Chapter 152: Before the Match Begins
Although the stakes were high, it wasn’t going to be easy for Arthur to achieve his goals.
Because one critical condition loomed large: he needed to win the match against Cain. Only then could Arthur discuss the following matters, making this a test set by the Tower of the Archmage for him.
Pass the test, and rewards await.
Fail, and some things might require a lot of reconsideration.
With that in mind, Airael realized just how important this match was for Arthur.
While it wasn’t like she was pinning all their hopes on this one battle, if he won, it would undoubtedly have a multiplier effect.
After carefully analyzing the situation for Arthur, Airael looked at him practicing alone in the woods and sighed deeply within.
To put it frankly, she found this situation rather annoying.
It felt like everything was tied to this one outcome.
Although all he had to do was handle this one matter, failing at it could jeopardize everything else.
High rewards were indeed tempting, but the accompanying high risks couldn’t be overlooked.
Moreover, it required a greater focus on those high risks.
Winning would be good, but if he lost, he needed to ensure a decent escape route for himself.
Yet, looking at Arthur now, he hadn’t set up any safety nets.
He had completely backed himself into a corner.
So could he survive this deadlock?
He should, right?
After pondering for a while, Airael eventually gave herself a somewhat uncertain answer.
“Ailia!”
At that moment, Arthur stopped his training and walked over to her, calling out.
Airael lifted her gaze to him, remaining silent but displaying a look of confusion.
“The sky color isn’t early anymore; we should head back today.”
Arthur said to Airael.
It was then that Airael noticed the change in the sky.
Unbeknownst to her, so much time had already passed.
But after returning today, the match would begin tomorrow!
Time flew by, and in just a few days, they arrived at the momentous match between Arthur and Cain.
It would be their exclusive event, with no one else stealing the spotlight.
Of course, it was unlikely anyone could overshadow their spectacle.
“How are you feeling now?”
After some thought, Airael asked.
“I feel great! I’m very confident about tomorrow’s battle.”
Arthur replied with a smile.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the inn, a similar scene unfolded.
Although there was no concern about returning to the city, Arthur also decided not to continue training.
What he needed next was to rest well, recharging his energy for tomorrow’s match.
That night, Airael and Arthur slept together.
Both were in their pajamas.
These past few days, they had been quite proper, sharing a bed but refraining from indulging in anything that would be too pleasurable for body and soul.
All aimed at ensuring Arthur maintained a good condition.
Let alone the fact that after a day of training, one would be entirely worn out, collapsing into bed with no energy left for such activities.
However, tonight felt a bit different.
Arthur’s training regimen today hadn’t been very intense; it was merely a light workout.
Since he had indulged for the first time, it was also the first time he hadn’t been with Airael for several consecutive days.
Not to mention, he hadn’t been indulging for long.
Thus, with plenty of energy, he found Airael lying next to him impossibly tempting.
Though the temptation was enormous, Arthur still held back, taking no action.
After all, he had a crucial match tomorrow, and he needed to ensure he got solid rest tonight.
Perhaps he should have slept separately from Airael.
Glancing over at Airael, who had already closed her eyes and was drifting off, Arthur couldn’t help but smirk ruefully.
At this moment, Airael was completely oblivious to Arthur’s plight.
Just as Arthur had observed, she genuinely began to fall asleep, quickly sinking into dreams.
This matter, while partially concerning her, primarily revolved around Arthur.
There was no point in her overthinking it.
Thus, she slept soundly.
The next day, when Airael opened her eyes, she discovered the space next to her was completely empty.
This left Airael’s brain momentarily short-circuited.
Had she overslept today?
But that shouldn’t be the case!
She hadn’t exerted herself yesterday, and she fell asleep quite early. According to the biological clock she had cultivated over hundreds of years, there was no way she should be sleeping in.
Filled with confusion, Airael got up and began her morning routine.
As she stepped out of the room, she happened to see Arthur emerging from the opposite room.
Airael was instantly taken aback.
Weren’t they supposed to be sleeping together last night?
Why was Arthur in the room across?
“Good morning!”
Arthur greeted Airael with a smile, looking unusually vibrant.
“Good morning!”
Airael replied, though her curiosity remained unresolved.
“Did you not… last night?”
She pondered for a moment and decided to inquire about the situation.
“Last night, I wanted some alone time, so I went back to my room.”
Before Airael could finish, Arthur spoke up first.
Upon hearing this, Airael nodded, dropping the matter without further fuss.
Realizing Airael didn’t dig deeper into the subject, Arthur let out a sigh of relief.
Last night’s events were truly embarrassing.
He almost lost control.
In such scenarios, the best he could do was distance himself from Airael.
This tactic proved effective.
While he still had thoughts of her, without any tangible stimuli, he was able to rely on his self-discipline to hold back.
Next, they joined the already awake Celia and Aurora for breakfast. After finishing their meal, they headed toward the Grand Arena.
Because the match scheduled for today had the entire Grand Arena, along with the surrounding areas, buzzing with excitement from early morning. Tickets for the Grand Arena were, remarkably, sold out.
Many people seized this opportunity to make a quick fortune.
In addition to all the spectators entering, shop owners who caught the business wave had set up a dazzling array of temporary stalls nearby.
This drew in even more curious onlookers.
This significantly increased the pressure on the local security team.
However, for such a rare event, especially with possible high-ranking officials from the nation present, the security team dared not disrupt the festivities and instead gritted their teeth to bear the pressure, working hard to maintain order and safety in the streets.
Therefore, they could be seen patrolling the streets early in the morning, busily fulfilling their duties.
