James stepped into the whirring buzz of servitors and the slight chatter of cultivators. Medical servitors dodged through the throngs of people, reattaching arms and placing casts over broken bones.

There were more than just competitors in the area. Masters stood near their charges, accompanied by other disciples and possibly friends. James saw a woman with gold tassels braided through her hair looking over his previous opponent. Another disciple stood to the side, dressed in similar fashion.

The servitor led James past them toward an open space near one of the many stadium tunnels. It left once he stood in the marked spot, no doubt leaving to collect another competitor. A medical servitor arrived a moment later, placing patches of something medical on James’s cuts.

His handheld buzzed.

“Cutting it close there, friend,” Paulie said as James answered.

“Pun intended?” James asked sarcastically.

“Very much so,” Paulie answered back. “Just remember the better your show the better your pay.”

James walked out of the medical area an into the nearby tunnel. “You must have your voice on a recording, because that’s the same thing you’ve told me every time you called.”

“No need to get testy, friend,” Paulie said. “It’s just a simple reminder. You were adequate enough. Bets are still at good odds for you. Time to turn it all around.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” James said. “But I don’t think I’m going to win easily anymore.”

“No, not likely at all,” Paulie answered. “However, people have to take you seriously after you win the next match.”

“That was the plan,” James answered. “Now, do you have any other comments or can I focus on the upcoming match?”

“Ha! Always spirited you are,” Paulie said. “How about some help. Your next opponent is like you, all counters and misdirection. Some unorthodox cultivator that uses fans. Spins up tornadoes in the ring, so watch out.”

“Thanks, I guess,” James said. “Didn’t expect you to do any research.”

“Just protecting the investment,” Paulie said. “Can’t have you losing just yet.”

“Yeah, yeah,” James said. “Later.”

“Talk to you soon, friend,” Paulie said with a laugh.

James closed the call and rolled his shoulders. He was starting to get tired of Paulie’s constant checkups.

“Attention everyone! There will be a thirty minute break as we reset the stages in order to prepare for the next matches!” shouted the announcer. “Feel free to enjoy our many excellent concessions! And perhaps an arcade game or two? This goes for our contestants as well, but be sure to get back in time for your match, tardiness is an instant disqualification!”

“Scrapheap, there you are!”

James turned to see Peregrine moving down the tunnel toward him. “I thought I might find you here! Come, we must talk.”

“Peregrine, what?” James asked as the teenager grabbed his arm. “I’m kind of busy with the tournament.”

“Not right now you aren’t,” the teen said. “Hurry up, we need to find somewhere out of the way.”

“I don’t follow,” James said.

Peregrine looked around hastily before turning to James. “Did you not hear the announcer?”

“Yeah, the thirty minute break,” James said. “What about it?”

“Not that part,” Peregrine hissed. “The tardiness.”

“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere,” James said.

“Imbecile,” Peregrine said. “Did your master not warn you?”

“She’s been doing the whole sink or swim training at the moment,” James said.

“Ah, it seems she started to show you her true colors,” Peregrine said.

“Yeah, let’s go with that,” James answered. “But what about this break?”

“Contestants are free to roam, scrapheap,” Peregrine said. “All of them, including those that already lost. How many do you think are happy about losing? How many would attempt to get in your way before your next match? Tardiness is an instant disqualification, even by a second.”

The implication of Peregrine’s words struck James. Did Paulie know about this? He had to. Unlike James, the gangster was a native of the city, he had to know about the games and all it entailed. Meaning that he wanted James to fail in this upcoming bout.

But why? The action made no sense in James’s head. There had to be something else going on then. Perhaps some other betting James wasn’t privy to.

“Aren’t there rules against stopping contestants?” James asked.

“Only if you are seen,” Peregrine said.

“Then why are you taking me out of the giant stadium filled with almost every eye watching?” James asked.

“Besides the fact that its filled with every cultivator you beat?” Peregrine challenged. “How many do you think know shadow arts, or can make traps, or have any other number of ways to stop someone like yourself. No, the best option is to be away from the action entirely. You can meet with your master later and have her escort you back in. No one would dare try anything then.”

It made a small amount of sense, but James still had questions. “Why not just bring me to master right away then?”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“And trust her for the whole thirty minutes?” Peregrine asked, flabbergasted.

“What difference is it if its three or thirty?” James asked. “She has to escort me anyway.”

Peregrine halted, pushing the two of them into dark corner. “I never thought of that.”

“I’ll just take the risk,” James said.

“No, that isn’t right,” Peregrine said. “These games are supposed to be honorable, ways for the sects to join together in camaraderie. I don’t know when all this backstabbing and treachery started but I won’t allow these duplicitous acts.”

The teenager paused awkwardly. “…And I still owe you.”

“For what?” James asked confused.

“For the assassin,” Peregrine answered. “I will remedy my mistake.”

“You’re already agreeing to testify against your sworn brother,” James replied. “You don’t have to do anything more than that.”

“This is for my honor, not yours,” Peregrine said angrily. “I cannot call myself righteous if I don’t remedy this.”

The teenager thought for a moment. “We can have my master escort you.”

James took a step back. “No way. He hates me.”

“He hates your master,” Peregrine said. “He believes that she is a danger to the sect. You, on the other hand, are an unfortunate victim. Master would have no qualm escorting you.”

“And what, we’re just going to walk up to him and go, ‘Hey there, could you escort me to my match?’” James asked.

Peregrine shook his head. “Of course not. We shall explain things to him. Once he hears our side of the story I am sure he will accept.”

James sighed. “I’m not talking you out of this, am I?”

Peregrine snorted. “Bold of you to assume I could be reasoned with.”

“Was that a joke at yourself?” James asked incredulously.

“Yes, I learned self-deprecating humor from you,” Peregrine said with a grin.

“You cheeky beast,” James said.

“I am as sly as the tiger,” Peregrine answered. “Now, follow me. I shall take you to master.”

James sighed and let Peregrine lead, texting Nadia to meet them at Osman’s as he followed. She replied shortly that she was on her way.

Peregrine brought James up flights of stairs, doing his best to eye everyone with suspicion. Despite Peregrine’s caution, they moved at a fairly quick pace. Fast enough to reach where Osman was in a few minutes.

“Wait, what is he doing?” Peregrine asked as they arrived on the floor.

James looked around, trying to see what his companion saw. He spied Osman over the crowd, the stern medical cultivator scanning the floor for something.

James pulled Peregrine down. “Duck.”

“What, why?” the teenager hissed.

“Because I don’t want him to see us together before we have a good explanation,” James lied.

In truth, he found Osman’s behavior suspicious.

Peregrine’s eyes shone with realization. “Good idea. How about I found you almost taken out by a group trying to stop you from advancing?”

“Shh, hold on,” James said. He looked back over at Osman. “Wait, he just spotted someone.”

He followed Osman’s line of sight, pausing in surprise as he saw the target

Paulie leaned on the side of a far wall, looking every part the idle waiter. Every few seconds he checked his phone before going back to watching the crowd. A moment later he caught Osman’s eye and jerked his head ever so slightly. James watched as the two started to move through the crowd and meet up.

“I know that gangster,” James whispered to Peregrine. “Why’s he meeting with your master?”

“Why do you know gangsters?” Peregrine asked suspiciously.

“Is that really important right now?” James asked. “Why does your master know gangsters?”

“He doesn’t,” Peregrine said. “This gangster you know must be someone undercover or something.”

“The gangs can’t be that strong, can they?” James asked.

“No, but it is useful to keep an eye on the underbelly of the city,” Peregrine reasoned. “He must use them for information. He has to.”

There was doubt behind Peregrine’s eyes, but James could tell the teenage cultivator wouldn’t budge from his belief. The teenager refused to entertain the notion that his master, the one who taught him everything about right and wrong, did not follow a righteous path. James let the matter die, arguing any further would likely make Peregrine more defensive. “It’s probably not a good idea to meet with him right now then. If Osman picks up that the gangster knows me things won’t be good for either of us.”

“I agree, disciple.”

James almost jumped into the ceiling and Peregrine almost shrieked. A hand kept James secured to the ground while another held Peregrine’s mouth shut.

“Calm yourselves,” Nadia said.

“Beasts, master,” James gasped. “Did you have to sneak up on us like that?”

“Yes,” Nadia said. “Osman would have known otherwise. Now, why is it you know a gangster, disciple?”

“Master, is that really important right now?” James asked. “Like I said to Peregrine earlier, why does his master know gangsters?”

Nadia glowered at James. “You are right, we should focus on Osman for now. But this conversation is not over, disciple.”

“Yes, master,” James said.

“I already said he was undercover,” Peregrine argued. “Master wouldn’t associate with people like this. He’s righteous, unlike you.”

James was honestly amazed at how dense Peregrine could be sometimes. He suspects Nadia of being a demonic cultivator, and then directly insults her to her face.

Luckily, she only took it with amusement. “I’m sure his intentions are righteous. However, I must still determine his reason for using gangsters.”

“Then let’s follow them,” James said. “I’m sure they’ll be back in time for the games.”

“Bringing you would be too dangerous,” Nadia said.

“Master, Peregrine is likely going to follow you no matter what,” James said.

Peregrine looked at James in betrayal. “How could you rat me out like that?”

“Oh come on, we both know you would be caught instantly,” James said. He turned to Nadia. “Since he’s following you anyway, and would blow your cover. It’s actually safer to take him with us.”

Nadia thought about it for a moment, then sighed. “Very well. However, Peregrine must give me his handheld.”

“What? Never!” Peregrine said.

“I cannot have you alerting Osman,” Nadia said. “I am already being generous. It is a trivial matter for me to knock you out. I do not out of respect for your master.”

Peregrine grumbled. James could see the doubt still in him, though. He wanted to believe his master but a lot of the teenager’s world had shaken recently. If his sworn brother could act the way he did against James, perhaps others in his life weren’t what they seemed either. However, the young cultivator also wanted to believe in his mentor. He needed a reason to follow, no matter how flimsy it could be.

“If you don’t hand it over you’ll be left behind,” James said, giving Peregrine an out to his dilemma. “Likely unconscious with no way to warn your master. This way you can keep tabs on Nadia.”

Or be a hostage, but James didn’t say that part. He doubted Peregrine would think of that either, the teen had a one track mind straighter than lines on graph paper.

“Fine,” Peregrine said, handing over his handheld. “But we’re only observing.”

“That was always the plan,” Nadia said. “Now, come with me. I shall make sure our trace is masked.”

They followed behind Nadia in the crowd, staying far away from Osman and Paulie as the two walked. They seemed to be discussing something, though James couldn’t make any of it out.

Eventually, the two left the stadium and made their way to Osman’s flying vehicle. Nadia waited a moment before leading everyone into hers to follow. Surprisingly, Osman’s vehicle stayed on the same floor, traveling far to the outskirts. Traffic started to disperse and Nadia ducked the car low behind some buildings to keep Osman from catching their tail.

Eventually, Osman’s vehicle stopped in front of a large warehouse like building. Fences of scrap stood around it, makeshift barriers whose look did more to repel the curious than their integrity.

“Where are we?” James asked.

“At the edge of the floor,” Nadia said. “The further from the central elevator, the less desirable the property. It leads to situations like this.”

She directed her vehicle down behind a discarded series of buildings.

“There is a high likelihood of cameras and other sensors,” Nadia said. “Make sure to stay near me.”

James watched as his master conjured a wall of water, manipulating it into a refractive surface that pushed Nadia’s form out of sight.

“The water will prevent the most common sensors, heat and vision,” she explained. “You must stay as close to me as possible.”

The two fledgling cultivators nodded as they walked toward the building.