Chosen Few

“Gabb versus Stephon.” Nozomi calls out.

A cloaked woman with a cloth mask enters the ring, tight leather outfit, no armor from the looks of it. On the other end a man with raw magma pooling in his hand prepping himself. He’s got blacksmithing gloves on and several burn marks on his face. Balding slightly but not enough to be distracting.

“You may begin.” Nozomi says.

The man holding the magma, Stephon, forms an onyx spear using the magma and chucks it perfectly at his opponent. She’s pierced, straight through the chest, at least it looks like it. Until the spear keeps going into the wall outside the ring, revealing he only pierced the cloak. By the time he understands this, he’s already been stabbed with a dagger. She’s standing right beside him, pulling out her dagger from his hip. Still wearing her cloth mask. He collapses and she speaks. “I didn’t kill him, he’ll be paralyzed for seven days though thanks to my poison. Counting doesn’t matter.” She picks him up and carries him out of the ring with a little effort.

“Winner… Gabb.” Nozomi takes a breath. Her exhaustion from this announcing showing. “This is the last match of the first round. The second rounds will commence after some deliberation. The final match is Mesuu versus Khenen.”

A woman in white armor blinks into the ring using light magic. Blatantly exposing her ability. A meek looking darker olive skinned boy steps into the ring. He’s wearing rags and bandages as though he’s been through hell before even stepping into the ring. He doesn’t look older than Hisoki and about his height too and build. His ashy black hair covers one eye.

“Ready?” Nozomi asks them both. “Begin.”

Mesuu blinks toward her little opponent, summoning a sword made of light and swinging it down with no mercy. The boy merely makes the noise “Buh!” with his mouth and she’s hit with something so hard, it’s akin to her body being punched by something that isn’t there, sending her out of the ring and onto the ground. Leaving everyone stunned. Before Nozomi can declare him the winner, Mesuu leaps up in a rage and attempts to blink to him anyway to strike him. “You little shit!” she screams. Nozomi, however, kicks her so hard she hits the wall.

“The fight was over the moment your feet touched the ground.” Nozomi says. “The first round is over. Rest. I need a bit to collect information for the next fights. I may call on you to get more information.” she disappears and everyone is left to relax.

“Alright, what’s the deal with you and the challenge host?” Vic asks Hisoki. Almost accusing him a bit.

“What? I’ve known her for years at this point. She’s practically a sister even.”

“A sister, huh?” Vic asks. “Think she put you up against a non-spellcaster like me for an easy win.”

“I think it was the opposite. Truly. See, she knows I want to be a knight. She’s testing my ability to give what I have to get where I want to be. She knows I formed a bond with you at this point.”

“Are you telling me I was a damn test for you?”

“I think she was testing you too, to see if you’d kill your friend who can use magic.”

“You say that without a lot of confidence though.” Vic tilts his hat, walking toward the wall, leaning against it to relax while Hisoki follows.

“I do, it’s just tough to read her sometimes. I’m almost certain though.”

Lyco follows a little after, talking with some other challengers about what he is. “Jeez, seems like a lot of the contestants think I’m just a wild animal still while that Sadi woman is still here.”

Vic taps his chest with the back of his hand. “I would care less if you just told me from the beginning.”

“I would’ve had no inclination about that, Vic. You seem so uptight one moment then relaxed the next.”

“I’m not uptight. I’m aware. Focused on what I need and want to do.” Vic corrects him.

“Focused or not, I hope we can get through this.” Lyco says looking at his worst possible opponent.

“What’s wrong?” Hisoki asks, sort of noticing a vague staring of Lyco at someone in particular.

“It’s that King guy… Patran. I won’t be able to fight him.”

“Why not? Seems like someone you should be able to handle.” Hisoki says confidently.

“Why is that? Do you see something he can take advantage of?” Vic asks.

“Not sure, but if something gives that much control. There must be a prerequisite.”

“So a curse?” Lyco asks.

“No, it’s not strong enough to be a curse. And a curse normally requires direct contact with something. It has to be something else… He had to do something before making the decrees and tapping the scepter.”

“Why can’t the scepter be the cause?” Lyco asks because Vic is getting confused.

“The scepter isn’t magical nor is it being used as a catalyst. I can see magic items even if it may take me a moment. But if they are active, they light up clearly.”

“Okay, so… What did he do before that?” Lyco ponders.

“Showboating like an ass.” Vic says not really caring.

“Hmm. I doubt that’s it.” Hisoki corrects him anyway.

“I know, I just wanted to call him an ass.”

Nozomi approaches Vic, Hisoki, and Lyco. “I need to borrow you.” She points at Vic. She puts a hand on his shoulder and they are teleported away which makes everyone look at the sudden flash.

They have been teleported into a room with a table and two cold drinks. “What the…” Vic is a little in shock. Nozomi pulls out his chair, then sits in hers.

“Sit, please. I need to talk with you about your next match.”

He does, taking a drink from the cold glass. “What do you want to know?”

“I’d like to know three things. First two things is who would you like to face next? And who would you not?”

“You’re actually asking me that?”

“I am. I can’t guarantee you won’t or will face the people you mention. I will take it into account, though.” she says.

“Alright. I’d prefer not to fight Sadi. I’d get a real kick out of fighting Lyco though.”

“Perfect, now. Third question. I’ve been watching you and your partner, Hisoki. How did you feel having to face him?”

“Not good. I just did what I had to do in order to win.” Vic leans back fully, crossing his arms.

“Really? That weapon on your hip would’ve helped a lot more than knives and fists.”

“Alright cut it out. I know you know Hisoki. I just have no idea how you know him. I couldn’t shoot him. He could’ve used magic on me and he didn’t. Bitch at him if you’re going to bitch at me.”

“The opposite actually. I need to know if you plan on backstabbing him.” she asks pretty seriously.

“Not even a little. The kid has saved my life and got me this far. Literally even. I’ve never gotten to this point.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. For the last time. What the hell is he to you anyway for you to risk asking me these questions?”

“He’s practically family to me. I set you up against him to see if he’d hold back against you. It seems he only did that because you held back against him. I didn’t count on that, I expected you to just betray him right there.” she admits while standing up.

“You don’t know anything then. I didn’t betray my sister last year.”

“I know. I just had to test and make sure. I think I understand you far better now. Let’s go back.” she touches his shoulder while he’s sitting down and they are teleported back, plopping on his ass.

“Jeez lady, give me some warning…” He stands up slowly with Hisoki staring at him. “What?”

“Nothing, everything alright?” Hisoki asks, everyone staring. Nozomi walks over to another contestant and teleports them away with her too.

Vic sighs as she leaves. “Yeah, I guess so.” he lights a cigarette and pulls hard on it.

“She roughed you up… Didn’t she?” Hisoki looks down at the floor like this is a common thing he’s not particularly happy about.

“What? No, not at all. She asked me a few questions and was worried if I was going to betray you.”

“Good, that’s good then.” Hisoki clearly breathing a sigh of relief as someone taps his shoulder from behind, Lyco and Vic saw them well before they tapped Hisoki’s shoulder.

“Pardon me a moment. I’m quite bored myself, could use a good conversation.” Hisoki finally turns to see the familiar face of Sadi as she joins in.

“Can we really have a good conversation with someone as bloodthirsty as you?” Lyco says.

“Bloodthirsty? Me? What an accusation!” she responds playfully.

Vic says it plainly. “I’d argue Lyco is more human than you.”

She doesn’t even seem to care about that. “I’m very inclined to agree with you. You three show a lot of your… Soft sides which I’ll admit makes it very easy to get at you.”

Hisoki and Lyco just look at each other. Silently agreeing with what she said. Vic on the other hand blows some smoke before saying. “Bullshit, I have never shown my ‘soft’ side. I don’t have one.”

“Oh? What about in the ring just now, or how about… In that tent you two shared.”

“I knew it.” Hisoki says, feeling a bit violated. “You hid in my shadow and kept jumping shadows following us back to my tent. Did you take something while I slept?”

She laughs for everyone to hear. “No, no, no. I just had to see how you two got along! You’re both so different but work so well together! I left the moment you two went to bed.”

“She’s lying.” Lyco declares, shaking his head. “There’s no way she didn’t take something.”

Vic nods in agreement, but Hisoki doesn’t think so. “No, she didn’t. I don’t think she wants to steal anything. She’s just a curious woman that likes to fight…”

“Oh! Figured me out?” she holds the jester under his chin before he can move away. “I’m curious to fight you more than anyone else here. You’re hiding your spells, your real power. Next time we fight? I’ll pull it all out of you though.” she releases his chin, walking away.

“I think she likes you.” Vic pulls his cigarette from his mouth and taps the ash.

“W-what?! That’s what you read from all of that?” the jester asks, quite flustered.

Lyco admits. “It’s what I got from it.”

“You’re lucky I’m not someone to argue…” The jester crosses his arms, embarrassed.

Nozomi has been appearing and taking random contestants to talk with some while she just ignores some too. She approaches Lyco. “Alright, your turn.” she takes him away now.

“She doesn’t really ask does she?” Vic asks.

“Not really, no.” Hisoki answers honestly.

A few moments later Lyco is returned. “Damn, lady. Some warning would be-”

She reaches over and grabs Hisoki’s shoulder. “You next.” and they vanish.

“-nice…” Lyco finishes his thought after she disappears.

Once in the same room as the others were in she does the same thing, pulls out the chair for Hisoki and sits in her own chair. He sits and she is thinking for a moment. “Okay, I have three questions for you. First two. Who would you like to fight and who would you not?”

“Like to fight and who I wouldn’t” Hisoki gives it a little thought before he has an idea. He pulls a piece of paper from his bag and fountain pen and writes both down then slides it over to her.

“Interesting…” she says as she reads it. “Third question.” she reaches over and grabs his gloved hand. “How are you holding up?” her sincere personality breaks through finally.

“I’m trying my best. Vic has been a great help. I might not have made it without him.”

“You sure? I saw what’s happened to you these past few days.”

“A lot more has happened to Vic and Lyco overall than me…”

“You can make it through this. You just can’t lose any more matches.” she explains while releasing his hand.

“Right, I have to fight one more person after the next one if I win.” he says, nearly forgetting that.

“Losing to your partner has made this a lot harder for you. You need to stop holding back against your opponents. You’ll die if you don’t take this seriously.”

“I can’t show my entire hand yet, Nozomi. You know I can’t. I can promise you this though. If I get the person I wrote down. I won’t go easy on them.”

She sighs and looks at him. Staring at his eyes through that mask of his. He’s not lying. “I can’t promise you’ll get them. I need you on my team. We are short on magic items and you would be the edge we need. So win this. I’ll tell you this too. The next challenge won’t be hard for you if you do succeed. That’s all I can say.”

“Thank you.” he stands. “I’m ready to go back if you are.”

“Let’s go.” she holds onto his shoulder and they are teleported back to the challenge.