Author's Preface
A few days before the tournament, Eve called a mandatory team meeting.Blue was heading toward the building when something caught his eye.
A figure in the alley. He stopped. "...Derek? Really. This guy doesn't quit."
He walked over without hurrying. Derek stood against the wall, one foot propped up behind him, arms loose at his sides. He looked different. Harder. Something behind his eyes that hadn't been there before.
Blue looked him over. "You here to finish what we started?"
Derek held his gaze for a moment. No rush. No anger on the surface. "Don't worry." His voice was even. "We'll have our opportunity." Derek smirked at Blue. "Just wanted to give you the courtesy of seeing me again." He pushed off the wall. "I'll see you around, Blue."
He turned and walked into the darkness of the alley without looking back. Blue stood there watching until he was gone.
Above the alley, on the rooftop, a hooded figure had watched the entire exchange. He let the silence settle for a moment. Then smiled. "It's almost time."
He turned and disappeared into the night. Blue turned and walked back toward the guild entrance.
"Blue!" He looked up. Darrien was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching him with that look. "Did Aaron beat you that bad you forgot where the entrance was?"
Blue laughed. "No it's just-"
"Just what?" Darrien straightened slightly, interest clearly peaked now.
"Just... nothing." Blue shrugged. "Thought I saw a dog in the alley."
Darrien stared at him for a beat. "Chasing pets now huh?" A grin spread across his face. "Eve not enough for you?"
Blue slapped him in the back of the head. "Come on, idiot. We're going to be late."
The two headed inside.
Everyone was already seated when Blue and Darrien walked in.
Samantha sat forward the moment they entered. "You're late."
Blue snapped his head toward Darrien and whispered. "That's the real Samantha right?"
Darrien reached over and grabbed a plastic cup next to the water jug. He threw it at her without warning. She flicked one finger. The cup turned to ash before it got halfway across the table.
Darrien looked back at Blue. "Yeah. She's the real one."
"Okay." Eve's voice cut through the room. "Enough. Sit down you two."
They sat. A moment later Aaron walked in. Behind him two men pushed a cart covered with a large blanket.
"Sorry to interrupt." He didn't sound sorry. "But Titus demanded I bring this to Chris immediately."
He pulled the blanket off. The room glowed. Black and gold armor sat on a mannequin at the center of the cart. Not one thick piece, layered, designed to move with the body rather than against it. Every joint accounted for. Every panel fitted precisely. Aaron spun the mannequin around. On its back... a shield. The material was from Veltrax. Impenetrable. The bottom tip tapered to a razor edge sharp enough to pierce other armor.
"Titus wanted me to pass along a message." Aaron looked at Chris directly. "If he catches you pretending to be a wall with that armor and shield, he will personally test how sturdy it is."
The team turned to look at Chris. He was already standing. "Excuse me." He looked around the table. "I need to go try this on. Right now."
A few people laughed. Nobody stopped him. Aaron watched him go then turned back to the table. "I know what your goal is for this tournament." He glanced around the room. "I've prepared new gear for all of you as well." He tapped the empty mannequin. "Not as impressive as this. But it will complement what you each do best."
Moments later the door opened and Chris walked back in. He was wearing the armor. He hopped directly onto the table and dropped into push-ups. Then jumping jacks. Then a small jump that brought him back down with a thud.
"My God." He looked around the room, genuinely amazed. "This is so comfortable. I can move freely. Guys, do you see this?"
Samantha put one finger on the table. Ice spread across the surface instantly. Chris landed from his next jump and his feet went out from under him. He slid clean off the edge and rolled directly into Blue and Darrien.
"Stop playing around." Samantha snapped at the three boys.
Chris looked up from Darrien's lap. "I don't think that's our Samantha, bro."
Eve stood. Both hands flat on the table. "We have two days before we depart. We need to train together, see what we've all learned over the last three weeks and figure out how to kick the Germans' asses."
Cynthia shot to her feet. "Yeah! Let's kick their asses!"
Darrien, Chris and Blue all laughed at the same time.
Samantha stood slowly. "Now that I'm thoroughly annoyed." she looked at the three of them "Let’s go collect the equipment Aaron got us. Before I do to you three what Arthur did to me."
Blue looked at Darrien and Chris. "There she is."
The team stood and headed down to the armory. Olivia was leaning against the wall outside the armory when they arrived.
Darrien saw her first. He immediately stepped behind Chris. Blue glanced back at him. "You okay?"
"No." Darrien's voice was low and completely serious. "That woman gave me PTSD." He looked around at the team. "You should all be thanking me. I was kind enough to spare you from her evil ways."
Chris grabbed him by the collar and tossed him forward. Darrien slid across the floor and came to a stop directly at Olivia's feet.
He looked up at her. "Wonderful weather today, huh sis?"
Olivia stepped on his back and walked toward the team without acknowledging him. "Your equipment is in the arena. Aaron thought it would be more appropriate there. He figured you'd want to train with it before you leave." She turned fully toward them. "Let's go. We're going to see how proficient you've all become."
Darrien peeled himself off the floor and fell in line with the others.
The team walked into the arena. Yuki, Arthur and Aaron were already there waiting.
Aaron looked at them. "Grab your gear. Let's get to it."
The team exchanged glances. Unease on every face.
Arthur stepped forward. "You heard him. Let's go." He looked at each of them. "You're the only team representing the Midwest. We are not going to let you embarrass us."
They moved toward the equipment laid out across the arena floor.
Darrien stopped in front of his. A black tunic, pants and shoes, all of it darker than anything he'd worn before.
Olivia stepped up beside him and grabbed his shoulder. "This armor will dampen the sound you make and help conceal your aura. You won't just move through shadows anymore, brother... you'll become one. Deadly and silent."
Darrien looked down at the clothes then back at her. He didn't say anything.
Eve approached a sealed box. She looked at Aaron, confused.
Yuki stepped forward before he could speak. "I forgot to mention... that's a gift from Thalorin. He said you'd need it for your spirits to reach the next level."
Eve opened it. Inside, three round spirit crystals caught the light, one red, one blue, one brown. Beneath them sat a fruit she didn't recognize. Something moved. Nomi appeared from nowhere, snatched the fruit with his teeth and swallowed it whole before Eve could react.
"Nomi, what are you doing?!"
Yuki laughed. "You are strong. But you still have much to learn."
The arena filled with golden light. Nomi rose from the ground, floating in the center of the space. The light pulsed around him steady, growing. After a few seconds it dimmed. She landed. Three tails where there had been one.
Yuki looked at Eve. "Congratulations. Only six more to go." She turned and walked back toward Aaron.
Darrien leaned toward Olivia. "Did you get me a mystical fruit too?" She slapped him.
Samantha crouched in front of hers. On the ground sat a tiara. She looked at Arthur and scoffed. "What am I... some princess?"
A small tornado formed in Arthur's hand.
"Thank you, sir." Samantha's entire demeanor shifted the moment she saw it.
Arthur stepped forward. "That tiara is enchanted. It will help with your control."
Samantha picked it up and placed it on her head. It disappeared instantly. A breath later, runes appeared across her forehead, bright blue. They pulsed once. Then melted into her skin and faded.
Cynthia stood in front of an empty space on the floor. A moment passed. Then another. The arena door burst open. Terrance rushed in out of breath, a bag in his hand. "Sorry I'm late. The blacksmith had a hell of a time making this."
He threw the bag to Cynthia. "That bag can hold up to a ton of material." He caught his breath. "I had Arthur's help and some tech from Veltrax to get it made. Now you don't have to worry about having enough material to work with."
He walked over and patted her on the head. "Time to show them what the will of a flux user can do." He turned and headed toward Aaron and the others.
Blue looked around at his team. Each one with something made specifically for them. He looked down at the floor in front of him.
A map.
He crouched and picked it up. I-70. Columbus to Indianapolis. Bases outlined along the route. Dungeons marked off. And three question marks... one on the Ohio-Indiana border, one in Indianapolis, one further west.
He looked up at Aaron. "What the hell is this?"
"You already have a battlesuit. Your jian. A second sword as well." Aaron shrugged slightly. "Consider it a parting gift."
He nodded toward the map. "Those three question marks are dungeons where awakeners found pieces of jewelry they couldn't retrieve. Too dangerous." A pause. "Do with it what you will, after you beat the Germans."
Blue looked at the map for a moment. Then he smiled, folded it, and put it in his pocket.
Aaron stepped forward and faced the team. "Good." He gestured with one hand. "Now, come at us."
Arthur, Yuki and Terrance all stepped into their stances. The team looked at each other. No hesitation. No words needed. They took theirs. For the next two days they pushed themselves harder than they had in the three weeks prior. What they had learned individually now had to become something they could use together. By the time they boarded the flight to the tournament, they were ready.
Or at least... they told themselves they were.