Vivi’s vision went black for a moment before the scenery swapped. She arrived next to a marble fountain on a wide street. Ythar’s pyramid palace loomed ahead, spires rising from each one of its corners. To Vivi’s left was a dome-shaped arena. Its golden facades reflected sunlight. To her right, colorful locium decorated buildings and bridges. Rich was the only word Vivi could use to describe the area. The paved path beneath her was immaculate and pretty.

Extravagant outfits filled the street: swordmaidens’ dresses, ironed suits. The men’s hair was trimmed and clean, while women with blessed names glowed, hair done in pretty wavy streaks. Some had their hair tied to buns, outfits more prepared for battle, but everyone was on their best appearances. Hunters strolled proudly, spirits sitting on their shoulders.

Then there was Vivi. In her grey raincoat, last full bath in a river some days ago, skin still sweaty from the earlier fights. Within five seconds of arrival, she received sideways glances from humanity’s heroes. Some paused to look at her, though most seemed to be minding their own business.

Passing spirits sat calmly on their wielder’s shoulders, or were hidden in their cores entirely. Lucius, however, fluttered around Vivi like an idiot. He curiously examined everyone around them. Um, Lucius? Vivi thought. She felt her face growing red.

“Everyone is strong here,” Lucius said. “Let’s pick someone to duel. Someone who’s slightly stronger than us.”

Vivi picked a direction and began walking, head pointing toward the ground. I feel like I’m being hunted already!

“Pursuers don’t matter,” Lucius said. “Nobody can hurt us here. We’re free to explore.”

She walked for a bit, passing more ether hunters. The whole place made Vivi nauseous. The elegant people around her were the same men who defended humanity. It was because of them that the surface was free of monsters and not overrun by demons.

Yet, everyone who passed Vivi was her enemy. The hunters looked at her as if she was an unwelcome piece of trash. Humanity’s heroes believed Vivi was one of the monsters they had to kill.

A tall muscular ether hunter passed Vivi from up close. Lucius’s eyes lit up. A blue cat spirit sat elegantly on the man’s shoulder. Compared to Lucius, the spirit appeared like royalty. Its posture was reserved yet confident, and the eyes were beautiful.

“Ooh, is that you, Zuri?” Lucius gushed, flying to the blue spirit’s level.

Zuri’s wielder paused his stroll. He gave Vivi the side-eye.

“Uhm, hello…” Vivi said with an awkward smile. The man was scary. His look was hostile in the same way that Andre’s was. Vivi knew she couldn’t be harmed, but the look urged her to step back.

“Zuri, It’s me, Lucius! We used to be in the same hunting group, remember?”

The spirit gave Lucius a cold look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A girly voice. “You’re the one who has a bounty of five thousand ether under your name.”

Lucius appeared shocked. “What do you mean you don’t know? We used to hunt together just a year ago!”

“Hmph,” Zuri said. “You two smell. Go take a bath.”

“Did you have business with me?” the ether hunter asked, his figure looming over Vivi.

“Um, none at all,” Vivi said, awkwardly holding out her hands.

The hunter frowned at her for a moment longer before turning around. “Let’s go. This bounty isn’t worth our time. If we meet her in the wild, we’ll fight.”

“Yes, master,” Zuri said.

Lucius watched after them in bafflement. “Damned spirits and their short memories! Zuri used to be cool in her previous life!” He sniffed his armpits. “Do we smell, Vivi?”

I haven’t bathed in days, Lucius, Vivi thought. Of course I smell.

Vivi was about to turn and walk away, when more trouble arrived from the opposite side of her.

“Vivian Runeblessed?” a shocked but familiar voice said.

Serena Goldbridge and her spirit paused. The examiner wore a different swordmaiden’s dress than the one she’d worn in Fellwater. This one was a little less exquisite with less glowy patterns, but Serena looked pretty nonetheless. Her shock quickly turned into anger at the sight of Vivi. “Why are you here?”

“Ooh, it’s the Goldbridge piglet!” Lucius said. “Hello!”

Serena’s spirit flew down from its wielder’s shoulder. “Piglet?”

Lucius grinned. “Sorry, I meant piggy. You’re the piglet.”

The spirit looked confused, as if not understanding what was going on. “Is he insulting me?” it asked.

Serena took a deep breath. “Examine them, please.”

The spirit pouted for a moment, then said. “Okay.”

The spirit peered into Vivi’s soul, examining her just like she had done on the surface. Lucius crossed his arms beside Vivi.

“Vivian Runeblessed is 14950 ether in debt,” Serena’s spirit said. “Lucius has over two thousand.”

“Two thousand in the positives,” Serena said. “An interesting strategy. You’re avoiding your debts by letting your spirit hold ether.”

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“We’ve been growing fast,” Vivi said. “I can clear my debts by the end of the year. I’m sorry about my spirit’s insults. He, um, has a quick mouth.”

“You’re being wasteful,” Serena said. “Ether hunters are supposed to control their spirits. It seems like your spirit is controlling you. You are not a proper ether hunter.”

“And what choice do I have?” Vivi asked. “I can either get myself killed, or I can fight. I intend to clear my debt. Then I intend to become an ether hunter for real.”

Serena scowled, hearing that. “You have already betrayed us. Your spirit will be retrieved.”

Why? Vivi thought. How have I betrayed anyone? I just wanted to live!

Lucius glanced at her. He could feel Vivi’s emotions. He stayed totally calm as he turned to Serena. “Goldbridge Piggy. We challenge you to a duel.”

Vivi flinched. What?

Wrinkles appeared on Serena’s forehead. “Your whereabouts are known. You are stuck in the prison of Zand. It’s only a matter of time before you die, or the prison is conquered and you’re retrieved. Visiting Paradise is futile. I will not fight you. I have a meeting I need to attend.”

“You are a weakling,” Lucius said. “A pawn. You will not defeat my wielder in a duel.”

Lucius, stop, Vivi thought. We don’t need to make ourselves appear rude.

“Does it matter?” Lucius asked. “Serena is easily provoked. We can duel her. It’s good practice, fighting someone to the death.”

“In fact,” Lucius continued. “We can defeat someone as weak as you in less than two minutes.”

“I said I have a meeting I need to attend,” Serena said. “Step out of the way.”

“Well, isn’t that a shame,” Lucius said. “You’re going to miss that meeting after losing to us.”

Serena’s spirit floated in front of Lucius. “Stop! You’re making her mad!”

Serena sighed, growing annoyed. She held out her palm, recalling her spirit. A blade appeared in her hands. The same blade that had nearly killed Vivi on the surface. Serena’s skin became exalted.

“If two minutes is what they request, two minutes we will give.” Serena formed a stance with her sword and faced Vivi. “I will show you exactly why neither of you are cut out to become ether hunters.”

Lucius returned to her core with a grin on his face. Vivi, too, shone with ether, though her being wasn’t angelic like Serena’s. Vivi had no blessed surname, and her clothes came directly from a dungeon crawl.

In a panicked rush, Vivi called her runesword. She wielded it in her right hand. Her left hand turned to claws. Her stance was awkward and unpracticed—the opposite of Serena’s practiced confidence—but Vivi’s senses were empowered by ether. She still felt powerful.

A crowd of ether hunters gathered to watch the commotion. Serena breathed in and prepared a lunge. “One blow is all I’ll need. The days of runesmithing are over. Your flimsy sword will be cut, just as it did on the surface.”

Serena dashed forth and threw an overhead swing. She was fast! Vivi raised her sword haphazardly to block, managing just in time.

Serena’s swing was seriously powerful. Years of practice radiated from her form. The spirit blade made contact with Vivi’s runesword.

Vivi was pushed back, stumbling backwards. She nearly fell before regaining her footing. Serena’s blade had hit her block head-on. Vivi had no chance in a fair fight.

But her sword held. Serena frowned.

She’s not taking this seriously, Vivi thought. Serena was far faster and more skilled with the sword. Serena could have pressed the advantage, likely defeating Vivi with the initial charge. However, she appeared curious, as if provoking Vivi to attack.

“Let’s make her serious,” Lucius said. “Show me your ideas.”

Yes, Vivi thought, preparing her attack. “Lucius, empower my claws, then move all of your ether to my sword. You’ll know when.

Vivi dashed forth without fear. She swiped with her claws, sending a charged claw attack at Serena.

Serena read the ranged claw attack easily. She blocked with her sword, taking no damage.

The claw attack’s purpose wasn’t to cause damage. The purpose was to force Serena onto the defensive. Vivi followed the swipe with her sword. The veins of her runesword glowed brightly as her swing hit Serena’s spirit blade head-on.

Serena’s hair flared by the impact. Her spirit blade flickered, momentarily losing its color. A misty ether-aura formed as Serena’s spirit leaked ether.

Serena’s eyes opened wide. She quickly pushed more ether into her sword to regain its color.

The two blades were caught in a bind. Serena’s footing was strong. The hunter pushed, easily blowing Vivi off. Vivi stumbled backwards.

Immediately, Serena dashed for a counter-attack.

Vivi was slow. Her opponent’s movements were far too fast to keep up with. Vivi held her sword, blocking by sheer luck.

By the time she had defended one attack, Serena had already redirected her sword, hitting Vivi in a different spot.

Vivi held out her claws, attempting to block. The gesture was awkward. Serena’s sword slipped from the claws, cutting off Vivi’s thumb.

Vivi held in her screams. Ether helped her concentrate, ignoring the pain. We can’t be hurt here, Vivi reminded herself. Stay on the offense.

She swung hard with her sword, simultaneously throwing a ranged claw attack. Serena was forced back.

Now! Vivi thought. She shot forth another claw swipe—hoping to push Serena into the defensive—and immediately lifted her sword. This time, Vivi intended to cut the spirit blade.

Serena didn’t fall for the trick a second time. Instead of blocking the claw attack, Serena shot her own ranged attack. A slash projectile shot forth from the spirit sword, cutting through Vivi’s charged claws.

Vivi was forced to defend. She slashed at Serena’s projectile, cutting it in half. The halves flew astray, cutting into Vivi’s left shoulder and right cheek as they passed. She winced.

Where was Serena? The woman disappeared from where she’d stood. Vivi glanced around herself, checking the audience. Serena was gone.

“Behind!” Lucius said.

“Too slow,” a voice said. An arm wrapped around Vivi’s neck. A powerful current of ether pressed against her throat. Serena had caught her.

Serena spoke next to her ear. “I can’t guess how you’re still alive, or how you and your spirit gained a few thousand ether. Regardless, you’re far too clumsy. Training you is not worth our time. I hope you know now why it’s best for us to kill you, and to offer your spirit to someone more skillful.”

Vivi lost. She was too slow. Her form worked against her. Fighting humans was entirely different from hunting monsters. Vivi struggled to brute force her way through someone who knew swordsmanship.

“It was well fought,” Lucius said. “Serena has far more ether than us. She’s maxed out. It’s only natural we’ll lose. This was good practice.”

Vivi waited for Serena to cut her throat. The duel was lost. She was ready to wake up back in Zand. The trip had been far from useless; Vivi gained valuable practice.

Suddenly, the crowd cleared up. The air became thicker, more concentrated with ether. Hunters bowed and made way for someone. Vivi’s senses flared warning, as if a natural catastrophe was approaching.

The black-haired woman that entered was by far the most powerful being Vivi had come across.