DAY 30
DAY OF THE FINAL EXHIBITION
When Seiji left the Silent Antichamber, he was disappointed to find that Cora wasn’t there to greet him. Queen Eir was, however, and informed him to get his rest. When Seiji asked how Cora was, her expression went manic for a moment as she described her daughter as being “ready”.
Following that cryptic exchange, he went back to his dorm and found Thea waiting there with a collection of his favorite foods. He told her all about the Favorite’s Rites, training with King Vassilis, and even about his and Cora’s near-kiss before training even began. She teased him all the while, but Seiji didn’t mind it. He was just happy to have someone to talk to other than the King. There was nothing wrong with him, but all he seemed to do in his free time was dote on his wife and Cora.
Seiji imagined he’d feel nervous when he woke up. Instead, when he woke up he felt… neutral. He got dressed, changed into his Exam clothes, and waited for Thea to send him to the Coliseum Portal. She was far more nervous than he did. He’d spent most of their time waiting calming her down and talking to her about his Veil Aspect. That’d worked, but Thea always found a way to circle back to the inevitability of his fight with Lirio. Apparently, he was a Tier 8 now – something she’d learned from Endora. He was preparing to tell her that he was beyond Tiers now, but was cut off by a notification.
ATTENTION CADETS AND SERVANTS.
THE FINAL EXHIBITION HAS BEGUN.
PREPARE FOR IMMINENT TRANSPORT.
“Give 'em’ hell, Otsuki,” Thea called, hands gripping Seiji’s shoulders.
He gave her a confident nod and smile. “That’s what I plan to–”
Seiji was swallowed by a yellow light, cutting him off before he could finish his statement. When the light faded, he was back on the stage of the Haven Coliseum. The crowds roared in all directions, the videoboards displaying highlights from the entire Exam as more and more people teleported onto the stage. Seiji searched for Cora and felt his heart race when he found her standing tall behind Sir Lasko who’d clearly been in the middle of talking.
He made eye contact with Lirio and Alexandros, who both stood mere feet from him. Lirio glared at him openly, but Alexandros gave him a look of resignation he hadn’t been expecting. It wasn’t exactly fearful but rather uninterested. Seiji couldn’t feel a drop of Dominion from either of them, but he knew Alexandros had some. That was unfortunate. Seiji had been looking forward to fighting him again. Out of curiosity, he looked for Alexandra to see if she’d been sporting a similar look. She stood beside Selene, who had been standing right behind Cora. To his surprise, Alexandra looked like she was ready for this whole thing to be over. She also didn’t look nervous, rather she looked quite anxious like she had someplace to be.
“Citizens of Haven, now that we have seen the final eight contestants, let us focus our attention on the Queen of Haven, Queen Eir!”
Every man and woman rose to their feet as they applauded their queen. She wore the same resplendent armor she did during the First Exhibition, though this time she wore no crown over her pearlescent hair.
“Thank you for coming to watch this year’s Final Exhibition. This year’s group of entrants is among the most formidable we have ever seen in the history of the Exam.”
As she spoke, clips played on the videoboards showing Seiji and Cora’s battle in the Hell Pit Revival alongside scenes from the First Exhibition. Seiji hadn’t had time to watch the TV, but according to Thea, the ‘Corji’ crowd absolutely loved their battle in the Hell Pit Revival.
“Today,” Eir continued. “The remaining teams will fight as one. Cadet and Servant against Cadet and Servant. The first match of the day will be between Selene and Lirio and Lyssa and Oliver.”
Seiji remembered Cadet Lyssa and Servant Oliver from the Botanist’s Bond Event. In truth, he was upset he hadn’t gotten another opportunity against them. They’d humiliated him during their brief encounter, though Seiji supposed his consolation came following his advancement during that same battle.
“Following that, Cora and Seiji will face off against Alexandra and Alexandros. The winners from both battles will face one another for the position of Valkyrie and Servant. Please look forward to the coming battle.”
Sir Lasko began to speak again but was cut off by Eir. “Now, I would appreciate it if you all would show respect to our king, Vassilis Lambros. We are honored to be attended by Endora Lasko and Akio Akita.” The audience roared. Seiji looked over to Sir Lasko who’d given the Royal Balcony a look he couldn’t recognize. If he had to word it, Seiji would call it resignation.
“Thank you,” Queen Eir acknowledged. “Now, please be seated as the Cadets make their introductions.”
Introductions went on for far too long, Seiji felt. Alexandra went first, and she spoke to the audience with a cheery, practiced tone that they seemed to eat up. According to Thea, Alexandra had managed to garner a fair bit of popularity among the younger crowd due to her appearances on TV. Seiji found himself looking up into the Royal Balcony while Alexandra went on about her training routine or something. He’d spent enough time with King Vassilis to be able to read him to some degree. The smile on his face was entirely plastered on. His eyes were distant, and his demeanor was almost too stiff. That man was bored. Though he didn’t have much experience with the queen, Seiji imagined she felt the same. He imagined that was why she’d been so quick to get through the introductions.
Cadet Lyssa went next, but Seiji hardly listened to her. He found himself looking at Cora, who hadn’t moved an inch from the moment she appeared on the white Coliseum stage. While he couldn’t feel her Dominion, she still gave off a feeling of overwhelming power.
Once Lyssa finished, Selene went up to give her whole life story. It was actually quite sad, as Cora had alluded to it being. She’d lived on the run for much of her life, joining the Valkyrie Exam as a means of securing a good life for her loved ones. There were holes in a few parts of the story, but Seiji imagined it was because those parts were far too personal to share in a setting such as this. By the time she’d finished, the applause the crowd gave her was booming, the videoboard focusing on the moved faces of many of the audience members.
“Now, it is my honor to introduce to you all the Princess of Haven, Cora Lambros!” Sir Lasko called, turning to Cora with an outstretched microphone.
When she grabbed it, she raised her arm to silence the crowd. Just like that, the seal around her Dominion vanished. It’d been potent before their time in the Silent Antichamber, but now it was overwhelming. If he hadn’t trained to refine his own Dominion against King Vassilis, he would’ve been fear-stricken by the sheer pressure she gave off.
“When a Valkyrie speaks, you stand,” Cora said, turning to everyone in the audience.
One by one, everyone rose to their feet in silence. All but two. Queen Eir and Valkyrie Endora remained seated, their faces almost defiant. Challenging. Cora didn’t say a word to them. She just continued to stare at them, refusing to say a word. The tension in the air was thick and nearly physical as no noise sounded within the Coliseum.
Queen Eir gave Cora an almost defiant smile as she slowly rose to her seat, beckoning with a hand for Endora to join her. The gold-winged Valkyrie had a similar smile on her face as she stood with arms crossed. Seiji wasn’t sure what they were thinking, but he felt an unreal amount of pride as he watched her.
Heavens hear me, I love when she’s intense.
“Understand, this Event is well-named. It is not a contest, it is an exhibition. For you see, I am this year’s Valkyrie, and I have but one request for my fellow contestants.” Cora turned from the audience and scanned everyone on the stage, Seiji included. “Impress me. I will consider granting a favorable boon to any and all of those among you who manage to impress me. I do not expect you to defeat me or my Servant, but I expect you to try. I have high expectations for you all.” She turned back to the audience and curtsied. “That is all, you may be seated.”
It took Seiji more effort than he thought possible to not burst out into laughter. Selene’s entire face was red, and Cadet Lyssa stared a hole through the back of her head. Alexandra looked oddly happy, though. Cora ignored it all. She turned from them, walked beside Seiji, and grabbed his hand.
Ignoring the roars and ‘Corji’ chants from the crowd, she spoke into his ear. “I practiced that with my mom! How was it?”
Back in their waiting room, they sat on the couch and watched Sir Lasko speak to the crowd about the structural integrity of the stage or whatnot. He wasn’t really paying attention. Seiji leaned back into the black couch of their brick-walled waiting room and pulled Cora closer to him in their little cuddle on the couch.
As they spoke about Cora’s speech on the stage, Seiji found himself noticing way more things about her that he hardly paid attention to. He noticed how warm her body was, how soft her hair was, how calming her voice was, how bright her smile was. It’d been far too long. The last time they were together, they were about to kiss in front of the Silent Antichamber. Now that they were alone he knew he could initiate that again, but now seemed like the worst time. If they were feeling too lovey-dovey during their battles, how would that affect their coordination? They couldn’t afford a single mental hiccup, even if they were far beyond their competition. It was better to be safe than sorry. Besides, if they failed here, that was it for their relationship. Seiji knew he wouldn’t allow that to be the end, but he didn’t want things to end abruptly here. Knowing Lirio and Selene would be fighting with that same thought process, he knew he needed to be on his A-game. They couldn’t afford to be distracted by–
“You know,” Cora said, poking at his cheek. “That week in the Silent Antichamber was the most difficult week of my life. She rewarded me with a new technique, but I deserve a reward from you.” She squeezed Seiji’s cheeks in her hand and turned his head to her.
“N-new technique?” Seiji said immediately. He felt his prior reasoning rapidly leaving him, and he needed to distract himself. Cora frowned, removing his face from her grip.
“Mhmm, I’ll save it for the fight against Selene and Lirio, though. I’m not going to waste it on the Alex Twins.”
“Can I get a hint?” Seiji tried.
“It’s a perfected version of a technique you’ve seen before.”
“Is it a version of Aqua Silhouette? I remember Endora telling me once that she learned it from Eir as an adaptation of one of her moves.”
“Nope,” Cora said. “Not even close.”
“...Can I get another hint?”
