While they’re watching this world’s version of Quiddich, Oliver and his circle of friends are approached by fellow first-year Tullio Rossi. He doesn’t come off as evil or anything, but the tight bond the friends share, and the notoriety they’ve received so far…it just kinda pisses him off.
In sword arts class when he’s paired up with Pete for a duel, Tulio quickly exposes Pete’s offensive shortcomings, even going so far as to call him a “princess” who is always being bailed out by his stronger friends (though there’s no indication he knows Pete’s a Reversi).
Afterwards, a defiant Pete tells his friends that he wants to get better at sword arts. This causes Oliver and Chela to bicker over which fighting style they should teach him, and seem equally matched in their logic, so they agree to both teach him: Chela offense, Oliver defense.
While the friends have a meal in the dining hall, Tullio once again stirs the shit. He doesn’t like how Oliver & Co. get all the attention while everyone else gets left out, and declares it’s time to determine who the strongest first-year is. To that end, he sets up a tournament and calls for volunteers.
Nanao, Oliver, and Chela all agree to participate, as does Chela’s cousin Stacy. One Evelynn Odets, famous for talking fast, is the first to challenge Nanao. She’s supremely confident she can embarrass the Azian samurai, but she’s the one who ends up embarrassed, as Nanao easily redirects her spell with her sword.
After running Pete ragged with a sword arts training session (though there’s no further discussion of Pete’s Reversi status) Oliver receives an invitation to tea from Gwyn and Shannon via Miss Carste. On his way, he encounters Ophelie, but she isn’t interested in succubussing him, simply having a little chat.
We learn she was once friends with Alvin and Carlos, and she also issues a friendly warning for Oliver to stay out of the Labyrinth and keep his head down for the next couple months. I appreciated how “Lia” (as Shannon later calls her) isn’t just a sexy cartoon villain, but portrayed as an actual person here.
Oliver is greeted warmly by Gwyn and Shannon, who tell him he should consider the little hideout his home whenever he needs it. He tells them how much he’s come to care about Nanao, and Gwyn gently warns him not to let such a charismatic girl “change the very essence of who he is” by getting too close. After all, Noll has a lot more names on his list to take care of.
On Oliver’s way back to the dorms, he senses he’s being tailed and calls Tullio out. Tullio wants to prove which one of them is stronger once and for all, and it’s clear from the outset of their ensuing duel that Tullio plays dirty. He has to, because none of the three classic styles worked for him.
His creative self-made style leaves Oliver with a bloody nose and bruised face, but just when Tullio thinks he’s just getting started, Oliver calmly tells him he’ll defeat him in eight moves exactly…and proceeds to do just that. There’s nothing Tullio can do against Oliver’s mastery of by-the-book fighting.
That said, Oliver admits to the beaten Tullio that he’s always a little envious of anyone who is able to fight with their own talent, as opposed to the borrowed knowledge he’s amassed and practiced. That said, he warns Tullio that he’ll soon reach his limit if he relies on just his talents forever.
Miss Carste was watching the fight, as she emerges from the shadows to praise her “lord.” She draws close to him and says that his kindness is a sheath that can dull his raw power, and if killing her will sharpen his blade, she’s ready and willing to be his disposable whetstone. Oliver doesn’t play like that; he’s not going to use and discard her, or anyone else.
This interaction, which is the first time we get a good look at Teresa Carste (and learn just how into Oliver she is), takes place as the credits roll, followed by Tullio, still in the Labyrinth, being challenged by Joseph Albright. Will Oliver’s warning about Rossi’s talents only going so far prove prescient once again?
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