[https://i.imgur.com/KO24wui.jpg]

ShimmerClaw's team house was a small mansion beside a large mansion. Both were perched on a jagged peninsula near the spire, stretching out over the edge in a hauntingly precarious way. The sky beyond was crisp grey-blue, remnants of the sunset giving long thin clouds a brilliant orange outline. In deference to tradition the path leading up to the mansions was long and winding and surrounded by trees—but rather than the creepily bare-limbed monstrosities of flora one might expect, they were sweet-scented cherry blossoms. The mansions themselves were appropriately gothic, though not exactly of the Auldvynian style, as Praetorian leapt upon the chance to point out:

"Taller windows, far thinner and curvier, not a gargoyle in sight to their credit, although I can't call the stonework particularly superior—grey just lacks the inherent dignity of black, however dark and polished it is. Apparently the vampires here are all from southern Nimbus or northern Forest, that distressingly affluent part of the world. Disassociation with their Auldvynian cousins is a popular pastime, not that one can blame them. In my dark little corner of the world vampires are far more, what's an appropriate word ... antisocial. Not that we get many in the Lily Valley."

Praetorian subtly glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention, saw that nobody was, then continued anyway:

"Still, the cherry blossoms are a welcome departure from tradition. Most of the trees in my homeland are less 'pretty' and more, well, 'evil'. 'Carnivorous'. 'Mobile'. This path is deceptively long, isn't it? I keep expecting the next bend to be the last, but find myself disappointed every time."

Behind the others, Tzugakk was taking note of Nala's stride, the set of her shoulders, and (after he scurried forward to walk beside her) the line of her mouth.

"What is wrong?" he asked, too softly for anyone but Nala to hear. She said nothing, but offered a neutral glance. "Can I help?"

Nala lowered her head so that her hood covered her face, only her mouth still exposed. Tzugakk noticed that her steel chain necklace was above her tunic, not hidden within. He also noticed that her cloak was neatly tied with an elaborate knot, and that her boots were freshly polished.

As they walked Nala's hand brushed Tzugakk's, and the goblin smiled.

[https://i.imgur.com/o1Rkkok.jpg]

"I'm a bit worried about Kitten," Mist said. "Is it really okay to just leave her at the house?"

"She is still sleeping," Tzugakk said, leaving Nala to join Mist. "She has had a busy day."

"She really was useful though, right?" Mist said. "It's amazing what she can absorb! Without her we definitely wouldn't have been able to finish tidying today. I don't think anyone could call her useless, definitely not."

"I have a suspicion that your remarks are pointed towards me," Praetorian said. "Your noting of the resentment I directed towards 'Kitten' is duly noted—and I will admit that once due discipline and firm restrictions were placed upon the troublesome blob her utility did become evident."

Amanda rolled her dull eyes, then frowned. "Why are we the only ones on the path? Shouldn't we have seen someone else by now? This better not be some kind of prank or something. If we round that next corner and run into a bunch of people with swords I'm going to be so annoyed."

"You don't think they'd do that, do you?" Mist said. "I know the vampires are, um, not nice, but—oh, but Summer got an invitation too, right?"

"Mm, but her team rivals ours in lack of popularity," Praetorian said. "Unconventionality is not how one wins friends and influences people, not in this academy. Still, the zombie does make a point. We're neither early nor late, I would expect to see at least one other team..."

Praetorian trailed off as they rounded a corner that turned out to be the last. The smaller of the mansions loomed above, the path to the entrance lit in purple and green by dozens of twisting iron lamps.

"Eerie, yet inviting," Praetorian commented. "I suppose vampires do have something of a reputation as good hosts. Shall we?"

Past the weirdly lit path and through the great oak doors was a grand entrance, clean light from high chandeliers falling upon thick red carpet and polished marble floors, discrete fireplaces and subtle magic providing a comfortable warmth. Opposite the entrance wide stairs led to intriguing upper floors, but the Blue Slimes were swiftly directed away from this by a rather well turned out zombie boy, his suit crisp and his expression blank. He said nothing as he stiffly gestured them towards open double doors and the hall beyond, and only Amanda took any real interest in him, pausing to look into his eyes. He looked back, but she couldn't read anything in his colourless gaze.

"Mist! Others! I'm SO glad you came! Have you seen my enormous cock? It's so long and purple!"

James Bloodspit was the first to greet them, scattering greeter zombies aside as he swashed towards the entrance. He had on a long black coat, worn open to show off his bare chest, as well as a black tricorn hat with a large purple feather on prominent display. Perhaps fortunately, a pair of black leather trousers completed his outfit.

"PLEASE ignore him," Summer Rain said, following in the pirate's wake. "He's been doing this to everyone—"

"I found a lovely feather for my hat, too! Mist, my darling, that dress ... it's simply gorgeous, I love it love it LOVE it—and Amanda! You have headwear! Well done!"

Mist blushed and covered a giggle with her hand, and Amanda touched her hat with a small smile.

"Tzugakk, we've never been formally introduced but I adore that top hat, we may have to trade later—Praetorian ... that tie. We'll talk. Nala, Nala, you've done ... nothing. For shame. Go off with my sister and be boring together in a corner, we who have made an effort shall be enjoying the evening. To me, my sparkling blueberries! Onward!"

"Is Night here?" Mist asked as she was whisked away. James made a face.

"He didn't like my feather," he muttered.

With the others swept into the party proper, Summer and Nala were left near the entrance with a pair of confused zombie greeters. As she'd been doing since she'd entered, entirely untouched by the Flamboyant Fabulousness of James Bloodspit, Nala examined her environment. The hall was brighter than she'd expected, warmly lit by a dominating chandelier. The windows were stained glass, abstract variations on a theme of purple. Though the room was mostly clear there were couches and chairs against the walls, as well as long tables loaded with food and punch bowls and carved ice sculptures—monsters, Nala saw, one for each team. She didn't bother looking for the blue slime.

"I'm not actually his sister. I'm just tired of constantly correcting him."

Nala looked at Summer, then away.

"I know."

Across the room the vampires lounged, as vampires will. They were dressed in shadows, the darkness creeping and curling over their bodies in a magnificent flaunt of ostentation. Commanding the highest attention was Violet Blaze, holding court over a scattering of others with airy conversation and pointed smiles and the occasional practised laugh, o~hohoho. Nearby Amity Moon spoke easily to Rae Bloomfield, perhaps exploring a class connection; as a thaumaturge Rae had access to skills comparable to Amity's spiteflinger abilities. From time to time the two of them hit upon some secret amusement, and Nala noted the cool smiles they exchanged. Off to the back Storm Haven leant against a wall, smoking a slow cigarette as he absorbed the conversation of Charles Silverblade—in terms of cool the swashbuckler was holding his own, tall and dashing in his fine clothes, gleaming silver rapier prominent at his side, the feather on his hat rivalling James's. Charles paused now and then to sip from a glass of red, or to glance smoothly around at Rae and at Flower Dovedale—who was talking animatedly to an equally animated Priscilla Belldandy. Nala read ownership in the swashbuckler's gaze, and a certain pride. When Charles noticed Nala's eyes upon him, he raised his glass. Nala did not acknowledge the gesture.

"The vampires are civil tonight," Summer commented from beside Nala. "I think it has something to do with this being their place—dominance assumed, in a sense. It's not even where they normally live, did you know? They only use it for these kind of gatherings. I suppose because nobody gets a team house until the tournament begins, and they consider Bright Battle their permanent residence. Violet's been here for years, I'm not sure about the others but I imagine a similar situation. Apparently it's some kind of ambassadorship."

If Nala found this interesting or surprising she didn't show it.

"Their good behaviour might also be due to the absence of the elven team—oh, did you know that Priscilla is half-elven? Her mother, apparently. Count Balgan is an elf too—or 'was' maybe—but vampirism supersedes original race. Vampire Cliquemancer, not Elf Vampire Cliquemancer. I wonder what the elves think about that. Oh, speak of the devil ... looks like they're making a token showing."

Jak Kingfisher strode through the entrance and threw back the hood of his cloak to unveil gloriously flowing hair, decorated for the occasion with green leaves and sprigs of cherry blossom. He paused for intense effect, then with a fluidly violent motion cast the cloak aside entirely. Beneath was a blue-white suit of the elven fancy, crisp and complexly layered, flashes of nature a contrast to its clean artifice; twigs coaxed into buckles, living chains of powder blue flowers, a woven-leaf kingfisher upon his breast.

At Jak's side was Dahlia Knifetaunt, her simple off-white dress showing a considerable amount of scarred skin. Her brown-blonde hair fell loose over her shoulders, autumn leaves and sharp twigs scattered throughout in an attractive mess. Though Jak wore no obvious weapons Dahlia had accessorised with a selection of knives, some sheathed, some naked.

Behind this pair sloped an unlikely companion, dressed in a dark green and brown suit that couldn't quite be called ill-suited, but which would almost certainly have looked better on someone else. Across his back was a spiky dark-glowing bow, though no quiver. As Jak and Dahlia went to pay their disrespects to the vampire hosts, this third member of Knives approached the two girls in the corner.

"Uh. Hey, Nala."

Nala gave Sly the slightest of nods. He winced, seemed about to say more before a high voice interrupted—

"SLYTHANEILE LIGHTFEAR YOU RAT!"

The owner of the voice was an elf girl with blonde hair and striking eyebrows, pure white healer's robes flapping around her as she flounced towards Sly.

"Yeah, okay, hi Gloria," Sly said, before she came close enough to slap him—just lightly, but still.

"Have you apologised to Nala?" Gloria demanded. "Do it again now anyway! Nala, my brother's an idiot. I still can't believe he just abandoned you guys—so? Where's that apology?"

"Um, sorry—"

"Like you mean it!"

"Okay, whatever, you're not ... look, just sorry or whatever but ... whatever."

Sly turned and stomped off with another muttered 'whatever'.

"I can't believe him sometimes—oh, hello Summer! Hey! I saw James before but didn't know you were here too." Gloria beamed at Summer for a second then turned her attention back to Nala. "Anyway, Nala, sorry for Sly. He's an idiot. I said that already but sometimes once isn't enough. If I wasn't already with Jane's team I'd join you guys to make up for him, but she needs me. Did you say hello already? She's over with Grey and Flint and Teak, they're all talking weapons and fighting and stuff, tooootally boring but, y'know, she'd make time for you."

Nala looked at Gloria.

"Why?"

"Because, you know, she's a halfling and you're a dwarf! You guys always get on well. Plus she's totally got a crush on you, she's listened to your match like a hundred times, she was so cute when I caught her—hey, you guys should come visit our team house! It's on the edge of GlowGleam Swamp, kind of like a 'compound' I guess, it's got all these wooden spikes and stuff around it then these like huts inside, it's kind of weird but we had to pick it because of Goldmane, he needs a big thing to live in or whatever. Plus Nickle and Peep are totally in their element there, so, y'know. Not all bad."

Nala had little interest in whatever Gloria was talking about, so while the elf girl blathered on she continued her examination of the room—she saw the halfling paladin Jane Hearthguard, at her side the human brawler Grey, the two of them speaking to Death Rattle's half-orc berserker brothers Flint and Teak Oxblood. They were near the food tables, next to the knives ice sculpture. Nala found herself impressed by the intricacy of the carving. Capturing the essence of a creature made of metal blades was no small feat, especially in ice.

"—don't think they've even been introduced," Summer was saying. "Nala, do you want to meet Jane?"

"No."

Gloria laughed in a halfway shocked kind of way. "Hey, come on! Don't be like that!"

"It's okay," Summer said. "If she doesn't want to, she doesn't want to. Nala understands this tournament and what it means. We're all enemies, isn't that right?"

"Yeah," Gloria said, "but we can still be friends, right? It's not like I'm over here trying to get your secret tactics or something, I just wanted my stupid brother to apologise for ditching you guys."

"I don't care about that," Nala said. She looked at Gloria and Summer, then walked away.

"She's pretty weird, I gotta say," Gloria said. "Guess it's a dwarf thing, being all blunt and stuff."

Summer said nothing, just smiled.

Across the room, while a newly top hatted James entertained with tales of piracy and promiscuity, Amanda found herself drifting towards one of the servants—a girl wearing a crisp suit and a bored expression. She had cutely frizzy hair and her skin was dark, which Amanda jealously considered a huge improvement over her own blue complexion. Only the girl's glazed eyes gave away her undead status.

"Hey," Amanda said, after standing beside the girl for a few not quite comfortable moments. The girl looked at her, then resumed staring at the opposite wall.

"Hey," she said, her voice raspy. "Cool hat."

"Uh, thanks. I'm Amanda. I'm dead."

"I'm Faint. I'm not."

Amanda stiffly turned to look at Faint.

"Thought I was a zombie, right? Nuh. Beholden." Faint pulled away the scarf covering her neck to show two little puncture marks. "Not even proper undead, just blissed out on servitude. You're Amanda Willow, right? They've been talking about you."

"They have? Uh, who's 'they'?"

Faint raised her hands to her mouth, making fangs with her fingers. "They're spitting over not getting you on the first day. Keep talking about how that dwarf stole you, how you're such a pick—I can kind of see it, compared to the zombs around here you're like a goddess. No missing limbs, nothing rotting, you even smell clean—or not bad at least." Faint leant over to sniff. "Kind of that sheets-in-a-cupboard smell, I could live with that. Haha, sorry, 'live', that's probably offensive or something. Totally corpsist."

Amanda decided that Faint might be worth liking.

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"So what's the deal with all this servant stuff?" she asked. "How does it even work, are you students?"

"Nah. I think technically we're monsters. Doesn't really matter anyway. We're here, we're cool, why worry about it?"

"So you just live here? With the vampires bossing you around?"

"Yeah, but it's not like that. They hardly ever get us to do anything, they just like feeling all superior and stuff. Like it's not about having servants because they need us, it's just about having servants, know what I mean? Most of the time we just hang around doing whatever." Faint leant back against the wall. "Beats working. Whatever I was before, can't be as happy as I am now." The girl glanced at Amanda and smirked again. "Cost of admission, gotta give up your memories. Dunno what they were but can't say I miss 'em."

Amanda frowned. "If you don't remember anything, how do you know you wanted to do this?"

Faint shrugged.

"Maybe they tricked you or something."

Faint shrugged again.

"You're not worried?"

"What's the point? Being happy all the time is great. I don't even get how you handle all that past weighing you down."

"Uh. I don't actually remember anything from before coming here."

"Serious? So you're like us, that's cool. You should come hang out, meet the gang—there's a bunch of us in the main house, we've got a whole wing to ourselves. They'd get a kick out of meeting a zombie who isn't all, y'know, urrrrgh."

Amanda let out a rattly sigh. "Yeah, but, I've got this thing, it's stupid and awful but I've got to stay close to that guy or I go all ... you know ... urgh."

That guy was currently engaged in conversation with Gloria Lightfear, gesturing dramatically as he told an epic tale of something or other. Amanda rolled her eyes. Faint cocked her head.

"Him? High collar? He's kind of cute."

"He is NOT."

"Oh, so he's your necromancer—"

"He's not MY anything!"

"Whatever, don't get all tight and uncool. Huh. So you gotta be around him or you go like all the urghy zombies." Faint narrowed her eyes as she examined Praetorian. "So why're you so special?"

"What?"

"Floppy and Reek are pretty close to him, don't see them perking up. Rags is right there behind him, so ... yeah, what's the deal? His thing only work on cute girl zombies?"

"I ... I don't know, I don't know how it works. He never acts like I'm special, he treats me like a nuisance pet or something, like a useless old dog he has to take care of..." Amanda frowned. "But only me. Not any of the zombies here."

"Yeah, so, maybe it's not him at all, right? Maybe it's you. Maybe whatever gets you so, y'know, talky and stuff could work in some other way, even without the deadspeaker. You should talk to the fang gang, they know a bunch about this stuff. Way more than me. And like I said, they're into you. They'll never admit it but trust me, they want you."

Amanda was silent as she considered this, the thought of freedom sending an unfamiliar warmth through her dull body.

"Huh," she said.

Not so far away, a cloaked and hooded rogue stood in front of heavy curtains. She was not stealthed, but no one noticed her. Her hidden gaze was upon a particular group; a valkyrie telling off a pirate for teasing a goblin, the goblin responding to the teasing with a quiet comment that caused the pirate to throw back his head and roar with laughter.

Presently, the rogue spoke:

"You are here."

In a shy shadow of the curtain something flickered. Soft words came, half-whisper, half-echo:

"You expected otherwise?"

Nala did not look back, but she sensed that the shadowtail was now sitting.

"They celebrate us," the shadowtail said, and Nala knew its gaze was upon the ice sculptures of team monsters. "You should have chosen one of our kind."

Nala shifted where she stood, caught movement; the shadowtail was flicking its tail. She spoke carefully:

"What would that have changed?"

"Everything."

Nala dwelt on this answer as she watched Tzugakk and the others. Mist had both hands covering her mouth, shocked and delighted at the story James was telling. Tzugakk made a short comment that stopped James dead, then the pirate's loud laughter sounded through the hall. Nala cocked her head, narrow grey eyes on Tzugakk as he smiled shyly at the floor.

"He is why you stay." The shadowtail's voice was a whisper, curling around Nala. "You could have freedom, but not without him."

"He has a dream," Nala murmured.

"To journey outwards. To find the 'monster islands'. But what is your dream?"

"I have no dream." Nala lowered her head. "I'm a rogue. I stole his."

There was a shift. No obvious movement, no indication of departure, but nevertheless Nala knew that the shadowtail had gone. To this she gave no external reaction.

Across the room, Summer had found a discrete chair to settle into.

"Ah, Miss Rain. I had wanted to speak with you."

Although apparently not discrete enough.

"Mr Darkcede," Summer said. "I thought you were talking to Gloria."

"I was, then I wasn't. So it goes." Praetorian swept up his cloak before seating himself. "The rest of my little party seem to have forgotten your warning of earlier, but it's been preying upon my mind. Would this be an appropriate juncture to perhaps discuss your concerns?"

Summer spoke carefully, not looking at Praetorian. "I have no concerns."

"Mm. No, of course not. Forgive me, I have a habit of misinterpreting remarks made casually, giving them greater weight than was intended. In any case, I'm sure that a lovely party such as this would be nothing but the safest of environments."

Summer flicked her gaze at Praetorian then back at nothing in particular. "I'm sure it would be," she said. "Team houses are safe zones, after all, and this is an officially sanctioned Bright Battle event. The vampires act as hosts, but this is all at the request of the masters of the academy."

"Ah, that is a fact I did not previously possess. Mm, mm, goodness goodness me. Officially sanctioned? I feel so assured."

"As you should."

"As I should."

There was a certain lessening of tension between the two, Summer reassessing her evaluation of this odd but perhaps insightful necromancer, Praetorian resolving to arrange a more private meeting with this unattractive but potentially useful girl. After the party, on the morrow—in a word, later. Away from prying eyes and ears and the illusionary comfort of this 'safe zone'.

For near a minute the two sat in silence, watching the room, the interactions and relationships, the boisterous entrance of Raid Fearson and his team—

"I wondered if they'd come," Summer said, watching Raid stride across the room. The bandit was wearing his usual mix-and-match armour, nothing formal about him at all. Cane Calfstrong's armour was at least a complete set, dark purple plate with a dragon motif, and Evia Mordein's practical black robe seemed mildly appropriate, or at least vaguely formal. "Behemoth. I just don't know what to make of them. Raid acts like a complete idiot half the time, but he's done some surprisingly smart things. I wonder if someone is feeding him ideas ... the girl, maybe."

"Mm?" Praetorian's gaze was not on Behemoth, but on another group who had entered behind them—Arbie and his team, all wearing shiny gold breastplates with bright red capes ... except for one member of their group, who wasn't wearing much at all. "Oh dear goodness they brought the succubus."

Summer's head whipped around, and she raised a hand to her mouth, eyes shining. "I wonder what the hosts will think about that."

"Vampires and a sex demoness in the same room, that simply cannot end happily. What was the girl's name? Jasmine, Jana—"

"Jade," Summer murmured, her gaze on the succubus—Arbie and the others seemed to be pleading with her. "They certainly bought themselves some trouble when they chose her as their monster. What were they thinking?"

"Aha, well, your error there is in assuming any thought went into the matter at all."

Summer glanced at Praetorian with a small smile before returning her attention to Jade—the succubus had broken free of Arbie and the others and was prowling across the room, silver-bound hair flicking from side to side, feet bare against the polished wood floor, purple-brown eyes half-hooded and hungry. Her gaze rested on Praetorian then flicked away, and he shivered where he sat.

"I feel as though I've been judged and found wanting," he said. "To be fair it's not an entirely unfamiliar sensation—and in this case tempered with a sense of having escaped a potentially sticky entanglement."

"She is pretty, though," Summer murmured, as she watched the succubus approach Charles Silverblade, the swashbuckler turning to greet her with a dazzling smile and a wide bow. Praetorian glanced at Summer, then nodded slowly.

"She is that."

While the others had been making new friends, Nala had engaged in two activities. First, examining the selection of food on display—truly staggering in terms of both variety and presentation, especially considering that vampires never lowered themselves to as common an activity as eating—and second, examining the selection of attendants to this gathering. The elves in particularly were barely represented, Jak and Dahlia standing together, watching the room with amused eyes, while Sly was perched on a sofa eating moody peanuts from an unhappy bowl. He was here by his own choice, Nala was certain of that, but she wondered at his motivations. Guilt about defecting was possible. Likely, even. But it could be something else ... something perhaps tied into his reasons for abandoning the Blue Slimes. Simple dissatisfaction was plausible, but seemed incomplete. There was more to the story. Something else Nala noted; Sly still had his cursed bow. Part of his stated reason for joining the elf team was a promise to decurse it. That this hadn't happened yet was interesting.

"Look at you there, all grim and serious. We've been having a grand old time, your little Tzugakk is hilarious, such a dry sense of humour, I just love it. Did you try the salmon pasties? Not bad for a vampire party, I must say." James leaned closer to Nala and lowered his voice. "Incidentally you could do worse than listen to Summer. I know she can come across as dreary and sinister and she's not the best with people but that girl cares—and she doesn't offer her friendship to just anyone. Honestly I've never seen her work so hard to impress, I don't know what it is she sees in you but I trust her judgement. So should you. Summer is offering her hand, Nala. Were I you, I'd take it." James flashed a brilliant smile and adjusted his hat, fluffing up his feather. "Isn't it a pity there's no music here? I do love a musician. I'm just in the mood for dancing, too, are dwarfs known for dancing? I ask but I'm not really expecting a response, so you just keep on scrutinising the room with those narrow little grey eyes of yours, you just keep pretending I'm not here and that the words I say are leaves on the wind—but I know you're listening. You're not one to let anything slip by, are you? Not one to let things ... go."

Nala didn't look up, but she felt the grin of a certain bandit upon her.

"Hey there, stump. Hey Jimmy, nice cock."

"Hmmph. You don't have to tell me."

"So what do ya think, Greyward?" Raid asked Nala. "They gonna announce the brackets tonight? Been kind of putting it off, don't ya reckon? Kinda weird. Kinda suspicious, even. Who you hoping to draw, us maybe? Got some pretty little strategy all figured out to take us down?"

Nala raised her head, narrow grey eyes shadowed but visible.

"Not yet," she said. Raid laughed, and slapped James on the shoulder.

"How about you, Shiver-Me-Jimmies? Who you wanna fight? Or do ya just leave that complicated thinking stuff to your pet girl?"

"Don't be a bitch, Raid. It's unbecoming." James gave Nala a solemn look, then locked gazes with Raid before sweeping away.

Raid laughed again.

"He's a sad old princess, ain't he? So you didn't answer, who ya hoping to draw? Me, I wanna take on the vamps. Look at 'em over there, all snobby and superior. I mean, yeah, you low-tier guys, you're fun to mess with. But knocking snobs off their pedestals, that's the best. You reckon they'd have a chance against a behemoth?"

"Yes."

"Nah, you're just talking. We could take 'em. We could take any of these loser teams."

Nala looked up at Raid, a certain thoughtfulness in her eyes. If she had anything to say, however, it was cut off by a succubus-shaped shadow and the scent of hot cinnamon.

"Nuh," Raid said, before Jade could so much as open her mouth. "Go slut somewhere else. Try Calfstrong, he'd put it in anything."

Without a word and with little expression Jade walked past, dismissing Raid in the manner of a bored cat—but Nala noted the quiet fury in the succubus's eyes, the fire Raid's rejection had ignited within her.

"She was off with those stinking half-orcs before, you notice? Yeah, course you did. Even if I went like that no way I'm being hole bros with those two."

Nala made no comment. She was watching the vampires; Violet Blaze was rising from her sofa of power, striding forward, speaking to the room:

"Well now. Everyone's here who's going to be here, so perhaps it's time to make a little announcement."

"Here we go," Raid muttered, and he nudged Nala roughly. She barely moved.

"I'm sure some of you have been speculating on certain matters," Violet continued, the shadow of her dress curling around her as she cut her eyes from Nala to Summer to (Nala noted with interest) Behemoth's Evia Mordein. "Unfortunately I'm as much in the dark as any of you when it comes to the tournament brackets, so if your interest lies in that area, well, prepare for disappointment."

"Huh," Raid muttered. "So what, then?"

Instead of continuing Violet made a deliberate circle of the room, checking on her guests, commenting on clothing and presence, her long pale fingers brushing Charles Silverblade's shoulder as she passed, Jak Kingfisher's cheek as she swept by. Once she'd returned to her previous position, Violet treated the room to a long smile then spoke once more:

"Could I have the team captains up here, please?" she asked, her voice betraying no hint of malice. "Just standing here in front of me, as neat as soldiers, that would be wonderful."

Raid walked forward without a glance at Nala, who noted the movements of others before following. Once standing there in the line of captains, Jane Hearthguard to her right, Summer Rain to her left, she gazed steadily at Violet Blaze, who smiled beatifically back at her.

"We're going to have a little game," Violet said. "Won't that be fun? Of course, as hosts we won't be participating, that would hardly be fair, but as for you, well, this may just be a chance to win yourselves something of an advantage in the tournament."

Nala raised her head, interest caught—then joined the others in looking at Jane Hearthguard as she spoke:

"I'm not interested in games."

"Well then, feel free to take a step back," Violet said. "This isn't by any means mandatory, just a little innocent fun."

Jane worked her jaw, hard eyes on Violet, then she shook her head and turned away, stalking off.

"I, uh, I guess I gotta pull out too," Arbie said, from down the line. "Help the others find Jade, she keeps ... y'know ... uh, yeah."

"Goodness. Anyone else like to scurry away?" Violet asked, her eyes once more on Nala. "No? Well then, to begin..."

There was a glow above the remaining captains; Nala looked up then held out her hand, and three sparkling blue coins fall into her palm.

"You each received a token—or tokens, were you lucky." If the smile Violet directed at Nala held a message, it wasn't one the dwarf could decipher. "Feel free to gift them to whomsoever you wish. Should I grace you with a hint? This is a game for the more creative among you. I'll give you all a few minutes to make your decisions. Choose wisely, won't you?"

Nala assembled her team, through the ever-effective method of standing still and letting them drift over to her.

"Hi guys!" Mist said, the last to join. "I've hardly seen you tonight. I'm actually having fun! James is so funny and naughty and Jane Hearthguard from Proudfoot is a bit serious but really very nice and I was chatting to Flint and Teak from Death Rattle and they're not bad guys at all! They're actually quite sweet! Even the vampires aren't being awful, I talked to Priscilla and she liked my dress and my helmet and even my hair, no one's ever complimented my hair before! Nobody's ever even mentioned it! Because it's kind of boring, I guess, just dark and flat with this stupid flippy bit at the top I can't do anything about and the pigtails are mostly just traditional even if I'm not good at tying them—um, sorry, I'm just rabbiting on but I really am having fun tonight! You too, right Tzugakk? You and James were so funny together! And then what were you and Flint talking about? You two looked really serious—um, sorry, rabbiting again. Um. So, I guess there's this game thing? What's your plan, Nala?"

In response Nala handed a token to Mist, and another to Tzugakk. She kept the third for herself.

"Um?"

"The game will be a treasure hunt," Nala said. "Search through a limited area in order to find the most valuable item. Crafting will be important, so Tzugakk will be useful. We'll be separated from each other, and partnered with members of other teams."

"I suppose I shouldn't ask how you know all this," Praetorian said. "Except I just can't help myself; how do you know all this?"

Nala looked at him.

"Exactly the response I feared to receive. Ah well. I suppose Amanda and I have been spared the fun due to her reliance upon me—wouldn't do to separate us."

Praetorian glanced at Amanda, expecting a snarky rejoinder, but the zombie girl was just staring down at the floor, arms loose at her sides.

"Nala," Tzugakk said. "I don't know what components I might find—"

"You'll do your best. That will be enough."

Tzugakk nodded, then smiled at Nala. "I've been enjoying myself. Much more than I expected. Thank you for encouraging me to come."

Nala looked at Tzugakk, then at Mist.

"Um," Mist said. "I'm not good at crafting or anything, and even finding things—"

"I don't expect anything from you."

Mist flinched, and Praetorian gave a little heartening laugh.

"I'm sure Nala's intention was to remove any sense of responsibility," he said. "Relax and enjoy yourself, to put it less bluntly."

"Oh. Is that what you meant, Nala?"

Nala cocked her head, then gave a nod.

"Oh. Okay then. Thanks, I guess. Just have fun, I can do that. Well. Depending on who I get put with, of course ... who else is doing this?"

The Blue Slimes looked around the room at the other teams—Charles Silverblade held up his coin, comparing it to the one he'd given Flower, while Summer stood alone examining hers. In a corner, Jak and Dahlia argued while Sly stood watching, faintly miserable. Raid and Evia were walking towards a grinning Cane, who'd just emerged from a side room—and behind the lancer came a sultrily swaggering Jade, bright of eye and sly of smile. What followed was a minor confrontation between Arbie, Jade and Cane, the details of which Nala chose to discard. What she kept was the transferral of a token from Raid to Cane—and the glimpse of blue in Evia Mordein's hands.

"Is everyone ready?" Violet asked the room. "I do hope so, because we're about to begin. Everyone holding a token will shortly be sent into the east wing, it's something of a maze so mind you don't lose your way. Your task will be to bring back a single item, whether found or crafted makes no difference. Whomsoever brings me the most delightful item shall win a lovely prize, won't that be wonderful?" Violet laid her hand upon a chest that puffed into existence beside her. It was blue and gold and hinted at valuable mysteries concealed within. Beside this chest three others appeared in turn, each smaller and less ornate than the last. "To make things interesting and encourage jolly cooperation you'll be put into pairs, matched up with someone from an 'enemy' team. Won't that be a scream? I'm sure you'll all get along splendidly, united in the spirit of competitive greed. Now, because I couldn't care less about the fiddly little details of the thing ... Priscilla?"

Priscilla Belldandy stepped forward, hands demurely together, her shadow dress forming something like a frilly maid's outfit.

"Hello, everyone," she said. "This game is quite exciting, not just because it's a treasure hunt or because of the prizes, but because it uses the latest instance magic from Nimbus. Each of the teams will be sent into a copy of the east wing. Everything there will be as it was before the event began, every room, every item—even every ghost," Priscilla added, with a giggle. "That way, each team will have exactly the same opportunities as every other team. It's up to you to make the most of them! After half an hour everyone will be brought back here and the judging can take place. You only get to pick one item per team, so use your best judgement and choose carefully! Oh, and by the way, the dweomer we're using for this is based on faerie magic, so probably anything you bring out will turn into a leaf or something after an hour or so. Just, you know. For your information."

"I-I'm not so sure about this, actually," Mist said, as the participants all prepared for the game. "If there are ghosts—"

"There aren't," Praetorian said.

"How do you know?"

"Yes, you have noticed that I'm a necromancer?"

Whether anyone had a reply to this or whether Praetorian had more to say was made irrelevant; a blue glow rose around Nala, Mist and Tzugakk, and as it faded so did they.

"Well then," Praetorian murmured, to the space his team mates had formerly occupied. "Good luck, I suppose."