In a sea without light and sky made of void, a figure walked upon the sea’s surface.

Each step the figure took caused ripples of light to spread on the surface before disappearing into the distance.

The figure was a woman who had her body covered in a dark cloak.

She stopped moving when she saw another figure before her wearing a similar attire, the difference being the faint image of glasses being worn by the other woman.

“It’s finally time, Sister,” she spoke. Though the distance between the two is far and yet the words reached as if the two were face to face.

“It would appear so, Sister dearest,” the other woman with glasses spoke.

“Then let us begin!” She threw her right arm out in a flashy spectacle.

“Hold on Aileen,” the other woman held out a hand, “do you remember the terms?”

“I do, I do,” Aileen waved, “I’m not going to forget, Neelia.”

“Are you going to cheat?” Neelia asked.

“Obviously not! Quit stalling so that I can win already!”

“If you insist,” Neelia shrugged.

“Tch, why do you sound like you were trying to do me a favor?”

“Just your imagination,” Neelia quickly excused. “Ready when you are.”

“...Sure,” Aileen said while giving Neelia a skeptical look.

Aileen cleared her throat, took a deep breath, then spoke.

“Hear me,” Aileen began as she put her right hand out. “Hear me,” she repeated once more as she used the nail on her thumb to slice her index finger. Her blood flowed out, it glowed brightly in a myriad of colors that chased the darkness away.

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“Nothing in life is free,” she continued as her blood began to drip down into the dark sea, “you know this to be true. You know that which you desire will come at a cost, one you may never be able to afford. One, who may not even be bothered to give a price.” Her blood began to spread through the sea, the various colors spreading, chasing away the darkness.

“I offer you this bargain. A fair price. For that which you desire shall be yours, I offer this truth for the one that is worthy. My price: arise as my champion and gain victory in my name, Aileen.” When she was done, she ran a thumb over her cut and it disappeared as if it never existed. Her blood spread far past her figure like a mist of glowing colors in the dark sea, almost like painting on a canvas.

She let out a vicious smile.

“Who among you is worthy? If you believe yourself able to give me my due, then prove it. Take up arms and fight for your one true chance at a fair price! Fight with all your might as my champion!” She stared at the colors glowing in the dark sea. For a breath, her blood was calmly spreading and glowing, in the next breath, it was as if her blood was trying to devour itself, bit by bit. Just as she intended.

“Survival of the Fittest,” Aileen said in a pleased tone. She looked up to her sister to see her crouch down.

Neelia began to gently tap the surface of the dark sea. Light rippled in a myriad of color whenever she tapped the sea. She stood up and the area of the sea she tapped sprung up like pedestal with a large bowl on top that Neelia peered into.

“Hey! Aren’t you going to do the whole ritual and stuff?” Aileen said angrily while pointing an accusing finger at her sister.

“I believe the rules state that we are allowed to recruit our champions however we wish. I am using that right and taking my time to choose my champions,” Neelia answered without taking her eyes off the bowl’s contents.

“But what about tradition?”

“Not in the rules, and I honestly don’t feel like embarrassing myself by inflating my ego with what is basically pointless flaunting and emoting of our power. Also, Father never said it was a tradition to begin with. He just did it because he had fun doing it.”

"Well yeah, no point in being a stick in the mud," Aileen argued. Neelia didn't reply, she kept peering at the bowl. Aileen frowned.

"Well fine, be that way you party pooper. At least I'm having fun!" With a simple motion of her hand, she willed the dark sea beneath her into the shape of a bed for her to lay on. She lied on her belly as she stared down at her blood; power she loaned freely to any who is strong enough to claim them. She smiled as she watched. 

After a while her smile wilted into a neutral expression. 

"This is not nearly as fun as I thought it would be," Aileen admitted as she rested her head on her fist.

"Mhmm," Neelia hummed in agreement as she kept peering at her bowl, dipping her fingers in once in a while. 

"..." Aileen let out a bored sigh, "this is going to take a while, isn't it?"

"Mhmm," Neelia hummed in agreement again, nodding with a tight smile, but not once did her eyes leave the bowl. 

"...fun," she let out sarcastically.