It was the official day. The hall was opened to all. The important figures of both empires soon arrived. Almost at the same time.
Torzi empire emperor, Lanson Gatarat arrived with his wife in a car, while the Salvador empire royal family and guards just used a teleportation device that was installed for quick transportation between both empires.
They met up at the hall gate and exchanged their greetings. The wives joked about something and laughed into their hand fans.
The leading family weren’t needed to attend, except for the head master who was in charge of the students. Still, the headmaster didn’t show up. Rowen sent a proxy to represent him as the headmaster. They also met the ruling family of the Torzi empire, which included the ring family.
As they began to settle into their seats, still murmuring words and laughing, the Salvador empire awakened students.
They were all in black uniforms, similar to the one Tyler wore. Their arrival turned eyes.
Words were being said.
Just the short trip to Black empire had given them a great control over their vital energy, so concealing it made them appear unsettling to their peers.
"It seems this year will be harder than the last one." Emperor Larson narrowed his eyes. "The students’ energy is a bit unsettling."
Emperor Daevon laughed. "Quit the baseless flattery friend. It looks to me like your students have something up their sleeves. Mine should be wary and dare not act rash."
"I dare not friend," emperor Larson waved. "It’s not baseless at all. Your students seem to have prepared well for this tournament."
Emperor Daevon also mirrored the dry laughter, while they kept tossing words at each other.
The queens shook their heads.
Tyler went to meet his classmates as soon as they walked in through the gate, while the Torzi empire awakened students just stared at them with skeptical expression.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Nether said. "Especially that one." She pointed her finger to a particular student.
Tony looked at who she was referring to.
"His name is Claude. Student council president, just like you."
"Uh..." She continued to watch him for a moment, then her eyes went to Tiana.
"She’s unsettling too."
"Most of them are." Gena said.
The golden hair student popped up. "I could probably take them all at once."
"Shut up fisher." Gena snapped.
"It’s Funcer!"
"Same thing."
"It’s not the same thing!" He glanced at Yvonne, who was staring in another direction. "Tell her Yvonne."
A student snorted. "She doesn’t even know your name."
Yvonne turned around and began leaving.
"Hey," another student called. "Look."
All their eyes moved towards the entrance, where Elias came in with Quil, Kael and Haliad. Unlike their co-operate black uniform, he was wearing something else.
Black empire official attire.
Black sleeveless fabric that hugged his body frame, and showcased his tattooed arms. From his torso downward was the layered robe that parted as he walked. He was barefooted. Black empire crest earring dangled from his pierced ear. Blindfolded, but somehow, his gloved hand was scrolling through something in a phone no one knew he had.
Tony slowly clamped his book shut.
"What the..."
Nether eyes widened. "Is that a student of Salvador?"
Gena was stunned. "Holy crap. He’s hot."
They glanced at her.
"I’m just speaking facts."
Another one tilted his head. "Is he blind?"
"Is he even awakened?" Tony asked. "I don’t feel any energy coming from him. The one energy coming from him is that stone around his neck. I’m guessing it cracked."
At that point, Yvonne froze on track.
She heard two words. Cracked and stone.
Ever since returning, her memories had been fragmented, but they are something that were still in one piece.
"A sealing stone..."
The lifelessness in her eyes vanished. She swivelled around, eyes landing on the exact person every eye was now on.
"..."
She took a single step, and her leg almost buckled beneath her.
"Eli..."
Another step forward.
"...as."
Her knees buckled beneath her and she crashed into the ground.
All eyes turned to her.
Gena scoffed. "What now?"
"Hey!" Funcer gasped. He ran to her and bent down, trying to help her up.
Her hand trembled against the ground as she refused his help.
"All these years..." Her voice broke. "All these years I waited."
The golden-haired student got confused. "Waited?"
She pushed herself up, ignoring her disheveled state, ignoring the people’s intense stares and began to walk forward.
She passed her classmates and stumbled forward until it was clear where her destination was.
Quil was talking to Haliad when his gaze drifted off in her direction.
At the same time, Elias noticed a person who stopped before him. He raised his gaze from the phone, and looked at her.
"..."
"You shouldn’t do that," she muttered. "It gets really tight if you try. You could break your bones."
His eyes widened. The phone fell from his hand and clattered against the floor.
"That’s good enough." She tilted her head. "You must be new here. Stubborn children face this."
His hands twitched beside him.
"I feel like you can see me even with those bindings around your face." She raised her hand and touched his face.
"..."
"I guess you can. I’m Yvon...ten. Call me ten."
His hand moved.
"Yvo...nne?"
"That was the first conversation we had. Do you remember?"
Tears streamed down her eyes. "We both got sent to the pit again and again and again and again and..."
She chuckled and wiped her tears.
"You got your name tattoo. I guess you went home. So you remember every...thing. You remember me."
Her hand trailed down his face and stopped on his chest where her height stopped. She leaned in, and put her head on his chest.
"I used to be taller than you too."
Her hand tightened around his clothes. She finally broke down in his arms, sliding down until he caught her.
"Why didn’t you come for me?"