Sandra departed immediately that night, and I went to sleep alone.
I especially asked everyone that I didn't have any plan to have sex for the duration of the tournament.
They respected my wish and didn't visit my room. I also told them to rest easy around this time, especially Garcia and Cecil. The former had a hard time holding back, so I allowed her to masturbate in her own room and only to call me if that didn't work. The latter wasn't really affected and only hummed.
I wanted to focus on my plan first and didn't want to be bothered. Not only that, I had a promise to Beatrice to sleep with her for 3 days straight. I needed to get ready for that, as that would probably turn into a big orgy with all my lovers.
'That time, I will also introduce that slave to everyone else.'
The next day, I accompanied Eliza, who became a bit nervous.
It was early in the morning. The sun hadn't appeared yet on the horizon, and the sky was still dark. A cold wind blew, hitting us.
"I-It's really cold," Eliza muttered as she rubbed her upper arms. Her hair fluttered from the wind, dancing in the air.
"Do you want me to warm you with a hug?"
"S-Stupid! We aren't in the mansion!"
"So if we are home, then it's okay." I teased with a playful smile, and her face reddened slightly.
We were walking toward the academy while joking because preparation for her tournament started in a few hours. While she said she would be okay walking by herself, I wanted to do something before she began. At least with this, she wouldn't be as nervous.
Her stiff movement loosened a little after she got embarrassed. Still rubbing her upper arms, Eliza got closer to me. Even if she said no, she still wanted to be close and feel my warmth.
"Ugh… When I was there yesterday, I didn't feel nervous like this. How can you be so calm all the time, Arthur?" She looked at me with her bright blue eyes. They were filled with curiosity and worry.
'How to stay calm, huh?' I touched my chin and fell into a thought. It reminded me of the past.
I wasn't calm at all. In fact, I was easily worried and overthink it.
Only when my former comrades all died, I changed and didn't even think of anything. I felt stupid thinking about every single thing and got nervous over it.
"Maybe don't think about it," I replied as I looked into her eyes.
"No one except me and Alesia expected you to win. Don't think about the competition but the result. If you go out there and destroy everyone like Tristan did yesterday, won't it feel good? Standing on the top will make you see something you have never seen before."
"But I am afraid of heights." Eliza retorted while pouting.
'This girl…'
I was about to say something more, but she suddenly giggled playfully. She lowered her hands, putting them behind her back and straightening her posture.
"I was just joking. I wasn't as afraid as before." She said, smiling brightly at me.
At this time, the sun rose from the horizon, lighting the world with its soft and warm light. Eliza's smile looked brighter with the ray of the sun behind her as she stopped on her track.
"Thanks, Arthur. I feel better."
"You're welcome," I smiled back at her and extended my hand. "Let's go?"
"Un!" Eliza replied energetically and took my hand. And we continued our walk toward the academy.
***
After seeing Eliza off to her waiting room, I sat beside Alesia on the VIP balcony. The headmistress looked at me with a soft smile when I sat down.
"You seem to be in a good mood."
"Am I?" I replied with a bit of a joking tone, "Maybe because my lovely childhood friend is growing. It's nice to see her go from being dishonest to a cute and confident girl. It's thanks to Emilia and Virtue Royal Academy, I guess."
While the last part was unnecessary, I still decided to say it to make Alesia's mood brightened.
Just as I expected, her smile widened slightly after I praised the teacher she chose and the academy.
"Of course. My academy didn't just teach knowledge and strength but also mental development."
"I believe you," I said in a sarcastic tone.
Alesia noticed my sarcasm and narrowed her eyes slightly, "If you give me time, I can reform them too."
"Whatever you say, headmistress." I shrugged my shoulders and heaved a sigh. "The general study division is so boring that no one besides a few spectators and the headmasters watches it. But… it seems like she's doing well."
I looked over the projection from the magic item that showed the venue for the general study. It was different from this one. The participants were in different classrooms in the main building, and there was an observer in each room.
Alesia's eyes also glowed, a sign that she used her skill to observe them too. No one could ever hide anything from the headmistress as long as they were in the vicinity of the Royal Academy.
Before long, many students submitted their papers to the observer and left the room. Most of them were those who also participated in the magic division, so they needed time to prepare and move to the arena hall.
Eliza also finished and submitted the paper with a bright smile on her face. She probably knew that we could see her and made a double peace sign. She looked innocent, and Vivian, who sat on the spectator seat with Karin, clapped her hands proudly. I didn't even notice she was already here.
"She's doing well," Alesia said with a sneer.
The headmistress' rare smug expression just told me what I needed to know. Eliza was doing well and would win!
'She did it.' I smiled in happiness. But I wouldn't tell her yet. The result would come after the magic division test.
"Next is the magic division. What do you think she will do?" I asked the headmistress who oversaw Eliza's training.
"She's good," Alesia spoke shortly and stood up. "I need to prepare the arena personally. Teacher Emilia is in the nearby room to help me observe. I need to warn you. Don't have sex on the balcony, got it?"
"What do you think I am?"
"Girls Collector." She replied and exited the balcony room, closing the door behind her.
I chuckled at her answer and turned to the arena. Alesia just exited the room to teleport in the middle of it and changed the arena with a magic item she took out from within her black robe, a spherical purple gem. When it glowed, the arena moved, and the ground rose to divide it into five.
The headmistress probably just used that magic item as a cover. Its effect probably only increased her control and made it easier to use magic. Her skills, and , were the ones that moved the arena and changed its shape.
"As expected from Elf Mage. She's skillful but still shrewd and careful. She doesn't want her real skill to be known and only shows enough strength to make the others respect her."
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