After a party that lasted until one-AM in real time, at which point Lizzy had logged in to at least join the after-party, we decided to stay in-game with our sleeping trick until it was time to get up on Saturday morning. We showed Derwydd and Snow Dancer around Queen's Haven in Xuanpu, and they took us on a tour of their own guildhall in the Sylvanian Reaches, Owldale Hall. Afterwards we returned to our lodgings in Harmonia City, and then when we had rested once more we logged out to do real life things until later that night.

“Don't yell at me about the leaves in our yard when you're not even here to see them for most of the day...” I softly grumbled as I raked the apparently offensive objects into a pile for the composter. Not that I could grumble much. Dad had to figure out how to turn the thing on, as he always did, so we could actually use it.

“Damn thing has to be so blasted cantankerous...” I heard him grouching. “Ah! Sean! Don't use that language!”

“Don't tell me not to do something after doing it yourself, you goofy old man!” I griped back, and he cackled.

“Your old cartoon-watching dad can make a few mistakes every now and again,” he said. “Ahh! There we go!” he then exclaimed as the composter came to life.

“Why do we even have that thing? Shouldn't we just use an old-fashioned one like the one at gramp's house?”

“We probably should, but city regulations and all that,” he replied as he scratched his head.

“Even our science teacher says the older ones are better...” I remarked.

“Huh. Kudos to them, then. Wish they'd talk sense into that no-good council and spineless mayor,” he quipped as he returned to the house. “Just worry about the leaves; I'll get that branch later.” he told me.

“Got it!” I replied, resuming my attention to them a moment later.

After this arguably light chore had been gotten through, I went inside to read my book again until about ten-thirty, and then I set out for the cafe and bookstore that Rachel and I had settled on for our double-date with Andrea and Thomas.

***

“Man, those forum-posters this morning were seriously raging,” Thomas remarked with a big grin as we sat down.

“Oh?” Rachel asked.

“People were expecting the Myanihia fight to go either way, but no one expected Lana to get past Valkrysti.” he shrugged.

“Lana keeps surprising us all,” Andrea grinned.

“She's certainly something else,” Thomas agreed. A waiter came over to take our orders, and when we had given him our beverage requests he headed back to get them while our conversation resumed. “This is a nice place,” the older boy then said as he looked around.

“Cozy, isn't it?” Rachel nodded.

“Rachel and I came here a couple times after she first moved in. It's almost like something in Panarena,” Andrea said.

“Ahh, definitely. Almost like that little cottage cafe we went to, huh?” Thomas agreed.

“Yes!” Andrea replied with a smile.

“Hm? Oh, the table has some board-games programmed into it as well,” he suddenly noticed.

“Ehh?” I wondered, and then saw a few buttons on my left. “Oh, nice!” I said, looking over the options.

“Cool!” Andrea remarked. “We can play a board game while we have lunch!”

“Sounds like fun!” Thomas agreed with a big smile.

Yeah, you two are definitely made for each other, I thought quietly as I observed the way they smiled at each other. Rachel and I exchanged a secret smile, and I eventually settled on a game called “Riskopoly”.

It was basically a strategy game, but not just a typical attack and defend game. There was an economic component to it as well. You had to gain control of profitable sites to keep up your status in the game, such as mines or trade routes. The fun part was that you could play as a team. If you guessed we paired off as couple against couple, you got it in one. Oh, by the way, the games on these kinds of tables are holographic board games, which is handy for putting them away after you're done with them.

I quickly realized that the basic principles of this game were probably not far off from the upcoming guild competition in the spring, and once we had our drinks and our lunch orders had been taken down, I turned my devious little mind to figuring out the best possible strategy to at least stay equal with Thomas and Andrea, Rachel silently picking up on my plans as we lightly bantered about upcoming exams at school.

Of course, the one thing we had against us was that Andrea and Thomas had an economics class together in the morning--and Thomas was no slouch when it came to strategy, either--so they were able to keep us from gaining an advantage for a good while.

“Ooh, trouble,” Andrea remarked as they moved a battalion piece to the border of a territory under dispute.

“Gotta hand it to the premiere chess player of our school,” I remarked idly.

“It comes in handy now and again,” Thomas grinned. Rachel and I readied our next move when our turn came, and then Thomas moved the battalion in. Then I pulled a card on him.

“Reversal Card: Betrayal!” I declared as I set it down.

“Ack!” he lightly squawked, clearly surprised. Their battalion was converted to ours, Andrea looking amazed as well.

“Niiice.” she said.

“Hahh... you were just waiting for that one, weren't you?” Thomas grinned, and Rachel and I smiled back. “Looks like the Chess Master will have to step up his game!”

“Right with you!” Andrea giggled, as did we.

That enjoyable time was one of the most fun moments outside of Panarena I'd ever had. For the first time in my life, I was playing a board game with friends, laughing and having a good old time as we thwarted and surprised each other back and forth across the board. By the time the third hour of our game rolled around, Thomas and Andrea finally had the upper hand after we had valiantly kept up with them for the better part of two. Slowly the dice turned against us, and when the clock on the nearby wall hit thirteen past four, Rachel and I had been defeated. We congratulated the two of them, and after paying our lunch bill the two of them headed out first while Rachel and I stayed behind to look at some of the books.

“I feel like we could have done something different when they seized those two mines from us,” she remarked, and I subtly shrugged.

“We could have, but then we'd definitely still be playing until around seven or so, I bet.” I replied.

“Hmm...?” she looked at me knowingly, and then smiled. “I could tell that Andri really enjoyed today. Thanks for agreeing to this!”

“I-I really enjoyed it too, you know. It's the first time I ever really did something like this,” I told her.

“Even if you did let them win?” she smiled at me.

“Ehh, I mean, I'm not great with economy in strategy games, but I've learned a few tricks to keep up with people who are. So maybe kind of let.” I grinned back.

“You're adorkable.” Rachel returned, patting me on the head. “Oh, this one looks fun!” she then noticed, pulling a book from the shelf.

“Hmm... 'Dreamforgers', huh?” I remarked.

“Part of a pentalogy, it looks like.” she noted.

“Cool,” I returned.

“One, two, three... five? They're missing book four!” she said sadly. I looked around for a moment, and then smiled.

“It got mixed up in some other series by the same author,” I said as I extricated the book from the other set.

“Oh nice! Wanna get them?”

“Sure!”

“Yay!” Rachel exclaimed, and after we had gotten the books I walked her home.

As we started turning down the street where she and Andrea lived, she suddenly stopped me, gently ushering us into the shadow of a nearby tree. Andrea and Thomas were standing next to the latter's car, Thomas bashfully rubbing the back of his neck as Andrea smiled at him, her hands clasped behind her back.

H-heh? What kind of shoujo scene did we stumble on to? I briefly wondered. I saw Andrea nod, and then Thomas gently reached over to take her by the shoulders, kissing her. Rachel stifled a squeal with her hand, enamored with the scene; I smiled, placing a hand on her back as Andrea suddenly wrapped her arms around Thomas.

“Yes, yes, yes!!” Rachel mutely cried out, trying desperately to keep her voice down. After a few moments, the kiss ended, and Thomas drove off to head back home. “Ah! Ahh ahhh ahh ah! We have to play it cool; like we just turned the corner right now!” Rachel quietly declared, nodding her head.

“Eh? Ah? Uh, sure!” I quickly agreed, and the two of us did exactly that. Andrea turned towards us as we got closer, looking slightly bashful.

“Oh hey!” she said with a smile.

“Hey!” Rachel replied. “We found books!”

“Sounds like fun; what kind?” Andrea asked.

“Hmm... sounds like an epic fantasy series,” Rachel returned.

“Oh neat!”

“Isn't it?”

“Ahh! I have to go and start making dinner preparations! See you in a bit! Thanks for today, it was really fun!” Andrea then said, hurriedly dashing inside as she waved. Rachel smiled, and then quietly sighed in relief when the door shut.

“Operation First Kiss: complete success!” she nodded with approval.

“Pfft!” I grinned, and then laughed for a few moments until I could turn to her with a smile. “You're adorkable too, you know.” I smiled.

“Aw, thanks.” she grinned. I reached over to kiss her as we hugged, our lips and arms reluctantly parting a few moments later. “See you tonight, Lana.” she whispered.

“See you tonight, Ari.” I replied, and before I went home I made sure she got in the house, then turned back down the street to make sure I got home myself.

When I got home, I spent some time upstairs to finish the book I was reading, and then supper time came along. It passed in silence, as it tended to do, and then my dad said he would take care of the dishes, leaving me free to escape while mom went back to her office for the night. As soon as I got to my room, I set the Dream Machine upon my head, leaving the real world behind to escape into Panarena.

As I materialized as Lana in the apartments we had been staying at, I let out a sigh of relief, then exchanged the party clothes I had been wearing for a simple tunic and a set of boots before heading out to wander, as usual. There was something about Harmonia City that reminded me of the city we lived in, except that in real life it was the outer city that was taller. I watched as early morning shadows cast themselves across the streets, the NPCs starting to wake up and begin their daily routines. The Panarena weather was somewhat cloudy, but it looked like it was still going to be a nice day anyway.

After an in-game hour of walking around, I stopped in at one of the baths, sliding into the water with a contented smile. The blissful sensation kept me comatose for several minutes, and then I heard someone else stepping in at the other end. My eyes briefly opened, identifying Myanihia before shutting again.

“You look so defenseless, sitting there.” she remarked

“Well of course I am, pretty much.” I said in reply.

“In the Borderlands, there are hotsprings. It is... a tempting spot. But, many fall prey there, to more dedicated players.”

“I'll have to go and explore when there's a lull in log-ins.”

“There... are better spots, in Dragonholt, or the Grim Mountains.”

“Hmm...” I murmured, opening my eyes again to look up at the designs on the ceiling. “You really are different without the mask and all,” I noted. The barest hint of a smile seemed to play on her lips.

“It's you, who allow me to be this way, for a time.” she returned. “But, when we get to the arena...”

“Of course.” I nodded. “This is one thing and that's another.” I said. She moved to sit next to me again, the two of us basking in the warm water side by side. I looked at her curiously.

“You have mastered that skill incredibly well. But, don't forget, I know the counter.”

“Don't sell me short just yet.”

“Hm.” Myanihia returned, looking over at me with that fathomless gaze of hers. “I see. But, do not sell me short either.”

“You're the last person I'd do that to,” I returned. A moment of silence passed. Myanihia then took my hand, gently squeezing it. I suddenly noticed that, despite the warm water, Myanihia's body was undeniably cold.

“Is that because of being a Snow Elf?” I wondered.

“True. And, also because I am like this. The way I am.” she replied, referring to her mental state as well as her emotional one -- or perhaps the lack thereof. She then let go of my hand, placing hers on my chest. “You have a warm heart. I want, to see it. I want to see, if your love for your friends, can overcome the cold darkness, that is midnight.” Myanihia said.

“D-do you have to touch there?” I said bashfully. She replied with a rare smile.

“I'm not touching them. Besides, what are you shy for?” she said, nevertheless retracting her hand as she stood up, once more donning her hooded vestments, complete with mask. “I'll see you, in the arena.” she then told me, departing as silently as she had come.

Two sisters, both looking for something they refuse to give each other, I mused to myself with a wry expression, feeling the spot on my chest that Myanihia had touched. It didn't feel any different, but somehow, I definitely felt different.

After what I presumed would be the final pre-match encounter with Myanihia, I got dressed again and checked my social panel to see who was online. To my surprise, the whole guild was on, as well as a number of our friends, but they all seemed to be out of the city for the moment.

“They'll probably turn up at that restaurant a couple hours or so before the match.” I said, dismissing the panel for now. “Still... no one's sent a message or anything... I wonder what's going on?” I then thought, sending a message to Ari.

Lana: hey! What are you all up to?

Ariana: hey! It's a secret -- you'll see. Love you! :)

Lana: hmm... okay. Love you too!

I replied with a bemused look as I read her answer.

“A surprise, huh?” I pondered, aimlessly meandering through the streets for the next couple of hours and browsing a few shops before I made my way to the restaurant where we had all agreed to meet later.

Ariana and Belle met me at a plaza a couple of blocks away from it as I got closer, the pixie-girl sitting on my shoulder with a smile as Ari took my arm to lead me along. I looked at the two of them inquiringly, but their smiling faces told me nothing. When we got to the tavern, I saw everyone, and I mean everyone, seated or standing around within. Wildeye, Tyman, and some of their guildies; Magisteria with a few of hers; Jannie, Winnie, Tabitha; Sun WuKong and Mad Dog; Valkrysti and Barbarianne; Tobias, Ironsides, Timidator, Rayna; Derwydd, Snow Dancer, and several others from their guild; and in the middle of them all were the other Silvernight Queens.

Lysandra and Healina book-ended them, the latter standing next to Derwydd, with Anhe and Maryn standing on either side of Lizzy, who stood in the middle with something wrapped up in a bundle of cloth. Our Nordian smith beamed as Ari led me inside, holding out the bundle for me.

“Hey, boss! We scrounged a bit and made you something fun!” she said with that irrepressible grin of hers.

“Oh yeah?” I smiled back, taking the bundle and pulling the cloth back. I caught my breath.

It was a pair of nearly identical short swords, masterfully crafted in a style that was neither Western nor Eastern, being somehow both and neither at the same time. The silvery blade almost glowed as I pulled one out to look, its firm, gold-colored hilt with its leather grip both intricately crafted by the amazing Elizasmith. And with them was a bow made in the same fashion, a deadly looking shortbow of venomous black. I felt a surge of raw emotion heaving in my chest.

“L-Lizzy,” I said, and she grinned at me.

“We all contributed to get these made for you. Can't have you going up against Myanihia with those dinky daggers, even as good as they are!” she said in her semi-blustery way, but I could see her eyes misting up.

I looked around, unable to say a thing as everyone smiled back at me. You guys... you did all this, to help me, so that I could carry your fighting spirits with me not just mentally, but physically, literally as well, I thought as I felt sobs heaving in my chest.

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“Yo, Lans, we're all with you tonight!” Tyman said with a great smile.

“Nobody left behind!” WuKong declared emphatically, beaming as merrily as ever. “Win this battle for us, you who have victoriously walked the path of the Grand Tournament!” he said in a more solemn tone, still smiling.

“Show us that impossible victory once again!” Mad Dog called with a grin, and Lysandra nodded.

“It's to you, Lana.” she said softly. I could definitely feel the waterworks starting on my face now.

“Y-... you guys...!” I managed to say, and then rushed forward to grab Lizzy, hugging her tightly. She quickly hugged me in return, patting my back.

“G-gotta do something nice for my little dork, since I can't be in the tournament!” she said through a sniffle.

Everyone else began clapping or cheering, and then we had a merry feast together until it was at last time for the final showdown of the Grand Tournament.

Ariana walked me to the arena, the two of us not saying anything as we made our way through the streets of Harmonia City, hands clasped firmly together. It was definitely one of those moments where saying something would have felt wrong. There would be time for words later, I knew. A light snow began dusting the streets as we approached the arena, and when we got to the entrance, we stopped. She looked at me with a warm smile, which I returned with love. Ari reached her other hand over to place it on my cheek, and kissed me.

“I'll be in a front row seat somewhere, watching from start to finish.” she told me.

“I know. I'll see you after--after it's over,” I said in reply.

“After you win.” Ari returned confidently.

“After I win.” I agreed with a nod, my confidence definitely boosted. She nodded, and then made her way to the spectator's stands. I entered the contestant's hall for the final time. Myanihia, as usual, was waiting in her spot. I somewhat leisurely switched to my battle gear, saving my new weapons for a last minute equip.

“It's hard to say,” Forseti remarked in response to a question from one of the other commentators about who might win tonight's match. “Both of them seem to be capable of beating people whom were expected to beat them instead. We seem to have found an unstoppable force and an immovable object to pit together this night,” he mused.

“Ehh, either way it'll be a spectacle. I wonder which one will pull out a pistol first,” Lumpstein remarked, and ripples of laughter echoed throughout the stands as the other GMs grinned back at the comment.

“My bet's on Lana.” Ricklelopes said with a nod.

“I'll take that bet!” the grumpy Dwarf returned at once.

“What's the wager?” the other asked.

“Loser volunteers to do the daily updates for a week!”

“Bah, that's nothing!”

“In the buff!” Lumpstein then declared.

“Oh-ho!” the other replied, his interest rekindled. “Sure you want to kill our player base like that?”

“I'll join the wager, on Lumpstein's side!” Wandreada then said.

“And I'll take Ricklelopes' side of the wager!” Athena chimed in.

“So long as we take the appropriate censorship measures when the time comes, I'll let this wager stand.” Forseti said as the crowd began to cheer at the wager, some of them wolf-whistling.

“You got it, boss!” Lumpstein nodded.

“Of course!” Athena replied.

“Definitely,” Wandreada agreed.

“For sure!” Ricklelopes said.

“All right then!” the apparent head GM then said, “With that little skit out of the way, let's get our two finalists out here!”

Myanihia and I were then teleported to the main stage. She readied her weapons at once, calm as ever. Still I waited, waiting for the maximum shock value. I was sure that my friends knew what I was doing, even if the spectators and the commentators were befuddled by it.

“Hmm... I hope that Lana doesn't think Myanihia will give her a second fist-fight, or I'll win the bet!” Lumpstein quipped.

“I guess we'll see!” Athena smiled.

“Here she is, guild-leader of the Silvernight Queens, claimer of impossible victories in this tournament, Lana Windstrider!” Forseti announced, and the crowds applauded.

“And opposite her, the mysterious and equally death-defying Myanihia Black!” Wandreada said, more applause following the words.

The two of us gazed impassively at each other as the countdown began. There was a coldness in the air, but there was no hate. Not on my part, at least. No, I won't win with anger. That was Lysandra's mistake. You don't destroy a void by trying to empty it. You have to fill it with something.

I closed my eyes; I could feel the air tensing up. Myanihia was going to try and take me out with that devastating one-shot. I could feel it. There would be one chance to wreck it, to shatter her confidence in using it against me. Bow first, I mused. The pistol would probably work just as good, but I had more bow skills at my disposal. Actually I had only bow skills, in regards to ranged weapons of any kind. I queued up a skill called Piercing Breaker. It had a seventy-five percent chance of breaking down doors and shattering shields, apparently.

“Hm, she's doing something now. I guess we'll see! Join us for the final ten second countdown, will you?” Athena said to the audience, who enthusiastically obliged her.

Ten!

Nine!

Eight!

Seven!

Six!

Five!

Four!!

Three!!

Two!!!

ONE!!!

The fanfare for the battle's start sounded. As I knew she might, Myanihia went into Shadow World. But I turned on Shadow Vision, readying my new bow and setting an arrow to string. I saw her initiate the motion for Doomstrike, waited one second, and then fired directly at her. I could see a shock register through her body as it struck her, knocking her out of stealth and interrupting the skill.

“St-stopped! Myanihia's one-shot has been stopped!” Ricklelopes said in amazement.

Myanihia gazed at me coldly. She had lost five-percent of her health. It looked as if she was considering a second attempt, but she remained visible, the two of us starting to circle each other.

“Know your enemy, indeed.” she said softly. “It seems that skill won't work, for either of us.”

“Maybe not,” I said, “But I know plenty more!”

I then switched to my new short-swords, leaping into action. The onlookers seemed taken aback for a moment, but quickly cheered as the two of us began clashing. Neither of us used any of the dagger or short-sword skills at our disposal, testing each other with basic swordplay as we fought around the stage.

“Hm!” Lumpstein remarked. “Someone got a last minute upgrade!”

“Indeed,” Forseti nodded.

“A good thing for Lana, at least; her daggers would definitely be outclassed by Myanihia's blades. Now she seems on equal footing.” Athena said.

“And if I'm not mistaken, those are player-made weapons!” Lumpstein said with an odd note of approval in his voice.

“I thought so,” Wandreada nodded.

“Whoever made those things must be a true master smith that's immensely proud of themselves right now.” Lumpstein nodded. I wasn't sure if Lizzy would be beaming or blushing at those words.

As Myanihia and I exchanged blows, neither of our blades landing a blow on one another, I felt the coldness of their presence become a chill. It was not my imagination. Myanihia had set off one of her racial skills, which Forseti identified as Alf'fimbul, revealing her identity as a Snow Elf for the first time in the tournament. It was an aura meant to hamper my movements, and I responded with a racial skill of my own.

I didn't train up a lot of the racial skills that I had. But I had put a few points into this one. Guardian of the Fords: it increased my attack speed and strength, and gave a ten-percent damage reduction bonus, for a minute and a half. That had to be at least as long as hers would last. Myanihia's incidental damage and my now more successful blows began to chip away at the other's health. Not by much, on either count, and I still had a greater amount, but no doubt that would start changing as the battle went on.

Her skill and mine ended at nearly the same time, and after a rather impressive series of strikes and counter-strikes we jumped back from each other, circling once more. The infamously impassive gaze was now seething.

“How can one person be so complicated?” she said softly. “Outside this arena, I am drawn to appreciate you. Inside it, my anger at you, only rises.”

“I bet you're really just angry at yourself,” I replied to her, and her eyes flashed. “Angry because you see in me a person you could have been: a person who wants to help others around them instead of ignoring them because of some stupid, meaningless quarrel,” I continued.

Myanihia sucked in a breath, and then screamed like a wildcat.

Uh, oopsies, I flipped a switch! I thought as I rushed to counter her furious flurry of blows that now railed upon me.

“Nyah?!” Lumpstein gasped in amazement. “That's a first!”

“Riled up now, aren't they?” Wandreada remarked.

I calmly matched Myanihia's sudden fury blow for blow, countering, striking back, evading, blocking; there was a wealth of emotion behind both of us, she, desperate to hold on to her status quo, and me, eager to see what possibilities lay beyond my little world. If that means driving you to a point you think you can't cross, I'll shatter that illusion with these two swords!!

With that determination, I activated another speed and movement boosting skill, and entered my Shadow's Dance. Crescent Flash, Thousand Needle Strike, Doomstrike, and Flashing Blades. The initiation of that second-to-last skill brought her back to her senses, but she soon realized I was not using the ultimate one-shot she had given me, taking the hits with a grimace as she jumped away into Shadow Speed. I did the same, both of us pulling out our ranged weapons.

I also activated Shadow's Vigilance, which partly slowed down time around me for a minute. As Myanihia assailed me with her deadly darts, I was able to shoot them out of the air one by one. She audibly breathed out and in with frustration, pulling out her pistol. I readied my next arrow, and then did a tumble, firing at just the right moment and the right angle to knock it from her hand. Our running bonus ended, and once more we charged each other with our swords to try and drive the other into an inescapable corner.

“I haven't seen something like this since the unofficial tournaments in Thessalia!” Ricklelopes remarked with awe.

“And they're both still above seventy-five percent health,” Wandreada noted.

“Funny enough, there's about forty-seven minutes left before the match has to end,” Lumpstein said.

It's gone on that long already?

I wasn't sure how to feel about that as I continued to repel my opponent, who was starting to act more like their usual self again. Then a sudden urge took hold of me. There was no rational reason behind it at the moment, I just had to do it. Using a series of delicate and swift maneuvers, I managed to slip past her guard and sliced off her hood and mask. The silvery hair tumbled out, the pale skin gleamed in the light, and her eyes flashed with an anger that absolutely outclassed her earlier rage. This time, it was a cold fury.

I couldn't quite comprehend it, but I could empathize with it, just a little. Her carefully crafted identity as a mysterious and cold assassin was falling apart in this tournament. She glared at me with a deep anger, and with another banshee-like scream she raged towards me once more with her swords.

The anger I had unleashed now had me on the ropes. My health wasn't going down any faster than it had been, but it was all I could do to keep her blades from hitting me in a spot where they could do massive damage.

There was no commentating on the scene now unfolding. No one was cheering, no one was booing. As soon as Myanihia's hood and mask had been torn apart and her identity exposed, it was as if the air had been sucked out of the arena. I could feel Ariana watching intently from the stands. She probably understood what I was trying to do, what I was trying to say, to the girl now doing everything left in her power to strike me down and win victory in the tournament. And all she had left was certainly no joke.

The both of us threw down lotus bombs and flash-powder to disorient the other. Myanihia jumped for her gun; I quickly drew mine out, firing at the weapon and breaking it into pieces with two lucky shots. She recoiled like a cat from a bath, jumping to her feet again and hurling a shuriken my way, which I managed to deflect. A few more came hurtling my way, one of them scratching my cheek and another leaving a fine cut on my side before I finally closed the distance again to force her back to the swords.

Once again we entered a swashbuckling contest, our battle probably resembling one of those old Robin Hood films from over a century ago. I tried a few martial arts moves on her, to no avail. She hurtled a strong driving kick my way, forcing me into a back-flip to evade her. I quickly returned the pistol to my hand, firing another shot as she tried to catch me with the point of her sword before I landed. Like lightning, Myanihia twirled to her left in evasion, narrowly avoiding the bullet as I regained my feet and fired another that caught her in the side. In response she managed to lodge one of her shuriken deep in my right shoulder. I winced, and her angered countenance showed a hint of delight.

As I circled away, she came steadily on. Another shuriken came hurtling towards me, but this one I managed to shoot down, inadvertently turning it back upon her. It landed with all the force of the bullet in her right shoulder, and she grimaced in pain. Then, like two wounded animals, we observed each other intently, daring the other to show weakness first. I don't know how I managed to hold up my right sword through the pain, but I did so.

Just as a brief side-note, the pain in this virtual reality is nowhere near the actual level of pain in real life; it's just enough so that it gives a certain amount of immersion. But anyhow.

I locked eyes with my opponent, and she locked eyes with me. She was getting desperate. There was a panic in her eyes, a scream that would not come out of her mouth. Again she rushed me, again I fought to hold her off, each of us now getting weary. Yet as our smoldering battle continued across the stage, both of us could feel the other's desire to keep going, to somehow overcome the other.

We landed a strike or a blow on the other about every third and seventh attempt, wearing each other's health bars down a bit faster this time. One of our exchanges even dislodged the shuriken in our shoulders, exchanging the debilitation effect for a minor bleed. As the two of us went down into the yellow, our movements became more erratic, more burdensome. Lotus bombs are not good for nothing.

I managed to disengage for a moment, throwing two more down and then a couple flash-powders before Myanihia could react, then I retreated into the shadows, throwing down a smoke bomb for good measure. It wouldn't keep her off of me for long, but I hoped it would do so long enough. I tried to refocus my mind and get a handle on a clear objective to ending the fight.

I've got ten seconds of clear space, if that. What should I do? Try the thing? It might work, but she knows how to counter it as well. I'd likely get stopped, and she'd follow up with the same skill right after the interrupt to finish me off for good. Maybe if I throw down another lotus bomb, or disorient her again with flash-powder--

A sudden stinging sensation in my neck cut off further thoughts. It was a dart. I glanced at my health bar; it was a poison dart. Another dart hit me in the side; this one was paralysis. The audience gasped as the smoke cleared. I tottered to my knees, struggling to stay upright.

Myanihia smiled, readying her short-sword for the killing blow, stepping back into the shadows to unleash her deadly one-shot. A tear came down my cheek.

Thoughts whirled through my mind; names, places, people. Memories of my experiences this past year swirled around. There was the irrational fear that, if I let myself be defeated, all of that would somehow crumble down. It was completely irrational. Yet at that very moment, another incredible occurrence happened.

The paralysis suddenly wore off. I had no time to wonder how or why. I activated Shadow Vision; I was just in time. Myanihia was now activating Doomstrike. Her eyes widened as I moved my head to look directly at her, whipping out my pistol with blinding speed. She started to second-guess herself, halting for a moment. I fired three shots. It interrupted her deadly combo, and I quickly reached for the dart in my side, hurling it back at her as she was forced from the shadows. Briefly, I noticed that it had not gone in very deep, which was probably why the effect wore off as quick as it had.

But it lodged itself perfectly in Myanihia's side, halting her every move. Her face contorted in anger and shock. I entered Shadow World, activated Shadow Speed, and then used the same deadly combo she had tried to use on me. It struck her without fail, and with a sudden flood of tears, Myanihia's avatar disintegrated, leaving me just barely standing to claim my status as the victor of the Grand Tournament. Forseti announced me as the winner, and the crowd went absolutely bonkers with cheering and applause. A teleport enveloped me, and I passed out.

***

“Lana! Lana!! Lana!!!” someone's voice called to me as I slowly woke up again. It was a very familiar voice. Something important had just happened, too, but I couldn't remember what.

So tired... who is that? They sound very worried... I need to get up.

My eyes opened, trying to focus, and I looked around to see Ariana cradling me in her arms. As soon as I was more alert she kissed me, and then sat me up.

“Wha... what happened?” I wondered.

“You won.” she said to me, her lips gently curving into a radiant smile.

It came back to me then, and I leaned against the wall, slowly nodding.

“Oh, right,” I said with a faint laugh.

“Are you okay?”

“I think all of that lotus and poison is still messing with my head a bit,” I said groggily.

“Even though all the damage is restored when you exit the arena,” she remarked with a faint amusement.

I leaned my head onto her shoulder with a sigh. She wrapped her arms around me. Lysandra came in then, kneeling down with us. Ariana smiled at her, and she wrapped us both up in her arms.

“Thank you.” she whispered to me.

“I-it was nothing,” I returned.

“You get yourself all beat up and then say it was nothing,” she giggled, “Lizzy is right. You really are a dork.”

“Isn't she though?” Ariana grinned.

“Ah-heh,” I smiled, too tired to argue. Then I felt the presence of Myanihia again, and looked up. Lysandra turned, no doubt from the scent she could pick up even in human form, sucking in a breath, and Ariana also turned to look, her face lighting up in surprise.

“I heard it. I felt it. Your feelings. All of them.” Myanihia said to me softly. She was once again calm, but it was not a cold and impassive calm.

It was the calm of peace, a peace that was finally thawing out from who knew how many months or years of holding back a grudge-filled anger.

I stood to my feet slowly, Ariana and Lysandra helping me up. Myanihia actually smiled. A real smile this time, gentle and kind; and I saw Lysandra softly begin to smile as well.

“I... will need time. But, Lysandra, I... want to talk. Someday.” the Snow Elf assassin said to the werewolf girl.

“I... yes, I want that also,” Lysandra nodded. Myanihia nodded back, the gentle smile still on her face, and then she departed. Ariana and I turned to Lysandra as she sighed, and she then turned back to us. “Let's go have a party.” she said with a grin, picking me up to carry me back as Ari giggled, holding my hand as we exited the arena for the last time -- this year, at least.

They stopped at a bathhouse on the way to revitalize me a bit and put me into a more festive set of fashion, and then hurried back to the tavern and restaurant where everyone else was still waiting. I don't know how many people hoisted me onto their shoulders that night. Apparently it was a fun thing to do -- for them. I know that Tyman started it again, and then Mad Dog took a turn, followed by WuKong and Barbarianne. Even Derwydd took a turn at one point, laughing merrily as I implored him--and everyone else--to let me stay on the ground.

When I was finally released to recover my dignity in a corner, Jannie came over to give me a big hug. I hugged her back, a smile on my face.

“I knew you'd do it.” she whispered, patting me on the back.

“Just barely, but thanks,” I replied. Maryn came over to hug the two of us also, grinning happily, as did Lizzy.

“What'd I tell ya?” the blonde halberdier-slash-smith beamed contentedly.

“I hope you saved enough of those special materials to equip all of us in the future!” Maryn quipped as she tousled Lizzy's hair.

“We'll just get another resource raid-party going when the time comes!” Jannie giggled.

“Whoo!” Lizzy whooped.

Several more people came to hug me or shake my hand as the after-party continued, and of course we all made plans to host more post-tournament celebrations at several other guildhalls for the rest of whatever time anyone could spare tonight and Sunday night as well. Ours was included, of course, along with the Mountain Tigers, Northern Warriors, Flamehearts, The Lightbrook Brigade, Dreamers Fables, and †SOVEREIGN†.

“L-looks like we have a busy schedule ahead of us,” I said with a wry grin to Ariana later that evening.

“De-fin-ete-ly,” she nodded in agreement. “Hahh... at least we have some butlers and cooks to help.”

“Oh!! We can just alert them now to start getting things ready, can't we?” I said as I pulled up the panel to mail our NPC employees new orders.

“Oh true!” Ariana nodded. “It's a good thing you took the five-hundred thousand gold prize... our expenses here got a bit out of hand!” she said sheepishly.

“You're telling me,” I said as I gazed at our guild-bank on the panel with an apologetic look. “Let's do some Firelands Bounty Quests with Dracuoatlax, those should be good to help replenish our guild finds,”

“Gotcha!” she nodded.

“Hmm?” Derwydd turned to us inquiringly. “Who's Dracuoatlax?” he wondered, and Ariana and I exchanged a grin.

“Should we tell him now?” she whispered to me.

“Nahhh, let's surprise him.” I said, and she giggled. He continued to look at us with a puzzled glance, and I saw Healina bite her lip to keep a straight face.