18 YEARS AGO
It’s never a good thing when one realizes they’ve been poisoned. It’s even worse when they do so while in the middle of the most important fight of their life. When that fight is against a stuck-up noble who would love nothing more than to see their opponent never walk again, it starts to sound like a cliché story trope instead of real life. This, of course, is where Rhona Tell found herself on the final day of the annual Corvelin Preparatory Academy combat tournament.
It started not long into her semi-final match. Rhona was forced to duck a horizontal slash from Arnold Belanger’s sword and decided to counter with a stab meant to cripple his lead leg. It was a standard tactic for her: it served her well as she knew all combatants depended on their legs for survival, even mages. It should have landed. However, Arnold was able to position his shield just in time to block her attack.
A spectator might have thought this was a simple exchange, but Rhona immediately knew something was wrong.
Shifting her weight to accept any attacks, Rhona internally cataloged her physical condition: Shortness of breath, blurry vision, and slowed reactions, to name the most concerning. ‘Someone definitely drugged me,’ Rhona thought as the warded edge of her blade met Arnold’s own warded sword, and she was forced to backstep to avoid being caught by a shield bash. She had embarrassed him enough throughout their stint at the Academy to know his tricks, though acting on that knowledge was going to be more difficult in her current state.
As Arnold advanced, Rhona was forced to continue retreating around the colosseum’s main stage. “What’s wrong, Tell?” Arnold teased between strikes. “You seem less… aggressive than usual. Are you finally realizing how in over your head you are?” Typical noble trash talk from a typical noble brat. Rhona had heard similar comments often enough to ignore it and continued her retreat. She would have to overcome her symptoms and find a way to take advantage of Arnold’s openings.
Rhona failed to land a single impactful strike through all the dodges, parries, and counters they exchanged. Her double-edged blade, which always felt perfect in her hands in the past, soon felt like it was only there to weigh her down. The usual ease she felt when grasping the leather-wrapped pommel was gone, making her feel as if the sword wanted to escape her grasp with every move.
She was starting to panic, and that panic only grew as she remembered what she was fighting to prove. If Arnold kept her out of the finals, it would only serve as proof to the nobles that they were right to look down on her and the other commoner students.
Rhona redoubled her efforts, speeding up her strikes and forcing Arnold to cover up with his shield and focus on defending. Thousands of in-person and millions of virtual spectators who had watched Rhona cruise through her bracket thought she had regained her top form. Those with real experience only saw a sloppy imitation of her usual grace and overwhelming technique.
With each move Rhona made, she grew slower. Her breathing now came in gasps. The darkness on the edge of her vision slowly expanded until she could barely see. She couldn’t think straight and soon knew this round would be her last. Even if she could prove she was poisoned, it would do no good. She would have to report it to the tournament officials if she wanted anything to be done, and those tournament officials were all either nobles or would be paid and intimidated to look the other way.
‘All this for little Arnold’s pride and the pride of the Belanger house.’ Rhona knew the thought was useless, but she couldn’t help letting the rage take control. It was the only thing allowing her to continue as she proceeded to pound at Arnold’s defenses with less and less force and control. Her usual calm and calculating style was nowhere to be seen, and she could do nothing but wildly swing her sword. ‘At least I get to leave this magicless realm soon,’ Rhona thought, bringing her sword up for what she thought would be the last swing she could muster.
The impact she expected never came, and the horizontal slash's momentum forced her to turn 180 degrees. All she could do was wait for the blunted edge of Arnold’s warded sword to strike, simulating a vital strike and signaling the end of the match. The attack finally came, and Rhona had only one thought before her sight turned entirely black, and she lost consciousness. ‘Why isn’t Arnold’s sword warded?’
***
Walter Mayfield looked on as one of the Academy’s most promising students in the past two decades was smothered by the overwhelming blanket that was politics. ‘That woman is as nasty as ever it seems.’ Despite him knowing exactly what just happened to Rhona Tell, as well as why it happened, he would do nothing to help the girl. There was too much at stake for him to worry about a lone promising student when so much could be gained from her misfortune. Give and take. Poor Rhona’s situation was something he was willing to give, and now it was time for him to take what he needed.
As medics rushed onto the field and spectators shouted for answers, Walter left his seat in the headmaster’s private box and made his way to the exit. The hallway connecting the many viewing boxes overlooking the Academy’s wargames colosseum was empty except for the waiting staff meant to keep the more important tournament guests satisfied with food and spirits. As Walter passed, the staff moved off to the side, bowing their heads in recognition of his power and position.
Soon, he was at the door leading to the Mayfield family box, and he prepared himself for the political games he would regretfully have to play despite them being his own family. ‘I cannot believe these are my relations,’ Walter thought for perhaps the thousandth time since his return to Earth. After one last sigh and tightening his expression, he entered.
The only word to describe the box, like most of the homes of the Mayfield family on Earth, was overindulgent. Rare artwork lined the walls, and expensive materials from Earth and Dintarnum were abundant. Huge buffets of decadent food were scattered around the space, and hundreds of fancily dressed peacocks, otherwise known as members of the Mayfield family, mingled. Although Walter demanded great respect among the magical and mundane crowds on Earth, this group of self-absorbed nobles did not notice his entrance any more than if he were another member of the waiting staff.
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It did not take long for Walter to find Corinna standing beside her husband, watching the medical staff leave the field. Rhona was being carried out of the colosseum in the direction of the ambulances provided by the hospital just off Corvelin Preparatory Academy’s campus. Corinna’s expression might have conveyed concern to anyone watching, but Walter was sure there was nothing but pure glee in her eyes as she watched her son’s girlfriend being carried away.
“Corinna, Jorgin, congratulations seem to be in order. Roger will likely be the year’s primo now that Miss Tell has been defeated. While Mr. Belanger is a fine combatant, I do not see him overcoming your son’s spear work without another miracle.” Walter made sure to keep his tone civil, though he could not help feeling nauseous when seeing the look of pride both of them wore at the mention of their son’s likely tournament victory.
“Thank you, headmaster,” Corinna said as she and Jorgin turned away from the colosseum floor to address Walter. “I do not think it was ever in question, regardless of who Roger faced in the finals. The Tell girl may be good for a commoner, but my son is a caliber above Earth’s normal elites, as he has proven since he was young.”
“I must agree with my wife,” Jorgin added as if he would ever openly disagree with her in the first place. “While there are many competent and even excellent Subject holders who originate from Earth, Roger has shown the potential to be a cut above even most from my own realm.” Walter couldn’t help but sigh internally. It always seemed like anyone from Dintarnum had to stress they were from another realm and a magical one at that. That went doubly so for those who married into Earth’s noble houses. At least Jorgin learned English. Walter often found it more convenient to converse in his native language despite all students and faculty at the Academy being fluent in Dintarnum’s common language.
“Yes, he will make Earth proud, I am sure.” Walter was done with the formalities and decided to proceed with his reason for coming to the box in the first place. “Now, Corinna, I wonder if you might join me for a quick word before the start of the final round?” With her nodded acceptance, they left Jorgin and the rest of the spectators in the Mayfield box and returned to the headmaster’s box.
“What might I help you with, Walter? It is unlike you to be so diplomatic, especially when it comes to the family.”
“I have come to collect on your little gamble, of course.” Spurred on by Corinna’s frozen expression, he continued. “While I commend you for your efforts at discretion, this is my school, Corinna. It has been mine for a very long time, and I have seen much when it comes to attempts at tampering with tournament participants.”
Corinna grew increasingly closed off with each word, clearly trying to feign impassivity. However, Walter did not need any sort of confirmation from her and continued to lay out her misconduct as though he saw her every move.
“You may not have been the one who actually added something extra to Miss Tell’s pre-match beverage, and you may not have been in charge of implementing and maintaining the wards on Mr. Belanger’s equipment, but do not think for a second you can fool me on this campus. I AM THIS ACADEMY!” Walter’s words grew in volume until he was shouting. With those final shouted words came a flare of something more. Mana struggled to escape Walter’s iron control. His Subject burned inside him, urging him to call on his Abilities as an enchanter. While his Subject was a non-combat one and lacked many of the martial-based abilities Corinna’s combat Subject would provide her, Walter was still a significantly higher tier than Corinna, and they both knew he would have no trouble wiping her from existence.
The disparity between the two was evident as Corinna was forced onto one knee. She struggled to keep her head from lowering, only Walter’s lack of genuine effort and her extreme pride keeping her eyes from the floor. “I did it for my son, Walter. My son and the Mayfield family name.”
Walter knew Corinna’s reasons. Roger was stubborn and likely made his thoughts regarding Rhona Tell clear to Corinna over the years. ‘I am not surprised she felt this was necessary,’ Walter thought. ‘Roger has been a force of nature since before he came to the Academy.’
“Regardless of how you feel about the girl, this is not somewhere you get to do whatever you want and ignore the consequences. Now, pick yourself up and take a seat. We are going to discuss what your little stunt is going to cost you.” After taking Walter’s proffered hand, Corinna stood and approached the seat next to Walter’s own.
“There is nothing you can do to change the outcome of the match,” Corinna was once again calm, or at least outwardly so, as she took the chance to speak on her behalf. “If you release what you know, it will not only hurt the Mayfield family but the Academy as well. You might not care about the family name as much as I do, but as you said before, you are the Academy.”
While Walter knew he could contest this point, there was little reason to. He knew what Corinna was truly after with her actions, and it was not a simple guarantee that Roger would win the tournament. “I have no plans to reveal the circumstances which led to Miss Tell’s loss. I can, however, insist she be allowed to make the shift to Dintarnum despite any new medical issues she may have developed due to the injuries she sustained today.” The rage in Corinna’s eyes at this statement was all the confirmation Walter would have needed had he needed any in the first place.
“I will not have my son tied to that common filth just as he enters the most important period of his life. She would only drag him down, sucking away his potential.”
“That is not enough of a reason to keep one of the best students this Academy has produced in the last two decades out of the Realm Shift. She has too much potential to be kept on Earth.” Before Corinna was able to respond, Walter played his final card. It was time to take what he needed, what Rhona Tell would be paying for. “I am willing to make an exception. However, I will need something from you in return.”
Corinna's previously serious expression soon turned into a grin. “And what, may I ask, is it you require of me?”
“I know you have plans for Roger’s future, just as you greatly influenced where each of your children was posted at the start of their service. In exchange for my assistance now, you will not fight it when Roger is put under the commander of Captain Martin Detrum of the Corvelin Royal Guard.”
The look of shock on Corinna’s face gave Walter so much enjoyment it almost made the political maneuvering worth it. Then he remembered what Rhona would be forced to give up because of this political maneuvering, and the pleasure was gone as fast as it appeared.
“Wha…? Wh….? How exactly do you expect him to be selected by the Royal Guard at such a young age?” Corinna could not quite understand the how of the matter, let alone why Walter would want him there in the first place.
“Leave that to me. Just promise me you will not fight against the assignment.” Walter was sure she would have found something suspicious had Roger been given the assignment out of nowhere. Despite her relatively low tier, she could likely make it difficult for Roger’s appointment to the Royal Guard to stick. She had some nasty friends in rather high places in Corvelin.
Walter was left watching Corinna as she contemplated his proposal. It was apparent she did not like the idea of Roger being assigned somewhere where she had zero influence. In the end, however, she seemed to care more about Rhona not making the shift than having control over Roger’s assignment.
“Very well. As long as that girl is not on the platform during the Realm Shift, I will not fight it if Roger is assigned to the Royal Guard.” Corinna declared her decision with no further hesitation. As Walter could attest to firsthand, Mayfields tended to be a bit overconfident in their youth. He had been young once… Well, perhaps a Mayfield did not have to be young to suffer from the odd fit of boldness, but he was definitely not as bad as his sister if what he heard about her travels from time to time was to be believed.
“Thank you, Corinna. I know Roger will do well under Captain Detrum.” With the game of give and take over, Walter turned to look out at the arena floor below. “Now, shall we watch your son’s final bout here on Earth?”