Kichi awake with sandpaper in her eyes. Her head ached, and her neck had been put in a vise.
“Good morning,” Whitebeard said. He looked sad. His half-lidded eyes scrolled the view over the balcony. When he noticed her looking at him, he smiled as if there wasn’t an ounce of melancholy in him. “Well, it’s a morning, anyway.”
She hadn't slept a wink. She was in a chair in Whitebeard’s room, fully clothed with her boots on. Bringing back memories from the previous night was like playing fetch with a snail.
She remembered the murder, the elixir, and the search for Ema. This brought her out of the chair. “Any news?”
“I'm afraid not.”
Kichi looked down from the balcony, and her eyes widened. A mass funneled into the castle interior. It seemed half the city of Dunaguard had entered the gate and filled the seats around the arena. Even in the relative calm, a constant sound like that of a cicada filled the whole space. She’d never seen so many people gathered in one place.
Whitebeard plopped his hat atop his head. “It’s how to keep the people from revolution. It's an old practice. It goes back to empires of old.”
“Just to watch knights fight?”
“Hardly only that. Other forms of spectacle some would deem reprehensible have been brought back. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a hybrid play out. Grab your stuff, let’s go before we’re late.”
Kichi followed him, and when they neared the chamber with the iron maiden, she wanted to stop and see if it were still there, but Whitebeard's long legs set a grueling pace. Near the platform, there was a place for nobility and knights.
Masahide looked like he'd fallen down the stairs and hit every step with his face. That may have been an exaggeration, but he looked tired. His blond hair hung to one side, unkempt. “Thanks for helping me look for Ema.”
Kichi touched his arm. “We’ll find her.”
The three found a place to sit and started shuffling between benches. She sat and knew the stone would become uncomfortable as the day wore on. A woman came and gave them their numbers—Kichi got fifty, and Masahide got one-hundred-and-thirteen.
The Duke's son was coming to the front when he noticed them. He looked at Masahide. “You're up first. I hope you’re ready. The lot of you look pathetic. Why don't you leave and save yourselves the misery?”
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Whitebeard chuckled. “I could ask the same of you.”
Akisane twitched around the eye. He looked on edge. He stalked away to join his family.
It seemed the Duke had an extended family, all looking like they’d eaten something sour.
Kichi didn’t understand what order the son belonged to. “He’s taken a knight’s name, but where’s his order?”
Masahide rubbed his eyes. “I don’t know. Something’s not right. The whole family’s a bunch of known schemers.”
Whitebeard turned and waved.
Hisa skipped down the stairs, twirling a walking stick. “I brought this in case we have to start doing some measuring around here.“
The two laughed. Kichi could tell they’d been friends a long time.
“Akisane,” Kichi said, “told us Masahide will be up first. He’s too tired to fight today.”
Hisa waved the stick. “They give everyone a number. It's supposed to be all random. So there's no way he could know unless he has prescience.”
Whitebeard dismissed the possibility. “I would’ve known by now. One of your own said they’d read his palm. That’s enough to rule that out.”
“Then he doesn’t know. Maybe he’s just trying to frighten Masahide.”
The crowd fell silent.
Duke Akitomo walked onto the square. ”This tournament is like none you have ever attended or participated in. Over the next week, a single winner will emerge victorious. However, the arena sport Dunaguard knows well and respects as tradition will augment the competition. We have five of the eleven orders participating. I am deeply honored that this shall be held with us at the center of the realm. None of you came here to hear me speak, so let's begin!”
The crowd erupted.
A high voice called numbers. It was hard to hear, but the crowd chanted it back. The numbers were “one-hundred-and-thirteen” and “ninety-seven.”
Whitebeard nodded. “So it's rigged.”
Kichi looked between her companions. “Call it off. You’re too tired. This isn’t a good idea.”
Masahide stood and wobbled. “Oh, a little dizzy. "
Kichi
Level: 6
Focus: Prescience
Secondary focus: Lava+1
Weapons: pure sword - 3% pure
Items: Near Field Amulet (Prescience+2, focus)