Chapter 543: Chapter 543 - Rumors of the Valere
As the last of the introductions finished, the teams were led out of the field to prepare themselves. With their announcement, the spectators already started to premonition the end result of the Valere.
"Which academy do you think is going to win the first place?" An Earl asked his friend of the lower nobility.
"Of Course, it will be Lancelot High. I wouldn’t expect any less from last year’s Champion." The Viscount nodded with a sure face.
"That could be true. Although they won last year, the same might not chance upon again. It will take the best of their ability if they want to take the first place once more."
His friend shook his head in amusement, "Did you forget the performance from the last tournament? Needless to say, this year’s winner wi-"
"On the contrary." A voice of enthusiasm butted in, "I believe this time we will not get the same result as previous. I have heard of rumors regarding the rivaling academies and all seem to point adversaries of high or even greater equivalence."
The Earl did not even glance back and rebutted, "No matter the theory of your rumors, it could not thwart the great might of Lancelot High."
"Would you lot care to bet on it?"
"Huh! Why not!? It will only be a fool’s wager-" This time, both the count and his viscount friend, glanced back. The word froze at the end as they recognized the high station of the person through his pin, "M- My Lord!"
They both stood up in attention, "I- We- We apologies for our conduc-"
"Sit down." The man with his expensive purple coat, royal red linings at the sides and sitting languidly wearing pants of the same brand as his coat nodded through his slightly dark red bonnet with a white feather stitched over it.
"Do not worry about station here. We all are here to enjoy the game, so we shall enjoy it." The Marquess waved for them to sit and again went back to his business-like-smile. "Now, tell me, would you two like to bet on the matter?"
The two glanced at each other’s weary smiles and quickly sat down knowing the man wasn’t one of those pompous fellows, who would rip out their veins to show how high they stood in blood.
The Earl opened his mouth first, "Well, if it wouldn’t mind you, my lord." The Marquess shook his head again, "Then, why not? But I am afraid I cannot place as high a wager as you have in mind."
"Not a worry, chap. I do not want to bleed you dry, and mayhaps not want of stabbing my own self." The man’s eyes sparkled as if shown opium, "How about 10 pounds for the third place, 20 to guess the second and 50 for the winner, hmm?"
The Count’s eyes wavered slightly at the winner’s bet, for he was now the man of his family, his father leaving them. As a newly made Earl, it would seem rather unpleasant. But after a moment, he nodded, for it was not certain that the marquess’s would be certain.
"Sure, I will join. What do you think, Knivert?" He nudged at his friendly Viscount.
"Hm?" The Young son of a Viscount, thought for a moment before questioning the senior amongst their presence, "My Lord, if you do not mind, then might I acquire as to the rumors you spoke of earlier?"
The Marquess looked surprised for a moment, his eyes nodding in respect at the young one’s knowledge or caution, "Good of you to catch that, lad. Sure, let me give you a brief word, but do not take them to heart, for remember, they are, just rumors."
The three nobles huddled together as the latter glanced up at the clear blue sky in contemplation.
"What to begin, which one? There are many, I tell you, some are funny, some are curious and some just plain stupid." The Marquess laughed at the memory of the latter before his mind stilled at a few, "Yes, those will do."
"Of all the blatant falsity, curiosity and other disposable theories, there are four academies, that stand out from the rest and the ones I am about to talk of. I am sure that you have heard of them, or at least most of them." The Marquess did not notice, but their talk had reached others, whom glanced at them or sneakily peered their ears.
"Rockford High, Ophina Court, Raymont Fortress and Blackthorn Academy." The Marquess begin, "Let us start with the easy one, Rockford High. Everyone has probably heard of this behemoth, the winner of 43rd, 41st Valere and significant few more, known as the true rival of Leonidas High." The two young nobles nodded, while recognition flashed through the others. "There is a saying going around Rockford High, that this time they trained great talents. Going so far as to have already spotted candidates since their entrance ceremony and have been planning their comeback after losing the last Valere. So, you could say that, they might be the biggest threat of this year."
"Then there’s Ophina Court, winner of the 42nd Valere and another large behemoth, known as the third great academy of the trio. Well, they say that after losing the previous two tournaments, they too spiked up their intensity and that they have specifically trained their students to defeat both Lancelot and Rockford High’s candidates."
The Marquess’s face turned sour next, "Raymont Fortress... what to say about them? They are a military academy whose training regime may or may not be even higher than the previous two. Truly they bring out the most of their students... at any cost."
"I too, have heard similar things about them." The Earl recounted, "That they had receipt multiple complaints in the past, but none seem to cause any effect."
"Yes, that is true." The Marquess nods solemnly, "It is a Military Academy, it is their job to secure the kingdoms best forces and put them out in the field. And they do bring results, so the complaints are dealt without much annoyance."
The Marquess thought turned to his cousin. That cousin of his, was once a student of Raymont Fortress. All his life, he remembered his cousin as a bright boy whose smile could pierce through dark clouds... but after graduation, the cousin had turned into a cold machine, a clog that seemed to live and breathe for the kingdom’s purpose.
"And the last one?"
The Marquess’s thoughts broke, "Huh?... Oh! The last one. Now it would be a juicy one... if I had any knowledge of them."
"What?!" The two nobles, combined with those listening, blurted out unconsciously before quickly turning their shocked faces away.
"As I said, I don’t know much." The Marquess shrugged his shoulder and leaned in with a sharp gaze, "But I have come upon inside information that they are this year’s Dark Horse. Not much is known about them but the rumor is that they have a secret weapon! Now... Who amongst us wants to bag a pouch full of money?"
...
As the trio and the listeners joined in on the friendly bet, behind them, two inconspicuous fellow wearing black clothes of ancient chinese style, sat. They were in the midst of other fellow people of the Leonidas descent and their choice of clothes should have garnered great attention, but it was as if these two weren’t there to begin with, as if ghosts.
"Elder Sister, do you think we should also join in their bets?" The younger of the two, asked eagerly.
"What would it matter? It is not as if their money has any worth to us."
The elder of the two, a young woman of impeccable beauty spoke and glanced away from the matter altogether.
Comments