Reborn As A Maid

The Royal Arena had not yet recovered from the shock of Rudy Kiss’s surrender.

Some fans thought that she was hurt, some believed that she prepared something, while others were sure that it was the fear of Raven which had forced the Phantom Thief to admit defeat. Nobody knew what exactly had happened.

However, it was impossible to spend time on discussions.

The second semifinal would start soon.

The announcer entered the center of the arena, and his voice resounded in the Royal Arena.

"Warriors of Seraiya! Your second semifinal will take place right now!"

The arena roared in response. Tens of thousands of voices united in the single thunderous roar that seemed to shake the whole stadium.

Two doors opened simultaneously at the opposite edges of the battlefield.

Kai Viper came through the eastern gate. The spear knight moved confidently into the sunshine with his repaired armor. There were still some scorch marks on his body, but the plates which mattered had been restored. His long spear leaned on his shoulder, its tip glittering.

Mira Kingston appeared at the other end of the battle arena. Orange flames appeared immediately around her fingers, sparkling with expectation.

The crowd immediately went wild.

"KAI!"

"MIRA!"

"THE SPEAR KNIGHT!"

"THE FLAME WITCH!"

Kai stood in the center of the arena. Mira approached him from the opposite direction, her footsteps leaving scorch marks on the stone floor.

They looked at each other.

They did not smile.

Both had done everything necessary to come to this point—the blood, sweat, and sacrifice had helped them.

Kai’s eyes looked at Mira’s hands, watching the fires which burned in time with her heartbeat.

"How much mana do you have left?"

Mira raised her eyebrow, a grin playing on her face. "Enough to burn you."

Kai nodded. "Good."

Mira looked at him, expecting something more. "That’s it?"

"What else should I say?"

She laughed sharply. "You are really boring."

Kai did not change his expression. "And you are too talkative."

Mira’s smile disappeared, being replaced with something else. "Oh, you will see how talkative can be a mage."

The referee stepped between them, his voice being full of authority.

"Both contestants have reached the semifinals after quarterfinal fights. This fight will help us to choose the second finalist. The rules are the same—you are not allowed to kill each other. Surrender will finish this match. We will use Royal healers to treat the critical wounds."

Kai put down his spear, directing its tip towards the floor. Mira lifted one hand, flames dancing between her fingers.

The referee stepped aside.

"Prepare yourselves!"

Kai changed his stance. Mira’s flames became brighter, hotter.

"Begin!"

Kai disappeared.

Mira’s eyes opened widely when the spear stabbed towards her chest with lethal accuracy. She threw herself sideways and avoided the blow—the spear tip had passed through the place where she had stood a moment ago.

She fell and turned, flames beginning to gather around her. "Fast!"

Kai did not respond—he attacked again, moving with spear in his hands like a silver line. He thrust, slashed, turned, and thrust again, each action smoothly following the previous one.

Mira retreated, creating a wall of flame between them. Kai’s spear pierced the flames like a needle pierces the balloon—it passed through them, separating them in two halves.

Mira jumped back, and the spear tip almost touched her stomach. She responded with a burst of fire.

BOOM!

Kai fell back, rolling on the stone floor. He landed on one knee, his spear standing on the floor. His armor started to smoke, but he rose up immediately.

The crowd screamed with excitement.

Mira raised her hand, and flames gathered around her. "Don’t underestimate a mage."

Kai stood up, his grip becoming firmer. "I wasn’t going to."

Flames gathered around Mira, forming a vortex of fire. She stretched both arms, and fire burst from them in all directions, covering the whole arena floor in flames—a sea of orange and red, crackling with hungry energy.

The audience gasped, bending their bodies in the chairs. Mira had created an inferno on the battlefield.

Kai stood in the middle of a burning arena. Temperature quickly rose, distorting the air. Even the barriers protecting the audience started to glow, struggling with such intensity.

Mira’s eyes sparkled among the flames, bright and fiery. "Let’s see you dodge this."

She snapped her fingers.

Dozen balls of fire appeared, each of them being the size of a human head. They flew towards Kai, attacking him simultaneously, being the storm of burning death.

Kai moved—not trying to avoid attacks, but reading them. Each fireball, each explosion, each change of temperature—his eyes watched all of them.

Mira frowned, recognizing this look. He was analyzing her magic, looking for some pattern.

She grinded her teeth. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

Kai suddenly stopped.

Mira’s eyes opened widely.

He raised his spear.

Then he attacked right into the fire.

The crowd screamed. "HE’S GOING THROUGH!"

Mira’s expression changed from confident to worried. "Idiot!"

She raised both hands, and a wall of blazing flames appeared in front of her. Kai did not slow down—his spear turned around in circles, splitting the flames apart due to the precise moves of the weapon.

He did not destroy the flames—he manipulated the pressure, making himself the passage through the inferno.

One step. Two. Three.

He came out of the fire.

Mira did not even raise her hand. Kai’s spear struck her defensive barrier.

BOOM!

Mira flew backward, falling on the arena floor and covering her clothes in the smoke.

Kai immediately moved forward, exploiting his advantage.

Mira put her palm on the floor. "Flame Burst!"

The fire exploded under Kai’s feet. He jumped, avoiding the explosion.

Mira rushed forward, appearing through the smoke cloud. Her fist was covered in flames, and she attacked—punched, kicked, used fire—all in a rapid succession.

Kai blocked with the spear shaft, which threw him backwards.

Mira attacked again, her movements becoming faster. She did not fight like the usual mage anymore—she used fire to enhance her physical abilities. The flames burst under her feet, making her move with explosive speed.

Kai ducked, and her burning fist missed him. He stabbed the spear towards her unprotected side.

Mira turned, and the spear scraped her ribs. The protective barrier flashed around her, absorbing the blow.

The audience roared with approval.

Mira grinded her teeth. "That was close."

Kai watched her, his eyes being cool. "You have improved."

Mira blinked. "What?"

"Your close-range fighting."

She smiled, even though she wanted to yell. "Are you complimenting me?"

"No."

"Too late." Mira slammed both of her hands together. Suddenly, the flames in the arena grew to an enormous size.

Kai’s eyes widened.

"Then let’s see if you can analyze this!"

Mira’s voice echoed on the battlefield. The flames erupted. A huge ring of fire appeared, then another ring, then another. The battlefield changed completely—pillars of fire appeared, fire started to flow like snakes and the temperature was almost unbearable.

The audience fell silent, their breath stopped somewhere in their throat.

Even Kai’s face finally changed.

Mira looked at him through the inferno. "Welcome to my battlefield."

Mira lifted both her hands, and her voice sounded like a command.

"Kingdom of Burning Embers!"

The arena was covered by fire. Kai found himself in the middle of the fire; there was no place where he could hide, because there was fire from everywhere.

He jumped. A pillar appeared below him. He twisted to avoid a sweeping blade of flame. He blocked with his spear, but he was forced back by the heat.

Mira was in the middle of the inferno, manipulating the fire with each move. She was not casting any spells anymore; she was dominating the whole battlefield. All the flames were linked to her mind. Every action of Kai resulted in the new attack from Mira.

The crowd was bursting with excitement. "This is amazing!" "She dominates the whole arena!" "KAI CANNOT ESCAPE!"

Mira lifted her hand. "You’re trapped!"

The fire surrounded Kai, approaching him like a hungry animal.

Kai looked around, his breathing was becoming heavier. The armor was heating, and the metal was beginning to glow. His hands gripped the spear tightly.

Mira looked at him. "Give up."

Kai looked at her. "No."

"Why?" Mira’s eyes narrowed.

Kai dropped down and tensed all of his muscles. "Because there’s always a path."

Mira looked at him, and then suddenly she opened her eyes wide with understanding.

His eyes were not looking at the flames anymore.

His eyes were looking at her.

Kai had understood everything—the flames were not the main source of the attacks. It was Mira. All the spells, all the walls, all the pillars, all the explosions—they all depend on her concentration.

He did not need to destroy the fire.

He needed to get to the person who controls the fire.

Mira’s face changed from the self-confidence to the horror. "Don’t you dare!"

Kai acted.

The flames exploded around him, but he run right through the burning battlefield. The fireballs appeared—he evaded them. The pillars of fire appeared in front of him—he jumped. Explosions were rocking the ground—he slipped under them. Burning blades were appearing in the air—he twisted.

An attack hit him in the shoulder. Another attack grazed his leg. His protective barrier was flashing with every new attack, struggling against the constant assault.

But he was moving forward.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer.

Mira’s eyes were widening. "Stop!"

Kai appeared from the fire, raising his spear for the attack.

Mira lifted both of her hands; a huge wall of fire appeared in front of her.

Kai roared. His spear tore through it, the flames were wrapping around his weapon. His armor started to glow, and the heat became almost unbearable.

But he continued moving forward.

Mira screamed. "Inferno Lance!"

Gigantic lance of the fire appeared in her hands. She threw it at Kai.

Kai’s spear collided with the flaming lance.

BOOOOOOM!

Wave of the fire and the wind burst out, shaking the arena to its foundations. The protective barrier flashed brightly, and the audience screamed, as the shockwave reached them.

During several seconds, nobody could see the fighters.

There was smoke covering the battlefield.

Then—one fighter moved.

Kai stepped forward, holding his broken spear, his armor glowing, his breathing heavy but steady.

Across from him, Mira also stood on her feet, with the disheveled hair, with scorched clothes and with the flames flickering weakly around her hands.

They looked at each other.

And Mira smiled. "You’re crazy."

Kai raised his spear. "You made the battlefield hard."

"That’s your compliment?"

"Yes."

Mira laughed—a tired but genuine laugh. And then suddenly the flames around her erupted again.

Kai’s eyes widened.

The audience went wild.

Mira was not finished. Neither Kai.

The second semifinal turned into the battle between two warriors, who would not surrender—between the spear and the flames, between the precision and the overwhelming power. And neither of them was willing to make one single step back.

The smoke cleared revealing the destruction below.

The Royal Arena was barely recognizable – its floor covered with black marks, little fires burning throughout the battlefield like scattered embers. There were cracks on the stone caused by the fierce fighting between Kai and Mira.

The crowd was quiet, holding its breath.

Nobody knew who won.

Then one person made a move.

Kai Viper was standing in the middle of the ruined arena. His armor was burned, his spear destroyed, blood streaming from the cut on his forehead. However, he was still standing.

In front of him, on her one knee, Mira Kingston was trembling with fatigue. Just a small flame surrounded her fingers now.

She looked at Kai. "You’re still standing?" she asked in a mocking voice.

Kai panted. "And so are you."

Mira looked at herself – torn dress and tired body. "Unfortunately."

Kai smiled.

The referee approached the battlefield carefully. "Contestants! Can you continue?"

Mira got up, her knees shaking. Kai corrected his grip on his destroyed spear.

"Yes," Kai answered firmly.

Mira looked at him. "Really?"

Kai nodded.

Mira sighed, disappointed. "Fine."

The crowd erupted with cheers.

The referee moved away from the battlefield, raising his hand. "Continue!"

Mira raised her hand and a little flame appeared – small, but determined. Then another one and then yet another. With each new flame, her mana decreased a little.

Kai immediately corrected his position.

Mira looked at him sharply. She attacked with a fireball directed at Kai. He moved aside. Another one – he ducked. A third – he jumped aside.

Mira cast a wall of flames. Kai stopped moving.

The flame disappeared.

Kai’s eyes narrowed. Mira had canceled her spell. Instead, she shot fire from underneath him. Kai jumped – a flame blade cut the air where his feet have been.

He landed and started attacking again. Mira countered.

The movement of both fighters became faster, more desperate, but something was different.

Kai was not merely surviving the magic of Mira anymore – he was starting to predict it.

Mira noticed it. Her eyes widened. He is reading me, she thought.

She stepped back and a little flame appeared in her hand. Kai immediately moved to the left. Mira canceled her spell. She cast a new one – Kai moved to the right.

Mira stopped, frowning. "You are so annoying."

Kai did not respond to her comment. "Your magic has a rhythm."

Mira froze in surprise. "What?"

"Each spell starts with your breathing. You inhale before throwing a long-range attack. You hold your breath before casting a defensive spell. And you exhale before your strongest attacks."

Mira frowned. "So you have been watching my breathing?"

"Yes."

"That’s creepy," Mira remarked.

Kai attacked her. Mira managed to dodge – his spear narrowly missed her shoulder. She immediately replied with fire. Kai managed to twist around it.

Mira’s expression became more serious. "You predicted my moves," she said.

"Not completely." Kai attacked again.

Mira created a wall of flames. Kai did not run through it – he waited. Mira was watching him carefully. Then she inhaled.

Kai moved.

Mira canceled her spell. "How did you—" Mira exclaimed, but then her eyes widened – she saw that Kai appeared behind her. She jumped back.

Kai attacked with his spear, which broke through her flame barrier. Mira jumped away, panting fast.

Kai noticed it. Mira understood what Kai was trying to do – he was forcing her to breathe fast.

Mira grinned. "Fine."

She put her hands down, the flames disappearing completely.

Kai stopped, surprised. "What?"

Mira closed her eyes and started breathing slowly. The flames disappeared completely.

The crowd became confused, whispering to each other.

Mira opened her eyes. "Let’s see if you can predict nothing."

She rushed at Kai.

Kai expected magic. Instead, she punched him – a simple physical attack. He managed to block it barely.

Mira kicked at him. Kai stepped aside. She started spinning and attacking again – without flames, without magic, only her fists.

Kai’s spear moved. Mira ducked under the attack. She attacked Kai’s chest with her fist – her fist broke through his protection.

He stepped back.

Mira grinned. "Got you," she said.

Kai’s expression remained calm. "Good."

He changed his grip, correcting his position. Mira immediately understood something – she had forced Kai into close combat, which was what she wanted.

She attacked again. Kai blocked her. She attacked again – he blocked her. She kicked – he moved. Mira suddenly cast a little burst of fire from her foot, exploding near Kai, who was caught by surprise.

He was thrown back, rolling on the stone floor.

Mira rushed after him. "Now!"

She cast flames around her fist. Kai lifted his spear and met her attack.

BOOM!

Both of them were thrown apart. Kai landed on his feet, Mira on one knee.

She looked exhausted – her body was trembling, her flames weak. Kai was breathing heavily too – sweat was running down his forehead.

They looked at each other.

Mira slowly got up, raising her hand. The biggest flame she could create was appearing – the flaming sphere that pulsated with her willpower.

Kai lowered his spear, looking at her.

The crowd fell silent – everybody understood that the final moment had come.

Mira’s sphere grew – bigger, brighter, hotter. Temperature in the arena rose sharply, making the air shimmer with heat.

Kai watched her carefully – her shoulders, her breathing, her feet, her eyes. He remembered all the spells, rhythms and patterns.

Mira suddenly screamed. "Crimson Starfall!"

The big sphere of flames appeared above her head – the size of a carriage. All the arena became orange, and shadows stretched in the stands.

The audience screamed, leaning in their chairs back.

Mira pushed her hand forward and the sphere fell down.

Kai did not run from it. He started moving forward.

Mira’s eyes widened. He is not going to attack the spell.

Kai lowered his body, his spear pointing at Mira. The fireball fell behind him, heating the air unbearably.

He took one step – then the other step.

Mira understood what he was trying to do. He does not attack the spell. He attacks me!

She raised her hand, changing the trajectory of the fireball. Kai suddenly accelerated – he was not following the rhythm of her magic anymore; he was forcing her to follow his.

One step. Two steps. Three steps.

Kai’s spear started moving towards her. Mira changed the trajectory of her spell. Kai changed the direction of his movement. Mira changed the trajectory again. Kai changed his movement again.

The more she adjusted the trajectory, the faster her breathing became.

Mira understood. He is forcing me to break the rhythm.

Kai was not simply predicting her moves – he was forcing her to break them.

Mira’s breathing became irregular, her flames were flickering.

Kai saw the opening.

He moved instantly.

Mira’s eyes widened. "No!"

Kai’s spear stopped, pointing right at her chest – the point of his spear was just before her protection.

She froze.

The fireball above them disappeared. The flames around the arena vanished. Silence enveloped the battlefield.

Kai’s spear stayed lifted, undeterred.

Mira looked at the weapon and then at Kai. No smile on his face, no celebration—he just waited.

She looked at her shaky hands. Tried to conjure up a flame. Failed.

Almost all of her mana was drained now.

She chuckled. "You’re unbelievable."

Kai lowered his spear.

Mira looked at him. "How did you know?"

His answer was simple. "You got tired."

Mira stared, and then laughed even louder. "That’s it?!"

Kai nodded. "Pretty much."

She shook her head, laughing. "I hate you."

He paused for a second, and then nodded. "Got it."

Mira continued to laugh her victorious laughter that echoed in the silent arena. Then she raised her hand.

"I surrender."

The arena went wild. Referee quickly raised his hand.

"THE WINNER OF THE SECOND SEMIFINAL MATCH..." He pointed at Kai. "KAI VIPER!"

Audience cheered loudly, shaking the stadium.

Kai put his spear down, wobbling slightly. Mira stood there silently for a second, and then raised her hand.

"Good fight."

Kai accepted the hand. "Good fight."

She tried to move forward—and collapsed. Kai grabbed her, preventing her fall.

Mira looked at him. "...Really?"

"You can’t walk."

"I can walk."

She tried to step forward, and her leg started shaking. Kai grabbed her once again.

Mira sighed. "Fine."

Kai helped her to move towards the exit of the arena. Audience applauded, not only Kai, but also Mira. Mira fought until she ran out of everything. Kai managed to defeat her by being observant, patient and accurate, rather than relying on brute force.

They came to the semifinal as rivals.

Left it as warriors who understood each other.

Jennie watched from the competitors’ area, her gaze following Kai.

That’s the man she was going to face in the final match—Kai Viper. She saw his spear skills, saw him defeating Gareth, and now saw him defeating the Flame Witch.

Her expression turned serious. "He’s strong."

Roxy stood next to her, arms crossed. "Very."

Jennie nodded slowly. "He doesn’t waste movements."

"Can you beat him?"

Jennie thought for a second. "His movements are very logical."

"Then no."

Jennie smiled. "Yeah."

She watched Kai leaving the arena, his damaged spear in hand. He figured out Mira’s magic pattern—he studied her, adjusted and used her own habits against her.

She smiled. "That’s how he becomes dangerous."

Roxy frowned. "You’re not afraid?"

Jennie looked at her, her honest gaze making her frown. "A little bit."

Roxy’s eyes widened. Jennie usually didn’t tell anyone about her fears.

Jennie turned to her practice sword. "I can’t fight him like I fought with everyone else."

"Then don’t."

Jennie smiled, with a hint of cold steel in her eyes. "Yeah."

She looked back at the arena.

"The final is going to be interesting."

High above, in the royal balcony, Lilia watched everything.

But she wasn’t watching Kai.

Since the appearance of the White Sword Hunter in the arena, her gaze wandered towards her. And now, while people were cheering Kai’s victory, her gaze stayed fixed on the young warrior in the arena.

Arthur noticed it, glancing at his daughter. "Your Majesty?"

Lilia immediately looked away. "Yes?"

Arthur raised his eyebrow. "You weren’t watching the match."

"I was."

"You were watching Raven."

Lilia blushed. "I was watching both."

Lucas stood nearby, glancing at Jennie. His eyebrows were furrowed. "She does seem familiar."

Lilia looked at him. "You feel it too?"

He nodded slowly. "I don’t know why."

Lilia tightened her grip on the railing. Neither of them understood, but every time she looked at Jennie, she felt like knowing this girl somehow—before, not recently, not in Seraiya. Somewhere far away, deep within long-forgotten memories.

She looked down. Jennie was still looking at Kai.

Then, like sensing some gaze, Jennie looked up.

Their eyes met.

Lilia froze. Jennie did the same.

For several seconds, the whole arena seemed to vanish around them. Lilia felt the ache of those forgotten memories—the image of young girl. Warm summer day. Holding her hand. Laughing.

And then it vanished.

Lilia put her hand on her heart, puzzled. "Why..."

Jennie tilted her head, equally puzzled.

Neither of them understood. Why did their eyes meeting feel so familiar? Why Lilia looked at Jennie as if remembering some kind of a dream?

Below, the announcer returned to the arena, raising his voice.

"THE FINALISTS HAVE NOW BEEN DECIDED!"

Audience gradually calmed down.

"The champion of the first semifinal match... RAVEN!"

Cheers erupted.

"And the champion of the second semifinal match... KAI VIPER!"

Cheers erupted again.

The announcer raised both hands. "Tomorrow, the Greatest Fight Tournament will reach its final battle!"

Giant tournament board changed, showing the names of finalists next to each other.

RAVEN vs. KAI VIPER

Jennie looked at it, and then towards Kai.

He had stopped at the arena’s exit, turning slowly. Their eyes met.

Neither of them smiled.

Kai slowly raised his spear as the gesture of respect. Jennie raised her practice sword.

No words were necessary. Challenge was accepted.

Tomorrow, White Sword Hunter was going to face the spear knight who defeated the flames.

And for the first time since her participation in the tournament, Jennie knew that tomorrow she had to use all she had.

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