Demacian Tournament

The next morning, when I woke up, I instinctively checked my body and limbs to make sure I was still Leivo. 🐙☢  ♣☢

I didn't call for Nora or Noviya. I got dressed and washed up on my own, then headed to the dining hall. After finishing breakfast under everyone's astonished gazes, I followed Fili to the palace again.

There was a training ground inside the palace. Everyone had agreed to gather there yesterday, but although all three uncles had arrived, only one of the brothers had shown up. Just as I was wondering what was going on, the king spoke:

"Out of a spirit of humility, two candidates have voluntarily withdrawn from the competition. So today's winner will be decided between Leivo and Andy. The winner will follow General Garen to the Dauntless Vanguard Legion for training and become the sort of hero Sage Tabor spoke of, one whose name will live on for generations. I hereby declare the competition open!"

Amid the cheers from the crowd, Andy and I put on our protective gear and stepped onto the training ground. We'd originally agreed that all we had to do was avoid coming in last, but now it had become a duel between the two of us:

Lose, and I'd forfeit my honor. Win, and my life would be in danger.

I hadn't expected things to turn out this way. Andy looked just as surprised; he hadn't expected the other two to withdraw, either.

The fight that followed was even more unexpected. We took our stances and sized each other up, neither willing to make the first move.

I held back because I wasn't confident in my swordsmanship. But I'd heard Andy was a highly skilled swordsman, so why wasn't he attacking?

I couldn't figure it out. I tentatively thrust my sword toward his chest, and to my surprise, he didn't dodge at all. He let me hit his chest armor, then conceded!

He'd deliberately thrown the match to avoid going to war!

It seemed that when it came down to life or honor, they'd all chosen life. Just as the referee was about to announce me the winner, a young man suddenly ran over and shouted:

"What kind of competition is this? How can someone chosen like this save Demacia? I demand a match against him!"

The young man looked about seventeen or eighteen. He wore gleaming golden armor, and the signature spear in his hand revealed his identity: Prince Jarvan IV!

It seemed everyone felt the same way. When the prince charged onto the field, the crowd erupted in support, leaving the king no choice but to relent:

"Son, you don't know how to use a sword. How do you intend to compete?"

"I don't know how to use a rapier, but I know how to use a spear! We don't have to follow the rules. We can fight however we like, until one of us gives up!"

"Outrageous! How is this any different from the savage, brutal arenas of Noxus?"

The king was angry at the suggestion, but the prince didn't back down. "What rules are there in war? We're not going there to put on a show; we're going to kill the enemy. Please, let me!"

Things had come to this, and the prince's words made sense. Even if the king was unwilling, there wasn't much he could do. He turned to me instead:

"Leivo, do you agree? Don't feel pressured. If you agree, then fight. If you don't, you're still the winner."

I didn't want to invite more trouble, but refusing to fight would make me look like a coward. It would also be a slap in the face to Fiora, who'd worked so hard to teach me swordsmanship yesterday.

"I agree."

The crowd praised me for my answer, saying I hadn't brought shame on the Laurent Family. The prince, meanwhile, looked disdainful, as if victory were already his.

Since we wouldn't be using swords for the match, there was no need to strike a formal stance. I reset my footing, crouched low, and focused on the prince.

The book 69 new

His spear looked heavy. I didn't need to face him head-on. Once he'd worn himself out, I'd have my chance to attack.

With that in mind, I focused on dodging his moves. I occasionally tested him with a thrust of my sword, which took little effort. The prince clearly hadn't expected me to fight this way. Before long, he was panting with exhaustion and glaring at me.

"Coward!"

"Wearing down your opponent is a tactic, too. You said it yourself—we're not putting on a show. Everything is about winning!"

The prince was furious. He suddenly swung his spear toward me and took aim.

We were too far apart for him to strike me like that. Could he be about to use an EQ combo?

No matter. I knew you far too well!

Sure enough, as soon as I braced myself, a chain shot toward me!

The spearhead at the end of the chain sank firmly into the ground behind me. Then the prince spun his spear, rapidly reeling in the chain and sweeping himself toward me!

I jumped sideways, barely avoiding the attack. If I hadn't been ready for it, I'd definitely have been hit!

After that attack, the prince was completely out of strength. I turned and laid my sword against his neck.

"You lose!"

Some in the crowd cheered, while others criticized me. I'd won in a rather ugly fashion, and relying on dodging the whole time wasn't exactly honorable. But the winner was still the winner. The referee raised my hand and declared that I'd earned the right to join the Dauntless Vanguard Legion.

I understood that this was the highest honor for the people of Demacia, even more glorious than joining the king's army!

I also longed for a chance to prove myself. I didn't want to come to this world and still amount to nothing. Besides, the Laurent Family had given me such a wonderful opportunity!

Jarvan picked up his spear and silently left the field. As he passed me, he even said, "Congratulations."

Garen then came over and presented me with a uniform and a Dauntless Vanguard medal. It was a rectangular metal badge, with the Wings of Freedom carved into its center.

After the ceremony, I returned to Fili and saw a pretty young woman beside him. It was Lux.

"Congratulations, Leivo. You're a soldier in the Dauntless Vanguard Legion now. I'm so envious!"

"You're too kind, Miss Luxanna. Your brother is the real hero. I have a lot to learn from him."

"Don't call me that. Just call me Lux. That's what all my friends do."

"I'd be honored!"

When I got home, everyone was happy except Fiora. In private, she'd warned me more than once: if I was ever in danger, I had to protect my life first. That was what mattered most. I readily agreed, then used my weakness as an excuse to ask her to teach me swordsmanship.

Of course, my real aim was to spend more time with her. Like a boy falling in love, everything I did was meant to bring us closer.

How could Fiora possibly know her younger brother was up to no good?