Guardian Of Midgard

Chapter 6 The challenge

The laughter grew louder. It felt like a knife twisting deeper into her chest.

Yet under the binding spell, she had no choice.

She bit her lip as slowly, she threaded the lace through the eyelets.

By the time she finished, her hands were shaking so badly but she could barely pull them away.

Cedric leaned down slightly and inspected them.

"Not bad." He smiled. "Maybe all those years as a servant weren't wasted." He laughed and released the binding spell.

Lucy's shoulders trembled as she drew a shaky breath. For a moment, she nearly collapsed. The pain that had been tearing through her body receded leaving behind only numbness and exhaustion.

Air rushed into her lungs. She hadn't realized how difficult it had been to breathe until the binding spell was gone.

Yet there was no relief in her eyes because the agony had ended, but the humiliation remained.

Cedric looked amused.

"You know what disappoints me the most?" Cedric scoffed. "I genuinely gave you opportunities but you kept waiting for a man who abandoned you."

Lucy slowly turned her face away. “When Kael comes back. You'll pay for this humiliation.” She spat. 

Cedric let out a cold, vicious laugh.

"Fine. You can keep believing." He stepped back and spread his arms toward the crowd.

"But after today, everything changes." His voice echoed across the arena." Once I become Lord, Lucy Ravenhart will officially belong to my household."

Several nobles laughed openly and others shook their heads in pity.

A few nobles showed traces of sympathy but they didn’t object. He was about to become the next lord and no one was willing to offend Cedric on her behalf. In the end, everyone remained silent. 

Lucy closed her eyes. Even now she still believed that Kael would return. 

A trumpet suddenly sounded.

BOOOOOOM!

The entire colosseum trembled and the crowd erupted into excitement.

"The competition is beginning!"

"The future Lord will be chosen today!"

Cedric straightened his robes and a confident smile appeared on his face. In Cedric's eyes, the position of Lord was already his.

He looked down at Lucy with disdain “This is my destiny.” 

Lucy met his gaze without flinching.

"You can steal titles and even the throne. But no matter what you take, Cedric, you'll never be half the man Kael was."

Cedric's expression cracked. Everyone knew that he hated being compared to Kael.

The veins on the back of his hands bulged. 

He glanced at Lucy one final time.

A mocking smile curled onto his lips. "Watch carefully." He scoffed. 

With that, he turned and strode toward the arena floor.

The crowd roared and the crowd rose to their feet, cheering. 

The first round was about to begin and the arena roared with excitement.

Cedric leaped and landed at the center of the stage. His robes fluttered in the wind.

Across from him, another challenger approached him. 

Immediately they faced off and trumpet sounded and the young man yelled charging at Cedric like a raging bull. 

When he got close, Cedric just smiled. He took one step forward. 

The crowd gasped. “He didn't even draw his weapon.” 

It happened so fast. Immediately dust rose and the young man flew back crashing into the edge of the stage. 

Blood dripped from the man's mouth and his entire body trembled. 

Medics rushed back and carried the young man out. 

The challenger roared and charged forward and the crowd erupted in cheers.

The next challenger was already entering the stage. The trumpet blew again but Cedric just beckoned to him. “Make your first move.” 

Yet Cedric didn't move.

Only at the last moment did he raise a hand.

Boom!

A single strike landed squarely on the man's chest and a sickening crack echoed throughout the arena.

The challenger flew backward and crashed heavily against the stone wall.

Dust exploded and the entire arena fell silent.

A moment later, the unconscious man slid to the ground.

The referee rushed forward.

After checking briefly, he raised his hand.

"Winner!"

Thunderous cheers exploded from every direction.

"As expected of Young Master Cedric!"

"Incredible!"

"The future Lord!"

"Nobody can stop him!"

Cedric slowly lowered his hand.

His lips curled upward. He enjoyed every second of it, the admiration and the praise.

 Cedric sighed. 

"Is this really the best Kingdom can offer?” He roared. 

The attendants dragged the defeated challenger away.

Another was a veteran knight famous throughout the kingdom.

Cedric knocked him unconscious in three moves. A third was a powerful mage. Cedric closed the distance before the spell could even be completed.

The mage left the arena on a stretcher.

Gasps echoed throughout the colosseum.

Each challenger entered the arena brimming with confidence. Yet none lasted longer than half an incense stick before being carried away.

Suddenly a six foot, five bulky man wielding a massive battle axe stepped on the stage. 

The crowd's excitement suddenly grew. 

This time the challenger looked more of a threat. 

His name was Golgoth and he had a fraction of supporters. This was the highlight of the day and everybody waited for him. 

But when the trumpet sounded, Golgoth picked up the giant axe, swung it and charged at Cedric. 

Cedric felt the blazing aura. “Now this is a little challenge.” He smirked. 

Taking in a deep breath his aura erupted from his body in all directions, the stage felt charged. Magical runes floated around Cedric but with a snap of his fingers these runes disappeared. 

Cedric roared as he changed at the man approaching him with a giant axe. He moved at a breaknecking speed, he could see the path of the axe. 

Golgoth swung the axe but Cedric had connected with the axe. 

The cheers froze. Everyone held their breath. “Cedric attacked an axe with his bare hands?” 

To the eyes of the commoners it was just his bare hands but right before the impact the magic runes hadn’t just disappeared but it merged with Cedric hands. 

In the stands one of the elders gasped. “His control of magic is top tier, Cedric is really the future.” 

The crowd gasped. Suddenly cracks started appearing on the axe and in front of everyone, the axe shattered!

But it didn't end there the impact slammed into Golgoth and just like every other one that had come before him he flew out of the stage. 

Medics rushed beside him. Golgoth was even in a worse state than others. 

The crowd erupted in cheers but it wasn't over. There was still a line of challenge rules. 

Nobody had expected such overwhelming dominance. The nobles watching from above nodded in approval.

"This generation truly belongs to him."

"His future is limitless."

"He will become the youngest Lord in Ravenhart history."

Every compliment made Cedric's smile wider.

Every victory inflated his pride further. He never viewed the challengers as opponents but just stepping stones and nothing more.

Cedric spread his arms toward the crowd. His laughter echoed throughout the arena.

"Next." He roared but there was silence. 

Nobody moved.

The remaining challengers had felt that if they waited out Cedric energy would run out and they would crush him but over an hour and he still knocked out challengers in less than a minute.

Cedric's eyes swept across the audience and disappointment flashed across his face.

"Is this all?"

Many clenched their fist but yet no one stepped forward.

Cedric was too strong, the outcome seemed inevitable.

High above the arena, the Second Elder smiled.

Everything was proceeding exactly as planned. He braced up. If no one stepped forward then it was sealed, his grandson would become the next Lord.

The referee stepped forward and his voice boomed across the arena.

"Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge Cedric Ravenhart?"

The crowd fell silent. The silence stretched. One breath, two breaths, three breaths.

The Second Elder's smile widened. Victory was already decided.

The referee waited several moments before announcing. "If there are no further challengers, then according to tradition—"

"I challenge him."

A feminine voice sounded from within the crowd. 

The entire arena froze. Who was that?  Thousands of heads turned simultaneously.

The crowd gave way. Someone was coming out? “Who was it?” Everyone craned their necks but when the crowd parted. 

Even Cedric's smug smile faltered. 

A lone figure dressed as a servant’s uniform stepped forward from the crowd.

She looked frail but a fiery gaze blazed in her eyes. 

Lucy's eyes locked onto Cedric and not a trace of fear could be seen within them.

Gasps erupted throughout the arena.

"It's her!"

"Lucy Ravenhart?"

"Has she gone mad?"

"She's challenging Cedric?"

The crowd erupted in disbelief and nobody could believe it.

Cedric stared at her for several seconds.

Then he let out a long, mocking laugh.

"Lucy?"

His voice dripped with contempt. "You?" He pointed at her. "You want to challenge me?"

The crowd erupted into laughter but Lucy didn't flinch. She took another step forward. 

Her gaze never left his. "I challenge Cedric Ravenhart." She announced.

“What?” The arena erupted with gasps and murmurs. “A servant challenging Cedric!”