It was now the final day of the competition, Only a couple hundred left. Many left of there own accord after seeing there opponents, opting to keep there pride and not to get beat up. The people here were approaching sword master, this meant they were very strong.
The crowd was going crazy as the last match began. It was between the 2 top knights, one was Salis and the other was Leroy a friend that salis had made while training.
Since Salis had arrived only a year ago many laughed thinking his skill was bad but when Salis quickly mastered the sword and begins to make his own sword art the other knights knew it was a mistake to underestimate the new recruit.
All those who had made fun of him were ruthlessly crushed under his blade beaten black and blue. This earned him a lot of respect. At that time it was quiet a site to see mostly grown men beat up by a person who looked no older that 16 because of his skinny frame that lacked both muscle and fat.
Even after the year had passed and Salis grew and finally gained muscles he still lacked in height and when he stood next t the other knights he looked very skinny.
But nobody said anything as they knew that that small body contained a monster. While they were never in a war before they had gone out to track down traitors and bandits and rival forces trying to enter the empire. They had heard story's from the men and woman who had seen him massacre his enemies and there respect and fear had tripled.
This fight was one that all knights looked forward too, these two were probably the strongest out of all the knights in the past 20 years.
"Haha, Salis it seemed the crow and the knights are looking forward to a good fight.. do u think you can win?" Leroy laughed and spoke to Slais as they both circled each other looking for openings.
"Well, Leroy i have no choice but to win after all, i need a nice house in order to retire. I made a bet and i need to win it, otherwise the house of my dreams goes poof!"
Salis answered back before lungeing at the other.
"You?!- Wha?- House?! A house?!-"
Leroy faulted in his steps completely caught off gaurd.
"Your doing this to buy a HOUSE?!"
Leroy was beyond shocked, Salis, THE Salis just said that he wanted to buy a house? For retirement no less! The Salis who searched for blood and good fighters, the Salis who nobody could beat or even spar against? The one who they used in they scary campfire story's?
It was here that Salis struck, among on setting his opponent Leroy off guard. He was somewhat aware of his own reputation but didn't realize the extent that it went. And so the fight began. The twos figure were burrows and normal citizens could only see there after images, even trained knights were having trouble keeping up with Salis's strikes and Leroys reactions.
5 Minutes had passed and dust was flying everywhere and it became harder and harder to see the 2 knights fighting. Suddenly one of them jumped this jumped surpassed what a human could and went into the supernatural side. Rising above the dust cloud was Leroy who was searching for Salis through the cloud of dust.
All of a sudden a shout rang out, "BEHIND-" Before they person could finsh the shout Leroy was slammed into the wall of the stadium outside the painted ring.
Immediately cracks began to form and Leroy broke through the wall, crashing into surprised citizens. When the dust settled everyone's eyes were staring at Salis, the one who had jumped up behind Leroy and kicked him in the stadium wall without leaving the circle.
"Haha, might have been to much.." He spoke but it was drowned out by the crowds thundering shouts. It was one of the quicks match's they had seen but also one of the best. The power behind each struck was very obviously seen in the deep gorges in the ground surrounding the circle and the broken wall.
And the shocked announcer pronounced Salis as the winner, " The winner is Sir Salis Filmor! The new capitin of the Royal knights! Sir Salis, would you care to say waht sword art you used? I believe that none of us here have ever seen it? Was it something you created?"
Before Salis could talk somebody from the knights section shouted,
"It's called the dance of Mor!"
Salis shot a sharp glare into the knights trying to find the one who had spoken.
"Oh! Oh! So it's named after you last name? My oh My! It certainly fits! A dance of death more like it! No rough moves it certainly looks like a dance, but still it holds much power! Incredible, incredible it's definitely a powerful sword art!"
"No- It's not called that- i, i haven't come up with a name for it, the knights have named it that after they found out my last name..."
Salis trailed off as he watched the announcer turn to him shocked,
"No name?! Then we must go with The dance of Mor! You also seem to have a VERY good relationship with your knights... Should we be expecting any romance soon? Perhaps-"
Before the announcer could finsh his sentence the alchemists speaker he was using was sliced in half. Salis, ran his fingers over his swords blade before smiling at the announcer,
"I am only 19 years old, no need to rush anything."
With that he left the stage walking into the swarm of knights laughing and running to him.
Before saline could reach the doors he was lifted up off the ground and carried out by the knights including Leroy who was leading the parade. They were shouting and laughing throwing Salis up into the air.
In truth they had all expected Salis to win and they had all been very happy when he had, you would think they would be jealous of him and his position, and maybe they would have a year ago. But when Salis arrived there world was flipped upside down and none of them disliked it.
In fact they loves and respected there cold team mate who secretly cared about them all and was a monster on the battlefield. The same went for Salis, he was a very cold man in his previous life so when he met the knights he had opened up more than he expected, they were men and women who he would want to fight with, he respected and enjoyed there company.
That night the air was filled with the sent of alcohol and shouts of drunk men and women. The knights of the royal palace had all become better me after meeting Salis, who was now there commander. There team work had improved as well as there sword skill. Salis had that affect on people. It was something that made other want to follow him.It made others fear and respect him. The night was one that they would all remember for the rest of there lives, especially Salis.