It was a silent ceremony when Lady Juliana gave the flower to the victorious Darkness team as Wendy explained it to me when I asked what happened after I got knocked out.
“They didn''t accept the prize money, only the white rose, they ran away with stupid smiles on their faces.”
She said with sigh.
“The noble and audience''s request they hand the prize money to us.”
Which was given only to our three teammates who right now we watched compete in the archery competition.
John takes his second bulls-eyes in this competition which was not that crowded like the last tent. Me and Wendy was on top of a balcony like viewing deck along with some rich looking folks. Apparently, Wendy''s mother and father owns this seat but they never came and Wendy, being the daughter, and me, reluctant fiancé, got access to said seats. I don''t know how she got me here, but Katherine seems to come in mind when she said she got some great help.
She was now wearing a new dress of rose red with a festive green stripe designs and bandage around her head under her blonde hair.
Then me, with new clothes and seemingly no bandages or any sort of bruises whatsoever. When I asked why are my injuries gone ‘a healing potion’ she replied since a nun''s powers tend to be insufficient on healing a body completely, only priestess, like Serafina, can so that. Healing potions are sometimes used after using healing magic by nuns. Then, I asked about her bandage why didn''t she asked to heal it?
“To remind you that you endangered you''re fiancé in a fight. Which I''ll use this very dangerous cut to remind you that you must do what I like. At least that''s what I think I''m going to do.”
Giggling as she clung to my arm as John hit the inner circle of his target.
“No, seriously, I saw you bleeding back there.”
“I think that would be an exaggerated bleeding,”
She then lifted her bandage and showed the cut. It was large as a accidental cut of a finger from mincing some onions.
“Nevertheless, adventurers using one hand to hold a two handed sword, that is also wooden and blunted, can thrust it so hard that even when missing the wind managed to cut me. It was even aimed at my head for that matter! What were they thinking?”
At first I thought it was from a hard slashing attack that made her bleed, but it was from a thrust aimed at her head. I don''t what were they thinking.
I tried to keep it out of my mind as John''s opponent got two inner circle hit and a final bullseye where Billy and Grayson cheered and hung their arm around him as he got to the finals where the target was moved five yards away from its former 20 yards distance.
“Y-you know you don''t have to join in the next game for me if you like, your name has already been carved on that rapier.”
I asked where it was carved, she rested her head on my shoulder as whispered:“Secret.”
“I''ll still go. I''ve made a promise to three parties that I''ll win this.”
I thought I would kill two birds in one event, but seeing how we lost felt like my chances of fulfilling those promises was cut down. My best bet was to win in the individual fight, I can''t say for sure that I''ll win at the riddle tournament.
“Whose the third party?”
She shot her head up to me.
“Oh it''s May, she told me if I win then I can join as a guard for Edmund''s hunt tomorrow.”
Which is the greatest bonus and I can probably use this as an excuse to visit Neil, Allan, and Roland. Hopefully, we can go to church and get some answers. Maybe, I get to know what happened to my mother.
“Oh, then don''t be fool again, alright. There isn''t a resurrection potion that I can buy for you if you...”
Her hand began to squeeze me tight as John shot his first arrow and hit the outer circle.
“B-by the way, what''s a Manchet? They keep talking about it.”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.She was really shaking like someone that came back from snowstorm.
“Oh, it''s a delicious and luxurious bread baked from fine flour and skill, white and soft as a cloud, I may add.”
“So, does a white rose can really buy, or be exchangeable, to a Manchet?”
With a serious face he took a breath nock and... The arrow hit hard that it was heard throughout the entire tent; Another bullseye!
“I don''t really know... Maybe.”
She then smiled at me.
“Why not try it once you win, I''ll arrange a meeting with the Manor''s Baker if you want.”
“Really? How?”
Then it escaped to me that she''s a daughter of an influential merchant and she herself a prodigious merchant child.
Asking how is the wrong question, its when.
“I know a great friend there.”
Which was not the reply that I expected.
The match ended with Warren Guardsmen at another close defeat, scoring 20 against a perfect 24 from another adventurer in a hood whom shot three consecutive bullseye in just a few second. After receiving the bag of silver the adventurer gave it to the warren and shook hands as he left with a slim golden feather trophy. They were less bitter than before to be sure.
With that, it was time for the individual melee which I thought would be held in another large circus like tent but she told me it was going be fought in the field in front of the crowd and all guild members, nobles, and the royal family will be watching.
“It''s the second most anticipated event next to jousting.”
Adding as we traversed through the sea of crowd heading to the benches to watch this event.
“For just some one on one melee show, isn''t this a bit boring?”
They''ll just see us whack one another until the other drops but this time with maneuvering and skills.
“Don''t belittle them, Elfien, I was told that each opponent was handpicked from their best and got some special training just for this day.”
Wendy pointed out.
“Is the prize that grand?”
Since its the best of the best then it must a fight worth a grand prize. I thought it would be just like the team fights where it was just kids like me freely joining in.
“I suppose so, the joust prize is a small statue of a pure gold griffon, a large bag of solidum, and honorary recognition form Lord Magnus himself, while the individual melee is a small bag of solidum and the white flower, which I suppose is grand to your status, there was no offence in that statement,”
She quickly said to me.
“None taken.”
I was already a peasant in my world.
“But what the citizens of Ellena really want is to entertain Lord Magnus, since not only he is the great-great son of Lord William that agreed and helped chartered Ellena to be a free city, he is also the sponsor of this games, charitable to the citizens, and the heir of this kingdom. Plus, this is also a great way of training the young children of Ellana to fight against monsters one day.”
Before I could ask more questions we arrived at the end of the field where a dark blue and white stripe medium sized tent stood with blue flags waving on it''s cone roof. Wendy then took out some paper to some guards where they let us in.
Traversing inside the place was reminiscent to a backstage play where props, hanging ropes, parents powdering and helping their children get dress, giving them confidence for the upcoming play. Except it was though gambesons, rattling chain mails, sabatons, visor helmets, and parents telling their children this is the culmination of their training.
Some notable figures that caught my eye as we walked through was O''Brian, Edmund, Grant, and Kenneth helping with the armament fitting and supervision of weapons. We then reached the end of the tent where a door stood in front of us.
“This is the girl''s fitting room, please don''t peek.”
She sternly said to me as she entered the compartment.
Why would I?
“Oh, finally! Come here!”
Not a minute pass since Wendy left did May in her full suit of black armor took my hand and whisked me deep inside.
Many contestants and parents recognized her and gave way when she said "Excuse us" when we danced through them, and would have some casual hello with some parents until we reached a vacant room where sets of armor and steel swords greeted us.
“I heard you almost won your first game.”
She started as she helped me undress and fit some gambeson.
“That''s putting it modestly; We lost because of me.”
Then again, we would have lost whatever tactics we use.
“Now, now. What Katherine told me was a different story. You did your best but adventurers be... damned! I didn''t expect them to be here. Now stand still, the tournament is about to start.”
We didn''t talked much as we pulled some straps, and continued to fit some armor.
“Not to tight.”
After telling her too loosen some straps a little, next came the chain mail, helmet, sabaton, and such until I strapped in the helmet and was ready to leave until...
“Whatever happened in your last fight, it doesn''t matter to me. Know that I''m proud that you didn''t give up even against the face of certain defeat.”
She said before giving me quick hug and a tap on my helmet.
Feeling comfortable all around me, a trumpet boomed outside the tent that made everyone in this tent began to leave with our parents besides.