The Realm of Fae was a cruel place. A place of Tradition, Honor, and Courage. It was a kind place. A place of Betrayals, Untruths, and Regret.

The Seelie Realm watched with baited breath and leaned forward.

The sound of the Clock rang throughout the Citadel. The Citadel was huge, over populated, and there were plenty of Fae who had no idea the reason the clock was so loudly.

The various High Fae Lords and Fae of high influence watching the Game tittered, hummed, and strummed.

Across the Seelie Realm, and even some places in the Unseelie, different observing Lords and High Lords, Senate and Court alike, watched the scene from afar. While many of the same Fae had been watching idly, or even in anticipation of the Game ending prematurely, a strange hush overcame them.

"I." said one, "Am glad I did not bet against the champion."

"The Lord of Smoke did."

"This shouldn't be allowed! Why does he have allies aiding him? This is completely against the rules."

"Found allies are allowed." Said a small but extremely powerful imp. "And the betrayal of the Enforcers against the Servant Branch while he was actively working with them..."

"I still don't understand his angle." said the Lord of Smoke. "How did he know?"

A Senator who resembled Kane said nothing very carefully.

Similar conversations happened across realm, as the clock struck 10 powerfully.

“Clever, and well done.” Said the Lord of the Northern Wind.

“I thought he had no Gravity affinity?” Said the Lord of Grass, to no one. Many had grown tired of the insistent conversation.

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Daniel felt the feeling of power enter him. He had won the last match. And he was positioned to win again.

Kane did not.

As blocking the blow reverberated down his arm, Daniel knew she was still much stronger than he was. But standing on the ruined wall, with borrowed sword in hand, Daniel took more punishment from Kane. His body was tired, his muscles doing strange rhythmic dances as the different muscle groups locked up and spasmed.

But he could win this.

Her amber hair came loose, and cascaded around her like a shroud.

"Stop playing with me and fight!!!" She called. Daniel let her attack him. New life was entering his body. He knew he just needed to wait, and position her just correctly.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"GRAVITY WAVE!" Esra yelled, and the world shook as all at once, all the different intersecting manipulation of gravity sprang to life.

Daniel had seen the wind once before, on the great plains, where the storms had a life of their own. It rarely happened, due to the many treaties and pacts signed, but the Weather had a mind of its own.

The wind coiled and twisted, and where the spinning wind touched, there was much distress and disrepair. It had looked like a battle had taken place there, and Elswith hadn't known that such renting and destruction could occur without the Fae present. In many ways, it was worse, because it was so...vast and meaningless. What did the human guide call it? A torn a doe? Twist her? Her a cane? Apparently, whatever it was, the guide thought that great winds spinning in circles was female, and perhaps also a deer.

Daniel didn't know Esra could do something like that with Gravity Wave. Daniel stole a second to look at Esra and Marrin below, still fighting the Shadow Warbler and Frank. Guilt stabbed at Daniel, as he knew that Marrin was in great danger only because he happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Daniel had no worry for Esra, because Esra was Esra and could take care of himself. Esra sought out danger! Esra was in fact perhaps the greatest danger to the house of Cards that was Fae politics! Esra would be fine.

But Marrin was different. Marrin was just a Middling, cast into a difficult situation.

But Marrin was...

Daniel almost missed a step, foot almost putting too much weight on an intact sheet of stainglass as Kane bore down another attack at him. He revealed slightly too much strength in blocking it,.

Because Marrin was doing amazingly. Expertly moving from target to target.

As the different Gravity Disruptions occurred, and all the debris started flying and spinning in the servant's hall reminiscent of the great weather phenomenon torn a doe, there came a great upheaval of power.

"I will actually kill you!" She said, her eyes aglow. Her long hair was being pulled by the unexpected storm.

Daniel kept taking abuse from Kane's sword, thinking quickly.

That wasn't Esra. That wasn't Esra. Esra had some hand in it, certainly. But how the air moved had nothing to do with Gravity.

Daniel scuffled with Kane, working to not fall down. More and more windows were broken, as Esra's aim was getting wide.

"The Gravity Mage is becoming fatigued." Preened Kane, noticing Daniel's focus toward the ground. "So. What do you have saved? Some may have lived without the intervention. Now all will perish."

"I just wanted to be free." Daniel said.

"Are you free then?" she asked, and proceeded to attack. Devasting blows rained down at him.

And then a player was taken off the floor.

Marrin had overcome Frank.

It was impossible.

"That's..."

Daniel felt his skin goosebump and shiver. Clean and cold power came from outside.

He had never felt this exact power, but he had felt power of this caliber of this before.

Kane had not. Which may be the only thing to save the Middling Marrin's life. As long as she didn't realize exactly what had happened.

Marrin, son of...who?

There were 37 Swords. Great Swords. They were instruments of power, priceless artifacts. The Red Lord was powerful because of his Sword. The Red Sword. It had another, secret name, that Daniel lost when he lost his position as Heirling. He had once known it, but after losing his position...gone.

The Sword that Daniel had once been promised was powerful. And dangerous.

And perhaps even corruptive.

Thirty-seven swords that could reshape the entirety of the Fae World. Thirty-seven that could bring all the Courts to their knees. Thirty-seven that could unravel the Senate. Thirty-seven that could even threaten the Fairy King.

Thirty-seven swords, which had not all been known. Some were held by groups to prevent them from being used, like the Sword of Spirit had been successfully kept away from its rightful owner for generations. Some were almost never seen. And some were just...presumed to be in play, but perhaps actually lost a long time ago.

The Game was Outraged.