When we returned from our buying spree the third match was in full heat and the crowd and nobles were shouting with Hit him! Flank him! Cut! They were all fired up. When I watched they were using a different strategy: One group was just using spear and shield and was fighting a man per man against a team who just have pikes. Ultimately, the spears with shield defeated the pike men who didn''t use their potential as a group when fighting one on one. But they seems to have laugh and but heads with their enemy.


    After a few minutes of waiting came the last fight. On the right was five boys with nothing but halberd and another group with just two handed swords.


    “Is this normal?”


    I asked Grayson on my left.


    “No idea, we usually use tight formations but they all seemed to be having fun instead of competing. ”


    “Maybe they got bored, I mean I''m enjoying the recklessness.”


    Added John as he chomped on a skewed chicken barbeque. I looked at Billy for his comment but was just enjoying his juice and chicken leg.


    Once the fight started I thought it would be a man to man again but this time the halberdiers made a V shape and charged at their enemy with full ferocity. Thanks to what ever goddess they worship in this world that they have plated armour and gambeson in that fight but some were unlucky and got a free decayed teeth removal.


    “Ohhff.”


    Was all that we, contestant and audience, can give after that devastating charge.


    “Should we keep our formation? Or change tactics?”


    Said Wendy on my right as she pointed out that a lot of the audience and nobles were tossing coins at the kids as the battle ended with the halberdiers cheering as they picked up their bounty. Something was off, for me.


    When the announcer went to the ground, we went down and asked Kath about this if she has any idea on what''s going on.


    “Well, from what I heard when you guys were gone, they all seem afraid of you.”


    “What!?”


    All of us exclaimed; all four with excitement while I with bafflement.


    “Me? They should be more afraid of our Billy here!”


    I patted the shoulder of our tank.


    “Well, they all knew you were the one who made that formation and tactic, so yeah... They already know they''re going to lose so they decided to just have fun until the end. Also, there''s this other group with colorfully hair.”


    Before she could continue she was called on another private bench to tend someone''s injuries.


    “That sucks.”


    “Free win, Free Manchet!”


    “White flower!”


    “White rose...”


    “It''s free real estate then!”


    They all were fired up and began rearming themselves.


    “Guys, this is not fair,”


    I said, but they were all to busy.


    “Hey! I said this not fair. Let''s give them a fighting chance.”


    “You want us to lose?”


    Asked John as he fitted his visor helm.


    “No Manchet?”


    “What do you mean, Elfien, we''re giving them a fair fight here.”


    They then looked at me with hands gripped on their weapon.


    “Let him speak.”


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.Said Wendy.


    Thanking her, I told them we will not lose, no.


    “Let''s just give them a fighting chance, we will not lose I promise, we''ll just show them that they can have a chance of beating me, not you guys but me.”


    “What do you mean?”


    They all asked. Even if we lose, which is rather slim, they will get their Manchet, I swear to that, since I am set up for two more competition and when I win they get what they want, all I asked is that they follow my orders.


    “As long as we don''t lose and get our Manchet in the end. I am fine with it, besides you''re the leader we voted.”


    Grayson picking up his halberd.


    “Yargh! Guaranteed Manchet!”


    Billy his war hammer.


    “But don''t over do it then.”


    John his pike.


    “I just hope you''re planning something good.”


    And Wendy her buckler and sword.


    “I''ll be fine just make sure you follow my order.”


    I picked up my buckler and sword as we were being called.


    Semi finals; “Entering on right, the Warren~Guardsmen! and to the left the B...ull heads!”


    Each call of name got an even amount cheers and applaud.


    “Oy, oy! That''s Jeffrey and Tom!”


    Cried John.


    “That''s Bull clan alright!”


    Replied Grayson.


    “We show them whose boss this time!”


    Roared Billy.


    “Remember your promises.”


    But it was Wendy that I''m worried about.


    “If we lose, I hope you win the next event.”


    She said to me as we went to our places.


    “I''m not saying we''ll intentionally lose, we give them a fight they think can win. Also go easy on them.”


    The runner she fought was a tad taller for her height but she easily dealt with in a short span of time.


    “Against five boys, a girl like me should go easy? Very well then captain.”


    As oaths and curses were thrown when we took formation... Or no formation at all. The Bull heads, the winner of the third match, held their round shields and spear long as they squeezed themselves in a tight formation, they look more of a porcupine rather than a bull.


    Our last formation could easily beat this formation, but in my word; a fair fight. We tried to poke them around here and there and hoped for a fair one on one fight. But they seem to keep a tight formation avoiding Billy(whom I told to don''t engage unless so) and was trying to corner one of us.


    “Elfien? What now?”


    This was taking a long time and the audience were shouting for a fight, but in our loose formation we can get easily spiked down when charging head on, meanwhile the bulls cannot corner us since were too quick. Then it hit me, I told them to huddle up around Billy, since the enemy team won''t attack as at full force. Once here, I told them my plan.


    “No! I disagree with this!”


    And this is why I''m more concerned with Wendy.


    “I like it!”


    “We have chance then!”


    “Ok, it''s settled back to your formations!”


    I only have to order that to Wendy thrice, which she ignored and stood by my side.


    “Wendy. I''ll be fine!”


    “No, I''m with you!”


    “We doing this or what?”


    Shouted Grayson.


    Giving them a signal, John and Grayson attacked but with a distance forcing the enemy to move.


    “We protect each other then.”


    I said to her, she nodded as we stayed in a corner where soon enough the porcupine marched towards us.


    I continued to shout orders as if they were important as we lured the porcupine to us. Where soon enough I charged head on leaving Wendy behind.


    I found myself facing against three spears hitting me in quick succession, block and deflect all I would but I could feel those sharp pain that I''ve always endured at the pell. It was in this moment where Billy, Grayson, and John charge.


    "Put Elfien down! Here they come!"One of them shouted and with a roar a guy tackled me down but Wendy supported me from behind, took the weight and pushed me back to stand. She then quickly use her pummel to hit my tackler''s helmet and pushed him to the ground.


    “Ha!”


    I was immediately struck on my chest with a thrust from an enemy spear, deflecting his next attack with my buckler I swung my sword down his arms disarming his short spear and would follow up an attack but he bashed me with his shield.


    There, staggered again a second tackle got out me down for good. As I stumbled I could see him standing up with a smile for a moment until Wendy tripped my basher.