The sky again was painted in a beautiful array of fireworks as the semi-finals of the tournament was about to start.
Normally, neighbouring countries visited for the final match of the tournament, but news had spread of how good the talents of this year were, thereby causing people to come in the day of the semi finals.
The stadium was packed and full to the brim with extra canopies and magic screens erected for people outside and around the kingdom to watch.
The speaker, appearing once again in his uniform, a white coat with a long black coat and black sandals, stood before the enormous crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, mages and sword-people alike.
Welcome.. to the semi-finals of the Swords and Magic tournament. Today is going to be an exciting day, for both the mages and the swordsmen. On normal circumstances, the finals are left till tomorrow while fun activities are held after the matches today but we've had some minor adjustments.
The matches, both that of the semi-finals and the finals will be held today hence all the fun activities and games will happen non-stop tomorrow. Are you ready people?"
The stadium was silent for a few seconds as they processed the new information, but that did not stop them as not a second later, after the first shout of excitement, the stadium joined in.
The truth though behind the change of plans, was Sabrina Page. The council decided that if she was to attack seeing as nothing had happened, the finals would be the best chance for her, when the numbers were too much, enabling her to move stealthily around.
Meanwhile in the king's balcony, Sarah had just come up to meet General Lance with something new.
"Good morning your majesty." Sarah bowed as she greeted the king.
"Good morning Sarah, you may rise." King Clenor said as he looked at Luke.
"No need to greet this old fart over here." Luke said as he went over to his wife and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Pardon my husband's bad behavior. I have a report to make to General Lance." Sarah said with a playful smile as she sidestepped away from Luke.
"Good morning Sarah, go ahead." General Lance.
"We have suspected sightings on Sabrina page, although it's tricky to be a hundred percent sure its her. Just this morning, I received from my spirits, necromancy's mana circling the capital slowly."
"Is that so, then based on the timing and the distance from there to here, it'd take too much time to reach here, so that means our plan to change the schedule of the finals to today was the right choice." General Lance said as he stroked his beard.
King Clenor eyes glowed blue for a brief second. "I can sense their mana, but not them specifically, the residues of necromantic mana are spread around, the borders, bars and crowded places in the city. If I didn't know any better I'd think she's trying to prevent me from pinpointing her exact location. She really is smart."
"It was expected, after all the king's power as well as the information about it isn't really classified, a disadvantage of using a hereditary power, she's preparing counters but yet we only have basic knowledge against her, so what's your order, king?" Luke said as he stood up from his chair and grabbed the hilt of his sword.
"You're not going anywhere, we need you here in case of anything."
Turning, he faced his head of strategy, "General Lance. I demand that every mage rank six or above should be deployed around the capital for surveillance and should immediately report anything suspicious back to us immediately and on no account should anyone who crosses path with Sabrina confront her, but is free to follow her and report back. That's an order. And lastly they should remember that they're life is their utmost priority."
Sarah and General Lance saluted and started to head out when Luke dragged her back and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Be safe, if anything happens.."
"I know, Sylph will tell you. Isn't that right, Sylph." The small fairy in Luke's pocket nodded. "Look, I'm serious, this wasn't part of our deal and no, for the second time you're going out to the field because of the same damn woman."
"Don't worry I won't do any of the fighting action, just the commanding, now let me go before our king gets angry." Sarah laughed.
"I love you."
"I love you more," Sarah sang as she released her hand from Luke's grip and ran out of the door.
Luke slumped on the chair, defeated.
"She's a strong woman, don't worry."
"Easy for you to say when your wife is safe in the sweet confines of her room," Luke mumbled.
"What did you say," King Clenor questioned curiously.
"Oh, me nothing, just the ramblings of an anxious husband," Luke said comically. "Well cheer up, the match's about to start and young Kyrian is giving the opening speech,"
King Clenor said as he sat by Luke's side. When Kyrian finished his speech, he raised his hand high and a burst of fireworks flew out.
"So cool." Jayden thought as he looked at the fireworks. He was still looking at the fireworks when a stone hit him lightly on his head.
"Ouch." Jayden turned towards the direction of the stone and saw Myra standing with a smile in her royal guard's uniform. She was standing at the entrance with her lush red hair folded in a single ponytail as she waved at him.
"Myra!" Jayden teleported to her instantly and hugged her. "Hey there, I heard your scores, pretty befitting for a Reginald," Myra smiled as she ruffled Jayden's hair.
"I thought you were rank 5 before," Jayden said as he admired her uniform. It was a red and golden dress with a black strap around, a jacket over the dress with her royal guard sash, yellow in colour.
"Well guess I got promoted, that's right, Myra Reginald, current holder of nine records in one year plus achievements received, that's me. Oh my goodness, Reginald's do have ego issues."
"You think?" Jayden laughed.
"It's not only you that can make records, y'know let's make a wager, fastest fight in the tournament's record will be mine, depending on my penalty, that is."
"Wait you're on penalty and you want to make a wage with me, okay you're on, I think the fastest fight was in hmm, yeah two minutes, thirty one seconds, you think you can beat that. That was what it was when I checked it."
"Oh sis, I know I can beat that," Jayden said as he placed his hand on his sister's shoulder and brushed his hair back in a dramatic way with his other hand.
"Shake me, shake me." A little boy interrupted them as he stretched out his hand to Jayden.
"Mr. Kyrian shook me, can you?! I wanted to get shook by all the cool people"
"Sure, although I don't feel like shaking hands with your kind." Jayden said, his face distorted in disgust as he shook the boy and walked away.
The small child, although hearing it still grinned a wide smile.
"What was that attitude for?" Myra asked, confused.
"You'll soon see. That was a disgusting person I can't wait to beat up soon." Jayden said as he walked with his sister towards the mage section.