“Welcome back to RuneCast, everybody. Man, am I glad that you are with us today and taking time to tune in to this show and hang out with me. I tell everybody I have the best fans in the world, and I’m grateful for every stinking one of you,” John said.
Pepper smiled and began to wipe the steamed mirror in the bathroom while listening to the show. He felt bad because he hadn’t tuned in for a while, but the warm southern voice of the host was as genuine as ever before. He grabbed his toothbrush and started the next task of getting ready while the show carried on.
“Today, folks, I’ve got a treat for you—a real treat and that’s the truth. I was practically jumping for joy when this individual messaged me back and said he’d be on the show. This gladiator is a legend in the arena, and I know many of my fans sure love watching him perform. So without any further delay, let’s go ahead and bring him in—the one, the only, Mr. Seth Ring!”
Pepper could see enough of the screen out of the corner of his eye to watch John swivel in his chair and click away on his audio effects. A crowd noise began to play over the stream, and the live feed of typed comments flooded upwards as more heart symbols and icons surged in. Pepper nodded along, the toothbrush sticking out of his mouth.
There was a slight hint of sadness within him. He had wanted to try to meet Seth in person when he was at GolemCon, but he was never in the same place at the same time. He had watched Seth compete in the arena and appreciated his style—a tactician in competition and meticulous at constantly working to improve efficiency and energy prioritization.
He had no doubt that Seth was one of the most underrated gladiators in the Golem League. For some reason, though, Seth always seemed to be in this silent but deadly zone within the rankings. He was often overlooked, sometimes overshadowed, and often took many other competitors by surprise.
The viewpoint shifted so he could see John and Seth displayed side by side. A big jovial smile was on John’s face, and he beamed behind his goatee. He adjusted his hat and headset and cleared his throat. “Seth, it’s great to see you, and thank you so much for being here with us today.”
Seth was smiling and gave a slight nod in return. “Well, thanks for having me, John. This is awesome, and I’m so glad we get to do this.”
Pepper noticed that Seth was sitting in what looked like an office, but it wasn’t a professional setting. It seemed more like the office of a mechanic’s shop. He could just make out what he thought were schematics and engineering designs pinned up on the wall behind him.
There were bookshelves off to one side and a workbench that clearly had some rune cards and wires on it. A few books were stacked nearby, and Pepper couldn’t help but notice the clay statues that were also scattered about. Seth was wearing a blue and charcoal gray plaid button-up shirt. The color matched his dark hair and black-framed glasses. Pepper couldn’t help but notice that the famed gladiator was also sporting a goatee.
“So, let’s just go ahead and jump right in on this discussion, because people, if you haven’t heard the news, you are living under a rock,” John continued.
Pepper tilted his head and spat his toothpaste out while waiting in anticipation.
“And I’ll just go ahead and read this headline here. ‘Golem League announces huge change that will impact the competitive landscape.’ Indie runes are now authorized for use, starting next season.” John leaned back in his chair for a moment. “I mean, wow, this is shocking! I mean, just shocking that the Golem League has made such a shift like this. Seth, what’s your take on it all?”
Pepper huffed and grabbed his razor and shaving cream. “Guess I am currently living under a rock,” he muttered to himself in the mirror, for he hadn’t heard the news until just now.
Seth was nodding and started to answer John’s question. “Well, John, I’m sure you know, because you are one of the few who stay on top of all the buzz surrounding the League. I am all for this. I think it’s great.”
Pepper couldn’t help but notice that Seth was slowly moving his hands around, and he used them to talk as he continued to share his thoughts. “The thing that makes the Golem League so special is how each gladiator gets to customize their golem and personalize it to who they are and what they’re about. There is this special bond that gladiators have with their golems when they themselves work on them.”
Seth took a moment to cough and clear his throat but immediately continued. “I feel that many of my peers and those who compete in these upper tiers, they forget that. We see many gladiators reaching the top and it changes them just as much as their golems change. The mass production and ability to just buy a new rune card and swap them in and out without consideration … It feels like things have become very disingenuous.”
John looked like he was about to chime in and say something. But he stopped himself and pulled back. Seth took a quick breath; he had already started on his next point and certainly didn’t stop sharing the belief he firmly held.
“Why should the League be stopping those of us who love that aspect of the competition? Why can’t I, someone who has committed every ounce of energy and effort, be allowed to develop my own runes and rune cards? We’ve had the technology for years that would allow gladiators to develop their own unique attributes within the magical symbols, so now it’s time to remove the restrictions and really let the gladiators lead with their creativity.”
John had a slightly smug yet playful expression. “You sure can’t argue with that. I mean, I think you hit the nail right on the top of the head there, Seth. But …” He paused and tilted his head from side to side. “No surprise to us, the major rune companies are already stating they plan to take legal action against the Golem League and are claiming there are major safety concerns with this. What do you have to say regarding that?”
“Well, of course they’re going to say that. I mean, they have to. Many of these companies are publicly traded on the stock market. They have to keep investors happy. They have to keep their vice grip on the industry and lobby government leaders to try and keep a monopoly.
“I think that’s what makes this move such a surprise. The Golem League caught the industry off guard and sent a huge message. That message is, we’re here to give our gladiators an arena where they can push themselves to the highest levels possible.”
John reached up and grabbed hold of his chin. He gave a slight nod as he released his grip and wagged his finger. It was as if a new thought had just entered his mind and he had to get it out. “So do you think we’ll see something like Rune Masters alongside Golem Masters?”
Seth smiled and tipped his head from side to side while he thought over the question. “Well, I mean, Golem Master is a title that is given out to the person who wins the Pantheon League at the end of the season, right? And… something like Rune Master wouldn’t necessarily be a title that is earned through a competitive match in the arena. My thought would be something where it would have to be bestowed on a gladiator or individual by others. I think there are some within the Golem League, and even outside the Golem League, that I would absolutely say are Rune Masters already.”
“Woah, now that is a hot take right there. A big and mighty compliment from you, Seth. You wouldn’t by any chance give us a little insight into a few of those people, would you?” John replied with a curious smile.
Seth chuckled and scratched his beard. “Well, right off the bat… that would be Benjamin Kerei and Eric Ugland within the League. Those guys are really smart and were some of the first gladiators that really emphasized the importance of gladiators getting involved in rune creation. I think Jay Pritchard is someone that many fans have never heard of, and even many gladiators for that matter. But that guy is by far one of the smartest in the entire industry. So yeah… there are certainly some major Rune Master contenders already out there, and I’m excited to see what comes of this change.”
John nodded along, and Pepper could see he was savoring every moment of the interview. “Well, someone on this episode might be a little humble, but I will happily say a certain Seth Ring name should be added to that list of Rune Masters.”
Seth was shaking his head. “I don’t know about that, John. I’m just happy to be making a living out of this craft and excited to see what this next season of the Golem League is going to bring us and the fans.”
“There’s no better way to say it than that right there. Love it, Seth, thanks. Okay, folks, we’re going to take a short commercial break and will be right back after this. Don’t go anywhere,” John said just before the screen flashed and an advertisement started to play.
Pepper couldn’t help but chuckle, as the advertisement was for a rune card company. Irony at its finest, he thought, looking down and realizing he was cutting his time close. His shave was wrapped up quickly, for he had a total of roughly ten facial hairs.
“I’m guessing I’m not allowed to go with you?” Amprage asked, lying on his bed as Pepper started to change.
“Nope. Sorry, buddy; you are on royal guard duty for Princess Megan tonight.”
A slight whimper and huff came out of him. “Understood.”
“Don’t be like that. It’s not that bad.”
Amprage’s head tilted upwards. “Not that bad? It’s like psychological warfare.”
Pepper turned around with a confused look and began to button up his dress shirt. “How is it psycho—”
He couldn’t finish his question before Amprage cut him off. “Baby shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, Baby shark, doo-doo, doo-doo—”
“Okay!” Pepper snapped, interrupting his familiar. “I get it… I forgot she’s still obsessed with that song.”
“I have nightmares, Pepper… and that shouldn’t be possible, because I don’t even have a brain.”
“Still… she adores you and loves you and you’re her favorite thing in the world. So while I’m gone, you get the duty of entertaining her. Pretty sure Dad is going to be zoned out on some news station. And Mom…” Pepper paused and quickly realized he didn’t want to go down that rabbit hole. “Who knows what she’ll be doing. But it won’t be that bad, okay?”
“Fine… but just know I am silently protesting.”
Pepper finished up and walked out the door, his hands full of the bouquet and corsage KT had instructed him to pick up beforehand. He entered the hallway at the same time as his mom was leaving the kitchen. The two paused and stared at one another. Their eyes locked for a split second, but all Courtney did was press her lips together before she continued into the living room.
Pepper shook his head and went into the kitchen. “Whoa, hold on a minute there,” his dad called from behind him. “I want to get a picture of you.”
Pepper rolled his eyes and lowered his head for a moment. The thought of having his picture taken sent a hot dagger through his spirit. He put the flowers down on the counter, leaned against the pantry door, and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He knew his expression was one of disdain, and he did his best to change it to one that projected the sentiment, Please just take the picture and be done with this.
His dad quickly took a few with his holodex. Pepper smirked and huffed as he watched his dad maneuver around the kitchen to get photos from different angles. It seemed like an over-dramatization, but at least he appreciated his dad’s performance.
“Okay, that’s enough. You have like fifty photos now,” he said, retrieving the flowers and grabbing a set of his dad’s truck keys from their hook.
“I only have fifteen but would happily settle for twenty-five.”
“Fifteen is all you get. Try not to burn the house down while I’m gone, and don’t stay up past your bedtime,” Pepper said as he walked out the door. He turned the corner and looked into the kitchen through the side window. His dad was shaking his head and chuckling.
The old pickup truck rumbled to life, and Pepper adjusted the mirror and nervously checked himself over yet again. He caught sight of a tin of breath mints and popped one in his mouth before he shifted the truck into gear.
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Everything about the event was embarrassing to Pepper. He was on his way to pick up the girl of his dreams in a beat-up short-bed truck. The flowers sitting beside him were a quarter of what he wanted to get her, but he simply couldn’t afford the next option up.
The suit was rented and felt stiff and uncomfortable. The entire get-up just didn’t feel like it was really him as a person. He felt more like an imposter, as if he was pretending to be something more than what he truly was.
His heart pumped with an even greater nervous rhythm when the truck’s brakes screeched and he arrived at Andrea’s house. A soft, warm glow filtered from the windows. He walked up the path with the flowers in hand and was caught off guard by the front door slowly opening.
It crackled as it swung free and there, standing in the center of the doorway, was Andrea. Her blond hair hugged the right side of her face and neck, and she wore a woven necklace adorned with a gold water drop. The luxurious theme was continued in her dress—a contoured black maxi dress covered in gold sequins.
Pepper’s breath was taken away, and he stood there frozen in disbelief. Andrea looked like she was ready for a red-carpet awards ceremony rather than a high school prom. She stepped forward, reached out her hand, gently pulled him in close, and softly kissed him. He could smell the sweet citrus scent of her perfume as she pulled away.
“I’m assuming these are for me?” she said quietly, gesturing to the flowers.
“No, they’re for your next-door neighbor. Of course they’re for you,” Pepper joked.
Andrea quickly put her finger in front of her mouth and shushed him. “Be quiet—my dad finally fell asleep a few minutes ago.” She gently took hold of the bouquet of flowers and smelled them before placing them just inside the door. She reappeared a few seconds later and carefully guided the front door back into position.
“Okay, we’re good,” she told him and wrapped her arm around his and lightly motioned that they could leave.
“Shouldn’t I say hi to your dad, though?” Pepper asked as he hesitantly walked in stride alongside her towards the truck.
“I would love that, and I know he would appreciate the gesture. But I just gave him another round of medication twenty minutes ago and he’s finally sleeping. He’s had a rough few days and I would much rather let him sleep.” She paused, sensing an internal struggle within Pepper. She gave his arm a light squeeze. “It’s okay, really. My dad will understand, and there’ll be plenty of time for you to meet him.”
“Okay,” Pepper said, reaching for the truck’s passenger-side door. He stood there and was reminded of how KT had warned him about how to treat his date.
Andrea surprised him again by wrapping her arms around him, and the two kissed for a few seconds before she finally pulled away. “Okay, I’m hungry. We can get going now.” She turned and lowered herself into the passenger seat of the truck.
Pepper closed the door behind her and chuckled as he walked around the back of the truck. He liked how direct Andrea was. She took the lead in many ways, and he appreciated the fact that there was no guessing with her. The intensity of her strong will was a stark contrast to her unwavering support for him and his dreams at the same time.
The trip to the restaurant was filled with an award-winning performance by Andrea. She turned the sound system on and started to sing along to the trending songs that played over the old speakers. Pepper turned down a different road that would extend their trip by a good twenty-plus minutes.
Andrea instantly tuned in to what he’d done, but she didn’t protest. Her hand stretched out towards his, and she smiled at him while still hitting every note. The sun was just starting to set, and Pepper wished he could pause time and not let that moment end.
They arrived at Joseppi’s, and Pepper was relieved when the hostess didn’t question the reservation. The two were escorted through the dining room, which was packed, and led through two glass doors at the back of the restaurant. A narrow stone pathway weaved for a few feet and then opened up onto a small patio.
The edge of the patio was billowing with flowerpots. Wooden posts were placed along the way, and vines wrapped around them and spread overhead. Tea lights were strung throughout the cross-sectional beams above, and they cast their soft light on the patio.
They were sat at a single table in the center. Three candles flickered to life, and the host popped the cork of a chilled bottle of water. The entire setting made them feel like they were in the countryside of Italy. Pepper now realized just how romantic the spot was for the two lovebirds, and Andrea, sitting across from him dressed to the tens, was the kind of beauty that wars were started over.
Their meal was cooked to perfection, and by the time it was all over, Pepper was afraid his stomach was going to burst after devouring everything on the plate. The two waited for the rest of the patrons to slowly disperse before they departed and headed for the dance.
When they arrived at Status Academy, Pepper found a parking spot towards the middle of the lot. He smiled and chuckled when he looked over and saw Brent and Summer had also just arrived and parked a few spots over. The part that made him chuckle, though, was seeing Brent sitting in the driver’s seat while Summer started to get out of the car.
“Oh my gosh, she looks ticked,” Andrea said, analyzing Summer’s body language.
“She kinda did it to herself,” Pepper chimed in.
Andrea nudged him, and not in an affectionate manner. “How is it her fault?”
“She should never have gone out with him.”
“Those are two of your best friends, Pepper,” Andrea scolded.
“That doesn’t mean they should date one another. I love them both individually, but some things just aren’t meant to be put together. It’s like Mentos and Pepsi.”
The two got out of their vehicle and met Summer, who spoke first. “I could kill him right now,” she declared.
Pepper chuckled and was about to ask what was wrong, but Andrea looked down first and in shocked horror said, “Oh my gosh, Summer, your shoes!”
“Yup… Oh, thy Romeo decided to nervously down three cans of breath mints before, during, and after he picked me up and we had dinner. He started puking all over the car. Thankfully the only part of my gown that got plastered was my shoes.”
“Come on, we’re getting you cleaned up,” Andrea said. She let go her grip on Pepper, took Summer by the arm, and walked with her towards the gymnasium. “I’ll see you inside,” she said over her shoulder and then turned to comfort Summer.
Pepper turned his attention to Brent, who looked like a dog sitting at a sliding glass door begging to be let inside while a torrential downpour of rain washed over him. “Dude…”
“I know. I messed up. Again! I am just—”
Pepper raised his hand to stop his friend. “I get it.” He patted Brent on the back and then opened the driver’s door. He drew back when he caught a whiff of the smell inside the vehicle. “Oh god. You might want to just get a Rover Ride when this is all done.”
“What about my car?”
“Burn it… just right here. It’s not worth saving,” Pepper jested.
Brent surprised Pepper by popping the trunk and producing some wet wipes out of the rear storage compartment. Pepper motioned with his hand for Brent to toss the package over, and the two suffered through the smell while cleaning up the mess as best they could. They worked until they had expended the cleaning wipes, then departed for the gymnasium.
They wove their way through the gathering of students and stood near the back of the large room. It was decorated in a neon hot pink and royal blue color scheme. Sparkles of silver and chrome were intermixed to complement the color pattern, and they gave Pepper a cybernetic vibe that he enjoyed.
His eyes scanned the room and locked onto their dates, who had just exited the girls’ bathroom. The girls glanced across the crowd and Summer pointed for Andrea when she caught sight of them. As they made their way slowly over to them, Pepper drank in every step Andrea took. That was until he noticed how she caught the attention of the others.
Many of the other girls from Status Academy were glaring at her with faces of disgust and jealousy. The guys standing nearby were on the verge of openly drooling. Pepper’s eyes locked onto Andrea’s as she closed the distance.
Her eyes didn’t deviate from his, but she smiled. Her head was held high in confidence, and her demeanor told him she knew exactly the jealousy that was pointed at her. She didn’t falter but continued towards him and didn’t hesitate before she wrapped her arms around him and melted into his chest while he held her close.
Pepper was never the center of attention, and his time spent with Andrea confirmed his suspicion that she didn’t want to be the center of attention either. She was someone who didn’t falter in her beliefs or cave to the pressure of others. That attitude alone caused her to be a target. But there in that moment, he felt the reassurance of knowing that they were going to support one another—no matter what storms came their way.
He looked to the side to see that Summer was a little calmer now and gave off a vibe that said she was trying to make the best of her situation. An audible screech rippled across the room, and Principal Stephens walked onto the stage at the other end of the gym.
“Is this thing on? Joel, are we on? Hello, Joel?” Principal Stephens patted the microphone with his hand, which sent a thud over the speakers. Pepper couldn’t help but wonder why the principal had shown up to the dance dressed in 1980s gear. The red velvet jacket he wore wasn’t quite as bad as the long-haired wig, though.
“Okay, I think, Joel, yup, okay, I can hear. All right! Hey, everyone. Thanks for being here today.” The room rumbled with muffled laughter as Mr. Stephens began. “It has been a crazy year, am I right? I know for Mr. Harvey and myself, when we were brought in to lead Status Academy, we wanted to make sure that we realigned the schedule. We wanted a time for students to come together at prom right before their final evaluations and graduation. Many of you are about to leave us. You’re going to go out there into the world and work towards the next big adventure.”
Pepper felt a light squeeze and smiled when Andrea turned and lightly kissed his chest before resting her head on it again. He glanced at the three closest people in his life who were standing there with him. A dry cough from Principal Stephens drew his attention back to the stage.
“There are many storms that await you, but tonight… tonight I hope you spend time enjoying every single second that you’re here. Joel and I—I mean, Vice Principal Harvey and I—we’re honored to have overseen your academic growth. We hope you know that we want to be here for you in the future, should you ever need us. The hardest part about being a teacher… is seeing you all leave us. Just know that you are all loved and appreciated. Thank you, everyone.”
The room was quiet, and Pepper could hear a few sniffles nearby. He saw a few hands reach up and wipe away the fresh tears that had formed on some cheeks.
“Okay, enough emo time—let’s get this party bumping, yo! Whew! Hit it, Joel!” Principal Harvey called out and pumped his fist into the air.
The speakers roared to life with dance music. The floor vibrated beneath them as the bass pounded to life. Their classmates threw their hands in the air, and the group started to move along with the rhythmic beat.
The place was alive with energy, and Pepper’s biggest concern of drama taking place was put to rest. He saw Tamin and Grant out of the corner of his eye, but his nemesis kept a solid distance. They had just finished dancing to the third song and were preparing for the next when the alarm rang out and drowned out the music.
The military had required a rift portal warning speaker to be placed in every school, along with red lights. Immediately the gym was bathed in crimson, and everyone remained stunned for a brief moment. A second later, the earth shuddered and the sound of cannon fire began.
The students surged like a wave towards the doors that led to the shelters underneath the school. Pepper and his friends followed. The teachers yelled as loudly as they could for everyone not to panic and to follow the procedure they had practiced hundreds of times before.
Andrea’s hand gripped Pepper’s tightly and refused to let go. She wrenched it even harder as the cannon fire became more intense. The volleys seemed to be amplified as they fired off in even faster succession.
They finally reached a spot in the safety zone and the four huddled together in a corridor. Screams and pleas for survival could be heard sporadically. Their peers openly wept, and some even crumpled into heaps on the floor. A few trembled in fear as the walls shook when the heavy artillery rounds were fired off.
The chaos of war raged above them for what felt far longer than it really was. Eventually the noise quieted down and their ears adjusted to the constant ring that remained. The majority of students were still visibly shaken and were struggling to regain their composure.
Though the green all-clear light turned on within the shelter, a good portion of students struggled to find the strength to stand. Some were unable to leave and required the assistance of the teachers, who gently helped them back to the surface.
There was no need for the students to say it out loud. They collectively made their way outside, and many began to leave. The teachers began to close up the gym, their hearts burdened with sadness. Their beloved students were having to leave what was supposed to have been a joyful event with nothing but tears and a night of sleeplessness—for the event would leave everyone awake and afraid in their beds.
Pepper and Andrea hugged Summer and Brent before they departed. Summer wanted to get back and check on Jackson, and she was still uncomfortable in her damp shoes, which she had tried to clean in the bathroom. Pepper couldn’t help but chuckle when the two of them rolled the car windows down before they departed.
To his surprise, Andrea didn’t walk towards the passenger door and wait for him to open it. Instead, she walked to the back of the pickup truck and lowered the tailgate. She sat down and stared out at the tree line over the open field of grass next to the parking lot. He could see she had shed a few tears, but they had already dried, and her demeanor was one of strength and not fear.
The parking lot was practically empty by now, with only a few of the teachers’ vehicles scattered around. He walked up and stood in front of her. She smiled and looked up at him. Her eyes were still watery, and a large pool of deep emotions was just beyond her irises.
“You okay?” he asked.
She smiled but shook her head. “Nope… I’m sick of them. I’m sick of everything they have done to this world. I’m sick of everything they’ve taken away from all of us. Our lives, my dad. This night…” She paused, still shaking her head in anger. To Pepper’s surprise, she stood up and passed by him and made her way into the center of the parking lot aisle. She adjusted her dress and wiped her face, then extended her hand in his direction.
He chuckled and tilted his head while slowly walking towards her. “What is this?”
“I came here to dance with my boyfriend and by god, that is exactly what I plan to do.”
He took her hand and wrapped his arm around her. He began to slow dance with her. “You don’t let anything stop you, do you?” he said softly, their eyes remaining locked onto one another.
“Nope. I already told you, Pepper Walker, I am a phoenix. I will keep rising out of the ashes and not let anything in this world or theirs stop me from rising above everything this life throws at me. I will make something of myself, Pepper Walker, but I will give you everything I have as long as you give me everything that you have. You hear me?”
There was a look in her eyes that Pepper hadn’t seen before—a determination that she was not going to let go of. This level of bravery took hold of him, and he was even more grateful to her for allowing him a chance to be with her. “I hear you.”
“You got me?” she asked with a slight tilt of her head.
“I got you.”
“Good, cos you better, or you’re in for one wild ride,” she said with a slight jab to his chest.
Pepper leaned in and kissed her as they rotated slowly. When he pulled back, Andrea rested her head against his chest. Pepper then discovered that they were not alone. He watched as Principal Stephens and Vice Principal Harvey stood in the distance, leaning against their cars.
Though the only illumination came from the parking lot lights, it was enough for Pepper to see the smiles on their faces. It was a unique expression for both of them, but in that moment, Pepper felt it was a look of hope. A hope for a bright future that refused to be snuffed out by the darkest of days.