Elementalists
Chapter 22 - Three-leafed Clover Dance

Eridan immediately approached Arya who was sitting under a tree with a grim face, she looked like a child who had just seen her idol for the first time.

"That's you...ar used to be mister" said Eridan excitedly.

"mmm? What's so amazing?" arya asked expressionlessly.

"That's the first time I've seen how people directly predict wind direction manually"

"Huh? You never predict the direction of the wind? It's worth your arrows rarely hit the target" said Arya astonished.

"Of course we predict the direction of the wind when shooting, but not manually like that. We can use magic you remember?"

"Ah...... I understand, now it makes sense why you guys look straight up archery as if you don't care about anything. But you missed" anyway"

"If the matter of missing it is indeed hanging the archery ability is great or not hehehe" said Eridan while looking down and scratching the back of his head.

-----------------------------<<>>-----------------------------

"He's great too" Daemord said, stunned.

"Great?! You said it was great? He was just lucky, and there was no way to predict the direction of the wind like that. It was a waste of time, if in a real war he had been killed before he could shoot. He wasted his magical abilities" Audax said.

"Not bad in my opinion, with the senses of Elves sharp enough to predict the wind direction in war can be faster. And also that way we can save energy so as not to use magic for things that are not too important" commented Cessa.

"Whatdidyou say? Basic magic maniacs, all Blanders are the same" chirped Audax.

"I agree with Cessa" Rexy said.

"Even you too?" audax doesn't believe it.

"I don't really understand, what do you think Princess?" ask Daemord.

Alalea was still silent and stared at the arrow belonging to Arya who had split her arrow, she did not even listen to what her friends were talking about.

"Alaleas? You okay?" daemord asked once more while holding his hand.

"Eh? Hahaha am I okay, sorry can you repeat the question?" alalea said with a smile.

Then suddenly Reiss who was carrying a sword called them to continue the next training session.

-----------------------------<<>>-----------------------------

In the next training session they will practice fighting using swords in pairs, Arya paired with Eridan. It was not because he had asked for it, it was just that the others had already chosen their partner. While Princess Alalea would train against Reiss because they were out of the crowd, this practice was watched by the other Elf warriors. They had started to gather around the drill since the previous Aryan arrow incident.

The first match practice began, Alalea against Reiss. The match was quite fierce, but in the end Alalea had to recognize the ability of Reiss who incidentally was an Elf Warrior leader, Reiss praised the development of Alalea's sword skills. And indeed Arya must admit that Reiss is not just mince words, Alalea's movements while sword like a person who has been practicing for decades.

Everyone applauded, Alalea immediately approached Daemord and encouraged her lover. Because next he will be against Cessa, this match is also quite fierce but still not as exciting as when Alalea against Reiss. The battle ended in Daemord's victory over Cessa.

"Aghhhhh why is there no magic practice today anyway?!" cessa yelled annoyed.

"You suck" said Audax.

Audax and Rexy immediately advanced for the next match, and their fight was arguably the fiercest. It was the most exciting fight Arya had ever seen, they traded attacks with very fast slashes. Both of them are great, Arya can not predict who will win, and it turns out that victory belongs to Audax despite being peppered with luck because at the last moment Rexy looks a little slipped so lost his pedestal.

Audax raised his sword high to declare his victory, followed by the shouts and applause from the watching Elf soldiers. Rexy himself just fell silent, it seems he was satisfied with the results he got despite having to lose. Arya and Eridan immediately stood up to get ready.

"All right let's see Eridan's terrible match against the stranger" Reiss said as he gave Arya the sword he had just used.

Arya raised the sword for a while, then she immediately stuck the sword on the ground and came to Eridan who was preparing with his sword in the middle of the arena.

"Too heavy, I will use my own sword" Arya said as she walked.

"What's? Your own sword? Don't tell me you're gonna use that big needle you're carrying? It won't cut anything" Audax booed followed by the audience's laughter.

The sword used by the Elves was indeed thicker than Aryan's katana, but he thought it was too heavy and would only slow down his movements.

"Maybe?" arya asked while looking at Reiss.

"As for you, I don't care what you two do" Reiss said lazily.

"Thank you, alright Eridan let's go forward" Arya said as she looked at him.

"eeee.......Mister? We're gonna fight with swords, aren't we?" eridan asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Sure, why are you saying such a clear thing"

"Then....why haven't you drawn out his sword yet?"

Arya had indeed only placed her right hand on the sword hilt, she had yet to pull out the sword from its sheath.

"I will draw this sword when the time comes"

"Pfttt hahaha, look at that stranger! He wanted to practice the sword but he was embarrassed to show his big needle?! Wahahaha hey boy! I know you're very confident against Eridan but it's not a little outrageous" Audax joked, making the others laugh.

"Whisper! You talk too much" Arya said as she threw an ice-cold look at Audax.

The unexpected thing immediately made everyone speechless, even Audax himself did not expect that Arya would say that to him. His face flushed with black.

"What are you---"

"After that, can you calm down?" hold Daemord.

"Mmm.sir, I also feel very underestimated here" said Eridan in a sad tone of voice.

"No, I'm serious. Attack me with all your abilities" Arya replied as she looked into Eridan's eyes.

Seeing Arya's gaze the look on Eridan's face became serious, he took the horses ready to attack. Arya just stood still and waited, then Eridan quickly raised the sword above his fist and made a vertical slash towards Arya. But it turned out to be just a trick move, so in the middle of the slash movement that Eridan did he turned it into a stab very quickly.

Arya avoided the stab by turning on her footing and then swiftly hooked her left wrist on Eridan's right wrist then she pulled out her katana quickly and made a slash.

The match ended in a short time, Arya and Eridan had already turned their backs on each other. Arya twirled her sword then slowly put her sword back into its sheath, just as the sound of her sword hilt and sword sheath clashed. Eridan's sword was cut into two pieces. It was enough to make everyone who was watching the match mute.

"So, apparently, a needle can cut a sword" Arya said, turning her head.

-----------------------------<<>>-----------------------------

As Audax stood up and approached Arya, he pulled the body armor worn by Arya while bringing her face closer.

"Don't be too arrogant of a stranger, just because you can cut off Eridan's lame sword doesn't mean you-" he whispered in a threatening tone.

Reflexively seeing the danger, Eridan immediately pulled Arya away for fear that the situation was getting more serious. Daemord and Rexy also quickly held onto Audax's two hands so that he could not do what he wanted.

"Too arrogant you say? Don't you have....mirror?" lure Arya while tilting her head.

Urat at the temple Audax increasingly stiffened hearing Arya's word, he began to wriggle trying to free himself from the confinement of his two friends.

"Let me teach the arrogant boy a lesson" he said in a furious tone.

"Hey.hey calm down, she's the Queen's guest. You can ruin everything" Daemord said.

"Right, use your head a little bit" Rexy added.

Upon hearing the words of his two friends, Audax began to cease fighting, so Daemord and Rexy released their holdings, and Audax ordered an Elven warrior to retrieve his sword. He immediately drew the sword.

"Hey?! What's..........."

"Whisper! I am Audax D'Rodria challenging you to a duel" Audax said, holding his sword in front of his face.

The challenge of the duel made the atmosphere into an uproar, the whispers of the crowd surrounding them sounded. Arya realized that Eridan's face paled hearing the challenge.

"Hows it? This way there will be no problem, right? Do you want to be uncle's judge?" asked Audax while glancing at Reiss.

"I don't mind, but if it's an unofficial duel then I'm not-----"

"I will inaugurate it" Alalea cut.

"WHAT?!"

The shout came from Eridan's mouth without being able to hold it anymore, he was already relieved to assume that the Queen would not allow this duel. But if Princess Alalea inaugurated it then the duel would be realized.

"Now there's nothing holding us back, or are you afraid?" audax said with a mocking grin.

"Tu---"

Eridan had not yet had time to hold him, Arya pulled out her katana quickly and straightened the sword before her.

"It is with pleasure that I accept your challenge" Arya said expressionlessly.

-----------------------------<<>>-----------------------------

From earlier he paced back and forth while blabbing indistinctly around Arya who was wearing his dueling equipment, Arya just kept quiet while tightening the protective rope of her arm with teeth.

"Hey sir? Did you hear me?" ask Eridan again.

"Eridan listen, I don't like them to bully my friend. They always call you bad, even the Princess who is in fact your childhood friend also doubts you. They don't have the right to do that, they don't know anything" Arya said as she stared at Eridan.

Then Eridan was silent for a moment and let out a long sigh while turning his body back, he seemed to have no plans to block Arya anymore.

"Huh....if you have said so how else? Looks like I should call Miss Rena"

"Then you better hurry, I'll finish this as soon as possible" Arya said as she walked towards the arena.

-----------------------------<<>>-----------------------------

"Where did that sucker go? Is he not able to see that this friend of his will be beaten by me?" chirp Audax as Arya arrives at the arena.

"Keep babbling while you still have time" Arya replied with a smile.

The crowd was already around the arena where they were competing, more than when they were training. With Alalea and the others watching the duel, Reiss then stepped into the middle of the arena.

"I Reiss D'Rodria will be a referee, only allowed to use a sword in this duel. Fight honestly, the fight will end if one cannot continue. Understood?"

Arya and Audax nodded, then immediately Audax pulled out his sword greeted by shouts from the audience. While Arya was just as silent as when she fought Eridan before, she simply placed a hand on the handle of her sword.

"You better not equate me with that lame bitch or you'll regret it" Audax told Arya.

"Surely where might I equate you with her, Eridan is much better than you" Arya replied calmly.

Upset at Arya's words, Audax immediately took the initiative to attack. Without waiting for a long time Arya pulled out her sword so that their swords collided in the air and caused sparks due to friction between the two swords. Audax has not stopped there he continues to launch deadly attacks on Arya.

Honestly, if he was in normal condition Arya would be very difficult to face Audax, even though he predicted the slash of Audax will be heavier and make him overwhelmed. But at this moment somehow his body felt so light and relaxed that he could easily dodge and deflect the attack from Audax.

But still Arya could feel her body being scratched by the slash of Audax's sword, not to be outdone she continued to defend Audax's attack and counter-attack which she believed also hurt Audax just as badly.

"Is this all your ability? You can only dodge like a coward" cried Audax.

Arya just kept quiet and continued to do as well as she could, then when she realized Audax's movements were slowing down she turned around to attack. He quickly dodged Audax's slash and strode while spinning behind Audax, landing a deep enough slash on Audax's right calf to make him bend his right leg.

Not stopped there Arya did another round and slashed the left calf Audax so that he now bent his knee, then once again he turned while stepping before Audax then using his sword he threw the sword Audax into the air. The movement was so fast and beautiful that it made Arya look like she was dancing around Audax.

Arya caught Audax's sword with her left hand, then drew out the two swords she held towards Audax's neck. Then he deliberately used both ends of the sword to raise Audax's chin so that he could see his face clearly.

"Dance of three clover leaves" whispered Arya with a calm face.

At once all the spectators applauded and cheered the winner, Audax's feeling clearly visible from his face, his face flushed red with anger and shame. Then with his eyes fixed on Arya, Arya could see that the palm was emitting a red light but Reiss swiftly caught Audax's wrist and threw his body out of the arena.

"You're just going to embarrass yourself even further, you're challenging him to a duel with a sword and you're the one who wants to break it with magic?" hardik Reiss is cynical.

"Master Arya?!"

Eridan and Rena rushed over to Arya who was sitting in the middle of the arena, her balance suddenly disappeared and the stinging pain from the wound from the sword stroke Audax had just felt by her.

"What the hell are you doing?" ask Rena worriedly.

"Sorry, but can you bandage these wounds first Rena" Arya replied with a frown.

Then quickly Rena took out a bandage and wrapped around Aryan's wounds, Eridan helped along. At a glance Arya and Eridan's gaze met, Eridan rubbed his nose with a smile and said.

"You're so great sir, thank you"

Audax was surrounded by friends, much worse than Arya. Especially the slash wound on both of his calves, the wound made him unable to stand on his own.

"Damn it!!!" upset ass.

"How does it feel to be humiliated in front of so many people?" cessa Ledek.

"Whisper!" snapped Audax.

"He's great" Daemord said.

"Not just great, he's amazing. I've never seen such a move before" Cessa said.

"I agree, it's not an ordinary gesture" Rexy said, nodding.

"Stop babbling, you guys are making me feel worse than ever"

"Bring her here, I'll cure her using magic" Alalea called.

"really? Thank you Princess" said Audax girang.

Leaning Audax on a tree, Alalea placed her palms on both feet. Then a soft blue light shone on his feet and a few moments later he was able to stand back as if nothing had happened.

"Mr Princess can---------"

Arya immediately stopped Eridan, she held Eridan's hand while shaking her head. Eridan looked at him with a questioning look.

"No need, I'm fine" whispered Arya soothingly.

"But if Princess Alalea heals you, it will be much better"

"What's wrong, amazing is that magic? I've only seen magic like that for the first time"

"Me too, the wound never seems to exist" Rena said.

"The healing magic is indeed a special and complicated magic, only certain people can master it" explained Eridan.

"So you can't use that magic?" ask Arya.

"If I could, I wouldn't have asked the Princess, would you?" eridan replied expressionlessly.

"Ahh right hahaha too"

"So it's true that the Elves he's outside the forest don't use magic?"

Without Arya guessing who spoke turned out to be Reiss, Reiss stood near them since then and watched Rena who bandaged Arya's wounds. Arya just nodded and said nothing. Then suddenly Reiss bent his knee on Arya.

"I apologize for the shameful actions committed by my nephew, and I also apologize for my disrespectful treatment to you Mr"

"Eh?! It's okay, you don't need to talk that formal to me" Arya said quickly.

"But---"

"You're just doing your job, so you don't have to apologize. We were also wrong for entering the forest secretly" Arya said with a smile.

"You're too good, and now I understand why your fighting skills are so great. You Elves outside the forest don't use magic at all, do you? It causes you to increase your physical ability to the maximum" Reiss said while nodding.

"Hahaha that's how it is" Arya replied as she looked the other way. Until when will this lie continue.

-----------------------------<<>>-----------------------------

"Cihh how could I possibly be defeated by an arrogant stranger like him" murmured Audax still upset by the incident earlier.

At that time Audax and three other people were walking home to their home.

"It's not just Arya who is amazing" Daemord said.

"You're right" said Rexy.

"mmm? What do you mean?" ask Cessa.

"What's amazing is Eridan" Rexy replied calmly.

"Huh?! Why can you say that sucker can't?" ask Audax for wonder.

"You may not realize it but he predicted and analyzed that you would be defeated by Arya" Daemord explained.

"What?!" cessa and Audax.

"You think, he dared to let the guest that the Queen handed to him to duel. What kind of guest guide is that? And also he already knew that Arya would only get a minor injury, he could have gone to the castle and asked the healer to the Queen but he instead called the girl. Which means he's already predicted how severe the injury you can give Arya" Rexy said, holding her chin.

"You mean that sucker already knew the result would be like this?" ask Audax again in disbelief.

"True, we should not underestimate it. My brother Regulus always said that the brother of Eridan. Orion is a strategist and the smartest person he's ever known"