lyssa [https://imgur.com/VUePKrs.png]

Lyssa was the first to spot the tracks. Staring down one of the long roads, she saw an upturned train car. Days before, it had been aflame. A man had tested his new powers on the passerby and been thrown into the flames by Zeal. The memories were so vivid in her mind that she nearly forgot to mention the train car to the others. Sitting not far off, the tracks greeted.

Abel’s eyes had been bright, almost crazed as he explained what had transpired after winning the final round. Questions and answers, delivered by the fully sentient voice of Sky Sight. She had no reason to doubt him, as ludicrous as the story sounded. Enough ludicrous things had already happened within the city, she found herself ready to believe anything that Abel or Sarah said. They were the only two people she could trust.

The empty tracks led them closer and closer to the blue barrier. Soon, they were passing the western line cars which they had been riding days before. They passed several which were riddled with blackened holes, as though meteors had fallen from the sky and ripped through the metal. Lyssa remembered the night of their arrival, the bright flashes of light, the shaking of the ground.

The forcefield surrounding the city caused her skin and hair to stand on end as they drew nearer. The sheer size of it made her feel daunted, like an ant. Tilting her head back to discern the top simply made her dizzy. There was a dull, almost imperceptible hum radiating from it, and what bothered her the most was it’s lack of definition. It had no clear edges, with fuzzy auras spreading out several feet from the main beam with an eerie blue glow.

Sarah stopped walking first, when they were still quite a distance away, and gave them both a look. Lyssa understood her friend’s hesitance and walked to her side.

“It never said what part of the barrier you needed to touch for it to dissolve you or burn you or whatever,” Sarah explained. “We can see through it from here. No need to get closer.”

Abel didn’t seem to mind the decision, but he didn’t stop walking with them. He paced, legs bringing him back and forth in a line parallel to the barrier. His face was away from them, gaze cast through the blue light and towards the world outside.

The thought of normal, comfortable life made her heart ache. Thoughts of her former life felt like a dream. Images of her family slipped unwanted into her head and she shook them out. She turned to Sarah. “What time is it?”

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“I don’t have a watch,” Sarah shrugged. Abel looked over, then looked away with disappointment as the answer.

Had they even made it in time? Had the “visitors” to the city already come and gone?

Lyssa tapped her foot restlessly on the pavement as time lengthened. The city was quiet, aside from the dull hum of the barrier. It seemed most were still far away at the arena. Unsurprisingly, no one else had rushed to the edges of the city so quickly after the event’s climax.

If she wasn’t standing so close to a massive otherworldly monument, Lyssa thought she may have even felt the city to be peaceful, as devoid of life and sound as it was.

“Do you think we made it in time?” Sarah asked Abel.

He didn’t answer, didn’t stop pacing, but gave a visible shrug of his shoulders.

She was growing annoyed with how little he had told them. She had plenty of questions and he had told them he would talk later. Later had come.

Lyssa stopped tapping her foot and took two steps towards him. “What happened when you disappeared from the arena?”

He stopped his mindless walking finally and turned to her. “I already told you, it told me to ask three questions.”

“Right. And I’m asking you to explain in detail what those questions and answers were.” She lifted an arm to encompass the empty streets and then the barrier beside them, the empty land beyond. “No one else is around. We have time. You aren’t allowed to keep secrets.”

Abel chewed at his lip, then let out a sigh. “It’s not about keeping secrets. I’m still trying to process everything myself.”

“Then let us help. Three heads are better than one.”

Sarah walked up to stand beside her, nodded her head.

His eyes danced between them and the glowing field as he explained what had happened. Lyssa noted that he truly had already disseminated the most important points, but she stopped him as he explained the weapon he had been given as a reward.

“What is it? Can you show us?”

“Champion of the Arena.” With the Command came a golden sword. It was beautiful, reflecting the barrier’s light like a diamond as he held it out.

“It’s not a Command in Kara or Bara?” Sarah asked quietly. “Is that why Sky Sight said that it’s a Special Command?”

Abel grimaced. “It mentioned something about being able to connect to the user’s will. I’m not sure what that means.”

“Maybe it can change shape or something?” Lyssa suggested.

Abel seemed to remember something suddenly. He turned away and approached one of the tall buildings nearest them. They watched silently as he lifted the golden blade and brought it down. It bounced off the steel of the building, sending him back a pace. He turned back to them with a red face.

“It, Sky Sight, mentioned something about the sword cutting through any material. It doesn’t seem to work, though.”

The three shared a string of laughter, after which, Lyssa felt refreshed, as though a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She hadn’t laughed in what felt like ages. Seeing the smile on Sarah’s face, the shy embarrassment of Abel, she actually began to wonder if there was hope for them. If they could truly find happiness within the city.

A minute later, they caught sight of the first rocket.