Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey-Chapter 22: Sparring Match [ 3 ]

Evelyn vs Lucas

Emma vs Thomas

Adrian vs Breack

Aric vs. Linnea.

"Now Evelyn and Lucas stay here and everyone waits outside." Instructor Ravi said Bringing me back to me reality of my pitiful life.

I felt shivers running down my spine as I saw Evelyn's crazy look in her eyes like she was hungry for some blood.

Wait a minute let's think about the moment, I am Extra an Author who is inside the novel. On the other hand, I did not write anything about Evelyn so she is also an extra like me.

But this extra is so powerful that she is in the top 10.

And fun fact is that Evelyn and Lucas have a complicated history which I don't have any memory of.

So, yup I'm totally in hell for a moment now.

Maybe I should try to sweet-talk to her like I did this morning.

Yup, let's do that.

"Now begin."

I came out of my thoughts at the voice of Ravi. I stand in front of Evelyn, she is ready to lung at me any moment from what I can see.

"So… been a long time, oh wait we did talk this morning don't w~Kya?" Lucas tried to break the ice with a friendly

Before he could continue, an arrow zipped past him, narrowly missing his face. A red line appeared under his right eye as a drop of blood trickled down his cheek.

"I missed," Evelyn muttered in frustration, her eyes locked on Lucas.

Lucas was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to open fire so suddenly. Her precision was incredible, and he couldn't follow her movements.

"Hey, what gives Evelyn? Why are you suddenly firing an arrow?"

"Lucas did you forget we are sparing each other and I will beat you"

" I know that, but why are you so angry?"

Evelyn's response was sharp, her words filled with anger, "Lucas, did you forget what you did to me? You, of all people, pretending like nothing happened."

I flinched. Her words cut deep, even though I had no memory of the past events she was referring to. I was at a loss for how to respond, how to apologize or explain actions I couldn't remember.

Evelyn continued to berate me, each accusation feeling like a dagger to my heart. I listened in silence, unable to offer any defence or resolution.

As the tension between us grew, I realized that words alone wouldn't resolve this situation.

It was time to focus on the spar at hand.

I clumsily took out my bow, attempting to mimic Evelyn's stance, though it was clear I lacked her expertise. Regardless, I was determined to put up a fight.

The match began, and Evelyn's arrows flew at me with incredible speed and accuracy.

I drew back my bowstring too. Locking my target on her, I released the bowstring and shot my arrow at her.

To counter, she too shot an arrow of her own at me. Damn, she was fast.

Tak—

Swish—!

I tried to duck and dodge her arrow but another cut appeared on my face. I was too late to react– No, instead she was too fast!

Her precision was unmatched, and I couldn't keep up with her.

I couldn't let her dominate the entire match. With shaky hands, I knocked an arrow, drew the bowstring, and aimed at her again.

My shot, while sincere, lacked the precision of Evelyn's.

Our spar escalated as both archers exchanged shots, but I struggled to match her speed and accuracy. Despite my efforts, I couldn't land a hit on her, while her arrows found their mark effortlessly.

The spectators watched in amazement and disbelief. I was putting up a valiant effort, but it was clear that Evelyn was outclassing me in every aspect of archery.

I decided to change tactics. I couldn't win at long range, so I opted to close the gap.

A sniper's weakness is close-range combat.

I took out my sword and moved in quickly, hoping that close-quarters combat would give me an advantage.

I will close in on her, take my sword out and-

Suddenly Evelyn throws a Bow Takes a small dagger out from her pouch and aims for my throat My instinct kicks in and I manage to dodge it.

She is serious. Plus she also has a second weapon, but when did she take the second weapon I did not see her taking any other weapon besides Bow.

Seeing the confusion on my face she answered me with questions on her face.

"Oh, Lucas did you forget that I used Dagger before?"

She had a main weapon a Dagger before?

I did not know.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

Evelyn was equally skilled with a secondary weapon. She swiftly drew a dagger of her own, and we engaged in a fierce battle, our daggers clashing as we circled each other.

'The match is dragging on I can't let that happen.'

I took a deep breath and infused my mana on my Legs.

I started to run at her. Leaving after images I appeared in front of Evelyn. She was surprised by a sudden increase in speed raising her dagger to defend.

But.

In a surprising turn of events, I managed to land a blow to Evelyn's head with the hilt of my sword. She fell to the floor, and it seemed like I had secured a victory.

However, Evelyn wasn't one to give up easily. From the ground, she executed a swift kick, causing me to lose my balance and stumble toward her. At that moment, she swung her dagger, slicing a deep cut across my stomach.

Pain shot through me, and blood spurted from my side as I fell to the ground in agony. Evelyn's expression shifted from determination to horror. She hadn't expected to inflict such a serious injury.

"L-Lucas?" she stammered, worry overtaking her features.

I had no answers for her, only a grimace as I clutched my bleeding wound.

"Stop the match, Evelyn Win someone take Lucas to the infirmary".

One student came and took Lucas to the infirmary.

" Dammit, I should have stepped into the match if I had known how it going to end."

Instructor Ravi's voice declared Evelyn the winner of the match, and another student rushed to my side, helping me to the infirmary.

Confusion and guilt weighed heavily on my mind. I didn't know what had transpired between us in the past, but the unresolved tension and pain between us were impossible to ignore.

***

With the blood loss, I was feeling dizzy.

It hurt like hell.

He put me down on the bed. Sitting on the stool beside me.

I leaned on the pillow putting pressure on the wound to stop the blood loss.

The nurse came to give a healing potion.

Gulped.

"Yack".

I was ready to throw off the potion. Its taste was too much bitter for me.

But biting my teeth I somehow managed to swallow the potion.

'Why does it have to be bitter? Can't they add flavour? '

Even the potion I take with me for Hinter Haven had a better flavour.

Today surely was one of the worst days of my life

The cut started to patch up at a visible rate slowly, fully closing off.

" Rest for a few minutes then you can go away".

The nurse retreated telling me.

Seeing me dazing in thought.

"Don't think too much about it."

I said without thinking.

Blinking a few times he said," I am the one who carried you here".

"Sorry, I mean what is your name?"

I tried to turn the conversation around.

" I am Sunny. Rest in ease, I have to go as the matches are not over yet ".

With that, he's gone and I found myself sleeping on comfortable on bed.