Chapter 12: The Battle Olympia
"Like every year, the rules of the Battle Olympia remain simple," the announcer called out, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he surveyed the crowd.
"Two warriors will face off, and the fight will end only when one is unable to continue or concedes. The winner will be decided by elimination—meaning, once you lose, you're out. If you win, you move on to the next round. Sounds straightforward, doesn't it?"
The crowd erupted in cheers, and the announcer flashed a grin. "Let's not waste any more time—bring out our first contenders!"
And with that, the fight began.
As Ceremus watched the duels unfold, his boredom grew with each passing fight. The matches seemed to drag on, each one blending into the next, more repetitive than the last. After witnessing ten fights, the King decided to close his eyes and rest, tuning out the noise until the final battle. His mind wandered back to the previous night and the persistent nagging of his advisor, Anemone.
"I insist that you at least show up for the first few duels," Anemone had insisted, watching the King pour himself a drink.
"What?" Ceremus had raised an eyebrow, clearly uninterested.
Anemone had swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his nerves, but he pressed on, knowing he had to make his case.
"At least ten fights, Your Majesty. Then I promise not to schedule any meetings for the next week," he had said, his voice steady despite the anxiety creeping in.