Fantasia (Part 10)

Months had passed since the practice tournament, and Daniel, Romulus, Gorgo and their Masters Dionysus and Wilbur were once again in Legacy City for the Final Tournament of the Challenge of the Intellects, the most prestigious competition of its kind in EveAlone. Their entry to the finals by itself was actually through a stroke of luck: they had actually lost in their penultimate round, but a new rule stated that the best performer among the losers of the penultimate round will be allowed to participate in the finals. The Masters had ruminated that perhaps the confidence gained from winning the practice tournament might actually mislead, and it was better that they come in the finals as underdogs with nothing to lose. Of course for a proud Knight, competing as an underdog would already be shameful, but at that point what mattered to Daniel was another chance to go to Legacy, another chance to see Helen.

The need to go to Legacy was somewhat driven by a rekindled rivalry between Mervin and Daniel. The former was the first to have gone to Helen's city and even to her home, mere days after she and the other guests had left Ceres. The devastation of the storm was still evident throughout EveAlone, yet for Mervin and the other visitors, having the company of their lovely hosts made the City of Legacy such a radiant paradise.

It took another month for Daniel to have his chance to return to Legacy, and it was through a Codix tournament to determine the champions of EveAlone who would be sent to the Imperial Codix Tournament in Manille. The tournament itself proved to be a failing venture for the Knights, and Daniel had resigned himself to the fact that his Codix skills were not meant for showing off in competitions. What Daniel would like to fulfill though was to drop by Helen's class and behold her beauty once again, as well as to do a little favor for Dominic.

The good acolyte had brushed aside his disastrous episode with Angela and had resumed his two-year-old correspondence with Kirsten. He had sagaciously remarked how he had allowed himself to be enchanted by a fleeting angelic sight when all along was a girl in Legacy whom he had been sharing thoughts and dreams with ever since he was in Second Group R. Daniel and Mervin had ribbed him on his old-fashioned exchange of letters with Kirsten. The two, on the other hand, had embraced the speed and convenience of the Message Jewel for keeping in touch with Helen.

The Message Jewel proved useful indeed for Daniel when he successfully made arrangements to meet Helen and Kirsten after the tournament. Overcast skies above Legacy had hastened the arrival of evening as Daniel entered the Citadel of Aqueaon. The other Codix champions of the Pillars had tagged along to also see their friends at the Citadel. Daniel's previous visit to the place had been deeply impressed upon his memory; thus, he found his way quickly. The sight of the Aqueaonians' moss-green vestments had never been a more welcome view. Unlike the Fourth Group of the Pillars, which had more than a hundred wards, the Fourth Group of Aqueaonians numbered to a little more than three dozens. Consequently, it simplified Daniel's search for the two young ladies.

He found Helen first, and her presence made him feel like he won the Codix tournament or maybe even higher stakes, like bragging rights against Mervin. After some small talk, she helped Daniel look for Kirsten. Dominic's pen pal was all perky when they found her. She was of course eyeing the covered cage Daniel was carrying. "Kirsten, behold a special delivery from Dominic," Dominic announced as he uncovered the cage with a flourish. Kirsten was expecting something, but her eyes still widened when she saw the puppy inside. It was of a kind bred in the Empire of Qin, where her roots originated.

Daniel noted Kirsten's reaction then remarked within earshot of Helen, "hard to top that."

"Oh, it's alright" was her automatic reply.

The fun times was ended when the Masters announced that the dark clouds were from another storm. They should better leave immediately else they would end up stranded like the last time. When they had boarded the ferry, a fellow Codix champion said to Daniel, "dude, you could've at least matched Dominic's gesture to Kirsten for Helen."

"Well, I did tell her--"

"I heard that. No excuses. She wasn't expecting anything, but that's the point." An exaggerated sigh, "you may have been good in Codix..." Daniel left the conversation to save his ego from further damage. Instead, he joined the main talk aboard the ferry about the Emperor being put to trial for excesses that had scandalized the nobles.

This talk was still prevalent later on when they were traveling to Legacy for the Finals of the Challenge of the Intellects. At that time, people were discussing the recent ouster of the said Emperor.

At the tournament itself, the champions of the Pillars realized that the creators of the tournament, however, were wise enough not to include such a recent and hot topic in the questions in their competition. Daniel and Romulus were instead struggling to keep their measly lead. Daniel's numerous blocking spells were easily dismantled by their opponents, while the latter's own spells have caused more trouble than expected. The Codix puzzles were also impossible to break. Then there was also the factor of the unfamiliar terrain, wherein the local champions were actually receiving help from not-so-innocent bystanders. The only things that seem to play to the Knight's advantages were the unpredictable challenges themselves, with some of them requiring knowledge not usually taught in the academies, and these fringe breakthroughs were the key factor for their small lead.

The Final Tournament was down to its last few minutes. The champions of three other academies had found the last few challenges, which if surpassed would take the lead from the Knights. Daniel and Romulus, on the other hand, had not yet found their last challenge. "Maybe there isn't any challenge left," Daniel said to Romulus, who was consulting one of the scattered Heraldic Mirrors for their status.

His fellow champion nodded. "I think that's what the mirror says... Shit! Someone's got our lead!"

That made Daniel rush to have a look too. "That means we have to grab the other two teams' challenges before they could surpass it, but we'd have to split and take on both teams at the same time. Tough."

"Not if they're distracted by their challenges."

Romulus quickly overwhelmed one team by throwing them aside with his sheer size and strength. He looked at the challenge and realized that it involved something about Magic.

Meanwhile, for the other team, Daniel was about to do something uncharacteristic and unprecedented of him in all the tournaments he had competed: use an offensive spell.

"Fumoffu! Second Raid!"

A strong gust blew away the other team. Daniel got a challenge that involved Literature. It would have been better if Romulus got it this one, and Daniel hoped that Romulus didn't get a challenge in Magic or Codix. Upon closer inspection, the opponent was almost finished with the verse about love that was required of them; one line was just one syllable short from the proper meter. Daniel grabbed the quill and replaced the word "her" with "Helen." Challenge surpassed. Even if Romulus failed, they had a chance for a tie-break.

It turned out there was no need for tie-breaking. The Magic challenge Romulus encountered had been taught in the Pillars. The Masters were amused by the tactic their champions had employed, but a victory was a victory and the Knights went to Legacy's central bazaar to celebrate and check out the artifacts that they had won. However, the only prize Daniel wanted was to see Helen.

On the way to the bazaar, Daniel saw that the adjacent plaza was drowning in a sea of moss-green uniforms. It was a celebration for the successful revolution in Manille that was supported by the Aqueaonians. Sensing that this may be his only chance at that time, he dove into the crowd. A little asking around easily led him to Helen, just like before.

She was surprised by the unexpected sigh, but with the recent turn of events, she had learned to expect the unexpected. The two exchanged stories about the news for the past few days. Then Daniel told her about the good news in the Challenge of the Intellects.

"By the way, it's quite surprising that the Aqueaonians did not make it to the final tournament. Aside from having a worthy adversary, I was expecting that you'd be there too. For inspiration."

A soft giggle. "But I guess it wasn't needed anyway, right?"

"I guess so too. The mere thought of you was enough." Daniel showed his share of prizes. "Uhm, here, have these, a thank you for the inspiration."

"Oh no! Keep them. You've won them so they're for your enjoyment."

"Are you sure?" Daniel noticed that Master Wilbur was waiting for him. "Very well, I think I have to go."

Silly guy, Helen thought with an amused smile as she watched Daniel walked towards the bazaar.

(Anime screen capture from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Episode 7)