The Academy team won their match handily. Their team used a single large construct, a wizard to control it, and several smaller clockwork creatures to defend the wizard. It certainly looked dangerous, but it didn’t take the battle-hardened team long to realize the issues that this particular team composition faced. Relying on the giant clockwork to do the bulk of the damage and relying on the small clockwork for defensive posturing meant that the team was locked into one strategy. Not to mention that everything on the field but the controller was vulnerable to lightning damage, which meant they were easy to exploit. Add other spells that used untyped damage and bypassed resistances; Alvec was at least convinced the fight wouldn’t be nearly as tough as it might have been otherwise.

The Blue and Red Banner armies also won their first rounds. A few noble groups and a few adventuring groups also cleared the first round. The Sons of Marora, in particular, stood out. The apparent leader, San Verado, played the crowd like a fiddle with his garish sense of fashion paired with a quick blade; he was undoubtedly someone to pay attention to.

“You think the Red Banner got lucky?” Illaria asked aloud near the end of the day's combats.

“What do you mean?” Mavec asked.

“They’ve been fairly docile since the last major wars. I was wondering if perhaps they might be getting a bit doughy around the edges,” Illaria stated.

“They seemed to handle themselves well,” Naya said. “I think they’re likely a threat.”

“Their tactics, if nothing else, seem sound. Guns, Pikes, a skirmisher, and a cleric. They're pretty well positioned for anything,” Alvec replied.

“I hope we fight them. I want a rematch with Pacta,” Naya said.

“Only time will tell,” Alvec replied.

The group split up a bit after the final fight wrapped up. Alvec and Rem wandered along, searching for Sarbie. He knew that Hoc and her were around here somewhere. He found the pair standing in front of Ij’s shop. He waved over to them as he approached the shop. Ij had hung up a slew of portraits he had painted prominently displayed on the exterior of the wooden stand. Inside, hung along the back wall, were his more artistic pieces. Abstract paintings on the nature of fear and the facet of water. Ij himself was dressed tactfully. Well-fitted clothing, with what Alvec suspected were intentional paint stains.

Hoc and Sarbie were in their usual church uniforms. It made sense for them to be in their usual attire since they were working on behalf of the church at the moment. Hoc looked a bit too excited, this festival atmosphere and the fights were entirely his cup of tea. Sarbie, on the other hand, looked a little drained.

“Alvec! I heard you won! Congrats to the Cheese Acolytes! That means you're up against the academy team next. You and Mavec worried about it?” Hoc asked, rushing forward and extending a hand to him to shake. Alvec returned the handshake with gusto.

“Yup, we’re in it to round two at least. As far as the academy fight, I'm not all that worried. Mavec is the better artificer, and we both can pump out a lot of damage, which will be super effective against their clockwork constructs,” Alvec said.

“I overheard the academy members talking,” Ij said as he momentarily walked away from his booth. “You and Mavec made an impression. They were saying you made a custom spell just for that fight. Is that true?”

Alvec placed his right hand behind his head and neck and smiled. “I might have pulled a late-nighter crafting that. It was its first trial run. Could have completely failed for all I knew.”

“You certainly are a much more reckless fellow than I’d have taken you for Master Snaptail,” Ij responded from his booth. “If I paint you, you must be draped in reds and golds.”

“I’m more comfortable in blue,” Alvec replied.

“You crafted a new spell in one night?” Sarbie asked. She knew a little about spellcraft; it was required to progress in the church as a cleric, but the notion of creating an entire spell in a single night absolutely boggled her mind.

“You going to make a new spell vs. them as well?” Hoc asked.

“No, I don’t think I need to. We’ve already got shocking grasp and lightning bolt. I can’t see us needing any further electricity spells. I doubt I can think up anything much better than we already have.”

“I heard they have a huge construct; how are you planning to deal with that?” Hoc asked.

“I’m not really at liberty to say, but I imagine it will be much the same as any other threat. Throw damage, empower our allies, and weaken our enemies,” Alvec replied.

“Hoc, he can’t just give away all of their secrets,” Sarbie chided.

“So does this mean you have the night free?” Hoc asked.

“Yeah, I’m officially on my own. I was hoping to find you two, actually,” Alvec admitted.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Oh, Hoc, why don’t you make a quick circle around the area for security purposes? I need just a quick word with Alvec alone,” Sarbie said, giving him a tired smile.

“Sure thing; I suppose we’ve been distracted long enough,” he said before making a diligent circle.

“The church of Kushang assists the town in policing these events. Losing out on revenue to pickpockets would cause the event not to flourish as strongly next year, which hurts the economy.”

“Must be rough. Though it looks like Hoc enjoys it.”

“I don’t mind walking around; honestly, we just call the guards if we see something,” she admitted. “The way they hang the street lights is beautiful, but I kinda wish we had more crystal lights like in the libraries.”

“Yeah, it's a shame it's so expensive. Would be a good use of tax revenue, though.” Alvec said. “So you wanted to talk with me?” he asked.

“Yeah, let's walk a bit,” she said, taking the lead. Alvec followed and took his place beside her. “So I asked around about what we talked about and checked the library. I didn’t find anything, sorry. The people I talked to promised to look into it further. That's the best we’ve got.”

“Alright, thank you for trying. I appreciate it. What time do you get off from work tonight?”

“Not for a while yet, I’m afraid. They like the church to be visible for most of the night.”

“I’d like to buy you dinner as thanks for looking into that for me. If you don’t mind,” he added quickly.

“You don’t need to, really,” Sarbie said, waving him off. “I was just trying to help. Besides, I owe you for helping me fix all those broken things in the church. I didn’t mean to overwork you so much.”

“Sarbie, I insist,” He replied.

“You’re going to have to buy Hoc dinner too,” Alvec pursed his lips together.

“Sounds good to me.”

“Good, he’s going to want to chat with you more anyway. You’ll have to suffer through it with me,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, come on, I find his enthusiasm quite charming.”

“Really? It doesn’t annoy you? He’s never been on a proper adventure; he’s barely even left Sha-Laial. Not that I’m one to talk, but I can’t imagine that's anything but annoying to someone who has lived that life.”

“I think I just appreciate that someone is excited to know what I’m doing. I haven’t had a lot of that in my life since I left home.”

“Where is home anyway?”

“It was Ot-Najan. I went to the academy there. It's a lot smaller than Sha-Laials.”

“You mentioned your mom worked with the church; what does she do?”

“Honestly, fundraising and that sort of thing. Ot-Najan is known for having a few gambling establishments. She was well-known in that circuit before she married and started a family. Suffice it to say she knows how to play the establishment against each other to help raise money for the church.”

“She sounds like an interesting woman.”

“She certainly is. Hey, there's Hoc. Over here, friend.” Alvec said, waving to him. Hoc came jogging up to the pair.

“Nothing to report, another quiet night here at the Festival of Blades. So is it true you actually baited the goblins into attacking you?” Alvec smiled wide.

“Yes, I took a very calculated risk.”

“And then MAVEC SHOT YOU?! Is that true, too?”

“Pretty much, but it was with a lightning bolt and not a gun, just to clarify,” Alvec stated.

“Wait, that changes it; how?” Sarbie asked.

“Trade secret,” He said, winking at her. She rolled her eyes a bit.

“You really won’t tell us?” Hoc asked, leaning over the two of them.

“One. I’m fast; I managed to dodge the bulk of it. Two. Hell’s power runs through my veins against my will, but I might as well use its resistance. Three. I’m an abjurer; I can soak a surprising amount of energy damage before I take a scratch. To Mavec’s credit, he asked if he could shoot me. I knew the risks.”

“That makes sense; being a tiefling sure is neat,” Hoc said. Alvec’s tail flicked in annoyance.

“Being a tiefling comes with plenty of drawbacks. Not everyone is very comfortable around us. Many still think we’re somehow pawns of our infernal relatives.”

“Really, but Ageneon got rid of all those old laws. Doesn’t that make it better?” Hoc asked.

“In theory,” Sarbie said, clutching one arm in the other. Hoc raised an eyebrow to her. Alvec was correct in saying there were drawbacks. Everyone she’d mentioned his infernal heritage to had suggested that he was somehow manipulating her in some way into perhaps doing his bidding. What was it like in other towns if high-ranking church members could so casually suggest such things? “Were they like that in Rust Hill?”

“Before or after the elemental attack?” Alvec responded.

The implication smacked any notion of a quick response from her.

“Look, it used to be a little rough before I picked up Mavec and Naya. Traveling with two humans made life easier. Exceptionally easier once we picked up Illaria. She takes the breath out of the air before anyone can speculate about me.”

“She is really hot,” Hoc admitted. Alvec chuckled.

“Don’t tell her that, though, I’ve yet to see her return anyone's advances. She’s a lot like that Wakizashi she wields; she moves with a singular purpose, and all things outside of it might as well not exist,” Alvec said.

The trio eventually made their way back to Ij’s stand. Alvec parted ways with them, promising to return after their shifts to buy them dinner. He paused at Ij’s stand. “Red? Really?” he asked.

“I feel like it fits your daringness displayed on the battlefield. Not a blood red, mind you, nor the red of a blazing fire, but that of a gentle campfire or a bed of hot coals on a dark night. Smoldering against the black sky.”

“Let's skip the portrait talk for today. Ij, what else do you have?”

“Take a look, Master Snaptail. I’ll give you a quote if you like a piece.” He flipped through the paintings, noticing a distinct theme of coral and water emerging in his newer paintings.

“Should I presume that these were drawn after visiting our house?” Alvec asked.

“Yes, I think I did a good job capturing the majesty of the coral and the sublime peace of the tranquil waters of the world below,” Ij replied.

“I’d agree. I’ll take it. Send the painting to our house after the festival.” Alvec said, producing his coin purse and sliding over the gold Ij quoted him. He could easily imagine it hanging in the kitchen.