The third round ended, there were only three contestants left, Marcus, Abacus and him, they were allowed rest.
" The contestants are allowed to rest, the tournament will continue in 2 hours!" Shouted the announcer.
Mercury was lost on what to do again, he could only watch enviously as others socialised and laughed with their friends.
" Is it loneliness that I’m smelling?" He heard a familiar sweet voice behind him, Mercury turned and saw Satella.
" What can I help you with lady El’Saarl?" Asked Mercury.
" Call me Satella, lady El’Saarl sounds so distant don’t you think?"
" It would be inappropriate for me to address an unwed lady with such intimacy, especially since I’m an engaged man myself."
Satella giggled," Oh please, everybody knows your engagement is just a farce, that sluts is all over Marcus all the time."
" She might be a sluts but officially we’re still engaged and I have to intentions to compromise my morals as she had lady El’Saarl."
Satella looked at him intensely, seeing the seriousness in his eyes she smiled," When that paper wall you call an engagement burns, you know where to find me."
Mercury swore deep down he would never look for this woman, she was too dangerous, he’s heard many stories of beauties toppling kingdoms, he didn’t plan on being one of the victims.
" Now lord Al’Karl, how about we discuss how you managed to completely ignore my curse, tell me how did you do it?"
Mercury shrugged, " Whatever do you mean lady El’Saarl, surely you saw me writhing in agony, your curse was beyond the capabilities of one such as I to deal with."
" Oh please, do you truly believe your little act fooled anyone? Perhaps it did fool others but it certainly did not fool me.
Stomachache curse? That curse was meant to torture you mentally, show you your worst fears but you did not even flinch."
" Ah I remember now, the..the stomachache was not real yes yes that’s it, I imagined it, my greatest fear, indeed." Mercury continued playing the fool.
Satella giggled, " You really are a funny man, quite unusual to say the least and nothing like the rumours say."
" What do the rumours say if I may ask?" Asked Mercury even though he already knew the answer.
" That you’re a useless weakling who relies on his family name for everything."
" Ho, and why do you think I’m nothing like that, I am a duke’s son, perhaps all my achievements so far have been because of that."
" You name alone cannot allow you to defeat your peers using nothing but F rank spells, your intellence when it comes to magic surpasses most I’ve met, me included."
" You over praise me lady El’Saarl, that was purely by luck, had they not underestimated me, I would’ve lost every fight." Said Mercury.
" I guess luck is also what allowed you to shrug off my curse like it’s nothing but a gust of wind?"
Mercury shook his arms, " Of course not, your curse greatly effected me, now that I remember, I haven’t thanked you for letting me win, thank you for showing mercy lady El’Saarl."
Satella smiled," I see, you fully intend to stand by that lie, well then, I’ll take my leave for now lord Al’Karl.
I look forward to your next match, I wonder how your tricks will hold up against those two." She laughed and left.
Mercury sighed, " Man that wasn’t easy." The entire conversation he had to avert his gaze lest lust cloud his mind.
And she was intentionally revealing sensitive parts of her lustrous body to him, ’ She’s very unusual.’
Such acts were considered shameful amongst humans but she acted freely without care what others thought of her.
" I like that in a woman." Mercury felt another presence enter the range of his mana realm and sighed.
" Mercury, what were doing with that shameful woman?" Emilia asked accusatory as soon as she showed up.
" What I do is none of your concern Emilia Heartfilia, don’t you have a duke’s son to suck up to?" He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
" How dare you, I already told you nothing happening between me and Marcus, I don’t know why you’re angry.
But even if you angry at me, that’s no reason for you to snuggle with whores just to make me jealous, you’re engaged, have you no shame?." Barked Emilia.
Mercury sighed, " I honestly don’t know why I bother with you, so let me get this straight, when you stick your tongue down another man’s throat that is fine.
You don’t remember you’re an engaged woman but when I have a conversation with another lady you then remember the engagement?"
" That’s not, it’s different.." Emilia tried to justify herself.
Mercury raised his hand to stop her, " Save me your hypocrisy Emilia, I will say this again and listen closely.
I do care whose bed you jump into, I do care whose arms you wrap around yourself, after this tournament.
We will end this farce of an engagement then you’ll be free to spend your time with your lover without shame.
But before then, keep your claws off my business." Mercury stormed off leaving her standing there frozen.
Emilia felt another pang of loss and panic as if she was losing something, then she remembered.
She remembered all the times Mercury has slaved himself to help her, all the times he’s forgiven her.
’ He loves me, there’s no way he can leave me, he’s just throwing a tantrum to get my attention, mhhh, we’ll see who’ll come begging later.’
With her confidence renewed she stormed off with prideful strides. Mercury did not know her thought and if he did me might’ve laughed himself to death.
He walked around the campus until the two hours were over, it was time for the final round to begin.
Since there were three of them, they were going to draw lots, the one whose name was picked would be going to the final.
Mercury knew the drawing lot thing was just for show, through mana realm he was able to see every name on the bowl.
All of them read Marcus Von Drell, the first battle was going to be between Mercury and Abacus Veilstone.
" First match, Abacus Veilstone Vs Mercury Al’Karl." Shouted the announcer, Abacus went on stage.
However his attention was fully on Marcus, he already considered this fight his win, unlike others he didn’t believe F rank spells can take him down.
" Give up." He told Mercury in a commanding tone.
" Yeah no, I think I’ll take my chances, who knows, you might trip and fall off the stage." Answered Mercury.
Abacus sighed, " Fine, I’ll make this quick, try to survive."