“So where are you supposed to be hiding?” Bryson said as he and Lottie were now in Gille’s VIP room.

“There are plenty of places.” Lottie assured as she roamed around the room swinging the shield around, “I think either in that cupboard or underneath that table is going to be the best. I can see the keypad from these places.”

“The table?” Bryson said unconvinced.

“Yeah.” Lottie said nodding.

“There’s no way you could hide there.”

“Why not? There’s a tablecloth.”

“That doesn’t go all the way down. He could easily see your feet.”

“Not a problem.” Lottie said with confidence.

Bryson narrowed his eyes, “How so?” He asked, Gilles may not be the greatest at his studies but he was still more than perceptive enough to notice someone badly hiding beneath some cloth. However, Lottie also wasn’t stupid, she would have a reason to be confident.

“Because I have a trick.” Lottie said with a mischievous grin, as she walked around Bryson, “Turn around please.”

“You can just tell me.” Bryson said with a tired look.

“It’ll be cooler if you see it.”

“Whatever.” Bryson said rolling his eyes complying with her request.

“Turn around.” He heard her say.

Turning back around he saw that Lottie was no longer there. Bryson scanned around the place, the couch, cabinets, and corners of the room. She was nowhere to be found.

“Where did she go?” Bryson said aloud.

“Right here!” Lottie said excitedly as she lifted up the overhanging tablecloth revealing her grinning face underneath.

“Ah right, you said that you would hide there.” Bryson recalled, before realizing something was amiss, “Wait, how did I not realize? You even told me.”

“Because I was taught a trick by Mister Phillip.” She said.

“Explain.” Bryson said curtly

“It’s not quite like a spell but using the same method people use to enhance their bodies I can do it to mask my presence. It makes hiding super easy, you just don’t even think about me.” Lottie said.

“I wish that was more permanent.” Bryson muttered to himself.

“Hmm?” Lottie asked not quite catching it.

“I said that trick is way too effective. There has to be a catch.” Bryson said quickly.

“Well the trick doesn’t work if you know about it. So I won’t be able to do it to you again.” Lottie said before pondering to herself, “Hmm, maybe I should’ve kept this a secret from you. It would have been fun to prank you.”

“That’s not happening.” Bryson dismissed quickly, before checking the clock on the wall and the door, “Alright, Gilles is going to return any minute. You hide and once he makes the switch message Lila with your Communicator, quietly and I’ll make a diversion.”

“Aye, aye captain!” She said as she pulled down the tablecloth and covered most of her save for her legs as she knelt underneath. Bryson could feel that she was doing her trick, or skill, or whatever, as it was a lot more difficult to spot her. Even with the knowledge of what Lottie was doing and where she was, he found himself losing sight of where she hid.

That is very useful. Bryson thought as he quietly exited out the room. She’s using her innate mana to do something that’s similar to casting a spell to mask herself. Maybe I can figure something out myself.

Looking around he saw no one was around and he quickly moved over to where Lila was hiding. Lila greeted him with a quiet nod.

“You came back just in time look.” Lila said pointing across the hall they hid around. Gilles was approaching and seemed to be talking to one of the event organizers. Gilles seemed to have said something and the event organizer left.

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“Is Lottie alright?” She whispered as they watched him head into his room.

“Seems like it. We just need to wait for Gilles to place the shield in the safe and make a distraction so that she can make the switch and get out.” Bryson whispered back.

“So what are you going to do to distract him?”

“I have a few ideas.”

***

Lottie laid flat to the floor peeking through the tablecloth underneath the table as she heard the door open. As she peered towards the door she saw Gilles Coldwater lazily saunter into the room. He haphazardly tossed both his shield and training sword to the side as he flopped onto the couch and turned on the viewscreen in his room.

This will be easy. Lottie thought as she saw the shield lying on the end of the couch. She should be able to make the switch as Gilles was busy watching the viewscreen. As long as he didn’t turn in her direction, she would go unnoticed.

As she began to lift up the tablecloth, someone knocked on the door. Giving a small pout she let the tablecloth go and waited. Gilles gave an annoyed grunt as he got up from his couch and made his way over to Lottie.

Lottie shrunk back to the other end of the table in surprise. Did her ability fail? To her relief, he stopped short at the end of the couch and picked up his shield. Walking then to the other side of the room he bent down and pressed a code into the safe.

Lottie peaking out once more tracked which numbers Gilles was inputting. On the sixth digit inputted a loud click sound could be heard from the safe. A whirling sound could be heard and then Gilles opened the safe.

Quickly stashing the shield into the safe he got up and shut the safe. With another whirling noise, it shut. Drat. That’s way too loud. Lottie thought as Gilles opened the door to talk to one of his coaches waiting for him.

Lottie pulled out her Communicator and silently sent a message to her sister. I could use a distraction right now.

***

“Uh oh.” Lila mumbled looking at her Communicator.

“What?” Bryson asked looking over.

“She’s going to need that distraction now.” Lila said.

“Ah.” Bryson said, “Okay. Here goes nothing then.” He said as he walked up to Gilles and one of the coaches who seemed to be discussing the next round.

“Hey Gilles.”

“Bryson, I thought you were back at the view booth.” Gilles greeted him while standing in the doorframe.

“Got bored, wanted to see how you were doing.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you talking about the next round?”

“Yes, Coach Slush here was telling me about concerns of the next round. Which I find to be ridiculous.” Gilles said with a laugh.

“Oh, are you worried about the adventurer?” Bryson asked Coach Slush.

“Yes he’s dangerous.” Coach Slush said earnestly.

“I’m sure he is.” Gilles said mockingly.

“He’s not wrong Gilles, he’s fast.” Bryson said recalling Spencer’s exploits back when they had to grab those stupid flowers.

“So was the academy brat.”

“True.” Bryson said as in his peripheral he noticed a shelf with multiple things stored on it. Neither of these two people were very adept at magic. Sorry custodians. He thought inwardly as he channelled a bit of magic.

With a sudden crash, one of the shelf legs snapped and the various pieces of equipment clattered loudly onto the floor. Catching the attention of both Gilles and Slush they looked over to the pile. Small metal tools still clattering loudly on the floor as they rolled.

Gilles stepped out of the doorframe and closed the door from behind him as he looked at the spilled objects. As the last of the objects stopped rolling Gilles only looked on confused. Bryson glanced at the door; Lottie still hadn’t made it out yet.

As Gilles was turned back toward Bryson, Bryson stuck his hands into his pockets. As he did, the entire shelf fell forward onto the pile with a massive crash. A crash that sounded louder than what would have been expected.

Gilles and Slush stood there staring at the pile in confusion for a few moments as Lottie snuck out the door and over to Lila. The noise attracted the attention of several others near the area who now all gathered to look at this mess. Including a very distraught-looking janitor That made Bryson feel extraordinarily guilty.

Gilles seemed to stare at the mess for a long moment before pondering something. Turning around he looked at Bryson who tried to look as innocent as possible.

“Bryson, did you have something to do with this?” Gilles said unsure about even bringing up the subject.

“Do I have something to do with that shelf thing falling over?” Bryson said slowly.

“Yeah. Did you?” He said, sounding less and less confident.

“How could I?”

“You have magic right? You could have done something magic? Right?”

“I used magic to knock over a shelf.” Bryson said slowly before looking at Gilles as if he had gone mad, “What?”

“I, uh- nothing, never mind.” Gilles said brushing past Bryson and sheepishly going back into his room.

Bryson quickly turned the corner and saw Lottie and Lila waiting for him. Both carried an amused look on their face as he approached.

“That was your plan?” Lila asked.

“Worked didn’t it? You made the switch?” Bryson said irritated.

“Yup!” Lottie said flashing out the actual shield. One good look and Bryson was able to verify that it was the real deal.

“So how does this thing work?” Lottie asked.

“All it needs is just a bit of magic to be channelled through it and the enchantment does the rest.” Bryson said.

“Does it take much effort?”

“No as long as someone can use mana to enhance their bodies they can use it. Very well made. Even the worst at magic can use it to cast the spell.” Bryson said. Must have been rather expensive.

“So I can use this?” Lottie said excitedly.

“Lottie.” Lila said sternly.

“I won’t.” Lottie said.

“Good, let’s head back.” Bryson said to Lila.

“What about this?” Lottie asked waving the shield.

“Hold on to it for now.” Bryson said as he left.