Reborn As A Maid

The celebration over Kai Viper’s victory barely subsided when another announcement came from the Grand Royal Arena, stirring curiosity among the audience members.

"Attention everyone! The next battle will see the Flame Prodigy of the Southern Alliance!"

The eastern gate slowly opened to reveal the fiery silhouette.

The young lady with a crimson hair and a scarlet cloak came into the arena. The red flames seemed to follow her graceful movements and her ruby-tipped staff radiated a warmth of dormant energy. Her amber eyes burned with determination—the eyes of someone who had experienced fire’s destructive and creative sides.

Mira Kingston.

Not like other mages who preferred elaborate robes, Mira’s clothing was quite modest and comfortable. The small silver pendant hanging on her neck was polished to perfection—a symbol of her past and current self.

The audience greeted Mira with applause, cheering her name loudly.

"Mira! The Flame Witch!"

"They say that she can use advanced fire magic without chanting!"

"She is the youngest mage to gain Mastery in the Southern Alliance!"

Her opponent appeared through the other gate—an imposing figure of a warrior wearing dark armor and wielding a massive war hammer decorated with earth runes glowing brownish color.

The announcer raised his voice with obvious excitement. "Representing the Iron Mountain Guild—Doran Steelfist!"

Doran slammed his war hammer on the floor, making the whole arena tremble. The impact was heard as a boom and cracks appeared on the ground under the point where the weapon struck.

"I am not afraid of fire," he stated, his voice resounding in the arena.

Mira responded to his words with a kind smile. "That is good. Because I am not here to frighten you with it."

Queen Lilia watched the upcoming fight with evident interest, holding onto the balcony railing with her fingers.

"Another exceptional contestant."

Arthur nodded and looked at Mira’s movements. "Mira Kingston. One of the most talented young mages in the south."

Lucas added his thoughts, thinking deeply about her skills. "They say that she could easily master the destructive magic years ago. But she chose another way."

When the referee started preparing the battle, Mira’s grip tightened around her weapon.

Just for a second, Mira’s mind traveled back in time.

Years ago her village had been a happy place—a small village with playing children running through the flower fields, their laughter echoing in the streets. The cheerful voices of merchants ringing through the market, their words mixing with the smells of freshly baked bread and blossoming flowers. Her parents worked at the village academy teaching magic and believed that it must be used only to serve other people.

But everything changed after that.

Some ambitious court mage attempted the dangerous experiment with unstable fire crystals. The spell went out of control, and a column of the crimson flames burned the village.

Buldings fell down. The sky seemed to burn with fire. The screams replaced the happy voices filling the air.

Mira tried to look for her parents in the middle of the disaster, calling for them in despair.

"Mother! Father!"

But no one responded to her cries except the silence.

The beautiful village turned into ashes.

In the middle of the ruined village, the young Mira stared at the burning flames around her, feeling the searing heat touching her face.

"I hate fire..."

The old mage of the Southern Alliance found the frightened girl a few days later walking near the burned home. Kneeling beside the crying child, the old mage looked at her with his wise eyes.

"Fire is not your enemy."

Mira raised her teary eyes. "It has taken everything from me."

The old mage shook his head and said in a calm voice. "No. The people have misused it."

Putting his warm hand on her shoulder, he continued. "Flames can destroy things. But they can also light up the darkness. They can warm you. They can protect the people you love." Looking straight into her eyes, he finished. "Your magic is not limited by tragedy. It is limited by the heart that controls it."

These words changed her destiny.

From that day, Mira trained hard, eager to control the element that had caused her such pain in the past. She promised herself never to allow the flames to become the symbol of the destruction again—she would use them to protect people, never to kill for no reason.

The referee’s voice sounded around the arena, returning Mira to reality.

"Begin!"

Doran rushed at first, his impressive body moving surprisingly fast. Doran’s war hammer hit the ground with tremendous strength and stone pillars burst under Mira’s feet.

Mira calmly tapped her staff, moving slowly and unhurriedly.

A bright crimson magic circle appeared under her, glowing with magical sigils.

"Flame Step."

The fires appeared under her feet, and Mira vanished in a swirling spark, appearing several meters away, like she was carried by the wind.

The audience was amazed by her speed.

"So fast!"

Doran swung his hammer again, making it whistle in the air.

Mira raised her other hand and smiled serenely.

"Flame Shield."

The circular barrier of flaming fires appeared in front of her, its surface shimmering like liquid gold. The hammer collided with it—and, instead of scattering in all directions, the flames absorbed most of the impact and dispersed slowly.

Arthur observed the battle carefully, his eyes narrowed with professional interest. "Excellent control. She minimizes the collateral damage—she uses her power wisely."

Lucas nodded, his voice full of admiration. "A less skilled mage would destroy half of the arena already."

Doran roared, his voice growing frustrated, and started an intense attack. His hammer struck again and again, his blows becoming stronger with each.

But Mira didn’t get scared.

Moving elegantly around the arena, she tried to evade attacks of Doran using her flames. Her feet moved gracefully over the stone floor, her movements were light and precise.

Finally, she pointed her staff to the sky.

Several magic circles appeared above the battle zone, glowing brightly and casting crimson shadow over the arena.

"Fire Lance."

Five blazing lances appeared rapidly in the sky, burning and distorting the air.

Almost upon Doran, the spears blew up safely around him – the explosion shattered the earth under his feet, but did not touch his skin. The shock wave sent him flying backwards, taking the hammer from his hands.

Doran knelt down, panting, his scorched armor intact.

Mira dropped her staff. "I can continue... but I don’t want to hurt you."

The giant warrior looked at his bare hands and understood.

Then he laughed. A hearty laugh, full of admiration.

"A mage who spares her opponents out of respect for life..." With difficulty, he rose on his feet and made a bow. "I surrender."

The referee lifted both flags up, shouting:

"Winner—Mira Kingston!"

The crowd cheered. Applause filled the arena, shaking its stones.

Instead of celebrating her triumph, Mira walked towards Doran and offered her hand. He grabbed it gratefully.

"You are really different from those mages I had to fight."

Mira smiled kindly. "My master once said: The brightest flame is the one that gives hope."

While Mira was leaving the arena, Lilia Queen silently clapped, feeling respect.

Arthur smiled with satisfaction. "Good job, girl!"

Among the competitors Jennie looked at the crimson-haired mage.

"She does not control fire..." Jennie whispered. "She understands it."

For the first time in the day, Jennie understood that this competition not only gathered powerful warriors, but also people whose power was created by pain, compassion, and desire to protect other people.

While the audience was celebrating Mira Kingston’s elegant victory, the announcer’s voice boomed through the stadium, attracting everyone’s attention:

"Our next competitor—the Iron Fortress of the Western Highlands! The man whose shield has never been broken—Gareth Gerat!"

The western gates of the arena slowly opened.

The heavy steps sounded on the stone floor.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

A giant figure appeared in the light of the morning.

Seven-feet tall, wearing the thick steel armor, marked by numerous dents and scratches which told about dangerous battles Gareth had gone through, with a huge tower shield hanging on his back. It was as tall as many of the contestants, its weathered surface marked by deep gouges and cracks, and still was unbroken, surviving wars for centuries.

In contrast to the cheers that met many warriors, the audience went quiet in respect.

It was impossible to compare with anything else but the moving fortress—impenetrable, invincible, eternal.

Across the arena his opponent was waiting—an agile dual-swordsman named Felix Storm. He was known for his ability to defeat bigger opponents with pure speed. His two sharp swords glimmered in the sunlight. The proud smirk told that he has won many battles.

With skillful moves Felix twirled his swords in his hands. "So you are the shield warrior."

Gareth smiled. Unexpectedly for his imposing appearance, his voice sounded friendly. "I’ve heard you are really fast."

Felix grinned. "Then try to catch up."

On the royal balcony Arthur crossed his arms, staring at the titan.

"Gareth Gerat..."

Lucas nodded thoughtfully. "A man who has never desired fame—only strength."

Lilia looked curiously at the giant, frowning. "He seems... gentle."

Arthur smiled slightly. "He is."

When Gareth set his shield to the ground, letting the whole stadium feel its incredible weight, he recalled those long ago times.

Before he became the legend, Gareth had been just an ordinary guard of the village—simple man with simple dreams. His village was a peaceful mountain village where everybody knew each other—a place where children played in fields and farmers welcomed each sunrise with smiles.

Gareth had been sure that his shield will be enough to protect his home.

But monsters had come.

They flooded the nearby forest without a warning, roaring, and shattering the peace of the village. He fought, protecting his friends again and again, putting himself between the horrors and innocent villagers.

But he was too weak. Too slow.

Houses burned. Friends died. People fled, screaming in fear.

When the battle was over, Gareth stood in the middle of ruins, his shield cracked and heart broken.

An elderly woman came to him. Her voice was shaking with grief. "You protected us till the end."

Gareth lowered his head. Tears ran down his face. "It was not enough."

The woman shook her head, holding Gareth’s scarred arm. "Then become stronger. Become the shield that cannot be broken."

From this day onward, Gareth threw away his sword. He devoted all his life to the studying of the defense—he became immovable, unbreakable, eternal.

He no longer dreamed of becoming the greatest warrior.

He dreamed of becoming the greatest shield.

The referee raised both flags. "Begin!"

Felix suddenly disappeared, his twin swords flashing to Gareth from the opposite sides.

Clang!

Both swords hit Gareth’s enormous shield with thunderous sound.

Gareth did not move.

Not a single step.

Felix frowned, losing his confidence. "So heavy..."

He attacked again and again—a relentless flurry of attacks that would break any ordinary opponent. The continuous sound of steel hitting the shield accompanied his attack, increasing in rhythm with each heartbeat.

The audience watched in amazement, holding its breath.

Each attack landed.

Each attack missed.

Behind the shield, Gareth kept calm—his breathing did not change, his position was immovable. He was standing as a mountain, weathering the storm patiently.

Jennie quietly observed Gareth from the competitors’ section. "He does not try to overpower his opponent."

Roxy nodded, admiring Gareth. "He waits."

Snow flicked his tail. "Like a mountain—immovable, patient, eternal."

Frustrated, Felix jumped high in the air, gathering all his strength in one attack. With both swords he hit the center of Gareth’s shield.

"Storm Breaker!"

The blades collided with the shield in an explosion of unimaginable power.

It broke up the stone on which Gareth stood, sending fragments in all directions.

A cloud of dust covered the field of battle.

The crowd watched with bated breath, their hearts beating with excitement.

And when the dust began to settle,

Gareth was still standing.

The shield was motionless.

So was its holder.

Felix couldn’t believe his eyes, his blades stuck in place. "... Impossible."

Gareth gave him a friendly smile, his tone warm and soothing. "Now it’s my turn."

Without using his strength to overwhelm, Gareth only stepped forward and pressed his shield to the ground. The huge metal wall pushed Felix’s defense in one soft, deliberate strike.

The impact threw the swordsman backwards all the way to the edge of the arena. He lost control of his swords, and they fell with a thud on the stone floor.

He tried to stand.

His tired legs couldn’t.

And right after that, the referee raised his flag, shouting clearly.

"Victory—Gareth Gerat!"

The crowd exploded with thunderous applause.

Gareth didn’t celebrate but went to the swordsman and offered his hand, smiling with warmth.

"You did great."

Felix took it with a laugh, having recovered from his irritation. "I’ve never seen anyone whose defense is that strong."

Gareth supported his companion, lifting him to his feet. "A shield is designed to endure, not to show off."

Arthur, high above, nodded approvingly, his voice full of admiration. "He didn’t chase the victory. All he did was protect himself till the chance came."

Lucas couldn’t help smiling, his chest swelling with pride. "A true guardian."

Lilia applauded him with warmth in her heart, admiring how gentle the giant could be. "Everyone behind him would always feel safe."

And when Gareth left the arena, he met Jennie in the competitors’ corridor.

They nodded to each other respectfully, without saying a word.

Jennie smiled at him, her voice soft and sincere. "You hold much more than a shield."

Gareth lifted his head inquisitively. "Oh?"

"You hold the hopes of everyone."

Gareth stood there silent for a moment, overwhelmed by emotions in his rough face.

Then he smiled gratefully, his voice thick. "Thank you."

As she watched Gareth walking away through the corridor, Jennie remembered the comrades who she used to fight alongside, being the Sword King.

Some carried blades.

Some used magic.

But very few devoted themselves to become the wall that let others move forward.

Gareth was among them.

And he would prove the value of his shield in the coming rounds many times over.

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