Episode 8 (Anime)

Rivals (挑戦者（ライバルズ）, Chōsen-sha (raibaruzu)) is the eighth episode of the Reign of the Seven Spellblades (Anime) series.

Synopsis
Another student challenges Oliver and his friends to see who's really the strongest of their grade.

Summary
Michela tells Nanao about the various broomsports. The group is then approached by Tullio Rossi, a first year student. After introducing himself, he explains that he knows them all. Before he leaves, he tells Pete that he is sure they will meet again. Later, during sword arts practice, Pete is put against Tullio. He rushes quickly, but Tullio backs off and trips him, and easily defeats him. The teacher then advice Pete to not rush things and keep his distance. Tullio then mocks Pete, calling him "Princess" for being protected by all of his friends and explains that way he won't get stronger.

Pete then goes to his friends and asks them for help in order to become stronger. Michela and Oliver then start arguing on which of the three basic styles they should train Pete. To end the debate, the others suggest that Michela teaches him offence, while Oliver teaches him defense. The two then agree to teach Pete in a way he can win a magical battle without relying on a battle style. Oliver then asks Pete to attack him at mid-range. Pete tries to use magic, but Oliver defeats him with his sword before he can cast it. Oliver explains that even at mid-range, he can still win the fight if he is better at sword arts and that in this case he made a bad choice. In a fight, if he misjudges the distance, it creates a fatal opening. Tullio is observing them and joins them, telling Pete that he can teach him faster than Oliver. Oliver wonders what is Tullio trying to do and Tullio explains that he wants to see who is the strongest first year. While Nanao is currently the one, he wants to see if other students are also interested in participating. Stacy then stands up and expresses desire to fight as well. Fay wonders if she is serious as when the garuda showed up, she was shaking in fear, and decides to join them as well. Nanao, Oliver and Michela also agree to participate. Tullio then explains the rules. He shows a list of all who are participating and explains that they will all have medals. When you lose, you give a medal to your opponent and you lose when you are out of medals. The winner will be the one with the most medals. After a week, the four with the most medals will fight in the finals. People can be challenged at any time. The Speed-Talker Evelynn Odets then challenges Nanao.

As the duel between Evelynn and Nanao is about to start, Evelynn intends to keep her distance since she knows that Nanao is not good with magic. Oliver knows what Evelynn will do, but states that Nanao is still the better fighter. The duel starts and Evelynn casts an Impetus, but Nanao bends it and gets knocking Evelynn's sword and defeating her. Michela then promises that she will reach the finals and asks Nanao and Oliver to do the same, so they can have a good fight.

Oliver helps Pete train. After the practice, Oliver asks Teresa if there is a problem and she reveals that Shannon and Gwyn are inviting him for tea. Oliver heads into the labyrinth and on his way, he encounters Ophelia. She explains she isn't in a mood for a fight and invites him to talk for a bit. Ophelia explains that he and his friends are standing out and wonders how he feel to face a garuda. Oliver prefers to never do it again. Ophelia remembers Alvin saying the same and is sure he is fond of Oliver as they are quite alike, since both like to go on adventures that are not for first-years. She thanks him for talking with her, but warns him to not go on too many adventures and stay more in the school building, especially during the next few months.

Oliver proceeds and reaches the place where Gwyn and Shannon had invited him. He tells them that he met Ophelia on his way, but Gwyn tells Shannon to not go as Ophelia is already gone. He reveals that Ophelia and Shannon known each other, and Shannon explains that Ophelia tends to get lonely. Gwyn asks Oliver if he is sure that Nanao used a seventh spellblade. Oliver isn't sure, but his intuition says yes. His mother's broom also accepted Nanao. He feels there is something about her and by just looking at her he feels that he has to help her when she has a problem.

On his way back, Oliver feels Tullio following him and calls him to come out and wonders why he is following him. Tullio explains that he doesn't like that Oliver is getting more attention than him. Oliver states that Nanao is getting even more attention, but Tullio states that its different since she is cute, so he can't get upset with her. Tullio then draws his sword and states that the rules are: no magic besides the anti-lethality spells and they keep them at half strength. Oliver accepts the terms and they prepare to fight. Tullio then states he forgot to mention something, but suddenly attacks him, stating it was nothing. Tullio explains that he likes to fight dirty and the three fancy styles won't work on him. He steps on Oliver's food and punches him with brass knuckles, however Oliver is fine with all that. He also thanks him and feels ashed to be embarrassed by someone weak as Tullio. Oliver then states he will beat him in eight moves. Angry, Tullio attacks, after blocking his attacks, Oliver grabs a hold of his hand, forcing him to go on his knees. Oliver agrees that the three fighting styles have less striking moves, but this is why at extreme close range is better to grab the undefended arm of the opponent than striking. Angry for being lectured, Tullio manages to free himself, but injures his hand. He attacks Oliver, but Oliver blocks and slashes him, stating he lost in exactly eight moves. Tullio is annoyed, but after fixing his arm, he gives Oliver a medal, noting that he ended up losing to the one he wanted to beat the most and even got a lecture. Oliver apologizes if he was too arrogant, but Tullio tells him to just go. Oliver then explains that Tullio has an unique fighting style, but will soon reach his limits, and should learn one of the three basic styles while there is still time. Oliver is jealous of people who have certain talents as nothing he did is a product of his own talent, and all he has has been given to him by someone else. As Oliver leaves, Tullio doesn't know he gave him all of this, but wonders how much he had to train to follow the textbooks that much. Outside the labyrinth, Teresa congratulates Oliver on his win, but Oliver notes that he feels bad for again realizing how inexperienced he is. Teresa states that if killing her will help him, she is ready to die for him. Oliver tells her that her cheeks are quite red and she usually isn't talking like that. He has no intention to use her and throw her away, and she should remember that. Blushing even more, Teresa then runs away.

In the labyrinth, Tullio faces another student, who is surprised that he lost and wonders if he still have medals to give him.

Characters

 * Guy Greenwood
 * Oliver Horn
 * Michela McFarlane
 * Katie Aalto
 * Pete Reston
 * Tullio Rossi
 * Luther Garland
 * Evelynn Odets
 * Stacy Cornwallis
 * Fay Willock
 * Ophelia Salvadori
 * Gwyn Sherwood
 * Shannon Sherwood
 * Joseph Albright

Light Novel-Anime Differences

 * This episode reverses the order of some events. In volume 2 of the novels, Tullio Rossi announces the dueling tournament in chapter 1, while Pete's loss in the sparring match takes place in chapter 2. Additionally, his opponent was a one-off student named Hughes rather than Rossi.
 * The student who dueled Nanao at the beginning of Rossi's tournament was never named in the light novel. In this episode she's given the name Evelynn Odets.