of Senerra Academy, Pierre Blouin! He’ll serenade us with his wonderful face—voice!"

Eirin blinked multiple times, surprised as she stared at the figure of Pierre Blouin, now sparkling under the stage lights. He looked transformed, like a pop idol stepping onto a grand stage, with a legion of fans screaming his name, their adoration a deafening roar.

The teenage girl had known him as Sapphire’s brother, a handsome, polite student, but she never expected him to be more perfect than he appears to be. He possesses such an angelic, powerful voice. His song, a ballad of courage and unity, soared over the field, capturing everyone’s attention.

"Thank you for such wonderful performances, our dear students," Mr. Blade said, after Pierre’s performance ended to thunderous applause. "Now, we proudly present our very special guest. She graduated from our academy, the best of her time, a true shining star. Let us welcome, Miss Azaleia Carlisle!"

The same captivating woman Eirin had met earlier, now bathed in the glorious light of the festival, gracefully walked onto the stage. She moved with an innate elegance, her red hair shimmering like a cascade of fiery silk. She flashed a dazzling smile, a vision of perfection that seemed to catch everyone’s heart with her unparalleled beauty and undeniable grace.

"I hope everyone’s having a good day," she said, her voice carrying a captivating lilt. She waved her flawless hand, a delicate, almost ethereal gesture that sent a ripple of excited murmurs and gasps through the male students.

"Hello there, Miss Carlisle. For everyone not aware of who Miss Azaleia Carlisle is, she’s the esteemed daughter of Mr. Aeros Carlisle, the current Prime Minister of the Ministry of Proprius," Mr. Blade explained.

Eirin didn’t listen to anything else Mr. Blade said, her attention captivated. Instead, her eyes were glued on Azaleia, watching her every flawless move, every subtle shift in her expression. The woman was mesmerizing.

"I do wish for everyone to succeed in showcasing their Flairs," Azaleia announced, her voice ringing out, clear and compelling. "The Ministry is wishing to meet a bright future for Proprius, and once again, Senerra Academy is a place for such brilliant young ones." Her words, though polite, carried an underlying current of expectation. It was a clear message: The Ministry was watching.

Mr. Blade clapped his hands together, the sound sharp and attention-grabbing. "And for that, let us start!" He raised his hand, and small, luminous ball of lights, shimmering with various colors, appeared above his head. With a grand, sweeping sway of his hand, the balls rushed across the field, darting towards each and every student, hovering above their heads like miniature, enchanted orbs.

"The color of the ball will be your teams, and it will transform into your headband, so wear it proudly," Mr. Blade instructed, his voice booming with excitement.

Eirin stare at the small, glowing ball above her head. It flashed a pure, brilliant white, and soon, with a soft shimmer, it transformed into a comfortable white headband. Eirin received it with both hands, her fingers tracing the smooth fabric.

"What’s your color, Ei?" Coleen asked, glancing at Eirin’s new headband. Her eyes widened in dismay as she then looked at her own head. "No! We’re not on the same team!" Coleen’s loud wail of disappointment caught everyone’s attention in their immediate vicinity. Her headband was a vibrant, fiery red.

Trixtan peeked at Coleen’s red headband, then glanced across the field. "Oh, look. You’re on the same team as him," he said, a mischievous grin, spreading across his face as he pointed to the direction opposite to them, towards a small cluster of students.

"Ugh," Coleen reacted the moment her eyes saw the small, red ball hovering above Shade’s head, moments before it transformed into his own red headband. Her face crumpled in exaggerated disgust. "I don’t want to be in the same team as him!" She stomped her feet on the ground, a childish display of frustration.

Shade, from across the field, seemed to sense her annoyance. He rolled his eyes. "As if I wanted to be on the same team as you," he retorted, his voice cutting through the festive noise, causing Trixtan to burst into laughter.

"Don’t worry guys, I’m in the same team as you guys!" Trixtan announced, wrapping his arms around Coleen’s shoulders, pulling her into a reluctant huddle. His headband glowed red. "We’re rivals then, Eirin," he said, winking.

Eirin smiled, a genuine smile of competitive spirit. "We are, but I’ll do my best to win!" she declared. She turned to Link and saw that they had the same color headband, a crisp white. "We’re on the same team!"

Link smiled. "Look at the others in our team," he said, pointing to Pierre and Calixta, both sporting white headbands. "I don’t think we’ll lose with this lineup." His confidence was infectious.

The sports festival was officially on, and the battle lines were drawn.