As Lottie departed from the rest of the group, happily bounding away after a goodbye hug to Lila. Sable looked over to Bryson.

“Are you sure we should do this?” Sable asked looking troubled.

“You don’t trust her?” Bryson said as they began to walk back.

“Surprisingly that’s not it. I know that she can be capable. Why else would Phillip spend his free time training her?”

“Seriously what is going on with that butler? I can’t get any information from him.”

“Don’t bother. Father told me that the less we knew about him the better.” Sable advised, “But I’m still reluctant to do this. If we get caught, Lottie can be in serious trouble. We’ll be fine but Lottie. I don’t know if we can keep her safe if it goes wrong.”

“Yeah I know. If she gets caught she could be in trouble. But don’t forget, Father and mother both tolerate her, which means a lot for them. Gilles won’t be as kind if she gets caught. Which is why I will do everything I can to stop him if this goes wrong.” Bryson said before his face turned into a scowl, “Stop with the grinning Frost.”

“Sorry.” Lila apologized, “It’s just that you saying things like that is why both me and Lottie trust you in this.”

Bryson could only scoff in response as Sable continued, “That aside is it worth it? I mean we could just let Gilles win.”

“And what about the injuries?”

“We don’t know if that’s going to happen.” Sable said just as someone got in her way, “Hey watch it.”

“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry!” The person said in surprise turning around, it was Spencer Khan. In his hands were what looked to be a couple of medicine bottles.

“You’re playing nurse now Khan? I thought you were still competing.” Bryson said.

“It’s still intermission and I’m the sixth fight, I have time to help.” Spencer said, a perpetual look of worry on his face.

“Help with what?”

“Darts. He’s hurt real bad. I wanted to help so I brought some medicine.”

“Don’t they have medical staff here to do that?”

“They needed medicine from one of the hospitals, I’m faster than most.”

“You ran to the hospital and back?” Bryson said in disbelief.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Now excuse me I need to get this to the doctor.” Spencer said as he moved passed them and headed down the hall. Bryson watched as Spencer moved and a moment later began to follow, Lila followed close behind.

“Hey, intermission’s going to end soon.” Sable called.

“We have a few minutes.” He called back.

“Unbelievable.” Sable muttered as she followed behind him.

They followed Spencer for around a minute down the hall before stopping at a door with a sign labelled infirmary. It seemed that Spencer either didn’t mind or didn’t notice the three of them trailing him as he walked. Too busy focused on delivering the medicine to acknowledge them. Spencer quickly entered and Bryson and the rest followed behind.

The infirmary itself was rather empty. Only a few of the contestants sat inside, getting quick checkups or treating relatively minor injuries. All save for one bed where Darts lay. There he had four people surrounding him checking on his condition.

Getting a better look, Bryson noticed the cast that completely encompassed Darts from the shoulder downwards. A further neck brace was affixed on him, and he wore a miserable expression on his face.

“Hey how are you Darts?” Spencer asked him kindly handing the bottles over to one of the trainers.

“Miserable.” He croaked out.

“What’s the medicine for?” Bryson asked one of the trainers.

“Lord Coldwater.” The trainer said in surprise, “Oh, it’s to help with repairing his broken bones. It’s enough to last a month. Your brother was very powerful.” He said nervously.

“It appears so. How long will he be injured?” Bryson said smoothly.

“Oh not to worry, as long as he takes care of himself he should be back to full health in half a year. But he won’t be doing much during that time.”

“What?” Darts said weekly overhearing him. He gave out a pained groan as he tried to rise up, only for one of the trainers to quickly stop him.

“Hey, how long did you say?” He called out to the one Bryson was talking with.

“You won’t be doing an extraneous activity for the next six months.”

“No, no, no.” Darts said sounding horrified.

“You have to otherwise you won’t be able to recover.” The trainer said slowly and gently approaching Darts.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“I can’t The Academy. They’ll kick me out.” Darts said his voice breaking.

“I’m sorry.” The trainer said somberly.

“But my parents…” Darts said as he began to tear up. The trainer gently put a hand on his shoulder. Spencer stood there looking helpless and face of worry.

“There’s nothing more you can do.” Lila whispered to him.

“I know. I know.” Spencer said not taking his eyes off the crying boy.

Bryson looked over to Sable who had an extremely troubled look on her face as she watched the scene before her. Slowly Sable looked over to Bryson who looked at her awaiting an answer to a question he asked with a look.

“Yeah. We’ll stop him.” Sable said nodding fervently.

***

“And our winner, Lord Gilles Coldwater!” The announcer boomed over the microphone.

The first fight of the second round went rather smoothly. Fortunately, the opponent Gilles faced was a weaker opponent, especially compared to Darts. Gilles was able to more or less bully the opponent into submission. The beating was still rather rough.

As Gille celebrated his victory by posing to the crowd Sable took this opportunity to head over to the corner where Bryson was watching and whisper to him.

“Good news. No injury.”

“Yeah, he didn’t need to cheat against him.” Bryson whispered back, “What about the next round? Who’s he fighting after this?”

“I don’t know didn’t bother looking.” Sable said shrugging.

“Of course.” Bryson said rolling his eyes, “Frost, bring me the match card.”

Lila quickly handed Bryson a tablet with the projected match card. Bryson quickly read the projected brackets. In the third round the opponent that Gilles might face was, Khan. Spencer Khan. Huh. That’s not good. Bryson thought.

“You saw the adventurer fight last round; you think he’ll make it past this one?”

“Who, Spencer? The guy with the medicine?” She recalled.

“Yeah.”

“He was good last round, quick too. Should be able to make it past this round.”

“Good enough for Gilles to cheat?”

“He’s next?” Sable said looking worried. Bryson only nodded in response as they watched Gilles leave the arena.

“Now we go.” Sable said.

“Be weird if we both go.” Bryson said glancing over to their parents who seemed to be discussing with one another on Gilles's performance.

“You’re right. I’ll wait for you then.”

“I was hoping for you to volunteer.”

“I’m not the one with illusionary magic.”

“True.” Bryson admitted before speaking loudly to his parents, “Can I go see Gilles?”

“Oh are you finding the tournament boring?” Duchess Coldwater asked concerned.

“I don’t see why not.” Duchess Coldwater said as Duke Coldwater nodded his head in silence.

Bryson quickly got up and left the view box with Lila. Viola took this opportunity to slide over and sit next to Sable.

“What’s going on?” She asked.

“What do you mean?” Sable said trying to play dumb.

“Don’t act coy. What’s going on with you two? I haven’t seen you two talk like this in a long time.”

“We’re just conversing.” Sable said trying to act casual. Thankfully Viola seemed to be preoccupied with something else.

“Of course he leaves.” Viola muttered.

“What do you mean?”

“I was hoping to talk to you both about me leaving.”

“Right, why didn’t you tell us?”

“I-” Viola paused looking around a bit sheepish and talked in an even more hushed voice, “I like the family dynamic we have. I felt as though me telling you would ruin it.”

“You kind of ruined it with Bryson now.”

“I know that.” Viola said frustrated, “It’s annoying. I was hoping for an opportunity to properly talk with him.”

“You’ll get it. He’s our brother.” Sable assured, “But what do you want to talk to him about?”

“Private matters.”

“Figures. He has his secrets.”

“True. Which is why I won’t pry.”

“What? What do you mean?” Sable said slightly panicked. Viola simply raised an eyebrow at her.

“Okay, so we are up to something.” She admitted.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be asking any questions. But I wish you luck on whatever you’re doing.” She assured her before adding, “Also want you to know that you are my sister Sable and that I love you.”

Sable blinked in surprise, “Where did that come from?”

“From the fact that I know you feel like the stepchild in our family.” Viola said pointedly.

“I don’t-” She began before getting another look from Viola, “Okay sometimes.” She admitted.

“That feeling is deserved. Mother and father do treat Bry differently from you, and as your older sister I don’t do enough to talk to you or even Bryson, I leave you two alone more often than not.” Viola said.

“You don’t need to feel sorry, you try at least. Besides I know that Bryson’s special.”

“Sable-”

“I’m not saying that doesn’t get me jealous, but I know that it isn’t his fault. Besides mother and father have paid a little bit more attention to me these days, a little but still.” Sable said assuring Viola, “Nevertheless, thank you, it was nice to hear that.” She said with a smile.

“Anything for my little sister.” She said returning the smile.

“Wait, are you not going to talk to Gilles?” Sable asked. She only ever mentioned the two of them, not their other brother.

“I don’t think he cares much. In fact I don’t think he acknowledges any of us much.”

“He sometimes tries to mimic what Gareth does.”

“Tries to.”

“So you’re not rooting for him to win this?”

“Are you kidding? His head’s already so big, his neck can’t support any more weight.” Viola joked.

“True, it’s bigger than Gareth’s.” Sable giggled, “So are you rooting for anyone?”

“Mmm, there is one.”

“Is it the adventurer?”

“Sable, I won’t ask you any questions, so stop asking me.” Viola said sternly.

“Oh.” Sable said raising her eyebrows in surprise as she turned to look back at the arena with great interest.

***

“Okay, Lottie should be here.” Lila said to Bryson.

The two of them were hiding around a corner near Gille’s room. So far Gilles hadn’t returned yet, nor was Lottie anywhere to be found.

“Where is she?” Bryson whispered.

“Right here.” Lottie said suddenly appearing behind him.

“By the Six!” Bryson jumped as he whipped around to face her.

“Hey Bryson.” Lottie said with a mischievous grin and a happy wave.

“Where were you?” Bryson scowled, as he recovered quickly.

“Checking out Gareth’s room. The safe is pretty well made. It will be difficult to crack it.”

“You already checked? I thought he would’ve locked it.” Bryson said. When did she have time?

“Oh that was easy I just took this.” Lila said waving a keycard.

“Where did you get that?”

“Took it from security.”

“Lottie.” Lila said sternly.

“I’ll give it back, promise.” Lottie said innocently.

“Can you crack the safe?” Bryson said getting the topic back at hand.

“I don’t think I’ll have time to open it before he comes back. But I do have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“I hide and wait for him to enter the code to put the shield in, you distract him, I make the switch and then he leaves with the normal shield.” Lottie said clapping her hands, “Easy as pie.”

“I’m not sure about that.” Lila said.

“What? Why?” Lottie asked looking to Lila.

“Because it’s dangerous.” Bryson said, “You really think you can hide in the same room as my brother?”

“Why not? There are enough places for me to hide.” Lottie said tilting her head to the side quizzically.

“Well if you’re confident.” Lila said.

“Are you serious?” Bryson said looking at Lila incredulously.

“Hey, I trust my sister, I’ve seen her do some amazing things, and so have you.” Lila defended.

“Besides, how else are we going to open the safe in time?” Lottie added.

Bryson looked at the two Frost sisters with a shake of his head, “You two idiots.” He growled as he pointed his finger at Lottie, “Don’t mess up.”