The new path came to an intersection, so I stopped to consider my two options. Left or right.

Left would feel like going back the way I came, so I went right.

Four turns later, another break. I looked down the path and saw that with the placement of the lanterns it seemed to turn back the way I came so I skipped it.

Two more turns and I had two other choices. Right, had a turn that would continue me in the same direction I was heading so I went down it, but it was just another dead end.

I went straight back, marked it and passed the path I came by and met two other choices. One was another straight into a dead end, but the other had at least one turn.

And at the end of the other, after a few turns I had made it to the end of the labyrinth.

I didn’t go through the portal at the center of the room just yet though.

Above the portal there were counters that must separately count the participants in each party. One of which marked that there was one person who had passed through, and the other was at zero.

Which team was which? And if it was ours, who was the person who would’ve made it all the way through first.

Considering our party, Dot, Paeris or Lefty would’ve finished before me. I don’t think Paeris would’ve volunteered himself to participate in the duel.

He would either take the labyrinth itself slowly, or simply wait here until he was sure he wouldn’t be chosen. There was a chance that Dot would want to participate, so she could be the one marked. Lefty probably wouldn’t want to waste his time fighting, knowing that there were others who would enthusiastically do it in his place.

As this room had multiple entrances, it should be safe to assume that there was only one entrance to the next phase. I should be able to wait and monitor the situation then. I went back down my path to the turn, here I could hide myself and see the entrance decently.

I still couldn’t be certain that it wasn’t Lefty, considering he had recently acquired new mana, he could take this as a chance to practice it. Though Lefty felt more logical than that. Like the rest of us, we had a hidden reason for climbing the tower, and I believe he would prioritize clearing the floor over him having a chance to practice.

So, if that counter was for our team, Dot would be most likely. Leaving Lefty and Paeris to head through the labyrinth slowly so that our two muscle brained ones would have more time to arrive here. Even though I did consider Quartz to be more intelligent than Dodger, that didn’t keep him from the possibility of being directionally challenged. Had we left him on his own in the underwater city, I’m sure he would’ve ended up in a similar situation that Dodger was.

Brick was likely in the middle of the pack, and much like his sister, he would want to participate in the duel so I should wait for him.

All I could do now is wait and see who makes it here first. If it was one of us, not including Dodger, I would stop them. If it was the other party, I could at least see if the one on the counter was ours or theirs. And confirm the member’s identities.

Best case scenario, the counter wasn’t ours. Then I could see if I could somehow convince Quartz not to fight.

Then there was a loud crumbling noise and then Dodger cheered “rhak!”

Which was a word in a language I didn’t know, and I was pretty sure she didn’t really know.

That crumbling noise though…she just made a path for herself didn’t she….

I didn’t bother leaving mine to stop her. Letting her go in would make things easier.

“I wonder how long it’ll be till we can fight!” she said and stepped into view before entering the portal.

The counter went up from one to two.

I really hope the first one was Dot.

The next person who came, I didn’t recognize. I hadn’t paid any attention to the people around Rolym at school. But it was an elf, and they went through the portal not even glancing at the mess Dodger had made.

After that was another elf before Paeris and Lefty arrived.

I went out to stop them.

“Oh hey, do you know who went in?” Paeris asked.

“I saw Dodger, but I’m assuming Dot had gone in before her.”

“Oh, okay, why are you waiting?”

“Just wanted to make sure that Dodger and Brick at least entered.”

“I tried so hard to go slowly, I assume the pile of rocks is from Dodger.”

I nodded, “So do either of you want to participate in the duels?”

Lefty shook his head, “I’m good. Would rather have the fighting idiots do it for us. Where were you waiting before?”

I jutted my head towards my entrance, “just around the corner by my entrance.”

“Well, I can hide us closer, you guys just need to keep quiet.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

We sat on the rubble from Dodger’s manufactured entrance.

Lefty held out his hand and murmured, “shiun do ebayade do ruamu yosuu.”

He lifted the same hand up and a tinted veil surrounded us. We were able to see through it but, if Lefty’s intentions were correct, others would not be able to see us.

We kept silent as we waited. The next to enter the room was Brick, so we just let him walk through the portal.

Rolym came next and went into the portal without considering his surroundings.

“Was that the only elf?” Lefty asked.

“No, the other two before them were elves as well.”

Lefty sat between us, and I made eye contact with Paeris. He knew Rolym. But also knew how to keep his mouth shut.

“Then they’re with Winged Mercy.”

There was a slight venom in his voice. What did he know? Or had he simply had an unpleasant encounter with them on the twentieth floor?

We waited only a few moments longer before someone else had come, only for it to be Dot.

I stepped through the veil quickly and stopped her.

“I thought you’d be first.”

“I took my time since I wanted to use the duel time to work on Lefty’s goggles.”

I heard Lefty and Paeris come out behind me, and Lefty asked what we were all thinking out loud, “How did Quartz manage to finish first?”

“Good question,” I tried to calm myself.

I just needed to hope he’ll hide his ears on his own once he learns that the other party is filled with elves. And he needs to not be injured… Rolym likely couldn’t see light mana, but if he noticed Quartz’s ears, and saw him healing himself… Those were both things that we needed to keep from Winged Mercy.

“I’ll go through then since you guys don’t want to participate.”

I stepped through the portal and entered a waiting room. Luckily only Quartz, Dodger and Brick were there.

“So, it’s the four of us? Did the others just stall so they didn’t have to fight?” Dodger asked.

“Yes. I waited as well but I just wanted to get a look at the other party members first.”

“Do they look like fun?” Dodger asked quickly.

There was a big hopeful smile on her face.

“I couldn’t tell, all I know is that it’s a party of elves.”

I kept my eye line at Dodger but made sure that Quartz was in my peripherals.

“Elves?” Dodger sounded disappointed, “hopefully they’ll be hand to hand fighters at the very least, fighting mages is so boring.”

“They’re probably with Winged Mercy,” Lefty said again as the others seemed to enter the room behind me.

I felt the weight of Mezu drop off of me and watched him run over to Quartz who had started taking his braiding out.

Good he’s doing it on his own.

“I wish I could force myself to fight with one arm like you,” Dodger slouched in her chair, “then maybe I’d have a good challenge.”

“Mezu isn’t hungry yet,” Quartz said, “It would be a waste.”

He’s aware of something regarding his healing, at the very least.

But its good to know that I wouldn’t have to try and manipulate him into hiding things on his own.

There was a ding.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stage One Complete!

Duel process will commence soon.

Each party must select the order in which they will fight their opponents. The selection process will be blind. Once the order is decided, step through the next door to enter the arena.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The order is important, but if it goes blind, then I can’t be sure that Quartz won’t fight Rolym. Then again would it necessarily matter if we were all watching the fights?

I should just go first, Rolym wasn’t the best at strategizing, and in an instance like this he would probably want to try and prove himself to his teammates since he failed to finish the labyrinth first.

“Sailhin go first, I want to see if they’re any good before I decide how to fight,” Dodger seemed very unhappy.

“Alright, do you want to go second then?”

“No, Brick can go next. I’m sure it’s a matter of most wins, get the win. So, if both of you win, they’ll be more desperate in the last two, might be more fun.”

“It seems you suddenly consider a strategy when it comes to your own entertainment in a fight.” Left laughed.

“We’re going against elves, the only one I’ve met that’s any fun sparing with is Sailhin. Gotta make them put up as much of a challenge as possible.”

“Any complaints Quartz?” I asked him.

I looked at him and saw him really fussing with his hair to make it a fluffy mess to cover his ears.

“Quartz?”

“No.”

“Good, then if you’re ready let’s get going.”

I stepped through first and entered a small indoor arena. Brick came behind me, then Dodger and then Quartz. They headed down to the first row of seats, and I waited for Paeris.

“Keep an eye on Mezu, can’t let Winged Mercy notice him.” I muttered.

He nodded.

It would be easier if I could just get Lefty to cover him in a veil, but I don’t know if I’d get that done without giving him a good reason.

Just asking, saying we need to hide him from Winged Mercy, might not be enough.

We sat down with the others and waited.

Soon enough, across the way, we saw the door open. Rolym came out, and much to my concern, Ruvenne was with him, and she came out last.

Rolym didn’t seem to notice me, but that didn’t really matter when we’d be fighting each other very soon.

Another banner appeared once their door had closed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Duels will commence in the order that has just been selected. If there is a tie, each team will select one of the same contestants to fight again in a tie breaker.

Fights are won from the following outcomes:

1. A fighter is forced out of the circle.

2. A fighter is incapacitated.

Will the first two fighters enter the arena.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stood up and went to the railing, hopping over and into the arena floor. Rolym did the same and then I saw his face contort into a smirk when he recognized me.

“What a surprise getauge” he said in common, “I didn’t know you were climbing as well?”

“Let’s just get this over with.”

“I’m a lot different than the last time we fought,”

I pulled out my spear, when a trumpet sounded. But when he didn’t produce a sword, I smiled slightly.

My little cousin finally learned something.

Though, he’s never fought against me solely using mana manipulation, he probably thinks he has the upper hand.

I extended my mana around my spear and closed our distance thrusting my spear forward to start things, not even hoping for it to land.

I looked at the mana around him, I knew we didn’t have the same attribute, but at the very least I could see it’s affects on the water mana in the air.

My spear was pushed aside by him but not with his hand. I could see that the water mana in the air was avoiding a cylindrical area coming from his grip.

So, he switched from actual weapons to mana forged ones.

Not a problem.

I pulled my spear back and blocked his next strike with ease.

He was only fighting one handed though, his other hand was shifting in signs.

Interesting, dual casting.

I swung my spear across him, I aimed for the air above his other hand.

He blocked it firmly, and I took his anticipated push to spin around and slice through the same spot I had initially aimed for.

His father must’ve taught him their family’s arts, and knowing how they worked, meant that there were two possible spots for the mana circle to be formed. He’d probably do it in a space instead of on his skin.

He was too young to have progressed that much, especially since he wasn’t learning it the last time I saw him.

He cursed and I thrust my spear towards his chest.

He stepped back to doge.

This time he corrected his mistake and performed a shorter circle.

I failed to slice through it and a gust of wind blew me backwards.

I stuck my spear in the ground to stop me from flying out of the ring.

“No small talk getauge? How mean? We haven’t seen each other in so long. But you sure didn’t think things through. Do you really think Winged Mercy won’t help me once they realize the chance you’ve given us?”