Our eyes remained glued to the television screen to observe the match between Erika Lonewood and Iclima Eyes. I instructed Sesil to focus entirely on analysing her potential opponents, while I compiled my own detailed notes on my laptop.
During their initial match, Erika Lonewood adopted an aggressive stance from the start. However, her rival Iclima evaded her strikes with remarkable swiftness. I recognised her technique instantly, a wind-based body enhancement magic that reduced her physical weight, allowing her to slip past incoming attacks effortlessly.
"Mmmm..." Sesil murmured, clearly deep in thought as her gaze remained fixed on the broadcast screen. "There it is..."
She appeared to have picked up on an important detail.
Their match stretched on for a considerable duration, finally reaching its conclusion after an hour and fifteen minutes with Erika Lonewood securing the victory. Given that this was a best-of-five series, the entire encounter promised to be a lengthy affair. Following a fifteen-minute intermission, their second match commenced. This time, Iclima completely altered her combat style, strictly following textbook combat principles.
Her opponent, Erika Lonewood, was visibly caught off guard, nearly suffering a defeat. Fortunately, she managed to adapt to her rival's strategy in time. Ultimately, however, she still succumbed, bringing the overall score to a one-to-one tie.
"Sesil, would you like to have a quick sparring session with me?" I offered once more, noticing a trace of hesitation in her expression.
"There is no need, Instructor, considering match day is tomorrow," Sesil answered, her attention remaining anchored on her opponents' contest.
Their battle raged fiercely, eventually ending in a three-to-two victory for Iclima Eyes after executing a dramatic reverse sweep. We intentionally stayed tuned to watch the post-match interview with Iclima, an activity Sesil typically avoided due to her aversion to media questions, which she usually left for me to handle.
"Congratulations on your victory, Iclima Eyes! How did the match feel for you?" the event host asked.
"It was an exhilarating match. Now, I can hardly wait to crush the number one favourite tomorrow!" Iclima replied, overflowing with enthusiasm.
Sesil listened to those words, her mood visibly dampening. I immediately wrapped my arm around her shoulder and switched off the television, intending to protect her mental state. However, Sesil turned the screen back on to continue watching.
"Just you wait until tomorrow, Sesil Ernburg! I am going to defeat you and knock you straight down to the lower bracket! I will shatter your winning streak!" Iclima declared arrogantly, issuing an open challenge. The shoulder-length, purple-haired mage spoke with supreme conceit.
"You will not. I am not going to lose ever again," Sesil stated firmly to herself. "I will not allow anyone to ruin this feeling."
Refraining from further commentary, I held Sesil tightly in my arms. Once she had calmed down, I offered her a gentle reminder. "Do not fixate entirely on winning or losing, Sesil. I am worried it will prevent you from enjoying the battle."
Sesil listened carefully, taking my words to heart. She then looked up at me with absolute seriousness. "Instructor, to make the reward from you feel far more meaningful, let us hold off on physical intimacy for now. Once I win the grand finals, we can resume properly."
"Having a goal like this keeps me deeply motivated," Sesil said with a gentle smile. "You have always indulged me in every little thing, Instructor. This time, I want to earn that reward purely through my own hard work."
Respecting her wishes, I ordered room service. We spent the remainder of the evening eating dinner and refining our tactical preparations before retiring early to rest for the upcoming competition. Her match was scheduled for ten in the morning, yet by six o'clock, Sesil was already visibly restless.
We remained together on the bed. Observing her nervousness, I embraced her gently, stroking her back. I could feel her trembling against my chest, consumed by anxiety.
"There is no need to fear defeat. Whether you win or lose, I will always stand by your side, and we will evaluate everything together," I whispered softly into her ear. "My beloved Sesil can certainly handle this."
"Even so, I am terrified of disappointing you! You have been so wonderful to me... and I have fallen deeply in love with you, Instructor..." Sesil murmured, tears glistening in her eyes. "I never want to disappoint the person I love, especially when you have always granted my every wish..."
"Sesil, listen to me carefully... whether you win or lose, I will always love you, and I will always be proud of you. I could never feel disappointed in you," I whispered, gently wiping away a stray tear.
I pressed my lips against hers, guiding her into a slow, comforting french kiss to bolster her motivation. Sesil accepted the kiss warmly, and we shared the sweet embrace for a long time until she grew drowsy, eventually drifting off to sleep in my arms.
In the end, I fell asleep alongside her, stroking her hair until she entered a deep rest. Her hands held tightly onto my free left hand throughout the night.
"Yogiri... please never leave me..."
The following morning, we awoke at dawn. We took a warm bath together, easing the tension in our bodies. I took the opportunity to review our tactical plan once more. As her instructor, my sole hope was that Sesil could improvise effectively to overcome her opponent. The results from our previous training sessions before coming here had been thoroughly solid.
After changing into our respective uniforms, we proceeded to the stadium complex, completing the standard check-in procedure while awaiting her designated match time. Sesil appeared immensely motivated, her eyes burning with a fierce resolve that completely contrasted with her anxiety from the previous evening.
When her turn arrived, the match unfolded beyond my expectations. Provoked continuously by her rival's taunts, Sesil unleashed her full power in an overwhelming display. I found myself slightly concerned that opposing trainers analysing her strength might make our path through the grand finals considerably more challenging.
The moment the match bell sounded, Sesil launched an aggressive assault, leaving Iclima zero opportunity to form a defence. She clearly intended to finish the battle before her opponent could react. Swinging and thrusting her spear in rapid succession, she executed a unique twelve-hit spear combo, seamlessly weaving wind magic generated from her strikes to press the assault. She concluded her sequence with a whirlwind slash, spinning like a miniature typhoon to sweep the surrounding area, rendering the attack entirely unavoidable.
Iclima struggled immensely to block or predict the trajectory of Sesil's spear strikes. The relentless pressure carried straight through until the score stood at two to zero. A visible expression of relief washed over Sesil upon concluding the second match.
Her opponent, Iclima, appeared thoroughly shaken after falling behind two to zero. I smiled, watching Sesil's growth, determined to help her build even greater strength and self-assurance. The upcoming round marked match point for her.
The crowd and commentators rallied enthusiastically behind Sesil. As expected, Sesil paid no mind to the noise from the stands. Meanwhile, Iclima looked utterly demoralised, terrified at the prospect of facing Sesil again.
"Thank you, Instructor. Just one match remains. I am going to present a clean three-to-zero victory to you..." Sesil stated, her gaze burning with passion. "For the instructor I love, and for my teammates, I will serve as proof that trusting in Yogiri leads to victory!"
I simply smiled at her resolve, handing her a water bottle. As the rest period concluded, an unexpected announcement revealed that Iclima had officially withdrawn from the match. It felt remarkably anticlimactic, given how thoroughly demoralised her opponent had become after witnessing Sesil's overwhelming magic power.
With that, Sesil stood just one step away from the grand finals. Hearing her name announced as advancing further into the upper bracket brought a bright, happy flush to her face, leaving her smiling softly to herself.
"It turns out she was all talk after all," Sesil remarked with a slight tone of annoyance as she changed her clothes. "Successful advance to the upper bracket semifinals!"
"I wonder who my next opponent will be, Instructor?" Sesil asked upon finishing dressing. "Ah, I should not dwell on that too much, whoever it is, I must be completely prepared!"
"That is precisely the mindset I like to see," I responded.
Following our usual routine, I sent Sesil back to our hotel ahead of time while I stayed behind to address the media interviews. Keeping my answers brief and straightforward, I concluded the press session before returning to our suite.
Unlocking our hotel door, I found Sesil waiting for me much like a devoted wife welcoming her husband home. "Welcome back!"
Sesil threw her arms around me, burying my face against her chest before gently patting my head. I flipped our positions, offering her a tender headpat in return. After savouring the quiet moment together, we sat down to refine our tactical plans.
I subsequently checked in on Princess Thelma and the others, finding them actively engaged in self-directed training. Feeling a bit concerned about their independent practice, we initiated a video call with them.
"Once Sesil finishes her tournament, it will be my turn, Instructor!" Dela announced upon answering the call. She appeared to be taking a brief rest after sparring against Shia and Chia simultaneously.
"Are you practising in a two-against-one setup?" I inquired.
"Yes!" Dela answered with spirited enthusiasm. "Just as you mentioned, Shia and Chia exploit my specific weaknesses, so I want to overcome them completely..."
"That is excellent initiative. Take care, Dela. I am going to resume discussing strategy with Sesil now," I replied, ending the video call.
In truth, that was not the sole reason I ended the call. Sesil had begun acting playfully naughty, sliding beneath my desk to pull down my undergarments, gently licking my shaft below. "Hey, did we not agree to refrain from physical intimacy until you win?"
"This does not count... besides, I am simply pampering the instructor I love!" Sesil offered a sweet smile, gazing up at me from below. "Would you really want to stress me out, Yogiri?"
I gave her a tender headpat, gently stroking her smooth pink hair. Sesil focused entirely on pleasing me, her head moving rhythmically. Consequently, my concentration on analysing her opponents evaporated completely. Just as I felt myself reaching the brink and attempted to pull back, Sesil held my chair firmly in place, continuing her oral care without pause.
Gulp!
Sesil swallowed every drop of my seed before releasing her hold. I offered her a mild reprimand, after which we refocused our efforts on analysing her prospective rivals. Following lunch, we spent some quiet time watching the match that would determine Sesil's next opponent.
The contest featured Ulfiya Els against Sereiya Norn. Statistically speaking, both competitors fell noticeably short of Sesil's capabilities. Based on collected data, Sesil remained far stronger by comparison, her performance metrics demonstrating a sharp upward spike. I remained uncertain whether this growth stemmed directly from my presence or another factor entirely.
The match concluded with a victory for Sereiya Norn, who was set to face Sesil in the upper bracket semifinals tomorrow. Securing a victory in the upcoming semifinals would officially guarantee our ticket to the upper bracket finals.
"Let us wrap things up, Instructor. I want to be pampered by you..." Sesil requested, looking at me with expectant eyes. "Intercourse is off-limits, but cuddling is still allowed, right?"
"I love being close to you and sharing my thoughts..." Sesil added, her eyes filled with warmth.
Ultimately, I devoted my full attention to pampering her, interspersing tender moments with brief strategic reminders. Sesil squirmed softly in delight as my hands gently played with her chest and lower body. Given the immense pressure she carried, I felt providing this form of relief was entirely necessary.
I found myself wondering if I would need to offer similar care to Dela, Shia, Chia, and Princess Thelma in the future. It seemed quite likely, especially since Miss Selia had granted me full approval to utilise my abilities for the benefit of my students.
When evening arrived, I provided a detailed briefing on how to counter Sereiya. Sesil listened attentively, grasping the core strategic elements completely.
"So I need to maintain an absolutely aggressive stance without offering any quarter, correct? Utilising the same strategy as before is fine..." Sesil noted, nodding in agreement. "And I must remain vigilant against rear attacks, given her use of wind clone magic."
"Understood, noted, Instructor!" Sesil declared, looking energised.
When our dinner arrived, Sesil suggested taking turns feeding each other. To lighten the atmosphere further, I invited her to play a card game on my laptop, setting articles of clothing as stakes to help her feel completely relaxed for tomorrow.
I intentionally allowed her to win to keep her spirits high. Her mood was exceptionally bright, and I refused to disrupt the positive momentum she had built. It was a wonderful feeling, experiencing true pride in a capable student.
I was certain Viper 6 had felt the exact same way regarding my own growth.
"I am going to prepare the bath for us now, Yogiri..." Sesil mentioned softly.
"Go right ahead," I replied, stretching my body before waiting for her on the adjacent bed while watching television. Everything appeared to be progressing smoothly, suggesting Sesil could secure the grand finals victory with relative ease.
Shortly after, Sesil returned and lay down beside me. Wrapping her arms around mine, she intentionally squeezed my arm between her soft chest. She was certainly acting playfully, though I found this confident, vibrant version of Sesil remarkably charming.
"Sesil..." I turned my body toward her, wrapping my arms around her waist. "Once you win the maiden tournament, would you like to go jewellery shopping with me? I would love to buy you a ring as a symbol that you belong to me."
Sesil blushed intensely, her cheeks turning bright crimson. Her face beamed with pure happiness as she gently stroked my cheek. "Yes, I would love that so much, Instructor!"