I stood on the deck of the ship as we docked at the multi-level dock of the Nexus with my duffle bag of tomes slung over my shoulder and everybody else gathered around me with their stuff. Although I was on the deck and not floating, the ship was going slow enough that I didn’t feel motion sick, at least, plus I got rid of my wings. They would draw too much attention. Luckily I had something else to distract me. I was transfixed by the busy dock. All the people transporting cargo to and from ships and inspecting them as they came or went. And the sheer variety of ships, big and small, that came in or departed transfixed me.

Now I want to play a space exploration video game. One thing I missed about my old world was video games. NO! No, no, no. Stop it. No point in wishing to be in a place you can’t be in anyways. I’m here and about to fight in a tournament. I wonder what it’s going to be like during the tournament? All well, that’s future me’s problem.

With a small lurch, the ship stopped, and a couple of the crew members jumped from the ship to the dock and tied the ship down. Then a couple of other crew members grabbed a couple of planks and placed them on a low part of the railing and the dock so we could depart from the ship.

Seven hopped down from the helm and leaned against her sister, “Well, I got you here in one piece. As promised. And ahead of schedule.”

“You sure did,” Haze confirmed.

“You could say I did a great job.”

“I could.”

“Some would find that worthy of a reward.”

“Some would.”

“If only someone would compensate me for my work.”

“If only.”

“Please give me money.”

“Nope.”

“WHY NOT?!” Seven whined.

“Because we agreed that this was free of charge,” Haze countered with a rye smile.

“Yes, well—”

“Who’s the captain of this ship?!” a man asked loudly as he climbed the planks, interrupting Seven’s begging.

“I am,” Seven said, straightening.

The man wore a blue military uniform and a bushy mustache on his upper lip. He looked down from the plank and then hopped onto the deck, “To dock, you are required to fill out some paperwork and pay the docking fee of one-hundred Lucre.”

Seven gapped at the exorbitant price, “Wha-bu- how much paperwork?”

“One-hundred fifty pages. Signatures are required on eighty of them.”

Seven gapped again and turned to Haze with pleading eyes. Haze rolled her eyes, pulled out her coin purse, tossed the man a platinum coin, and said, “I’m not doing the paperwork.”

Tackling her sister with a hug, Seven exclaimed, “Best sister ever!!” then she turned to look up at Pike, who examined the sails for damage. “Pike!” she called, “Get down here and help with the paperwork!”

“I cannot assist you. I have seven-hundred seventy-four million two-hundred fifty-nine thousand five-hundred and eighteen stitches to examine before we fly anywhere else,” Pike answered.

“But I—”

Pike’s gaze snapped to Seven as he slowly repeated himself, “Seven-hundred. Seventy-four million. Two-hundred. Fifty-nine thousand. Five-hundred and eighteen. Stitches to examine. Or would you like to do my job for once?”

Seven recoiled a little at his words and asked, “Where’s the paperwork?” the dock officer gestured for her to follow him, and she reluctantly complied.

I looked back up at Pike as he examined the sails. Feeling my stare, he looked out of the corner of his eye and winked at me before going back to ‘examining’ the sails. I chuckled and followed everyone off the ship, the last one down the planks.

At the bottom of the plank where everyone gathered stood a man in a white three-piece suit with a matching fedora and black cane. Orrin Orre Wong Shi Tong smiled at them and bowed deeply, “Welcome, team Fiery Heart, to my home. I was quite surprised to see that you arrived early.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Haze shrugged, “You know what they say, the early bird gets the worm.”

“All too true, master Hazaizil. And who might these two be?” Orrin asked, gesturing to the twins.

“I’m Leila Sucrose.”

“An I’m Shersha Sucrose.”

Orrin flashed a brilliant smile and said, “Ahh, new students. And from the Sucrose family nonetheless. It is my honor to meet the two of you. I am sure you’ll be great cultivators one day. Now shall I show everyone around my humble city?”

“Humble my ass,” Shiro spat, earning him a smack on the back of his head from Scarlet.

“Just show us where we’re staying,” Haze said before Shiro could insult anybody else.

“Of course, master Hazaizil. Right, this way,” Orrin obliged, ignoring Shiro’s string of mumbling insults directed at him.

Orrin led us through the crowd of dock workers to through what looked like a customs and security check full of people. We were able to bypass security thanks to Orrin, but I couldn’t help, but people watch as we passed through. There were so many different people in line from all sorts of races. No aliens, though. But one person did catch my eye as being the most unique person in the line. She was tall, wearing a revealing dress, red skin, silky smooth white hair almost brushing against the ground, and ice-blue horns growing from her head.

I couldn’t examine her anymore as we kept moving, and I didn’t want to be left behind. On the other side of the building was a small hovercraft with a single sail in the center. The craft was big enough to accompany everyone, but it still felt cramped as we piled in. The seats of the hovercraft were arranged in a circle, so we had to face each other as we sat. Orrin tapped the driver of the craft on their shoulder as he sat down, and the craft took to the sky, merging into the rest of the traffic that flew overhead at high speeds.

This place is just too amazing. The technology looks so futuristic and yet old at the same time. Not going to lie. I kind of want one of these vehicles now. I continued to look around the city in amazement as we flew over the city. There were so many people and hovercraft and architectural designs to admire and –

“Ms. Zeana, would you mind sitting properly in your chair?” Orrin asked, and I flinched. Not realizing that I was turned all the way around in my chair. “You’re setting a bad example for the children,” Orrin added, and I turned around to sit in my chair to see Leila and Shersha standing in their chairs, looking out over the city on either side of Orrin.

“Hey! Sit down,” Haze barked at the twins, making them jump and sit down.

Orrin chuckled, “Thank you for the assistance, master Hazaizil.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Haze said, waving him off with a hand.

“Might I ask you all a question?” Orrin asked.

“Sure,” Cami agreed immediately.

“What events will you be participating in during the tournament?”

“Don’t answer that,” Haze commanded.

Cami ignored her, raising her hand excitedly, “I’m going in team, doubles, and free for all.”

“Team, singles, and free for all,” Shiro answered.

“Teams, doubles, free for all,” Xiao and Jax answered simultaneously.

“All events,” Scarlet answered.

“All events as well,” I answered.

“We won’t be participating,” the twins answered unanimously.

Haze slapped her forehead and mumbled, “I told you not to answer.”

“What a fantastic array of answers,” Orrin said, “Unfortunately, I am far too busy to participate in all the events. I don’t have a team to participate with, but I will have enough time to participate in the singles bracket. So I shall see you three there.”

“I look forward to kicking your ass, pretty boy!” Shiro said, getting up from his seat and standing nose-to-nose with Orrin.

Orrin paid him no heed and looked down his nose at Shiro with a smile and a twinkle in his golden eyes, “I look forward to our match as well, Mr.Shiro. Now please, take your seat. Landings tend to be a little ruff with the hovercraft.”

“Wha—” Shiro began but was cut off as the hovercraft came to a sudden and abrupt stop, causing Shiro to lose his balance and fall face-first into the back of the driver’s seat. He slowly slid down the seat to the floor.

Orrin stood and said, “Right this way, everyone,” then he stepped on Shiro’s back like he was a throw rug and stepped off the hovercraft.

I stood and extended a helping hand to Shiro, who grumpily batted it away, “I’m fine! I don’t need your pity!” then he stood and grabbed his duffle bag from his seat with a yank and stormed off the hovercraft.

Sighing, I followed him with a roll of my eyes, and Orrin led us all to a massive skyscraper building. We walked into the building through a beautifully designed lobby with beautiful sculptures and paintings decorating the walls. Then we went up two flights of stairs and down the hall on the right.

Stopping at the end of the hall, Orrin pulled two envelopes from within his jacket and handed one to Haze and the other to Xiao, “Boys on the left, room two one seven. Girls on the right, room two one eight. I wish you a delightful stay and good luck in the tournament.”

Haze took her envelope and pulled a key from it. “Thanks,” She said as she opened the door to our room. Orrin bowed respectfully and walked past us back down the hall. I followed Cami into the room, which looked very nice. A full bathroom, two bunk beds, one single bed, and a small kitchen with two stoves and a convection oven. I could live in this hotel room and be happy.

Haze threw her duffle bag on the single bed and said, “All right, I’m taking a bath now. Once everyone is done getting settled, we’re going to explore this city.”

“WHOOO!” Cami exclaimed and threw her bag on one of the bottom bunks.

I threw my bag on the bed above hers, “You guys can go on without me. I need a good night’s sleep,” I yawned.

“I wasn’t asking,” Haze said as she pulled some clean clothes and a towel from her bag and walked into the bathroom.

I blinked and sighed. Then climbed into the top bunk and toppled over into the soft bed and even softer pillow. I then curled up with my tail around me and immediately fell asleep.

***