“Are you kidding me? It’ll be great.”
“We aren’t competing.”
“Who said we were? How long has it been since we’ve had actual human contact? Feeling Actual feelings that weren’t just fear? Deep said that he wanted to relax, and for the past 10-something years, we have. So we get to do things my way.”
“Well if you’re so cocksure on this, where will you start?”
Floating higher than the buildings around him, Avean looked out at the sights. A city's worth of people far and wide had come to witness a tourney of the realm’s finest. The smells of the meats and spices unfamiliar graced his nose and the atmosphere was nothing more than delightful. With a small kick-off, he pushed his body to the old coliseum. A building built in the days of old under the reign of Queens past in a territory that had its ownership flicked around the kingdoms and nations as a part of some convoluted treaty long past. As it was Queen Calia’s turn at play, it was her right to do what she wanted with the land. With a bit of approval for some construction, this tourney was set.
Laying on her back, Meryl Lee read the book of her regarding the languages of the Dragons. A language rarely put to paper usually required a student of such to learn more body language than the average jester. As much was said to Lucia, as she did her upside-down sit-ups keeping Meryl’s body as flat as a sheet.
“It's a lot more guttural than how you’d put it?”
65. 66. “How deep?”
“Opera House deep.”
69.70. “Ah.”
“Heh, didn’t think you'd get that one. Wouldn’t peg you for an Opera fan.”
73. 74. “Went to one cause Calia wanted to teach me and Ave the higher life or something. It felt weird, a lot more vibrations than there needed to be. Very loud.”
“Was it good though?”
77. 78. “For a song I couldn’t understand, I liked the feeling. Ave thinks that you need to ‘fall into the immersion’ for it to work properly, but I think it's just him trying to make it too deep. People liked each other, but they didn’t like each other. What’s to get? ”
“ And here I thought Ave was the cultured one in your family.”
“Alright, time to get off.”
With a spirited push, Lucia put her former flesh weight on her feet as she dismounted from her upside-down position.
“So… are you ready to kick Gallus back to death?”
“It's not to death, least I think. “ Lucia put her towel around her neck as she wiped the sweat off her brow. “It's just to get people excited. Ave said that this was more for sport anyway. Shouldn’t be that bad.”
“Just another bit of Connors community service then. Remember when they sent you to fight that Serpent when you first came up to the royal city?”
“After I met the Queen? I was around 11 and they wanted me to kill that Adder.”
“When you dragged that thing through the street, I could swear that one of my neighbors was going to call the authorities on you. My mother told me not to let you near our pets.”
A shrug from Lucia. “They told me to kill it and come back. Can’t blame me for doing what was asked. ” It was at that moment that Meryl’s words finally processed to her. “Wait, what do you mean by that? I wasn’t just going around breaking bones every time I shook someone’s hand. I am a god damned professional. Even back then.” With that statement firmly stated, she stuck her pose as tough as she could look for someone basically on the edge of snarling at a secretary. The small laugh she put out was enough to make the chance of embarrassment worthwhile.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
The gong rang out across the stadium.
“Guess that’s my cue. Wish me luck.”
“Don’t lose, I have money on you!”
“Aren’t you supposed to be neutral about all this?”
“Only while I’m working.” That damned wink was the last thing Lucia saw before she walked out those doors. She was gonna punch something hard for her.
In the middle of the Colleseum, the crowd’s heat could be felt in the bones of everyone in attendance. The stage was set, the posters in the air, the streamers flying from person to person. Whatever God there was couldn’t deafen the sounds of the souls roaring today. The show-woman felt it.
Top Hat on with the white ribbon.
Her Suit was bespoke to hell with blue buttons and a red outline.
A Bowtie hitting the right angles of both corny and charming as well as pants made for light acrobatics and bits galore.
One hand up, and silence consumes the crowd.
Oh yeah. She was gonna rock this.
“Ladies and Gentlemen! Creatures and Combatants! Finally after years of suspense. After years of waiting! A Tournament of some of the best and brightest in the realm is finally underway!”
The pause for applause left the crowd sounding like thunder, and the showman knew that she was going to bring the lightning.
“Of course, we must thank our gracious sponsors for getting this event underway.”
The showwoman gestured her hand towards the top box seats, holding the Kings and Queens and other leaders. While on the outside, they seemed like people sitting in the high seats with only the glass protecting them; any of Mrs Vrai’s students who didn’t slack in their enchantment class could see the startling amount of protection cast to keep them safe from any harm. They came to show their faces, but there would be no harm to come to their features.
“Now let me have the gracious honor of introducing our great contestants!”
As the showwoman waved her arms and pointed towards the gate, with a grand flourish it opened.
Gallus
The 6-foot-tall brick house was built like a siege weapon. Along his back was a club not found in his usual repertoire. His smile matched his confidence as his silky hair covered the front of his face.
Lucia
Fingerless gloves, Top made to fight, and long pants to keep from getting dragged down. With a swivel of her neck saw that Avean was flying up high waving his ass off. She resisted the urge to flip him off for it. The fact that he was watching though made this exercise of entertainment a bit less annoying.
Eld
As quickly as he was seen coming out the door, he came lined up just as quick. He kept his hood down for as much as that hid his Orange snout. The bits of static coming off from him kept Lucia’s hair on end.
Tempas
The woman came with flair. Sparks of fire came from her fingertips as she slowly made her way to the lineup. All eyes on her, all bets on her. She wasn’t gonna make herself look a fool.
Rodrigo
A man whose face remained masked in metal the whole while as he entered. The deep black cape he wore hid his body as though it was darkness around his shoulder. He reached the heights of Gallus but he was not as heavily built as him. At least that was the impression the audience had.
And Finally
“The one that comes when your partner doesn’t scream at night! The one who brings fire into the hearts of men where their hearts have run cold. The One! The Only! Rapturous Rick Saturn! “
As soon as the name dropped, a man with a mustache thicker than carpet and the muscle definition of an ox struck his pose pointed towards the crowd on both sides of him. Each one going crazy as men, women, and all that were of age chanted-
“Ring us Saturn!”
Lucia could not believe that this man who looked like a retired general was getting the crowd this hot. She also couldn’t believe that Ave was more than likely jumping out of his seat watching this guy. The Showwoman however could help but ride off the newfound energy.
“You don’t wanna miss a minute of this folks! Get your betting money ready and watch our contestants rip each other apart!”
Ave was indeed popping in the sky as he looked down at THE Rick Saturn participating in this tournament. Sure, Rick was a fucking carny of the highest order who didn’t come unless the pay was huge or they splashed his face across the coliseum itself. But Goddamn, could that man get the crowd feeling! Even as he landed, Avean could still feel the goosebumps on his arms.
“Yo, bro!”
A man in black waved towards Ave. Black hair, black pupils, black nails. All seemingly trying to catch his attention.
“Rick Saturn fan huh? I can see it in your eyes. You trying to see the best and brightest?”