The Transmigrated Author
Chapter 97: Hidden (4) | Her Sword and His Bow

{Valencia's POV}

[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Training Room]

My fingers traced the smooth hilt of my Katana. Father always insisted that I rest before a big match, but I had forgotten why I needed a technique like this to beat this guy... Rel?

I recalled when Fredrick had told me there was no one worth recruiting in the Mirracles guild. Besides my friends, who I knew were strong, I didn't think anyone else in my grade was anything special.

Lately, I've started to question my initial assessment of my year group.

Seeing them push their limits makes me wonder if I underestimated them.

They're undeniably strong. But, it's unfair to attribute their success to luck. Him, especially – there's no way he made it this far without some real skill.

He barely used any mana... his movements were so strange like he wasn't even defending himself. And his fighting style was completely unorthodox.

The whole thing was a mystery. He had almost no mana signature as well. And the way he used his crossbow?

It was like he hadn't even been serious in earlier matches. Surely someone like that wasn't worth worrying about, right?

BZZZZT!, BZZZZZT!

My watch buzzed, yanking me out of my head.

[Time: 3:57 PM]

[Match Schedule Update]

[Due to broken stages your match has been delayed...]

[Stage: Semi-Finals]

[Name: Valencia Freya]

[Matches Completed: 24]

[Match Number: 2]

[Opponenet: Rel Laurence - (Arena A) -]

[Time: 4:30 PM] - [Main Stage Repairs Underway]

Half an hour until the fight.

I guess it was time to leave the training room and head for the Arena Tunnel.

Let's see if this guy takes our match seriously, or if he's just been lucky.

***

{Rel's POV}

[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Medical Bay]

I sat outside the Medical Bay waiting area, scanning the faces of passing students and the occasional reporter trying to sneak past without proper ID.

Still no sign of Morwen...

Why wasn't he swooping in on Louise's weakened state?

In the novel, his whole obsession was making Louise the perfect Devil vessel, But originally Morwen would've approached Louise right before the tower arc to deliver him that insufferable trade for power, But it seems that the story was progressing way too soon but now he'd gone quiet.

I wouldn't bet my life on him leaving empty-handed.

Haah...

I sighed, my fingers tracing the smooth curve of Jae Yoona's bow across my lap.

I couldn't imagine breaking this... And if I did, there would be some serious consequences.

Even a quiet Jae could be terrifying when angry.

[Rel's Imagination...]

"You broke my bow? After I trusted you? Oh, money won't fix this. Better start taking double notes for the rest of the semester."

"NOOOOOO!" Rel dropped to his knees as Jae dropped the shattered remains of her bow into his lap.

...

...

A shiver ran down my spine at the thought.

"...!"

Sitting up straight, I heard voices echoing down the hallway.

Looking to my left I could see 3 familiar faces and they seem to go by dumb, dumber, and dumbest, also known as 'Louise's lackeys'.

I wonder what they could be here for. But I already knew the answer, so I listened on to catch their conversation.

"...hope Louise likes this..." Thiago smirked, waving a mana potion.

"That's all you got for Mr Villerion after that loss?" Sergio scoffed. Even with his limping calf, he was trying to puff out his chest.

Carlos, crutch tucked under his arm, sounded unsure.

"Should we even visit after he got wrecked by Jan?"

"Of course! we are future members of the Trinity Centurions, we had already pleaded our loyalty to Louise!" Thiago preached.

They froze when they reached the bay, replaceing me practically guarding the door.

"..."

Thiago glared. "What are you doing here?" So much for basic manners.

I barely looked at them. "What?" I said, giving a fake check of my watch.

"...EEK!"

"...!"

pffft...

Carlos flinched so hard I almost laughed and Sergio took a step back.

Yeah, I probably traumatized these guys a bit. Sergio got lucky – Carlos took the worst of it.

Thiago turned to Carlos, a frown appeared on his lips. "Did you just scream?"

Carlos flinched, his face turning red. "I didn't, you must be hearing things!"

"Whatever. But seriously..." Thiago narrowed his eyes at me. "What's a nobody like you doing at Louise's door?"

I shrugged, masking my true intentions.

"Just happened to be passing by, saw Louise was here. I was just paying my respects."

BZZZZT!, BZZZZT!

My watch buzzed. The timing couldn't be any more perfect.

I stood up, stepping past the trio. As they moved out of my way, Thiago couldn't resist a parting shot.

"You? First-timing a bow like that against Valencia? You're living in a dream world!" He paused whispering, "what was his name again Carlos?"

"Rel, I think?"

"Right. Rel, you're living in a dream world if you think you stand a chance against Louise's future vice leader."

A wave of disgust washed over me.

Louise is the most delusional character I've ever written... Ignoring their taunts, I continued towards the arena tunnel entrance.

Let them think whatever. Honestly, even I wasn't sure how this fight would go.

...

...

[10 minutes later...]

...

...

[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Arena Intersection]

The bow bumped against Rel's back as he hurried along.

Nervous about the semi-final? A little. Mostly he was imagining the sweet power-up waiting for him even if he lost.

He was so lost in his daydream, he barely noticed where he was going.

BUMP!

He stumbled, landing with a totally embarrassing thump.

"Seriously," he grumbled, "who manages to trip someone in an empty hallway..."

He glanced up to see their face and his jaw dropped.

"Ouch..."

Valencia. Mirroring his own shock. She checked her empty scabbard, then looked up.

"...!"

As her face transformed into a deep frown.

"...Tch..."

She quickly got to her feet with a sharp click of her tongue and brushed past him.

"Seriously..." Rel muttered under his breath. What was her problem? He watched her go, a puzzled feeling leaving him more off-balance than the fall did.

...

...

Ugh, could this day get any worse? I wished I could rewind those last few seconds...

How did I not see where I was going? Of all the people to bump into, it had to be him.

Seriously! I was so caught up in deciding what I wanted to eat, after the match that my brain basically went on autopilot.

If I'd known he'd be passing through, I'd have taken the other intersection, even if it meant a slightly longer walk.

At least it would have spared me this awkwardness. And... was that Yoona's bow? It looked so familiar... what was he doing with it?

"There's no way he's going into that match with Yoona's bow, right?" Valencia muttered to herself.

It made zero sense.

Heroes spent their whole lives perfecting one weapon... why switch now, especially in the semi-finals?

Had he completely lost his mind? Or... was there something else going on? A trick? Was he mocking her or was it a hidden strategy that she couldn't figure out?

The thought nagged at her, a feeling of unease settled in her confidence.

tap...tap...tap...

Her steps slowed as she reached her designated arena tunnel entrance. "ID, please," the guard requested, his voice dull and routine.

***

[Pinnnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Student Section Stands]

[Time: 4:15 PM]

"When's this fight gonna start?" Bazz grumbled, drumming his fingers impatiently. "Feels like it's been an hour!"

"It's been ten minutes, dummy," Lyra retorted with an eye roll.

Camila tried to smooth things over.

"Can't wait to see Valencia beat up Re- I mean, can't wait for the fight! Should be a good one." She nudged Jan meaningfully, as she checked her watch for the time.

Bazz whipped around to face Jan. "So, who do you think will win?"

Camila and Lyra, mirroring each other, erupted: "Valencia!" They even struck a synchronized, victorious pose.

Jan just smiled. "I'm not so sure," he admitted. "This fight... there's just something about it. A good feeling."

"When you say 'good feeling', are you talkin' about Valencia absolutely wrecking Rel?"

Bazz asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Jan, without missing a beat, flicked Bazz's forehead. "Don't say it like that."

"ACK!" Bazz screamed, rubbing the sore spot. "That hurt, Jan!"

Jan chuckled, a hint of something else in his eyes.

As he thought to himself, Jan said, "he might be taking this fight seriously..."

_____________

Authors Notes:

- The arena has 2 intersections so that the two upcoming fighters wouldn't see each other before their initial match.

- On her way to the arena tunnel Valencia watched an ad about bubble tea which stalled her for 10 minutes before bumping into Rel.

- The reason why Rel doesn't like writing down notes for theory is because of how much information he has to copy from the system which takes up the majority of his free class time.