The large circular hall buzzed with anticipation, the air heavy with a mix of celebration and unease. The final round for captainship had concluded, and Shin Thomas stood victorious at the center of the arena. His fiery aura still lingered in the air, and his sharp features were set in a smug, triumphant expression.
Sia Amane, though defeated, stood tall at the edge of the arena. Her black hair, damp with sweat, clung to her face, but her hazel eyes burned with determination. She had lost, but her resolve remained unbroken. She knew her place on the battlefield was hard-won, and this moment wouldn't define her.
The arbiter raised his hand for silence.
"Let us honor our victor, Shin Thomas, for his skill and strength in the trials." The crowd erupted into applause, though some glances flickered toward Sia with admiration for her performance. The arbiter continued, "And let us also recognize the runner-up, Sia Amane, whose resilience and skill brought her to the final round. She has proven herself a warrior of exceptional caliber."
Sia stepped forward, her head held high despite the sting of defeat. She could feel the weight of the crowd's gaze, some sympathetic, some indifferent. But she couldn't let that shake her. She had to stand strong.
Sia's Speech
"We fight not just for ourselves," Sia began, her voice ringing with clarity, though the hum of doubt tried to creep in. "But for a future free from fear and oppression. This battle was one of many, and though I did not win today, I will continue to fight. Not for glory, but for the people who look to us for hope. We all have a role to play in this rebellion, and I will give everything I have to ensure we succeed."
The hall was quiet for a moment before a few soldiers began to clap. The applause spread, hesitant but growing in sincerity. But Shin, watching her with his cold eyes, wasn't satisfied. He had something more in mind.
The arbiter's voice cut through the applause. "As per the terms agreed upon before the final round, the victor, Shin Thomas, may now impose his condition upon the runner-up."
The mood shifted instantly. The celebratory atmosphere drained away, replaced with tension. Sia's heart began to race as she prepared herself for whatever he had planned.
Shin smirked and took a step forward. His eyes gleamed with malice. "Thank you, arbiter," he said smoothly. "My condition is simple: I want everyone here to see what happens to those who overreach. You think you're a leader, Sia? Let's show them what kind of 'leader' you really are."
The arbiter hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "Shin… are you sure this is necessary?"
Shin's smirk only deepened. "Absolutely."
Sia stood firm, heart pounding in her chest, though her body screamed for release. The sting of humiliation wasn't just physical—it was the erosion of everything she'd worked for. Her hands trembled, but she clenched them into fists. She couldn't let them see her falter.
Shin approached her, his smirk growing. The moment his fingers touched the side of her uniform, it was like the world stopped. In one swift motion, he tore at the fabric, the sound of the rending material echoing through the hall.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as Sia's back and the side of her navel were exposed. The fabric hung loose from her shoulder, revealing more of her than she'd ever intended. Sia's cheeks burned with humiliation, but she refused to look away. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
"What's the matter, Sia?" Shin mocked, stepping back. "Trying to play soldier, but you can't even keep your uniform intact. Maybe you should focus on looking pretty instead of leading."
The crowd laughed, some snickering, others leering. Their eyes were sharp, predatory. But it was their words that cut deeper than any blade.
One of Shin's followers, emboldened by his leader's actions, sneered, "Oh, look at her, the 'brave leader,' showing more than she planned. Maybe she's not cut out for battle after all."
Another soldier chimed in, "What do you think, guys? Maybe she should get on her knees and show us what she's really good at."
The laughter swelled, cruel and mocking, echoing in her ears. For a moment, she felt like she was drowning in their words, their disdain. It threatened to swallow her whole, but Sia fought back the tide. She would not break.
A burly soldier with a wicked grin advanced. "Let me show you your place, girl," he sneered. "You think you're above us? Let's see how you handle this."
Sia's body tensed as his hand hovered over the exposed part of her back. Her jaw tightened, her pride flaring with defiance. But there was a flicker of discomfort in her eyes. She couldn't help it—every inch of her screamed to escape.
Before his hand could touch her, a blur of motion sliced through the air.
Arnold Harbinger moved with blinding speed, his fist connecting with the man's jaw in a sickening crack. The soldier crumpled to the ground, clutching his face in agony. The hall fell silent as Arnold stood over the fallen soldier, his fists clenched, his purple eyes blazing with fury.
"Enough," Arnold's voice cut through the quiet, low and dangerous. He turned toward Shin, his gaze murderous. "You think humiliating her makes you powerful? You're nothing but a coward."
Arnold stepped forward, his presence commanding, his voice dark and full of threat. "If you ever touch her again, if you even look at her the wrong way, I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."
Sia took a deep breath, her heart still pounding, but she refused to be consumed by the flames of humiliation. She stood tall and stepped forward to stand beside Arnold, the weight of the moment hanging heavy in the air.
"You can tear my uniform, mock my strength, and try to humiliate me," she said, her voice steady, steel laced in every word. "But it won't break me. I am a soldier of this resistance, and I will see it rise. No matter what you say or do, I will not falter."
For a brief moment, the crowd was still. The laughter had died, replaced with an uncomfortable silence. Some soldiers shifted uneasily, questioning Shin's actions. The whispers began, spreading like wildfire—doubts about Shin's behavior, uncertainty about their own complicity.
Arnold removed his apron and draped it over Sia's shoulders, his gesture tender but firm. He stood beside her, a silent promise in his protective presence.
Shin sneered, though the certainty in his expression had faltered. There was a brief flicker of doubt in his eyes, something that wasn't there before. But he quickly masked it with a dismissive laugh.
"This isn't over, Sia," Shin spat. "You may have survived today, but don't think you've won loser!!!."
Sia held his gaze, her voice cold, unyielding. "We'll see who stands tall in the end."
Arnold stood at her side, his protection and loyalty a quiet testament to the strength of their bond. Together, they turned and left the hall, leaving behind the echoes of defiance and the whispers of a story that was far from finished.
The tension in the room was suffocating as Sia Amane walked beside Arnold Harbinger, leaving the grand hall after the humiliation orchestrated by Shin. Her head was high, her body upright, but her heart was in turmoil. Anger, confusion, and betrayal churned within her like a storm she couldn't contain. Each step felt heavier than the last, as though the weight of her emotions was physically pressing down on her. Her fingers trembled at her sides, betraying the storm she was trying to keep inside.
The corridor was silent except for the muffled chatter of soldiers behind them. Arnold walked close, his protective presence a steadying force, but even he couldn't reach the raw emotions Sia tried to suppress. Her breath caught in her throat as her mind wandered back to a memory, unbidden and vivid, pulling her into the past when Shin wasn't the person he had shown himself to be today.
Flashback – The Junior Tournament (Ten Years Ago)
The roar of the crowd filled the bright arena, an energy crackling through the air like lightning. A younger Sia, barely ten years old, stood at one end of the ring, her hands trembling slightly but her face set with determination. Across from her stood Shin Thomas, already a prodigy even at that age. His confidence was palpable, but there was no cruelty in his smirk—only respect and focus.
The announcer's voice boomed over the noise.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached the final match of the junior tournament! Sia Amane, the rising star, faces Shin Thomas, the prodigy! Who will claim victory in this electrifying duel?"
The cheers rose to a deafening crescendo. Shin gave Sia a nod, his smirk softening into something almost friendly.
"You ready, Sia?" he called, raising his pristine steel blade. "Don't hold back."
Sia gripped her weapon tighter, the weight of it grounding her, pushing her to focus.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Shin. Let's see who's stronger."
They moved simultaneously, lunging at each other in a blur of motion. The clash of steel against steel echoed across the arena as their weapons met, sparks flying from the impact.
Sia's speed and precision made her a formidable opponent. She darted around Shin, her strikes quick and sharp, forcing him to stay on the defensive. But Shin's raw power and flawless technique kept her at bay, his counterattacks coming with such force that they sent vibrations up her arms. The crowd watched in awe, the balance between them mesmerizing.
"Come on, Shin!" Sia called, her voice breathless but exhilarated. "Show me what you've got!"
Shin chuckled, stepping forward with a flurry of precise strikes that pushed her back.
"You asked for it!"
The duel was fierce, but there was no malice in their movements. Every blow and parry spoke of mutual respect and a shared desire to push each other to their limits.
As the battle continued, Sia leaped to the side, her foot catching on a hidden mechanism embedded in the arena floor. A sudden burst of magic activated, sending a deadly column of flame shooting up from the trap. The crowd gasped as Sia froze, her body instinctively flinching but unable to react in time. Her heart raced, the heat of the flames singeing the air around her.
Before she could be consumed by the flames, Shin moved. He dashed forward with speed that belied his age, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her out of harm's way. The heat from the flames brushed their skin, but they landed safely, Shin's arms still around her. Sia's wide eyes met his as she caught her breath, her chest heaving as if the flames had seared her heart as much as her skin.
"Shin… You…?"
Shin let go of her waist quickly, embarrassed, standing and brushing soot from his uniform. His expression was a mix of nervousness and determination.
"I couldn't let you get hurt. This fight was about getting stronger, not losing someone."
Sia scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest for reasons beyond the flames. Her fingers trembled as she adjusted her uniform.
"I… I'm sorry. You could've won if you didn't stop to save me."
Shin gave her a faint smile, his voice soft.
"It doesn't matter. A fight's just a fight. What matters is that you're okay."
The crowd erupted into applause, oblivious to the quiet moment between them. For Sia, that moment cemented something she couldn't yet name—a trust in Shin, a belief that he wasn't just a rival but someone she could respect.
"Thank you, Shin," she said quietly, adjusting her stance, trying to steady her racing heart.
He grinned, the usual cockiness returning. "We're even now, right? No hard feelings."
Sia smiled back, her voice light. "No hard feelings. That was a good fight."
They left the arena together, the respect between them unspoken but understood.
The Present – Betrayal
The memory dissolved as Sia's steps faltered, her hand tightening into a fist. The sound of her breathing seemed too loud in the empty hallway, the weight of the past and present crashing over her. Her chest tightened, and her breath quickened, as if her body couldn't keep up with the shock of the betrayal. Her mind screamed, the image of Shin's smirk as he tore her uniform still vivid in her mind. This was not the Shin she had trusted.
Arnold noticed the change in her expression, his sharp eyes catching the turmoil behind her stoic exterior. "You're quiet," he said gently, stopping beside her. "What's going on?"
Sia's voice was quiet, almost a whisper, her words thick with the rawness of her feelings. "How could he…? After everything…?"
Arnold frowned, his concern deepening as he studied her face. "Sia?"
She turned abruptly, her hazel eyes filled with anger and hurt, her jaw clenched as if the very thought of Shin was enough to make her break. "He wasn't always like this, Arnold. Back then, he… he saved me. He wasn't cruel. He wasn't this… monster."
Arnold's expression softened, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "People change, Sia. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But you? You're still the same. And that's what matters."
Sia shook her head, her mind unable to reconcile the Shin of the past with the one she had faced today. Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "I thought he was someone who understood. Someone who wanted to grow stronger, to be better. I was wrong."
Arnold's voice was steady but filled with conviction. "You weren't wrong about yourself, though. You're stronger now, Sia. You'll face him again, and when you do, you'll remind him of the person he could've been."
Sia's lips tightened, her resolve hardening like steel. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. Her voice was firm, unwavering. "I won't let him break me, Arnold. Not now. Not ever."
Together, they walked forward, leaving the echoes of her past behind.