"He'll be participating in April's Tournament? It's a shame I won't be able to kill him myself."
Kaelthar sat upon a blackened throne, whatever material it had been made out of originally was completely covered by Ash.
"Yes, guild master. I apologize for taking so long to report back, I had been caught up in many affairs that had held me up."
Kaelthar held his hand up. "Do not worry, you have done me a great service, and you will be rewarded accordingly."
Kaelthar's hand moved to his chin, stroking the black goatee resting upon his green face.
"Actually… see what you can do to keep the boy alive. I'd like to deal with him myself."
"Of course, guild master."
————
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The sound of a smack sounded as Sachi's wooden sword rebounded off of Lett's side.
Lett huffed as he spoke. "I'll be damned… I thought Lesser Champion's were supposed to be weak… those bloody rumors got it all wrong…"
Sachi stepped out of the ring, they had fought twice, and he had won both times thanks to his Foresight.
"Rumors? You haven't met another Lesser Champion?"
Lett was bent over with his hands on his knees, attempting to steady his breathing.
"No… The Eternal Flame's guild usually takes care of them right out of the gates. Not many newbies make it out here… I can see why you did though, you're much bloody stronger than anyone would think of ya."
A mischievous smile appeared on his face. "I'll be betting on ya tomorrow for sure, I don't imagine many others will, based on your title alone. That means a big pot of gold for me if ya win."
Sachi gave a slight smirk. "When I win."
Lett chuckled. "Right, right. Tournament's early tomorrow. Get some rest o' mighty Champion."
Sachi gave a wave as he walked away.
As he walked back into the main lobby, he could hear a familiar voice from a different room. He turned to see Lyra through a window in the door.
She huffed as she charged something.
"Aaaaaaaaa!!"
Just as quick as her visage left the window, a metal clang echoed throughout the lobby, and Lyra was sent flying past the window Sachi was glued to.
He stepped closer, and attempted to see who, or what, she had been charging at.
He stepped to the side to see what it was, but he jumped as soon as a knife struck the window, cracking it and becoming stuck in the process.
The knife had been aimed directly at Sachi.
'But I didn't feel anything from my Foresight… was it just a coincidence?'
Hesitantly, he reached for the handle of the door, and pushed.
An old lady stood at the opposite end of the room. Her gray hair was tied up in a ponytail, wearing something not much different from the black kendo outfit Sachi wore beneath his armor.
"Another student here to learn? That's two more than I've had in months!"
He put up his hands in protest. "Oh, no. I'm just traveling with my friend here."
He looked down to see Lyra sat against a wall. Her face was covered with light cuts and bruises. She seemed to be barely conscious right now.
"Um, is she oka-"
For a moment, his Foresight triggered.
In the blink of an eye, he threw his hand up, catching a dagger that had been flung at his head.
'I can see what happened to Lyra now… this was aimed to barely hit me.'
The old lady was still in the same position she was just a moment ago, standing solemnly at the far end of the room.
"Oh dear… I must be getting sloppy at my old age."
'This must be what Dave meant by scary…'
"I'm just here to retrieve my companion. We can practice another time."
The lady laughed. "With her current skill, she'll die tomorrow. That is her fate."
Sachi stared at her, his eyes narrowing.
"Resent me all you'd like, she is not fit for this world. I tell you the truth that you would be so ignorant to."
"Lyra will decide her own fate, this tournament is just a bump in the road. We will survive."
The woman smiled. "You may take her and leave. If you wish to train with me again, just come and see me."
Sachi gave a slight nod, and helped Lyra up.
'She's small, but she's much lighter than I expected… it must be because of my strength stat…'
Sachi lifted the semiconscious woman in a bridal carry, trying not to hurt her any more than she already was.
"Good luck tomorrow, lad!" Dave waved to Sachi as he left.
Stepping into the downpour of the city once more, the horrid sense of doom seeped beneath his skin. He had almost forgotten that his life was once again at risk, and it was more than just his life at stake.
'Where the hell is Dion..?'
Almost as if he could hear him, Dion shouted from across the street.
"Sachi! Check it out, look what I've got on!"
He wore a black leather jacket, black sweatpants, and a headband with more fire decals lining the front.
"Sick, isn't it!? Those guys tomorrow are gonna be shaking in their boots, I'd bet!"
Sachi held a blank expression. 'Is this guy serious..?'
"Yes, it's very cool, Dion. Help me get Lyra back to the room, we need to rest up for tomorrow."
Dion's stance stiffened. "Yes, Sachi sir! Right this way sir!"
In a stiff march, Dion began to head back to Lady April's tower.
Sachi sighed, his dread for tomorrow only grew worse.
Dion had gotten ahead of Sachi, even disappearing beyond the fog. Both Zephyr and Serendelle were gone as well, likely keeping an eye on Dion to make sure he doesn't get lost.
Sachi felt a tug on his kendo uniform, from one of the few spots the armor didn't cover. Lyra was conscious now, and her eyes were watery.
"Sachi… Are we really going to be fine tomorrow? I could barely do anything against Lady Reina… is everyone else going to be that strong?"
Sachi looked down at the pavement.
"I… don't know."
"But that doesn't change what we have to do."
"We fight until we can't fight anymore."
"That's the only thing we can do."
"And I'll be damned if I go down without giving it everything I've got."
Silence hung in the air for a moment, and Lyra looked down to the ground.
'With everything I've got…'
The rest of the walk back to the tower was silent, nothing but the patter of rain dampening the sound of Sachi's footsteps.
The elevator repeated its dinging until they had arrived back to their floor. Through the doors, Dion was already fast asleep on the couch, and Serendelle and Zephyr were caught up in a game of cards.
"A royal flush!? You can't be serious!"
Serendelle laughed. "I must just be very lucky."
Zephyr smoldered, tossing his cards on the table. "Goddess of luck… what was I thinking."
Zephyr turned and noticed Sachi and Lyra's arrival.
"Oh! My girl's awake now, is she! Just lay her on the bed there, I already made it all up for her."
Sachi nodded, doing as instructed. "Thank you, Zephyr."
Sachi laid in his own bed now. The weight of tomorrow sinking him further into the bedsheets.
He tried to let his mind wander off in different directions, but no matter where he went, he always came back to the same thing.
Tomorrow, the tournament began.